ã€ŠRise of a Football Godã€‹


 Chapter 1: Football Compendium

    *FOOTBALL:Football is a game of 11 players in each team where both teams play with a ball, with the main purpose of putting the ball post your opposition's posts into the net. Once the ball is in the net, your team scores a goal. The team with the most goals at the end of the game wins.
    *FORMATIONS: S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    In football, there are multiple formations in which teams play depending on the favored tactic of a team's coach. Formations can either be attacking, balanced, or defense-oriented formations.
    *PLAYER POSITIONS:
    There are 4 main player positions in football, goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and attackers.
    The role of a goalkeeper is to stand between the post to stop balls from going into the net. He is the only player allowed to handle the football with his hands, but this is restricted to only inside the 18-yard box.
    The role of a defender is to defend against opposition attackers and prevent them from scoring goals.
    The role of a midfielder is to control a game and orchestrate play. They are the creators balancing and connecting the whole game.
    The role of an attacker is to score a goal using any means possible, either pace, dribbling ability, or direct shooting power.
    *18-YARD BOX AND 6-YARD BOX:
    A goalkeeper's area is the 6-yard box extending from the goal line, while the penalty area is the 18-yard box outside the goal area. Put simply, the goal box is the smaller of the two boxes and the goalkeeper's box is located inside the penalty area.
    *GOALLINE AND TOUCHLINE
    Goal line is the straight line between the two posts of a goalkeeper that also extends through that whole side of a football pitch. It is the line the ball must cross before a goal is acknowledged as scored.
    In a football pitch, the shorter straight line sides are called the goal line where the goalkeeper's post is, while the longer sides are called touchlines.
    When the ball goes outside the touchline, the referee calls for a throw in. If it goes outside the goal line, it can either be called for a corner kick or a goal kick.
    *CELEBRATIONS:
    After scoring a goal, footballers are known to celebrate their goals in unique ways. There are multitude of goal celebrations, some iconic to specific football players like the Suii celebration synonymous with the Portugal legend, Cristiano Ronaldo, made famous during his time at Real Madrid.

 Chapter 2: An unforgettable night

    28, May, 2011¡­¡­
    Woof! Woof!
    The sound of the dog's barking frightened the little 6-year-old as he instinctively clung closer to his dad.
    Feeling the fear of the little boy, the bald-haired middle-aged man smiled. He gently patted his son on the head to alleviate his fears as he stared at the dog.
    "Sam, don't be scared of Bingo, he feeds on your fears".
    "Next time a dog barks at you, bark back, it'll leave you alone". He chuckled.
    The boy nodded timidly as they passed the territory of the dog.
    This father and son duo walked through a dirty street with potholes that were filled with mud water.
    This was just one of the many streets in these outskirts of Nigeria.
    There were buildings here and there, with some shops sprinkled among them. Along the road, a few kids ran carefreely without a care for the bikes moving up and down, playing with a dirty brown football plastered with mud.
    "I'm Messi!"
    "No, I'm Ronaldo, Ronaldo is better!"
    "Goal!" Sam could hear them shout, he looked at the older children with a bit of envy in his eyes, up till they overdid it, hitting a ball too high as it hit the roof of one of the nearby residential buildings.
    Silence¡­, then a window opened in the second floor of this building.
    "Paul!" The loud voice of an angry old woman reverberated the next moment, the kids didn't wait to hear her say more as they ran.
    Sam watched them as they ran.
    He looked up at the big hotel at the other side of the road whose bright lights now illuminated the world.
    It was already getting late at night, so the bright lights of the hotel were especially prominent, attracting his attention.
    Sam lived here in Abraka, a city in Nigeria with his family.
    His family was a small family of 4 comprising his dad, his mom, him, and his younger sister who was just 3 years old.
    He rarely left home since his mom always locked him indoors. His ticket for going out today with his dad was a straightforward one, one that left him excited, a ticket that could override his mom's wishes.
    Mr. Moses, Sam's father was an avid football fan, a hobby that Sam's mom had tried hard to kill for years to no avail.
    The football club that he supported was FC Barcelona and today, 28 May 2011, Barcelona who were already the champions of Spain was to play the UEFA Champions League final against Manchester United, the champions of England.
    This was why Sam was so happy this night. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Though he barely understood the nuances of the game at this young age, his father still did enough to ingratiate the love of football in him already. And of course, like his father, he supported FC Barcelona.
    Sam was hyped for it, he clenched his fists, thinking. 'I hope we win'.
    'Of course we'll win,' he smiled instinctively. 'Father is so confident'.
    'And we have Messi, we also have Xavi and Iniesta, of course we'll win'.
    A few minutes later, they arrived at the popular viewing center. It was a big caravan building with a few dozen benches and 2 big TVS. A few of his dad's friends who recognized him hailed him from a distance as they spoke.
    "Big Moses, you brought your son today? How bold of you, are you not scared of your club losing face in front of your son?"
    "Not a chance". Mr. Moses laughed exuberantly. "Today, there's no other outcome, my club is definitely winning".
    While the older men engaged in their normal football banter, a curious Sam just clung close to his dad while observing.
    At some point in time, his dad sent him on an errand to get him a bottle of coca cola drink. Sam already made a name for himself in his home for how swiftly he executed errands, his stamina was insane at this young age.
    And of course, today again, to not miss out on any of the action, Sam ran the whole distance in record time without breaking a sweat before handing the bottle of coca cola to his dad who immediately started sipping away.
    He observed all the benches in the popular viewing center that were now occupied by mostly adults. He observed the 2 big TV screens on the wall that were now showing the football pitch.
    This year's UEFA Champions League final was to be played in Wembley Stadium in London. Sam knew because his dad always spoke of Wembley.
    About a minute later, Sam was finally seated with his dad.
    Looking around, he realized that he should be the shortest viewer here. Sam didn't care though; this was because he could feel the excitement in the air.
    All the adults were excited and hyped for the game, so naturally, he also became hyped. 'Come on Barca!' He thought excitedly.
    And then, the game started.
    Just like most of the world expected, from the onset of the game, Barcelona dominated. Under Pep Guardiola, Barca already built a dynasty, becoming the most feared football team in Europe and on this night, it showed.
    Besides, this was not just any game, it was also kind of a grudge match between these 2 heavyweights of European football as Manchester United already lost against FC Barcelona on this same stage 2 years ago.
    It was the perfect coming of age ceremony for the young and passionate Sam.
    On that night, like they promised, the inevitable midfield trio of Xavi, Iniesta, and Sergio Busquets shone as Barca dominated possession.
    Playing beautiful tiki-taka football, pinging the ball left and right, Xavi dictated the game till all of a sudden, from the right, after a short driving run, Xavi Hernandez threw in a cross into the running path of Pedro who hit it wide.
    "Oh!" Moses, Sam's father jumped to his feet as he screamed in frustration. "So close!" He muttered intensely.
    Sam stared at his dad, feeling all his overflowing emotions. His father's mood was infectious, it affected Sam and so he rode on it.
    He focused back on the game.
    Despite the Spanish club's domination, Manchester United were still the best team in all of England. The maverick English team held their nerves, defending like a unit, running all over the pitch as they soaked in the pressure.
    Yet, inevitably, it didn't take too long, one team took the lead first at the 27th minute of the game.
    Xavi Hernandez threaded a cutting pass to Pedro Rodriguez on the right who after a simple touch to control the ball rifled it into the bottom right corner.
    The legendary Manchester United goalkeeper, Edwin Van Der Sarr was left sprawling helplessly on the ground.
    As soon as the ball entered, all hell broke loose.
    "Goalll!" All the Barcelona fans in the viewing center rose up in celebration, roaring at the top of their voices.
    Mr. Moses, Sam's father was one of the front runners of the celebration as instinctively, Sam also jumped, celebrating with his father.
    "Up Barca!" They chanted.
    With that first goal, the game opened up as Barcelona dominated even further. On that night, Lionel Messi was terrific as he tormented the Manchester United backline with his dizzying agility, touch, and dribbling.
    But then, against the run of play, Manchester United stung like a bee out of nowhere at the 34th minute of the game.
    Sam could never forget the commentator's voice.
    "This is Rooney¡­"
    Wayne Rooney, the Manchester United center forward passed the ball to Ryan Giggs who controlled it with a deft touch before placing it back in the rampaging center forwards' path and Rooney did not miss his chance, he seized his moment with aplomb.
    "And Rooney!"
    Before Sam knew it, the ball was already in the back of the net and the mute Manchester United fans since finally erupted like an ancient Dragon that had been slumbering for a millennium.
    "GOALLLL!"
    They celebrated wildly like they already won the game.
    That night, Sam felt his passion for football bloom than ever before. To him, it was no longer just FC Barcelona vs Manchester United, rather, it felt more like him, his father, all Barca fans vs the Manchester United fans.
    At that young age, Sam had no words to describe what he felt, it was just exhilarating.
    The first half ended with the scoreline draw, but the second half started even more explosively than the first as FC Barcelona went on a riot and of course, one figure was at the center of it all, Lionel Messi.
    It came from nowhere.
    Receiving the ball in the halfway line from Andres Iniesta, the Barca no. 8, Messi drove forward with the ball a bit then all of a sudden, vroom! A powerful driven shot and the ball was in the back of the net.
    Messi's powerful left-footed shot was explosive, bursting into the bottom right corner as the stadium erupted in cheers. Edwin Van Der Sarr stood no chance.
    Where Sam was, the viewing center also erupted in cheers.
    "Messi!" "Messi!" The Barcelona fans started chanting.
    Once the celebrations died down, the game continued. Manchester United tried to turn things around to no avail.
    Like a tyrant, Barcelona kept a firm grip over the game as they kept on dictating proceedings, dominating possession till the late stages of the game.
    Manchester United was run ragged.
    Xavi Hernandez and other star Barcelona players had their chances but Edwin Van Der Sarr was on top of his game, keeping his team in the game.
    Lionel Messi kept on tormenting the Red Devils' backline and in the 69th minute of the game, the game was finally put to bed.
    After another bursting Messi run from the right, causing chaos in the United backline, Busquets got the loose ball and pushed it to David Villa who didn't think twice, curling the ball into the top right corner of the post.
    "GOALLLL!"
    Sam celebrated with his dad and all other FC Barcelona supporters.
    That was enough to seal the game.
    For the remaining minutes of the game, it was just Barca dominating, throwing passes left and right, controlling the game.
    It was prime Barca football.
    And when the final whistle finally blew, Sam ended up creating a memory, a cherished memory of an unforgettable night.
    On that night, he became a die-hard FC Barcelona fan.
    On that same night, something else blossomed. 'I want to play football!'

 Chapter 3: Doomed aspirations [1]

    12, May, 2018¡­¡­
    It was a bright sunny day.
    The skies were clear and the scorching heat of the sun descended on the world without mercy, immolating everywhere with its heat.
    The old zinc of the classroom made creaking sounds as the metal expanded due to the heat of the sun.
    This was one of the numerous classrooms of Abraka Grammar School. It was already 3:15 in the afternoon, the last lecture for the day was about to come to an end and of course, the students were happy.
    Not all of them were happy though, one of them was anxious.
    It was a cute boy with silky black hair and a handsome face. He had an old hand-down wristwatch on his wrist with which he kept track of the time.
    "Hey". A voice called in a muffled tone.
    "Sam, stop looking at your wristwatch so much, the teacher will notice and he'll only end up prolonging the class even after the closing bell is rang".
    "He better not!" Sam gritted his teeth. "I have a trial match to play".
    His best friend sighed. "I've told you countless times already, get off it Sam. With what happened to you 2 years ago, you should temper your expectations".
    "Having such high expectations will only end up hurting you".
    "I don't care Ian," Sam stared at his best friend. "I hate school. Whether the devil likes it or not, I'm going to give my all and make it as a football player".
    His best friend sighed. "Suit yourself then".
    Yes, this was the once small and na?ve Sam. 7 years on from that unforgettable night, Sam was now 13 years old and he was in JSS 3, about to write his junior WAEC examination.
    His mind was not on the examination though, rather, all his attention was on the trial match that was being carried out in his town by scouts from FC Barcelona.
    For the first time in years, European scouts came to Nigeria and they came to his town. Coincidentally, these scouts just had to come from his beloved club.
    To Sam, this was a fate carefully designed in heaven.
    This was his moment and he needed to seize it.
    This was why he was getting impatient with this class.
    Sam looked at his best friend. "The trial games for the scouts are scheduled to hold for 3 days and the first game today is starting in less than 15 minutes, I can't wait anymore".
    "Please tell my sister that a teacher sent me on an errand and that she should go ahead, we'll meet at home".
    "Sam, but¡­"
    "Thank you Ian, I owe you one". He blinked and smiled at his best friend.
    Bending down from his chair, obscured in the chaos of the crowded classroom, Sam snuck out.
    Immediately after sneaking out of the room, he found a corner and immediately changed from his school uniform into an FC Barcelona jersey that he bought last week.
    Slinging his bag across his back, Sam embarked on a sprint.
    He didn't stop running until he arrived at the university building in Abraka. The trial games were scheduled to commence in the big field in the university.
    Sam arrived to see a big crowd. Trials from Europe came. In an African country like Nigeria, this was a big deal and students of the university gathered in droves to watch the trial games of the first day.
    By the time Sam arrived, it was already past 3:30 and the first game already started. The man whom he registered with for a fee of 1,500 naira, Coach Samson looked at him with a grimace "You're just coming".
    "Sorry Coach, I was held up by something really important".
    The coach scoffed. "What is more important than impressing the scouts? Children of nowadays really don't take football seriously, no wonder the national team keeps on faltering in the big football stages, unseriousness like this".
    The coach glared at him. "Run laps at the touchline, that's your punishment. If I feel benevolent enough, you may play today".
    "Sorry coach, thank you". Sam bowed and immediately ran away.
    On the touchline, he started jogging laps up and down the field even as he looked at the European scouts.
    He prayed. 'Please God, make it work out today'.
    More than 100 under-15 youths registered for the tournament and they were grouped into 4 different teams. Team A to Team D were to play the tournament.
    On the first day, Team A would play against Team C, and Team B would later play against Team D for their first leg matches.
    On the second day, the second leg matches would be played.
    The 2 losing teams will be eliminated while the 2 winning teams will make it to the final where they would play in a final game to impress the scouts.
    Sam hoped to make it all the way to the final game and win. His team was Team A.
    The first half of the game was a cagey affair as the youths ran at each other with exuberant energy, eager to impress. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    There were tackles flying left and right, and some pieces of individual brilliance mixed in the play but the score remained tied.
    When half-time came, their captain, a 15-year-old boy named Wale who also had the decision-making powers over the team addressed his teammates. This was when he sighted Sam in the back.
    "Thank God". This boy muttered under his breath.
    He went up to meet the coach. "Coach, Sam can play, right?"
    Coach Samson looked at the 13-year-old who was taller than his age, he nodded. "Yes, he already served his punishment, he can play".
    "Good," Wale smiled. "Sam, get ready, you'll enter in the second half".
    When second half came, Sam was finally introduced into the game, replacing Theophilus as the attacking midfielder of Team A.
    FWEEEE!
    Once the ref's whistle was blown, from the first kick of the ball, it was clear that something changed in the game.
    It was just a single change, a handing over of the baton between midfielders but in just 20 minutes, Sam was able to steal the show.
    He was 13 years old, younger than most of his opponents but he bossed the midfield battle with his unreal physicality and impressive technical skill.
    All these attributes paled in comparison to his core footballing attribute though. His most important element on the football pitch was his stamina.
    Sam ran himself to the ground, winning tackles, spraying passes left and right to his teammates, while also going on solo runs with the ball.
    In the 74th minute of the game, the deadlock was finally broken as Tega, Team A's striker caused chaos in the opposition 18-yard box.
    Despite his dribbling, there was no space to shoot, Team B was defensively disciplined but this striker's vision enabled him to see the incoming midfielder.
    Instinctively, Tega pushed the ball slightly, setting it up for Sam.
    Sam did not miss his moment; he took it with aplomb.
    His right leg hit the ball like a rifle.
    BAM!
    Team B's goalkeeper was rooted to the spot as the ball flew on a curve before tearing into the top left corner of the post.
    "GOALLL!!!" Sam jumped, celebrating exuberantly with his teammates as they rushed to the corner flag.
    Once the game restarted, Team B became even more physical, jumping into dangerous tackles as the game became even more cagey but in the 87th minute of the game, it was Sam again.
    Surrounded by opposition players, he had the physicality to shrug them off, the vision to spot his teammate, and the skill to pull off the perfect pass.
    It was a simple tap-in as Wale, the captain scored the second goal of the game. Team A celebrated again as Wale pointed at Sam, giving the credits to him.
    After the 90th minute, the ref added 3 more minutes and a minute later, dribbling into the box with the ball again, Sam yearned to get his 2nd goal of the game. This was when one of the opposition center backs slid in ruthlessly.
    His opponent's boots caught his ankle as Sam was aggressively brushed off his feet.
    He screamed as he clutched his knee in pain.
    "Ref, penalty!" Wale shouted.
    The ref gave the opposition center back a straight red card. Team A players were happy, celebrating but when they finally turned to their teammate, this was when they noticed the tears on his face.
    Sam was not faking it; he was in pain.
    Wale's face changed as he rushed closer. "Sam, where does it hurt?"
    In the 91st minute of the game, Sam's aspirations were doomed. Tega, Team A's striker took the penalty, converting it beautifully to make it 3-0 for his team but their victory was marred by the injury to their star player.
    Sam felt like he was cursed, his whole world came crumbling down.
    He broke down in tears. 'This ankle again?'

 Chapter 4: Doomed aspirations [2]

    (First day- 1st leg fixtures)(Team A vs Team C: 3-0)
    (Man of the match: Samuel George; 45 minutes played, 1 goal, 1 assist)
    ¡­
    (Team B vs Team D: 2-2)
    (Man of the match: Muhammad Yusuf; 80 minutes played, 2 goals)
    Fwip!
    The electronic sound of a device reverberated as the white Spanish scout scrolled through the data on his iPad.
    He was a Spanish man with neatly trimmed brown beards and brown hair. He wore a casual tracksuit to compliment the hot climate of his current location.
    He inclined his head to look at the black Nigerian coach standing before him. "That boy in the first game, Samuel, right? He's good but I can't help but notice the sudden injury he sustained at the end of the game".
    He stared at the Nigerian coach in the eye. "You know who I work for so don't play games with me, be sincere, tell me his injury history".
    Coach Samson sighed. "Like you said, Sam is good, he has always been good, better than his mates but 2 years ago, he had an accident".
    The Spanish coach looked at him, leaning closer as he was suddenly more interested. "What happened?"
    The Nigerian coach sighed again. "When Sam was 11, while playing a football game in the neighborhood, he was unlucky enough to be on the end of a rough tackle and he ended up twisting his knee".
    "It left him bedridden for months, but the past year already showed that he lived past it, I never expected him to suffer this again".
    Hearing that, the Spanish coach shook his head and focused back on his iPad. "Samuel," he commented idly. "He would have made a very fine midfielder if properly groomed". sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "Mr. Gerard, what do you mean?"
    The Spanish coach looked up again at the Nigerian coach. "No offense but Nigeria doesn't have the best reputation when it comes to the medical sector".
    "Most of your players whose skill were recognized by scouts and taken abroad to play football had their careers ruined by injury, and this can be attributed to the poor medical facilities of the country".
    "I'm sorry, but Sam is no longer in my considerations".
    "Only the best of the best can get the rare opportunity of being integrated into the famed La Masia academy".
    "Scouting an injury-prone player won't do my credentials much good".
    Coach Samson had a pained looked on his face but he nodded in a mature manner. "I understand¡­, what a pity". He lamented still.
    Focused on his iPad, the Spanish coach spoke again. "Tell me more about that Muhammad Kudus, I am more interested in him".
    "Wale too, for his age, he's already showing admirable leadership traits and his mentality on the field is commendable".
    "For the first day, my eyes are on these two".
    "Ok, Mr. Gerard".
    With that, both coaches started their work and analysis long after the players who participated in the first day games already left home.
    Of course, after dislocating his ankle, Sam could not go home alone. His best friend who crashed in on the venue of the tournament after school was the one at hand to call for help to carry the 13-year-old boy home.
    Getting home, Sam met a storm.
    "Ohhhh Jesus!" He was met with his mom's dramatic wailing.
    "This boy will not kill me!" She screamed at the top of her lungs. "Stop playing football, that's all I ever demanded from you".
    "Is that too much to do for your mother, the woman who took you in for 9 months and pushed you out with her waist? Is that too much?"
    "Take this knife," Mrs. George pushed a knife into her son's arms. "Take, Sam, take, take and kill me!"
    "Just take my life!"
    Sam felt guilty, he was also in a world of pain, he could barely focus.
    His dad already left to beg the local bone corrector to come attend to his son. Almost 40 minutes later, 40 minutes of agony for Sam, the skinny middle-aged man finally arrived with his dad on a dirty white singlet and banana boxers.
    His breath reeked of alcohol. "This leg again," he said with a frown immediately as soon as he laid his eyes on Sam.
    For the next few minutes, Sam felt like Lucifer himself came from hell to drag him to the abyss as he felt agony while the man worked on his leg.
    About 2 dozen minutes later, he felt better but the pain lingered.
    The middle-aged man called his dad aside and whispered to him but Sam eavesdropped so he heard everything. "His leg is gone". The man said.
    "He can't play real football with that anymore, it's like an egg, if he doesn't want to become cripple, he must pamper and take care of it".
    There were a few seconds of silence as Mr. George turned his head to spy on his son, and then he finally spoke, thanking the man sincerely.
    Apparently, he would come back everyday to check on the ankle.
    Once the man left, as his dad entered the sitting room of their single room apartment again, Sam broke down in tears.
    He couldn't hold them back, he just couldn't.
    "Come here, my son". His old man drew him into an embrace.
    Once he was done crying his eyes out, he faced his mom's lecture.
    "No football again!" She screamed in his face even as tears rolled down her eyes. "Promise me".
    Sam stared at his mom.
    "Promise me!"
    Silence.
    "Promise me Sam or just kill me now!"
    Tears welled in Sam's eyes again. He looked at his younger sister who was just 10 who sat timidly at the corner, then back at his dad. His dad refused to meet his gaze, averting it. Seeing that, his tears flowed freely.
    "Promise me Sam!"
    Sam looked at his mom with tears and snot all over his face. "I promise".
    "No playing football, no watching football".
    Sam nodded. "Yes mom".
    "Including you too!" She turned to glare at her husband.
    He didn't look her way; he could only grumble an 'ok' in reply.
    After that did she finally pull her son into her motherly embrace, consoling him and attending to his leg. She soon left to go make Sam's best native food, fufu and Banga soup.
    Alone, Sam laid down on the floor, ignoring the numbing pain of his ankle as he looked listlessly at the ceiling.
    And like that, this chapter of his life came to an end.
    ¡­
    2 days later, the outcome of the European talent trial was decided.
    Against all odds, on the second day of the tournament, Team C pulled off a great upset, scoring 3 goals in the final 5 minutes of the second leg game, ending the game 4-1 and 4-4 on aggregates to take the game to penalties.
    Team A lost in penalties.
    In the second fixture of the day, Team D prevailed over Team B after a cagey affair that ended with a boring 1-0 scoreline and 3-2 on aggregate, enough to take Team D over the line.
    In the final, Team C thrashed Team D 5-2, winning the tournament.
    The top scorer of the tournament received a monetary prize of 200,000 naira, the best player received a monetary price of 300,000 naira, while the real lucky ones were the 2 lucky players selected by Mr. George, the Spanish coach.
    Out of 100 under-15 players, Muhammad Kudus and surprisingly, Wale were the chosen ones who got the once in a lifetime opportunity to go to the famed La Masia Academy to train on a scholarship.
    Sam learned of the result but he didn't pay much attention to it.
    Afterall, it no longer concerned him.
    His football career was over, or so he thought.

 Chapter 5: 18, December, 2022

    18, December, 2022¡­¡­
    Sam was asleep, he had a dream.
    'No football again!'
    'Promise me!'
    'Promise me Sam or just kill me now!'
    'Promise me Sam!'
    'I promise'.
    Ha!
    With a startle, Sam woke up from his sleep only to be subjected to the glare of his sister. Looking at his sister who for some reason seemed even taller today, he coughed awkwardly. "Umm, sorry".
    "You were dreaming again, right?" She scoffed. "Come eat, mom already made food".
    "Ok, I'll be there before you know it". Sam stretched and stood up from his bed. The big bed and bedframe never seemed to amaze him, it still seemed like a luxury despite it already being 2 years.
    A few years ago, he didn't have a room of his own.
    Standing up, he went straight to the bathroom to watch his face.
    In the bathroom, after watching his face, with no shirt on, Sam stood motionless, staring at his body, his current self.
    Fat cheeks, fat legs, and a slightly protruding belly, an atrocious physique which was only complimented by a fairly handsome face in his standards.
    4 years ago, Sam never imagined himself looking like this but here he was, facing reality.
    It was already 4 years since the European trials' accident¡­
    During this time, though occasionally, he was still haunted by the trauma. Sam managed to stick with his promise to his mom, abstaining from football as he didn't even watch the 2018 World Cup.
    This was how, well, he became like this.
    Sam didn't quiet regret his decision though. Afterall, football abandoned him first, it was only natural that he abandoned it back.
    During these past 4 years, things went fairly swimmingly for his family. His dad got the government job that he always wanted, improving their standard of living in the process as they moved into a 3-bedroom apartment.
    He was 17 now, and just yesteryear, he graduated from secondary school.
    As for his dream career? Sam wanted to be a doctor now.
    He wasn't exactly sure if it was because of what happened to him 4 years ago, but since then, he got this yearning to become a doctor.
    This was what pushed him to becoming a science student. Now, 17 years old, his dad registered him in the nearby pharmacist shop to get practical experience.
    Apparently, if things go well, in a year, he would be admitted into medical school. Life was going just as he wanted, so Sam was happy.
    Going to the sitting room, he enjoyed a sumptuous African meal with his family before waving his dad on his way to work and kissing his mom goodbye. He was ready to go to the pharmacy shop.
    "Oh! I forgot my bag". Exclaiming, he went back to his room to get his bag.
    He left it on his bed yesterday.
    Getting to his room, he was right, the bag was there waiting for him. Picking up the bag though, Sam froze, this was because of the face towel that stared at him there. It was not the face towel itself, but its design.
    It was designed in vibrant blue and red colors, and on its center had words imprinted.
    (Lionel Messi #10)
    Staring at that number and the name, Sam grimaced. 'Right, Ian gave this to me yesterday as a gift, apparently he wants to go out with me'.
    'For what again?'
    Then, his eyes widened. 'It's today?' Quickly picking up his phone, he hesitated before doing something he had not done in a long time, he went to a football site and quickly, he saw it.
    (2022 World Cup- 18, Dec, 2022)
    (Final: Argentina ¨C France)
    (Time: 4:00pm Nigerian time)
    Sam grimaced again at the sight. "I'm not supposed to be doing this," he mumbled before quickly leaving the site. "I've changed, I no longer like football".
    Casually throwing the towel to the side, he went to work.
    His manager was the first person to greet him at the entrance to the large pharmacist shop. "Hey Sam, how are you doing? You should have heard right?"
    He was baffled. "Heard about what?"
    "The world cup final of course! Everyone is talking about it, apparently, the old G.O.A.T is going up against a young G.O.A.T!"
    Seeing the baffled look on Sam's face, the middle-aged man was exasperated. "C'mon boy, do you live under a cave? It's all over the internet, it's Lionel Messi vs Kylian Mbappe, all my kids won't rest about it, even the girls".
    "The girls are all over Mbappe, while the boys are Messi".
    "It's a literal war in my house, its annoying but also exciting". He chuckled. "You'll watch it too right?"
    "I intend to broadcast it here in the shop".
    "No, I¡­," Sam paused, his jaws dropping in shop. "Wait, what? You intend to show the football match here in the shop?!"
    "Yes," the middle-aged man winked happily. "It's free publicity, and I bet that more customers will come today than usual".
    Sam looked at this middle-aged man, suddenly feeling light-headed.
    "I heard you once played football, so you should know a thing or two more than I do which means you'll definitely watch, right?"
    Sam nodded absentmindedly. "Yeah". In his mind though. 'Definitely not!'
    For the rest of the morning, Sam tried to avoid his manager, he succeeded in that but in the grand scheme of things, it was futile. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    From his fellow intern co-workers to the veteran pharmacists, heck, even the customers, the only thing that was in the lips of everyone today was just 2 different phrases. "Argentina vs France".
    "Messi vs Mbappe".
    'What the f*ck!'
    'What the heck is actually going on?!' Sam was exasperated.
    At some point, Sam was so suffocated by the atmosphere at the shop that he contemplated going home early from work but at exactly 3:30pm, he got a call.
    (Incoming call from My Best Buddy¡­)
    Staring at his phone, Sam was wary but still, he picked it up hesitantly. "Hello?"
    "I'm staring at you".
    Stunned, Sam looked straight at the see-through glass doors only to see his best friend standing there, smiling and waving at him.
    Ian was dressed in trendy blue jean trousers and a white and sky-blue jersey, Argentina's national team jersey. His brown hair was prominent.
    He waved his right hand that held a shopping bag. "I got you one, the jersey".
    "What are you waiting for? It's less than 30 minutes".
    "Let's go cheer on your idol".
    "Let's go watch football".
    Silence...

 Chapter 6: A miracle

    What else could Sam say in the face of his best friend?Ian was the person who knew him best in the whole world. Despite the fact that he already abandoned football for 4 years, only his best friend knew that deep inside, he still had that excitement to the mere mention of a football.
    Did he still love football?
    Honestly, Sam did not know the answer to that, after all, football broke his heart but Ian's words were enough to perform the magic.
    He was like a glutton that had been starved for ages.
    Besides, his mental resistance was already being worn down since morning, he could not bring himself to reject his best friend. 'Even people who don't watch football normally are going to watch this, what's the harm in watching?'
    'Besides, I can't get injured from just watching, right?'
    'And who knows? This may be the day¡­, the day my idol finally shuts up all the critics who use his international career against him in arguments'.
    'The day to finally shut up the haters'.
    Since 2011, Sam had been a big Lionel Messi fan and despite the fact that he left football, that love for the little Argentinian lingered.
    This was enough to make him break his promise to his mom after 4 years.
    He felt a bit guilty, but that was it. 'Mom won't even know'. He thought.
    In no time, he changed from his top into the Argentina jersey, took permission from his excited boss who granted it easily before he left with his best friend. They were going to watch this game in a place where he once built so many memories, a certain viewing center. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Staring at the signpost, Sam paused for a few seconds.
    "What?" Ian asked.
    "Nothing," he shook his head. "I just remembered something, that's all".
    As they went inside, he said casually. "This viewing center was where I watched my very first full 90 minutes of a football game".
    "Wow, really?"
    "Yeah".
    An awkward moment soon followed though as just taking 3 steps inside the viewing center, Sam's eyes clashed with a familiar face.
    He wore dark shades but Sam could still recognize him immediately.
    'F*ck! What's dad doing here?!'
    Father and son averted their gaze, avoiding each other as Ian led his best friend to a good spot where they could see the screen properly.
    Before the game started, the excited viewers supporting both teams were already at each other's throats as they argued on how the national team they supported was superior to the other, even placing bets.
    This was when one of the rich-looking boys there, Sam guessed he was an internet fraudster shouted. "10,000 naira for every France-supporting fan for every goal that France scores today".
    "Yaayyy¡­! Odogwu!" They shouted, hailing him.
    5 minutes to the game, the atmosphere in the air was already palpable, filled with excitement and anticipation.
    For some reason, Sam could feel his blood boiling.
    It was almost like he never left football. 'This feeling¡­,' he was scared and excited at the same time.
    And finally, the greatest football game on the planet started.
    Of course, the voice of the iconic commentator, Peter Drury was the first thing that introduced the excited fans into the world of football.
    ¡­
    The game started neutrally at first, both national teams being cautious, probing each other till Argentina decided to switch it up.
    Of course, France's acclaimed defense stayed firm and unbreakable till a moment of madness from Ousmane Dembele left his team in shambles in just the 23rd minute of the game.
    Receiving the ball on the left side of the pitch, Angel Di Maria, the Argentinian winger and no. 7 was up to his usual trickery as with some quick feet and ball shuffles, he left Ousmane Dembele in the dust, charging into the 18-yard box only to be tripped from behind by the French winger.
    "He's on the ground!"
    "And he's got a penalty!"
    The viewing center erupted as the ecstatic Argentina fans celebrated the moment.
    Of course, it was the Argentine captain and talisman, Lionel Messi donning the iconic no. 10 jersey who came out to take the penalty.
    Lionel Messi was not the best penalty taker in football but he was reasonably skilled. Yet, for some reason, watching Messi walk forward with the ball, Sam could not help his rapidly beating heart.
    'He's not going to miss, is he?'
    Peter Drury dutifully covered every important moment of the game.
    "¡­A heartbeat, and Messi!"
    Messi cooly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner, sending Hugo Illoris of France the other way as the stadium and the viewing center erupted in chaos.
    "GOALLLLLL!"
    The Argentina fans celebrated wildly, taunting their opposition fans in the process who could only watch in envy.
    The celebrations didn't last too long, the game resumed.
    Everyone expected France to finally bounce back into the game but the Argentina defense in that first half proved even more notorious than the French backline, completely snuffing out the star-studded French attack.
    Argentina probed and probed till again, it happened. An Argentina moment of magic was all it took to double their lead in the 36th minute of the game.
    This time, it was Messi at the center, playing an unreal pass that started the sequence of events leading up to the goal.
    After a clearance from Emiliano Martinez, the Argentinian goalkeeper and a short pass, Messi received the ball in the halfway line.
    After a deft touch to control the ball, the Argentine maestro played an unreal pass to the right side of the pitch that opened up the French defense.
    A short pass to Mac Allister who played it to Angel Di Maria at the left completely laid the French backline as open as a pirate website, only thing being that pirate websites were no good.
    Trust the Argentine winger. Di Maria made no mistakes, calmly poking the ball above Hugo Illoris into the back of the net.
    "GOALLLL!"
    If the first time, it was a shout, this time, it was a roar. A roar of victory as the Argentine fans celebrated wildly.
    Some even started singing celebratory songs immediately. To them, Lionel Messi and Argentina already won the FIFA World Cup final already.
    All that remained was to hand over the trophy to them.
    Though Sam joined in the celebrations, his was a bit muted compared to the others. Joy and excitement filled his heart but he masked it.
    He still felt unnatural in the boisterous atmosphere, he still could not bring himself to be fully free in a football atmosphere.
    For the 45 minutes of the first half all the way to the second half and to the 80th minute of the game, Argentina dominated with impunity.
    The France attack looked listless and out of ideas. When the double substitutions of Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann were made, the Argentina fans celebrated.
    To everyone who watched, France already lost, but in the 80th minute of the game, after Dembele's blunder in the first half for France, it was Nicolas Otamendi's turn for Argentina as a moment of madness cost his team, conceding a penalty kick.
    For a moment, the celebrations became muted but they didn't stop entirely as Kylian Mbappe, the French superstar took the ball to take the penalty kick.
    In the 80th minute of the game, in the FIFA World Cup final, the 22-year-old was tasked with taking a penalty kick to try bringing his nation back into the game.
    You could literally imagine the amount of pressure on the player.
    Yet, Kylian Mbappe showed no signs of pressure as after a quick glance at the goalpost, he made a shot run and then, vroom!
    The ball was in the back of the net.
    "GOAL!" The fans supporting France in the viewing center who had been silent for over 80 minutes could finally vent their frustrations as they roared.
    Their voices were not too loud though, they were still the losing side but for some reason, Sam felt his heart beating faster.
    Though he was no longer fully up to date with football, he did not live under a cave, he had heard of the Paris Saint Germain wonderkid, Kylian Mbappe.
    That goal for the first time in this game finally pulled at his emotion strings. For some reason, he felt tensed. 'Please God, it's just 10 more minutes'. He prayed but just a minute later, it happened.
    Again, it was the young wonder, Kylian Mbappe in the 81st minute.
    "Mbappe¡­, Thuram¡­, Mbappe!"
    That was all it took!
    A header, a pass, and a shot¡­, the ball was in the back of the net, and a viewing center descended into chaos.
    There were 2 factions, the radical celebrants, and the shellshocked fans.
    "GOALLLLL!!!"
    The French fans roared, ran, and jumped everywhere, celebrating wildly as the previously boisterous Argentina fans were silenced.
    "F*ck!" Sam muttered a curse, clenching his fists tightly as for the first time this game, he lost his cool.
    He looked at his best friend with intensity. "I almost said it, hold that boy, hold that fool, hold Kylian Mbappe!"
    "God! Why did they have to give him so much space?!"
    Ian was surprised at his best friend's reaction and ended up being the one to calm him down, Sam was already emotional.
    The game restarted and, oh boy, it was fair to say that the world cup final became the battleground for World War 3.
    Messi, Mbappe¡­
    Mbappe¡­, Messi¡­
    These 2 terrorized with the younger one being the greater menace for the final few minutes of the game as both national teams pushed to score and in the 90th plus 2 minutes, well, it was safe to say that Sam's soul left his body for a moment.
    "Kolo Muaniii¡­!"
    That moment was almost like a scene straight out of his worst nightmare as one-on-one with the Argentine goalkeeper, the young French forward shot at goal only for it to be blocked by Dibu Martinez.
    "F*ck!" Curses rained from both sets of fans in the viewing center.
    A few minutes later, finally, the full-time whistle was blown.
    In extra time, the war continued as both teams teased each other but again, it was Argentina who showed up when it mattered most.
    In the 108th minute of the game, the ball was with Lautaro Martinez.
    Jumping to his feet, Sam roared. "Pass! Pass the ball! Pass the f*cking ball!"
    Lautaro Martinez took a shot, it hit the goalkeeper, Sam was already cursing the goalkeeper when Lionel Messi poked the rebound in.
    Jules Kounde, the French fullback did a goal line clearance but goal-line technology judged the ball to have crossed the line.
    "GOALLLLL¡­!!!"
    Unbounded, no longer caring about how he looked, Sam pulled off his Argentina jersey, leaving only his white singlet as he waved the jersey wildly while running to the front of this viewing center.
    By now, he already lost his composure in the emotion of this incredible football game. Sam was on a high where he no longer cared about anybody.
    He celebrated like a mad man, not caring how he looked. At some point, he even hugged his dad excitedly without knowing it.
    The other Argentina fans also celebrated wildly.
    And then, 10 minutes of more tension later, it happened, and again, it was the f*cking boy wonder, Kylian Mbappe.
    His relentless pressure and play made Argentina to concede another penalty kick through a handball in the 118th minute of the game.
    "F*ck! I hate you!" Sam cried!
    Literal tears flowed from his eyes as he watched the boy take the ball again, make his trademark short run only to rifle the ball into the net again.
    "F*ck you!" Sam screamed frustratedly.
    The FIFA World Cup 2022 final went to penalties.
    Sam's emotions were at a crescendo. He was almost too scared to watch the penalty shootout but he cared too much at this point, he was too invested to not watch, he forced himself to watch.
    And on the aftermath of that evening, Sam became an Emiliano Martinez superfan.
    The penalty shootout was tension packed.
    The boy who was on god-mode, Kylian Mbappe took the first penalty. He went the same way but again, the mother*cker took his moment with aplomb, rattling the ball into the back of the net despite Martinez's best efforts.
    On this evening, he was like the main character of a novel with plot armor working in his favor as he became only the 2nd football player in history to score a hattrick in a FIFA world cup final.
    To Sam, he was a cockroach that just won't die.
    "I hate you!" He mumbled to himself anxiously.
    When Messi stepped up, again, he was overwhelmed by fear, having flashbacks to Messi's penalty miss in the Copa America final many years ago.
    But this time, his worst fears were not realized, Messi cooly slotted his penalty into the back of the net.
    Then it was Kingsley Coman, the French winger's turn to take the second penalty. This was the moment that would go down in history as the Emiliano Martinez moment as the Argentina goalkeeper went full villain mode, engaging in some iconic shithousery to mess with and enter his opponent's mind.
    It worked.
    Coman kicked the ball well but Martinez dove the right way, tipping the ball away from the net.
    "Yes!!!!" Sam jumped up to his feet from where he sat as he pumped his fists excitedly. "F*cking yes!" He screamed for joy.
    The viewing center was in chaos but it soon calmed down again because, there were more penalties to be taken.
    Paulo Dybala went up next, he cooly scored.
    And then, Aurelien Tchouameni of France went up next only to be subjected to more of Martinez's shithousery.
    The Argentinian goalkeeper was determined to do whatever it took to bring the trophy back home.
    Aurelien stood, he looked, then he took his shot, but dragged it wide.
    "F*CKING YES!!!" Sam jumped to his feet again for joy, excitement and relief written all over his face. "YES!" He screamed.
    The Argentina fans were over the moon again.
    Leandro Paredes stepped up for Argentina next, slotting his ball into the net again. It was now 3 to Argentina, 1 to France.
    Randal Kolo Muani stepped up next for France, took his shot confidently and scored, cutting the Argentine lead down.
    And then, the deciding moment all came down to the 4th Argentine penalty taker, Gonzalo Montiel.
    In the viewing center, no fan could sit down anymore, they all stood up.
    Some placed their hands akimbo on their hips, tensed, others with hands on their heads, some partially covering their eyes, and all with batted breaths, they watched.
    Montiel took a shot run, took his shot, straight into the bottom left corner.
    ¡­for a few seconds, Sam's head glitched, he could not keep up with the proceedings but then, "GOALLLLLLL!!!" A revitalized Sam celebrated in euphoria!
    "Argentina, champions of the world!" Peter Drury once again was at the ready to bless the moment with his iconic commentary.
    "Again¡­, at last!"
    "And the nation will tango all night long!"
    "36 years since Maradona and¡­"
    Sam could not hear more because he was already drunk in the euphoria of the moment. The celebrations were radical and wild even as the France supporters stormed out of the viewing center.
    Sam had never felt this much joy all his life, not even the 2011 Champions league final made him feel this way.
    Exactly how he was feeling¡­, he could not describe it.
    It was just so sweet, so beautiful, so dreamy, so indescribable.
    "Sam, we did it!" Ian hugged him excitedly.
    In the midst of the celebrations was when it all started coming back to him. 'Football¡­, I can't leave it, I just can't', I love it too much'.
    'Football is me, and I am football, it is what drives me'.
    'Without football, I'm just a robot'.
    'But my legs¡­,' he sighed. 'Only if I could get a miracle'.
    Right at that moment, something inexplicable happened.
    [Your plea for a miracle has been answered!]
    [Congratulations! You have received a reward: Ultimate Football System!]
    [Initializing¡­, please wait¡­]

 Chapter 7: Ultimate football system

    "Umm, Mr. Moses, how on earth did you suddenly appear at the scene again?" A confused Ian asked as he looked at his best friend's dad.Now that he thought about it, those dark shades¡­, he thought he saw someone who looked exactly like this when he just entered the football viewing center with his best friend.
    'Was he there all along?' This boy thought. 'But I thought Sam's mom banned anything football from their family after what happened to Sam 4 years ago'.
    Staring at the 17-year-old boy, Mr. Moses chuckled. "You see my boy, I was not supposed to be there but this friend of mine just couldn't let me be, he was the one who dragged me there".
    "I refused at first but you know, friends," he chuckled and waved his hand. "They can be so persuasive sometimes".
    "Yeah," Ian nodded, understanding as he could relate it to how he also dragged his best friend to watch the football game. 'So, it's like that'. He thought.
    But then, Mr. Moses added after quickly glancing around. "Umm, about what I just told you, can you please not tell my wife or my daughter about it".
    "Huh?"
    "Just tell them that after it happened, you were flustered but you still had the presence of mind to call somebody. My number is in Sam's emergency contacts, you can say you called me through there and coincidentally, I was closeby".
    "That was how we were able to rush Sam to the hospital on time, okay?"
    Ian nodded slowly. "Ok¡­," he scratched his head. "I can do that".
    "Good". Mr. Moses nodded, after which he rubbed his hair; it was the umpteenth time that he was doing it since he came to the hospital.
    And then, he threw a nervous glance at his son who was on the hospital bed.
    He still didn't know exactly what happened. One moment, he was celebrating exuberantly with all the other Argentine supporting fans present but out of the blue, the celebrations stopped as shouts of alarm started.
    Rushing to the scene, to his absolute horror, it was his son.
    Apparently, in the midst of the celebrations, Sam suddenly fainted.
    Without wasting a single moment, he paid to order an uber drive that ferried him, Ian, and his son to the nearest hospital, Abraka General Hospital.
    The Doctor already checked on his son and they said his situation was stable as they put him on bed rest, but their tests was yet to bear results.
    It was already about 30 minutes since they arrived here.
    And just as Mr. Moses had all these thoughts, the door to this ward of the hospital opened again as a nurse on blue nursing scrubs entered.
    She smiled at the middle-aged man. "Mr. Moses, right?"
    "Yes," he stood up immediately. "Are the test results out?"
    "Yes, sir".
    "What is it? What happened to my son?" S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "Calm down sir," she smiled reassuringly. "Sam is perfectly fine and healthy, what happened out there was just a phenomenon caused by cascading emotions".
    "His dopamine levels were too high due to his extreme joy and emotion, to protect his body, his brain had to shut down".
    "That is why he fainted, otherwise, Sam is perfectly healthy".
    Hearing that, Mr. Moses grabbed his head and heaved a huge sigh of relief. "God is still on my side, afterall". He could finally smile again. "Thank you nurse, I¡­"
    Bam!
    The door was pushed open again as 2 women entered, one of them looking extra dramatic as she tied native wrapper round her waist on a black polo shirt. The other much younger looking lady wore a simple sky-blue gown.
    These 2 women were Mrs. Moses and Aurelia, Sam's mom and sister.
    As soon as the older woman stormed into the hospital ward, seeing her husband, she exploded. "Just kill me Moses!" She screamed loudly.
    "Kill me!"
    Mr. Moses reacted immediately, going closer as he grabbed his wife. "My wife, please calm down, you'll¡­"
    "Just kill me you bad man!" Tears started flowing down her eyes. "You want to kill yourself and my son for me!"
    "What were the both of you doing in the viewing center?"
    "What happened to your promise?"
    "What happened to no more football?"
    "I always knew that the both of you wanted to kill me, take," she brought out a knife. "Take and just end my life because that is what the both of you want".
    "Moses, end my life!"
    Mr. Moses was exasperated. "Sarah, please calm down, Sam is on bed rest, all your noise will wake him up".
    "It's now you care about his health, abi?" She spoke pidgin.
    "When the both of you went behind my back to go watch a football match, you never saw this coming, did you? You both just want to kill me!"
    "S-Sarah," Mr. Moses grabbed his head, frustrated. "Listen to me, it's not like that, Sam is completely fine, listen to the nurse first before concluding".
    "It was just the emotions of the moment that caused all this¡­"
    "Emotions my foot!" She screamed. "Those emotions, was it not caused by the football match?"
    "That¡­," Mr. Moses was tongue-tied. "See, just listen to me".
    "I won't! I will never listen to you!"
    While Sam's mom was being all dramatic and all, Ian wisely retreated to the corner, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible even as Aurelia, his best friend's sister walked up to check up on her big brother.
    At the same time, the noise also got to Sam.
    His eyes didn't open yet but the brain woke his conscious self up. He was the one who decided not to open his eyes.
    This decision was partially because he didn't want to face the wrath of his mom and also because the moment he woke up, he confirmed that he was not hallucinating, it was real!
    ~-----~
    [Your plea for a miracle has been answered!]
    [Congratulations! You have received a reward: Ultimate Football System!]
    [Initializing¡­, please wait¡­]
    [Collecting host information¡­]
    [Analyzing data!]
    Beep!
    [Initialization complete!]
    [Please wait 5 seconds¡­]
    ¡­
    [Welcome to the Ultimate Football System!]
    [Your earnest yearning for a miracle has created one. You have received a system that will help pave the way for you to rise to the top of the football world as the ultimate player and football God.]
    Host: Samuel Moses
    Current Career Status: Stagnant (Doomed Aspirations)
    Talent Rating: C-
    Player Position: Undefined
    Player Attributes:
    *Pace: 70
    *Shot: 69
    *Pass: 74
    *Dribbling: 64
    *Defending: 33
    *Physicality: 60
    *Stamina: 78
    Overall Rating: 67
    ¡­
    [You have been rewarded with a start-up bonus: Random loot box!]
    [Click to unlock rewards of random loot box!]
    ~----~

 Chapter 8: My mommy is Bruce Lee!

    "Bye!" Ian waved at his best friend after escorting them back to his home."Thank you, my son". Mrs. Moses said with a big smile on her face.
    Sam looked at his best friend, mixed emotions in his eyes. "Thank you¡­," he muttered and paused, then he added. "Thank you for inviting me, I enjoyed myself".
    "¡­!" Ian paused.
    A fiery gaze soon turned his way the next moment. "Wait¡­, what?" Mrs. Moses' eyes soon shone in understanding, then fury. "Come here! You're the one who invited my son to go watch a¡­?"
    "Bye Mommy Sam, my dad is waiting for me".
    Not daring to wait to face the wrath of the woman, Ian ran while acting like he could not hear her as she shouted and ranted behind him.
    And with Ian gone, the family of 4 could finally enter their home.
    Aurelia was neutral but Sam and Mr. Moses entered with looks on their faces like their fate was sealed and they were about to face the executioner.
    Well, they indeed were about to face an executioner, the only factor being that this executioner was their own mother and wife.
    Once they entered¡­
    "What are you standing for?" Mrs. Moses snapped, glaring at her husband especially. "Did we suddenly run out of chairs in the house to sit on?"
    Her husband coughed and looked at his 17-year-old son, then together, they located chairs to sit on beside each other.
    The events that followed after Sam woke up in the hospital was straightforward and simple.
    The nurse did more checkups on him before confirming that he was ready to be discharged. With that, a bill of 25,000 naira was given to Sam's father.
    After paying the bills, Mr. Moses took his family on a three-wheeled public transport drive back to their apartment.
    The sitting room was big, well ventilated and with a ceiling fan diligently working above them yet for some reason, sitting in this room with this woman, Sam and his dad could not help but sweat and fidget.
    In the end, Mr. Moses spoke first, staring at his wife. "What?"
    "What do you mean what?"
    "Why are you staring at me with that eye?"
    "Why won't I stare at you with that eye?!" She snapped.
    Silence¡­
    A few seconds later, she spoke again. "What in the name of God were the both of you doing in a viewing center?"
    "George was the one who dragged me over," Mr. Moses scratched his head. "Besides, the world cup final is the biggest game of football and its only played every 4 years, so¡­"
    He stared at his wife. "I wanted to enjoy myself, can't I do that anymore?"
    Hearing that, this woman glared at her husband even more intently. "The nerve of you!" She raised her voice. "Would you have told me that if something happened to Sam today? Huh?"
    "What if he died? What if our son died? Is that what you would have told me? It that it?!"
    "Why do you keep on tempting the devil? Just why?!"
    Hearing his mom rant on, Sam continued fidgeting where he sat without saying a word. Sometimes, listening to his mom's dressing downs, he didn't feel like he was facing a normal human being at all, rather it felt like something else.
    Something like¡­, 'f*ck! My mom is Bruce Lee!' He thought.
    Some words, Sam could not even understand as his mom missed pidgin, English, and their native language to rant at his dad.
    But this time, Mr. Moses refused to budge. "What is it?!" He finally snapped.
    For the first time in forever, Sam saw his dad get angry at his mom. "Why do I have to live such a restrained life? I'm not a child!"
    "Stop this, stop that¡­, can't I live life to the fullest anymore?"
    "Everything happens for a reason, including Sam's mistake. Sam loved football, he followed his passion and played, then he got injured".
    "Did he ever tell you that he regretted playing football because of the injury?"
    "No! You imposed it on him, telling him to stop entirely, why?" He glared at his wife. "All because of your selfish desire to not see him anywhere close to a football. At this point, I really don't know if its overprotectiveness or just selfishness".
    Sam's mom opened her mouth to speak but no words came, tears were what flowed from her eyes instead.
    "It's the tears again". Mr. Moses threw his hands up. "I'm the bad person now, right?"
    "Gosh, I'm tired". He stood up, taking his phone and storming outside.
    By now, tears were already rushing down Mrs. Moses' face as she stared at her husband. "I can't believe you said that to me because of football".
    Mr. Moses turned. "Why can't I do what I love? I love football".
    "Now, I hate it even more," she snapped again". "I hate it!"
    Without saying a word further, Mr. Moses left.
    His wife screamed at him from behind. "No football!"
    "Not in my house, not in my family, no football!"
    Mr. Moses didn't answer, he already left and his wife was left crying. Like statues, frozen, Sam and Aurelia could only stare at the ground without speaking.
    "What are you 2 staring at? Go to your rooms!"
    "Yes, mommy".
    "And you, no football! Ever again!"
    Sam stared at his mom.
    "No football!" She screamed. "I mean it".
    "Yes mommy".
    That night, the energy in the Moses home was incredibly tense and oppressive. Mrs. Moses refused to make food, leaving her children to starve and for the first time in forever, Sam's father slept out at night.
    Sneaking out of their room at night, the 2 siblings heard their mom crying at night while praying. The atmosphere was incredibly somber.
    Sneaking to the dining room, they stole snacks from the fridge to eat.
    By now, it was already past 10 at night.
    Of course, Aurelia did not miss her chance to accuse her selfish older brother for sowing discord in the home and making their mom cry. Sam felt incredibly guilty.
    In the end, by 11:00pm, Sam was alone in the sitting room.
    His sister already slept, his mom was still sobbing in her room, while his dad was still somewhere outside. Picking up his phone, he dialed his dad's number.
    "The number you're trying to call is currently busy, please try again later¡­"
    Sam grimaced. Lost in his thoughts, drowning in his guilt, he could only look at the ceiling. He looked long enough till his thoughts became blank.
    And in the blankness of his thoughts, the euphoria of today finally started coming back to him.
    Removing all the unpleasantness that followed him, without a doubt, Sam was sure that this was the best day of his life.
    And this football game was undoubtedly the best game of his life.
    Picking up his phone again, he accessed the internet for reactions, this was when he finally saw the multitude of reactions to Argentina's world cup win.
    The reactions brought a smile to his face and also made him remember something. "The system," he muttered. "It's real".
    Right at that moment, the virtual blue screen shimmered into existence before his eyes again.
    Despite seeing it before already, Sam was still startled by it. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    He touched it but his hand went through it like it was a mirage.
    He sighed. "It's now or never".
    Sam was still overwhelmed by the many things that happened today, he was yet to figure out a lot of things but what he knew what that if this system was really real, he wanted to check it out.
    First of all, he wanted to open his reward.
    ~----~
    [You have been rewarded with a start-up bonus: Random loot box!]
    [Click to unlock rewards of random loot box!]
    [Claim reward!]
    ~----~
    Sam clicked on the claim reward and this time, his finger didn't pass through the holographic image, the square-shaped loot box blinked before disappearing.
    Fireworks and celebratory ribbons were made and the next moment, a banana appeared on the screen.
    ~----~
    [You have opened random loot box!]
    [Congratulations! You have received a high-grade vitality fruit!]
    &gt;Vitality Fruit: This is a miraculous fruit that is capable of healing all injuries incurred by a footballer within seconds. There is also a chance of it improving your innate vitality and physical resilience&lt;
    ~----~
    "¡­"
    "¡­"
    "¡­..!"
    Sam's eyes opened so wide that they almost fell off their sockets. "What in the frickety f*ck!"

 Chapter 9: High-grade vitality fruit

    ~----~[You have opened random loot box!]
    [Congratulations! You have received a high-grade vitality fruit!]
    &gt;Vitality Fruit: This is a miraculous fruit that is capable of healing all injuries incurred by a footballer within seconds. There is also a chance of it improving your innate vitality and physical resilience&lt;
    ~----~
    The blue screen disappeared and, in its place, a real yellow banana appeared, falling right into Sam's outstretched palm.
    Feeling the physical touch of the banana, Sam felt goosebumps all over. "I-it's real!" He stammered. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Grasping the banana tighter, Sam threw a glance around, confirming that no one was around to see him and then he heaved a sigh of relief.
    He could not stay in the sitting room though, he felt exposed here.
    The first thing he did was run to his bedroom. Locked inside there, he finally felt hidden and safe, and then he picked the banana up again.
    "What am I supposed to do with this?"
    "Eat it?"
    Right at that moment, another system notification appeared before him.
    [You have 10 seconds remaining to ingest the high-grade vitality fruit before it disappears!]
    "F*ck!" Sam pushed the banana down his throat immediately and in 3 big bites, the banana disappeared.
    Sam stared, and waited.
    For a few seconds, nothing happened but then, he felt strange.
    It almost felt like an embrace, soothing. Sam had never been in those revered hot baths before but right now, he felt like this was how a hot bath would feel like.
    It was almost like a holy oil originated from his stomach, permeating through his body and into his skin even as a heavenly hand gave him the best massage ever.
    It almost felt like a touch of God himself.
    From inside, Sam felt like this touch was cradling him, remolding him. He enjoyed it, heck, he didn't want this sensation to stop if it could.
    But everything does come to an end, including this feeling.
    ~----~
    [You have ingested a high-grade vitality fruit!]
    [Major injury was identified: Misaligned ankle¡­]
    [Ankle injury has been healed!]
    [Other minor body injuries have been healed!]
    [Host's current physical status: Standard]
    ~----~
    Seeing this, Sam could not react. He did not know how to feel even, this was because he could tell that the notifications before him were no bluff.
    He could tell because, well, he was the one who had ownership of his body.
    He could tell from how he was feeling, he could tell from how his legs were feeling. Heck, he felt really good right now.
    "System, show me my status".
    The system complied.
    ~----~
    [Player status!]
    Host: Samuel Moses
    Current Career Status: Stagnant (Waiting for the right catalyst)
    Talent Rating: C+
    Player Position: Undefined
    Player Attributes:
    *Pace: 70
    *Shot: 69
    *Pass: 74
    *Dribbling: 64
    *Defending: 33
    *Physicality: 60
    *Stamina: 78
    Overall Rating: 67
    ~----~
    'My talent rating improved!' His eyes gleamed.
    His mom's ranting this evening was still very fresh in his mind but unlike before, Sam could not pay as much heed to it because this time, there was something else distracting him from the fear of his mom.
    The Ultimate Football System was this new distracting factor.
    Sam found it truly hard to wrap his head around the current reality but if the system was right, did this just mean the injury that ruined his football career was now well and truly healed?
    His breathing became rapid. "Oh my God!"
    "I'm so excited, is this really real? I can't wait to test it out tomorrow!"
    "Heck! I can do it this night!"
    After his last ankle injury 4 years ago, running became a luxury for him. Running for just 2 minutes would make his ankle ache, running for more minutes caused severe consequences, that is what he was going to try out.
    But just as he stood up from his bed, something happened.
    The main door of his house opened.
    At first, Sam was alarmed. 'Who is it? A thief?'
    Silently, he snuck out of his room and opened his door. Going outside, he peeked and well, it was safe to say that Sam was flabbergasted.
    "My love".
    Silence.
    "My wife, the one who holds the key to my heart".
    "Stop".
    "Love of my life".
    "Leave me".
    "My everything. You know I'm sorry, right?"
    "I didn't mean to raise my voice at you, I'm sorry, I was just, you know, frustrated. You know how much I love football".
    "I know, it's just Sam".
    "Don't worry about Sam, I'll take more responsibility for him now".
    From where Sam hid, peeking, he was absolutely stunned as he stared at the shameless couple face each other.
    There stood his dad, with the meekest face that Sam had ever seen on him facing his mom who acted so strong like she had not been crying since.
    And before he knew it, out of nowhere, his parents were already kissing.
    'What the f*ck!' Sam exclaimed in his mind.
    'This shameless duo, how can you raise such a storm and just act like nothing happened now?'
    Sam felt tense, it was escalating.
    "Umm, the children are in their room, they'll see".
    "Don't worry, they're sleeping," Mr. Moses interjected. "I know my children; they should be asleep by now".
    "Let's go to the bedroom".
    "No, here is just fine with me".
    Hearing that, Sam's face turned a deep shade of pink. Already having an idea about what was about to happen, he snuck back to his room, locked his door before wisely putting his headset on to listen to some loud music.
    While the music played, he cursed in his mind. 'Shameless couple!'
    About a dozen minutes later, he changed the playlist to a list of cool songs that would help him sleep.
    He started feeling sleepy but just as he closed his eyes, he heard a beeping sound.
    Beep!
    The system startled him awake.
    ~----~
    [Sam, welcome to a new day!]
    [You have unlocked Daily Quest- Get back in shape!]
    [You have unlocked today's daily quest goals!]
    [Task 1: 100 push-ups]
    ¡­
    [Task 2: 100 squats]
    ¡­
    [Task 3: 100 sit-ups]
    ¡­
    [Task 4: Run 10 kilometers]
    ¡­
    [WARNING: If the daily quest is not completed, penalties will be given accordingly.]
    [Remark: With great power comes great responsibilities.]
    ~----~

 Chapter 10: Daily Quest- Get back in shape

    23rd, December, 2022¡­¡­
    Thud! Thud!
    The sound of boots hitting ground reverberated as a tall 17-year-old lumbered through the streets with headsets blocking his ears, jogging even as he wiped the perspiration from his forehead.
    It was still very early in the morning.
    The early cock crows reverberated through the veil of the morning, announcing the start of a new day in this part of Abraka.
    And that early in the morning, a boy was already jogging.
    "Good morning, Sam!" A businessman who sold phones and electronic accessories called loudly and waved on seeing the boy jog pass again.
    Sam heard through the sound filtration technology of his headset. He was not really listening to music; he just blocked his ears with the headset to reduce distractions as he jogged. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "Good morning, Mr. Josh!" He greeted back.
    He exchanged greetings with a few more people along the road as he continued jogging.
    About a minute later, he deviated from the road, taking a right turn to enter the university premises that was close to his home through the middle gate.
    Once he was inside the school road, he increased his running speed even as his breathing became more labored. As he ran, he paid attention to something else.
    ~----~
    [Active Daily Quest: Get back in shape!]
    [Task 1: 100 push-ups]
    [Progress: 0/100 push-ups done]
    ¡­
    [Task 2: 100 squats]
    [Progress: 0/100 squats done]
    ¡­
    [Task 3: 100 sit-ups]
    [Progress: 0/100 sit-ups done]
    ¡­
    [Task 4: Run 10 kilometers]
    [Progress: 9.8/10 kilometers run]
    ¡­
    [WARNING: If the daily quest is not completed, penalties will be given accordingly.]
    [Remark: With great power comes great responsibilities.]
    ~----~
    Well, for the fifth day straight, Sam was up and running, yearning to complete the daily tasks that the system set for him.
    After the encounter 5 days ago when Argentina played France in the world cup final, after getting acclimatized to the system in the night, the next day, he was forced to take the daily tasks serious.
    That Monday, waking up as laidback as ever before, Sam prayed with his family, took his bath, ate, and left for work to come back in the evening.
    By the time he got home in the evening, he was already dead tired. 'I guess I can't meet the system daily tasks goal, I'm just too tired'.
    Well, he learned to regret being lazy with the system in play.
    The system did not tolerate laziness.
    ~----~
    [Host has failed to meet the daily system quests on time!]
    [You have triggered penalty: Dehydration]
    [Duration: 4 hours]
    ~----~
    Well, the penalty was just as the system displayed before him.
    All of a sudden, despite the fact that he just ate a sumptuous meal after getting home and drinking enough water, Sam suddenly felt dehydrated.
    He drank more water but it couldn't quench it.
    And for every minute more that he stayed, the more severe the dehydration symptoms became. It got to the point it almost felt like he was stuck in a desert, his throat was so dry that he felt he would choke and die.
    He sought his father for help but when his father could not tell what was wrong, that was when it finally dawned on him.
    Spooked, Sam had no choice but to rush to his room, wear his combat shorts and his pair of slippers before going out on a jog in the night.
    Running 10 kilometers with a pair of slippers was torture. Add his physique then into the mix, and it was a horrifying endeavor.
    Sam could not stop though even if he wanted. It got so severe till he thought if he stayed a minute longer so dehydrated, he would die.
    Despite the fact that he was dead tired and his whole body was aching, scared by the prospects of dying, Sam dared not stop.
    He never knew he had so much energy and stamina hidden inside him.
    In the end, somehow, he managed to complete all tasks that first day. On getting back home, seeing him covered with sweat all over, of course, his mom asked questions but Sam was too tired to answer.
    He retreated to sleep immediately but before he slept completely, he saw the system light up with a notification again.
    ~----~
    [You have completed Daily Quest: Get back in shape!]
    [You have been rewarded with a low-grade physical conditioning elixir!]
    [Host has been detected to be in an inactive state, automatically ingesting low-grade physical conditioning elixir, please wait¡­]
    ~----~
    The next day, Tuesday morning, Sam woke up feeling refreshed and energetic and for some reason, he felt that his belly fat reduced a bit.
    'Huh? What happened?'
    Then, his eyes widened. 'Is it because of the physical conditioning elixir?'
    'Holy sh*t! This system is a cheat!'
    Well, Tuesday morning, he started the routine, absolutely scared of facing another penalty from the system.
    After every daily quest session, Sam was rewarded with the same physical conditioning elixir and well, after 5 days, the results were evident.
    Sam did not suddenly get the Cristiano Ronaldo physique but compared to 5 days ago, he now looked fit.
    His belly fat was gone though there was no six packs yet. His legs were no longer chubby and fat, now slimmer and more athletic.
    Achieving this much change in just 5 days was impossible but with the low-grade physical conditioning elixirs that he got every day, the impossible was made possible. Sam's overview of the system rose every day.
    Sam did not just jog into the university premises for nothing though, his destination was the school gym.
    This was where he completed the rest of his daily quest goals.
    By the time he got to the gym, he got a beep and notification from his system indicating that he already ran 10 kilometers.
    Entering inside the school gym, having paid the 3,000-naira monthly fee from his savings 4 days ago, Sam went straight to his corner where he started his work-out with sit-ups.
    He mixed sit-ups and squats and about a dozen minutes later or so, he was done with both workouts.
    He finally switched to his last for the day, push-ups.
    He divided his last workout into 3 sets.
    The first set, he went for 50 straight push-ups. After resting for a short while, for the second set, he did 30 straight push-ups before ending it with the last set of 20 push-ups.
    And with that, he was done.
    "Sam, you're already running off like usual right?" The gym coach caught him.
    Sam chuckled. "Coach Andrew, I've got no choice, I have work to do".
    "Besides, my mom will skin me alive if I stay too long".
    "Mommy's boy". Coach Andrew, the hefty coach who wore normal gym clothes teased as Sam left.
    Sam got his completed daily quest notification and his reward, the low-grade physical conditioning elixir.
    As soon as he got outside the gym though, he met a familiar face. It was a tall black boy with big biceps and short groomed black hair.
    "Hey Favour, what's popping?"
    "My man Sam," they shook hands. "You're running again, right?"
    "Yeah, I can't afford to stay for too long man".
    "I understand".
    Sam was about to jog off when Favour held him back. "Wait! I remembered something, you once said you are really good at playing football, right?"
    Sam looked at the tall boy. "Yeah, anything?"
    "Yes," Favour smiled. "My brother is an aspiring coach. They organized a sponsored Christmas football game between his team and another team from Warri".
    "His team is complete, but he's looking out for talented players to bolster his squad and further increase his chances of winning the game".
    "You see, the winning prize is big". Favour smiled and winked. "So, Sam, do you think you're good enough?"
    "By the way, I heard Yemi Daniel Olanrewaju, Enyimba FC's coach will be coming to the game as a guest of honor to spectate".
    "Who knows, he may keep an eye out for outstanding performers".
    Hearing that, Sam's eyes gleamed sharply. 'An opportunity!'

 Chapter 11: An opportunity

    Sam jogged back home.Seeing him enter again in a hurry, Mrs. Moses who was already in the kitchen could not help but comment. "Hmmm, you and this your new hobby of early morning jogging, hope we're safe".
    "Don't worry mommy," Sam smiled. "You are completely safe".
    "It's a good thing sha," she commented. "That way, you won't look like a sack of overboiled beans again, you were beginning to turn obese".
    "¡­" Sam was speechless.
    "Besides, maybe, it will help you finally get a girlfriend".
    "Hey, don't give me that look, are you not old enough to have a girlfriend? And when you do, you must bring a beautiful girl like your mom and sister, I'll kill you myself if you bring an ugly girl to my home".
    Sophia who was in the sitting room laughed. "Mom, he's blushing".
    "Shut up!" Sam snapped.
    "That should occupy you from football too, so it's good". She added.
    Hearing his mom say that, Sam didn't say anything else as he rushed to his room to take his bath. On getting back, everyone was already in the dining room as Mrs. Moses already made a sumptuous meal for them.
    Sam dove in, eating to his fill.
    Throughout, his dad kept on throwing looks his way. Both men didn't say a word though and like usual, Mr. Moses finished eating first before leaving to work.
    Sam finished after his dad before also leaving for the pharmacy.
    While leaving, Sam picked up his android phone and went to his WhatsApp, easily navigating to his best friend's number.
    {Ian, we need to talk}
    {I¡­}
    ¡­
    2 hours later, while Sam was at work¡­
    {Ian: What? You want to start playing football again?!}
    {Ian is typing¡­}
    Seeing his best friend's message, Sam sighed and picked up his phone.
    {Sam: Yeah, what's wrong? Can't I play football anymore? The passion always lingered even after 4 years ago, but that match, that match brought it all out. I rediscovered my calling, Ian. My calling is not to be some doctor saving lives, it's to be a footballer like Messi and Ronaldo entertaining millions.}
    {Ian: Ok, calm down mate. First of all, I'm beginning to regret taking you to watch the game, and I'm dead serious man. Do you want to be a cripple?! Your legs are no longer cut out for playing football!}
    {Sam: I'm healed now, trust me.}
    {Ian: Who healed you? God?}
    {Sam: You can say that, it was a miracle.}
    {Ian: Omg, I can't believe it, my buddy is going insane. Sam, what the hell has gotten over you? What of your mom? Your promise?}
    {Sam: That's why I'm coming to you bro. I already made up my mind but I'm scared, I feel guilty. I want support, any type of support that's why I chatted you up. I'm at work, you can come check my leg out yourself, I swear I'm healed now.}
    {Ian: Wait for me, I'm coming.}
    ¡­
    25 minutes later, Ian's jaws almost fell off his face.
    "What the f*ck!"
    "Sam? Is that you? What the hell happened to you?"
    Sam grinned. "That's what I was trying to tell you, I'm healed".
    "Tell me what happened".
    Well, this was the moment of truth.
    For the past 5 days since on Sunday after it happened, Sam had been thinking, should he reveal the truth of the Ultimate Football System to anyone?
    At first, he was scared of the prospects of anyone else knowing about the system but in the end, he thought. 'Can I keep such a big secret to only myself?'
    'Though I'm not a many people person, I've also never been a one-man person, I can't keep such a big secret to myself'.
    In the end, after thinking hard for 5 days about it, he decided to tell his best friend and that was exactly what he did at this moment.
    Ian stood still, staring at his best friend with a weird look on his face. "You're meaning to tell me that right now, as we speak, there's a holographic projection before you that only you can see and I cannot see?"
    Sam nodded.
    Ian also nodded, he looked to the side, then back at his best friend, then he exclaimed. "Wait! You're really not lying?"
    "I'm not"
    "Holy freaking Jesus, Sam, that's crazy!"
    "I know, right? But don't raise your voice". Sam stressed.
    In the end, after having an extensive conversation where Ian repeatedly stressed on why he shouldn't reveal the system to anyone else, his best friend gave him the only piece of advice that he could.
    "It's your family we're talking about man, your family presides over even me, the only one that can advise you on this is your family".
    "I don't recommend talking to your mom, but your dad, you can talk to him".
    "Tell him about everything, the system, your goal, tell him".
    In the end, Sam could not refute it, he nodded. "Ok, thank you Ian".
    "Don't mention bro, you're my homie".
    Shortly after his best friend left, Sam took permission from his boss at the pharmacy before leaving. He took public transport to his dad's office.
    Once he was outside the big consortium, he picked up his phone and called.
    "Hey, Sam, how're you doing?"
    "Hey Dad, I'm outside your workplace".
    There was silence for a few seconds, then, "are you ok?"
    "Yes, I think".
    "Ok, wait for me, I'm coming".
    Leaving all his work behind, Mr. Moses came out to meet his son. He didn't come emptyhanded, he brought 2 cups of ice cream with him, giving his son one.
    "Take, follow me, let's go on a walk, tell me what's bothering you". S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Sam looked up at his dad. "How did you know?"
    Mr. Moses gave his son the 'are you really asking that?' eye. "I'm your dad".
    Sam smiled and followed.
    For minutes, father and son just strolled without saying a word, observing and admiring the surrounding scenery then out of the blue, Sam spoke. "Dad, I want to tell you something".
    "Go on".
    "It's about that day".
    "When Argentina won, right?" His dad smiled at him.
    Sam looked at his dad, wondering how he knew again, then he nodded. "Yes, I want to tell you the true reason why I fainted".
    His father's face became a bit more serious. "Ok, I'm listening".
    Sam took a deep breath, and then he spilled the beans.
    By the time he was done explaining, Sam looked down, imagining a multitude of scenarios in his head on how his dad would react, in the end, his dad didn't react in any of the ways that he expected.
    "Sam," he patted his boy by the shoulder. "What happened to you, it really is nothing short of a miracle".
    "You know, in my high school days when Messi and Ronaldo were in their prime, scoring goals for fun week in week out, I once prayed in church fervently to give birth to a professional football player".
    "Who knows?" He chuckled. "Maybe, it's my prayer coming to pass".
    Sam looked up at his dad nervously. "So?"
    Mr. Moses chuckled. "You have my blessings, son". He grinned. "Follow your passion, fight for what you want and be happy, I support it".
    "Don't worry, I'll make time to come watch you play on Sunday".
    "Really?"
    "Yes".
    Sam was excited, but then his expression changed again. "What of mom?"
    His dad smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, you do what you want and you better not make a mess of it".
    "As for your mom, leave her to me, I'll take care of her".
    Sam smiled, and this time, tears flowed from his eyes, tears of joy.
    He hugged his dad tightly. "Thanks dad".
    "I won't let you down!"
    On that evening, a dream metamorphosized to become a conviction.

 Chapter 12: Preparation

    "Hey Favour, it's Sam, I'm in for that football game you told me about, what do I need to be a part of it?""Wow! Really? That's good, my brother has been so paranoid since, he'll be really happy to get another player".
    "Don't worry, just come to the field in the university to train with the squad ahead of Christmas, that's all you need to do".
    "Ok man, thanks for giving me this opportunity".
    "Don't thank me yet man, thank me if you can make it into the team".
    "Ok, I will".
    And with that, Sam became mentally prepared for a Christmas that would most likely be his most exciting one in years.
    Returning to his workplace at the pharmacy, he had a big smile on his face.
    "What happened?" A co-worker asked.
    "Huh?"
    "You look giddy".
    Sam was baffled. "And?"
    "That's not your normal face. Your face naturally looks depressed, I'm used to it, I'm just surprised to see such a look on your face".
    Now, Sam was more weirded out than he was baffled.
    That little conversation didn't affect his mood though. For the rest time he spent in the pharmacy, he was distracted as he juggled different things.
    Of course, the first thing Sam did was messaging his best friend on whatsapp.
    {Sam: Ian, you're the G.O.A.T!}
    {Sam: Guess what, I spoke with my dad, I told him everything and surprisingly, he was supportive. Tomorrow, I'll go for training and on Sunday, Christmas, I'll be playing the big game.}
    Ian replied after only a minute.
    {Ian: Told ya, didn't I? He's your dad after all, he'll understand. Anyways, you better make sure your team wins because I'll be sacrificing my Christmas to be there. If you don't win, forget about the system, I'll skin you alive myself.}
    Seeing that message, Sam could not reply for a few minutes as he became overwhelmed with different emotions.
    In the end, he replied.
    {Sam: Thanks man, for always being there, I appreciate it. You're the real OG.}
    And with that distraction off his mind, Sam got distracted by another thing. 'F*ck! My kit'.
    4 years ago after suffering that demoralizing ankle injury and after promising his mom, reluctantly, Sam dumped all his football kit, burning them, including his football boots, knee pads, and even his personal football.
    Thinking of the current price of a football boot and comparing it with his personal savings, he winced.
    Luckily, he was no longer going solo. He made a list and took his Redmi android phone again, navigating to his whatsapp app again.
    {Sam: Umm, dad, there's a problem, I just remembered that I burned all my football kits after promising mom 4 years ago. I don't even have a football boot, please I need financial assistance. I'll be sending the list of things I need.}
    {Sam: List¡­} S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    *Football boots: 25,000 naira
    *Knee pads: 5,000 naira
    *Socks: 2,000 naira
    *Size 5 ball: 22,000 naira
    *Total: 54,000 naira
    Sam's dad took just 5 minutes to reply to his message and the first reply was an exclamation.
    {My Superman: What?! A pair of football boots cost 25,000 naira now? What is this country turning into?}
    Sam winced; he could literally imagine his dad sighing in frustration but the message he saw next brought a smile to his face.
    {My Superman: Send your account number, you better make this worth it.}
    Sam leapt for joy; he did as his dad instructed.
    10 minutes later, he received a credit alert on his Redmi phone that made his smile widen further. Sam bid his time, staying till his shift was over around 4 in the evening before taking a bike to the nearest sports store.
    There, he got the 4 items that were on his list. Of course, he didn't have the guts to go home with them, he rather took them to his best friend's home.
    Only after this did he go home.
    Later in the night, he called Favour again. "Good evening man, about that stuff¡­"
    "Oh Sam, I was just about to call you," Favour interrupted him. "I already told my brother and he agreed. I better hope you're as good as you say though, my brother, he's pretty demanding".
    "Anyways, the last training session tomorrow will start by 4 in the evening and it'll last for 2 hours".
    "I'll see you there, right?"
    "Sure".
    "I trust you, my bro".
    And with that, they ended the call.
    That night, after their dad arrived back home from work, his wife welcomed him more energetically than usual as she soon started hitting him with conversations about preparations for Christmas enthusiastically.
    Of course, they already got their Christmas clothes, what Mrs. Moses was particular about at this moment was the Christmas meal.
    Of course, she wanted to make something memorable to commemorate the occasion. Sophia was also heavily involved in the conversation.
    While they conversed, all Sam could think of was the training game tomorrow. Going to his room, he looked at himself in the mirror.
    'It's been 4 years; do I still have what it takes?'
    'It doesn't matter, I'll prove myself either ways'.
    At that moment, he remembered Nephis, his favorite character from one of his best web novels, Shadow Slave, a hobby he picked up in the last 4 years of being away from football. "If its my will, who can stop me?" He grinned.
    That night, while everyone else stayed awake, Sam slept on time.
    The next day, he was the one to wake up first, saying a little prayer before going on his early morning jog to complete the daily system quest.
    He didn't return home immediately though, rather, he went to his best friend's place, took the football before going back to the university field.
    There, Sam reacquainted himself with a football.
    After 4 years without it, of course, it was awkward at first but juggling it a few times and practicing with Ian as his partner, Sam slowly regained his touch.
    There was only so much he could do in a single morning though.
    It was at this moment that he appreciated the daily system quest. Imagining himself of 6 days ago practicing with a ball felt like a scene from a horror movie.
    Returning home, his mother complained, nagging about why he would suddenly leave on Christmas eve knowing that there would be work.
    That morning till afternoon, Sam suddenly became the most obedient boy, helping his mom fervently with all the work to be done.
    He had an ulterior motive though, morning to afternoon was for his mom, evening was his.
    Around 3:15 in the afternoon, Sam snuck to his bathroom, took his bath to freshen up from the smell of the kitchen before sneaking out.
    Sam went off to his first training game in 4 years.

 Chapter 13: Training game

    Sam arrived at exactly 3:47pm.He didn't need to search to find where he was going.
    In one of the pitches in the gigantic grass field of the university, a group of players in black jersey were gathered. At the side of the pitch, 2 Lexus cars were parked, making Sam raise his eyebrows.
    'The coach is definitely an internet fraudster, or its 1 or maybe more of his players. This really is a luxurious gathering'.
    Unlike most of the players here that were on the black jerseys, Sam wore an unassuming black combat shorts on a plain black polo shirt. The kit bag strapped to his shoulders was perhaps the only indicator that he was a footballer.
    As soon as Sam arrived in the premises, he heard his name.
    "Yo, Sam! Over here!" It was Favour.
    With a slight smile on his face, Sam walked over. Favour was in a crowded place where some of the players in black jersey were gathered and, in their midst, he recognized the coach immediately.
    Just like Favour, the coach was tall and heftily built.
    "Bro, this is the player that I told you about, Sam".
    Hearing that, the coach paused what he was doing and looked over, he scrutinized the tall boy that stood before him.
    Short silky black hair, a handsome face, a tall physique, and a leg with thick calf. He almost nodded in approval till he saw the slight bulge from the polo shirt.
    His eyes were sharp, the only reason why he noticed it. Despite the fact that Sam had worked hard to improve his physique, his belly fat was not completely gone. He noticed the coach's eyes pause there, he gulped.
    The coach briefly glanced at him again. "Your name?"
    "Sam, Samuel Moses".
    "Ok Sam, you'll be in the B team, what position do you play in?"
    "I can play across the midfield and forward lines, mostly as a midfielder, but my preferred position is to play as an attacking midfielder".
    "Oh, ok," he nodded and looked away. "Meet that guy over there, Frank, he'll give you your jersey".
    "You'll be a part of the B team, you can be a back-up to their attacking midfielder, Joshua".
    Hearing that, Sam's face changed slightly but he controlled it. He nodded. "Thank you, coach". He nodded at Favour before walking off to take his jersey.
    'F*ck! What a way to start, back-up to the back-up attacking midfielder'. He sighed. 'Well, what did I expect? I've only been working on my fitness for 6 days'.
    'Anyways, this is still good, I just need a chance to prove myself'.
    By the time it was 4 on the dot, the coach finally blew his whistle, assembling his players as he assigned them to either of team A and team B.
    Team A was the real team, his starting lineup. There were 3 other new players just like Sam today, 1 of them was enough to complete team B, meaning that 3 players would stay on the sidelines for most of the training session.
    It was not just any training, but rather a training game, meaning that 11 players would be playing against 11 players like it was a real competitive game.
    Unfortunately, Sam became one of the players to start on the bench.
    Team A stuck with the black jerseys while team B wore green bibs on top of their black jerseys to distinguish both teams.
    When the training game finally started, from the sidelines, Sam paid keen attention to the game, mostly scrutinizing the competition for his preferred spot.
    Just 10 minutes into the game and it was clear that Team A was vastly the superior team, they dominated possession, pushing Team B to defend deep.
    Team A's forwards were decent, but the true strength of this team was in the midfield and their star player was unfortunately their attacking midfielder. Sam grimaced after seeing Joshua in action for just a few minutes.
    This powerful and agile attacking midfielder was the heart of the team, orchestrating and dictating play.
    On the 13th minute of the game, he unleashed a powerful shot that beat the keeper but rattled against the crossbar, eliciting a gasp from the coach.
    Seeing the coach's reaction, Sam sighed. 'And there goes my spot'.
    Feeling a bit defeated, he focused on other spots in the midfield. The midfield was talented but he was a bit more confident in displacing the others of their starting position if he got a chance.
    In the 21st minute of the game, the deadlock was finally broken as taking the ball and drifting to the right, Joshua crossed a deadly ball in for team A's striker to find with a header, adeptly poking into the back of the net with his head.
    "GOALLLL¡­!"
    8 minutes later, in the 29th minute, Joshua assisted his second goal of the game, playing a defense-splitting through pass that tore team B open and again, it was the lightning-swift striker who ran through and lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper to score his second goal of the game.
    In the 43rd minute, Joshua finally opened his account, drilling a powerful outside the box shot into the top left corner of the post, making it 3-0.
    Team B's goalkeeper stood no chance.
    Joshua was in top form.
    A few minutes later, the coach blew for half-time before engaging in some team talk mostly directed team A's way. The game restarted with no substitutions made. Just 5 minutes in, Joshua made his mark again.
    He made it a hattrick of assists as crossing the ball in from a corner, Isaiah, one of team A's center back rose highest to power the ball into the net through a header as he celebrated his goal excitedly.
    It was 4-0 yet team B barely improved their play.
    As the minutes ticked on, Sam itched for some action, constantly throwing glances the coach's way and finally in the 55th minute, 2 changes were made.
    None of them involved Sam though, he grimaced in the bench.
    In the end, it was only when Favour went to personally persuade his brother that this coach finally decided to bring Sam into the game, taking off team B's attacking midfielder for the boy.
    'This is it!' Sam felt his blood boil as he entered the pitch.
    The game restarted, it was a goal kick to team B.
    As soon as team B started playing again, in the halfway line, Sam demanded for the ball. "Here, here!" He called, raising and flailing his arms.
    "Pass me the ball!"
    It was annoying but the center midfielder didn't deny him, passing him the ball. As soon as that ball touched Sam's leg, electricity seemed to course through his body as he observed the pitch.
    At that moment, all the feelings he lost since 4 years ago returned to him.
    With the ball on his leg, at that moment, Sam felt like he never left football.
    Team A's midfielder came rushing in, going for a dangerous sliding tackle. Sam did not panic; he evaded the tackle with a silky-smooth roulette skill.
    The other team A players were stunned but they didn't dally, Sam leaving their teammate on the floor only invited a more aggressive press from them.
    Sam stayed calm like a robot.
    The second player came rushing in. Sam did a feint, faking to one side before using a Cruyff turn and a burst of speed to rush to the other side.
    There, he met another player but Sam executed a la croqueta.
    It was not perfect, filled with flaws even as the player almost dispossessed him but maybe it was luck but Sam somehow retained possession.
    "Pass! I'm free". A player called.
    Sam was still in the midfield position.
    Passing seemed like the better option but at this moment, Sam didn't want to pass. Instead of passing, he raised his head, took one glance at the opposition post and noticed the goalkeeper slightly off his line.
    That was all Sam needed. Raising his leg, he hit the ball with power.
    Bam!
    The ball ricocheted off his leg like a rocket.
    Team A's goalkeeper furiously retreated but it was already too late. The ball went above him before dipping into an empty net¡­, it was a goal.
    Silence¡­, no one could speak.
    In his first minute on the pitch, Sam scored an absolute banger of a goal.
    Sam pumped a fist triumphantly. "Yeah!"
    "GOALLL!" Favour celebrated in the sideline, hugging his big brother. "Brother, I told you right, my guy is the real deal!"
    "Shut up," his brother snapped at him. "And leave me".
    For the first time today, the players finally paid more attention to this tall boy. 'He's good'. They thought.
    Team A restarted the game, adamant to wipe off the effects of that sudden stain to their pride yet, this was when they met the true Sam.
    That goal may have been a fluke but one true attribute of Sam that stood the test of time was his stamina that started all the way since he was a child. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    On this evening, Sam ran himself to the ground, being everywhere in this midfield as he intercepted passes, threw himself in tackles, and played to his fill.
    Singlehandedly, he protected his team with his work rate, preventing the score from turning more embarrassing.
    The game ended 4-1.
    At the end, the coach finally paid more attention to him. "Sam, right?"
    "Yes, coach".
    "You did good," he finally smiled at Sam for the first time today. "Tomorrow, be here on time, the game will commence at the same time".
    "If you're lucky, you may play tomorrow".
    "Thanks coach, I'm satisfied with that". Sam smiled.
    Sam returned home satisfied. On his way home though, something happened. He got a new system notification; it was a system mission.

 Chapter 14: Christmas game [1]

    ~----~[You have unlocked a system mission: Make your mark on the Christmas Game!]
    [Details: You've finally received your opportunity to perform before a professional football coach. This is your first step to superstardom. Make the game your playground, assert your dominance and win the man of the match award.]
    [Mission Reward: +2 increase to a random player attribute!]
    ¡­
    [Penalty for mission failure: 2 months without the system!]
    ~----~
    Sam almost stumbled on his way home.
    It was not because of the fact that he just received his first system mission from the Ultimate Football System, rather it was because of the mission penalty.
    'F*ck! 2 months without the system? That's just evil'.
    'Must there be a penalty?' He sighed.
    Despite the fact that he complained in his mind, in reality, Sam was ecstatic. He understood the reason for the mission penalty because it was already working.
    Personally, Sam wanted to make a mark in tomorrow's game by all means but the system just did even more to push him against a wall.
    If he wanted to assert himself in tomorrow's game before, now, it was no longer a matter of choice but a necessity if he didn't want to lose the miracle that he just gained.
    He must assert his authority tomorrow!
    Besides, the mission reward for success was just as tantalizing as the penalty for failure was devious. 'An increase of +2 points to a random attribute of mine?'
    He grinned. 'Awesome'.
    This also made him remember something. "System, please display my status again," he demanded.
    ~----~
    [Player status!]
    Host: Samuel Moses
    Current Career Status: Stagnant (Waiting for the right catalyst)
    Talent Rating: C+
    Player Position: Undefined
    Player Attributes:
    *Pace: 70
    *Shot: 69
    *Pass: 74
    *Dribbling: 64
    *Defending: 33
    *Physicality: 60
    *Stamina: 78
    Overall Rating: 67
    ~----~
    Staring at his stamina rating, Sam grinned. 'My greatest weapon, just imagine if somehow, the randomization managed to fall on that'.
    'That'll increase it to 80, damn! I wonder if the color would change'.
    Yes, every one of the numbers attached to his attributes had a color.
    All the attributes below 50 were written in red in the system interface, while those above 50 were written in yellow. Sam wondered if the color would change to green if any of his attributes crossed the 80 mark.
    He didn't let all these linger in his mind though, happily, he skipped home.
    Of course, he got home to meet drama.
    "Where were you all this time?" His mom was livid but thankfully, his dad was here for the rescue this time.
    "I sent him on an errand".
    Mrs. Moses stared at her husband dubiously. "Really? When?"
    Her husband simply nodded, not deeming to explain and that was enough for her to drop the case. Sighing in relief, Sam went to his room filled with excitement, he could not wait for tomorrow.
    And this time, his excitement was not because of Christmas but rather, a football game.
    ¡­
    Sunday morning, Sam woke up earlier than usual.
    ~----~
    [You have completed Daily Quest: Get back in shape!]
    [You have been rewarded with a low-grade physical conditioning elixir!]
    ~----~
    He completed his daily system quest in record time before rushing home to help. And like he expected, that early by a few minutes to 6, his mom and sister were already awake and were busy in the kitchen.
    Sam did the menial job for the women like slaughtering the 2 chickens for the celebration, including running around on errands.
    Just like yesterday, he dedicated the whole morning and afternoon to his family, enjoying Christmas with them like normal as they had a great family time. Of course, they enjoyed the celebration with neighbors too.
    But all of a sudden, around 3 in the afternoon, Sam was nowhere to be found.
    Sam disappeared.
    ¡­
    "Good, Sam you really came on time". Coach James of the Black Hearts flashed a big smile as soon as he saw the boy appear in the field.
    Just like Sam expected, despite the fact that it was just barely past 3 in the afternoon, the field was already full.
    And of course, there were spectators, lots of them.
    He could see cars everywhere.
    For a moment, he was overwhelmed. He expected the event to be big but he definitely didn't expect something this big. 'No wonder they were able to invite someone like Coach Yemi Daniel to come spectate the game'.
    The moment only made him even more determined to perform.
    Black Hearts FC was the name of the local team coached by Favour's older brother, Coach James.
    After donning the black jersey of the team, Sam entered the pitch to warm up alongside the others.
    By 3:30pm, Coach James finally called all his players close, announcing the official starting line-up to them again though he already informed them yesterday.
    Like Sam expected, there were no changes, he was starting on the bench.
    Their opponents, the football team from Warri was called D'Tigres FC and their jersey color was sky blue.
    10 minutes to 4:00pm, the guest of honor of this Christmas game, Coach Yemi Daniel finally took the pitch to a chorus of loud applause from the spectators.
    He gave a little speech, emphasizing why grassroots football was very important for the development of football in the country.
    And finally, he announced the prize money for this game.
    Apparently, both teams would receive prize money. The winning team would receive 500,000 naira while the losing team would settle for 300,000 naira.
    200,000 naira would also go for the player who would clinch the man of the match award for the game.
    Sam's eyes nearly fell off their sockets. 'Wow¡­!'
    He was so focused in getting back in shape that he forgot to ask Favour about what was in for him if he played in the game.
    All of a sudden, Sam was even more motivated to perform. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    After Coach Yemi left the pitch, the starting 11 players of both teams finally took to the pitch. They took a picture to commemorate the moment.
    Sam felt a bit envious. 'I wish I was also there'.
    And with that, the players spread out to their various positions on the pitch.
    The referee for the game took a brief look at his watch, then¡­
    FWEEEEEE!
    The game started.

 Chapter 15: Christmas game [2]

    Immediately after the ref's whistle blew, the game started.For the first few minutes of the game, both teams stayed conservative, playing safe passes anytime they won possession as they were not in a hurry to score against the opposition.
    On the sidelines, watching the game, Sam was able to tell that both of these teams were more or less on the same level.
    Apparently, this was not their first time playing against each other. They were more like local rivals.
    From his biased point of view though, Sam thought that his team had the advantage entirely due to the presence of a single player, Joshua, the starting attacking midfielder of this team.
    Originally, he was supposed to be happy due to this but his personal feelings said otherwise. He wanted to be part of the action.
    Watching from the sidelines, he was not scared of the game becoming boring. Afterall, there was money at stake and he was right, after 15 minutes of boring conservative football, Black Hearts FC upped the tempo.
    All of a sudden, more players ran into the opposition 18-yard box and in the 17th minute of the game, like expected, Joshua unleashed the first shot on goal.
    It was a powerful driven shot with his right leg aimed towards the bottom left corner, forcing the opposition goalkeeper into a full stretch dive as he poked the ball into the corner.
    The referee blew his whistle for a corner kick.
    When Joshua floated the ball over, D'Tigres FC's imposing striker and no. 9 was the one who rose highest, heading the ball away to safety.
    Sam paid more attention to that striker. 'This guy is tall, why are they involving him so little in the game?'
    He got his answer almost immediately.
    Black Hearts FC decided to up the tempo, and their opponents responded in kind. Once they left their conservative gameplay behind, Sam was finally able to see this team's true playstyle.
    Their playstyle revolved around their tall and imposing striker and their short and agile right winger. This fair-skinned short boy left an impression on Sam immediately as he got more involved in the game. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    D-Tigres FC's game went through him.
    The midfielders had a preference for passing to the right because of this boy. And whenever he received the ball, he caused chaos in the opposition blackline with his rapid dribbling and quick feet.
    In the 28th minute of the game, receiving the ball again, he did a feint, leaving the opposing fullback for dead as he drove with the ball into the opposition box.
    Players in black immediately swarmed this boy but undeterred in the box, his quick feet enabled him beat the first player.
    He nutmegged the next player, and just as he entered the 6-yard box, there was a tug from behind.
    The boy did not hesitate, falling on the pitch immediately.
    FWEEEE!
    The ref's whistle went off.
    Incredibly, it was a penalty against Sam's team in just the 28th minute of the game. Of course, Sam's teammates protested the decision but the referee was firm with his decision.
    The short boy picked up the ball.
    The tall striker in sky blue went up to the short and speedy winger, whispering a few words to him only for this boy to shake his head.
    He was determined to take the penalty.
    After receiving the referee's signal, this boy ignored the opposition goalkeeper's attempts to enter his head, did a short run and jumped slightly before roofing the ball into the top right corner with his lethal left foot.
    "GOALLL¡­!" Minority of the spectators exploded in cheers.
    Running to the corner flag with a big smile on his face, this boy jumped and did the suiii celebration.
    In the 21st minute, Black Hearts FC was down 0-1.
    From the sidelines, Coach James barked orders to his players.
    When the game finally restarted, the tempo increased even more. The players in black ran all over the pitch, jumping into tackles, winning possession, passing to Joshua, allowing this attacking midfielder to do what he did best.
    Joshua dictated the game for his team as he played a few dangerous passes to his teammates, setting them up but D-Tigres' defense was too rugged.
    Sam soon realized that he underestimated the opposition.
    Despite the fierce intensity of their opponents, the players in sky blue held their nerves, playing calm football and despite the many shots that Black Hearts FC took, D'Tigres came closest to scoring again as a dribble from the right and shot from the short boy again rattled against the post before flying off for a goal kick.
    This boy grabbed his hair and screamed in frustration.
    In the 37th minute of the game, after winning the ball deep in his half, Joshua played an impeccable through ball for his striker to run into.
    The fast striker ran faster than the defenders, making it to the ball on time but his decision making was not fast enough against the rapidly sweeping goalkeeper. The goalkeeper swatted the ball away before he could shoot.
    In the sidelines, Coach James groaned in frustration.
    The game continued with even more intensity.
    In the 40th minute of the game, Joshua went himself again with another long-range shot that flew just a few inches away from goal.
    In the 42nd minute of the game, the short boy once again troubled with his dribbling, cut back before floating a cross into the box.
    In the box, D-Tigres FC's tall and imposing striker overpowered and outjumped everyone to power a shot at goal with his head.
    The opposition goalkeeper did just enough to push the ball out, saving his team from going 2 down in the first half.
    For the remaining minutes of the first half, only half-chances were created till the referee blew the whistle for half-time.
    In the 10 minutes of half-time, Coach James berated a few of his players angrily, most especially the fullback marking the short D'Tigres FC winger.
    "In the second half, anytime that boy is with the ball, Ogaga, I want you to fall back from midfield to support Elisha. I want you both to double-team him, make sure he doesn't create any more chances".
    "Yes, coach".
    "And you, Elisha, you better do a better job this second half".
    The fullback wiped the sweat of his forehead and nodded seriously.
    And finally, this coach looked at his star player. "Joshua, come on," he clapped. "This is your stage, do something this second half, we need to mount a comeback".
    Joshua stayed silent, only giving a short nod to his coach.
    To Sam's disappointment, the coach didn't even look his side once while he addressed the players. The second half restarted with no changes made.
    Coach James learned to regret his decision.
    Just 8 minutes into the 2nd half, despite being double-teamed, the short boy in the right wing did it again, cutting back from the byline before floating a teasing cross in.
    Again, the tall and imposing striker rose above everyone else to power a header in and this time, the goalkeeper could not pull off the same heroics that he pulled in the first half.
    The ball floated into the roof of the net.
    "GOALLL!"
    The tall striker celebrated exuberantly, pointing a finger to the sky.
    In the 53rd minute, Black Hearts FC was down 0.2.
    In the sidelines, a livid Coach James fumed.
    This was when this coach finally paid attention to the tall boy that stood with him in the sidelines, his eyes gleamed with desperation.
    "Sam, get ready, you'll soon be entering the pitch".
    "Yes, coach".
    Sam instantly started warming up again.
    In his mind. 'Finally!'

 Chapter 16: Christmas game [3]

    2 minutes of football later after Black Hearts FC went 2 goals down, the ball went out for a throw in and that was when the referee stopped the game.Black Hearts FC was about to make a change.
    Unlike what most people thought though, Coach James was not taking his star attacking midfielder off the game.
    Rather, he took off one of the center midfielders in the game.
    Coach James was making a radical change to his game formation in this stage of the game, switching from his preferred 4-3-3 attacking formation to an even more aggressively vertical 4-3-2-1 formation.
    Coach James decided to experiment with the diamond formation in this important game all because of the player that he stumbled upon yesterday.
    Losing 0-2 in the 53rd minute of the game and with his team playing like this against such an elite opposition, he already lost hopes of a comeback the normal way, this was why he decided to gamble.
    This was why he decided to gamble on the wildcard he stumbled upon yesterday. Maybe, just maybe, the boy could conjure up a miracle.
    Coach James made a double substitution, introducing 2 new players into the game, both midfielders as he gave instructions to Sam.
    "Relay my orders to the others, we're switching to a 4-3-2-1 attacking formation". Coach James looked at the tall boy and took a deep breath, "you'll be occupying the attacking midfield position alongside Joshua".
    "I'm giving the both of you freedom, play as you will, cause chaos, disrupt this game and create something". He clapped aggressively. "I want something!"
    "Yes, coach". Sam nodded seriously.
    The second player that Coach James introduced was another center midfielder, this guy was renowned for his work-rate on the pitch.
    The game was about to go hay-wire.
    As soon as Sam entered the pitch, standing adjacent to Joshua, this star attacking midfielder threw a glance at him. "Play like you did yesterday, and don't hold on to the ball for too long, always pass".
    Sam nodded. "I know".
    FWEEEE!
    Once the ref's whistle went off again to restart the game in the 55th minute, it was clear immediately that team Black Hearts changed.
    The only question was, was it a good change or a bad one?
    For the first few minutes after, it seemed like a bad change as unused to the sudden new formation, the players in black jersey struggled to connect passes, misplacing a few passes here and there and losing possession.
    10 minutes passed and team Black Hearts still seemed disjointed, D'Tigres FC still being the team creating more danger till a sudden unexpected moment of magic tore the game open.
    The tall striker of D'Tigres FC received the ball and was progressing it forward when Sam stole the ball with a slightly aggressive tackle.
    For the past 10 minutes, running around the middle of this pitch, absolutely focused on the game, he had a few thoughts in his head.
    'I must make my mark!'
    'I must make my mark!'
    'I have to orchestrate the comeback!'
    Despite the tight and disjointed nature of this game at this point, these thoughts dominated his head, helping him focus and right after he stole the ball in the halfway line, he drove forward with it.
    Almost instantaneously, one of the opposition midfielders closed him down but instead of dribbling, without slowing down, Sam kicked the ball to his left before accelerating forward.
    Joshua received this ball and in one touch, passed it back to the right.
    With simple and effective one-touch football, Sam evaded the opposition midfielder as his engine heart started pumping blood fast through his body.
    Thud!
    Digging in, his boots hit the field as his tall frame ran towards the opposition box like a freight train.
    At this moment, Sam already entered a state of absolute focus as everything else left his mind, replaced by clarity.
    As he closed in on the opposition 18-yard box, a player slid in for a tackle.
    Pushing the ball slightly with the outside of his boot, Sam jumped above his opponent's outstretched legs as the legs also missed the ball.
    As soon as he landed, another player rushed in for a tackle but he reacted swiftly, cutting the ball to the right.
    By now, Sam with the ball was on the right side of this pitch. D'Tigres FC's right back was already closing in on him but Sam held this player off with his tall frame before glancing around to view his options.
    He had a few options.
    Tega, his striker was right in the 6-yard box, holding off a defender as he called for the ball. Further to the left, his left back was charging into the box with his hand outstretched, wildly calling for the pass.
    These 2 seemed like the best options but Sam didn't go for them, this was because he knew that his opponents expected him to go for the obvious options.
    Rather than going for them, he looked for another option.
    An option that his opponents would not expect.
    Afterall, his team had been playing according to the book for over 65 minutes to no avail. From the sidelines, he already watched D-Tigres FC's game and was perfectly aware of how disciplined they were defensively.
    A normal pass would not be able to break this defense open.
    In the world of football, there is a saying that physicality, speed, and shot power may leave a player as he ages, but one thing that endures the passage of time is technique.
    Despite the fact that Sam had left football for 4 years, one of his better attributes during his playing time that endured through this time was his passing and vision.
    His body deteriorated with time, not his technique, not his football I.Q.
    And this was what helped him to spot the unexpected pass.
    After giving him the one-two pass and letting him run, inauspiciously, Joshua had been following him from behind all the way from the midfield.
    Right now, this attacking midfielder was just arriving in the 18-yard box, totally unmarked by any of the D'Tigres players in sky blue.
    Bam!
    With his stronger right foot, Sam played an inch-perfect pass into the box.
    As the ball rolled through the green grass and as time seemed to freeze, only 2 players reacted, Joshua and one of D'Tigres two imposing center backs.
    This center back showed incredible reaction time as he moved his body at an incredible angle to block a possible shot from this attacking midfielder.
    Joshua raised his leg to shoot, everyone held their breaths, then¡­
    Bam!
    He didn't shoot, he passed. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    It was another one-touch football between the 2 attacking midfielders as he passed the ball back to Sam who was already rushing into the box after playing the initial pass from the right side.
    This time, more players reacted to the pass, rushing to close Sam's shooting path off and then Sam hit the ball.
    Again, he didn't shoot, rather, he laid it off back to Joshua.
    This time, Joshua didn't dally, hitting the ball first time with a curling effort into the top right corner of the post.
    The opposition goalkeeper was rooted to the spot.
    This was perfect tiki-taka football executed by 2 impressive attacking midfielders, and immediately, the field erupted.
    "GOALLLLL¡­!"
    Joshua spread his arms with a wide smile on his face as he ran to the corner flag to celebrate. Then turning round, he pointed his finger at Sam, indicating that the boy was the one who did it.
    On the sidelines, it was pure chaos.
    "That's f*cking right!" Coach James celebrated with pure passion.
    Finally able to take his head off the action a bit to celebrate, as he celebrated, this was when Sam heard a voice close to where he celebrated.
    "That's my son right there, that's my son!"
    He looked over, and there he saw his dad in familiar black shades standing alongside his best friend. Seeing him look over, Ian grinned and gave a thumbs up.
    Sam grinned back, feeling even more motivated to play his heart out today.
    Adrenaline surged through his body like electricity. "Let's mount a comeback!" He growled.
    The game restarted.

 Chapter 17: Mounting an incredible comeback

    Around after 4 in the evening, while his wife and daughter watched a Nollywood movie excitedly in the sitting room, Moses went to his room, took his bath and returned fully dressed.His ever-perceptive wife noticed. "Honey, where are you going dressed like that?"
    Moses looked at his wife and grinned. "I'm going for an important occasion that I can't tell you about".
    "That you can't tell me about," she looked at him suspiciously. "Hmmm".
    In the end, too engrossed in the movie, she didn't say more.
    Stepping out of his house, dressed in traditional Ankara attire, Moses put on his dark shades before driving his car off to the football field in the university.
    He arrived right after the second half started, just in time to see his son set up a goal in the 66th minute of this game.
    As a father, he had never felt so proud in his life. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    He boasted. "That's my son right there, that's my son!" He laughed and jubilated exuberantly alongside the other spectators.
    Of course, most of the spectators today were from Abraka and therefore, they supported their local team which was Black Hearts FC.
    "Come on!" They roared. "Let's do the comeback".
    Coach Isaac of D'Tigres FC gave a few words of advice to his players before the game restarted, and then, it finally restarted.
    FWEEEEE!
    After that goal, team Black Hearts FC seemed revitalized as they played like an entirely different team.
    The momentum of the game finally switched sides.
    Led by their 2 impressive attacking midfielders, Black Hearts FC started dominating possession, mounting the pressure on their opponents.
    Joshua and Sam wreaked havoc, throwing passes left and right and even more importantly, combining with their scintillating one-touch football that enabled them slice through the opposition defense time and time again.
    Of course, they chipped in with the occasional shots on goal.
    The only factor that kept them at bay for now was the defensive discipline of their opponents, and of course, the opposition goalkeeper who was on top of his game, pulling off incredible saves left and right.
    The pressure continued till in the 75th minute of the game, Coach Isaac made a triple change, taking off the short boy finally to put on more defensive-minded players. He wanted to defend his team's lead.
    And for 5 minutes, it worked as the threat of their opponents was pretty much nullified but in the 81st minute of the game, Black Hearts FC won a freekick close to their opponents' box.
    Joshua looked at his partner in crime who he already built a close rapport with in these short few minutes on the pitch. "Do you want to take it?"
    "Nah," Sam shook his head. "I'm not confident, my shooting is still rusty".
    Joshua threw a weird glance at him and smiled. "If you say so," he shrugged. "Anyways, come first".
    Joshua whispered a few words in his partner's ear as his team set up to take the freekick, after which Sam left to join the others.
    Joshua stood up to take the freekick.
    He wiped the sweat from his forehead, observed the shape of his opponents and took a deep breath.
    FWEEEE!
    As soon as the referee's whistle went off, he took a brief look at the goal, then he did a short run before raising his right leg to unleash a powerful shot at goal.
    The 4 opposition players who set up the freekick wall jumped.
    As this happened, Sam suddenly ran outside from where he previously stood with his teammates.
    Bam!
    Instead of a shot like expected, again, it was a pass, to Sam. For the umpteenth time this game, no one expected it.
    Receiving the ball with his right leg, Sam set it to unleash a shot.
    Thud!
    Without seeing it, he heard the thudding sounds as an opposition player charged forward aggressively to close him down, and then the sound of a sliding tackle followed.
    From the shot he intended, in the last second, Sam made a split decision and changed his mind, cutting the ball to his weaker left foot instead as the player slid away harmlessly.
    He got prepared for another shot even as more opposition players reacted to block his shooting path, and that was where he pulled any trick off his magic box.
    As Sam got prepared to shoot, he noticed a player in black jersey move.
    He didn't even need to confirm who that player was, all he knew was that black meant an ally, then, he passed the ball forward just in time before that player could enter an offside position.
    All the D'Tigres players were either rooted to the spot or focused on closing him down, no one saw the striker's run except for Sam, not even the spectators on the bench.
    And all of a sudden, Tega was with the ball, in the 6-yard box, one-on-one with the opposition goalkeeper.
    The goalkeeper charged out but cooly, Tega chipped the ball above him.
    Time seemed to stop; hearts stopped beating as they watched the ball fly up before dipping calmly into the net.
    Even Tega himself never expected that pass, his reaction to chip the ball was instinctive and well the ball entered, he was also stunned.
    Not until Sam charged towards him and jumped on his back did he react.
    "GOALLLLL¡­!"
    This pitch erupted!
    The spectators roared, cheering wildly at the top of their voices as the D'Tigres players cursed and argued among themselves.
    This time, they didn't celebrate too long. The momentum was still on their side, they hungered for a third goal.
    The game restarted.
    This time, D'Tigres finally came out a bit as they also wanted a 3rd goal to seal the game but with their star winger gone, creating goalscoring chances became a truly difficult endeavor.
    Joshua and Sam kept on starring though, creating chances left and right but again, D'Tigres' disciplined defense held stubbornly.
    By the 90th minute, the game remained tied 2-2.
    The referee added 5 minutes.
    For those last 5 minutes, D'Tigres defended with their lives even as Black Hearts FC launched offensive after offensive.
    The game seemed poised to go to extra time as Coach Isaac was already discussing with his players in the sidelines but at the 90th plus 4 minutes, merely few seconds to the end of the game, Sam received the ball again close to the box.
    After all that he already did this game, the effects of him receiving the ball close to the box to the opposition team was clear as they reacted urgently like they were up against a superhuman.
    The players stayed compact, blocking off every passing lane even as a player closed in strategically to lock off his shooting lane.
    This time, there were truly no passing lanes.
    Sam didn't give up though. 'I need to make my mark!' He kept on chanting in his mind even as his level of concentration and clarity deepened.
    As the player marking him stepped closer, Sam pushed the ball to the left with his left foot and skipped past him. Another player rushed in, then stopping, Sam held him off with his tall body before turning with the ball back to the right.
    He raised his stronger right leg to shoot and immediately 2 players slid to block his shot.
    Sam didn't shoot though, he simply rolled the ball with the heel of his boots slightly, buying time for the space he needed and just as it opened, before anyone could react, he gently hit the ball.
    He didn't unleash a powerful shot, it seemed like a pass instead as the ball rolled to the bottom right corner of the post.
    The goalkeeper saw it late but still, he went on a full-stretch dive, yet it was not enough.
    Calmly, the ball rolled into the net.
    For a second after, silence reigned on the field then the spectators erupted. At that moment, forgetting everything, Sam swirled away towards the corner flag before sliding on his knees as he pumped his fists excitedly in celebration.
    "Yeah¡­!" He screamed at the top of his voice.
    This time, no injuries, no emergency; at the 90th plus 5 minutes of the game, Sam scored the winner after laying off 2 assists earlier.
    At this moment, he felt liberated.
    The game restarted but after a little play, the referee blew his whistle.
    The game was over.
    And immediately after the game was over, Sam's system lit up with a notification.

 Chapter 18: Milestone of first football prize & an impressed coach

    The celebrations started immediately after the referee''s whistle went off.The jubilant spectators rushed into the pitch to celebrate with the players in black jersey. The celebration was spearheaded by the players themselves as they lifted their 2 attacking midfielders up in the air, singing victory songs.

    Up in the air, Sam was overwhelmed, barely believing what was happening.

    ''I did it''.

    ''I really did it''.

    ''Hell yeah! I really f*cking did it!''

    Overwhelmed by his emotions, he could not keep it in anymore as he let it out. "Their father!" He yelled a Nigerian slang excitedly.

    "Their real dad!" He continued yelling.

    The euphoria of this victory was unlike anything else he had experienced since his 17 years of living.

    And of course, like was experienced in every football game, while the winners celebrated jubilantly, the losers could only look with forlorn looks on their faces.

    None of them complained though, it was a fair loss.

    And as the celebrations from the players and fans subsided a bit, some of the players of D''Tigres FC finally walked up to their opposition, mostly the new face, the new attacking midfielder of this team.

    The captain of team D''Tigres walked up to Sam. "Hey man, you were terrific on the pitch today, what''s your name?"

    "I''m Sam, what of you?"

    "I''m Emeka, nice to meet you man, you''ll surely achieve great things in the future if you continue on this trajectory".

    "Thanks man". Both boys shook hands and hugged.

    Sam received a lot more compliments like this, both from his teammates, his opponents, and even the spectating fans.

    He felt giddy with joy.

    And you knew the most amazing feeling of it all? It was receiving all this validation with his father and his best friend there to witness it, Sam doubted if there was any better feeling in the world. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It got to the extent that even the opposing coach walked up to him, but before Coach Isaac could say a word, Coach James arrived just in time. "Hehe," he laughed sheepishly. "Isaac, you can shake his hand and leave".

    "Sam does not want to hear anything from you". He smiled. "And don''t worry, he has no interest in joining your team, so thank you".

    He turned to look at Sam. "Right, Sam?"

    Sam smiled awkwardly. "Yeah, I guess".

    Coach James wrapped his arm around his player. "See?"

    Coach Isaac shook his head with an amused look on his face as he looked at his rival. "You''re still so petty, you didn''t change at all since university".

    Coach James glowered.

    Ignoring him, Coach Isaac looked at the boy. "Sam, right? You really played good football today, you should be playing for a professional team".

    Sam chuckled. "I hope so too".

    "I wish you luck".

    And with that, he left.

    Coach James also showered a few words of praise on his player for his performance before going back with Coach Isaac to meet the guest of honor of this game, Coach Yemi Daniel.

    Immediately after they arrived, the middle-aged coach threw them an inquire. "That boy, Sam, tell me more about him".

    The 2 coaches threw a knowing glance at each other, and James did the honors. "I don''t know much about him; my younger brother helped me recruit him to my team just yesterday".

    This middle-aged coach''s eyebrows rose. "You mean he just joined your team yesterday?"

    "Yes". Coach James laughed sheepishly.

    "Your brother, where is he? Call him over".

    "Ok, sir".

    A minute later, Favour stood before the middle-aged coach, telling him all he knew about Sam and how he met him in the gym the first time a week ago.

    When he finally heard the boy''s age, this middle-aged man''s eyes almost popped out of their sockets. "What?!"

    "He''s just 17?!"

    "Ahem," he coughed, regaining his composure. "I mean, he''s pretty young for how he played. He''s talented".

    The 2 rival coaches agreed.

    Coach Yemi Daniel looked at both of them. "After the prize ceremony, tell him to meet me, I need to have a word with him".

    "Yes, sir". They nodded.

    A few minutes later, the pitch was cleared as Coach Yemi Daniel finally took the stage again to hand over the prizes to both teams.

    As the winning team, Black Hearts FC received their prize reward of 500,000 naira as the squad took a picture with the printed board money.

    D''Tigres FC also received their prize reward of 300,000 naira, after which time came for the man of the match reward.

    There was no debate about it. After giving 2 assists and scoring the game winning goal, Sam was the clear favorite for the man of the match of the game.

    With a smile on his face, Coach Yemi Daniel called the teenager out before handing the prize board to him.

    The money would be transferred to his account later.

    Posing for a picture with Coach Yemi Daniel and his prize board, Sam felt emotional. He almost broke down in tears but he managed to hold it in.

    Just a week ago, his football career was still in shambles. Technically, it was still in shambles but at least, he finally got some recognition for his talent.

    Sam''s excited father took countless pictures of his son with his iPhone as he took his prize on the pitch.

    And with that, the Christmas game officially came to an end.

    Sam wanted to leave, yet at that moment was when Coach James approached him, telling him that Coach Yemi Daniel wanted to have a word with him. Sam was baffled and excited at the same time but he followed.

    Once he arrived, standing before the coach''s Mercedes car, the middle-aged coach turned with a smile. "Ah! Sam, you''re here".

    "I was just about done," he brought out a document before presenting it to the boy. "Here, take, go through it".

    Sam looked at the hard cover of this document, his eyes quickly focusing on the words written in bold.

    {Enyimba FC professional contract}

    Sam''s hands shook, he looked up at the middle-aged man. "Sir, w-what is this?" He stammered.

    The middle-aged coach smiled brightly. "It''s a contract".

    "Congratulations Sam, on behalf of Enyimba FC, I want to give you a professional contract to be a part of my team as a professional football player".

    "¡­"

    "¡­"

    "¡­..!"

 Chapter 19: Signing first professional contract

    "Congratulations Sam, on behalf of Enyimba FC, I want to give you a professional contract to be a part of my team as a professional football player"."¡­"

    "¡­"

    "¡­..!"

    Sam was floored.

    For a few moments, his head went completely blank as he could not process the words that this middle-aged coach just said to him.

    ''Me? A professional football contract?''

    ''F*ck! Am I dreaming?''

    He stealthily pinched himself and once he felt the pain, his eyes widened as the gravitas of this moment finally settled in his head.

    Sam could not hold it in, immediately, he broke down in tears.

    "Hey!" Coach James was startled.

    Coach Yemi Daniel waved him to stay put. "Let the young man be, it''s normal to react like this, it''s a dream come true to get a professional contract".

    It took a few minutes, but Sam was finally able to calm down. He felt embarrassed when he thought of what just happened. "Umm, sorry".

    "It''s fine, Sam, it''s perfectly fine," the middle-aged coach smiled. "So?"

    Sam finally looked this coach in the eye. "I''m very honored by this opportunity, Coach Yemi, but I can''t make this decision alone".

    "First, I need to speak with my dad". He smiled. "Coincidentally, my dad is here, he also watched the match".

    "Oh, really?" The middle-aged coach smiled. "I''ll also speak with him when you''re done, I''ll give you guys some privacy in the meantime".

    "Thank you, sir".

    With that, Sam ran off excitedly to meet his dad.

    As soon as the boy left, Coach James looked at the older man, a baffled look on his face. "Sir, with all due respect, this is unlike you, what motivated you to give a contract to a player you just saw today play after just one game?"

    This older man didn''t look at his younger counterpart. "That''s what youngsters like you fail to see, you fail to look beyond the obvious".

    He looked at James. "You think I''m a fool?"

    "No sir". James said immediately.

    "Good," the older man nodded. "That boy, he''s talented," he paused, "he''s too good for your ramshackle football team".

    James didn''t take offense; this man was one of the few people in the country who had the right to call his football team ramshackle.

    "You may not have noticed but I did. You watched him and you thought, this boy is good. You heard his age and you thought, wow, he''s talented".

    "I saw beyond that".

    "Well, I can confidently tell you that Sam has not played real football in nothing less than 2 years".

    "What?!" Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing his younger colleague''s reaction, Coach Yemi grinned. "That''s the crazy thing when you really think about it".

    "According to your brother, he started gym last week and his physique was visibly horrible then. At first, I was confused but thinking of it now, I think this boy only started working on getting back in shape a week ago after years of profligacy".

    "And it coincides with the world cup final, which makes me believe that somehow, Messi winning was what motivated this boy to kick a football again". He grinned. "Well, now that''s just G.O.A.T things from Messi".

    He looked at James again. "A not yet fit Sam that is kicking a ball properly for the first time in a long time performed like this," a frenzied look overtook this coach''s face. "Now imagine what a fully fit Sam can do!"

    "Imagine what a Sam that has been coached by me can do!"

    "Damn, this boy is not just talented, he''s freakishly talented and I would be a fool not to sign him for my club immediately".

    "We''re talking Okocha level of talent here".

    Hearing that, James'' eyes widened as he looked in Sam''s general direction. "Wow, I never knew the boy was that scary".

    The middle-aged coach grinned again. "Don''t worry, for helping me discover this talent, I''ll pay you appropriately".

    "I just hope my club is able to keep hold of him because with what I''m seeing, he''s going to have an even more ridiculous growth trajectory".

    James grinned, he had never heard Coach Yemi Daniel praise a player like this before. "I guess I should take Favour on a good treat too, he''s the one who discovered Sam after all".

    "Hehe, you should do that".

    ¡­

    "What?!"

    "Coach Yemi Daniel offered you a professional contract?!"

    Bonk!

    Moses bonked Ian on the head, placing a finger to his lips. "Shush, child, you want the whole world to hear about it?" He glanced around.

    Ian rubbed his head grievingly. "Sorry dad, I was just, you know, shocked".

    "I''m shocked too, did I shout like you did?"

    "No". Ian pouted.

    "Hehe," Moses finally paid attention to his son again, grinning from ear to ear. "Finally, a coach with a brain has recognized the incredible talents of my son".

    "Give me the contract, let me go through it".

    Sam did as his dad told him to.

    Taking the contract, Mr. Moses wore his glasses before carefully scrutinizing the contract. He stopped after only more than 15 minutes was gone.

    And then, he looked at the boys with a big smile on his face.

    "And?" An impatient Sam asked.

    "Calm down boy, don''t be impatient". He smiled smugly. "Well, congratulations my son, you''ll soon be receiving a monthly salary of 150,000 naira".

    "What?!" Ian almost screamed which turned to a yelp as he saw the glare from Mr. Moses. "That''s crazy!" He whispered, dragging his pronunciation for emphasis.

    "Anyways, leave it up to your dad". Moses boasted. "150,000 naira is what the lowest earners in the Nigerian professional football league are earning".

    "The fact that he offered you a contract immediately after 1 game means that he likely saw something in you that made him take such decisive action".

    "Trust your dad, today, I shall be your agent".

    "Wait," Sam stopped his dad. "You want to haggle?"

    "Not haggle dummy, in the world of football, we call it negotiate". And then, this man arranged his native Ankara attire before matching over to the middle-aged coach who was on the other side.

    Sam stayed behind with his friend but thinking of something, he asked. "Dad, where will you start from?"

    "What do you take me for? Double of course, 300,000 naira to start with".

    Thinking of the fact that his dad only made 350,000 naira monthly from his own job, Sam felt breathless hearing that amount being called so casually.

    Well, that evening, he learned to respect his dad even more.

    Despite the fact that he could not get his initial target of 300,000 naira, in the end, somehow, Mr. Moses incredibly negotiated a contract worth 250,000 naira monthly for his 17-year-old son.

    It was the perfect Christmas gift that Sam could have ever wished for.

    Coach Yemi Daniel exchanged contacts with the father and son. "Mr. Moses, I''ll chat you up on WhatsApp, let''s finalize the minute details there".

    "That''s ok with me".

    And with that, Sam signed his first professional football contract, officially becoming a professional football player.

    ''This is undoubtedly the best Christmas of my life''. Sam thought.

    On his father''s car with his best friend, as he returned home triumphantly, he finally paid attention to his new system notifications.

 Chapter 20: System awakening

    ~----~[You have completed system mission: Make your mark on the Christmas Game!]

    [Mission penalty has been voided!]

    [Randomizing mission completion reward¡­, please wait¡­]

    [Randomization complete!]

    [You have been rewarded with a +2 increase to your dribbling attribute!]

    [Congratulations! You have met the requirements to level up!]

    [Your overall player rating has increased to 68!]

    ¡­

    Player Attributes:

    *Pace: 70

    *Shot: 69

    *Pass: 74

    *Dribbling: 66

    *Defending: 33

    *Physicality: 60

    *Stamina: 78

    Overall Rating: 68

    ~----~

    Seated in the front sit of his father''s Camry car, Sam had a big smile on his face as he looked at the contents of the system notification.

    Of the player attributes that the system attributed to him, as an attacking midfielder, there were naturally certain attributes that he was biased towards and one of them was his dribbling ability.

    An attacking midfielder with good dribbling ability was in his element. The random reward of the system falling on his dribbling attribute excited him.

    He was excited for another reason, he wanted to test out the effects of his improved dribbling ability. This was not the time and place though.

    What surprised Sam though was that, this was not the only notification that the system displayed before him.

    There was an entirely different separate notification tab.

    Sam threw a brief look at his dad who sat in the driver''s sit, he also looked at his best friend who was in the backseat before freely accessing his system, tapping at the virtual screen right in front of them to open the new notification.

    "You''re interacting with your system?" Ian noticed and asked.

    "Yeah," Sam nodded.

    Hearing his son and his best friend speak, Moses finally paid attention to his son. "Your mom, have you thought of how we''re going to settle her?"

    Hearing that dreaded name, Sam''s shivered slightly and paused as he took his eyes away from the system notification. "Umm, I thought you had everything under control".

    "What? If you hear in a dream that I have your mom fully under control, you''ll really believe?"

    Sam chuckled. "So, what''s the plan?"

    Moses focused back on the road. "Well, Sam if you''re willing to make a few sacrifices, I can promise you that I''ll help you stem the wrath of your mom".

    Hearing that tone, Sam became suspicious. "What type of sacrifice are we talking about, dad?"

    Moses grinned. "Check your bank account, you should have received the prize money that was promised".

    Hearing that, Sam remembered his prize money as his excitement levels rose again. "Yes!" He exclaimed. "I''ve received it, 200,000-naira credit alert! That''s the most money I''ve seen in my account that''s mine".

    Sam was excited as his best friend cheered from the back seat.

    Moses threw glances at the 2 boys and chuckled. "Well, Sam, if you''re willing to part ways with half of your prize money, I can help you with your mom".

    Hearing that, the excitement levels in the car instantly dropped.

    Moses kept his gaze on the road. "What?"

    "Dad, that''s just pure evil!" Sam complained.

    "Listen to me son, let me explain¡­"

    In the end, after taking a lot of time to explain and convince his son, reluctantly, Sam had no choice but to transfer 100,000 naira to his dad''s account.

    Today was the best Christmas day of his life, he didn''t want to let his mom ruin it because he was too stingy to part with half of his prize money.

    And with that out of the way, still pained by the dent on his bank account, he finally paid attention to the other system notification.

    ''Let''s see what we have here''.

    ~----~

    [You have completed your first system mission!]

    [Congratulations! The system has awakened to level 1!]

    [You have unlocked level 1 perk: Snooping Tool]

    >This is a tool with which you can spy on the status and attributes of other professional football players<

    ¡­ S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [NOTE: To level the system to level 2 and unlock the corresponding level perk, complete hidden system mission.]

    ¡­

    [You have completed a hidden system mission: Sign your first professional football contract!]

    [Congratulations! The system has awakened to level 2!]

    [You have unlocked level 2 perk: Skills Market]

    >This is a market where all the football skills in the world can be found, from the popular to the obscure. By paying the appropriate price, you can purchase football skills from this market and their masteries<

    >Football skills are ranked according to mastery. There are 4 major mastery levels, basic, intermediate, advanced, and perfection<

    [Current available football skills:]

    >¡­<

    ¡­

    [NOTE: To level the system to level 3 and unlock the corresponding level perk, complete hidden system mission.]

    [NOTE: Skill points are needed to purchase skill masteries from the skill market, and they are rewarded after each completed mission.]

    ~----~

    Fascinated by what the system was showing to him, Sam was eager to see more but he was interrupted as after an 8-minute drive, before he could focus on the first football skill on display, his dad finally pulled over on his Camry car into their compound.

    He was tempted to keep on looking but seeing his mom at the door, Sam gulped before setting his system aside for now.

    At this moment, he worked with abstraction. And his common sense told him that stemming the wrath of his mom was the greater priority.

    He could see the crazy changes to his system later.

    As soon as Sam and his dad came out of the car, placing her hands akimbo on her waist, Mrs. Moses was about to raise a storm till she saw Ian come out.

    Her mouth was left hanging open for a few seconds till she recovered, she smiled. "Ian, my boy, you came for Christmas?"

    Ian smiled brightly. "Yes ma, I missed your food".

    Hearing that, this middle-aged woman beamed. "There''s a boy that knows how to appreciate food," her smile widened. "You came right on time then my son, food is ready".

    And with that, Sam and his dad were able to temporarily escape the storm.

    Ian went in first, Moses followed, but as Sam passed, Mrs. Moses frowned. "Sam, you reek of sweat, what did you do?"

    "Haha, I think I have to go take my bath".

    "Come here!"

    Sam dared not stay, he was gone to his room to take his bath.

    Before his wife could raise a storm though, Moses finally winked at her, gesturing for her to follow him to the room.

    This woman had a suspicious look on her face but the occasion reduced her paranoia. ''It''s Christmas, did he get a gift for me?''

    She followed her husband to the room after leaving instructions for Sophia to serve a plate of food for the visiting Ian.

 Chapter 21: Purchasing first skill mastery

    In the room, seated on their bed, Mrs. Moses had a suspicious look on her face as she stared at her husband who with a subtle smile on his lips was operating his phone.After about a minute or so, her patience could not last longer. "Is this why you brought me here? To look at you press your phone?"

    "And¡­, done". Moses finally raised his head to look at his wife. "Check your phone". S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He barely spoke when his wife''s iPhone made a notification sound.

    Beep!

    Staring at her husband still suspiciously, this woman glanced at her phone. Immediately she saw the term ''credit alert'', she picked the phone up with urgency, then opening it with her facial recognition, she opened the notification message.

    {New SMS message!}

    {GTBANK: You have received a credit alert of 80,000 naira from Moses Akudo Robinson}

    This woman looked at her husband again. She wanted to glare at him but she couldn''t, a sheepish smile crept up her face as she stared at him. Her body language already changed. "Hehe," she chuckled. "What is this about? Are you trying to bribe me or something?"

    She shifted closer to her husband on the bed. "Is this another Christmas present? You already bought gifts for me before".

    Moses didn''t reject his wife though, expertly drawing her closer into an embrace with one hand as he sniffed the scent of his wife greedily.

    He hugged her from behind before gently kissing her on the neck. "Well, that''s a Christmas gift from your son".

    Mrs. Moses paused for a few seconds. "My son?" She wanted to turn around but since her husband hugged her from behind, she couldn''t. "Explain". She demanded.

    Behind her, Moses smiled, then groping around on the bed, he picked up a document before placing it before his wife.

    Hesitantly, Mrs. Moses picked up the document which seemed like a contract before opening it. "What is this?" She asked.

    "Read it". Moses smiled.

    Mrs. Moses was literate, a degree holder in Guidance and Counselling. Opening the document and confirming that it was a contract, she threw another glance at her husband before reading through it.

    The more she read, the more flabbergasted this woman became till she could no longer hold it in. "Wait, are you saying Sam is about to start receiving a monthly salary of 200,000 naira per month?"

    "Yes," her husband responded from behind her. "And it''s just the beginning. As his career progresses and if by luck, he gets signed by a European team which is something I''m confident in sooner or later, he''ll start earning the real big bucks".

    "Sarah, do you know that the highest earning Nigerian footballers abroad earn over 100 million naira per week?"

    "What?!" His wife almost screamed before covering her mouth, eliciting a chuckle from Moses as he gently caressed her hair from behind.

    "Moses, don''t play with me, are you serious?"

    "I''m dead serious, I can check it online and show you if you really want".

    "Wow!" She exclaimed. "I believe you".

    "So, my son is a professional football player now?"

    "Yes," Moses answered then thinking of something, he chuckled. "You were always against Sam playing football, honestly, I expected to be punched even, that''s one reason I''m hugging you from behind".

    "Why did you accept what I''m saying so easily?"

    "Moses, are you kidding me?" Sarah scoffed. "Playing football and getting injured for nothing, incurring unnecessary expenses for treatment, that''s just foolish, it''s why I hate football".

    "But playing football and earning 250,000 naira a month?" She chuckled. "I''ll be a fool to stop my 17-year-old boy from playing, especially when this money might increase in the future like you say".

    "I''m a practical woman, you know". She acted smug.

    Behind her, Moses chuckled, then suddenly, he pinched her on the butt. "Today''s Christmas, are you not going to reward me?"

    "You cheeky bastard!" She cursed him.

    Well, just a few seconds later, she was already on top him as the couple scrambled to remove their shirts.

    "Wait, did you lock the door?"

    "Umm, I think I did".

    "Good".

    ¡­

    While his dad expertly settled the problem of his mom with his money while his best friend stayed in the sitting room, watching a movie with his sister, Sam stayed in his room after bathing as he laid down on the bed.

    He took a few minutes to reminisce about the memories of this evening again before finally focusing on what attracted his curiosity, his system.

    He stopped somewhere due to his mom.

    At this moment, fascinated by the new unlocked perks of the system, Sam paid attention to them.

    ''The snooping tool, it''s useful, it''ll help me accurately access the level of my opponents after I start playing professionally''.

    ''It should help me in dominating and winning games''.

    The snooping tool was not what attracted his full curiosity at this moment though, rather, what attracted his curiosity was the skills market.

    ~----~

    [Skills Market]

    [Current available football skills: 3]

    [Available football skills will be updated every 48 hours]

    >Double Stepover<

    (Host mastery of this skill is at the basic level)

    (Spend 10 skill points to improve this skill to the intermediate mastery level)

    ¡­

    >Cruyff Turn<

    (Host mastery of this skill is at the basic level)

    (Spend 10 skill points to improve this skill to the intermediate mastery level)

    ¡­

    >Spatial Awareness<

    (Host has not yet unlocked a mastery of this skill)

    (Spend 2 skill points to unlock basic mastery of this skill)

    ¡­

    [Available Skill Points: 3]

    ~----~

    Sam was a bit disappointed by the fact that the skills market only had 3 different skills whose masteries were available to be purchased by him.

    He was relieved when he saw that the available skills could be refreshed, but he would have to wait 48 hours before accessing new skills.

    Despite the fact that he had been with the Ultimate Football System for more than a week already, apart from the daily quest that helped him get back in shape for the Christmas game, he didn''t have much more experience with the system.

    He didn''t even know how the increase of +2 attribute points to his dribbling attribute would affect his game.

    Everything was still new to him and it was also why he felt so excited exploring it. Of the 3 skills that were available in the market, Sam didn''t need to think long before he arrived at his choice.

    ''I already have basic mastery of the others, besides, for a midfielder, spatial awareness is a most-have skill''.

    He was even shocked that the system skills market had it for sale.

    And even more importantly, he only had enough skills points to purchase the basic mastery of spatial awareness currently.

    This is why Sam did not hesitate, spending 2 of his 3 skill points immediately to purchase the football skill.

    [You have purchased basic mastery of a football skill: Spatial Awareness]

 Chapter 22: A memorable Christmas

    When Moses and his wife finally came out of their rooms, the couple were glowing. They seemed to have just taken a bath.And with a big smile on his face, the man of the house finally announced the big news officially.

    "Everyone, today, we''re not just celebrating Christmas, we''re also celebrating Sam getting his first professional football contract".

    "What?" Sophia stared at her dad; confusion written all over her face.

    "Sophia, we''re celebrating!" Mrs. Moses jumped to meet her daughter. "Sam is about to begin making money from football".

    In the sitting room, Ian and Sam stayed silent, staring at the woman like she was an entirely different existence.

    Sam was flabbergasted. ''Is this really my mom?''

    Sam looked at his dad who winked at him, giving him the ''told ya'' eye.

    Ian shifted closer to his best friend. "Women are scary". He muttered.

    Sam nodded in agreement. "They''re even scarier when money is involved".

    The day was already dark but their Christmas celebration was not over yet.

    Due to the good news today and since he was in a happy mood, Mr. Moses decided to splurge some money on his family to make today even more memorable as he took them out to an acclaimed restaurant in Abraka.

    After eating, they watched a nice movie in a cinema before finally dropping Ian off at his home.

    Today was truly the best Christmas day of Sam''s life.

    ¡­

    The next day, waking up, there was a lot of house chores for Sam and his sister to take care of since he was not going to work today.

    It was while they took care of the dirty dishes that his phone rang.

    Looking at his android phone screen, Sam''s eyes widened.

    {Incoming call from Coach Yemi Daniel!}

    Cleaning his hand immediately, Sam took the call. "Hello," he spoke into the phone.

    "Hey champ, how was your Christmas celebration yesterday?"

    Hearing that question, Sam smiled. "It was the best Christmas day of my life. Getting my first professional contract already made it so, but my dad did even more as he took the whole family out".

    "Ah, so coochie smoochie," the middle-aged coach chuckled. "Speaking of your dad, the way he was haggling yesterday baffled me. Is your dad by any means a barrister?"

    Sam smiled proudly. "Yes, my dad is a certified lawyer".

    "No wonder he easily took preceding over all the contract stress. You can make him your agent you know, after you become big".

    "Coach, do you think I can become big in football?" Sam smiled cheekily and asked.

    "Of course, definitely". Coach Yemi answered immediately, then he continued. "Anyways, I called to send you the matchday 1 fixtures of the Nigerian professional football league".

    Sam was startled. "The league season is just starting?"

    He heard an audible sigh from the phone. "That''s Nigeria for you, it''s complicated but a lot of things are holding the league back".

    "That doesn''t concern you now though, what concerns you and I is making sure that you settle into the club to play your first professional football game".

    "Never stop training, I want that belly fat gone before you resume".

    "Yes, Coach".

    "Our first game of the season is on 14th next month; I want you to report to our club building at the very least by 9th January. You''re our newest signing, your unveiling to our club fans is scheduled to be held on 10th January".

    "About your accommodation and feeding, don''t worry, the club will take care of all that, its specified in the contract".

    "By the way, the first league game of the season is on 8th January".

    "Don''t worry Sam, I''m already communicating with your dad on WhatsApp, we''ll make sure you come to Abia State and settle down comfortably".

    "All I want from you is to focus on getting back to tip-top condition". S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I''ll try my best coach".

    "Good, that''s all. We''re still in a festive period, so enjoy yourself".

    And with that, they ended the call. Shortly after, Sam''s phone beeped; opening it, he found the matchday 1 fixture of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).

    (Matchday 1:)

    >Akwa United ¨C Bendel Insurance<

    >Date: 08 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Nasarawa United ¨C Enyimba<

    >Date: 14 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Enugu Rangers ¨C Abia Warriors<

    >Date: 15 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Plateau United ¨C Shooting Stars<

    >Date: 15 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Kwara United ¨C Gombe United<

    >Date: 15 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Remo Stars ¨C El Kanemi Warriors FC<

    >Date: 15 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Bayelsa United ¨C Dakkada<

    >Date: 15 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Wikki Tourist ¨C Niger Tornadoes<

    >Date: 15 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Doma United ¨C Sunshine Stars<

    >Date: 15 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Rivers United ¨C Lobi Stars<

    >Date: 15 Jan, 2023<

    "Can you really play against the players of these clubs with those tiny legs of yours?"

    Sam looked up only to see the spying eyes of his sister, he chuckled. "My haters can keep on hating, your hate got nothing on me".

    And with that, he accelerated his work, finishing in no time.

    Immediately after the home chores were done, before his mom could come out to give him more work, Sam wore his workout clothes before quickly jogging out of the house to complete his daily system quest.

    Even after playing the Christmas Game, the daily system quest continued.

    Almost an hour later, after he was done completing all the tasks of the daily system quest, Sam jogged to his best friend''s place.

    Of course, he didn''t go inside since he reeked of sweat, only greeting Mr. and Mrs. Wealth from their gate.

    His best friend came out to meet him and without hesitation, excitedly, he told Ian of his conversation with Coach Yemi Daniels this morning.

    "Wow! They''re preparing an unveiling for you? That''s cool man, really".

    He had a hearty conversation with his best friend, excitedly discussing various topics about football, including the current situation in the top 5 leagues of Europe. It was after their conversation that Sam finally jogged back home.

    Entering the house, his mom conveniently ignored the sweat on his body this time as Sam went to his room to bath and freshen up.

    Once he was done, he came out to eat and as soon as he saw his father, Sam threw the question that had been niggling in his mind since. "Dad, why is the Nigerian professional football league just starting next month?"

 Chapter 23: Preparations for a new football season

    "Dad, why is the Nigerian professional football league just starting next month?"Moses didn''t look at his son first, rather he threw the first glance at his wife. Sarah reacted like she didn''t notice her husband''s look at all.

    And then, taking a bite from the chicken on his plate, this man swallowed before answering his son. "This is Nigeria son, that''s the answer".

    "Really?" Sam asked, skeptical.

    Moses nodded. "A typical NPFL season starts around August or September and ends around May or June of the following year. Of course, the exact schedule varies slightly depending on certain factors".

    "This time, the drastic change is primarily due to administrative and logistical challenges within the league. The league has faced disruptions in recent years, including scheduling difficulties and organizational changes within the management".

    "It''s all money Sam, that''s why I said the answer is Nigeria".

    "Besides, I once read that the delays are also because of the need to align the domestic league schedule with international competitions, who knows?"

    "Anyways, the delayed start should allow the league to be better prepared for a long season. It also means this season calendar will be shorter than previous seasons".

    "Ok, that''s enough football talk," Sarah finally bumped into the conversation. "Table manners," she stressed, "let''s focus on our food".

    After 26th, the days moved fast for Sam as he continued diligently completing his daily system quest tasks while also regularly hitting the gym.

    Before the new year, Sam''s efforts were rewarded as his pace attribute increased by +2 while his physicality attribute increased by +3. This took his overall rating through a crazy jump, jumping all the way from 68 to 70.

    Finally, his overall rating was no longer gray, now showing yellow.

    It didn''t mean much but to Sam, it felt like a big achievement and it also served as more motivation for him to work harder.

    This was an advantage that he had over every other football player in the world. Unlike them, with his system, he could keep real-time track of his attributes, including how much he was improving or if he was stagnating.

    This real-time tracking was doing a whole lot of good to his confidence.

    Now, his attributes looked like this.

    ~---~

    Player Attributes:

    *Pace: 72

    *Shot: 69

    *Pass: 74

    *Dribbling: 66

    *Defending: 33

    *Physicality: 63

    *Stamina: 78

    Overall Rating: 70

    ~----~

    Sam celebrated the occasion by treating himself, buying a Barbeque fish and complementing it with a bottle of Hollandia yoghurt.

    New years'' celebration was pretty muted in his home. The whole family stayed at home, taking advantage of the constant light to watch family shows through most of the day.

    They didn''t go out but still, it was an enjoyable experience.

    And finally, it was 2023.

    By now, Sam looked entirely unrecognizable from how he was just 2 weeks ago. All his belly fat was gone, replaced by lean muscles and a fit shape.

    His body was in tip-top condition.

    "Damn, I''m handsome," he muttered as he stared at the mirror in his room after just taking his bath.

    By now, he already resigned from his internship work in the pharmacy and with his dad working with Coach Yemi Daniel, he was to travel to Abia State by 8th January. His dad would take him there personally.

    8th felt far at first but focused on different tasks, the days moved forward swiftly like the flipping pages of a book when engrossed in a good story and before Sam knew it, it was the D-day already.

    Just a day ago, another of Sam''s attributes improved again. It was the physicality attribute again, increasing by a figure of +1.

    ~----~

    *Physicality: 64

    ~----~

    ¡­

    8th January, 2023¡­

    ¡­

    Sam could not believe what he was seeing. ''Dammit mom, I''m not traveling abroad yet, I''m just going to Abia State''. He thought exasperatedly.

    His mom was not having it though as she wiped her tears, glaring at him. "Kneel down my son, let me pray for you".

    Sam threw a glance at his dad who conveniently ignored his plight before kneeling. His best friend who also came that morning for the occasion held back a stifled laugh as it happened.

    "In Jesus name," she started praying, her eyes fervently closed. "My son, as you go out there, no powers of the enemy shall overpower you".

    "Your haters, does that want your downfall, they shall fall in your place".

    "You shall go there for exploits". Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You dad said your contract can be improved. As you go there, you are favored, your contract shall be improved, you shall earn even more money".

    "As you play football, injuries are far away from you".

    "You shall be the best among your peers, this and others I pray for in Jesus mighty name".

    "Amen". The others chorused in agreement.

    Sarah glared at her son. "Come on, say amen!"

    "Amen". Sam said.

    And with that, she hugged him, kissing him repeatedly on the forehead before sending him off with his dad to Abia State. Ian followed on the journey; he would return with Mr. Moses in 2 days.

    Arriving at Abia State after a long journey that took over 6 hours on the road, his dad driving an incredible distance of 300+ kilometers, Sam was introduced to the club hierarchy as he was led by his coach.

    He was also led to the guest quarters where a 1-bedroom apartment was allocated for him, it was his apartment for the foreseeable future.

    Mr. Moses inspected everything and approved.

    The next day, 9th January, for the first time in his life, Sam was introduced to the home stadium of Enyimba FC, the Enyimba International Stadium that was located in the city of Aba here in Abia State.

    There, he finally met his teammates on the pitch for the first time as they did the introductions after which he trained with them for the very first time on a football pitch.

    Of course, the one player that Sam paid attention to was the player occupying his preferred position, the attacking midfield position.

    The 23-year-old player was the attacking midfielder of Enyimba FC.

    And for the first time, Sam finally got the opportunity to make use of his snooping tool on a professional football player.

    ~----~

    [You have made use of Snooping Tool!]

    Player Name: Cyril Olisema

    Age: 23

    Current Career Status: NPFL player

    Talent Rating: D-

    Player Position: Attacking Midfield

    Player Attributes:

    *Pace: 70

    *Shot: 65

    *Pass: 71

    *Dribbling: 68

    *Defending: 47

    *Physicality: 65

    *Stamina: 67

    Overall Rating: 69

    [NOTE: To access the skills of players and their respective masteries, upgrade Snooping tool to level 2]

    [Snooping Tool upgrade requirement: Level system to level 3]

    ~----~

    The first thing that came to Sam''s mind was, ''damn! I''m better than him''.

 Chapter 24: Training [1]

    In elite football clubs, football training is done every day under the supervision of the club''s coach. The only exception was if after a big game, the coach gave his players time out to recover or a bonus day out.On his first day training as a football player of Enyimba FC, apart from simply training, Sam also took time out to check out his teammates.

    Coach Yemi Daniel already took charge of the team for a time, and of course, he had a preferred starting lineup in place.

    These set of 11 players were the players that Sam had his eyes on.

    And Sam didn''t just set his eyes on them, of course, he also used his system''s snooping tool on them to know how thick the competition here was and to have an idea of the overall level of his teammates.

    Typically lining his team up in a 4-3-3 formation which allowed him to balance his team''s attack and defense, this was Coach Yemi Daniel''s starting 11.

    ~----~

    [You have made use of Snooping Tool!]

    [Goalkeeper:]

    [Player Name: Olorunleke Ojo]

    Player Position: Goalkeeper

    Overall Rating: 70

    ¡­

    [Defenders:]

    [Player Name: Timothy Danladi]

    Player Position: Center Back

    Overall Rating: 68

    ¡­

    [Player Name: Adekunle Adeleke]

    Player Position: Center Back

    Overall Rating: 67

    ¡­

    [Player Name: Sadiq Abubakar]

    Player Position: Right Back

    Overall Rating: 62

    ¡­

    [Player Name: Ezekiel Bassey]

    Player Position: Left Back

    Overall Rating: 65

    ¡­

    [Midfielders:]

    [Player Name: Austin Oladapo]

    Player Position: Central Midfielder

    Overall Rating: 72

    [Special Title: Captain]

    ¡­

    [Player Name: Cyril Olisema]

    Player Position: Attacking Midfielder

    Overall Rating: 69

    ¡­

    [Player Name: Farouk Mohammed]

    Player Position: Defensive Midfielder

    Overall Rating: 65

    ¡­

    [Forwards:]

    [Player Name: Emeka Obioma]

    Player Position: Center Forward

    Overall Rating: 71

    ¡­

    [Player Name: Chijioke Mbaoma]

    Player Position: Left Winger Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Overall Rating: 71

    ¡­

    [Player Name: Victor Mbaoma]

    Player Position: Right Winger

    Overall Rating: 69

    ~----~

    By getting most of the information of his teammates presented to him on a platter of gold, without even playing with them yet to build chemistry, Sam already had a good understanding of their gameplay and how to best integrate with them.

    The system truly was a cheat code to him.

    With the snooping tool, he was able to tell the best player of this team immediately. Austin Oladapo, the central midfielder who was also the captain of the team was the best player of Enyimba FC with an overall rating of 72.

    ''I need to befriend him,'' Sam thought. ''I can learn from him''. He stared at the 26-year-old with yearning in his eyes, envying how much playing experience he had.

    Well, Sam did not just come here to observe his teammates with his system''s snooping tool though. More importantly, he came here to play football.

    Another factor that made him feel motivated at this moment was that after observing his rival through the snooping tool, he was suddenly more confident of displacing Cyril Olisema to take his spot in the starting 11.

    Coach Yemi Daniel took it slow at first, starting the training with light drills to get the players in the flow.

    They went through passing drills, agility drills, and jogging before they finally lined up on the pitch of the stadium, setting up 11 to 11 on both sides.

    Unlike Coach James during his training game, Coach Yemi Daniel didn''t put all his best players in one side though. Instead, he drew a lot to determine the players that would be in either team A or team B.

    And as luck would have it, Sam got his chance to impress as his lot put him in team B where he faced against his rival, Olisema in team A.

    This was his chance to show what he was capable of.

    It was even easier for him to showcase his talent on his first day of training since the lot favored team B, putting the better players here, including the captain.

    Sam scored a goal, chipping in with 2 assists as he put in a great display during his first training match with his teammates.

    After the game, Coach Yemi Daniel approached him to personally commend him, while also finding the time to critic aspects of his game.

    "You played well, Sam. I''m surprised, I expected to see you in good shape but not this good, you''re in perfect shape. I give you points for that".

    "Like usual, your stamina showed on the pitch but I couldn''t help but notice something, your pace seemed to have increased".

    "I see someone''s putting the work in the gym, right?"

    Sam grinned. "I now have a job, the club is paying me, I will do my best to repay your faith".

    Coach Yemi Daniel nodded. "But your game is not yet perfect. At times, on the pitch, your inexperience shines through a lot".

    "You are too eager to drive forward and create something with the ball that you risk losing the ball in dangerous situations too many times".

    "In a real game, that can easily cost your team".

    "Your dribbling is ok, but not at that elite level to take such risks consistently. You have talent, but don''t let it get to your head, you''re still a rookie".

    "Take risks, but remember to play like a rookie, trust your teammates more".

    "Though I''d have to say I was impressed by your passing". This coach finally smiled again. "For a player of your age, your reading of the game is already elite".

    "You have the vision to spot runs and the technique to throw passes already, we just need to shore it up a bit and you''d be an elite player in no time".

    "You have a lot of potential Sam, but don''t let it get to your head, work hard".

    With that, the coach finally left to attend to more players.

    They had a few minutes to rest before training commenced again. After another intense training drill, this one mostly in the gym, Coach Yemi Daniel finally dismissed his players for the day.

    Before Sam left to the guest house to his apartment, Coach Daniel reminded him of something. "Don''t forget about tomorrow, your unveiling".

    "Oh". Sam said; ironically, he already forgot about his unveiling.

    Tomorrow was going to be interesting.

 Chapter 25: Training [2]

    10th January, 2023¡­¡­

    On this day, Samuel Moses, the newest summer signing of Enyimba FC was finally presented to a stadium with only a few hundred fans present.

    Despite the low reception of fans, the media publicity overshadowed it.

    Unlike in European clubs where tens of thousands of fans come for the unveiling of their club''s new signings, football in lesser leagues across the world didn''t attract as much attention, which was directly proportional to lesser fans coming for unveiling ceremonies.

    Despite everything, the unveiling ceremony was a big success as with a big smile on his face, Sam faced the camera and said his first words.

    "I may be young but I''m ambitious".

    "I didn''t come to Enyimba FC to be lost in the history of this club. I''m determined to do my best to help this club win titles and extend our record as the most successful team in NPFL history".

    "Up Enyimba!" He pumped a fist in the air and celebrated with a big smile on his face amid cheers and applause from the fans.

    Of course, his dad organized that speech for him.

    And with that, the unveiling ceremony came to an end.

    It was not the end of the day for Sam though. Despite the fact that he really wanted to celebrate this moment, he put pleasure aside for now as he quickly entered the pitch to join the other players for training.

    Today, the fans would watch him train for the first time.

    All the players were hard at work, giving their best to return to tip-top condition in preparation for the new upcoming season.

    Their first game of the season would commence in just 4 days.

    While Sam trained with his teammates even as his best friend and dad toured the city of Aba, unknowing to him, his unveiling already caused a slight storm in the Nigerian football circle as pundits speculated where Coach Yemi Daniel unveiled the youngster from.

    The NTA News Channel covered it.

    "Samuel Moses, have you ever heard of the boy?" The host of the show asked.

    "Nah," the pundit shook his head. "Personally, I think it''s just a show of muscle from Enyimba FC to reassert themselves in the Nigerian football stratosphere since they were not so dominant last season".

    "Last season, Rivers United created history as they won their first-ever NPFL championship title after an impressive campaign".

    "To me, it''s just Coach Yemi Daniel trying to show that his team is making waves but to me, it''s just foolish bravado".

    "If we ride on what we saw last season, Rivers United is currently scary and Enyimba should be thinking of signing a veteran to increase their chances of competing, not an unproven youngster who popped out of nowhere".

    The host looked at the pundit. "Emma, do you think Enyimba has what it takes to take the NPFL title back?"

    "If Enyimba has what it takes?" This pundit shook his head. "Nah, no. With the way their recruitment is going, I don''t see them winning the league title this season unless something radical changes".

    "Well, sports fans, that''s it for today. Now, we''ll be moving over to the top news of the top 5 European football leagues".

    "Emma, what do you¡­"

    ¡­

    By the end of training today, Coach Yemi Daniel finally dropped his preferred starting line-up that was to start the first game of the season in 4 days, including the players that would start on the bench.

    With much hope and expectations, Sam looked through the list.

    Goalkeeper: Olorunleke Ojo

    Center Back: Timothy Danladi

    Center Back: Adekunle Adeleke

    Right Back: Sadiq Abubakar

    Left Back: Ezekiel Bassey

    Central Midfielder: Austin Oladapo

    Attacking Midfielder: Cyril Olisema

    Defensive Midfielder: Farouk Mohammed

    Center Forward: Emeka Obioma

    Left Winger: Chijioke Mbaoma

    Right Winger: Victor Mbaoma

    The starting line-up remained unchanged.

    Sam tried not to let it show on his face but staring at the coach''s chosen starting line-up, he could not help but feel a little disappointed. He was to start the first game of the season on the bench.

    He didn''t let himself stay down for too long though. ''It really was a stretch to think I can start the first game of the season from the first minute''.

    ''Before today, I''ve never played a professional match before, I''m as inexperienced as inexperience can get''.

    ''I shouldn''t be impatient''.

    ''My time will come''.

    With these words of affirmation, Sam was able to go home with no unnecessary thoughts stuck in his head. He had a lot of gist for his dad and best friend, he was loving life as a footballer already.

    ¡­

    The next day, again, it was all about training as Sam gave his best.

    Again, with no distractions in his head, he impressed in training, especially wowing his coach and teammates today as he trained with even more determination to impress.

    Today, he managed to score 2 goals while also chipping in with an assist.

    This was when the captain of the team, Austin Oladapo finally noticed him as the central midfielder voluntarily offered to integrate him with the rest of the team. Austin was jovial and light-hearted, and he was also damn good at socializing.

    With him, it was even easier for Sam to ease into this team.

    After training today though, Sam was sad because after spending 2 days with him here in his first professional club, his dad and best friend were to go back to Delta State to continue their lives.

    Mr. Moses held his son by the shoulder. "You''re a man, Sam. Sooner or later, you would have left the house to make a living for yourself".

    "The foundation has already been built, work on it son".

    "Make me and your mom proud".

    Sam felt emotional but he nodded seriously. "I will".

    He watched his dad drive off as Ian kept on waving him goodbye from the car. "You better keep in touch on WhatsApp!" Ian shouted.

    Sam chuckled and answered. "I will".

    Once the car was gone, he went back to his apartment, going through today''s training in his head while exploring with his system.

    He also paid attention to the result of the first game of the season that was played a few days ago, on Saturday.

    (Match day 1)

    >Akwa United 2-0 Bendel Insurance<

    Despite the fact that Bendel Insurance played their opponents away from home, they were able to overwhelm them, snatching all 3 points from their opening game of the season as they asserted early dominance in the league.

    And just like that, another day was gone.

    ¡­

    With no distraction in the way, Sam was able to focus on football for the next few days as time moved fast and before he knew it, it was Thursday already.

    Coach Yemi gave his players the day off to rest properly for Saturday''s game as they already did all the tactical preparations that they needed for the game.

    Sam spent the whole day at home, relaxing and watching a movie.

    He slept early to wake up early tomorrow morning.

    Then, the next day, Friday 13th January, getting set early, he went to the stadium to meet up with his teammates and his coach as they entered a bus for Nasarawa State.

    Their first game of the season was in away ground.

    They would be playing Nasarawa United in the Lafia Township Stadium in Lafia, Nasarawa State. It was a long and grueling 10 hours'' journey.

    The players arrived totally exhausted. This was another problem that professional football players in Nigeria faced, bad roads. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And of course, clubs in Nigeria didn''t have the money to book flights for their players every away game.

    The players had no choice but to deal with it. Checking into their hotel rooms, they gathered and after one last brief coaching session, Coach Yemi sent his players to their room to go sleep and rest for tomorrow''s game.

    While sleeping, Sam had a dream. He dreamt that Coach Yemi Daniel changed his mind at the last minute, changing the lineup to include him in the starting 11 and he scored a hat trick on his professional debut game.

    He woke up with a big smile on his face. ''I feel good,'' he thought.

    And then, getting set, he left his room.

    It was the D-day, Saturday, 14th January.

    Today, it was Enyimba FC vs the Solid Miners of Nasarawa.

 Chapter 26: Enyimba FC vs Nasarawa United

    FWEEEE!Immediately after the referee''s whistle sounded, the action started on the pitch as Enyimba started kickoff.

    Immediately after getting the ball, Austin Oladapo, the captain of Enyimba trapped the ball with the heel of his boot before looking up as he spotted all 3 of his forwards already bombing down the pitch, anticipating a pass.

    Enyimba FC aimed to start the game strongly and score a lightning-fast goal.

    Bam!

    Austin struck the ball the next moment just as the Nasarawa players closed him down, unleashing a dipping shot that rose up before falling to his team''s center forward, Emeka.

    The opposition center backs immediately closed the center forward down but holding them off with his impressive strength, Emeka used his quick feet to tease them in, before using a quick leg over to evade and explode off with speed.

    In just a moment after that sharp burst of speed, this player was one-on-one with the goalkeeper even as the chasing center back slightly tugged at his jersey from behind.

    Emeka shrugged the tug off before unleashing a shot straight at the goalkeeper, that was his mistake as the ball hit the rushing and sprawling goalkeeper on the face before bouncing back into the field of play.

    After a few scrambling in the box, Nasarawa United was able to clear the ball up field to safety as the game settled and started in earnest.

    Just a few minutes in, it was clear that both teams were fairly even.

    Despite the fact that they were playing away from home, Enyimba FC under Coach Yemi Daniel stayed firm to their footballing philosophy, playing fluid football with their 4-3-3 formation.

    Nasarawa United did not play much different as they started the game with a fluid 4-4-2 formation with 4 midfielders that enabled them wrestle for control in the midfield battle led by the Enyimba midfield general, Austin Oladapo himself.

    During the first few dozen minutes of the game, the game stayed tight as neither side was able to break the opposition down and create clear-cut chances, till just after the 30th minute of the game.

    Winning the ball back deep in his half in the midfield, Farouk, the Enyimba defensive midfielder quickly looked before playing a short pass to his captain.

    Austin held the ball, drawing the press in even as he surveyed the pitch, and this was when he spotted a run.

    Bam!

    Hitting the ball cleanly with the inside of his boot, he curled a pass towards the right wing where Victor Mbaoma stormed down the pitch, narrowly avoiding being caught offside.

    He was able to beat his man with his pace, charge into the 18-yard box, drive forward some more and with the center backs preoccupied with marking the dangerous Chijioke who shared the same surname with him, lurking, he had all the time and space in the world to shoot and shoot was what he did.

    Mohammed Galadima, the Nasarawa United goalkeeper reacted but there was little he could do as Victor slotted the ball into the bottom right corner.

    "Goal!" This winger jumped and pumped his fist in the air in celebration.

    In the 32nd minute of the game, Enyimba FC was up 0-1.

    When the game restarted, Nasarawa United immediately upped the tempo, playing with more urgency and directness as they went for the equalizing goal but this intensity left gaps in their defense line.

    This time, it was Austin again who spotted the run, playing a through pass for his attacking midfielder, Cyril Olisema to run into.

    This attacking midfielder was free to run through on goal and alone with the goalkeeper, he unleashed a shot into the top left corner of the post.

    Mohammed Galadima, the Nasarawa United goalkeeper stood no chance.

    "Goalll!" Screaming loudly, Olisema ran to the corner flag before sliding on his knees in celebration as he pointed at himself.

    Then standing up, he faced the camera and yelled. "I''m him!" He was clearly sending a message to someone.

    In the 37th minute of the game, he increased his team''s lead to 0-2 and from there on, Nasarawa United''s struggles truly began.

    They tried to no avail to break down their opposition''s defense in the first half even as they stayed wary in the back against the threat of Emeka, the deadly Enyimba FC center forward. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The game stayed tight and the first half ended 0-2.

    Nasarawa United made 2 changes in the 2nd half, one of them involving hooking off the 4th midfielder in favor of a more attacking player in Josiah Oche, a center forward.

    Coach Yemi Daniel made no changes.

    When the game restarted, Nasarawa United became even more rampant, flooding their opposition''s half in numbers as they were desperate to score twice and bring the game back level in front of their fans.

    Despite their efforts, Enyimba FC stayed compact, playing amazing football as Austin Oladapo stayed at the heart of their valiant resistance.

    Till the 70th minute, Nasarawa United saw no breakthrough as Coach Yemi Daniel finally made a change, hooking 2 players off, one of them being Victor who scored the first goal of the game as he made his team more defensive.

    On the bench, Sam fidgeted anxiously, occasionally throwing glances his coach''s way but Coach Yemi Daniel never paid attention to him, staying focused on the game till the 78th minute of the pitch.

    The coach briefly turned to look at him on the bench and made a signal with his hand. "Sam, get ready, you''ll soon enter the pitch".

    ''Phew!'' Sam did not care that it was in the 78th minute of the game, excitement coursed through him as he immediately got set.

    After a little warming up session, in the 80th minute of the game, Sam was introduced into the game, replacing Olisema as Nasarawa United made another offensive change.

    Entering the pitch finally, Sam felt like this was a defining moment in his life.

    The pitch was hot but it didn''t affect him, it only made him more focused even as his blood boiled to join in on the action.

    Before the game restarted though, his system lit up with a mission notification for the first time in a while.

    ~----~

    [You have unlocked a system mission: It is your debut game; make your mark, make it memorable!]

    [Details: Score a goal or give an assist]

    [Mission Reward: Awakened real-time game experience accumulation]

    ¡­

    [Penalty for mission failure: No rewards for completing system daily quest for 3 straight days!]

    ~----~

    ''Damn, not the penalty again!''

 Chapter 27: A mixed debut performance

    FWEEEE!As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, every distraction left Sam''s head as all his focus honed in on the game before him, boosted by the incentives offered to him by the system and the drive of his personal ambition.

    ''I need to make my mark on this game!''

    ''A goal perhaps, maybe an assist, I must get one!''

    Nasarawa United restarted play from the throw in and immediately, they started their attacking raids against the Enyimba FC defense, launching attack after attack with their overwhelming numbers.

    This was where Sam was caught off-guard. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As an attacking midfielder since he was a kid, most of Sam''s instincts on the pitch were that of an attacking player.

    After all, tracking back to mark opposition players and defend was boring, definitely not as exciting as bombing forward with the ball, dribbling through multiple players, and scoring an incredible solo goal.

    Yet at this moment, faced against the ultra-offensive momentum of Nasarawa United, Sam was forced against his will to track back and defend.

    For literally 5 minutes after Sam entered the game, his leg didn''t touch the ball once as Nasarawa United dominated possession, laying siege to his box even as he defended alongside his teammates.

    He didn''t like it but he had no choice.

    He was even furious at his coach. ''Why did you take Victor off? Now, we''re playing defensive football, how am I supposed to score or give an assist like this?''

    ''F*ck! I hate this''.

    Despite his thoughts though, he defended, martialed and led by Austin Oladapo who even in this moment when his team was being laid siege upon was comfortable and in his element.

    Defending was second nature to this center midfielder.

    "Sam, defend!" Austin kept on shouting.

    "Close him down, don''t give them chances to shoot from distance!" He kept yelling, displaying his capability as a vocal captain on the pitch.

    Luckily for Sam, he was just being introduced into the game, so he had fresh legs and to his credit, he had a lot of stamina.

    After 6 minutes of being laid siege upon, it was Sam who finally won the ball back with his relentless running as sticking his right leg out, he poked the ball away from the leg of the Nasarawa United center midfielder.

    "Pass, pass!" Sam heard a player shout immediately, he didn''t know who.

    He didn''t pass immediately though. ''This is my moment, I won the ball!'' He thought. ''I need to work it and make the most out of it''.

    ''I won''t have many chances to complete the system mission''.

    Instead of passing, Sam pushed the ball forward and ran after it, intent on starting the counterattack himself and scoring if the opportunity came or at the very least laying on the assist.

    He barely pushed the ball when he heard the screeching sound of boots sliding through the pitch.

    Sam flinched, jumping as the boots hit the ball, also catching his legs in the process as he collapsed on the pitch.

    Sam just lost possession in his half, close to his box.

    This was a big mistake; at first he was stunned, but then he reacted.

    To redeem his mistake, instinctively, he clutched his leg, screaming as if he was in pain when he was not but the referee paid him no attention.

    One opposition player slid in to win the ball back, pushing it into space, then another one ran into the free ball and unleashed a rocket shot from distance.

    Boom!

    It was Josiah Oche with the rocket shot!

    The Enyimba FC players reacted, putting their bodies on the line to try and block the shot but it slithered through their block. Olorunleke Ojo, the Enyimba goalkeeper jumped on a full-stretch dive but his fingers could only slightly touch the ball as it wriggled past, nestling into the top left corner of the net.

    The net shook, it was a goal.

    In the 87th minute of the game, Oche got 1 goal back for his team.

    "Goal!" Oche roared, not bothering to celebrate as he rushed into the net, picked up the ball and ran back with it to quickly continue the game.

    Sam was still on the ground as this happened, watching, stunned.

    He just cost his team a goal.

    Austin walked over and offered him a hand, smiling slightly. "It''s not your fault," he said. "Next time, don''t take the risk though in a situation like that, pass".

    Sam looked at his captain, he bit his lips a bit before he nodded.

    He stood up. "Thank you".

    "Just play better".

    FWEEEE!

    The game restarted as once again, the Nasarawa United players won back possession before flooding into the Enyimba FC half.

    The ending minutes of this game was incredibly nervy as the Nasarawa United players, smelling the equalizing goal played in front of their home fans with incredible intensity like they were on a battlefield.

    Enyimba FC weathered the offensive with incredible resilience and this time around, a certain attacking midfielder was no longer impatient.

    Sam no longer needed Austin to instruct him, that first mistake was all the lesson he needed to refocus.

    Mounting like a rock in his team''s half, but a mobile one, Sam made full use of his stamina during the final minutes of this game as he ran everywhere, jumping into tackles and intercepting passes, briefly being the best player of his team entirely due to his work rate.

    Like this, Enyimba FC was able to weather the storm for 90 minutes.

    By now, Sam was no longer even thinking of his system mission, all that dominated his mind was weathering the storm for his team to hold on to all 3 points by the end of the game.

    The referee added 4 additional minutes to the game.

    In those final minutes, Nasarawa United mounted the pressure on their opponents but Enyimba FC stood up valiantly to the challenge still.

    And in the 93rd minute, merely seconds away from the final whistle, Sam''s work rate enabled him to win the ball again just in front of his box.

    This time, he didn''t kick it away and this time, it was not because of arrogance nor impatience to complete a system goal.

    Sam already forgot about the system mission.

    The reason why he held on to possession was because of spatial awareness.

    Spatial awareness in football is the ability of a footballer to be aware of his surroundings, where his teammates were and where his opponents also were.

    Sam never really had this football skill before but the only time that he made use of the system''s skills market, he purchased spatial awareness.

    At this moment, it was this spatial awareness that enabled Sam to know that there were 2 opposition players behind him, frozen, still not reacting to the fact that he just stole the ball.

    Another opposition player was charging in from the right, clearly intent on winning the ball by all means. All this information entered his head in an instant.

    But this were not the most important information. The most important information was that Sam was also aware of an ally.

    Immediately after he won possession, Chijioke, the left winger of his team noticed. This winger erupted and started running.

    Whoosh!

    The sliding tackle finally came in.

    Trapping this ball with the heel of his boot, Sam dragged it back smoothly as he effortlessly evaded the tackle with the cold calmness of a hitman, then he hit the ball one time towards the left where Chijioke ran.

    "The newbie just ignited a counterattack!" The commentator roared.

    Chijioke made use of his impressive speed as he bombed down the left hand side of this pitch with incredible speed.

    He was not alone, Sam didn''t leave him alone either as including him, 3 teammates ran after Chijioke.

    Sam, Austin, and Emeka completed the 4-man counter-attacking cohort.

    Chijioke didn''t take the risk to dribble, he played a slightly over hit cross into the box and Sam jumped, utilizing his tall frame to deftly bring the ball down with his chest on the right side of the 18-yard box.

    On the right side of the 18-yard box, Sam had the option to shoot and pass, the opposition defenders were still scrambling to fully recover.

    He didn''t elicit to shoot though, it was the unlikelier chance to score from this position, instead he looked into the box.

    Emeka held off the only defender who already recovered fully with his physicality, calling for the pass. He was the best pass option but at this moment, Sam didn''t pass towards him because he was biased.

    Instead of passing to Emeka who was slightly to the left side of the 6-yard box, he laid the ball to the center instead where Austin was running in with an opposing player tightly marking him.

    Austin was able to outmuscle his opponent though and as the Nasarawa United goalkeeper charged towards him, he poked the ball in-between his legs into the embrace of the net.

    "Goal!" Austin celebrated, pumping a fist into the air then he pointed at the newcomer of his team as he ran at Sam before hugging and lifting him up in celebration.

    In the last minute of the game, Enyimba FC scored again, making the score line 1-3, breaking multiple Nasarawa hearts.

    The game ended shortly after with Austin Oladapo easily scooping the man of the match award after a game-winning performance with a goal and 2 incredible assists to his name.

 Chapter 28: Post-match press conference

    "Austin, you''re the captain of Enyimba FC. What are your thoughts about your team''s performance today?"The tall 8.2-meter-tall center midfielder faced the female reporter with a smile on his face. "We played a good game, yes, we played well".

    "As you likely saw, we dominated the first half, scoring 2 beautiful goals. In the second half, we were not so dominant, especially towards the end of the game after we conceded the goal".

    "In those last moments, it was really nervy, it was a close game but that''s football for you," this tall captain smiled. "What matters is that we scored the 3rd goal and won the game, claiming all 3 points".

    "This season, we are very ambitious, we want to win everything".

    The beautiful female reporter smiled on hearing his confidence. "Austin, you were able to scoop up the man of the match award today after an incredible performance where you managed to get a goal and 2 assists, what do you think about your performance?"

    Hearing this question, amid his rapid breaths still from the exertion of the game, this sweaty captain smiled sheepishly. "Of course, I''m proud". He chuckled.

    But then, his face turned serious again. "I''m the captain of Enyimba FC. I''m always ready to give my all and help the team, no matter which role I''m required to play by the coach".

    "If the coach says I should score, I will try my best to score. Of course, I''ll always try to assist and even if he tells me to defend, I will defend with my life".

    "We scored 3 goals but it''s clear that our forward line is not yet firing on all cylinders. It''s normal, this is just the first game of the season, we have time to build up our chemistry and fitness".

    "Hopefully, in subsequent games, we are able to regain our fluidity in attack". He smiled.

    "Talking about fluidity," this female reporter smiled. "What do you think of the rookie''s performance today? He assisted your goal".

    "Oh, Sam?" This captain grinned. "The boy is definitely destined for great things, getting an assist in your debut game for a storied club like Enyimba FC is not easy, even more so when the player you''re replacing is Olisema".

    "The pressure on him was massive but he showed up".

    "But he caused the only goal against your team though, what do you think of that?"

    Austin scratched the back of his head. "That''s normal, it''s normal to make mistakes in football. Even I am no God, I do make mistakes a lot on the pitch too". Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "He''s young, he has a lot of time to grow and what excites me most is that he already showed the willingness to listen". He grinned. "I told him to pass the ball and he did pass, that was how I got my first goal of the season".

    "I guess I must say," he looked at the camera. "Thanks Sam, for the assist".

    The beautiful female reporter chuckled. "Thanks for having me, captain fantastic, do have a great day".

    "Thank you".

    And with that, Austin Oladapo, the captain of Enyimba FC finally left on his way to meet his teammates who were getting ready to leave.

    Once he arrived at the dressing room, Coach Yemi Daniel rounded up his players before leaving.

    On their way from the stadium, Austin noticed the boy walk towards him. He patted Sam by the head. "What a pass, boy, thank you".

    Sam grinned, it felt nice to be validated by his captain.

    They returned straight to the hotel where they would spend the night. They would only enter the road to return to Abia State tomorrow morning.

    To reduce expenses, the players were asked to stay in pairs, 2 to a hotel room. Sam had another roommate previously, one of the bench players of the team but after the game today, Austin made a special request to have him as his roommate.

    And with that, he got to stay in the same room as the captain of his team.

    In the room, after taking their bath in turns, Austin Oladapo fetched his phone, called the boy over before doing something that surprised Sam. Austin opened a replay of the just concluded game on his phone.

    Noting his surprise, Austin grinned. "It''s a habit of mine, I love to watch games immediately after we play them when the memory is still so fresh".

    "That way, I can spot the mistakes I made and what I did best quickly so I can avoid making the same mistakes in next matches".

    "It helps me improve," this captain looked at the new midfielder. "It''s my first time on the pitch with you, Sam, but with you, I feel something special".

    "I believe you''re cut out for great things, so I want to impact this on you".

    "Oh, thanks". Sam grinned. "I appreciate it".

    And with that, relaxed on the bed, the 2 players of Enyimba FC watched the full 90 minutes of the game that they just played again.

    When they were finally done, smiling on all ears, Sam did not expect what followed.

    "What was your most glaring mistake?"

    He paused. "Uh?"

    Austin looked at him, an even look on his face. "You just watched the game with me, right? Didn''t you observe your gameplay? What was your most glaring mistake in the game?"

    Sam gulped. ''Why does this feel like I''m back in the walls of school?''

    He chuckled awkwardly. "When I lost the ball close to our 18-yard box and they scored a goal from it?"

    "No," Austin shook his head. "Your biggest mistake was your indecisiveness. You see the second time in the same situation? What you did?"

    Sam nodded.

    Austin continued. "The second time, you were not indecisive, you didn''t think first, you acted based on what you observed and your instincts and it ended up leading to a goal".

    "That first time, I don''t know what you were thinking about but you were indecisive. By the time you finally decided to move the ball, you already gave the opponents enough time to close you down and steal the ball".

    "A football game is like war and we are the soldiers. If you hesitate to take the shot, your opponent will shoot and kill you".

    "In war, you don''t hesitate, you kill".

    "Never hesitate in a game. If you feel you can do it, do it, don''t think and if you feel you can''t, pass the ball".

    "Pass the ball, Sam, that''s why you have teammates".

    By now, the look in Sam''s face was so coy like a boy receiving a dressing down from his mom, he nodded timidly. "Yes, captain".

    Austin suddenly laughed. "No need to be so serious, I just wanted you to remember it and improve".

    "Anyways, I heard this is your first professional game but damn, you already have a good grasp of spatial awareness. That''s impressive, honestly".

    The conversation continued some more before food arrived from the hotel, drawing the talk to a halt immediately as the 2 football players dove in.

    After eating, exhausted, Austin slept.

    Sam didn''t sleep immediately though. The adrenaline and excitement of the game still coursed through him, keeping him awake.

    But most importantly, he had unread system notifications to look at.

    Rubbing his palms together excitedly, he opened them.

 Chapter 29: System notifications

    ~----~[You have completed system mission: It is your debut game; make your mark, make it memorable!]

    [You managed to give an assist during your debut professional game for Enyimba FC, your first professional football club!]

    [Mission penalty has been voided!]

    [Congratulations! You have awakened real-time game experience accumulation!]

    [NOTE: Real-time game experience accumulation is the ability of host to develop real-time during professional football games and training without the system while being recorded by the system, including improving your skill masteries on the pitch and even leveling up your attributes!]

    [NOTE: The progress of real-time game experience accumulation on host is based on a few factors!]

    [NOTE: You have finally unlocked skill and skill mastery tab!]

    ¡­

    [Owned Football Skills:]

    (La Croqueta)

    (Skill Mastery Level: Basic)

    (Skill progress to intermediate level: 31/100]

    ~

    (Body Feint)

    (Skill Mastery Level: Basic)

    (Skill progress to intermediate level: 12/100)

    ¡­

    (Cruyff Turn)

    (Skill Mastery Level: Basic)

    (Skill progress to intermediate level: 89/100)

    ¡­

    (Power Shot)

    (Skill Mastery Level: Basic)

    (Skill progress to intermediate level: 2/100)

    ¡­

    [You have completed matchday system mission: Win the game!]

    [You played only a few minutes of this football game as a substitute!]

    [Calculating reward¡­, please wait¡­]

    [Calculation complete!]

    [You have been rewarded with 1 Skill Point!]

    [Available Skill Points: 2]

    ~----~

    Seeing these system notifications, the first emotion that Sam felt was ecstasy. ''Damn! Finally!'' He exclaimed in his mind, the fact that he was not alone in this room was the only reason why he didn''t erupt yet.

    For a long time, he had wondered about the reason why he couldn''t see the football skills that he already mastered.

    Despite the fact that he was still not a professional football player, Sam was confident in his football skills, even from when he was just 14 years old.

    As an attacking midfielder, he may not be up there with the best players in the world yet but against his peers, Sam was confident in his skills.

    This was why he was baffled by the reason why his system didn''t display his football skills before now. At some point, he thought it had a separate perk for that and he needed to level up the system to unlock it.

    But now, he knew the reason why.

    Apparently, he had to complete his first professional football game to unlock it. At this moment, he truly realized how much of a milestone his first game against Nasarawa United truly was.

    Another reason for his ecstasy was because personally, he already confirmed that the system was right.

    Among the myriad of football skills that he tried his hands out with during his little purple reign of football love after the 2011 Champions league final, these 4 skills indicated by the Ultimate Football System were truly his strongest traits. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    On his day, on a football pitch, Sam could see himself easily executing the Cruyff turn and la croqueta skills against other players of his caliber.

    He also had a great shot, evident from his first and only training game with Coach James in preparation for the Christmas Game.

    He may not be as proficient with his body feint skills, but he was glad his system acknowledged it nonetheless.

    Despite this, Sam was pretty sure that there were other skills that he had some knowledge of, no matter how small.

    He understood why the system didn''t display them though. ''My mastery level with these skills is not yet up to the basic mastery level''.

    For a few seconds, he reflected, simply appreciating how much this revelation from his system could affect his football career. ''Damn! The system is the OG!''

    ''With it, I can literally track my growth with practicing football skills!'' Sam was giddy with joy.

    Another factor that left him excited was the simple fact that he finally learned how to earn more skill points consistently.

    To earn skill points, he simply needed to play games. ''The more games I play and the more playing time that I get, the better''. He thought, excited at the possibility of earning more skill points.

    After all, to make use of the skills market, he needed skill points since it was the only currency accepted by the system so far.

    At this moment, his system beeped with a notification.

    ~----~

    [WARNING! You are past a professional football player''s bed time!]

    [System penalty: No penalty]

    [System Remark: To get to the top of the football world, you need to have a disciplined schedule to avoid career-ending injuries and to always be in top shape to perform at the top of your game consistently.]

    [System Hint: Go to sleep]

    ~---~

    Sam was stunned. ''This is new''. He almost laughed.

    Yawning, he finally paid attention to the time. He could not afford to stay awake any longer, it was already past 12.

    ''Damn, I miss the times when I could sleep anytime I wanted''.

    ''But like the system said, if I want to achieve my dreams and rise to the top of the football world, I need to be disciplined''.

    With a big smile on his face, Sam finally dismissed his system interface.

    He thought. ''I''m living the dream''.

    And then, he finally beat the excitement of experiencing his very first professional football game, falling asleep.

    ¡­

    Sam slept late but the next morning, he managed to keep to his early waking schedule, waking earlier than his captain.

    Sneaking out of the room, he went on a job.

    Unlike the others, he had a system daily quest to complete.

    About an hour later, he finally got the notification that he was looking for.

    ~----~

    [You have completed Daily Quest: Get back in shape!]

    [You have been rewarded with a low-grade physical conditioning elixir!]

    ~----~

    With a slight smile on his face, Sam jogged back to the hotel room drenched in sweat. He found his captain standing idly outside the hotel. "Where are you coming from?"

    Sam grinned. "I went on a jog".

    Hearing that, Austin Oladapo grinned. "Good," he nodded. "Do you want to go on another lap?"

    "Why not? You want to jog with me?"

    "Yeah, I like this dedication of yours, keep it up". Austin smiled. "You''re the first teammate that''s willing to go on a jog in away ground since I started playing football".

    Hearing that, Sam smiled cheekily. "Ok," he agreed readily, eager to build a closer relationship with his captain.

    They jogged for another 30 minutes before finally calling it a day. Taking turns, both players entered the bathroom to take a bath and freshen up once they were back in their room.

    They soon got an SMS message from Coach Yemi Daniel indicating that the bus would depart in 45 minutes.

    Sam and Austin met up with the schedule and alongside their teammates, they finally embarked on their journey back home after their first football league game of the season.

    Later in the day, after all the games were played, Coach Yemi Daniel sent the results of all the matchday 1 fixtures to his players, Sam included.

    Coach Yemi Daniel also sent the fixtures for matchday 2 to his players.

    With his phone, Sam accessed the results.

 Chapter 30: Family time

    (Matchday 1:)>Akwa United 0-2 Bendel Insurance<

    >Date: 08 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Nasarawa United 1-3 Enyimba<

    >Date: 14 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Enugu Rangers 0-2 Abia Warriors<

    >Date: 15 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Plateau United 3-3 Shooting Stars<

    >Date: 15 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Kwara United 0-0 Gombe United<

    >Date: 15 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Remo Stars 2-0 El Kanemi Warriors FC<

    >Date: 15 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Bayelsa United 1-1 Dakkada<

    >Date: 15 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Wikki Tourist 0-2 Niger Tornadoes<

    >Date: 15 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Doma United 1-1 Sunshine Stars<

    >Date: 15 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Rivers United 2-1 Lobi Stars<

    >Date: 15 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    (Matchday 2:)

    >Abia Warriors ¨C Bayelsa United<

    >Date: 18 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Lobi Stars ¨C Enugu Rangers<

    >Date: 18 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Dakkada ¨C Wikki Tourist<

    >Date: 18 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Enyimba ¨C Akwa United<

    >Date: 18 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Sunshine Stars ¨C Rivers United<

    >Date: 19 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Niger Tornadoes ¨C Doma United<

    >Date: 19 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >El Kanemi Warriors FC ¨C Nasarawa United<

    >Date: 19 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Gombe United ¨C Remo Stars<

    >Date: 19 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Shooting Stars ¨C Kwara United<

    >Date: 19 Jan, 2023<

    Due to the weird schedule of the Nigerian Professional Football league this season, Enyimba FC did not have any cup games to play till June which meant that they had up to 4 days of rest between most league games.

    After yesterday''s game, they had just 3 more days to prepare for their next game against Akwa United. Coach Yemi Daniel sending his players the matchday fixtures was already part of his early preparations for the game.

    Thankfully, this game was at home which meant that Sam would have to struggle with the hassle of the road again.

    After returning back to Abia State from Nasarawa, Coach Yemi Daniel addressed his players, telling them to rest properly to recover their fitness for tomorrow. Tomorrow morning, training would commence again.

    And with that, Sam could finally return to his apartment in the guest quarters that was provided by his club.

    Of course, that was after exchanging contact details with a few of his teammates.

    After his performance yesterday, and with the interest that the captain took on him, more of his teammates took the initiative to build a closer relationship with him.

    This was how he suddenly had the contact of more than 10 players in the squad of Enyimba FC.

    Returning to his apartment, Sam did some light exercise to let his muscles relax. After every game, mostly in the top 5 big European leagues, professionals go through post-match recovery processes.

    This was to combat fatigue so they could start fresh for their next game.

    After going through these light exercises that were recommended by the coach, Sam went to the bathroom, took a swift bath before laying down on his bed.

    He thought back on the experience of yesterday, his first professional football game and then with a big smile on his face, he picked up his android phone.

    It was time to make a video call.

    It took a lot for Mrs. Moses to allow her 17-year-old son to leave home to pursue his dream and career as a professional football player. Even with the money involved, she was still not entirely safe letting him go till she set a few ground rules.

    To let Sam have his wish to pursue his dream, she put certain ground rules in place. One of these ground rules was Sam endeavoring to put a video call across after every football game.

    Sam was unable to put the call across yesterday due to the heightened emotions of his first game, and due to staying in the same room with his captain but today, he was finally ready to put in the call.

    He dialed through his WhatsApp.

    {Outgoing video call to Best Mom¡­}

    ¡­

    Somewhere in Delta State, Abraka, in a humble 3-bedroom apartment, a family of 3 gathered in the sitting room excitedly as they all faced an iPhone 12 pro max that was placed on a phone stand facing them.

    "Sam is calling!" Sophia cheered excitedly.

    "Shut up!" Her mom snapped. "When your brother was here, you were never so excited by his presence, shut up and let us answer the call".

    Sophia glared at her mom and pouted, she stayed silent.

    "Good". Nodding, Mrs. Moses gave the signal and her husband finally picked up the video call. There was a brief glitch before Sam appeared on the screen.

    "Sam!" Sophia screeched excitedly on seeing her brother, spooking him out. "I watched you yesterday, you managed to give an assist! You''re so awesome!"

    On the other side of the screen, Paul paused, shocked. ''When did Sophia begin watching football? Did they watch the game because of me?''

    Mr. Moses grinned. "Sam, my boy, you''re making your dad proud. When you ghosted that sliding player with the gentle heel touch and drag, you made daddy proud, I can''t stop bragging to my friends about it!" He laughed loudly.

    "Getting a goal contribution on your first professional game is impressive son, keep it up, I can''t wait to see you force your way into the starting 11".

    "I can''t wait too dad," Sam finally spoke, also excited. "How are you guys doing since I left?"

    Mrs. Moses interrupted at this moment. "I hope after that goal distribution, or what did your dad call it?" She waved a hand dismissively. "Anyways, what I mean is that after that goal something, they gave you a bonus right?"

    Sam smiled awkwardly. "They didn''t mom, it''s just my first game".

    "What?" Her voice rose up a notch. "The nerve of those employers, I''m going to put a call to your coach right now".

    "Woah! Mom, calm down". Sam was sweating bullets. "Please don''t, reserve that for when I finally score my first hat trick".

    "Oh, yeah, your first hat trick," she nodded in understanding. "So, what is a hat trick?"

    "¡­!"

    Sam and his dad paused, looking at each other for a few seconds then they both burst into laughter.

    Mrs. Moses scowled. "Are the both of you mocking me?"

    "No, no, mock you?" Mr. Moses coughed. "How dare I mock you? I can never mock you".

    His wife glared at him before punching him slightly by the shoulder. "I think you should start teaching me about football now. Honestly, watching my son on the TV just felt so nice".

    Hearing that, Mr. Moses grinned. "With pleasure, my lady".

    Sophia ignored her parents who were already getting all touchy and paid attention to her brother. "Sam, tell me about Nasarawa, how is it?"

    "Also, that captain of yours, he''s so cool, tell me about him".

    Sam stared at his sister suspiciously. "But that''s your first time seeing him, right?" Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Yeah, but who cares?" She stared dreamily. "He''s so strong, fast, handsome, and dominant on the pitch, he''s my¡­"

    "Hey, hey¡­, stop!" Sam palmed his face. "I''ll get an autograph for you if that''s what you want, but all this talk about that rubbish, I don''t want to hear about it".

    The call continued for over 40 minutes as the family of 4 discussed various topics, from important ones to meaningless ones and downright ridiculous ones.

    In the end, Sam had a great family time. He felt refreshed already.

    And after over 40 minutes of the video call, he finally bid his parents farewell, retreating to sleep finally.

    Tomorrow was going to be a big day for him.

    It was another day to try his hand at forcing himself into the starting XI of Enyimba FC.

    Sam was determined to wow Coach Yemi Daniel.

 Chapter 31: Bonus reward; energy elixir

    The next morning, Sam woke up with a good feeling.It was still early in the morning and he was yet to wash his face but he was extremely motivated to start with his day activities already.

    And without hesitation, he went to his bathroom to watch his face and brush his teeth before putting on his workout clothes and jogging out of his apartment in the guest quarters.

    He was determined to start his day in the best way possible. Like they say, if you want to have a productive day, start early.

    This was exactly what Sam did and just a few minutes in, he lost himself in the groove of working out and the feeling of his muscles stretching and lightening up. He was slowly getting addicted to it.

    About an hour later¡­

    ~----~

    [You have completed System Daily Quest: Get back in shape!]

    [You have been rewarded with a low-grade physical conditioning elixir!]

    ¡­

    [You have marked a system milestone of completing the daily system quest for more than 3 straight weeks!]

    [You are eligible for a system reward!]

    [Congratulations! You have unlocked bonus reward: Energy elixir!]

    >Energy Elixir: When ingested, this elixir is capable of dousing you with overcharged natural energy to take you through the day, improving your performance levels on the pitch to truly ridiculous levels<

    [WARNING: 12 hours after ingesting an energy elixir, you''ll become extremely tired. The aftereffects of ingesting an energy elixir can be overwritten by ingesting a mid-grade vitality elixir!]

    ~----~

    Staring at the notifications that were displayed on his system interface, Sam''s jaws dropped in shock. "Damn! The system has something like this too?"

    "F*ck! Is this not regarded as doping?"

    But then his eyes widened. "I''ve already seen what the system is capable of. If it says I can ingest it, it means that it''s not regarded as doping and even if it is, it''s guaranteeing me that the officials won''t be able to detect it".

    "Besides, it says its natural energy".

    That was all Sam needed to know.

    At this moment, he just wanted to lay down on the street where he jogged and laugh loudly like a villain in a movie but he maintained his composure. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He didn''t want to be seen like a mad man by the residents of this street.

    Still, he was giddy with excitement.

    ''This is so damn awesome!'' He screamed in his mind. ''And it came at just the perfect time when I want to impress the coach''.

    With these thoughts, even more motivated than he was before, he finally started jogging back to his apartment in the guest quarters.

    On his way back, while jogging, a thought crossed his head. ''If the physical conditioning elixir is supposed to wipe off all effects of fatigue and exhaustion from my body, and the energy elixir is supposed to give me supercharged natural energy to go through the day, does this not make them similar?''

    Immediately after he had the thought, a light bulb of inspiration seemed to explode in his head. ''Damn! I can interchange the uses of both elixirs!''

    ''If I ingest the energy elixir, it means that I can keep the low-grade physical conditioning elixir!''

    Immediately after he had this thought in his head, his system lit up with a new notification, briefly dousing his excitement.

    ~----~

    [Every elixir created by the system can only exist in reality for 2 minutes without being ingested. If not ingested before 2 minutes elapse, the elixir expires.]

    [WARNING! You have 20 seconds left to ingest low-grade physical conditioning elixir!]

    [WARNING! You have 22 seconds left to ingest energy elixir!]

    ¡­

    [Considering special circumstances of host, the level 3 system perk, System Inventory has been temporarily unlocked to store one of the 2 elixirs.]

    [System Inventory temporarily unlocked!]

    [You have less than 20 seconds to make your choice and store 1 of the 2 elixirs available for use, or you can choose to ingest both elixirs!]

    ~----~

    Reading the first part of this system notification, Sam''s excitement was doused down but after he read the latter parts of the system notification, his excitement levels rose again.

    ''It''s salvageable''. He thought.

    Besides, this help from his system was able to let him know ahead of time the system perk that would become available to him after leveling up the Ultimate Football System to level 3 in the future.

    Since he had only 20 seconds to make his decision on which elixir to ingest, he was in a race against time.

    At first, instinctively, Sam wanted to ingest the low-grade physical conditioning elixir but when he remembered the effects of the energy elixir and remembering his primary goal for today which was to impress his coach in training, he changed his mind at the last moment.

    Sam grinned. ''The energy elixir came at just the right time''.

    ''With it, I''ll definitely exceed expectations in today''s training session''.

    That was all he needed to make his decision.

    ~----~

    [You have ingested energy elixir!]

    [NOTE: The effects of the energy elixir will last for approximately 12 hours.]

    [Low-grade physical conditioning elixir has been stored temporarily in System Inventory]

    [System Inventory Slots: 8]

    [Slot 1: Low-grade physical conditioning elixir]

    ¡­

    [NOTE: A new slot can be bought in the system inventory in exchange for 5 Skill Points.]

    ~----~

    Sam learned a few new things. First, the fact that when he finally unlocked the system inventory, he would get 8 slots to store things and carry them anywhere he wanted so long he had access to the system.

    He also learned that he could upgrade the number of slots in the system inventory to increase their number, he grinned. ''Awesome!''

    Right at that moment, Sam was not feeling it prominently yet but inside him, he could tell that an ocean of energy dwelled somewhere inside.

    He was bubbling with endless stamina and energy.

    His grin widened. ''Let''s break boundaries!''

    With that, he jogged back to his apartment, took a cool bath, ate a nice morning meal and 15 minutes to 8:00am, he finally left his apartment again for training.

    Training as dictated by Coach Yemi Daniel started 8:00am sharp.

    The last thing Sam wanted was to go to training late and enter the bad books of his coach, this was why he left his apartment immediately.

    Less than 10 minutes later, he arrived at the Enyimba International Stadium which was also Enyimba FC''s home training ground.

    He arrived on time.

 Chapter 32: An unreal training experience

    Like usual, after his players changed into their training jersey and bibs, Coach Yemi Daniel led them to the pitch where they commenced training.He took them through jogging, agility drills, passing drills, and even shooting drills mostly for the strikers and midfielders of his team.

    As for the defenders, he also supervised their positioning so that all defenders in his team would stay in the same parallel line at all times in the game to maintain a perfect defensive shape and keep their offside trap intact.

    After an hour and 30 minutes of going through these basic training drills, they finally retreated to a shade where their coach addressed them.

    There was a whiteboard in this shade and after taking a marker, Coach Yemi Daniel wrote something on the whiteboard.

    (Matchday 2:)

    >Enyimba ¨C Akwa United<

    >Date: 18 Jan, 2023<

    Coach Yemi Daniel looked at his players. "Our next game is a home game, which means that we''ll be welcoming them to our territory".

    "We''ll be playing them here, in our turf". He pointed at the green field for emphasis. He looked at the empty stands. "Our fans will be here to support us, and it''s our first home game of the season, so we better give them a spectacle".

    "We need to play our best football to encourage them to come watch our next game".

    "I already have a basic idea of the players that I want to start, but," this coach''s eyes turned stern. "For the next 2 days, your performance in training will determine if you will start from the get go".

    "I don''t work on favorability or past glory, but current form so out there today, you better give me your best football".

    "Ok," he clapped, rousing his players. "Stand up, you''ve rested enough. We''ll be playing a training game between team A and team B".

    "The slots have already been drawn, pick to know your team".

    While their coach addressed them, sitting down, these players already drank water to wet their parched throats, also taking the opportunity to rest.

    By his urging though, they stood up to pick their slots.

    For today''s training game, Sam''s fate put him in team A. Unfortunately though, today, he was going to play against his captain, Austin on team B.

    This didn''t matter to Sam though, all he wanted and cared about was his performance today. He wanted to put on a clinical show for his coach.

    FWEEEE!

    Coach Yemi Daniel blew the whistle to commence the training game and immediately, the game was started by team B.

    For the first few minutes of this game, the more powerful team B dominated possession, asserting their authority over the game but this didn''t last too long.

    8 minutes in, Sam''s influence started showing in team A as with his incredible stamina which seemed slightly off the roof today, he ran everywhere, intercepting passes and blocking shots.

    Team A managed to weather the relentless attacks of their opponents for 15 minutes, but at the 16th minute, they finally stung like a viper.

    Again, it was Austin as after outmuscling 2 midfielders of team A in the midfield, maintaining possession due to his incredible physicality, even as Sam rushed in, this center midfielder looked slightly before playing a lobbed pass.

    It was an incredible pass as it rose above the lineup of team A defenders. The defenders pursued, but Emeka, team B''s striker was faster.

    Like a hurricane, this center forward rushed, overtaking the defenders in no time before taking 2 touches.

    The first touch to control the ball, and the second to poke it past the side of the onrushing team A goalkeeper.

    In the 16th minute of the training game, team B got the first goal but team A was not to stay lying down though.

    Just 2 minutes later, in the 18th minute, they responded.

    Farouk Mohammed managed to win the ball back shortly after losing it to Olisema in team B, then after a swift glance through the pitch, he passed to his nearest teammate, Sam.

    With his spatial awareness, Sam immediately scanned his surroundings, noting that his opponents gave him a lot of space.

    Instantly, he pushed the ball forward before running after it.

    A team B midfielder rushed in, trying to clear the ball but having timed it perfectly, Sam arrived before him.

    He didn''t dribble, he pushed the ball for only one reason, to utilize his power shot skill and shoot from midfield.

    BAM!

    His leg hit the ball with ramming force, sending it on a flying trajectory through the sky as it curved slightly before nestling into the top right corner.

    The goalkeeper dived but he stood no chance.

    "Yes!" Sam pumped his fists excitedly.

    The game restarted as with Sam playing in an entirely different level, he managed to help his team keep possession as they won back control over the game.

    For a few minutes, team A dominated but against the run of play, Emeka, team B''s center forward managed to do it again, wriggling through a few defenders while holding them off with his physicality before slamming a point-blank shot into the roof of the net.

    1-2 to team B in the 30th minute of the game.

    11 minutes later, Sam did the incredible again, being the only one to react in the box as Farouk played a ball across goal.

    He was the only one in the right place at the right time to poke the free ball into the net, making the score line 2-2 in the 41st minute.

    In the 45th minute, Olisema managed to get his name on the scoresheet, sneaking a low ball into the net past team A''s goalkeeper.

    Team B led by half-time.

    When the game restarted, led by Sam, again, team A led a relentless offensive against the opposition but unlike the first half, team B played even more defensive football now, shutting off most openings in their backline.

    Team B put on a disciplined defensive performance for 45 minutes, maintaining the score line 2-3 in their favor until a moment of magic from Sam again in the dying minutes of this training game.

    In the 90th plus 3 minutes, Sam pulled off an unreal trick from his magic box, dribbling through 3 team B defenders before still having the energy to round the goalkeeper and push the ball into an empty net.

    "YES!" Sam screamed at the top of his lungs.

    Sam managed to score a hat trick in this training game, stunning the full Enyimba team as the training game ended 3-3.

    After the game, as the players rested, Coach Yemi Daniel finally dropped his starting lineup for their next game.

    Goalkeeper: Olorunleke Ojo

    Center Back: Timothy Danladi

    Center Back: Adekunle Adeleke

    Right Back: Sadiq Abubakar

    Left Back: Ezekiel Bassey

    Central Midfielder: Austin Oladapo

    Attacking Midfielder: Cyril Olisema

    Defensive Midfielder: Farouk Mohammed

    Center Forward: Emeka Obioma sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Left Winger: Chijioke Mbaoma

    Right Winger: Victor Mbaoma

    Staring at the starting line-up of his coach, Sam had only a single thought in his mind. ''F*ck!'' He cursed.

 Chapter 33: First home game; Enyimba FC vs Akwa United

    Not getting selected in Coach Yemi Daniel''s starting lineup at first left Sam semi-depressed. He was sure that he did enough to enter the starting lineup already, but thankfully, he managed to pull himself off it with some help.Returning home after scoring the hat trick, Sam distracted himself by watching a movie and when it was evening, he called his mom.

    "What?!"

    "You scored a hatching and that crook of a coach still didn''t decide to put you in his starting 11?!"

    "Mom, calm down". Sam hissed. "You''ll wake dad up".

    Well, his dad was already awake. "What happened?"

    In the end, Sam had no choice but to tell his father everything.

    Once he was done speaking, Mr. Moses chuckled.

    "What''s so funny?" Of course, his wife snapped.

    He chuckled still. "Sam".

    "Yes, dad".

    "Do you remember when Lionel Messi was 17 like you?"

    "Umm, yeah, he''s my idol so of course I know".

    "Good, then you should also know that even a player of Lionel Messi''s stature didn''t start his career starting every game outright as a starting 11 player".

    "Lionel Messi worked his way into the starting 11 of that glorious FC Barcelona team through hard work, and most importantly, his performances on the pitch. Son, strive to do the same".

    "Don''t concern yourself with your coach''s decisions, he knows more than you do. A season of football is not played like a sprint, rather, it''s a marathon".

    "Be patient son, your time to shine will come".

    "Just stay diligent, humble, and try your best to take every chance that you get to play with aplomb".

    "Do you listen to rap?"

    "Huh?"

    Mr. Moses stared at his son. "Go listen to Eminem, Lose Yourself. Use it to distract yourself from this thing you''re feeling, and wait for your moment".

    Surprisingly, that was all Sam needed to shake himself off the disappointment. That night, unlike he feared, he slept feeling fulfilled, knowing that there was always another day for him to prove himself again.

    In the next day''s training game, somehow, without another energy elixir, Sam managed to beat yesterday''s training game performance as he put in a clinical display, singlehandedly winning his team the game by chipping in with 2 goals and 2 assists, trashing team B 4-2 this time.

    Of course, his performance was buoyed by Austin Oladapo''s reassuring presence in team A this time.

    Still, his performances in the last 2 days was impactful, evident from the difference in how his teammates now looked at him.

    Most of them, especially the midfielders now saw him as a threat.

    They could tell that this 17-year-old midfielder had what it took to take their position in the starting XI without much fuss, they were flustered.

    Luckily on their part, despite Sam''s convincing performances in the past 2 training games, Coach Yemi Daniel stuck with his preferred starting 11 lineup.

    Sam was not discouraged though. ''My moment will come''. He thought.

    Like the rolling pages of a book, the days moved fast and in no time, the D-day was here.

    It was 18th Jan, 2023.

    ¡­

    Sam''s first professional home game experience reception¡­, it was vastly different and at the same time just as he expected it to be, a contrasting feeling.

    The first thing that caught his attention was the energy of the fans.

    Thousands of Enyimba FC fans on the stadium sang loudly, cheering their team on even as the game was yet to start.

    The boundless energy from the fans was infectious, dousing Sam with so much energy that he felt like a fan-favorite gladiator entering his favored coliseum.

    His blood boiled despite the fact that he was not starting.

    He knew that his teammates felt the same way, they were all determined to give their fans what they came to see, a good show.

    Without hesitation, after the players of both teams lined up on the pitch, the referee blew his whistle to commence the game.

    FWEEEEE!

    From the first whistle, Enyimba FC went on the offensive, bearing down on their opposition half with the overbearing arrogance of an overlord. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Also, from the first whistle, it was clear that Akwa United came to their opponent''s home to play defensive football as literally all their players except their sole striker stayed back to defend.

    With 10 players behind the ball, Akwa United defended with their lives, jumping into tackles and blocking shots relentlessly for 10 minutes.

    Throughout most of the 10 minutes, the fans in the stands kept on chanting excitedly, happy at the football that their team was playing.

    Enyimba FC dominated possession, 81% to 19%, dominating all parameters from shots taken to shots on target, yet, they failed to penetrate the Akwa United goalie.

    This goalkeeper managed to pull off a few incredible saves when called upon, but the true reason why Enyimba FC was yet to score a goal was because of the staunch performance that was being put out by the Akwa United defense.

    These players put their body on the line, defending valiantly as they frustrated the Enyimba United attackers.

    After 10 minutes, not able to keep the intensity, Enyimba FC finally lowered their tempo as they took more time on the ball, progressing forward patiently.

    Despite their change of approach, one thing that stayed constant in this game as the time ticked on was the valiant defending put out by Akwa United.

    At some point in the game, more confident as their opponents grew tired, they finally left their shell, going on a few attacking runs towards the opposition half as they threatened through counter-attacking situations.

    For 40 minutes, Enyimba FC failed to score a goal.

    In the 41st minute of the game, Akwa United finally unleashed their first shot on target but Ojo, the Enyimba FC goalkeeper was on hand to make an easy save.

    In the final minutes of the first half, the Enyimba FC players literally camped in their opponent''s half, launching raids of attack after attack but yet, the staunch Akwa United defense held.

    Despite their statistical domination, Enyimba FC ended up being frustrated as the first half of this game ended 0-0.

    When half-time came, in the dressing room, Coach Yemi Daniel was furious as he berated a few players due to how they couldn''t capitalize and fully utilize the opportunities that they had in the first half, mostly Olisema and Emeka.

    Watching his coach berate his rival, Sam secretly felt glad.

    He didn''t expect much though but to his shock, Coach Yemi Daniel pulled the plug on the game early. "Olisema, you''re being substituted, you won''t start the second half". The coach was truly furious.

    This coach looked round his team with red eyes. "Samuel Moses".

    "Yes, coach". Sam responded.

    "Get ready, you''re entering the game in the second half and you better make this decision worth it".

    "Yes, coach". Sam nodded respectfully. Inside, he was overwhelmed by joy.

    ''My moment, finally!'' He thought.

    When the second half started, Enyimba FC made 2 changes, taking Olisema off for the new boy, Sam while also taking off the normal starting right back of the team, Sadiq Abubakar for the more attacking right back.

    And with that, the second half of this fiery game started.

 Chapter 34: Seize your moment!

    The structure of Enyimba FC did not change.They remained in a 4-3-3 formation, the only tactical difference being that Coach Yemi Daniel instructed the newly introduced right back to overlap more through the right side of the pitch.

    As for Sam, his orders?

    Looking at his teenage player, Coach Yemi Daniel simply nodded at him. "Do what you do in training, don''t disappoint me".

    Those words followed Sam as he entered the pitch, lining up alongside his teammates. In the first half after the coin toss decider earlier, Akwa United were the ones to kick off the game meaning that in this second half, Enyimba FC was to start kickoff.

    Austin Oladapo, the captain of Enyimba FC and Sam stood in the middle of the pitch, about to start kickoff.

    Despite the fact that more than 50 minutes already passed since this game started, the energetic Enyimba FC fans clearly didn''t lose hope in winning the game yet. They kept on singing and chanting at the top of their lungs.

    Together, though it was not as deafening as those big iconic European stadiums, subjected to this atmosphere for the first time since he started kicking a ball, Sam could not help it, his blood churned.

    He did not let the tension get to him though. At this moment, taking a brief glance at the referee, Sam took a deep breath. ''Calm down,'' he hypnotized himself. ''This time, no mistakes''.

    FWEEEE!

    Immediately after the referee''s whistle sounded, Austin passed the ball to Sam who took one touch of the ball before passing it backward.

    He did not relish making a mistake with his first touch of the ball, this was why he passed the ball back for safety.

    And with that, the game restarted.

    Just like the Enyimba FC players expected, even as the game restarted, the Akwa United players did not rush to win possession. Like in the first half, they were content with sitting deep in their half, defending deep.

    And again, the unrelenting onslaught began.

    Heralded by not just Austin but Sam this time, these 2 midfielders orchestrated play, playing passes left and right as they created a few chances for the next few minutes but none of it was a clear-cut chance.

    Akwa United was incredibly disciplined defensively.

    Yet, at the 60th minute of the game, the biggest chance of the game was created, orchestrated by Sam.

    Taking the ball from his captain, having grown into the game already, Sam drove forward a bit with the ball towards the right where he played a swift one-two with the right back before throwing an accurate cross into the box.

    His target was Emeka, and the center forward did not disappoint, finally beating the tall Akwa United defenders in the aerial battle as he rose highest.

    For a few seconds, silence descended across this stadium as the fans watched with bated breaths.

    Emeka hit the ball with his head powerfully, but it was not accurate enough, flashing just by the post.

    "F*ck!" This center forward screamed in frustration.

    For the next 2 dozen minutes, Enyimba FC kept on creating chance after chance even as their opponents defended with dogged determination.

    At some point, their coach made a triple change, taking their forward players off entirely except the main striker as he brought in more defensively minded players to mount on the misery of their superior opposition.

    It was 80 minutes already, but Sam was yet to score a goal.

    He had been calm since, playing his best football, but now, he started feeling desperate. The fans had long given up patience too as their voices rose louder and louder despite how much it must be putting a strain on them.

    These voices became the urge that pushed Sam on. ''F*ck it! I can''t play it safe anymore, I need to do something''.

    ''I need to switch it up''.

    Receiving the ball again, he drove forward before unleashing a powerful shot that the goalkeeper pushed out for a corner kick.

    Austin played a good corner kick, yet the tall Akwa United players prevailed, heading the ball away to safety.

    Their frustration mounted, but the more the tension and frustration increased, the more focused Sam became. ''I need to make an impact!''

    ''I need to seize my moment!''

    ''I can''t let it slip!''

    The more he chanted in his head, the more focused he became. Every touch of the ball, every drizzle, every feint, Sam felt himself delving deep into the essence of football then like a switch, he suddenly felt it.

    The zone state¡­, Sam felt it.

    It was an ethereal feeling. Everything seemed to disappear from his head, the stadium, the fans, even their loud voices, abstracted off by his brain as the only thing on his head became the pitch, his opponents, and his teammates.

    With this level of focus, for a few minutes, Sam played at a truly elite level on the pitch, passing like a robot till it finally came.

    Finally, his moment came in the 87th minute of the game. After winning back possession in their box, Akwa United was about to start a counterattack as they played swift passes, intent on getting the ball to their striker. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As soon as the center midfielder played the pass, already in the zone state, Sam slid on the ground, something he almost never does before as he intercepted the pass.

    He stopped the ball!

    Immediately, he sprung back to his feet as his spatial awareness enabled him to tell that there were multiple opposition players surrounding him.

    "Sam, here!"

    Sam didn''t even look as he played an incredible back heel pass through the 4 players surrounding him to his captain.

    Bam!

    Immediately after he played the pass, his legs pushed off the ground, his lungs burning as he ran forward from his closest marker.

    Bam!

    That sound¡­, Austin didn''t hesitate, playing a one-two back to his attacking midfielder as he could tell that the boy was already in a special state.

    In the zone state, Sam literally felt the ball rolling towards him, this was how he also noticed an Akwa United defender sliding to intercept the ball.

    Rushing faster to close the distance to the ball and arriving first, with a delicate touch, Sam flicked the ball above the sliding defender, jumping above him also, then he exploded with speed.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    The Enyimba FC fans chanted.

    His crazy performance for the past few minutes already got to the frustrated fans and at this moment, as he ran, they chanted his name loudly.

    Those chants felt like an extra dose of adrenaline to Sam.

    Another player charged in from the box. Noticing the intent of this player, Sam moved to the left but as this player stretched out his leg, he stopped before exploding off in the other direction.

    It was a feint!

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    The fans kept on chanting at the top of their voices.

    With that feint, Sam finally penetrated into the 18-yard box; this was when he raised his head up. There was an angle to shoot.

    He raised his leg up only for an Enyimba defender to put his body on the line, sliding to block with his body.

    Sam didn''t hit the ball though; it was a fake shot as he pushed the ball forward more, evading 2 more players who put their body on the line.

    And finally, he was free to shoot as the Akwa United goalkeeper charged out to meet him. This time, time truly seemed to stop.

    Sam raised his leg to shoot as this goalkeeper made his body as big as possible.

    Bam!

    His leg hit the ball.

    It wasn''t a shot like most people who spectated thought though, rather it was a pass, to the completely unmarked Emeka.

    He already caused so much havoc in the opposition box that all eyes turned to him, forgetting that Emeka lurked in the box.

    It was a simple tap in for this center forward and he didn''t commit a blunder, calmly poking the ball into an empty net.

    The Akwa United players were rooted to the spot, including some Enyimba FC players who still couldn''t process what just happened.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" Sam roared, relief, contentment, and excitement all flowing through him in waves as he charged towards Emeka to celebrate.

    Turning round, this center forward let Sam jump on his back as they both celebrated the goal wildly.

    The Enyimba fans celebrated even more wildly in the bench.

    In this tight game where they were frustrated for almost 90 minutes, finally, in the 87th minute, the deadlock was broken, orchestrated by Sam.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    They roared.

    The score line was now 1-0.

 Chapter 35: An incredible game; the end

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"While the Enyimba FC fans chanted at the top of their voices, still celebrating their goal, a few of the Akwa United defenders laid down on the pitch.

    That unexpected goal clearly doused their enthusiasm after defending doggedly for 87 minutes of this game.

    That goal made all their efforts useless.

    Their coach was not about to let his players stay demotivated though as from the touchline, he clapped his hands, roaring at the top of his voice. "Come on! The game is not over yet!"

    "There''s still 3 minutes to the game, we can still equalize!"

    "Come on! Let''s go attack!"

    Yes, there were still 3 minutes to this game, plus additional time that the referee would definitely add to this fiery game.

    ''The game is not over yet''. Sam reminded himself after celebrating his goal as forcefully, he managed to focus back on the game.

    FWEEEE!

    Immediately after the referee''s whistle sounded, the game restarted with Akwa United playing and it was clear instantly that this team already changed.

    A goal down already, there was no more use defending since losing this game meant that they already lost all 3 points.

    The only way to reward their efforts throughout the past 87 minutes was by playing attacking football in these final minutes, hopefully scoring a goal to end the game 1-1 to rescue a point from this difficult stadium.

    This was why immediately after the game restarted, multiple Akwa United players rushed into the Enyimba FC half of the pitch as they passed the ball round, trying to penetrate the Enyimba defensive shape.

    For 2 minutes, they retained possession but they could not make the most of it, unable to penetrate the Enyimba FC backline as the defenders held their lines staunchly, putting their bodies on the line.

    The Akwa United attackers didn''t even have the chance to shoot a shot.

    In the 89th minute of this game, Farouk Mohammed won back possession as immediately, he passed it sideways to his captain, Austin Oladapo who was on the other side of the pitch.

    With a deft touch using the outside of his boot, Austin brought the ball under control and evaded an aggressive challenge from an opposition player before driving forward some more with the ball.

    After beating another player, closer to the Akwa United 18-yard box, he looked before playing the ball to the right where Sam lurked.

    Sam did not hesitate, touching the ball once to lower its momentum before pushing it forward into the box for his swift center forward to run into.

    Emeka dug into his reserves, accelerating past the opposition defenders as in no time, he was one-on-one with the goalkeeper!

    Most of the fans around the stadium rose up on their feet.

    Hearing the thudding footsteps of the onrushing goalkeeper, this center forward could not hesitate as he hit the ball first time straight at goal.

    The Akwa United goalkeeper pulled off an incredible save though as his sprawling left arm hit the ball, rebounding it back into the box, where Sam lurked.

    The fans groaned in disappointment, most sitting back down.

    Thud!

    As soon as the ball landed on the pitch inside the 18-yard box, being the player that was closest to the rebounded ball, Sam felt adrenaline surge through his veins as he moved, reacting first.

    2 Akwa United players reacted immediately after he moved, one tugging at his shirt from behind, while the other charging in from the side to block him.

    With his tall figure, Sam dug in, forcing his way forward as with a wild swing of his right arm, he shoved the player tugging at him from behind, making him lose balance as he collapsed helplessly on the pitch.

    By now, the player rushing in from the side was now very close but just as he stuck his leg out to intercept the ball, Sam pushed it slightly with his left leg through the legs of this player as he executed an unreal nut-meg.

    The fans in the stands jumped up to their feet again, anticipating.

    By nutmegging that player to the right, Sam just created a shooting space for himself and he did not think twice, hitting the ball with his right leg with force.

    BAM!

    He blasted the ball with force towards the bottom left corner of the post as it rolled on the pitch between 2 players.

    The Akwa United goalkeeper jumped on a full-stretch dive but he could only watch as the ball rushed past his arms into the welcoming embrace of the net.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" Sam roared at the top of his lungs, charging towards the corner flag while pumping his fists excitedly in sheer euphoria.

    On getting to the corner flag, he slid as he pointed 2 fingers to the sky in gratitude. Behind him, his teammates approached, all jubilating.

    "F*cking yes!" They screamed, jubilating.

    In the 89th minute of the game, just 2 minutes after laying on the assist for the first goal of the game, Sam scored his first professional goal, making the score line 2-0 in favor of his team.

    This time, truly defeated, almost all the Akwa United players laid down on the pitch as they looked at the sky, devastated.

    Today''s outing was a lost battle. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    The fans kept on cheering at the top of their lungs.

    A few minutes later, the referee''s whistle went off again as he restarted play before adding 4 additional minutes to the game shortly after.

    By then, the Akwa United players already gave up, only playing basic football as Enyimba FC caused the most threat for the final few minutes.

    Emeka came close to adding a second goal to his name as Austin also hit the post with an outside the box shot, but in the end, after 4 minutes of additional time, this incredibly tense game finally came to an end.

    Despite a dogged defensive performance from Akwa United, Enyimba FC managed to snatch the win due to their new signing''s incredible display.

    Of course, Sam won the man of the match award, his first in a professional football setting.

    Sam felt on top of the world.

 Chapter 36: On top of the world

    ~----~[You have completed matchday system mission: Win the game!]

    [You played 45 minutes of this football game as a substitute!]

    [Calculating reward¡­, please wait¡­]

    [Calculation complete!]

    [You have been rewarded with 1 Skill Point!]

    [Available Skill Points: 3]

    ¡­

    [You have completed matchday system mission: A-ranked performance!]

    >Despite coming in as a substitute, you managed to turn the fate of a draw for your team around, putting on an incredible player of the match display by chipping in with the game-winning assist and a goal. Your incredible performance has been ranked by the system as A<

    [Calculating reward¡­, please wait¡­]

    [Calculation complete!]

    [You have been rewarded with 3 Skill Points!]

    [Available Skill Points: 6]

    ~----~

    In the dressing room with his teammates who kept on congratulating him despite the fact that the game already ended a few minutes ago, Sam felt on top of the world. Was there any feeling better than this?

    This was the perfect game that Sam could hope for. Giving an assist and a goal; even in his dreams, it was not this perfect.

    He was literally drenched in euphoria at this moment.

    Like his teammates and his coach though, at this moment, they paid attention to the television where Austin as the captain of Enyimba FC again gave some time to the reporters for the post-match press conference.

    "Austin, for the second straight game since the season started, your team managed to grind out a winning result. What do you think about your team''s performance today?"

    Hearing that question, Austin shrugged. "Well, what can I say, I dare say that we have a generational talent in our hands here".

    The male reporter smiled. "You mean the boy?"

    "Yes, and you better remember his name, he''s Samuel Moses," Austin grinned. "Sam is definitely destined for the top of the football world".

    "Do you feel he has what it takes to make it outside Nigeria?"

    "Not just outside Nigeria," Austin grinned. "Sam is made of the stuff to play in the elite European leagues, the boy has that much potential".

    "If that 45 minutes'' cameo didn''t convince you, I don''t know what else can".

    "Anyways, for your headline," Austin smiled mischieviously. "You can write that 17-year-old Samuel Moses drags Enyimba FC to victory in just his 2nd professional football game".

    The reporter laughed. "That would indeed make a nice heading".

    "Anyways, thanks for having me captain, do have a nice day".

    "You too". With that and a big smile still on his face, this captain finally walked back to the dressing room where he met his coach by the corridor.

    "Oh, are you done?" Coach Yemi Daniel looked at his captain.

    "Yeah," nodding, Austin followed his coach in. As they walked, he could not help but ask. "Why?"

    "Huh?" Coach Yemi looked at his captain.

    "Why did you start him on the bench today? From his performances in the past 2 training games, Sam already showed that he''s in incredible form, why didn''t you start him from the first minute of the game?"

    Hearing that question, Coach Yemi Daniel grinned. "Well, Austin, what do you think is the greatest threat to promising young talents?"

    "Umm," Austin scratched his hair. "Laziness? Bad influence?"

    "Close but not quite the truth," Coach Yemi smiled. "You see, to young aspiring players like Samuel, the worst thing that can happen to them is arrogance".

    "Entering a team like Enyimba FC and starting from the get-go in the starting 11 can easily get in the head of a youngster like him".

    "The boy may play like a pro on the pitch, but he''s still just 17. Besides," he smirked. "I know his type of personality already".

    "He''s the type that lets his emotions override him most times. It''s good, footballers like that find it easier to enter the zone state but at the same time, it''s easier for them to be corrupted by all the hype".

    "You see, Sam is a priced possession that I have, the last thing I want is for him to be corrupted by giving him prominence too early".

    "You mean you didn''t start him just to make him humble".

    "That''s right". This coach grinned.

    Austin shook his head. "What if we drew, or even worse lost?"

    "Then we lose," he waved his hand dismissively. "Losing 1 game is not the end of the world. Competing to win the league is a marathon, not a sprint".

    Hearing that, Austin finally smiled. "Got it, coach".

    Entering the dressing room, Coach Yemi Daniel said a few words to his players before finally dismissing them as they returned to their apartments.

    Unlike with players in Europe, the fame of these players was not through the roof yet, which meant that no fans were asking for their autographs. This also meant that Sam could casually take the pedestrian lane and trek home.

    Getting home, since it was Wednesday and it was already late, he guessed that his mom was already home from work though he was certain that his dad would still be in the office. The first thing that Sam did was put a call home.

    "Hey, Sam! We watched your game!" The excited shriek of his sister was the first thing that attracted his attention.

    "Sam, you were so incredible!"

    "You''re awesome!"

    Sam was stupefied, he never expected his sister to become his first fangirl. ''Damn, this change¡­ was fast''.

    It was a welcome change though, he grinned. "Thank you, thank you," he replied in a theatrical manner as his mom chuckled. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Sam, you''re truly making me begin to like this football game," his mom finally spoke. "If the game is this sweet and exciting, I wonder how when you were younger, it was always so full of bitterness".

    Paul paused on hearing that, he hesitated slightly before replying. "Mom, football is not always bed and roses like this".

    "Even in the professional stage, even players abroad, they get injuries".

    "What?!"

    "Calm down mom," having expected this reaction, Sam also reacted fast. "Mom, injuries are part of football but because of our contract, our football clubs foot every hospital bills this time".

    "I''m not scared of injuries, recovering from them is what matters and when that time comes, I''ll need all of your help".

    "Please help me when the time comes, I promise I''ll make it to the top of the football world".

    "You''ll drive on a Rolls Royce with my money someday".

    Hearing that, Mrs. Moses blushed, she tried hard to hide it to no avail. She waved her hands dismissively. "Anyways, I pray you don''t get injured".

    The family of 3 engaged in more conversations, Sam especially noticing Sophia''s insistence to keep on asking about Austin. He threw a suspicious glance at his sister. ''This better not be what I think it is''. He thought.

    After a 30 minute talking session, he finally brought the call to an end.

    Laying down on his bed after taking his bath, Sam had a big grin on his face as he looked at the ceiling. ''I feel on top of the world''.

 Chapter 37: Matchday 3

    Like usual, it was that same night after their home game as his players rested at home that Coach Yemi Daniel sent the fixtures of matchday 3 to their phones.Waking up the next morning, Sam viewed the picture on WhatsApp.

    A few days ago, he was put into the WhatsApp group of Enyimba FC.

    (Matchday 3:)

    >Nasarawa United ¨C Akwa United<

    >Date: 22 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Enugu Rangers ¨C Sunshine Stars<

    >Date: 22 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­ sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    >Abia Warriors ¨C Lobi Stars<

    >Date: 22 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Bayelsa United ¨C Wikki Tourist<

    >Date: 22 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Doma United ¨C Dakkada<

    >Date: 22 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Plateau United ¨C Enyimba<

    >Date: 22 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Kwara United ¨C Bendel Insurance<

    >Date: 22 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >El Kanemi Warriors FC ¨C Gombe United<

    >Date: 22 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Rivers United ¨C Niger Tornadoes<

    >Date: 24 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Remo Stars ¨C Shooting Stars<

    >Date: 25 Jan, 2023<

    Just like after their matchday 1 game, they were given only 3 days of rest. Their next game would be played on Sunday which meant that no rest for the players. Their next game would be played against Plateau United in away ground.

    Since they would have to travel to Plateau State for the game, from experience, Sam already knew that they had only 2 days of training which meant he had only 2 days to convince his coach to draft him in the starting line-up.

    That morning, waking up early as usual, Sam got set for training.

    Of course, he completed his daily system quest first before going. Only after he got the sweet notifications and he consumed his daily low-grade physical conditioning elixir did he get set to go for training.

    Unknown to him though, that morning while he jogged, a video of him was taken by a certain player of Enyimba FC, his teammate.

    Like usual, Austin Oladapo was one of the Enyimba FC players to arrive earliest for training. Immediately after Coach Yemi Daniel arrived for training that morning, he walked over before showing him a video.

    This captain eyed his coach. "I just wanted you to see this," he smiled. "Nothing is getting in the head of that boy, his mentality is unlike any other player I''ve been privileged to play with here in Enyimba FC".

    "Sam''s love for football is insane. It won''t wane, I guarantee that. He can''t be distracted, so coach, do the needful and draft the boy in the starting line-up".

    "You brat," Coach Yemi Daniel punched his captain playfully on the shoulder due to the tone he used on him. "Get lost".

    Chuckling, Austin left to change into his training attire.

    Sam was also among the earliest players to arrive for training. Once it was 8:00am sharp, Coach Yemi Daniel led his players to the pitch where he took them through the light training before finally ramping the intensity.

    From jogging, they progressed through all the training drills before finally playing a training match which Sam and Austin''s team won.

    After the training game, like usual, Coach Yemi Daniel finally presented his preferred starting 11 for the upcoming away game to his players.

    Goalkeeper: Olorunleke Ojo

    Center Back: Timothy Danladi

    Center Back: Adekunle Adeleke

    Right Back: Sadiq Abubakar

    Left Back: Ezekiel Bassey

    Central Midfielder: Austin Oladapo

    Attacking Midfielder: Samuel Moses

    Defensive Midfielder: Farouk Mohammed

    Center Forward: Emeka Obioma

    Left Winger: Chijioke Mbaoma

    Right Winger: Victor Mbaoma

    For the upcoming away game, there was only 1 change to the starting XI. After Olisema''s performance in the home game contrasted against Sam''s performance, the 17-year-old was finally given the nod to start a game.

    That afternoon, Sam once again felt on top of the world. Instinctively, a grin crept up his face already as he threw a grateful glance at his coach.

    Coach Yemi Daniel acknowledged his glance with a simple nod. Sam knew what it meant. ''Don''t disappoint me''.

    ''I won''t!'' He answered in his own mind.

    Returning home that day, Sam put even more effort into his post-match recovery processes to make sure that his body was perfectly recovered and in tip-top shape for the upcoming away game on Sunday.

    Away games were always tough, he wanted to be the difference maker again.

    That night, he had another family call with his family. This time, his dad was present as they talked about a lot of things.

    When it was time for him to sleep though, his android phone beeped with a new notification. Checking it, he discovered that it was from his coach.

    All of matchday 2 games were finally played and like his tradition, this Nigerian coach sent all the results to every one of his players.

    Sam opened the WhatsApp image.

    (Matchday 2 results:)

    >Abia Warriors 3-1 Bayelsa United<

    >Date: 18 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Lobi Stars 1-0 Enugu Rangers<

    >Date: 18 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Dakkada 2-1 Wikki Tourist<

    >Date: 18 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Enyimba 2-0 Akwa United<

    >Date: 18 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Sunshine Stars 1-1 Rivers United<

    >Date: 19 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Niger Tornadoes 1-0 Doma United<

    >Date: 19 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >El Kanemi Warriors FC 2-1 Nasarawa United<

    >Date: 19 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Gombe United 0-1 Remo Stars<

    >Date: 19 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Shooting Stars 0-0 Kwara United<

    >Date: 19 Jan, 2023<

    Enyimba FC was already topping the league table with 6 points due to their perfect record of 2 wins in 2 games.

    Sam slept with a big smile on his face.

    The next morning, waking up, he said a prayer before getting off with his daily activities. Starting off by completing his daily system quest on time, he soon got prepared before going for morning training.

    Coach Yemi Daniel was even more intense today with the training as he drilled his tactics into his players'' heads, making sure that they understood his instructions on how they would approach the Plateau United game.

    When the training game time finally came, in a different team from his captain this time, Sam still managed to put on an incredible performance and despite the fact that Olisema put out an improved performance, Coach Yemi Daniel''s starting XI for the next game remained unchanged.

    That day, as the players returned home from training, Sam felt Olisema''s ire. The player didn''t do anything drastic, but his piercing glare told the full story.

    Cyril Olisema was not happy with his current situation in the club.

    It didn''t concern Sam though, what mattered was that finally, after weeks of trying his best, he finally broke into the starting XI of Enyimba FC.

    Sam had a great night rest again and the next day, unlike what he expected, the team still did light training in the morning under their coach before they finally embarked on the journey to Plateau State.

    When the journey started, Sam finally understood.

    The distance from Aba in Abia State to Plateau State was an incredible 738 kilometers, so the team took a flight instead of the regular bus.

    It was Sam''s first time traveling by air.

 Chapter 38: Plateau United vs Enyimba FC

    Arriving in Jos, Plateau State, Sam did not have the luxury of taking in the sights of this entirely new state in his country to him as led by their coach, all the players went to their hotel.Coach Yemi Daniel had very strict away game rules. From beginning till the end of the game, no player was expected to leave the hotel without permission.

    They came to play a football game, and the coach would not tolerate any distractions. Just like that, Sam''s yearning for adventure was doused.

    He didn''t complain though, he was happy to stay focused on the game.

    After one last tactical set-up and talk in the hotel, Coach Yemi Daniel bid his players farewell, sending them off to sleep.

    And again, Sam shared a room with his captain, Austin Oladapo.

    That night, they had more time to bond between themselves, talking about Plateau United, their tactical set-up, their playstyle and their best players.

    Despite their long talk though, Austin was disciplined, telling his younger teammate to go to sleep once it was past 10:00pm.

    The next morning, Sam woke up early with his captain and together, they jogged out of the hotel premises as Sam took the opportunity to complete his daily system quest.

    Watching him go through a specific routine, Austin was amazed. "This routine, how did you know to start it up?"

    Hearing him, Sam grinned. "You see, I''m very ambitious. I want to play for FC Barcelona one day, I want to become a legend there like Lionel Messi is".

    "To play for FC Barcelona, I can''t afford to slack, that''s why I created this rigorous daily training routine for myself".

    Hearing him, Austin smiled. "I believe you Sam. I can''t wait to watch you play and dominate in upcoming big European Champions League nights".

    "I hope you don''t forget me and get me a ticket to watch you live someday".

    "I will". Sam laughed.

    And with that, both players jogged back to their hotel rooms. For the rest of the day, they used different means to relax, preparing mentally for the game in the evening and when it was time, they left with their coach on a bus.

    The Jos International Stadium, the home ground of Plateau United was a big stadium with a capacity of 60,000, one of the best in the country.

    For this game, though the stadium was in no way filled to the brim, there were still lots of fans in the stands cheering their team on.

    Sam was about to face-off against another hostile atmosphere alongside his teammates in away ground. Despite this though, the knowledge that Austin was on his side managed to calm his nerves.

    Sam did not let the excitement get to him.

    A few minutes later, the players finally walked out into the pitch and after the coin toss by the referee, Enyimba FC was to start kick-off.

    Austin briefly patted Sam. "Don''t let the fans get in your head, at all times, keep your head in the game".

    "Yes, captain". Sam nodded.

    FWEEEE!

    The game finally commenced.

    Enyimba FC kicked off the game, showing their intent to play their normal style despite the fact that they were in the away ground of such a strong team.

    They had no intentions of wilting under the pressure of their opponents despite the fact that their opponents were buoyed by the presence of their fans.

    From the first minute, Enyimba FC played scintillating possession football despite the loud noise being made by the opposition fans.

    For the first 10 minutes of this game, both teams were even as they each had their moments. And the more time passed as the game settled, the tighter the game became, the perfect stage for the star players to shine.

    24 minutes into the game, a star finally got his chance to shine as Enyimba FC won a corner amid boos from the Plateau United fans.

    After going to the corner flag, Austin took a look before playing a quick corner.

    There was pushing and tussling in the box but in the end, Farouk Mohammed managed to rise above all the players as this player planted a firm headed shot towards the top left corner of the post.

    The Plateau United goalkeeper was rooted to the spot and could only watch as this ball nestled into his net.

    Landing awkwardly but recovering immediately, Farouk charged towards the corner flag to celebrate. "GOAL¡­.!" He roared exuberantly.

    In this tight game, in the 24th minute, Enyimba FC got the lead 0-1.

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the game restarted, urged by their restless fans, the Plateau United players finally geared into another level, taking this game like a war all of a sudden as they became extremely physical.

    In the next 10 minutes, 3 yellow cards were given by the referee but then, Plateau United won another corner in the 35th minute of the game.

    Their star midfielder took his duty, curling a cross in as 2 players rose highest, Onyebuchi, the Plateau United defender and Farouk, Enyimba''s defensive midfielder. Both players vied for the ball in the air but in the end, Onyebuchi won, awkwardly planting a header towards the bottom right corner.

    Ojo, the Enyimba FC goalkeeper reacted, charging towards the ball as his hand pushed it a bit but it was not enough. He pushed it into his net.

    "GOALLL¡­!" The stadium immediately came alive.

    In the 35th minute of the game, Plateau United leveled the score.

    With that goal, the momentum shifted as Plateau United rode the energy of their fans, mounting attack after attack against the Enyimba FC backline.

    And it was during this time that a certain midfielder got his chance to shine. As if he had endless stamina, Sam ran all over the pitch, winning tackles and interventions as he helped his team win the midfield battle.

    In the end, despite how nervy the last few minutes of the first half was for Enyimba FC, they managed to hold on to a draw by half time.

    The game was a tight one. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, the players went to the dressing room where they were addressed by their coaches.

 Chapter 39: A performance for the ages [1]

    Clap! Clap!Coach Yemi Daniel clapped energetically as he faced his players in the locker room. "Do you feel that we cannot win?" He looked round at all of them.

    "Come on!" He clapped again. "I know we''re in the home stadium of Plateau United, a tough side but we''re Enyimba boys!"

    "We''re Enyimba and we don''t give in even in the home of our rivals!"

    "In the second half, I want you guys to increase the intensity. Let them feel the pressure, let them make mistakes".

    "Home advantage can be a double-edged sword at times when you''re playing against a team like Enyimba. We want to win, but theirs, they must win due to their on-watching fans which puts the pressure on them".

    "Let''s use this to our advantage in the second half. Press for the ball, force them into making mistakes and capitalize!" He clapped. "Counter swiftly!"

    He looked at his striker. "Emeka, I know that they have huge center backs but your performance in the first half has been less than satisfactory".

    "I want you to put that physicality of yours to good use, give them more trouble. Even if you don''t score a goal, stack the pressure on them, you get me?"

    "Yes coach". Emeka nodded.

    "Austin, you''re doing a good job. You too Farouk". And then this coach finally turned his eyes towards Sam''s direction.

    Feeling his coach''s gaze fall on him, Sam gulped. "Sam, your work-rate in the first half was seriously impressive, I give you credits for that but in the second half, I want more than just work-rate".

    "I want penetrative balls in behind the defenders for Emeka to capitalize on. Come on, you can do it, just do it".

    "And when you get the chance, shoot".

    Hearing his coach''s instructions, Sam heaved a deep sigh of relief. Unlike what he feared, he was not about to be substituted out of the game.

    "Yes coach". He answered immediately.

    "Good, now get ready, we''ll soon go back to the pitch".

    While his teammates did their final preparations to go back into the pitch, alongside them, Sam did something extra; he worked on his mind. ''Plateau United is strong but this is the perfect opportunity for me''.

    ''Making an impression against strong opposition is the best way to solidify my starting spot, and most importantly, show myself to the world''.

    ''It''s one step at a time''. He took a deep breath. ''I need to score a goal''.

    By the time the players re-entered the pitch, Sam already entered a deep level of concentration as a lot of things were abstracted from his mind. He was determined to leave his mark in this game.

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle went off, Plateau United restarted the game.

    From the 45th minute, it was clear immediately that Plateau United also approached this second half to win as they rushed towards the Enyimba FC half with an aggressive intention to score.

    A series of tiki-taka passes later, their center midfielder got the ball just outside the box and immediately, this player took his shot.

    Whoosh!

    Immediately after the shot was taken, a leg slid in, blocking the shot as the ball rebounded back up field.

    The player who slid in for the block was Sam.

    While the Plateau United players passed between themselves, having determined where the easiest way to shoot and score was, Sam charged towards there ahead of time, reading his opponent''s intentions to block the shot.

    Immediately, an Enyimba FC counterattack started.

    Bringing the ball down with his chest, Emeka deftly kicked this ball to the left side of the pitch as the Enyimba left winger, Chijioke chased after the ball.

    Running along the length of the pitch with it, this left winger cut in before curling a shot at goal but the Plateau United goalkeeper was at hand to make an incredible diving save.

    The first shots of the second half from both teams were already fired in this intense game. And with it, the intensity increased.

    Clearly, Coach Yemi Daniel was not the only one who told his players to increase the tempo as the Plateau United players also played with incredible intensity, running all over the pitch.

    Enyimba FC struggled to dominate the midfield battle.

    But in these chaotic circumstances was where a certain boy shone. With his incredible stamina, Sam became the driving heart of Enyimba FC for the first 20 minutes of the 2nd half as the score remained 1-1.

    This was until a moment of magic happened, not from Enyimba, but Plateau United as they won a free kick right outside the Enyimba FC box.

    Standing before the ball after the referee''s whistle sounded, the Plateau United center midfielder did a short run before curling a shot into the top left corner of the post. Ojo could only dive to no avail, unable to stop the ball going in.

    "GOALLL¡­!" Jos International Stadium roared to life as the Plateau United fans celebrated wildly.

    Running to the corner flag, this player did a back flip celebration, rousing the excited home fans even more.

    In the 67th minute of the game, Plateau United went ahead 2-1.

    Sam stayed calm. ''This is it,'' he thought. ''There''s no better time than now to seize my moment before I lose it''.

    ''I can''t afford to lose it''. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''I must not lose it!'' He was determined.

    FWEEEE!

    When the referee''s whistle sounded again, like a man possessed, Sam rose heads and shoulders above all his teammates again as he played as the driving engine of the incredible machine called Enyimba FC.

    To the bystander, it was clear already that if Enyimba FC was to get anything from this game, it would come through their attacking midfielder who was playing like a man possessed at this moment.

    It got to the extent that every time Sam won back possession, the Plateau United fans booed loudly but he didn''t care, only focused on playing football.

    Even without scoring or assisting a goal, he was already putting on an impressive display but Sam was not satisfied with that.

    ''I want more,'' he thought. ''I need more!''

    And finally, his moment came, just 3 minutes after Plateau United scored.

    Another Enyimba FC attack was thwarted as Plateau United aimed to kick start their own attack but immediately after the ball was passed from deep, a pair of legs slid through the green grass, blocking the ball.

    Sam hated defending before becoming a professional player, but weeks of playing football alongside Austin was already rubbing off him.

    These days, he didn''t mind getting dirty on the football pitch.

    Sam won back possession just outside the Plateau United 18-yard box! Immediately after his leg stopped the ball, he smelled danger, the Plateau United players also saw it.

    As soon as he sprang back to his feet, trapping the ball, a Plateau United player charged close to block any shooting angle.

    Sam raised his right leg to shoot, but it was a feint.

    Effortlessly, he cut the ball to the left, evading the player as another Plateau United player was already charging in.

    This player stuck his leg out, and then Sam cut the ball back to his stronger right foot. This time, he didn''t hesitate, unleashing a powerful knuckle shot.

    Sam almost never used knuckle shots, his shooting was not that advanced to execute it perfectly but in that moment, a knuckle shot was the best way to hit the ball and the adrenaline made him do it.

    Guess what? It worked, beautifully.

    Bam!

    As soon as Sam''s right leg hit the ball, the ball rose up high into the sky before curving back down into the top right corner of the Plateau United net.

    The Plateau United goalkeeper could not even dive as he didn''t expect it, he completely misjudged the shot.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" Sam roared. "Come on!" He screamed at the top of his lungs.

    He didn''t celebrate though, running all the way to the net to pick the ball before rushing back up field. That goal felt like a shot of glucose to him, filling his veins with flowing adrenaline.

    He was not satisfied yet, he wanted more. ''One more goal to win!''

    Sam was already putting out an incredible performance.

    FWEEEE!

    The referee restarted play, Plateau United kicked the ball.

 Chapter 40: A performance for the ages [2]

    That goal definitely rattled some nerves.No one saw it coming, it was unexpected and against the run of play, coming from a moment of individual brilliance from the in-form attacking midfielder.

    The noise in the stadium rose up a notch as the riled up Plateau United fans went all-in behind their team, eager to support them on the pitch.

    They were determined to win also, maybe even more so for the bragging rights. Football fans enjoyed bragging with their clubs, mostly when they won against their bitter rivals.

    And in the Nigerian professional football league, Enyimba FC and Plateau United were footballing rivals.

    Plateau United restarted the game in the 71st minute but immediately, it was clear that Sam was not cooling down yet as he ran everywhere.

    This midfielder''s incredible performance was beautiful and should be appreciated if only he was not playing in away ground.

    Every time that Sam won the ball, intercepted a pass, blocked a shot, or made an incredible play on the pitch, it irked the Plateau United fans.

    BOOOOO!

    Sam was subjected to an ocean of boos but he was unfazed.

    Plateau United was still the team dominating possession after the game continued but yet, Enyimba FC came closest, Sam pulling the strings again as he unleashed another outside the box shot that rattled off the post.

    Tensions rose in this stadium.

    BOOO!

    The fans kept on playing their own part in this incredible battle and finally, in the 81st minute of the game, their relentless energy finally paid off.

    After receiving a pass from midfield, the Plateau United right winger drove deep with the ball through the right side of the pitch and after beating his man threw a dangerous cross in.

    The cross started everything, kick starting a chaotic scramble for the ball in the Enyimba FC box and it was in this chaos when the dangerous Plateau United striker managed to poke the ball into the net.

    Ojo stood rooted to the spot, he didn''t even see the ball coming.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" Jos International Stadium roared to life again, the ecstatic fans voicing out their euphoria loudly.

    3-2 to Plateau United in the 81st minute!

    The players celebrated wildly.

    FWEEEE!

    Just a minute after the referee''s whistle sounded though to continue play, Jos International Stadium became as quiet as a church.

    Austin passed the ball to Sam who passed to Victor in the right wing. Victor bombed down the Plateau United half with speed through the right, before cutting a pass back into the midfield close to the box.

    As soon as the ball was hit, Sam erupted with incredible agility, getting to the ball first as he gently nudged it with the outside of his right boot past the closest Plateau United player, then he raised his head and took a glance at goal.

    POW!

    That was exactly how the ball sounded as his leg struck it with venom!

    Like a missile, this rotating ball rushed through the green grass, sending a few flying as with needle accuracy, it tore into the bottom left corner of the net.

    The Plateau United goalkeeper dived but he stood no chance.

    A rocket shot, an incredible goal.

    "What a goal!" The commentators were already going crazy. "Damn! Samuel Moses truly is in the mood today!"

    "2 goals within 2 minutes! What a game this is turning out to be!"

    "This teenager is singlehandedly lifting the mighty Enyimba on the pitch today!"

    BOOO!

    The boos from the Plateau United fans resumed immediately after the silence. In response, Sam pumped a fist in the air at them in defiance.

    He was already in villain mode.

    In the 82nd minute of the game, the game was tied again 3-3.

    In the bench, Coach Yemi Daniel''s assistant had a conversation with him. "Don''t you think it''s time to bring Olisema on?"

    Coach Yemi turned to look at his assistant with an ''are you mad?'' look on his face. "Are you for real? Are you seeing the kind of form that boy is in?"

    "I''d be a fool to take him off now!"

    "But what about humility?"

    "F*ck humility!"

    FWEEEE!

    The game continued.

    For the final 8 minutes of this second half before the 90th minute, the players of both teams seemed to have collectively decided to go all-out attack.

    Attacking raid after attacking raid were launched by both teams, somehow mostly created and executed by their midfielders.

    The midfielders of both teams were on top of their game but despite all of them shining, a teenager was still the one who shone brightest, Samuel Moses.

    Sam out-staged every other player in the midfield battle.

    For the last 8 minutes, even as he created for his teammates amid the chaos and hostile atmosphere, he also had his moments as the closest he came was from a header and a volley shot that flashed just by the post.

    And finally, 90 minutes of this intense game was over.

    The referee added an incredible 7 minutes to the game. 7 more minutes to war, 7 more minutes to die for. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The players kept on playing like the game was a war and they were the soldiers, putting their body on the line to block sure goal-scoring chances while also threatening at the other end.

    In the end though, fortune favors the bold as in the 90th plus 5 minute, Plateau United got their clearest chance since the score was tied 3-3.

    Somehow managing to catch the Enyimba FC defenders off-guard, the star Plateau United center midfielder played a defense-splitting through pass for his striker to run into as this tall striker outran the defenders.

    He arrived at the ball first but Ojo read the danger fast as this goalkeeper already rushed out with speed, making his body as big as possible.

    Bam!

    The stadium held collective breaths as the Plateau United striker took his shot, Ojo closed his eyes and in a moment of luck, the ball hit him on his chest, ricocheting off as the nearest players immediately scrambled for the ball.

    The closest Plateau United player tried to sneak in a shot but outmuscling him, Adekunle, the huge Enyimba center back awkwardly cleared the ball.

    The ball landed just outside the Enyimba 18-yard box, in a vacant space unoccupied by players and the first person to react was Sam.

    Most of the Plateau United players were already in Enyimba FC''s half, all pushing up field, desperately seeking the winning goal.

    Due to this, Sam had just 1 defender ahead of him to beat if he decided to run with the ball.

    He didn''t decide to run with it though, instead stealing a glance up field, Sam noticed the Plateau United goalkeeper slightly off his lines.

    That was all he needed to see.

    Digging into his reserves, Sam charged towards this ball and then, he hit it first time with his right foot with all the power that he could muster into the shot.

    BAM!

    The sound reverberated like a gunshot, the ball rose into the air with speed, dipped as the Plateau United goalkeeper charged back to his post before falling into an empty net.

    The goalkeeper could not make it back in time.

    In the 90th plus 5 minute, Sam scored again to make the score line 3-4, completing his hat trick in the most ridiculous of circumstances.

    "¡­!"

 Chapter 41: A performance for the ages [3]

    The score line was 3-4 in Enyimba FC''s favor."¡­!" Jos International Stadium for the second time in this game became as silent as a church, you could almost hear a pin drop, and then¡­

    "GOALLLL¡­!" Sam roared at the top of his lungs, his roar mixing with the roar of his teammates to form a deafening cacophony.

    He just scored the goal to give his team the lead in this nervy game again, and this time, he could celebrate because they were already winning.

    Running towards the corner flag as the stadium became noisy again, Sam jumped high into the air, punching his fist excitedly to celebrate.

    As soon as he landed back on the pitch, he was hounded by his teammates who hugged him from all sides, patting his head and screaming excitedly.

    In the spotlight, with all the cameras on him, for the second consecutive game, Sam felt on top of the world.

    As the celebrations drew to a close, having thought of something, he pulled his jersey before displaying his name and his jersey number to the camera.

    His jersey number was 19. When he signed his professional contract with Enyimba FC, Mr. Moses did well to include giving his son the number 19 jersey just like young Lionel Messi in the contract terms.

    Of course, taking his celebration that far drew a yellow card from the referee but Sam didn''t give a damn. To him, the moment was more than worth it.

    Jogging back into the pitch, the Plateau United fans could no longer boo him. By now, they already admitted defeat to this exciting teenager.

    They could tell that they were bearing witness to a performance for the ages.

    FWEEEE!

    When the referee''s whistle sounded again, the noise around the stadium rose up a crescendo again as the Plateau United fans went for one last go at trying to push their team to at least secure a draw.

    In those final 2 minutes, the Plateau United players played recklessly, desperate to find a goal but led by their captain, Austin Oladapo this time, Enyimba FC defended like a unit, shutting down all channels to goal.

    When the final whistle eventually sounded, disappointed Plateau United players collapsed on the pitch as the tired Enyimba FC players jubilated.

    Without a doubt, this was their most exciting game of the season already.

    The tension, the tough away ground, the level of their opponents, and the incredible goal-fest thriller of 7 goals, all of it was unforgettable, making this game a highlight for the Nigerian Professional Football League.

    And of course, for the 2nd consecutive game, Sam managed to scoop home the man of the match award while also claiming the match ball.

    This time, for the post-match interview though, Austin was not the only one going to meet the reporters due to the special circumstances today.

    Since he scored a hat trick, Sam got set to face reporters for the first time in his hatchling career as a professional football player.

    Austin eased his nerves. "Take it easy man, chill out. Be calm and wise, answer only questions that you are sure of their answers".

    "And don''t let them drag you into the trap of tricky questions. If you''re unsure, just keep quiet and leave it to me, I''ll do the talking".

    "Yes, boss".

    Austin looked at him and chuckled. "You dey whine me?" He spoke pidgin. "Today, you''re the boss".

    ¡­ S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Sam, what an incredible game you played out there today!"

    "You''re just 17 yet you''re already lighting up the stage as the best player for a storied team of the Nigerian Professional Football League like Enyimba FC, claiming back to back man of the match awards, how do you feel?"

    Sam grinned at the female reporter, breathing heavily. "Honestly, I feel great. Since I was six, I had the dream to play professional football".

    "Knowing that I managed to achieve my dream and make it to this stage alone is incredibly amazing, then winning the man of the match award?" He rubbed his short black hair. "That''s the cherry on top for me".

    "I get to do what I love and get recognized for it, who wouldn''t feel great?" He chuckled.

    "You''re right," the female reporter smiled. "Well, you didn''t just help your team win today, you were outright the best player on the pitch all evening. Besides, you scored a hattrick today".

    "Do you think you''re the best player of Enyimba FC? And do you think you can win the golden boot?"

    Hearing that, Sam threw a sneaky glance at his captain who acted nonchalant before he answered. "Well, saying that I''m the best player of Enyimba FC is honestly a misguided opinion".

    "Performing well for one game doesn''t make me the best". He smiled. "As a matter of fact, we have the best player of Enyimba FC right here with us, Austin". He pointed at his captain who chuckled.

    The reporter also laughed. "Fair enough". She nodded.

    "As for me winning the golden boot? I haven''t really set such big goals for myself yet, all I care about right now is helping my team win every game that comes".

    "There are seasoned goal scorers in the league that I can only look up to and respect. If I continue scoring at this rate, then fine, I''ll relish the opportunity to compete with elite goal scorers like them".

    The reporter smiled. "Well, Sam, thanks for answering my questions". She finally paid attention to the captain of Enyimba FC. "Austin, any opinion about today''s game and the way your team played?"

    "Nah," Austin shook his head. "The only thing I have to say is that told yah," he grinned. "Remember the name, Samuel Moses".

    Sam blushed. "Stop captain".

    Austin was unfazed though. "I''m serious, we''re literally seeing a legend in the making. I can''t wait for when he finally gets to play for FC Barcelona".

    The female reporter smiled again. "Well, thanks to both of you for having me, don''t have a nice day, have a great day".

    Austin grinned at her.

    And with that, the post-match interview came to an end.

    A grueling away match for Enyimba FC finally concluded with a hard-fought victory.

 Chapter 42: Season system quest

    Returning to their hotel room, Sam finally paid attention to the multiple system notifications that he shelved before due to the post-match interview.The system notifications this time were longer than normal, he was curious.

    After taking his bath and laying down on his bed, exhausted even as his captain already dozed off, Sam paid attention to his system interface.

    ~----~

    [You have completed matchday system mission: Win the game!]

    [You played all 90 minutes of this football game as a starter!]

    [Calculating reward¡­, please wait¡­]

    [Calculation complete!]

    [You have been rewarded with 2 Skill Points!]

    [Available Skill Points: 8]

    ¡­

    [You have completed matchday system mission: S-ranked performance!]

    >In your first professional football game as a starter, you managed to showcase an impressive performance, putting on an incredible player of the match display by scoring the first hattrick of your professional football career. Your incredible performance has been ranked by the system as S<

    [Calculating reward¡­, please wait¡­]

    [Calculation complete!]

    [You have been rewarded with 5 Skill Points!]

    [Available Skill Points: 13]

    ¡­

    [During today''s game, real-time game experience accumulation was at work, witnessing your incredible performance and granting you with the corresponding upgrade!]

    [Your shot accuracy has improved!]

    [Congratulations! Your shooting attribute has increased by +1]

    [Your one-on-one defending has improved!]

    [Your man-marking skills has improved!]

    [Your zonal marking skills has improved!]

    [Congratulations! Your defending attribute has increased by +2]

    [Congratulations! Your stamina attribute has increased by +1]

    [Congratulations! You have met the requirements to level up!]

    [Your overall player rating has increased to 71!]

    ¡­

    Player Attributes:

    *Pace: 72

    *Shot: 70

    *Pass: 74 sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    *Dribbling: 66

    *Defending: 35

    *Physicality: 63

    *Stamina: 79

    Overall Rating: 71

    ¡­

    [Your mastery over the football skill ''Knuckle Shot'' has increased to basic!]

    (Skill progress to intermediate level: 18/100)

    [Congratulations! Your shooting attribute has increased again by +2]

    *Shot: 72

    ¡­

    [You have completed a hidden system mission: Score a hat trick!]

    [Congratulations! The system has awakened to level 3!]

    [You have unlocked level 3 perk: Inventory!]

    >System inventory is a secondary dimensional space where you can store anything except living things<

    [System Inventory Slots: 8]

    [Slot 1: Low-grade physical conditioning elixir]

    ¡­

    [NOTE: A new slot can be bought in the system inventory in exchange for 5 Skill Points.]

    [Snooping Tool has been upgraded to level 3!]

    [You can now access the skills of players and their respective masteries]

    ~----~

    In a single game, Sam managed to gain so much, he was amazed.

    Due to his incredible performance in today''s game, he managed to upgrade 3 of his attributes despite the fact that none of them ever budged once even with his efforts for the past few weeks.

    This once again showed the importance of professional game experience, this was the main reason why playing time was very important for a professional football player''s growth and form.

    Apart from the fact that his system finally awakened to another level, one thing that truly excited him among the system notifications was the new skill that the system just indicated in his player status.

    ''Finally!'' He thought excitedly. ''I did it without spending skill points!''

    Sam could still remember that moment vividly when he scored with the knuckle shot. He didn''t plan it, he didn''t think about it, everything that happened was instinctive, a reflex action.

    He put a mental reminder to try it out again in his next training session.

    This also brought him to his skills tab, he wanted to see the updated section of his football skills in the system interface.

    ~----~

    [Owned Football Skills:]

    (La Croqueta)

    (Skill Mastery Level: Basic)

    (Skill progress to intermediate level: 31/100]

    ~

    (Body Feint)

    (Skill Mastery Level: Basic)

    (Skill progress to intermediate level: 17/100)

    ¡­

    (Cruyff Turn)

    (Skill Mastery Level: Basic)

    (Skill progress to intermediate level: 89/100)

    ¡­

    (Power Shot)

    (Skill Mastery Level: Basic)

    (Skill progress to intermediate level: 15/100)

    ¡­

    (Knuckle Shot)

    (Skill Mastery Level: Basic)

    (Skill progress to intermediate level: 18/100)

    ~----~

    Sam noted that apart from his newly gained football skill at the basic mastery level, 2 of his other football skills in the form of his power shot and body feint skills were slowly showing progress to the intermediate level.

    ''Sweet''. He thought.

    And finally, he paid attention to the last section of system notifications that his system had for him after the game.

    Unlike the first ones, these system notifications were new, different.

    ~----~

    [Congratulations! You have played your first game for Enyimba FC as a starting XI player; you are now eligible for the season system quest!]

    [You have unlocked Season System Quests!]

    [Your club, Enyimba FC is only eligible to compete for 2 trophies, the NPFL Championship Trophy and the Nigerian FA Cup!]

    [NOTE: To present the best growth and career path for host, host must compete in the CAF Champions League!]

    [Recalibrating¡­, please wait¡­]

    ~----~

    For the first time since Sam gained his system after the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, he saw the blue screen of the system suddenly go off.

    At first, he panicked, wondering what happened but his wait only lasted 20 seconds as the system screen came back on.

    ''What happened?'' He thought. ''Why did the system briefly go off?''

    He had so many questions but no answers.

    The system continued displaying the notifications. For some reason, staring at these notifications, Sam felt like the font was duller than normal. ''Why does it seem as if the system is suddenly working on low energy?''

    He didn''t think deeper into it though, focusing on the notifications.

    ~----~

    [Reality recalibration complete!]

    [Through the rule of allocation by national association, Enyimba FC has been allocated a slot to compete in the CAF Champions League for the 2022/2023 football season!]

    [Your club, Enyimba FC is now eligible to compete for 3 trophies, the NPFL Championship Trophy, the Nigerian FA Cup, and the CAF Champions League!]

    [Season Quest 1: NPFL Championship]

    [Mission 1: Win the NPFL Championship with Enyimba FC!]

    [Mission Reward: +3 increase to 5 random football attributes, +50 Skill Points, and a random bonus reward!]

    ¡­

    [Mission 2: Win the best player award of the league!]

    [Mission Reward: Random reward]

    ***

    [Season Quest 2: FA Cup]

    [Mission 1: Win the FA Cup with Enyimba FC!]

    [Mission Reward: +2 increase to 2 random football attributes, +30 Skill Points, and a random bonus reward!]

    ¡­

    [Mission 2: Win the best player award in the FA Cup!]

    [Mission Reward: Random reward]

    ***

    [Season Quest 3: CAF Champions League]

    [Mission 1: Win the CAF Champions League with Enyimba FC!]

    [Mission Reward: +7 increase to a random football attribute, +100 Skill Points, and a random bonus reward!]

    ¡­

    [Mission 2: Win the best player award in the CAF Champions League!]

    [Mission Reward: Random reward]

    ~----~

    Sam was amazed. ''But Enyimba FC didn''t qualify for the CAF Champions league!''

 Chapter 43: A busy schedule [1]

    {NTA News Story!}{BREAKING NEWS!}

    {The national association of Nigerian football received an additional slot in the CAF Champions League and in an inexplicable decision based on past merits, the additional slot to play in the CAF Champions League has been handed to Enyimba FC in an act of great generosity!}

    {The CAF Champions league schedule has already been adjusted to account for the participation of an entirely new club in the competition this year.}

    {According to the national association President, giving a strong team like Enyimba FC the chance to shine in the CAF Champions League again will bolster the popularity and image of the Nigerian football league to the world.]

    Sam woke up the next morning to this blockbuster news.

    He was shocked. ''What the heck!''

    In the 2021/2022 football season, Enyimba FC had a bad season, ending the season with 0 trophies while finishing 7th in the league.

    This was the reason why for the 2022/2023 football season, they were only eligible to compete in the league and in the FA Cup. Sam did not expect the situation of his club to change overnight. Unexpectedly, nobody foreshadowed it.

    Austin woke up that morning, ecstatic after being the first to learn the news. He was the one who woke Sam up and broke the news to him.

    After reading it, instead of joining in the ecstasy, Sam felt goosebumps all over his body. ''Don''t tell me¡­!''

    ''Holy sikes¡­!''

    He had a recollection to yesterday when he went through the series of notifications that his system barraged him with after his incredible performance yesterday. He remembered when the system screen went off, apparently, the system was recalibrating.

    ''Was that when it happened?''

    His eyes widened. ''Is this even realistically possible?''

    ''Damn! Does the system even have the ability to bend reality to its will?!''

    ''Holy freaks¡­, that''s messed up!''

    ''Is that why the fonts of the system suddenly looked so dull after? Did it expend a lot of energy to do it?'' S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''Oh my f*cking Jesus! What is the limit to the capabilities of the system?''

    ''Does it have endless, infinite possibilities?''

    Sam was so shocked that he could barely speak.

    "Hey". Sam waved at his face. "Hey, are you ok?"

    Sam looked at his captain and forced a smile. "Yeah, I''m good, I was just overwhelmed by the shock of the situation".

    "I understand". Austin grinned. "I felt the same way".

    Well, it was only a momentary shock, the blockbuster news didn''t affect the 2 footballers'' schedule as getting set, they soon left to complete their daily jogging and training for the morning.

    After exerting himself for almost an hour, Sam managed to complete his daily system quest in time to get prepared and join his teammates at the airport.

    Together, at the airport, they finally left Jos, Plateau State.

    And well, yesterday''s game officially pushed Sam into the fore of Enyimba FC''s plans, dragging him into the busy schedule that came with it.

    After his performance against Plateau United, he solidified his position as one of the guaranteed starting XI players of Enyimba FC. He was now the nailed-in starting attacking midfielder of Enyimba FC.

    It would take a lot for Cyril Olisema to force his way back into the starting XI.

    The next day, like usual, Coach Yemi Daniel sent his players the next match day fixtures including the results for the match day 3 fixtures.

    (Matchday 3 results)

    >Nasarawa United 0-3 Akwa United<

    >Date: 22 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Enugu Rangers 1-1 Sunshine Stars<

    >Date: 22 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Abia Warriors 0-1 Lobi Stars<

    >Date: 22 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Bayelsa United 2-1 Wikki Tourist<

    >Date: 22 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Doma United 1-0 Dakkada<

    >Date: 22 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Plateau United 3-4 Enyimba<

    >Date: 22 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Kwara United 0-1 Bendel Insurance<

    >Date: 22 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >El Kanemi Warriors FC 0-0 Gombe United<

    >Date: 22 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Rivers United 2-1 Niger Tornadoes<

    >Date: 24 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Remo Stars 2-0 Shooting Stars<

    >Date: 25 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    (Matchday 4:)

    >Dakkada ¨C Rivers United<

    >Date: 28 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Bendel Insurance ¨C Remo Stars<

    >Date: 28 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Enyimba ¨C Kwara United<

    >Date: 29 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Akwa United ¨C Plateau United<

    >Date: 29 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Lobi Stars ¨C Bayelsa United<

    >Date: 29 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Sunshine Stars ¨C Abia Warriors<

    >Date: 29 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Niger Tornadoes ¨C Enugu Rangers<

    >Date: 29 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Wikki Tourist ¨C Doma United<

    >Date: 29 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Gombe United ¨C Nasarawa United<

    >Date: 29 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Shooting Stars ¨C El Kanemi Warriors FC<

    >Date: 29 Jan, 2023<

    ¡­

    (CAF Champions League!)

    (First preliminary round. Leg 1 of 2)

    >Enyimba Fc ¨C Zamalek<

    >Date: 31 Jan, 2023<

    With the sudden slot that was allocated to Enyimba FC in the CAF Champions League by the national association, though the club celebrated it, in essence, it also meant that their schedule just became a whole lot more packed up.

    And as a starting 11 player of Enyimba FC, Sam became busy with it.

    For the next few days, he became so busy that he barely had time to communicate with his parents though he still created time for it.

    Due to the presence of his fiery mom, it was mandatory that he called. Sam already set a daily reminder alarm on his android phone.

    After consecutive training sessions across days, Enyimba FC finally welcomed the traveling Kwara United at home.

    In the Enyimba International Stadium, in front of their home fans, Enyimba FC put out another scintillating display as they blew their opponents away completely by the end of 90 minutes, ending the game with a score line of 3-0.

    Against the highline of their opponents, Emeka was in form as he scored a brace in the game, the first in the 11th minute, and then in the 68th minute of the game, Austin assisted both goals.

    Sam also managed to chip in with a goal contribution, assisting the second goal of the game and increasing his season tally to 4 goals and 3 assists in just 4 games, an incredible tally of 7 goal contributions.

    In just 2 days, Enyimba FC played again and this time, they welcomed Zamalek, the Egypt-based club to the Enyimba International Stadium to kick-off their CAF Champions league campaign.

    In this game, despite the little window of rest in-between, Sam played again and without a doubt, it was the hardest game of his budding career.

    Zamalek SC proved a difficult challenge for Enyimba FC despite the fact that they were playing away from home as they played scintillating football.

    After a tight scoreless game throughout 90 minutes, in the 90th plus 2 minute, Enyimba FC finally broke the deadlock through a Zamalek mistake.

    It was an own goal from their goalkeeper that pulled the game in Enyimba''s favor. The game ended 1-0.

    Enyimba FC started their CAF Champions league campaign with a victory though it was a close one.

 Chapter 44: A busy schedule [2]

    (Matchday 5:)>Remo Stars ¨C Enyimba<

    >Date: 1 Feb, 2023<

    ¡­

    (Matchday 6:)

    >Enyimba ¨C El Kanemi Warriors<

    >Date: 5 Feb, 2023<

    ¡­

    (CAF Champions League!)

    (First preliminary round. Leg 2 of 2)

    >Zamalek ¨C Enyimba FC<

    >Date: 7 Feb, 2023<

    Sam had no time to rest.

    The fact that Enyimba FC literally played a game just yesterday, 31st January in the CAF Champions League and they were expected to play another professional football game the next day showed how disorganized the 2022/2023 season was.

    Coach Yemi Daniel didn''t have any choice though, his team still had to play. He had no authority over the match fixtures, his only authority ended in his team.

    For matchday 5 of the NPFL season, Coach Yemi Daniel finally pulled the plug on his squad, resting almost all his regular starting XI players as he started with the Enyimba FC B team against Remo Stars at home.

    It was a risky decision but Coach Yemi Daniel already accepted it, no matter the result of the game at the end.

    Just as was expected, without the regular starting XI players on the pitch, the young Enyimba team suffered against Remo Stars as they failed to create any clear-cut chances on the pitch across the first 45 minutes.

    Surprisingly though, this young team also managed to keep a first half clean sheet as they impressed with their incredible work rate, and maybe some luck too.

    But their luck could only carry them so far.

    In the 66th minute of the second half, the Remo Stars pressure finally bore fruit as after some chaotic scrambling in the Enyimba FC box, the ball was finally pushed beyond the post into the net.

    In the 66th minute, it was 1-0 to Remo Stars.

    As the game wore on, Enyimba FC tried to even matters to no avail. Coach Yemi Daniel made changes in the 75th minute, introducing Austin and Farouk, yet both players were unable to turn the game on its head.

    Enyimba FC suffered its first defeat of the 2021/2022 season to Remo Stars, and Sam never got the opportunity to enter the pitch.

    Nobody questioned him though; Sam was just 17 years old.

    Playing a teenager regularly in such a busy schedule was not recommended, in fact, it was foolish. It was important to manage Sam''s minutes so that he won''t fall victim to a terrible injury that may potentially ruin his career. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    No matter how good he was, he was still a developing young talent.

    Enyimba FC didn''t let the Remo Stars game linger in their minds though as 4 days later, they hosted El Kanemi Warriors at home.

    In this game, since he was not able to do anything in the previous game, only watching from the bench, hungry to impress, impress was exactly what Sam did as he took the game by the scruff of the neck in front of the Enyimba FC home fans.

    Chipping in with a goal in the first half, he created an unreal assist in the second, and in a unanimous decision, Sam won his 3rd man of the match award of the season in just his 5th game.

    This took his tally for the season to 5 goals and 4 assists in just 5 games.

    He was already outperforming the best players of the league.

    2 days later, in their next game of the CAF Champions League which was against Zamalek at home, Sam finally left his home country, Nigeria for the first time in his life.

    The whole Enyimba FC squad traveled to Egypt by flight.

    Without doubt, it was the most memorable journey that Sam had ever enjoyed in his whole life and he did well to document the moment, creating countless videos with his phone and sending to his family.

    In a way, it also motivated him and made him more determined to perform.

    He could not travel all this way out of his country for the first time only to play rubbish, his pride wouldn''t let it.

    By now, he already knew why his system pulled strings so that Enyimba FC could participate in the CAF Champions league for the 2022/2023 season.

    Outside Africa, nobody paid attention to the Nigerian Professional Football League. No matter how much he performed in the league, he would always remain obscure unless he was granted a grander stage to perform.

    And this grander stage that his system gave him was the CAF champions league.

    If he could achieve his system season mission and help Enyimba FC win the CAF champions league, automatically, Enyimba FC would qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup which was an even grander stage to show his talent to the world.

    This was why Sam was extra motivated for this game since in the first leg, he couldn''t do much against the strong Zamalek despite playing at home.

    In this game, Sam truly felt the ire of the radical Zamalek supporters and their passion that created a palpable tension in this game.

    The game was a thriller.

    Of course, Coach Yemi Daniel started with his strongest lineup.

    Determined to win the game and progress to the next stage of the competition in front of their home fans, Zamalek started strong as in just the 3rd minute, they whipped in a thunderous shot past Ojo.

    In just the 3rd minute, Zamalek was already ahead 1-0 and 1-1 on aggregate.

    Immediately after, led by Austin Oladapo, the Enyimba FC captain, they tried to assert their authority over the game but over time, this proved impossible as the experienced Zamalek team played with grit, skill, and incredible passion.

    In the 21st minute of the game, they doubled their lead as their striker deservedly tapped in a close range shot to make it 2-0 in Zamalek''s favor.

    Zamalek was already leading in aggregate in their fiery stadium.

    It almost felt as if fate was determined to give Sam a reality check in the famed Cairo International Stadium, but Sam was unwilling to dance to the rhythm of fate. He was determined to defy fate!

    In the 2nd half, buoyed by the explosive half-time speech of their coach, Enyimba FC came roaring out like angry Lions and this time, they were led by their young and passionate attacking midfielder, Samuel Moses.

    In the 2nd half, Sam was back to his best, playing like a man possessed.

    He played an incredible second half, completing the most passes, winning the most tackles, winning aerial duels, and most importantly, being the piece of the puzzle as he played the second passes that led to 2 incredible goals.

    The game ended 2-2 after fulltime.

    Sam didn''t get an assist or a goal, but his incredible performance definitely caught the eye and with the aggregate rule, Enyimba FC won 2-3.

    Sam won a CAF champions league man of the match award to his cabinet.

 Chapter 45: A busy schedule [3]

    Zamalek SC was a veteran of the CAF Champions League, renowned for regularly making deep runs in the tournament but unexpectedly, the underdogs, Enyimba FC managed to knock them out in just the first stage of the tournament.And it was the first in a series of impressive run for Enyimba FC.

    (Matchday 7:)

    >Gombe United ¨C Enyimba FC<

    >Date: 11 Feb, 2023<

    ¡­

    (Matchday 8:)

    >Enyimba FC ¨C Shooting Stars<

    >Date: 15 Feb, 2023<

    ¡­

    (Matchday 9:)

    >Bendel Insurance ¨C Enyimba FC<

    >Date: 19 Feb, 2023<

    ¡­

    (CAF Champions League!)

    (Second preliminary round. Leg 1 of 2)

    >Flambeau du Centre - Enyimba FC<

    >Date: 21 Feb, 2023<

    Another few days of intense training after the victorious Zamalek game in Egypt, Sam lined up on the pitch with his teammates again, this time in away ground as they faced a tough test against Gombe United.

    Gombe United played their game, bringing it to their opponents at home but in the end, the superior Enyimba FC team managed to come out on top with a narrow 1-2 win in Enyimba''s favor.

    For the 2nd consecutive game, Sam could not chip in with a goal contribution but his performances in the middle of the park remained eye-catching.

    4 days later, they welcomed Shooting Stars at home, another opportunity for Sam to impress and he did not disappoint, chipping in with another assist to help his team win the game 2-0 in front of their home fans.

    This took his season tally to 5 goals and 5 assists in all competitions.

    The busy schedule continued for Enyimba FC as again, in 4 days, they traveled to Bendel Insurance''s home ground for another away game.

    This time though, Coach Yemi Daniel was forced to make sacrifices with the upcoming CAF Champions League game in sight as he gave certain key players like Emeka and Sam rest.

    Despite Austin starting this game and playing 70 minutes, he was unable to be the difference maker as Enyimba fell to their second defeat of the season, losing 1-0 against Bendel Insurance at home.

    Despite the result, they still sat comfortably at the top of the NPFL league table heading into leg 1 of the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions league. This time, they were to play in away ground first.

    And for the second time this year, Sam traveled to another country, this time to Flambeau du Centre''s home in Burundi.

    Despite playing against their opponents at home, Enyimba FC put out an incredible display as they managed to fight for domination over the game.

    In the 72nd minute, Emeka scored the only goal of the game from an unexpected Farouk assist. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The game ended 0-1 in Enyimba FC''s favor and Emeka won the man of the match award.

    Despite the fact that Sam still didn''t get his first goal contribution of the CAF champions league, he still managed to put out an eye-catching display in the middle of the park in away ground.

    After that game, the schedule didn''t lighten at all, only ramping up even more as Enyimba FC played week in week out.

    To Sam, it was a grueling task but having expected it, he coped in the best way he could of course with the help of his system.

    Enyimba FC continued putting out eye-catching displays in the league as they dominated their opponents, maintaining their lead at the top of the league table while also showing that the national association didn''t make a mistake by giving them the slot in the CAF Champions League despite the backlash that came with it at first.

    A week later, on the 28th when they welcomed Flambeau du Centre to the Enyimba International Stadium, they absolutely demolished the Burundi team in front of their home fans.

    And in this game, Sam finally set his name on fire in the CAF Champions League, announcing to the rest of Africa that Enyimba FC had a new star player.

    In a 5-1 demolition, Sam won the man of the match award after scoring 2 goals and chipping in with an assist, 3 goal contributions in one match.

    With that, he took his tally for the season in all competitions to 7 goals and 6 assists. He was not playing like a player who just made his debut in professional football at all, in a sense, he was the best player of Enyimba FC already.

    Coached by the astute Yemi Daniel, every training session, every game, Sam was soaking in the experience of game time despite how grueling it was as he improved by leaps and bounds as a football player.

    He improved with the busy schedule, keeping Enyimba FC on top.

    Game after game, he kept on validating Coach Yemi Daniel''s decision to sign him and put him under such a paycheck despite his inexperience.

    Game after game, week after week, he showed his talent to the NPFL, and even in games that he didn''t get goal contributions, he played well.

    And even in those rare situations when he had an off day on the pitch, Sam still managed to catch the eye due to his incredible work rate.

    He was a tireless horse on the field of play.

    A certain Mr. Moses was proud. "That''s my son!" He kept on saying after every single matchday of the NPFL.

    A certain Mrs. Moses was also proud. "Hehe, do you know my son is a professional football player? He plays for Enima FC. Last month, he traveled to Burundi to play a game of football in one thing called champions league".

    "You mean Enyimba FC right?"

    "Ah! Yes".

    "Wow! Sam is really making waves already at such a young age. You''re lucky to have such a talented son".

    From don''t play football, Mrs. Moses was now the biggest fan and supporter of her son, silently pushing him through the grueling schedule. It was not easy for a 17-year-old to maintain such a demanding schedule.

    After the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions league, alongside the teams that already played their preliminary rounds last year, Enyimba FC finally made it into the group stage and the draw was made.

    For their first group stage game, they played against CR Belouizdad at home.

    Despite the fact that they played the Algerian team at home, Enyimba FC had their first stumble in the CAF Champions league as they lost 1-0 to a resilient CR Belouizdad team that played with energy and passion.

    In their second game of the group stage, they played against Al-Merrikh, this time in away ground as they traveled to Sudan.

    For the second straight CAF Champions league game, Enyimba FC stumbled as they drew 0-0 in away ground against the Sudanese team.

    After these 2 results, like expected, the critics came hitting with force as they accused the team of being weak, young, and inexperienced, foolish for relying on a teenager to carry them through the season.

    To Sam, it was harsh at first but he had support in form of his family, most especially his ever defiant mom.

    "The nerve of those bastards!" His mom was incensed. "When they were 17, what were they doing with their lives?"

    "I bet they were still begging for food in their dad''s wretched homes!"

    "Sam, my son, don''t listen to them, you''ve done more than enough already at your age and trust me, you''ll only grow to do more".

    From the biggest hater of football, over time, Mrs. Moses already underwent a big change. Sam felt at peace with this knowledge.

    He focused on his football, ignoring all the critics.

    At peace with himself, Sam continued living his busy life and in their next CAF Champions League game against ES Tunis, the Tunisian club still away from home, it finally showed though it was also a tough game.

    Enyimba FC drew the game 2-2 which was supposed to be disappointing if not for the fact that Enyimba was losing 2-0 for 80 minutes.

    In the final 10 minutes of the game, Sam went berserk, tearing the ES Tunis defense apart as he scored a goal in the 81st minute and assisted another in the 88th minute, dragging his team from the depths of defeat.

    The critics still talked but this time, Sam ignored it all.

    Their next CAF champions league group stage game was against ES Tunis again, but this time, it was finally a home game after 2-straight away games.

    To the Enyimba FC players, playing another CAF home game was the best news that the goddess of luck could give to them.

    They could finally play at home in front of their fans again.

 Chapter 46: A busy schedule [4]

    Enyimba FC welcomed the Tunisian club to the fiery Nigerian atmosphere of Enyimba International Stadium, eager to exert some much-needed revenge after accumulating only a single point across 3 CAF Champions league group stage games.To Enyimba FC, it was a must win game. Losing directly meant that they would get stuck in the group stage of the CAF champions league, having failed to progress.

    The players didn''t want that, the fans didn''t want that, Coach Yemi Daniel didn''t want that, and most importantly, Sam didn''t want that.

    FWEEEEE!

    From the first minute of the game, Sam moved with the strides of a man on a mission and today, he was indeed on a mission.

    Enyimba FC ran riot against the Tunisian team in front of their home fans, bolstered by their much improved midfield compared to last season.

    A familiar name opened the scoring in the 37th minute of the game.

    Who else but Samuel Moses?

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    The Enyimba FC fans roared at the top of their voices.

    This was already becoming a familiar trend this season.

    Latching onto a cross from the left side of the pitch from Chijioke just outside the 18-yard box, Sam hit an incredible first-time volleyed shot.

    BAM!

    The ball flew like a rocket, literally leaving afterimages behind as it tore its way into the top left corner, absolutely rattling the net!

    Running to the corner flag while spreading his arms to acknowledge the adoration of his fans, Sam celebrated by dishing out the iconic suiii celebration.

    The whole stadium erupted, doing the celebration alongside him. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Sam already became a fan-favorite in Enyimba FC.

    With that goal, the tempo was set as in the 45th plus 2 minute of the first half, Emeka lashed into a loose ball in the opposition 6-yard box, tapping it into the net before the ES Tunis goalkeeper could react.

    With that, Enyimba FC led comfortably 2-0 by halftime.

    When the second half started, ES Tunis played with more urgency, dead-set on forcing themselves back into the game but buoyed by the roars of their home fans, Enyimba FC dug in and played dogged physical football.

    In the 66th minute, the game was finally put to bed as Austin launched an incredible outside the box shot into the top right corner of the net, making it 3-0.

    The roar of the Enyimba FC fans reached a crescendo at this point.

    In the 72nd minute, Sam was subbed off by Coach Yemi Daniel to rest as he was treated to an explosive standing ovation by the Enyimba FC fans.

    ES Tunis got a consolation goal at the 89th minute of the game but it did very little in turning the situation of the game around, only depriving Ojo of a clean sheet.

    At the end of the game, Austin won the man of the match award but in every one''s eyes, Sam was a very close second best player of the game.

    Enyimba FC truly kicked off their CAF champions league campaign that evening. A week later, they visited CR Belouizdad at home.

    Having lost to the Algerian team in the first leg despite playing at home, this was a grudge match and Enyimba FC was determined to get a result.

    During the first half, it didn''t seem so at first as the Algerian team set the tempo and quickly raced to a 2-0 lead at half-time.

    When the second half started though, like was characteristic of Enyimba in recent weeks, this tenacious Nigerian team came alive like a previously slumbering Dragon as they played and ran their opponents ragged at home.

    And of course, like most Enyimba FC fans were already familiar with, Sam was at the center of most of what happened.

    Sam assisted Austin twice within the first 10 minutes of the second half, drawing his team back level and in the 80th minute, Emeka played the hero, heading the ball in from a well-executed corner kick routine.

    Incredibly, the game ended 2-3 in Enyimba FC''s favor.

    Sam won the man of the match award.

    With that victory, they finally took their points tally in the group stage to 7 points, climbing from the bottom to joint second place in their group table.

    After more league games, for their last CAF Champions League group game, Enyimba FC hosted Al-Merrikh at home after a first leg away game where they drew 0-0 in their opponent''s home.

    It was the last game of the group stage, all 4 clubs in their group vied to get maximum points to see if they could squirm their way into the next stage of the tournament and Enyimba FC was no different.

    The game was another thriller and an emotional rollercoaster to the Enyimba FC home fans.

    In the first half, Enyimba FC raced to an early 2-goal lead as the fans were on a high till a lightning-quick 2 goals in 4 minutes from Al-Merrikh leveled the game.

    Both teams went to half-time with the score level.

    In the second half, the situation worsened when against the run of play, Al-Merrikh managed to sneak another shot past Ojo, making it 2-3 in their favor.

    The desperate Enyimba FC fans made their frustrations known to their players through their loud noise, and their players responded dutifully.

    In the 76th minute of the game, Victor Mbaoma lashed a goal past the Al-Merrikh goalkeeper, making it 3-3 and in the 83rd minute of the game, Sam aptly introduced his name into the score line, this time scoring with his head after a pass from Victor Mbaoma.

    After another impressive display, he got his name on the scoresheet again.

    The ecstatic Enyimba FC fans did the ritual.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    They drowned the stadium with their loud voices, chanting his name at the top of their lungs as Sam celebrated euphorically.

    The game eventually ended 4-3 in Enyimba FC''s favor.

    And with that, they managed to clinch 2nd spot in their group, progressing to the next round of the CAF Champions league.

    Victor Mbaoma won the man of the match award for this intense game.

    Even after that game, the schedule didn''t lighten up for Enyimba FC as the FA Cup games also reared their head, entering the fray.

    And with that, Enyimba FC truly had a packed-up schedule.

    Despite the strain on the players, somehow, Coach Yemi Daniel managed to coach his team, still putting out impressive performances as they stayed in all 3 competitions that they competed in.

    And finally, on 21st April 2023, the squad traveled to Algeria to play JS Kabylie for the first leg of their CAF champions league quarter final game.

    Just January, Sam kicked a ball professionally for the first time and yet in no time, he was already playing in the quarter final of the CAF champions league.

    How time flies¡­

 Chapter 47: Quarter-final; JS Kabylie vs Enyimba FC

    (CAF Champions League!)(Quarter-final fixtures:)

    >JS Kabylie ¨C Enyimba FC<

    >Date: 21 April, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Simba ¨C Wydad AC< S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    >Date: 22 April, 2023<

    ¡­

    >CR Belouizdad ¨C Mamelodi Sundowns<

    >Date: 22 April, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Al Ahly ¨C Raja CA<

    >Date: 22 April, 2023<

    ¡­

    It was a cool Friday evening.

    After the preliminary stages and the group stage football, the CAF Champions League finally progressed directly to the quarter final stage since they didn''t have a round of 16 format in the tournament.

    The first game of the quarter finals was between Enyimba FC, the footballing giants of Nigeria and JS Kabylie.

    The 50,000 capacity Hocine Ait Ahmed Stadium, the home stadium of JS kabylie was almost packed to the brim with enthusiastic home supporters.

    Despite the fact that he was already playing professional football for 4 months already, faced against the hostile atmosphere created by so many fans gathered in one place, Sam still felt the pressure.

    It was amplified pressure, but it was not too different from what he was regularly subjected to by Enyimba FC rivals in the Nigerian league.

    Sam grinned. ''It matters even more when I can do it in hostile atmospheres like these''.

    ''Come on, bring it on, I''ll show you who''s boss!''

    FWEEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, like the drum beats of war were just sounded, JS Kabylie took the battle to their opponents, dominating possession from the first minute and launching raids of attack on their box.

    With their home fans fervently behind them, it felt like they had an extra man on the field, an advantage that made Enyimba FC suffer.

    But this was the quarter final of the CAF Champions League, and Coach Yemi Daniel already expected his team to suffer. He warned them of it ahead of time, this was why Sam did not complain.

    Maybe, during early January, Sam still hated defending but after 4 months of professional playing experience, though it was not much, Sam already gained enough experience to know that in some games, even he had to defend.

    And this game was one of those games.

    Sam was up for it though as putting his combat boots on, he ran himself to the ground, chipping in with his incredible work rate in the middle of the park that was already becoming one of his trademarks in every game.

    His stamina on a football pitch was seriously insane.

    Subjected to the roars of the home supporters, none of the Enyimba FC players was able to play at their best, not even Sam, yet one thing he did do at his best was run himself to the ground.

    Sam was everywhere, winning tackles, intercepting passes, helping Farouk do his defensive job to perfection as all 3 midfielders shone in this game.

    Despite all of JS Kabylie''s dominance with the ball, the first half of this intense champions league game ended in a draw, 0-0.

    During half-time, Coach Yemi Daniel commended his players and said a few words to them, repeatedly telling them to keep their head in the game, try their best to ignore all the noise and try to play their best football.

    When the second half of this game started, that was exactly what Coach Yemi Daniel''s boys did on the pitch, doing a great job at keeping the rampaging JS Kabylie''s forwards at bay.

    Enyimba FC held the most successful Algerian club in their home, showing how much this team improved already compared to last season.

    All across the Enyimba FC halfway line, there was yellow and green everywhere as the JS Kabylie players flooded here in numbers yet the Enyimba FC players maintained their defensive shape, putting in great work to keep the ball out.

    In the 69th minute of this game though, the situation finally changed.

    No one saw it coming, it was a lightning-fast counterattack.

    Winning the ball back deep in his half, with his impressive spatial awareness, Sam scanned his surroundings, fending off a nefarious challenge from the nearest agitated JS Kabylie player and then with his vision, he spotted the run.

    Since Enyimba FC was defending so deep, Emeka was left isolated up field with a single JS Kabylie defender marking him and at this moment, this center forward started running as soon as his team won back possession.

    Sam spotted it, and without hesitation, he hit the ball up field.

    A tug of war between 2 hefty men started immediately.

    Against the tall and physical JS Kabylie center back, Emeka fought for the ball and in the end, he came out on top, outmuscling his marker as the center back collapsed on the field helplessly.

    As the ball descended, Emeka calmly controlled it with his lap, brought it down before charging towards the Kabylie goalkeeper one-on-one.

    The center back could not recover, laying down as he stared, waiting for the outcome. The Kabylie goalkeeper charged out but Emeka didn''t panic.

    Shifting his weight to the left, this center forward hit the ball with the inside of his right foot, calmly curling the ball past the goalkeeper and into the bottom right corner of the net.

    The stadium was silenced.

    "GOALLL¡­!" Emeka celebrated exuberantly, charging towards the corner flag before sliding on his knees in celebration.

    Sam got his 4th assist of this season''s CAF champions league, he was truly in terrific form.

    FWEEEE!

    When the referee''s whistle eventually sounded to continue play, the pressure from JS Kabylie increased exponentially as if fuel was poured into fire.

    Run after run, dribble after dribble, pass after pass, shot after shot, the players in yellow and green threatened, creating one chance after the other but Ojo, the Enyimba FC no. 1 and goalkeeper was on top of his game.

    Against all odds that were stacked against them, Enyimba FC managed to hold on for the remaining 20 minutes of this game and additional time.

    Enyimba FC shocked the world, stealing the win from the Algerian giants in the first leg game of the quarter finals right in their backyard in front of their home fans. It was the greatest upset of the champions league so far.

    And again, a familiar name won the man of the match award, Samuel Moses.

    The name, Samuel Moses was already being broadcasted beyond Nigeria.

    Sam''s rise to the top was finally lifting up from its baby steps.

 Chapter 48: CAF champions league semi-finalists

    That incredible performance away from home truly put Enyimba FC in the sights of the spectators of the CAF Champions League.Despite the fact that the Nigerian team made it all the way to the quarter finals, nobody really paid attention to them more than necessary.

    To them, they were a team riding their luck who made it to the quarter finals only through a stroke of luck but in that quarter final game where most of the spectators of the CAF champions league spectated, they finally understood.

    This Enyimba FC team was not a team that just came for a bus ride through the CAF Champions League, they were a team that came to stay, and win.

    For the first time, after that performance, Enyimba FC this season were seen as genuine contenders for the CAF Champions League trophy.

    But it was still a long way to the final, and eventually the trophy itself, or so they thought. In reality, time moves so fast, almost like a mirage at times.

    While still maintaining impressive domestic form in the NPFL, a week later, on Friday 28th April, Enyimba Fc welcomed JS Kabylie to their home in the Enyimba International Stadium for the return leg of their quarter final draw.

    (CAF Champions League!)

    (Quarter-final fixtures:)

    >Wydad AC ¨C Simba<

    >Aggregate: 0-1<

    >Date: 28 April, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Mamelodi Sundowns - CR Belouizdad<

    >Aggregate: 4-1<

    >Date: 29 April, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Raja CA ¨C Al Ahly<

    >Aggregate: 0-2<

    >Date: 29 April, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Enyimba FC ¨C JS Kabylie<

    >Aggregate: 1-0<

    >Date: 29 April, 2023<

    ¡­

    After an intense first leg of the quarter finals, only Mamelodi Sundowns and Enyimba FC entered the second leg of the quarter finals with a first leg advantage despite playing away from home the first time.

    They already had one leg in the semifinals of the CAF champions league.

    For the first time since Sam became an Enyimba FC professional football player, he saw the Enyimba International Stadium filled to the brim with just fans.

    There were tens of thousands of fans present to spectate this game.

    Sam never expected to see a spectacle like this in Nigerian football. ''Damn! The CAF champions league really means a lot to them!''

    The sight of so many home supporters made his blood boil, he could feel goose pimples under his skin. Sam was even more determined to perform today.

    FWEEEE!

    And when the referee''s whistle finally sounded, the Enyimba FC players came out playing with absolute confidence buoyed by the roars of their fans.

    For the first 10 minutes, they dominated.

    Unlike what they expected though, JS Kabylie didn''t come with the intentions to lie down with their belly facing up in defeat, the Algerian giants came out with the wounds of their home defeat still fresh in their minds.

    These players played with incredible intensity despite the noise being made by the Enyimba FC fans, but the Enyimba FC players also met them pound for pound.

    In the 37th minute, the game finally opened as from a corner kick, an Enyimba FC defender rose highest, heading the ball home to give his team the lead at home.

    Just 5 minutes later though, in the 42nd minute of this football game, the Algerian giants stung back like a bee as after an incredible 16 pass sequence, they scored a well-worked team goal.

    Enyimba FC didn''t take that lying down though. In front of their home fans, they dug in even more and eventually, the goal they searched for came in the last minute of additional time in the first half.

    Austin Oladapo powered home another header after a cross from Victor Mbaoma, restoring his team''s lead.

    Enyimba FC went to half-time leading 2-1.

    Coach Yemi Daniel''s half-time speech was simple. "We''re already winning, don''t take any risks in the second half. You know how packed our schedule is, we can''t afford an injury to an important player".

    "Play safe, play cool-headed, and enjoy yourselves out there".

    When the second half eventually started, Enyimba FC switched to tiki-taka football as they heavily dominated possession even more in the second half.

    Their midfield 3 passed the ball in triangular patterns, toying with their opponents for majority of the half as JS Kabylie worked their socks off.

    Again, Sam was a dominant presence in the middle of the park.

    Despite JS Kabylie trying so hard though, they couldn''t break down their opponents in front of their home fans a second time and since they didn''t try too hard, Enyimba FC also failed to score a third goal.

    The second leg of the quarter final fixture ended 2-1 in Enyimba FC''s favor, 3-1 on aggregate.

    And with that, the quarter final fixtures were done and dusted.

    The results looked like this.

    (CAF Champions League!)

    (Quarter-final results:)

    >Wydad AC 1-0 Simba<

    >Aggregate: 1-1, Wydad AC wins 4-3 on penalties<

    >Date: 28 April, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 CR Belouizdad<

    >Aggregate: 6-2<

    >Date: 29 April, 2023<

    ¡­ S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    >Raja CA 0-0 Al Ahly<

    >Aggregate: 0-2<

    >Date: 29 April, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Enyimba FC 2-1 JS Kabylie<

    >Aggregate: 3-1<

    >Date: 29 April, 2023<

    ¡­

    (Semifinal fixtures:)

    >Enyimba FC ¨C Al Ahly<

    >Date: 12 May, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Wydad Ac ¨C Mamelodi Sundowns<

    >Date: 13 May, 2023<

    ¡­

    "Austin, you''re the captain of Enyimba FC. What are your thoughts about your team''s performance today?"

    Austin wiped the sweat off his face, breathing heavily. "Well, the result speaks for itself. With a packed stadium, we have no choice but to play our best football to reward the fans". He chuckled.

    "It''s seriously impressive that your team managed to beat JS Kabylie, they were once touted as favorites to win the CAF tournament this year. And in contrast, Enyimba FC was never one of the favorites".

    "Your club didn''t even qualify, the national association helped, what do you think about this peculiar situation?"

    "Well, if I have to say anything, I''d say fortune favors the bold". Austin grinned. "Our critics talked, our haters talked, but it doesn''t matter, what matters is what we play on the pitch and we did the talking with our football today".

    "Austin, you scooped another man of the match award again," this female reporter smiled for the first time. "How do you feel?"

    Austin smiled back at her. "I feel great. It helps a lot when you have such a talented and understanding teammate helping you contest for the midfield battle".

    "Honestly, with Sam, I feel that this team can do anything".

    "Since you mentioned it, Samuel Moses, your team''s newest signing and star, what do you have to say about the teenager?"

    Hearing that question, Austin grinned cheekily, and then he leaned closer to the microphone. "Remember the name, Samuel Moses, the boy''s destined for the top!"

    The reporter chuckled. "Well, congratulations once again on your victory captain fantastic, do have a nice day".

    "Thank you too, Ms. Reporter". Austin smiled.

    And with that, a great champions league match day came to an end.

    Enyimba FC were CAF Champions League semi-finalists.

 Chapter 49: A fathers support

    In his room in the guest quarters provided by his club, laying down on his bed, Sam looked up at the ceiling, paying attention to the rotating ceiling fan.He had a lot of things on his mind.

    5 months ago, he played his first football as a professional football player. Compared to that time, Sam had experienced a lot of things, mostly highs since his footballing career had been smooth-sailing so far.

    Despite all these though, he had a trauma that remained stuck at the back of his mind. Even in his dreams, Sam still had flashbacks to 12th May, 2018, the day he suffered the horror ankle injury that initially doomed his football career.

    With the Ultimate Football System, Sam already learned to forget about a lot of his insecurities but still, he knew that this was real life.

    And experience already taught him that in real life, there are always ups and downs. ''It''s only been ups so far; I wonder when the low will eventually come''.

    ''And when it does come, will I be ready for it?'' He thought.

    Somehow, against all odds, his club, Enyimba FC made it all the way to the semi-finals of the CAF champions league already, no one saw it coming. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''Will Al Ahly be our roadblock?'' He thought. ''Honestly, despite the high expectations that were set by the system with the season system goal, I never expected that we could make it this far''.

    ''Considering how Enyimba performed last season and with me being the only true significant business they did in the transfer market,'' he grinned to himself. ''That means I''m really good, right?'' He chuckled, feeling mischievous.

    Despite his thoughts at this moment though, Sam could not stay optimistic. ''Can we keep it going?'' He was lost in his thoughts.

    ''What if I get injured in the next game?''

    ''What if Austin gets injured?''

    ''Can we keep on going? Besides, the pressure of a major semi-final, will we be able to overcome it to perform at our best?''

    All these thoughts and more went through Sam''s mind, weighing him down till he was distracted by the sound of his android phone.

    Ring! Ring!

    Looking to the side of his bed where the drawer was, where he kept his phone, he looked at the screen to know the caller.

    (Incoming call from My Superman¡­)

    Sam did not hesitate as immediately rolling over, he picked the call. It was a call from his dad.

    "Hey man," the voice from the other end echoed. "How are you?"

    "Hey dad, I''m good".

    "Are you sure?"

    "Yeah".

    "But the tone of your voice tells me a different story".

    Sam stayed silent.

    "I gave you a day to return from Egypt before making this call. I know that this is the only time you''ll be free to receive my call. Don''t worry, I have a lot of time in my hands, I''m not at home, I''m taking a stroll so you can talk to me".

    Sam opened his mouth to speak but no words came out, he didn''t know what to say so in the end, he stayed silent.

    Mr. Moses was patient. "Don''t worry, I understand. You know, your mom doesn''t know but when I was your age, I also aspired to play professional football".

    He chuckled. "I never got to your level of playing professionally but I did play a few grudge matches. I once played in a grudge match between Abraka and Orogun and boy, you had to see the tension in that game".

    "Having beaten us the last time, we were determined to win by all means and son, I''ll tell you this now, in those type of games, skill matters less than will". He laughed. "Damn, this takes me back to the days man".

    "In that game, whenever the ball got to me, I felt like I suddenly lost all my footballing ability as the opponents come for you first before the ball".

    "It''s almost like a game of wrestling than it is a game of football".

    "It''s scary, but it also has this touch of excitement to it".

    "Man, it''s exhilarating!"

    "But at the same time, the pressure gets to you. It''s one reason why you can''t perform at your best, all you have to do is try your best".

    Mr. Moses stayed silent for a few seconds, letting those words sink into his son''s head and then, in a softer tone, he continued. "Son, you just made it to the semi-finals of the CAF champions league".

    "I always wanted my son to play football, achieve the dream I couldn''t achieve but not even in my wildest dreams did I expect you to reach this level so fast, and in such a short time".

    "The critics may not say it yet, they may not appreciate you and your teammates'' efforts yet but to me, son, you already overachieved".

    "Like, honestly, who expected any Nigerian team to perform this well in the CAF Champions league?"

    "Not even Plateau United, the other Nigerian team who qualified was able to get near the quarter finals but here you are, in the semi-finals".

    "Sam, your sister may not say it yet but she''s your fan girl already".

    "And do you know how many Nigerian girls like her already fell in love with you and your football?" Mr. Moses grinned cheekily. "You''re a star already son, a star on its way to global stardom".

    "I may not exactly know how you''re feeling at this moment, but just know this". Mr. Moses took a deep breath. "In that game, I am 100% behind you no matter the result, including your mom and sister".

    "Don''t let the critics get to you, don''t let anyone, only let our support get to you, let it be your strength".

    "And no matter the result," Mr. Moses laughed again. "Keep your head high Sam, you played your best football, believe that".

    "And lastly, I love you son".

    Mr. Moses didn''t cut the call, he stayed patient, waiting for Sam who never said a word since. And finally, Sam spoke.

    "Thank you dad," he hesitated, then added. "This really means a lot".

    "Anytime Sam, I''m your dad".

    And with that, they ended the call.

    That night, having forgotten about how he was feeling just a moment ago, Sam stood up from his bed and started working out.

    Motivation came from nowhere.

 Chapter 50: Semifinal battle against the Egyptian giants, Al Ahly [1]

    Sam may have had a lot of thoughts that bothered him before, but the call from his dad was the magic, helping him shelve all the worries in his mind.And with all the worries gone, he could focus on his football.

    And this time, the focus was narrowed on one game, the semi-final game of the CAF champions league that would take place against the Egyptian footballing giant, Al Ahly in 12 days.

    For the next few days, putting in even more work alongside his captain as their friendship grew, the games continued coming.

    And with the team in such terrific form, as the schedule came, so did they tick the games away with outstanding results.

    Enyimba FC was still in ferocious form in the league, maintaining monopoly over the league table top all the way from January despite their exploits in the champions league also eating into their time and preparations.

    After 2 more impressive results in the league, time moved fast and in no time, it was the D-day, semi-final day was here.

    Coach Yemi Daniel did well to rest his players in the game leading to the semi-final, the semi-final took precedence over every other game. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    That day, Sam called his best friend for the first time in a while. They talked about a lot of things, but he ended the call with just one demand. "Watch me today Ian, today is my moment and I''m going to seize it".

    Ian grinned and nodded at his best friend. "I believe you".

    Today''s game was to be played in Enyimba FC''s home stadium.

    When the time came, alongside his teammates, Sam walked into the pitch of the Enyimba International Stadium as they were welcomed by the loud roar of their fans. The loud roar of the proud Enyimba FC fans was deafening.

    To any Nigerian football club, making it to the quarter-finals of the CAF champions league was an achievement to be proud of, not to talk of the semi-finals.

    The fans felt on top of the world and it showed from the noise.

    After the toss of a coin by the referee, it was determined that Al Ahly would kick off the game and without hesitation, on the ref''s signal, the game commenced.

    FWEEEE!

    From the first minute of the game, one thing became clear, the Egyptian giants didn''t come to Nigeria to play conservative football.

    Al Ahly came with the arrogant confidence of a team that regularly made to the later stages of the CAF Champions league. In this game, Enyimba FC were the underdogs and Al Ahly played like it.

    Despite this arrogant boldness though, the Enyimba players did not let themselves get intimidated by it, all of them played their football.

    Their terrific form since the beginning of the season already imbued these players with confidence, and even against Al Ahly, they played their best football.

    A few players were in form on this day, buoyed by the loud voices of the home fans, and 2 names dominated, Austin Oladapo and Samuel Moses.

    In the middle of the park, this duo played incredible football, complementing it with an unreal work rate as they helped Enyimba wrestle for superiority against the mighty Al Ahly in the midfield battle.

    For the first 30 minutes of the game, it remained tight, no one creating clear cut chances yet as both teams locked down the midfield.

    Yet, as the game grew on, the chants increased.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    "Austin!" "Austin!" "Austin!"

    And as the chants increased, the chemistry in the middle of that pitch increased as Sam and Austin simultaneously entered the zone state.

    And with it, Enyimba FC finally started dominating possession.

    Tiki-taka¡­, these 2 midfielders rotated in the middle of the pitch, playing short passes, dragging the Al Ahly formation left and right as they dictated play till in the 38th minute, a pass from Austin cut Al Ahly open.

    Emeka ran through one-on-one with the Al Ahly goalkeeper but this man was on top of his game, producing an unreal save to deny the Enyimba center forward.

    The first clear cut chance of the game was from Enyimba FC.

    In the stands, the fans screamed in frustration.

    Shortly after that sequence of play though, Al Ahly finally seemed to switch on as these players started running everywhere round the pitch, trying their best to impose themselves in their opponent''s home.

    Despite the immense work rate and several impressive displays in the first half, the game ended with a first half draw 0-0.

    FWEEEE!

    Once second half started though, the situation changed, Enyimba FC changed. Their formation didn''t change, only the intensity.

    As if they switched to an all-out attacking formation, multiple Enyimba FC players bombed down the Al Ahly half buoyed by the loud roars of their fans as they launched attacking raid after raid on the opposition box.

    And finally, in the 62nd minute, the deadlock was broken, by a familiar name.

    Receiving a cutback pass from his winger just outside the box, in the zone state already, Sam took one delicate touch to control the ball before rifling it with his powerful right leg into the bottom left corner.

    The goalkeeper dived but he stood no chance.

    In the 62nd minute, Enyimba FC finally scored, courtesy of a moment of individual brilliance from their star midfielder.

    "GOALLL¡­!" Sam pumped his fists in the air, celebrating excitedly.

    FWEEE!

    Once the game restarted though, Al Ahly came roaring out like Dragons, no longer content in sitting back and defending in the second half.

    Exactly 10 minutes later, in the 72nd minute of this game, the Egyptian giants finally stung as their number 10. Scored a similar goal to Sam''s, rifling an incredible outside the box shot into the bottom left corner.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" The Al Ahly players celebrated exuberantly.

    The game restarted as Enyimba FC kept on pushing for the winner, buoyed by their fans. Against Al Ahly, it was hard but their will prevailed in the end.

    In the 84th minute of the game, it was another moment of individual brilliance. After playing a series of one-two passes with his captain just right outside the box, Sam dribbled into the Al Ahly box with deadly intent.

    Opposition players swarmed him but undaunted, Sam weaved his way through them using body feints, his physicality, and quick feet like a rugby player forcing his way through opponents.

    And then, after penetrating deep enough, just as the Al Ahly goalkeeper charged out to meet him, Sam hit the ball left into empty space, the only empty space now inside the 6-yard box.

    Having followed him throughout their time of playing one-two passes, Austin stayed running and at this moment, this midfielder got a free tap-in goal.

    Bam!

    The net rippled.

    "GOALLL¡­!" Austin celebrated loudly, feeling on top of the world as he pointed at Sam before jumping on his body excitedly.

    They Enyimba FC fans celebrated wildly, they''ve won the game.

    But when the game restarted, just a minute after that first goal, the Al Ahly left winger bombed down the pitch before throwing a teasing cross in.

    The ball floated above all the Enyimba FC players to the midfielder lurking at the right, this player unleashed a lethal volleyed shot at goal!

    Bam!

    Ojo, the Enyimba FC goalkeeper was rooted to the spot, only watching as the ball zoomed past him and into the net.

    Goal¡­!

    2-2!

    The semi-final first leg game was a total thriller, it ended 2-2 as Sam scooped up the man of the match award after his incredible performance.

 Chapter 51: Semifinal battle against the Egyptian giants, Al Ahly [2]

    (Semifinal first leg results:)>Enyimba FC 2-2 Al Ahly<

    >Date: 12 May, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Wydad Ac 0-0 Mamelodi Sundowns (Red Card)<

    >Date: 13 May, 2023<

    ¡­

    (Semifinal second leg fixtures:)

    >Al Ahly - Enyimba FC<

    >Date: 19 May, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Mamelodi Sundowns ¨C Wydad AC<

    >Date: 20 May, 2023<

    ¡­

    After 2 thrillers on back to back days, the result of the first leg of the CAF Champions league was decided. Mamelodi Sundowns got a red card in their game, only settling for a 0-0 draw against Wydad away from home.

    The first game was more exciting though. Despite the fact that Enyimba FC could only settle for a draw, the game was incredibly exciting.

    After the first leg, exactly 7 days later, the second leg would be played.

    After the game, Sam learned something. ''No matter how much you want it, sometimes, playing good alone is not enough to win a game''.

    Sam was dead tired after the game having run himself to the ground.

    He chipped in with a goal and an assist but his man of the match award was not due to just that. Sam put his all into that game, determined to help his team win at home but in the end, Al Ahly managed to snatch a draw from them.

    Sam was disappointed, but his disappointment only made him more motivated. ''What matters is that I played my best game, and that I must improve before the second leg comes''.

    90% of Coach Yemi Daniel''s training and tactical set-ups in the next few days were targeted at the second leg game, trivializing the league match.

    Enyimba FC ended up losing the league match but no one really paid attention to it, all their sights were on the CAF champions league return leg game.

    Diligently, 2 midfielders trained during this time, refusing to give in to fatigue or laziness. Sam truly exceeded his limit in training alongside Austin this time.

    If they were to stand a chance at beating Al Ahly away from home, they needed a miracle and this time, both were determined to be the miracle.

    Both midfielders motivated each other to train like hell.

    And like this, the days moved swiftly like the rolling pages of a book and before they knew it, it was the D-day again.

    Traveling to Egypt, visiting the Cairo International Stadium, the Enyimba FC players were subjected to the true horror of a hostile stadium.

    The 75,000 capacity stadium was filled to the brim with passionate Al Ahly fans, and at this moment, they roared their team on, suppressing Enyimba FC.

    A sight that warmed Sam''s heart in this hostile stadium though was the sight of the Enyimba FC fans in the away stands.

    Austin was emotional. "This is the first time I''m seeing our fans travel internationally to watch our football game. Sam, we must win!"

    Sam nodded seriously. "We will".

    After the players arranged themselves across the pitch, the game started.

    FWEEEE!

    Immediately, Al Ahly exerted their authority as the superior team.

    Within the first 5 minutes of the game, they already created 2 chances as they easily breached the Enyimba FC defense and tested Ojo twice but the Enyimba FC goalkeeper was somehow on top of his game despite the palpable tension.

    By keeping his team in the game, he gave his outfield players the time to settle and once they did, 2 players exerted their authority in this game.

    In this hostile stadium, literally all the Enyimba FC players seemed to have disappeared, except Austin and Sam.

    Together in the middle of the pitch, these 2 midfielders felt like warriors stuck in enemy territory but with their back against each other''s, with full trust in each other''s support, they fought valiantly.

    Their valiant fight could only take them so far though.

    In the 21st minute of the game, Al Ahly stung like a bee as after a well-executed corner routine helped by some poor defending from the Enyimba FC backline, the ball ended up in the back of the Enyimba FC net.

    "F*ck!" Sam screamed and slammed his fists against the pitch as he watched the Al Ahly players whirl off away in celebration.

    The captain, Austin was just as furious as him. "What the hell guys!" Austin roared at his teammates. "How can you switch off in a game like this?!"

    "We''re playing Al Ahly for God''s sake!"

    "This is the CAF champions league semi-final, we can''t afford to switch off in a game like this!" He clapped his palms aggressively. "Come on guys!"

    "Come on, believe! We can do it!"

    FWEEEE!

    Once the game restarted, Al Ahly won back possession and reasserted their authority but Enyimba FC held their nerves, playing as a team and defending valiantly as a unit.

    Al Ahly kept on knocking for 45 minutes but Enyimba FC stayed tight and defensively disciplined, and then, they had their first shot on target of the game.

    Al Ahly almost doubled their lead only for the ball to rattle off the crossbar.

    Pouncing on the loose ball deep in his half, Sam scanned his surroundings with his spatial awareness before evading a challenge.

    Immediately after, he raised his head and saw the Al Ahly goalkeeper slightly off his lines.

    "¡­!" Sam''s instincts tingled!

    He felt a deep sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu, this was it!

    He had been in this situation before, not once, not twice, he recognized it.

    Sam raised his leg to shoot but an Al Ahly player blocked him. Instead of dribbling, he passed the ball to the right. Austin was there.

    The ball barely moved when another pass was made, one-two¡­, Austin hit the ball right back to Sam.

    Having seen the Al Ahly goalkeeper''s positioning already, Sam did not even think, hitting the ball first-time with a ferocious shot.

    BAM!

    The ball rose into the air like a missile, dipped as the Al Ahly goalkeeper retreated, before dipping into an empty net, in the 45th plus 4 minute of the first half, literally the last minute. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" Sam jumped, roaring as he pumped a fist defiantly at the Al Ahly fans that had been trying to get into his head since.

    The fiery Al Ahly fans responded with a chorus of boos but Sam didn''t care, he already got his first revenge.

    The first half ended 1-1.

    The game was tight.

 Chapter 52: An unforgettable second half

    Breathing heavily, with a serious look in his eyes, Sam paid attention to his coach as he addressed his players animatedly."Victor, Chijioke, give up on trying to beat their fullbacks one-on-one every time, it''s not effective. Those boys are just too good at one-on-one defending".

    "Instead, whenever you get the chance, cut the ball back into the middle, into the running paths of either Samuel or Austin".

    "I want the ball to get to them more often".

    "If you don''t know what to do with the ball, pass to either of them. If you''re in danger of losing possession, pass to them".

    "If you''re in the box and you''re not confident of scoring, pass to them".

    Coach Yemi Daniel didn''t join his players on the field, but at this moment, he was sweating even more than they did as he addressed them.

    He focused on his center forward. "Emeka, continue putting all your effort into the physical battle against their defenders. Keep on dragging them out of position, be the decoy for your teammates to shine".

    "I know you don''t like this role, I''m sorry, but for the team, do it".

    "To win this game, we need to make sacrifices".

    "Yes coach".

    Coach Yemi finally paid attention to his 2 star midfielders. "As you can tell, they''re targeting both of you already. Getting a few fouls from them is good, but don''t overdo it, I don''t want any of you 2 getting injured, that will be disastrous".

    "Most importantly of all, enjoy yourselves out there".

    "Yes coach".

    FWEEEEE!

    When the second half started, Cairo International Stadium was louder than ever. The Al Ahly fans were bullish, they were dissatisfied with the current situation on the pitch, they wanted their team to win and to do it fast.

    Buoyed by the unrelenting loud noise being made by their fans, the Al Ahly players upped their game, running all over the pitch and this was when Sam discovered a shocking reality.

    One Al Ahly player was tasked with marking him in the 2nd half.

    Personally, as the game wore on, to Sam, it became incredibly taxing to function with a player always breathing down his neck but at the same time, this became even more validation and motivation for him.

    Being man-marked only meant that the opposition team recognized his threat. To Sam, that was close to the greatest validation he could receive on a pitch.

    It motivated him to perform even more.

    His incredible stamina reared its head like a monster as he dragged his marker left and right all over the pitch, making this player suffer.

    Despite his incredible performance still in the midfield battle alongside his captain, Al Ahly remained the dominating team and their dominance finally paid off 15 minutes after the start of the second half.

    In the 60th minute of the game, after a dangerous cross into the box, there was some scrambling before a player jumped acrobatically, unleashing an unexpected overhead kick ball as the ball fell into an empty net.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" Mohamed Sheriff, the Al Ahly striker rose to his feet as he celebrated his goal with pure euphoria.

    The Enyimba FC players were deflated but not for long. In the second half, they were playing well, just not good enough.

    They simply needed to improve.

    Standing in the touchline, a sweating Coach Yemi Daniel clapped his hands aggressively as he motivated his players. "Come on, we''re still in the game!"

    On the pitch, Sam scanned the Al Ahly players, lost in his thoughts. ''I can''t afford to lose now, not after coming this far''.

    ''I can''t afford to lose¡­, I can''t afford to lose!''

    ''I must win!''

    To Sam, this was definitely the most difficult game of his life. The quality of their opponents was unlike anything he had seen in the NPFL since he started his professional career, they were a level above.

    It was hard, but the harder it was, the more he wanted to win.

    His eyes gleamed. ''This is my moment; I must seize it!''

    FWEEEEE!

    When the game restarted, Enyimba FC tried their best to get back in the game led by Austin as marked by the Al Ahly player, despite his incredible work rate, Sam struggled to do much on the ball.

    Enyimba FC could only try though, the Al Ahly players buoyed by their fans put in just as much work as the Enyimba FC players did, also determined to win.

    They kept on dominating this titanic battle in their home ground.

    This game no longer felt like a game of football. Rather it felt like a gladiator battle, with the stadium being the coliseum, and the 22 players on the pitch being the gladiators who must fight to the death for glory.

    As the game drew closer to the death, the tension increased and with it, fouls became more frequent.

    The referee handed out yellow cards left and right.

    The physicality of this game increased as the players did everything they could to retain control over the ball, and do something to damage their opponents.

    Despite how much Enyimba FC tried, in the end, it was Al Ahly who came closest to scoring again simultaneously in the 83rd and 85th minute of the game.

    The longer the game wore on, drawing closer to the death, even as his teammates became agitated and frustrated, in contrast, Sam became calmer with it. It was eerie, almost as if he was a robot that could not feel.

    With every touch, Sam''s game became more ruthless, more efficient, and more devoid of unnecessary movements.

    Having tried everything in his arsenal and not working, Sam already accepted that to win, he must improve.

    That was why he was trying to evolve in the dying minutes of this game.

    5 months of professional football experience, plus the rewards of his system, plus his own training experience, at this moment, Sam broke his football technique down, remolding everything from the scratch again so he could evolve it.

    Every touch of the ball, every pass, every feint, he took everything in with greater clarity till, in the 90th minute, it finally clicked.

    Receiving the ball in the halfway line, Sam did a body feint, evaded an Al Ahly player challenge before crossing the ball to the right where Victor ran. It was a pin-point over the top pass as Victor controlled the ball in his strides.

    This time, Victor managed to dribble his marker, cutting the ball back just as his coach instructed as Sam trapped this ball just outside the Al Ahly 18-yard box.

    "BOOOO¡­!" The Al Ahly supporters drowned him in boos but Sam didn''t hear any of it, having entered the zone state already.

    A leg stuck out, and instantaneously, Sam''s leg moved, hitting the ball.

    He nut-megged the first player that came for him, skipping past his challenge into the 18-yard box. As more players came, with an effortless body feint, he evaded both players, letting them collide against each other in their own box.

    It was pure chaos.

    Whoosh!

    A sliding tackle came but with a la croqueta, Sam penetrated deeper into the opposition box, somehow still remaining on his feet even as his marker subtly tugged at his shirt from behind. Sam refused to fall to the pitch.

    As another player charged in, he used a roulette skill to spin again to the right and just before the ball could roll out for a goal kick, he trapped it with the heel of his foot before using his back heel to kick it back into the box.

    Sam didn''t kick this ball randomly though. With his spatial awareness, despite all the players in this box at this moment, he was still able to pinpoint the player with which he had the most chemistry, Austin.

    As the ball rolled back, most of the Al Ahly players caught off-guard, Austin tried to shoot the ball on his first touch as the Al Ahly goalkeeper dived.

    It was a feint though, Austin passed to his unmarked center forward.

    Isolated at the left corner of the 6-yard box, despite the pass being unexpected even for him, Emeka''s reflex helped him tap the ball into the empty net in the 90th minute of the game, a perfect poacher''s goal.

    At the last minute, Enyimba FC equalized!

    "GOALLLL¡­!" Emeka screamed at the top of his lungs.

    2-2¡­, the game was tied again!

    The fulltime whistle came shortly after.

    Extra time came as both coaches made a few changes, bringing in fresh legs but Sam and Austin remained on the pitch. Sam''s legs were now as heavy as lead but sheer willpower kept him going.

    Both teams had their moments in extra time but none was able to score again. And after 120 minutes of incredible football, the referee''s whistle sounded.

    FWEEEE! S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The game went to penalties!

 Chapter 53: A penalty shoot-out; glory or defeat?!

    FWEEEEE!The game went to penalties!

    Badump! Badump!

    Standing in the middle of the pitch, Sam could feel his heart beating rapidly against his chest, both from exhaustion and the tension of this moment.

    Unlike in the open game where the players had full control over the proceedings on the pitch, a penalty was more or less a gamble, a toss of a coin that neither teams had full control over.

    ''Is this it?'' Sam thought but he rebuked the thought immediately. ''We''re still in the game,'' he thought, taking a deep breath.

    ''Calm down, take a deep breath¡­, we''re still in it''.

    ''We can still win, believe it!'' He pumped himself and before he knew it, his blood was already burning hot again, all distractions abstracted from his mind.

    Standing beside the young midfielder, Austin Oladapo wiped the sweat off his face with his hand, also breathing heavily.

    This captain''s heart was beating even faster than the teenager. Unlike Sam who was most probably uninformed, as an experienced Enyimba FC player, he knew the true gravitas of this moment.

    In the whole history of Nigerian football, only Enyimba FC has ever managed to win the CAF Champions league during the prime period of the club between the 2003 and 2004 football seasons.

    Enyimba FC claimed the title the first time in 2003, defeating Ismaily SC of Egypt, making them the first and only Nigerian club to win the prestigious African tournament.

    A year later, in 2004, they successfully defended the title, winning the title consecutively by defeating Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia.

    ''Can we do it again this year?'' Austin thought, tensed. ''Can we create more history for Enyimba FC as the best club in Nigeria?'' He felt hyped for.

    ''Can we write our name in the book of legends of Enyimba FC?''

    This captain gritted his teeth. ''I certainly hope so, I want to be a legend!'' He looked in the direction of his coach. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Just like his players, Coach Yemi Daniel was also feeling the tension of this moment even as the noise being made by the Al Ahly fans already reached a crescendo, rising through the roof of this stadium.

    The noise was deafening.

    And under this noise, Coach Yemi Daniel fidgeted, walking up and down along the touchline as he paid keen attention to the proceedings on the pitch.

    After a short break, the referee finally led the players back into the pitch where another toss of a coin was used to decide on which of the 2 goalposts in the stadium will be used to take the penalty shootout.

    After the coin toss, the Al Ahly goal post was decided on.

    All the players walked towards that post. As they walked, under the deafening sounds made by the home fans, the Enyimba FC players felt like pigs being taken to the slaughter, but they were definitely not obedient pigs.

    Heck, they were not just obedient pigs, they were as stubborn as goats, defiant, determined to spoil the night for Al Ahly, their fans, and all of Egypt.

    Thud!

    With every step that Sam took, the more the tension of the moment left him, replaced by an incredible level of focus and determination.

    Enyimba FC was to take the first penalty. Coach Yemi already designated his penalty takers, instructing Austin to take the first penalty but as soon as they got there, Sam walked up to his captain. "I want to take the first penalty".

    Austin paused, looking at the teenager. Immediately, he could tell that the look in the boy''s face already changed. "Are you sure?"

    Sam simply nodded.

    "Are you confident?"

    Sam grinned.

    That was all that Austin needed to see. "Ok". He nodded.

    When Sam picked up the ball, walking towards the 6-yard box, on the touchline, Coach Yemi Daniel was losing it. "What are they doing?!"

    While the coach was dying in frustration, the Al Ahly fans were dining.

    "BOOOOO¡­!"

    "BOOOOO¡­!"

    They drowned Sam in boos but with a subtle smile on his face, Sam ignored it all as he walked up to the penalty spot, placed the ball down and looked at the goal. The goalkeeper was saying a few things but he didn''t even hear him.

    Sam didn''t pay attention to the goalkeeper, only the goal.

    FWEEE!

    Immediately after the referee''s whistle sounded, Sam jogged sideways to the left before closing in on the ball. After closing in, he hit it with the inside of his right boot with all the power that he could muster.

    POW!

    The shot was thunderous! The Al Ahly goalkeeper dived the right way to the right but the shot was too high and too powerful, he stood no chance as the ball tore into the top right corner of the net with incredible power!

    The Cairo International Stadium was briefly silenced.

    Sam jogged towards the corner of the goal post, staring the Al Ahly fans down who were behind the post. "Come on!" He roared at them.

    "BOOOO¡­!" The fans responded, their boos even more deafening now.

    By that provocative action, Sam added fuel to fire, putting the ignition to make this already fiery game even more fiery.

    To Enyimba FC though, it set the tempo of confidence. Austin heaved a big sigh of relief as he hugged Sam on his way back. "Good job". He commended, a slight smile now on his face.

    The home fans became even louder, the tension increased even more.

    The first Al Ahly penalty taker, their striker stepped up before sending Ojo the other way, coolly slotting into the bottom right corner.

    1-1

    Emeka walked up next for Enyimba FC, unleashing another powerful shot that beat the goalkeeper despite the fact that he dived the right way again.

    1-2.

    Another Al Ahly player stepped up, he scored again. 5 players stepped up for both teams, including Austin, scoring 5 consecutive times each. The score was tied 5-5, and by now, the tension was at a tipping point.

    Every penalty taker that stepped up could feel its palpable weight pressing down on them like a mountain, forcing them mentally to make a mistake.

    The players of both teams managed to persevere through the pressure though, riding the momentum of their first penalty takers.

    The 6th player of both teams took their penalty, scored, including the 7th, 8th, and eventually the 10th player stepped up.

    The score line was 10-10.

    The tension in the Cairo International Stadium was suffocating!

    Now, it was time for the goalkeepers to step up. Ojo stepped up first, heart beating fast, fingers sweaty from the tension but this goalkeeper managed to do it, sending the Al Ahly keeper the wrong way to score his team''s 11th penalty goal.

    The noise in this stadium died down again, creating a serene atmosphere for their goalkeeper and unknowing to the fans, the sudden silence affected him even more as this goalkeeper stepped up to take his penalty shot.

    FWEEEE!

    After the whistle, this goalkeeper took longer than normal to make his run, constantly looking at the post and when he finally jogged and shot, Ojo read him like a book, diving towards the right.

    It was a tame shot, weak and lacking technique.

    Ojo didn''t have to do much, his body parried the ball away, preventing it from going in¡­ and deciding the game!

    10-11¡­, game over!

    "YESSSSS¡­!" Emeka reacted first, roaring as he charged towards his goalkeeper before jumping on his back in celebration.

    The other Enyimba FC players were slow to react but once they did, they ran and jumped in sheer euphoria, celebrating wildly.

    On the other side, the Al Ahly players collapsed on the pitch, exhausted and defeated. It was a contrasting emotion of defeat and glory, but that was football.

    While the Enyimba FC players celebrated, the Al Ahly players agonized in the throes of defeat.

    This intense CAF Champions league semifinal eventually ended with Enyimba FC going all the way to the final.

    It was an incredible game.

 Chapter 54: Becoming a star

    "Samuel Moses, what an incredible game you played today!" The female reporter was all smiles, passionate as he addressed the main star of the just concluded game."For the second consecutive semi-final game, you showed your quality, outperforming every other player, all more experienced than you to clinch the man of the match award, what do you think of your performance Sam?"

    Sam smiled, breathing heavily as he wiped the sweat of his face. "I don''t like to think much on my performance, I rather think about the team''s performance and personally, I think this is our best performance of the season so far".

    "In such a storied stadium, against such a legendary team, and given what was at stake, I''d say the team performed at a truly elite level today. We deserved every inch of what we''re enjoying, the victory". He grinned.

    "Ah! Before I forget," he smiled mischievously at the camera. "Ojo, thanks for the penalty scored and saved, you saved our asses out there today man. I''ll force the captain to buy you something special". He chuckled.

    "So, Sam, what do you think about the final? Do you think your team stands a chance of going all the way and beating the final-placed team to win the CAF champions league trophy this year?"

    "Definitely, I do". Sam nodded seriously. "No matter who we face in the final, just like we gave our best today, I believe that we''ll give our best again, and God willing, we will win the trophy".

    "That''s a nice sentiment". The female reporter smiled. "What about the Al Ahly fans? I can''t help but notice you riling them up multiple times in the game".

    Hearing that, Sam scratched his hair awkwardly. "Oh, that," he chuckled. "Honestly, I didn''t do it with any bad intentions in mind, it was just in the heat and moment of the game".

    He looked at the camera. "I hope you guys are not too offended, I just wanted my team to win by all means".

    The reporter smiled. "Well, they''ll definitely hear your apology now after you said it. Anyways, Sam thanks for having me again, do have a nice day".

    "You too ma''am". And with that, Sam walked off.

    A few minutes later, leaving the Cairo International Stadium alongside his teammates, Sam was shocked as they met fans wearing the Enyimba FC home jersey standing outside waiting for them.

    "Sam, an autograph please!"

    "Sam, I want an autograph please!"

    "Sam, please a picture!"

    "I came all the way from Delta State to see you!"

    "Austin, please, an autograph!"

    ''Damn!'' This was the first thought that Sam had as he subtly inclined his head to look at his captain, looking for directions.

    "What?" Austin shrugged. "Don''t look at me, this is my first time witnessing something like this too".

    "Fans have never asked for my autograph before now too!"

    "So, what will I do?" Sam hissed?

    Austin chuckled. "Chill out man. Just go meet them, make sure to put a smile on your face, write anything you want on their jersey".

    "Ah! Not anything," he smiled. "Write your name on their jersey, just Sam, Sam is good".

    Austin was already walking ahead towards the fan who demanded from him as with a big smile on his face, he took the girl''s pen before scribbling away on her jersey. Watching him do it, Sam was stunned. ''Is this really his first time?''

    He felt tensed but he was able to ignore it somehow, maybe it was because he was so exhausted but he walked up to the fans with a smile on his face.

    "Hey!" Greeting, he took their jersey and their pen before scribbling, writing Sam in the most stylish way that his creative senses could come up with.

    Once he scribbled on the jersey of the first fan, a girl, she shrieked excitedly while hugging her friend. "Yeahhhh!"

    Sam felt weird. ''Is this how it feels to become a star?''

    ''Am I becoming a star?'' S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    They mostly asked for only Austin and Sam and by the time both of them finished signing and taking pictures, almost all their teammates were already inside the bus. They joined their teammates soon after and the bus finally moved.

    Right there in the bus, a certain player''s family did not allow him to get home and settle down first before the call came.

    (Incoming call from Best Mom¡­)

    As soon as Sam picked up the call, he hid his phone closer to his ear and hissed. "Mom, I''m still on the bus!"

    They were having none of it though. "CONGRATULATIONS¡­!" Came the voice, so loud that Sam flinched away from his phone.

    Besides him, Austin chuckled. "It''s your mom right?" He smiled at him.

    "F*ck!" Sam cursed before putting the phone closer to his ear. "Mom, please, I''m in the bus!"

    "Congratulations son, I can''t believe you finally did it¡­!"

    "Congratulations Sam, make sure you buy me something from Egypt!"

    "Congratulations son, you made it to a major final in your first season as a professional footballer, you truly are made for the top! I''m so proud!"

    "Dad, mom, Sophia, listen to me¡­"

    "When are you coming back? I can''t wait to see you to celebrate this more personally. Don''t worry, I''ll make your favorite soup for you, I promise!"

    "Mom¡­"

    "Is it Egusi you want? Owho soup and starch? Ogbono? Or is it Banga soup?"

    Sam palmed his face. "Mom¡­!" He complained.

    Beside him, Austin just kept on chuckling, Sam glared at him. "But mom¡­!"

    "Congratulations son!" Mr. Moses'' voice interjected again. "You just gave me infinite bragging rights in front of my friends!"

    "Their father!" Mr. Moses laughed loudly. "Their son no reach!" He spoke pidgin, his voice reeking with excitement and pride.

    "My son is a star!" He shouted.

    By now, all the Enyimba FC fans in the bus were already looking at Sam weirdly, including Olisema who had a complicated look in his eyes.

    Sam felt embarrassed. ''F*ck, f*ck, f*ck¡­!'' He cursed repeatedly in his mind.

    In the end, Mrs. Moses only ended the call when the bus was already close to the team''s hotel room in Egypt.

    And with that, the players came down and went into their hotel rooms.

    All of them were exhausted and needed rest after such an intense game. And just like Sam, they also wanted to celebrate their victory with their family and friends too.

    Entering his hotel room alongside his captain, no longer embarrassed, Sam finally put a call back to his family. This time, it was a video call.

    The night was going to be long.

    They spoke for a long time.

 Chapter 55: A triumphant return

    The next day, the Enyimba FC squad finally went to the Cairo International Airport. It was time to go home.Every one of the players was in a good mood, including their usually stern coach, Coach Yemi Daniel. It may seem like just any other football game but what they achieved yesterday was legendary.

    Making it to the final of the CAF champions league in itself was already legendary, but it was the circumstances surrounding their qualification that made it even more legendary. Enyimba FC were the big underdogs yesterday. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Due to their form in the champions league, they were rated fairly in the semifinal, but their opponent was Al Ahly, the Egyptian footballing giants, a club that had a genuine stake as the best in all of Africa.

    Not only were they playing against Al Ahly, but it was the return leg game played in the iconic home stadium of their opponents.

    Putting out such an iconic performance in such an iconic stadium was legendary, this was why it meant so much to the players and their coach.

    They were not the only ones who shared this sentiment, the Enyimba FC fans shared the same sentiment and it was already sweeping through Nigeria like the unstoppable tide of a flood.

    Social media was filled with posts with trending themes all relating to yesterday''s performance, the tags mostly being #Enyimba FC, #Samuel Moses, and #Austin Oladapo.

    Sam was never really a social media person but during his 4 years away from football, he was introduced into the diverse world of social media by his sister.

    He was not too active but he had an account in most social media platforms.

    On the way back to Nigeria, Sam was initially frightened as all his social media platforms experienced an upsurge in followers.

    To his shock, within this short time, multiple social media fan groups were already created in his favor and they were raking followers at a rapid rate.

    He was shocked. ''Was my performance¡­ really that legendary?''

    In hindsight, a 17-year-old winning consecutive man of the match awards in the semifinals of the CAF champions league was definitely not normal.

    In the biggest stage of club football, the UEFA champions league, the most recent performance closest to his was that of Ngolo Kante, the French midfielder during Chelsea''s triumphant 2021/2022 champions league campaign.

    When the Enyimba squad finally arrived in Nigeria, they received a hero''s welcome at the airport from their excited supporters.

    There were literally thousands of fans waiting for them in the international airport in Asaba, Delta State. They all sang songs of victory.

    And again, for the second time in 2 days, Sam and others of his teammates were forced to participate in fan service as they signed autographs and took pictures with the fans who demanded them.

    They spent a long time in the airport before finally taking a bus to Abia State. The media covered it as everything transpired in the airport.

    That was not the only welcome that the triumphant squad received though. Returning to their home stadium, the players were surprised by the presence of tens of thousands of fans filling the stands, waiting for their arrival.

    "Don''t tell me¡­, damn!" Austin was losing it. "Something like this has never been done before since I entered the club!" Austin was emotional.

    The club organized a celebratory party to mark their legendary triumph over Al Ahly in their backyard in Egypt.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    "Austin!" "Austin!"

    The fans sang different songs but the name of their exciting young attacking midfielder and their captain was at the forefront as they sang songs with their names. It was a dizzying experience to Sam.

    Under this much scrutiny and appreciation, he felt overwhelmed.

    ''Damn!'' He thought. ''Reversing my decision to play football indeed is the best thing that ever happened to me¡­, and getting the system too''.

    ''Hell, that 2022 FIFA World Cup final is the real OG, it changed everything!''

    Austin had a speech, thanking the fans for their constant support despite the odds against them, acknowledging the help of the away fans in their triumph.

    The fans were not satisfied with that though, they demanded another player to give a speech too.

    "We want Sam!" They roared.

    Nobody knew who started it but soon enough, it graduated into a chant in this stadium as the fans demanded for him.

    In the end, left with no choice, awkwardly, Sam took the mic. "Umm," immediately after they heard his voice, this stadium became deathly silent. Sam cleared his throat. "First, I want to thank all of you for coming today".

    After saying the first words, noting the silent respect that the fans gave him, before Sam knew it, his tension already disappeared, replaced by loving confidence.

    He smiled. "At the beginning of the season, most people didn''t expect us to do much but here we are, in the final of the CAF champions league".

    "Not only that," he grinned. "We''re also leading the NPFL table!"

    "Yeahhhh!!!" The fans cheered excitedly.

    Sam''s smile widened. "I want to acknowledge your support through it all. Everything that we do on the pitch, we do it for the fans. Without your support, we would have never made it this far".

    "For all that, Sam says arigato". He grinned, causing a stir in the stadium with his Japanese as the fans chanted his name some more.

    ''Damn! I love this feeling''. He thought.

    With the big smile still on his face, he finally decided to bring his speech to an end. "Just as you''ve done since the beginning of the season, I want you all to keep the faith in us. We won''t let it down". He said seriously.

    "Us making it to this stage was not a fluke. Support us and I promise you," he grinned. "We will win the CAF champions league this year!"

    "SAM!" "SAM!" "SAM!"

    The cheers were deafening.

    "And we will also win the league!"

    The stadium literally exploded with that as the excited fans let loose, roaring at the top of their voices out of sheer ecstasy.

    After a few more dozen minutes of interacting with the fans on the pitch, the players finally left. And this was when Sam got an even bigger shock.

    "Mom?" His eyes were wide as saucers. "Dad? Ian?!"

    "Congratulations munchkin!" Mr. Moses grinned, pulling his son into an embrace. "You really think we won''t come after such a milestone achievement in your football career?"

    "I¡­, I didn''t expect it".

    In the end, f*ck expectations, Sam felt on top of the world! There was no greater feeling than celebrating victory with family.

    His last shock of the day came an hour after meeting with his parents.

    In the hotel where his parents and his best friend lodged, to Sam''s shock, Coach Yemi Daniel came to meet them later in the day with documents.

    Mr. Moses shook the older man''s hands. "To what do we owe this honor, coach?"

    Coach Yemi Daniel had a gentle smile on his face. "Good day Mr. Moses".

    "Well, your son has exceeded all expectations that were set by the hierarchy of my club so after a lot of consideration, we decided to improve the contract terms and increase his monthly salary".

    "Sam will now receive a monthly salary of 500,000 naira per month".

    "¡­"

    "¡­"

    "¡­..!"

 Chapter 56: CAF champions league finalist

    After just 2 games paired with 2 iconic performances, Sam''s life changed.Not only did his monthly club salary double, but he also became a star. The CAF champions league semifinal game shot him straight to stardom.

    Qualifying to the final of the CAF champions league did not mean that life stopped for Sam though, instead, life was about to become even more hectic.

    The football season was drawing close to its deciding moments.

    This was when the clubs that would be relegated and those that would remain in the NPFL would be decided, the fight was on. This was the time when the top four battle was peaking, forming into a crescendo of war.

    That evening while Enyimba FC celebrated their victory at home, 2 heavyweights of African football slugged it out in the other semifinal battle to determine the second finalist of the 2022/2023 CAF champions league.

    And after a nerve-wracking game, the finalists of this season''s CAF champions league was decided.

    (CAF Champions League!)

    (Semifinal results:)

    >Al Ahly 2-2 Enyimba FC<

    >Aggregate: 4-4, Enyimba FC wins on penalties<

    >Date: 19 May, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Mamelodi Sundowns 2-2 Wydad AC<

    >Aggregate: 2-2, Wydad AC wins on away goals<

    >Date: 20 May, 2023<

    ¡­

    (Final fixtures: First leg)

    >Enyimba FC ¨C Wydad AC<

    >Date: 4th June, 2023<

    After 2 rounds of incredible football in the semifinal of the CAF champions league, against all odds, all 4 teams could only settle for a draw.

    Due to the fact that both Enyimba FC and Al Ahly scored 2 goals each in both games, the away goal rule was voided which was why they had to play all the way to extra time and eventually penalties to decide the outcome of the game.

    For Mamelodi Sundowns though, they were not so lucky. Despite playing their best football across 2 games against Wydad AC, they were unlucky to fall short due to the away goal rule.

    Since they couldn''t score in their opponent''s home, ending the game 0-0 while they unluckily conceded 2 goals to the opponents in their own home, the away goal rule took effect, knocking them out of the competition.

    For the finals, it was Nigeria vs Morocco.

    2 footballing giants of 2 well-known African nations were about to slug it out for the ultimate trophy of African football. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Originally, since they didn''t make it to the final yet, rivalry still affected who the fans support but since it was the final and it was a Nigerian team against a team from another country, all Nigerians rallied behind Enyimba FC.

    Nigerians were renowned for supporting their own and this time again, it was no different. They say the enemy of your enemy is your friend, this was apt for the situation.

    Support for Enyimba FC flooded everywhere, mainly social media.

    And with all the support which translated to promotion, a name stayed at the forefront of it all, Samuel Moses, the talented young Enyimba FC attacking midfielder. Sam was the star of his club''s CAF champions league performances.

    Since the group stage, he carried his team all the way to here.

    All the publicity brought a lot of scrutiny to the Enyimba FC players, but the experienced Coach Yemi Daniel did not let it get to the head of his players as he kept on drilling them in training till they were exhausted.

    "Only a fool would become complacent towards the end of a battle".

    "The season is gradually drawing towards its end one game at a time".

    "Towards the end of battle, your enemy becomes desperate to win, desperate enough to use dirty means. Against that, becoming complacent is a sure way to death".

    "The only way to keep the momentum going is effort, not just effort but the plural, efforts! I want more effort!"

    Coach Yemi Daniel was a stern and strong-headed coach and this time, his players really needed it as his personality helped them get their head over their recent fame, putting their all in training again.

    They had till June to play the first leg of the final against Wydad AC and till that time, they had to keep their remarkable run in the league.

    Enyimba FC didn''t disappoint.

    In their next 2 league games, led by their 2 leaders on the pitch, Sam and Austin, the team played incredible football, dominating and totally demolishing their opponents by the end of 90 minutes.

    It was the perfect work out session for what was to come ahead.

    Over the course of the season, the highlight point of Sam''s career to Coach Yemi Daniel so far was not his incredible performances every game though the consistency was commendable, to him, what stood out was the boy''s tenacity.

    Despite playing game after game, week in week out, overworking his young legs, Sam was like an engine that never suffered from wear and tear.

    With the elixirs supplied by his system, Sam was always able to fully recover before the next game, enabling him to play at an elite level regularly even as he was still developing as a player.

    Considering that the Nigerian FA Cup would also start soon, the schedule would only become more hectic and packed.

    Coach Yemi Daniel felt lucky to have a player of Sam''s tenacity in his boots.

    ''I wonder which European club would come knocking first''. He wondered after seeing Sam clinch another man of the match award in the second league game, Emeka clinched the award in the first league game after the semifinal win.

    At first, it felt like it would take forever to get to June but time moved fast. Incredibly, it was already June and not just that, it was the D-day.

    On June 4th, 2023, Abia State was filled with lots of rich travelers. Not just the tens of thousands of Enyimba FC supporters who came from all around the country to support one of their own, but also the away fans.

    On that day, the Enyimba International Stadium stands were filled to the brim. In the iconic biro blue colors of Enyimba FC, the fans dwarfed most corners of this stadium except the tiny corner where the away fans hurdled up in.

    The away fan section was also filled to the brim with Wydad AC fans.

    After the opening ceremony organized by the CAF champions league organizers, the players of both team finally made their way to the pitch under the loud noise being made by the tens of thousands of fans filling the stadium.

    As each player''s name was read out, they cheered. Cheers for Enyimba FC players and loud boos for Wydad AC players.

    But this sound reached a crescendo when a certain player''s name was called.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!" They roared loudly, stressing their lungs.

    From just ''Sam'' chants, it transcended, turning into something else. "Zinedine Sam!" They cheered.

    "Zinedine Sam!"

    They didn''t know who started it but chants like this soon filled the stadium.

    Under the onslaught of so much support from the fans, Sam felt his blood boil hot like he was in a volcano.

    He jumped confidently in response to the flurry of cheers, waved at the camera and thought. ''You came for something special right?''

    ''Well, get your popcorns ready, I''m about to give you something iconic!''

    ~----~

    [You have ingested energy elixir!]

    [NOTE: The effects of the energy elixir will last for approximately 12 hours.]

    ~----~

    FWEEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle went off.

    The game started.

 Chapter 57: Final- Enyimba FC vs Wydad AC [1]

    The final of the CAF champions league.The grandest competitive stage that African football could offer any of its clubs and their players.

    A tournament that the Ultimate Football System had to bend the rules for just to make sure that it''s host participated in it.

    To Sam, today was the culmination of his first season in professional football.

    Today would likely determine if his first season as a professional footballer was below bar, average, or an overwhelming success.

    All the football that he had been playing since January, it was all for this moment and he was definitely not going to miss his chance to seize it.

    Sam was ready to lose himself in the energy of this incredible game.

    FWEEEEE!

    Immediately after the referee''s whistle sounded, Enyimba FC started kick-off and from the first minute, they stamped their authority on the game.

    Wydad AC was another footballing giant of Africa seen on the same pedestal as the likes of Al Ahly, they were a tough team to play against but in the Enyimba International Stadium, this iconic team with loads of footballing history was forced to dance to the tune of the home team.

    They were forced to accept the reality that today, they were the underdogs as Enyimba FC dominated possession.

    Amid this domination, 2 names shone brightest, Sam and Austin.

    The duo seemed like the perfect combination on the pitch as both feeling in the mood, they played total football, dictating the game.

    It didn''t take too long for them to make their stamp on the game. In the 21st minute of the game, receiving the ball in the halfway line, Sam started a mazy run from midfield, weaving through multiple opposition players, exchanging one-two passes with Austin as he penetrated into the box.

    Their chemistry on the pitch was now almost telepathic.

    Inside the box, he passed to Emeka who passed back to him and just as the angle opened to shoot and as Wydad AC players swarmed him, he pushed the ball right with the outside of his boot towards empty space where a certain midfielder''s marauding run led to.

    Austin was unmarked in the box!

    A technical mistake, and Wydad AC regretted their mistake dearly as the Enyimba captain didn''t make a mistake, rifling the ball into the net from point-blank range with his powerful right foot. The Wydad AC goalkeeper stood no chance.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" Austin screamed at the top of his lungs, celebrating wildly as he run towards the corner flag with his teammates in tow.

    Austin was always a good player, the heart of Enyimba FC but he was one of those players who you just get the feeling has a certain cap to their development.

    But with Sam''s arrival, this player exploded, peaking.

    Austin already had highlight moments in his career, but none of them meant as much as this single moment, this was the CAF champions league final!

    Scoring in today''s game meant the world to him.

    Running to the corner flag, the emotional captain slid on his knees, doing the hail Mary celebration before pointing his fingers to heaven in gratitude.

    When his teammates arrived, they all hugged him, celebrating excitedly. At the end, Austin kissed Sam on the forehead. "God bless you Sam". He whispered in his ears, patting his head.

    "Bless your full generation!" He said emotionally.

    FWEEEE!

    The game restarted.

    That goal seemed to rattle some nerves as after a long time of sleeping, the Wydad AC players finally erupted like a slumbering Dragon that was finally awake.

    For the next few minutes, they wrestled with Enyimba FC for ball superiority in their home but what they didn''t account for was that this was not the scenario of a Dragon preying on a pig or a horse.

    Rather, this was a situation of a Dragon fighting a battle to the death against a mythical Kraken who was in its prime.

    Enyimba FC played like a mythical beast.

    Wydad AC could only do so much to try wrestling for superiority over this game, and in the end, it was another moment of individual brilliance from one of the 2 Enyimba midfielders on top of their game that cut them open.

    In the 42nd minute of the game, receiving the ball at the right side of the pitch, already in the zone state, Sam took one look, saw what he sought before whipping a deadly cross into the box.

    Whoosh!

    Like a hurricane, Emeka reacted with incredible agility and strength, bursting away from his markers before poking this perfect cross into the net past the despairing arms of the Wydad AC goalkeeper.

    "F*ck!" The Wydad AC goalkeeper cursed, complaining loudly.

    Emeka didn''t care though, he was already whirling away in celebration even as the stadium was drowned by the cheers of the excited supporters.

    "Zinedine Sam!"

    "Zinedine Sam!"

    "Zinedine Sam!"

    Under all this noise, Sam felt on top of the world and it only made his blood boil even hotter. He was not satisfied yet, he wanted to do more.

    ''I want to do more!''

    ''Come on! I can do more!''

    For the remaining minutes of the first half, led by him and Austin, they tortured the Wydad AC defense and in the 45th plus 2 minutes, Sam came closest as he wiped a lethal shot at goal only for it to bounce off the post for a corner kick.

    Austin floated the corner kick in, Farouk rose highest, planting a firm header towards goal but the Wydad AC goalkeeper was at alert, calmly claiming the ball in the air. And immediately, this goalkeeper sprinted before throwing the ball long.

    He started a counter-attack for his team!

    ''¡­!''

    The Enyimba FC players noticed the threat immediately, tracking back.

    Receiving the ball on the left wing, the tall Wydad AC player started a run, abusing his dizzying speed to rapidly eat yards of space till he arrived inside the box.

    The Enyimba FC defenders closed him down but this winger didn''t panic.

    Cutting past the first defender to the right, he continued his run, cutting past the second defender to the same right before finally throwing a beautiful curled shot in with his right leg. Ojo went on a full stretch dive but it was not enough.

    The ball curled past his reach, nestling into the embrace of the net.

    1 counter-attack, 1 goal¡­

    For a moment, Enyimba International Stadium was silenced.

    2-1¡­, in the last minute of the first half.

    The Wydad AC winger celebrated his goal passionately. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Less than a minute later, the players returned to the dressing room, the first half ended 2-1 in Eyimba FC''s favor.

 Chapter 58: Final- Enyimba FC vs Wydad AC [2]

    "Good job guys". Coach Yemi Daniel was grinning from ear to ear as soon as his team walked into the dressing room."I''m proud of your display this first half".

    He was not bluffing. Despite the fact that Wydad AC managed to score an unexpected goal in the last minute of the first half, this kind of performance against a team like Wydad in the first place was unexpected.

    His team was playing like a well-oiled machine against the African footballing giant and it left him beaming with immense pride.

    "In the second half, no changes, I want you to keep on doing the same thing".

    "Dominate, give them little chances on the ball, and most importantly, score. Do not let them score a second goal".

    "Look at me," he pointed at his head. "Your head, keep it in the game".

    "In this second half, they''ll be desperate, they''ll want to commit fouls, be physical and get into your head, don''t let it".

    "Keep on riding the energy of the fans and play your football".

    "Now, let''s go and finish what we started".

    Well, that was all that the Enyimba FC players needed.

    FWEEEEE!

    When the second half started, just like Coach Yemi Daniel predicted, Wydad AC wilted like a dead flower, retreating into their box as they defended and when Enyimba FC became dangerous, they resorted to playing dirty.

    The Wydad AC players became physical as they bullied the Enyimba FC players, becoming incredibly physical till yellow cards started being handed out.

    Despite it all though, the performance of 2 players never faltered, Sam and Austin. With them remaining in tip-top condition, Enyimba FC kept on dominating.

    "Zinedine Sam!" The home supporters kept on singing.

    Again, Sam was at the heart of it as in the 67th minute, he played an incredible through pass to the right for Victor to run into unmarked.

    This right winger managed to penetrate into the box, one-on-one with the goalkeeper but instead of shooting, he cut the ball back for his captain who was on another of his marauding runs.

    Austin didn''t miss his moment, tapping the ball into an empty net.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!"

    Austin charged towards the corner flag, sliding on his knees again as he pumped his fists passionately in celebration.

    In the 67th minute, the game was basically put to bed but Wydad AC was not a team to give up as they kept on pushing aggressively.

    Through counter-attacks, they had their moments a few times but the Enyimba FC defense remained as disciplined as a tortoise''s back, letting nothing get through them and in the 82nd minute of the game, it ended.

    And again, it was a familiar name at the forefront, Samuel Moses.

    Receiving a pass from Austin close to the Wydad AC box, even as Zinedine Sam cheers blasted through the stadium, with his spatial awareness, Sam noticed the 3 opposition players charging towards him aggressively with apparent ill intent.

    A thought told him to pass, but another thought told him another thing.

    ''Do your thing!''

    Well, Sam did his thing.

    Sam was charging towards the left but it was a feint. As the 3 players charged in aggressively, he stopped suddenly, dragging the ball back with the heel of his boots before turning and bursting away with incredible agility.

    The 3 players collided against each other chaotically, stumbling and falling as gasps and laughter rang through this stadium.

    "Zinedine Sam!" The chants rose to a crescendo.

    Another player charged towards Sam immediately to intercept the ball as he was yet to recover from evading the 3 opposition players.

    But even as he was still stumbling, with his spatial awareness active, it almost felt like he had eyes behind his head. In reality, he already mapped the whole pitch in his head, knowing the position of his teammates and his opponents.

    As the player stuck a leg out, even as he was still stumbling, Sam did something rapid, kicking the ball 2 times in quick succession in a fraction of a second. He executed a la croqueta skill!

    The defender stood, stunned, not knowing when his opponent dashed past him with the ball. He was in a daze.

    "Zinedine Sam!" The cheers rose even higher.

    Still with the ball even as he stumbled, before the ball could roll outside the line for a goal kick, Sam raised his head once to look before crossing the ball across the face of the Wydad AC goal.

    The Wydad goalkeeper dived but the ball didn''t get to his position though. Emeka who was closer to the ball reacted before the goalkeeper as he dove in with his head, hitting the ball with an incredible diving header.

    Bam!

    There was no stopping it. The goalkeeper was already eliminated from the equation, it was a free goal and Emeka scored it with aplomb.

    Instead of charging towards the corner flag to celebrate even as his teammates and the home fans roared, Emeka ran toward Sam instead before kneeling and placing this midfielder''s right foot on top his knee.

    He dusted Sam''s boots with his hands.

    Sam laughed, feeling on top of the moon as his other teammates soon came, swarming both of them as they hugged and celebrated their fourth goal of the game. It was now 4-1 to Enyimba FC.

    Wydad AC played well, the only factor that stole the X-Factor from them was a name, Zinedine Sam.

    Sam was nowhere near the skill level of the iconic French midfielder yet but his performance today was reminiscing of the French legend''s exploits in the World Cup, most especially against a prime Brazilian national team.

    Sam played like a total midfielder today, torturing the Wydad AC team with his unreal playmaking for his age, spraying passes left and right, and the occasional through pass that cut the team apart like a hot knife through butter.

    Today, on the pitch, Sam was head and shoulders above every other player, the closest to him being Austin. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The game ended 4-1 in Enyimba FC''s favor with Sam grabbing a hattrick of assists in the final of the CAF champions league.

    It was a unanimous decision; he won the man of the match award for the 3rd consecutive game in the CAF champions league.

 Chapter 59: Final; in enemy territory [1]

    "Sam, you just won a 3rd straight man of the match award in 3 of the 4 most important games of the CAF champions league, how do you feel?""How do I feel?" Breathing hoarsely, Sam laughed. "I feel good man, not just good, I feel great!" He whooped excitedly.

    "Every player starting his career like me dreams of creating moments like I just created today in our career. Giving 3 assists in the CAF champions league final, I had high expectations but definitely not this high". He chuckled.

    "I definitely exceeded my own expectations today".

    And then, he grinned. "All to cap it off now is to get a goal in the return leg, and most of my goals for my first season as a professional football player would be accomplished already".

    "And that right there is the mark of a confident player in form". The male reporter grinned. "Sam, I''m betting all my money on you for the next game, you better fulfill your promise and score".

    Sam laughed. "Do that at your own risk. It''s definitely not a promise that I''d score but I''ll try my best".

    "That''s enough for me". The reporter laughed. "Anyways, Sam, have you been to social media yet?"

    "Huh?"

    "I mean, after the game".

    "Oh, that? No," he shook his head. "As you can see, I''ve not even left the stadium yet, I don''t even know where my phone is now, so".

    "Oh, I see," the reporter nodded. "Well, some excited Enyimba FC fans have started a thread on social media, mainly twitter".

    The reporter smiled. "Your fans are convinced that you deserve a spot in the balon do''r podium this year".

    Hearing that, Sam palmed his face. "That¡­, that''s just¡­" he was speechless.

    The reporter smiled. "Thought so". He chuckled. "Some are more realistic though, they started a thread, advocating for you to win this season''s golden boy award. They firmly believe that you deserve it after your performance today, what do you think?"

    Sam scratched his hair and chuckled. "First of all, I''m appreciative of their support and how much they believe in me, it means a lot to me".

    "I do have a lot of confidence in my ability, but I don''t think I''m yet at the level of those freaks dominating football in the top 5 European leagues yet".

    "This season, there are incredible youngsters like Alejandro Balde of Barcelona, Jamal Musiala of Bayern who is my personal favorite, Jude Bellingham, and even Gavi still of Barcelona. There are more incredible talents out there too".

    "Personally, I think all these players deserve the award far more than I do. Also, though I don''t want to admit it, the league I play in matters too". He smiled wryly. "When I play in a better league, then I can compete". He grinned.

    "Talking of better leagues, which club would you love to go to?"

    Hearing that, Sam grinned. "I love FC Barcelona". He winked.

    The reporter smiled. "They''re a great club with a lot of history. They''ll definitely make do with an attacking midfielder of your profile, taking into fact that you''ll only get better with time".

    "I do wish you a great career ahead Sam. Thanks for having me, have a great day".

    "You too Charles". Sam smiled, shook the reporter''s hand before leaving.

    He joined his teammates, listened to his coach, left and signed a few autographs and took a few pictures before returning to his apartment in the guest quarters provided by the club.

    That evening, Sam had another video call with his family.

    The return leg of the CAF champions league would be played in 7 days. There was a league game in between and for this game, Coach Yemi Daniel decided to rest most of his starting 11 players.

    Enyimba FC ended up playing 1-1, ending the game with a draw but it was not the only game in between the 7 days.

    The Nigerian FA cup finally started, and Enyimba FC was to play.

    Coach Yemi Daniel rotated his players again, starting some and resting others, Austin started but Sam stayed in the bench. In the 60th minute though, he was introduced and ended up chipping in with an assist to conclude a convincing 3-1 winning display from Enyimba FC.

    And with both games out of the way, the squad could finally focus on the return leg of the CAF champions league final that would be played in Morocco.

    A day to the D-day, Coach Yemi Daniel left to Morocco with his players, lodged a hotel before going through their final tactical briefing.

    The night went in a jiffy, and in no time, the D-day was here.

    That evening, the 45,000 capacity Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca, Wydad Athletic Club''s home stadium was filled to the brim with tens of thousands of home supporters here to rattle some Nigerian nerves.

    (CAF Champions League!)

    (Final fixtures: Second leg)

    >Wydad AC ¨C Enyimba FC<

    >Aggregate: 1-4<

    >Date: 11th June, 2023<

    3 goals down already from the first leg, it was bound to be a daunting task for this Moroccan footballing giant club if they had the intentions of mounting an incredible comeback and their fans were clearly ready to help them through it. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    They would do their part, ensuring that the players did their part.

    When the Enyimba FC players stepped foot into the stadium, they were drowned in a chorus of loud boos and whistles. The home supporters hated their nerves for beating their team 4-1 away from home.

    They would make today miserable for them and that was exactly what they did as the referee''s whistle finally sounded to commence the game.

    FWEEEE!

    In the Enyimba International Stadium, Enyimba FC dominated throughout, but today, the reverse was the case as from the first minute of the game, the Wydad AC players seeking vengeance pounced like Lions on the hunt.

    Coach Yemi Daniel came here with a specific tactical approach though. He played a balanced formation that could help his team stay compact, transitioning from attack to defense seamlessly.

    He didn''t play a fully defensive formation, but arranged his team in a shape where they could easily arrange themselves in a formidable defensive block.

    The tactic worked, but only for 30 minutes.

    In the 33rd minute of this second leg final, Wydad AC struck!

 Chapter 60: Final; in enemy territory [2]

    BAM!The sound reverberated through this stadium, briefly silencing the noise made by the fans as the ball flew like a rocket.

    It was a powerful shot from the stocky Wydad AC center midfielder.

    The ball rose high and accurately towards the top right corner of the Enyimba FC net, but Ojo was on top of his game, rising high into the air on a full stretch dive as he did it, barely pushing the ball into the post as it bounced back on a rebound.

    All the players in the box reacted immediately, scrambling for the loose ball but the Wydad center forward got there first as this player shot despite the fact that an Enyimba FC defender tugged on him from behind.

    Another defender put his body on the line, blocking the shot but right after was when this player fell on the ground due to the tug on his shirt.

    Then, incredibly¡­

    FWEEEE!

    The referee blew his whistle for a penalty kick.

    The Enyimba FC players swarmed the referee, protesting the decision but the stern bald-haired referee was not having it, his decision was final.

    After his whistle blew again, the Wydad AC center forward did a short run, did a small feint before sending Ojo the other way, calmly tucking the ball home into the back of the net.

    In the 33rd minute of the game, Wydad AC scored the first goal in their home, making it 1-0 and 2-4 on aggregate.

    The game was on.

    When the game restarted, Enyimba FC didn''t change their approach as they continued playing their conservative football, wrestling with Wydad AC for control so their ball domination would not become too ridiculous.

    The Enyimba players executed their coach''s orders to near perfection, but in the end, sometimes, conservatism was not enough to curb endless enthusiasm.

    In the 42nd minute of the game, just 9 minutes after the first goal, after a chaotic scramble in the Enyimba FC box, the ball snuck into the net. It was an unfortunate own goal from one of the Enyimba FC center backs.

    The game was already 2-0, 3-4 on aggregate.

    The comeback was on!

    That second goal definitely seemed to rattle some Enyimba nerves as the players made more mistakes, losing the ball more soon after.

    Wydad AC kept on knocking that first half, trying their best with half chances but in the end, none went in, ending the first half 2-0 in their favor.

    When his players entered the dressing room, Coach Yemi Daniel was calm, looking at them. This experienced coach could tell that his team was rattled already.

    This was a final, the worst reaction to his team''s current mental state was acting agitated, lashing out at their imperfect performance in the first half.

    Instead of reacting agitatedly, he decided to stay calm. "Calm down". He said in the calmest voice that he could muster.

    "The game is still in our favor; all we need is control".

    "We made a few mistakes in this first half and it cost us. In this second half, I''m not asking for perfection, just don''t make any more mistakes".

    "You can do it; you''ve done it before".

    "You''ve done it against Al Ahly in their home, Wydad AC is a downgrade. They''re just a stumbling block that we will eventually overcome". Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "For the second half, I''m making just one change". He looked round at his players. "Victor, you''ll be making way for Olisema".

    "In the second half, I want you to wrestle more for the ball. With a 4-man midfield, I want you to reduce their midfield domination with the ball".

    "Once we have control of the ball, we have control of the game".

    "Let''s go out and make history boys".

    FWEEEE!

    When the second half started, Cyril Olisema was introduced as Enyimba FC altered its shape from a balanced 4-3-3 formation to a 4-4-2 formation.

    And with this formation, Enyimba''s performance finally showed improvement as the ball domination percentage was no longer as lopsided in the second half. Still, Wydad AC dominated.

    As the minutes of the second half progressed, drawing to the end, the Wydad players became more desperate and the more desperate they were, the more attacking raids they launched on their opposition half.

    Throughout the game, Sam did everything according to the book, defending, passing, and following his coach''s instructions to the minute details.

    He was having an amazing game. He barely misplaced a pass, having an 89% pass accuracy and mixing some through balls into the fray yet Enyimba FC could not create anything substantial due to their conservative play.

    Sam was calm at first but the more and more his box was attacked, the closer Wydad AC came to scoring the third goal, the more riled up he became till in the 75th minute, he snapped.

    ''I can''t afford this risk anymore''.

    ''Coach can, but I can''t¡­, f*ck tactics!''

    After another inch-perfect sliding tackle from Farouk, the defensive midfielder passed to his captain and Austin passed to Sam.

    The ball flowed smoothly between the 3 midfielders.

    Immediately after the ball touched his leg, Sam didn''t even look around. With his spatial awareness, he kept track of his opponents and alone, he went on a solo run starting all the way from his half.

    Sam skipped through the first challenge with his close ball control, lost the second player with a body feint, and as he closed in on the Wydad box like a rampaging bull, he faced a third player.

    As the player closed in, Sam raised his right leg over the ball once, then his left, then his right again till the player became dizzy, stumbling.

    In that short moment, Sam was already in the zone state as he deleted the opposition player with step overs before cutting the ball to the right, skipping past him. He was still yet to enter the box but from here, Sam saw an angle to shoot.

    He didn''t hesitate.

    With the inside of his right foot, he smashed the ball hard.

    BAM!

    The ball rose high into the air, above the post as the goalkeeper left it to fly off for a goal kick but all of a sudden, in mid-air, the ball swerved back down.

    The Wydad AC goalkeeper was rooted to the spot, he could only watch, stunned, as the ball nestled into the top left corner of his net.

    "What a goalllll¡­!" The commentator roared.

    "An incredible solo goal!"

    "What a rocket shot!"

    "And Sam, the African Zidane does it again!"

    Sam ran off to the corner flag, slid on his knees in celebration before pointing at his head, emphasizing his mentality as he nodded at the camera.

    The away fan section erupted in loud cheers.

    In the 75th minute, Wydad AC''s lead was cut by half, 2-1.

    The Wydad AC players were disappointed but motivated by their coach, they didn''t let an inch after the referee''s whistle sounded again as they went in with even more determination to score but this time, Enyimba FC were defensively perfect.

    The leg 2 final of the CAF Champions league ended 2-1 in Wydad AC''s favor, but on aggregate, Enyimba FC won 3-5.

    Sam''s overall performance in this game earned him a 4th consecutive man of the match award in the CAF champions league.

 Chapter 61: Enyimba FC- Winners of the 2022/2023 CAF Champions League Trophy

    (CAF Champions League!)(Final fixtures: First leg game)

    >Enyimba FC 4-1 Wydad AC<

    >Date: 4th June, 2023<

    ¡­

    (Final fixtures: Second leg game)

    >Wydad AC 2-1 Enyimba FC<

    >Aggregate: 3-5<

    >Date: 11th June, 2023<

    ¡­

    (Winners of the 2022/2023 CAF Champions League Trophy: Enyimba FC!)

    Immediately after the final whistle was blown, the sculpters went to work, engraving the name of Enyimba FC on the prestigious trophy.

    While this happened backstage, on the pitch, emotion flowed.

    Most of the Wydad AC players collapsed on the pitch, exhausted and tired even as others directly burst into tears. Making it to the final of the CAF champions league was an incredible achievement, but they all wanted to win.

    After overcoming so many challenges, including Mamelodi Sundowns just to get here and lose to Enyimba FC, it was heartbreaking.

    While most of the players broke down in tears, others lying on the pitch, the captain of the Wydad AC team walked towards his teammates, consoling them while telling them that they needed to acknowledge their supporters.

    In the end, they listened, standing up and following their captain as they walked up towards the tens of thousands of supporters that came out for them today. They may have lost, but they still needed to appreciate the fans.

    Unlike what they expected though, the fans didn''t show any negative reaction, rather loud applause and cheers soon filled this stadium.

    The fans were proud of their team''s performance today.

    Enyimba FC may have won in the end but they didn''t make it easy for them. Heck, today, they were the winners since they won 2-1 in their home, that was enough consolation for them to briefly forget the pain that they were going through.

    While sorrow and consolation were the emotion prevalent among the Wydad AC side, the Enyimba FC side experienced a whole other emotion, euphoria.

    Immediately after the final whistle blew, confirming that his team just won the CAF Champions League, an emotional Coach Yemi Daniel removed his face cap before waving it wildly as he ran into the pitch to celebrate with his players.

    Seeing their coach run towards them, the Enyimba FC players in blue rushed towards him before carrying him up as they celebrated him, juggling him in the air.

    The emotion among them was full of euphoria and joy.

    Their champions league campaign this season just felt unreal. First, they didn''t even qualify for the trophy, needing the national association to step in just before they had the rights to play in the tournament.

    Despite all the controversy surrounding their qualification, and despite all what the pundits and critics said, somehow, against all odds, they did it, going all the way to win the CAF champions league trophy.

    It didn''t feel like reality at all, rather, it felt like a perfectly written script filled with ups and downs but with the perfect ending.

    All the players and their coach felt on top of the world, including the bench players. Afterall, the trophy win would also be recorded in their CV.

    After celebrating with their coach, the players also celebrated their victory in their own unique ways. As for Sam, he made a video call right there in the stadium.

    (Outgoing video call to Best Mom¡­)

    As soon as she picked the call, before he could speak, he was drowned in a cacophony of noise.

    "SAM¡­!!!" He heard his name being screamed.

    "My son! I can''t believe it¡­, you did it!" His mom was actually in tears!

    "I''m so proud of you!" sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''Damn mom, when did you become this emotional?'' Sam was flabbergasted.

    His dad hugged his wife in the background, kissing her on the forehead. "I told you, right? I told you, our son is made for the top!"

    "Congratulations son, I can''t wait for you to come home finally".

    "Don''t worry, this time, bills are on me," this man patted his chest confidently. "I will throw a party to celebrate this achievement!"

    Mr. Moses laughed loudly. "I can''t wait for you to don the blue and red of Barcelona boy, next time, it''s the UEFA Champions League!"

    "Yes dad!" Sam laughed exuberantly.

    "Sam, buy me something from Morocco!" Sophia shouted from the background.

    The funniest thing to Sam was that his parents and sister were not the only ones at home who watched the final on their TV.

    At this moment, his home was filled with neighbors and family friends. Together, they all watched him play in the final of the CAF champions league.

    And when the excitement finally died a bit from his immediate family, they congratulated him.

    "Congratulations Sam, you just made the whole of Abraka proud!"

    "We can''t wait for you to come back!"

    "Congratulations Sam".

    "Congratulations".

    When Sam was finally forced to end the video call, he did it with a big smile on his face. He felt on top of the world.

    He looked at heaven, kissing the Enyimba FC badge on his jersey. ''God bless the day I kicked a football again''.

    And finally, it was the trophy presentation time.

    The Wydad AC players who already mostly recovered from their disappointment stepped on the podium first as the tournament organizers gave them their silver medals, congratulating them on their performance.

    After them, the Enyimba FC squad finally climbed the podium led by their coach as they collected their gold medals.

    After collecting the medals, they were finally presented with the trophy.

    Wrapping his hands around this trophy finally, Austin felt on top of the world. This player felt a rollercoaster of different emotions, mostly euphoric in nature flow through him as he kissed the trophy passionately.

    Climbing back into the stadium, as the captain, he was the one supposed to lift the trophy as they celebrated but at the last moment, he changed his mind.

    "Come, lift it, you deserve it".

    Sam was stunned. "Are you sure?"

    "Are you kidding me? Come lift it before I change my mind!"

    Sam grinned and placed his hands on the trophy. He kissed it before lifting it and in tandem, the Enyimba FC players jumped, celebrating wildly as celebratory ribbons were shot into the sky.

    On this day, Enyimba FC claimed its 3rd CAF Champions League trophy, a moment that would be forever engraved in the history of the club.

    It didn''t end with the trophy lifting. After most of his teammates left the podium, Sam stayed as he received another trophy, an individual one for giving the most assists in this season''s CAF champions league.

    Incredibly, he also received another individual trophy, sharing the golden boot award with Wydad AC''s striker.

    And finally, he received his 3rd individual award trophy of the night, claiming the golden ball award for the best player of the season''s CAF champions league.

    Sam truly felt on top of the world.

    After all the celebrations, as the squad went to the airport, intent on returning to Nigeria that night to celebrate with their excited fans, Sam received a flurry of notifications from his system.

    He grinned. ''Finally!''

 Chapter 62: System notifications

    ~----~[You have completed a Season System Quest!]

    [Congratulations! You have completed Season Quest 3!]

    [You have completed mission 1: Win the CAF Champions League Trophy!]

    [You have been rewarded with +100 Skill Points!]

    [You have been rewarded with a random bonus reward: Form Boost ¡Á2]

    >Form Boost: This is a system boost that randomly boosts 3 of your main attributes by +3 stat points for one game<

    [You have been rewarded with a +7 increase to your dribbling attribute!]

    [Congratulations! You have met the requirements to level up!]

    [Your overall player rating has increased to 75!]

    ¡­

    Player Attributes:

    *Pace: 73

    *Shot: 72

    *Pass: 76

    *Dribbling: 74

    *Defending: 35

    *Physicality: 63

    *Stamina: 80

    Overall Rating: 75

    ¡­

    After 6 months of playing professional football, despite playing week in week out, his attributes didn''t improve by much, showing him how hard it was for a football player to improve his skills and abilities.

    He could not rush it; it took time to improve.

    Across the past 6 months, his pace, shooting, and passing attributes all increased by +2 each while his dribbling attribute increased by only +1. The rest of his attributes stayed stagnant but all of a sudden, he just hit the jackpot.

    In one go, his dribbling attribute increased by a whooping +7, taking it all the way from the 60s rank, jumping to the 70s.

    His overall rating also increased all the way to 75.

    The fact that his stash of skill points just increased by a whooping +100 also excited him, but he was more fascinated by the form boost.

    Reading it''s description by the system, he already had an idea of what this boost could do to him on a football pitch and he could not help but grin.

    Getting the system really was the turning point of his life.

    Staring at the notifications in his system screen, Sam felt his chest swell up in joy but that was not all, there were other notifications. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡­

    [Congratulations! You have completed mission 2: Win the best player award in the CAF Champions League!]

    [You have been rewarded with a random reward!]

    [Reward randomizing¡­, please wait¡­]

    [Randomization complete!]

    [Click to open reward card:]

    ¡­

    Sam was surprised as the notifications disappeared, replaced by a golden card hovering in the middle of his system.

    On the surface of the card, there was an image of a familiar footballer playing with a football. It was Ronaldinho Gaucho, the Brazilian winger and legend who also played for FC Barcelona during his prime.

    Ronaldinho donned his Barcelona jersey in the picture on the golden card.

    Sam was stunned. ''A golden card is my reward? What is it about?''

    He could feel his heart beating fast already. He didn''t know what the reward was yet, but anything relating to Ronaldinho as a reward was definitely going to be exciting. ''Ah! Yes, it said I should click to open the reward''.

    Looking round to confirm that no one was looking at him inside the plane, and since Austin was already asleep, he clicked on the golden card.

    Immediately after he clicked on it, the bright light surrounding the golden card became even brighter before it burst into countless golden specks and from the specks came out his reward.

    ¡­

    [You have been rewarded with a legendary inheritance!]

    [You have been rewarded with the intermediate mastery of the Legendary Football Skill: Elastico!]

    [NOTE:]

    >There are 4 major mastery levels of skills in football, basic, intermediate, advanced, and perfection, but there is a 5th and lesser known mastery level that has only ever been attained by certain legendary footballers, the legendary mastery<

    >There are steep requirements to taking a football skill to the legendary mastery level, the requirements being consistency, outstanding excellence, and gaining the status of a football legend<

    >Ronaldinho Gaucho is a legend of football and he personalized the football skill, elastico, taking it all the way to the next mastery level after perfection, the legendary mastery level<

    >It is virtually impossible to take a football skill to the legendary level, except in special circumstances. But by getting the inheritance of the legendary Brazilian, you just got a clear shot at getting a legendary mastery skill level<

    >All you have to do to get there is train and get better, the other requirements have already been fulfilled since it is an inheritance<

    ~----~

    Sam could not believe his eyes, staring at the last notifications of his system with eyes so wide that they almost seemed to burst out of their sockets.

    ''Is this¡­ real?'' He thought, flabbergasted.

    ''Is this even possible?!'' He was losing it, not in a bad way though, he was losing it in sheer euphoria, shock, and ecstasy.

    ''Damn! This is crazy!''

    If he was not flying in an airplane alongside his teammates, he would have jumped for joy already, screaming at the top of his lungs.

    Initially at the beginning of the season, after every game that he played, he could feel himself improving no matter how small but after some time, maybe during March, this feeling reduced till it become virtually non-existent.

    Sam could tell that he was no longer improving with every game, he met his first bottleneck in his progression as a football player as the schedule racked up.

    This was the reason why he paid less and less attention to his system status, focusing on playing and winning games instead as he put all his focus on completing the season system quests.

    After these series of notifications, it validated his reason for focusing on the quests. The system truly was his best way to rise to the top.

    And now, he was ready to look at his system status again.

    ~----~

    [Player status!]

    Host: Samuel Moses

    Current Career Status: NPFL player, CAF champions league reigning champion

    Talent Rating: B

    Player Position: Attacking Midfield

    Player Attributes:

    *Pace: 73

    *Shot: 72

    *Pass: 76

    *Dribbling: 74

    *Defending: 35

    *Physicality: 63

    *Stamina: 80

    Overall Rating: 75

    ¡­

    [Owned Football Skills:]

    [Basic mastery level: La croqueta; body feint; Cruyff turn; Power shot; step overs, roulette]

    [Intermediate mastery level: Elastico]

    ¡­

    [Legendary Inheritance: Elastico]

    ¡­

    [System Remark: An aspiring football talent in an inferior league!]

    ~----~

    Due to his lack of progress in the past few months, none of his football skills managed to breakthrough to the intermediate mastery level yet.

    Sam never expected that his first intermediate mastery skill would be a skill that he almost never used, the elastico.

    ''Life really is unpredictable, huh?''

 Chapter 63: Celebration

    That night, returning to Nigeria, the Enyimba FC squad were treated to another triumphant welcome, this time from Morocco.In the airport, hundreds of fans gathered, waiting for them.

    Not just Austin and Sam anymore, literally all the Enyimba FC players were forced to take pictures with the excited fans and also sign autographs as they wanted to create a memory from this memorable night for Nigeria football.

    In social media, a storm already started as the excited fans flooded all social media pages, promoting Enyimba FC and most especially, their player who won the golden ball award for the season''s CAF champions league.

    (Trending Posts in Twitter:)

    *Dammit! Give Zinedine Sam the golden boy award already! No young player in Europe can lace his boots, fight with your keyboard!

    *1 goal and 3 assists, 4 consecutive man of the match awards all the way from the first leg of the semifinals, damn, this mother*cker never miss! Sam is too good, Jesus, give him the balon do''r! The scariest part is he''s still only 17, the Super Eagles is about to welcome a monster real soon.

    *Destroyed JS Kabylie in the quarter finals, violated the almighty Al Ahly in the semifinals, and totally obliterated Wydad AC in the final, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Enyimba FC, the best football club in all of Africa!

    *Enyimba FC is currently the best club in Africa and Samuel Moses is its best player! All the haters, you can say all you want but honestly, I think Sam is already at the level of those African stars playing in Europe, I dare say even better than some.

    *Which European club is coming for him first? In case you see this, Sam, I asked first! Please join my club, please join Chelsea Football Club, we need you, you''re too good to join a wack team like Manchester United, be wise Sam, don''t let them deceive you!

    *I once heard that Sam is an FC Barcelona fan. If that''s true, I can''t wait man, I''m so excited! Do you think Barca will go for him? I really hope so man, I just hope they see the potential in him.

    *Well, I''m pretty surprised at all the noise being made. Enyimba FC won the CAF Champions league, not Sam. I know the boy, I played football with him here in Abraka, mark my words, Sam is an injury prone player, he''s not made for the top.

    *Well, haters gonna hate, go suck a d*ck!

    There was a storm in social media and an even bigger storm in reality. Since it was already late when they got to Nigeria, the Enyimba FC players lodged a hotel in Abuja, the Nigerian capital city where they spent the night.

    The next day, they returned to Abia State where the club already organized another celebratory event to celebrate their achievement yesterday and again, the Enyimba International Stadium was filled with tens of thousands of fans.

    That performance yesterday truly shot all the players of the starting 11 into stardom, their social media pages experienced an upsurge of followers.

    And of course, the player at the center of it all was still Sam.

    Right there amid the celebration, the demanding fans chanted.

    "We want Sam!"

    "We want Sam!"

    "We want Sam!"

    Austin was supposed to give the celebratory speech but, in the end, Sam was forced to climb the podium with an awkward smile on his face.

    Once he spoke into the microphone, the noisy stadium instantly quietened down. The fans already saw him as some sort of god sent to rescue their club, the respect he commanded among them now was truly ridiculous.

    Noting their silence, Sam became more confident and with a big smile on his face, he spoke. "We would have never made it all the way to the end without your support, and for that, I appreciate all of you".

    "Personally, I''d like to appreciate a few people".

    "First, Coach," Sam looked down at his coach. "Thank you for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to play professionally when others didn''t, I will never forget your impact in my life and my career".

    "Secondly, and most importantly," he grinned. "I want to thank my family".

    "That you dad, for believing in me, thank you for helping me convince mom". He chuckled. "Thank you for everything," tears welled in his eyes. "Without you, I won''t be standing where I am today".

    "And mom, thank you too," he revealed a witty grin. "Thank you for your fiery support, for agreeing," he chuckled. "I hope by now, you already learned how to pronounce Enyimba FC correctly".

    The fans laughed.

    "And Sophia too, thank you for all those times you didn''t rat me out when I snuck out of the house to go play football, I love you".

    "Hehe," he laughed. "Don''t worry, I''ll treat you lavishly the next time that I meet you".

    "And lastly, the fans". He looked up at the stadium stands where tens of thousands of fans focused on him. "Thank you for believing, in me, in the club, in the squad, everything, we are grateful".

    "Thank you for the unrelenting support".

    "We would have never done it without your support".

    "And right now, I want to make this promise to you," his eyes gleamed. "We''re not done yet".

    "We just won the CAF champions league, but the season is not over yet".

    "The Super 6 playoffs of the league is starting this month to determine the league winners," he grinned. "Rest assured, we will give our all to win it".

    "We will also give our all in the FA Cup".

    "And lastly, we have the Club World Cup to play since we are the reigning champions of Africa".

    "I can''t promise that we will win, but we will give our all".

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    The fans chanted loudly.

    He raised a clenched fist up and with a grin, he yelled. "Up Enyimba!"

    The fans responded. "Up Enyimba!"

    The players finally retreated from the celebrations, they still had to prepare for upcoming games. To the fans though, it was just starting as they continued their celebrations, savoring the moment till satisfaction.

    While all that happened, the fixtures for the Super 6 playoffs to determine the NPFL champion was finally scheduled.

    sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 64: Abridged format- Super 6 playoffs

    The 2022/2023 season for the Nigerian Professional Football League was already drawing to an end after just 6 months of football. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.Originally, this was not supposed to be the case but due to the unique circumstances surrounding this season, a few changes were made.

    Due to the delayed start to the season, instead of following the normal format of a regular 38-matchday structure like in previous seasons, the 2022/2023 NPFL season followed an abridged format.

    Instead of the regular 38-matchday structure, the league was divided into two groups, Group A and Group B, and each group had 10 teams.

    This abridged format contributed to the reason why Enyimba FC dominated the top of the league table, this was because there were only 10 teams in their group and their strongest rivals were in the other group.

    The season was already drawing to an end though, which also meant an end to the group stage football as the top 3 teams of both groups advanced to the NPFL Super 6 playoffs.

    The Super 6 playoffs which determined the overall champion of the 2022/2023 season was supposed to take place from June 3rd to June 11th but due to Enyimba FC''s deep run in the CAF champions league, it was postponed.

    After their champions league win though, the national association rescheduled and finally, the schedule was set.

    (NPFL Super Six playoffs!)

    (Matchday 1:)

    >Remo Stars ¨C Bendel Insurance<

    >Date: 14th June, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Enyimba ¨C Rivers Untied<

    >Date: 14th June, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Sunshine Stars ¨C Lobi Stars<

    >Date: 14th June, 2023<

    ***

    (Matchday 2:)

    >Bendel Insurance ¨C Lobi Stars<

    >Date: 16th June, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Sunshine Stars ¨C Rivers United<

    >Date: 16th June, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Enyimba ¨C Remo Stars<

    >Date: 16th June, 2023<

    ***

    (Matchday 3:)

    >Rivers United ¨C Bendel Insurance<

    >Date: 18th June, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Sunshine Stars ¨C Remo Stars<

    >Date: 18th June, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Enyimba ¨C Lobi Stars<

    >Date: 18th June, 2023<

    ***

    (Matchday 4:)

    >Remo Stars ¨C Rivers United<

    >Date: 20th June, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Sunshine Stars ¨C Enyimba<

    >Date: 20th June, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Bendel Insurance ¨C Lobi Stars<

    >Date: 20th June, 2023<

    ***

    (Matchday 5:)

    >Rivers United ¨C Lobi Stars<

    >Date: 22nd June, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Sunshine Stars ¨C Bendel Insurance<

    >Date: 22nd June, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Enyimba ¨C Remo Stars<

    >Date: 22nd June, 2023<

    9 games in 5 days¡­

    To Enyimba FC, it was a very hectic schedule considering that they were all going to play in neutral ground at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos.

    When you factor in the fact that Enyimba FC also had an FA cup game before traveling to Lagos, it was understandable why the team withdrew out of their champions league win celebrations early.

    After winning the CAF champions league trophy, Sam really wanted to take some time off to stay with his family and his best friend to thoroughly enjoy it but unfortunately, he had professional obligations to play for his club.

    And as the current best player of the club, Coach Yemi Daniel already put a lot of expectations on his shoulders. Sam could not afford to be out of form.

    So, he trained.

    For the next few days before 14th when the playoffs finally started, Sam stayed diligent with the help of his system as he trained alongside his teammates at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos.

    The Enyimba FC squad went to Lagos ahead of time. As for the FA cup game, Coach Yemi Daniel delegated it to his assistant, leaving a team of substitutes for his assistant to approach the game with.

    In their first game of the FA cup, Enyimba FC was understandably underwhelming as despite playing at home, the B team were almost knocked out of the competition by their opposition.

    A last-minute headed goal managed to keep them in the competition.

    And with that hurdle off, they focused on the Super 6 playoffs where Enyimba FC would take on Rivers United in a blockbuster encounter on matchday 1.

    Like Sam was already used to, the days moved fast and in no time, it was already the D-day as he lined up alongside his teammates against Rivers United.

    After the referee''s whistle went off, just like everyone expected, Enyimba FC set the tempo of the game as their midfield dominated, making sure that they hoarded most of the possession.

    Rivers United struggled to get into the game and after 30 minutes, the floodgates opened as Chijioke, the Enyimba left winger scored the first goal of the game, making it 1-0 in Enyimba FC''s favor.

    Just 3 minutes later, Farouk made it 2-0, scoring from a corner after outjumping every other player.

    By half-time, Enyimba FC was in cruise control of the game. Even after second half started, they were in cruise control, leading 2-0 comfortably till just 5 minutes away from time, a defensive collapse cost them.

    The first one was an unfortunate own goal as Ojo, the Enyimba FC goalkeeper deflected an easy shot into his own net, making the score line 2-1 in the 86th minute of the game.

    Just 4 minutes later, a defensive mix-up allowed the Rivers United striker to sneak in a shot past Ojo, making it 2-2 at the death.

    The Rivers United fans were loud, roaring at the top of their voices.

    In the end, the double defensive collapse cost Enyimba FC as they ended their first game of the playoffs with a draw.

    The full results for matchday 1 came soon after.

    (Matchday 1:)

    >Remo Stars 2-2 Bendel Insurance<

    >Date: 14th June, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Enyimba 2-2 Rivers Untied<

    >Date: 14th June, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Sunshine Stars 0-1 Lobi Stars<

    >Date: 14th June, 2023<

    ¡­

    Due to the high standards that they already set with recent performances, a draw in their first game of the playoffs was a slow start but Enyimba FC kept believing, training diligently till 2 days later when they played their second game.

    This time, they went up against Remo Stars.

    When the game started, from the first minute, something became clear, this game was going to be very different from Enyimba FC''s first game.

    Wary of their opponent''s scary form and run in the CAF champions league, unlike Rivers United, Remo Stars didn''t approach this game to win at all as they camped in their box, playing ultra-defensive football.

    For 80 minutes, the Enyimba FC attack was frustrated time and time again despite Austin and Sam being on top of their game.

    Together, the midfield duo created numerous clear-cut chances but their forwards were profligate, failing to convert any one of the chances.

    In the end, despite missing 4 chances in this game already, Emeka, the Enyimba FC center forward was the one who won the game for his team after another defense-splitting pass from his captain.

    After a frustrating night, Emeka finally came out on top in his duel against the Remo Stars goalkeeper, beating this goalkeeper finally in the 82nd minute to give his team the lead.

    "GOALLL¡­!" Emeka roared in the Remo Stars goalkeeper''s face, celebrating his goal exuberantly. He felt relieved after such a frustrating night of football.

    The Remo Stars'' players were devastated after such a solid defensive performance ended up with them conceding. For the remaining minutes, Enyimba FC kept on probing but the score line remained the same till the final whistle.

    Enyimba FC won their second game of the playoffs 1-0.

    The results of the other games were concluded sometime later and the results of matchday 2 was out.

    (Matchday 2:)

    >Bendel Insurance 1-1 Lobi Stars<

    >Date: 16th June, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Sunshine Stars 1-1 Rivers United<

    >Date: 16th June, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Enyimba 1-0 Remo Stars<

    >Date: 16th June, 2023<

    In 2 days, Enyimba FC would take on Lobi Stars for their 3rd game of the Super 6 playoffs.

 Chapter 65: 9 days, 5 games...

    5 games in 9 days would take a toll on any footballer, even more so after 6 months of non-stop rushed football already.All 6 teams competing in the Super 6 playoffs were filled with fatigued players due to the hectic game schedule.

    The players couldn''t complain though, that was what they were paid for.

    For Enyimba FC''s third game of the playoffs, Coach Yemi Daniel rested a few players including Farouk, replacing him with Cyril Olisema but he didn''t touch 2 players, the untouchable duo of Sam and Austin.

    Against Lobi Stars, Sam and Austin played all 90 minutes again.

    Just like the game against Remo Stars, they were forced to lay siege to the incredible defensive block set up by their opponents who were unwilling to take the risk of taking the battle to them.

    In the end, just like the Remo Stars game, for majority of the game, Enyimba FC dominated possession without breaking through their opponent''s block.

    The first half ended 0-0.

    In the second half though, something unexpected happened.

    In the 68th minute of the game, after another prolonged attacking raid by Enyimba FC, Austin lost the ball, an unusual mistake from the Enyimba FC captain.

    As soon as the Lobi Star center midfielder stole the ball, without hesitation, he kicked the ball to the left where his speedy left winger lurked.

    And immediately, a foot race started!

    Kicking the ball long, the swift left winger erupted, eating yards of space rapidly like they were not there as he effortlessly outran the 3 Enyimba FC players that were originally ahead of him.

    Ojo charged out of his post to meet the speedy left winger but without panicking, this winger poked the ball high, lobbing the Enyimba FC goalkeeper.

    Ojo could do nothing, the winger scored an incredible goal as this winger whirled away towards the corner flag to celebrate.

    In the 68th minute, against the run of play, Lobi Stars got the lead through an incredible counter-attacking moment.

    FWEEEE!

    After the referee''s whistle sounded again to restart play, riled up already, Enyimba FC launched even more aggressive attacking raids on their opponent''s box.

    This time, Austin put even more effort, imposing himself in the game as he played better than every other player on the pitch for a few minutes. In the 75th minute, holding possession again, this center midfielder advanced into the box.

    As soon as he entered the box, acknowledging his threat, Lobi Stars'' players rapidly closed him down but Austin was in the zone state, skipping past challenges till a high boot smashed against his lap, bringing this player down.

    "Arghhhh¡­!" Grabbing his leg, Austin screamed loudly in pain.

    The players surrounding him could tell immediately that it was serious.

    The referee stopped the game, handing a straight red card to the Lobi Stars'' player who committed the foul and handing Enyimba FC a penalty kick before calling the attention of the medical staff.

    After rushing into the pitch, emergency aid was given to the captain but in the end, with tears streaming down his eyes, Austin shook his head.

    Enyimba FC was devastated, their captain could not continue.

    Austin was stretchered off the pitch injured.

    Watching as they stretchered him off even as Austin looked at him with his teary eyes, Sam felt emotional and reluctant. ''No,'' he thought. ''It was not supposed to end like this''.

    ''How long is he out for?'' He was distracted from his thoughts by the last words of his captain as he was stretchered off the pitch.

    "We need to win". Austin whispered in his direction.

    Hearing that, Sam''s head finally cooled down, settling back in the game. Those words to him felt like a handing over of the baton.

    Austin already did his best, now he was injured, it was up to him to take over.

    ''We must win!'' Thinking, Sam observed the pitch. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He looked at the scoreboard at the time. ''We still have 25 minutes''.

    FWEEE!

    After the referee''s whistle sounded, Emeka took a perfect penalty kick, sending the Lobi Stars goalkeeper the other way to score and level the game.

    Emeka didn''t celebrate, dedicating the goal to his injured captain instead.

    With one man down already, for the remaining minutes of the game, Lobi Stars completely forfeited attack as they fully focused on defending.

    Without their captain, it was harder for Enyimba FC to fully dominate possession but with Olisema on the pitch with Sam, playing with 2 attack-minded midfielders, Enyimba FC posed more of a threat.

    For 20 minutes, Lobi Stars stayed defiant, defending valiantly but in the end, the game was not destined to end in a draw.

    Again, it was another moment of individual brilliance from a familiar name.

    Dribbling across the middle of the pitch with the ball, Sam skipped past a few challenges before passing the ball to the left where Chijioke ran.

    Receiving the ball, the Enyimba left winger easily beat his marker, ran deeper into the Lobi Stars'' half before playing a cut back pass to Sam.

    Sam didn''t think, hitting the ball first time with the inside of his weaker left foot as the ball rose and curved past the outstretched arms of the Lobi Stars'' goalkeeper into the embrace of the net.

    In the 85th minute, Enyimba FC finally took the lead.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" Roaring loudly, Sam charged towards the corner flag before sliding on his knees as he pointed in the direction of the Enyimba FC bench.

    He also dedicated his goal to his captain.

    For the final minutes of the game, Lobi Stars finally abandoned defending as they came out, trying to create a miracle and equalize in the dying minutes of the game but Enyimba FC remained defensively disciplined, not giving them an inch.

    After 90 plus 7 minutes, the game finally came to an end.

    Enyimba FC won 2-1.

    The headline today was not about the victory though, rather, it was about the injury that Austin Oladapo, Enyimba FC''s captain suffered that would keep him out for 2 months.

    The whole squad was affected by the news.

    That same day, at night, the full results of matchday 3 were finally resolved.

    (Matchday 3:)

    >Rivers United 0-0 Bendel Insurance<

    >Date: 18th June, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Sunshine Stars 1-1 Remo Stars<

    >Date: 18th June, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Enyimba 2-1 Lobi Stars<

    >Date: 18th June, 2023<

    With that result, Enyimba FC climbed to the top of the playoff ranking with 6 points in 3 games despite the injury to their captain.

    In 2 days, their next game was against Sunshine Stars.

 Chapter 66: Taking charge

    "Sam, your team won a second straight game in the Super 6 playoffs, but we can''t help but focus on the unfortunate incident that happened today"."According to medical reports, Austin will be out for 2 months, what do you think about that? Do you think Enyimba FC has what it takes to survive without its captain on the pitch?"

    Facing the male reporter, Sam took a deep breath. "First, I will like to say that Austin is the beating heart of our team and we will surely feel his absence".

    "As for if we will be able to survive without our captain," he scratched his hair. "Honestly, I don''t know, I''m no seer but all I can say is that we''re determined to make up for his absence and make him proud in the hospital".

    "That is what he would want".

    "On the pitch, while he was stretchered off, he told me that we needed to win. Well, we won thanks to his blessings".

    "We hope to do the same and win in his absence".

    "The team is determined to win the league title for him".

    "Ok Sam, so who do you think will now take the captain''s armband after Austin''s injury? Farouk? Or maybe Ojo, they''re all old and experienced players".

    Sam shook his head. "It''s not my place to worry about who will lead the team as the captain, that''s the coach''s duty. My duty is to play football".

    "Ok Sam, thanks for having me, I wish you and your team success in your quest to win the league title again".

    "Thanks".

    That evening, after they met up in the hotel where they lodged, Coach Yemi Danial gathered his players before making an important announcement.

    "After a lot of thinking, I''ve arrived at a decision".

    "As the vice-captain, originally, Farouk is supposed to lead the team next as the captain but I value morale a lot on the pitch".

    "I love my captains to lead more by example than being vocal".

    "I spoke with Farouk and he already agreed". Coach Yemi Daniel looked round at his players. "For the rest of the season, I''ve decided to give Sam the captain''s armband in Austin''s absence".

    "But this is just his first season!" Olisema complained immediately. "It''s not fair to the other players who''ve stayed in the team longer".

    Coach Yemi Daniel was not having it though. "My decision is final".

    In actuality, Olisema was the only player who was truly against it, the other players either didn''t care or were in full support of it.

    When the news was confirmed to the media, it created a storm, putting the spotlight on Enyimba FC as for some time, they forgot about Austin''s injury, focusing on Sam''s captainship instead.

    Captaining a club as storied as Enyimba FC at just 17 was immense. Sam felt the pressure weighing down on him, but he didn''t buckle due to it.

    Most importantly, Austin encouraged him from the hospital.

    In 2 days'' time, Sam already accepted his leadership role fully and when he stepped foot on the pitch again against Sunshine Stars, he took charge.

    With Austin injured, it was clear that Sunshine Stars came with ideas, playing bold and attacking football against Enyimba FC and for the first half, they succeeded as they mostly dominated possession.

    Despite the combative display from both teams, playing 5 games in 9 days was no easy feat, the players showed clear signs of lethargy and fatigue.

    The first half ended in a goalless draw.

    In the second half though, while the players of both teams played even more lethargically due to fatigue, one player shone brightly above all the others, Samuel Moses again.

    Knowing that the game would be tough and also acknowledging that he was not physically at 100%, this was the reason why he used 1 of the physical conditioning elixirs that he had in his inventory for this game.

    In the second half, as the others succumbed to the fatigue, he thrived.

    Sam terrorized the Sunshine Stars'' defense in the second half, assisting the first goal in the 54th minute and scoring 2 goals in quick succession in the 73rd and 75th minute successively to give Enyimba FC a decisive victory.

    Sunshine Stars scored a late goal but by then, it was just a consolation goal.

    The game ended 1-3 in Enyimba FC''s favor and with the victory, they firmly stood at the top of the playoff rankings with 9 points in 4 games.

    And considering that it was the highest-scoring game of the playoffs so far, the critics who took jabs at Enyimba FC, predicting their fall with Austin Oladapo''s absence and the rash decision to make Sam captain all grew silent.

    Sam convinced, leading by example in his first game as captain.

    The full matchday 4 results were soon ready.

    (Matchday 4:)

    >Remo Stars 1-0 Rivers United<

    >Date: 20th June, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Sunshine Stars 1-3 Enyimba<

    >Date: 20th June, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Bendel Insurance 0-0 Lobi Stars<

    >Date: 20th June, 2023<

    Considering that the nearest club to them in the rankings were Lobi Stars and Remo Stars with 5 points each, with 9 points, Enyimba FC already won the league title but the 5th game of the playoffs still had to be played.

    In their hotel, the players already celebrated their league victory as they made a video call, making sure that their captain, Austin joined in from the hospital.

    After that, they resumed preparations for their last game of the Super 6 playoffs that would take place in 2 days against Remo Stars.

    That night, very late before sleeping, Sam called his mom. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Having watched the game today alongside the rest of her family, Mrs. Moses was concerned to see her son''s call that late when usually, he was supposed to be long asleep already to wake up fresh for the new day.

    "Hey Sam, are you ok?"

    His mom was fiery but there were times when she was sensitive too, and this night was one of those times. Hearing her calm voice, Sam took a deep breath.

    "I''m good, I just feel very exhausted". He sighed.

    "It''s so exhausting to live like this. It''s almost like I don''t have a life of my own, every day, it''s just football, media, and fans, nothing else".

    "I''m beginning to feel suffocated".

    "I feel like I''m in a moving train and I can''t afford to stop. You know, if I stop, I lose grasp of my dreams. I want to hold on but it''s proving so hard".

    Mrs. Moses sat up on her bed. "Son, listen to me. I''m very proud of everything you''ve achieved so far, but in the end, your happiness comes first".

    "If you feel you can''t continue, I''m here for you, just say the word and I''ll be in Abia State tomorrow morning".

    "Don''t be scared of that coach of yours, he''s a few years too young to stop me from helping my son!"

    "If he''s overworking you, tell me, I''ll call him now!"

    Hearing her voice start to rise, Sam was not irked, rather, he smiled. ''Typical mom,'' he thought.

    He chuckled. "Mom, it''s fine, just promise that you''ll always support me no matter what happens".

    "You know I will".

    "Promise". He insisted.

    "I promise".

    "Thank you, mom, I love you".

    "I love you too".

    That night, Sam slept feeling like a huge burden just left his chest.

    He was ready to face his career again.

 Chapter 67: Winning the double- NPFL league champions

    Sleep, wake up, complete daily system quest, join his teammates and train with their coach, go back to his hotel room, and repeat; for the next 2 days, this was Sam''s routine in Lagos like usual.It was hectic, it was emotionally draining but this was the sacrifice that professional football players had to make to pursue their dreams.

    And like the rolling pages of a book, swiftly, the days passed and in no time, it was the D-day again, the last matchday of the Super 6 playoffs.

    Rivers United went up against Lobi Stars, Sunshine Stars went up against Bendel Insurance, while Enyimba went up against Remo Stars again in the deciding game of the Super 6 playoffs.

    Since losing Austin to injury, Coach Yemi Daniel already tweaked the formation of his team a bit from the normal balanced 4-3-3 formation and for this game against Remo Stars, he tweaked it again.

    Incredibly, Olisema was not in the starting line-up, starting in the bench.

    From the balanced 4-3-3 formation, for this game, Coach Yemi Daniel switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation where Farouk started alongside the back-up defensive midfielder of Enyimba FC in the defensive midfield positions.

    Emeka was the sole striker at the front of the formation, while behind him were Chijioke, Sam, and Victor.

    It was another balanced formation but one that enabled Coach Yemi to bring out the best in his available players since he no longer had an elite center midfielder like Austin to control and rotate possession in the middle of the park.

    FWEEEE!

    When the game started, Enyimba FC played their normal football but Remo Stars was extra aggressive today. Enyimba FC may not need the points today anymore, but they needed it.

    The playoffs game was not just about the team that would lift the trophy, it was also about the top 3 teams that would compete in next season''s continental competition, the CAF champions league.

    With this motivation, Remo Stars played with great intensity.

    For most of the first half, they ran after the ball as Enyimba FC controlled possession but they wore the Enyimba players out, mostly exhausting them physically with their high press till one of them misplaced a pass.

    Pouncing on it in the 43rd minute of the game, the Remo Stars attacking striker unleashed a rocket shot from just outside the box.

    Ojo dived but he could not do much as the ball snuck past him into the net.

    Against the run of play, Remo Stars led in the last playoff game. The game went to half-time with Enyimba FC losing, but this champion team was not ready to give up so easily despite the fact that they already won the trophy.

    In the second half, Coach Yemi made a change, taking out the backup defensive midfielder for Olisema, playing with a 2-man attacking midfield formation. It was radical but it bore fruit.

    Just 5 minutes into the second half, Enyimba FC scored.

    Who else but the African Zidane?

    Receiving a pass from Olisema just outside the box, Sam wriggled past a few challenges. Though he already noticed it since, he could not help but appreciate how easier it was for him to dribble through players now.

    The only thing affecting him was fatigue, but he dug through it.

    Nutmegging a player and using a la croqueta to skip past the next, he took a glance at goal, raised his leg before hitting the ball with venom.

    BAM!

    The ball rushed through the green grass, tearing a few apart and into the air as it nestled into the bottom left corner of the post.

    The Remo Stars goalkeeper dived but he didn''t stand a chance.

    For the remaining parts of the second half, Enyimba FC tried yet they could not breakthrough the Remo Stars defense a second time. In the 80th minute of the game, Coach Yemi subbed Sam out as he felt some discomfort.

    And with that, Enyimba FC simply watched the game out, maintaining the 1-1 score line to make it 10 points from 5 games.

    FWEEEE!

    Immediately after the final whistle blew, Sam ran back into the pitch alongside his coach as he hugged his teammates, celebrating wildly.

    The 2022/2023 NPFL season finally came to an end and with it, Enyimba FC were crowned champions.

    They already won the double, lifting the league title and the CAF champions league trophy. And with the Nigerian FA cup still on the line, they still had the chance to make it a treble, truly capping off a historic season.

    Immediately after the game, the players hit the road again as they returned to Abia State where the celebrations truly kicked off.

    Due to the hype and circumstances surrounding their CAF champions league victory, a lot of publicity was already around Enyimba FC and their players and after returning to Abia State, they did an open-bus celebration through the city of Aba.

    Of course, before then, Sam already communicated with his family through a video call as they celebrated his achievement with him.

    Mr. Moses was extremely emotional, the man felt like a warrior who finally achieved his life''s mission. "Now, I can finally die in peace". He said.

    "Die and leave me a widow?!" His wife snapped. "You must be joking! Come here!"

    "Come on, I didn''t mean it".

    Well, he had a lot of explanation to do. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Sam and his sister laughed at the bickering couple. In the end, after arriving at Abia State, he couldn''t keep up the video call as he joined his teammates and their fans in celebrating their incredible victory.

    Unfortunately, Austin couldn''t join them yet as the hospital was yet to release him. He could only follow the proceedings through a video call.

    Leading the fans on this time as they celebrated, Sam told them to chant their captain''s name and they obeyed.

    "Austin!"

    "Austin!"

    "Austin!"

    The atmosphere was crazy throughout the city of Aba as tens of thousands of fans celebrated their team''s victory excitedly.

    It was almost as if they didn''t even care about the FA cup anymore.

    Well, they did had to care though as after hours of celebrating, Coach Yemi Daniel, the ever ready disciplinarian dragged his players off to rest.

    "We still have a little football to play".

    "After, you can celebrate all you want".

    The players groaned but they respected their coach''s wishes.

    And coincidentally, their next matchup of the Nigerian FA cup was a blockbuster knock-out encounter against their bitter rivals, Plateau United.

 Chapter 68: A minor setback after a major victory

    Since the Nigerian FA cup was a straight knock-out tournament, Coach Yemi Daniel fielded his strongest available starting line-up for the next game.And since they played their opponents at home, they had an advantage.

    FWEEEE!

    From the first whistle, it became clear that one of the Enyimba FC players didn''t let up yet and was still in the form of his life, the player in question being Samuel Moses as he dominated the first half.

    In this game, Sam played at his best again, terrorizing the Plateau United backline as the fans kept on chanting his name.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    In the first half alone, he created 8 clear-cut chances but his teammates were unable to capitalize and score to give Enyimba FC the lead.

    He tried going for it alone a few times but considering that a player was assigned to man-mark him, he did not have the chance to enter dangerous positions, forced to settle with creating chances for his teammates instead.

    At the last minute of additional time of the first half though, something horrible happened as with the ball, holding possession, Sam tried to play another defense-splitting pass when a Plateau United player charged in with his boots high to intercept the pass.

    Sam saw the danger, he tried to dodge at the last moment but it was already too late as this player''s boot hit him square on his knee, pushing it back.

    Sam jerked before collapsing on the pitch.

    Thud!

    As soon as he collapsed on the pitch, he felt his world go dark as he was overwhelmed by a wave of pain like a tide.

    Sam was in so much pain that he couldn''t even scream.

    He heard thudding sounds as his teammates charged towards him, he heard them shout, angrily clashing with the Plateau United players and he noticed some of them run to his position, checking on him before calling for the medical staff.

    "Sam! Are you ok? Can you hear me?"

    "Hey! Sam, are you ok?" Their voice was distorted.

    Enyimba International Stadium was silenced as the home fans, horrified, could only place their hands on their heads, praying and hoping against the worst.

    Sam was unresponsive though. The medical staff soon stretchered him off the pitch in a hurry even as the packed stadium stayed silent.

    And with it, the referee finally responded, handing the Plateau United who flew on the tackle a straight red card. The player didn''t complain, knowing the severity of what he did as he walked out of the pitch.

    The referee signaled for the Enyimba FC coach to make his changes.

    On the touchline, Coach Yemi Daniel had his hands on his head, watching as his best player was stretchered off the pitch.

    This coach''s head was spinning in circles. ''Why?'' He thought.

    ''Why?!''

    ''F*ck! Why?!''

    "Coach, we need to make a change". His assistant reminded.

    "Oh, yes, we need to make a change," he looked at his assistant before glancing at where his player was stretchered towards away from the pitch. "You do it, put Emmanuel on the pitch".

    "I''m leaving everything to you".

    Right there, Coach Yemi Daniel abandoned everything, his team, the fans, and the Nigerian FA cup and followed the stretcher into the ambulance as Sam was rushed to the hospital.

    By the time the ambulance moved, Sam was already unconscious. They didn''t know if it was because of the pain or another thing.

    Arriving at the nearest hospital, the doctor quickly attended to him and the fears were allayed.

    Coach Yemi Daniel was pacing around when the doctor met him.

    "You''re Yemi Daniel right?"

    "Yes, sir, please, how is he?"

    The doctor smiled. "He suffered a regular knee injury".

    "How long will he take to recover?"

    "A month, maybe 2, depending on how resilient his body is but considering that he''s just 17, I think it will be 2 months".

    "I read the report, playing a 17-year-old in so many games, you really overworked his young legs".

    Coach Yemi Daniel scratched his hair awkwardly. "I know doctor, and that''s why I feel so guilty. I should have rested him in more games".

    "It''s fine," the doctor waved his hand dismissively. "He''ll recover".

    "He''s still asleep, you can check up on him when he wakes up".

    "Thank you, doctor, I appreciate it".

    Coach Yemi Daniel was about to enter the hospital room when he heard a phone ring. It was not his ringing tone though. Looking at it, it was Sam''s phone.

    (Incoming call from Best Mom¡­)

    Seeing the name on the screen, this middle-aged coach gulped, but then he picked the call only to be exposed to a barrage.

    "Sam! Sam, is that you?"

    "Where are you?"

    "How are you doing?"

    "Ma, it''s me, your son''s coach".

    "You evil man!" Mrs. Moses screeched. "What did you do to my son? I said it, you never had good intentions for him from the beginning!"

    "What did you do to my son?"

    "Ma''am, please calm down¡­"

    "Don''t tell me to calm down, where is my son? Where is he?!"

    On the phone, she was already crying. "They''ve done it! All these envious witches and wizards, they won! They''ve gotten my son!" S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Oh God, what did I do to deserve this?"

    "I didn''t commit a crime to let my son play football, God why?!" She wailed.

    Coach Yemi Daniel forced himself to stay calm. "Ma''am, we''re in the Aba General Hospital, your son is fine, he just suffered an injury¡­"

    "Don''t tell me that! Don''t tell me that after¡­"

    There was some struggling noise, then another scream. "Moses, give me back my phone! How dare you¡­?" Her voice was cut off.

    "Coach Yemi, it''s me, Sam''s father".

    "Oh, good evening sir, how are you doing?"

    "I''m fine, please how is my son?"

    "He''s fine now, the doctor said he suffered a knee injury, he''ll take a few months to recover".

    "Oh, good, I feared for the worst". Mr. Moses chuckled. "We''re on our way to Abia State now, please wait for us".

    "Ok, sir".

    "About my wife, sorry¡­"

    "Don''t worry, I understand, this is not my first time dealing with women". Coach Yemi Daniel chuckled.

    "Thank you for understanding".

    And with that, Mr. Moses finally cut the call.

    Sitting alongside Sam''s bed in the hospital room, Coach Yemi Daniel finally opened his phone and paid attention to his team''s game.

    The game already went to extra-time.

    Despite playing Plateau United with a man down, with Sam gone, Enyimba FC became clueless in attack, lacking teeth. The 90 minutes of full-time ended with the game still goalless.

    He watched all extra-time on his phone. Despite having the numbers advantage on the pitch, Enyimba FC failed to capitulate on their chances as the game went to penalties.

    Coach Yemi Daniel watched agonizingly as his team lost on penalties to Plateau United. It was a valiant Plateau United performance in Enyimba''s home.

    This coach sighed. "It was not meant to be".

    Just after winning the double of the CAF champions league and the NPFL title, Enyimba FC suffered a minor setback right after as they were knocked out of the 2022/2023 season iteration of the Nigerian FA cup.

 Chapter 69: Incredible support

    In just one evening, Enyimba FC''s hopes of a historic treble were dashed in the most agonizing fashion.Despite losing to their bitter rivals in the FA cup at home, the Enyimba FC fans were not concerned with that though, nor were they concerned about losing the treble, rather, they were more concerned about their star attacking midfielder.

    The moment that Sam collapsed on the pitch, the Enyimba International Stadium as a whole seemed to come to a standstill.

    The fans were petrified, horrified by thoughts of the worst-case scenario.

    Fortunately, and unfortunately for them, Sam did suffer an injury but it was not as serious as they feared. It was a regular knee injury and after a month or 2 of rehabilitation, Sam would be fit again to kick a football, barring complications.

    Immediately after the game, while Plateau United celebrated an historic victory in their bitter rival''s home stadium, the Enyimba FC fans instead flooded social media with support for their star attacking midfielder.

    Not just on social media, a troop of fans also marched to the general hospital where Sam was admitted, showing their support in their own unique ways.

    They carried different banners with them.

    (Sam, we love you!)

    (You''ll always be Zinedine Sam to us! Remember that no matter what happens, we the fans are here for you, we love you!)

    (Get well soon champ! You''re stronger than this!)

    (Can''t wait to see you on the pitch again, much love man!)

    Among the group of supporters was a small girl who carried a banner that was bigger than her. Sitting on her dad''s shoulders, she held the banner.

    (Sam, thank you for playing for my daddy''s club, you made my dad happy and I''m happy too. Please recover fast, I want my dad to be happy!)

    When the Moses family finally arrived in Abia State, arriving at the Aba General Hospital, they quickly discovered that they were not the first to come.

    Seeing dozens of fans gathered outside the hospital premises with support banners for her son, Mrs. Moses was flabbergasted.

    Watching her son collapse on the pitch, this woman almost had a heart attack and immediately, she started blaming her village people and haters. She even broke down in tears, blaming herself for letting him play football.

    She agitated for the whole family to go meet her son in the hospital. Mr. Moses had to take permission from his work place before taking his family on his car. On arriving now though, she was left speechless.

    She looked at her husband. "Is¡­ this normal?"

    Mr. Moses shrugged. "It''s not normal here in Nigeria but in Europe and European clubs, fans show their support to their star players when they''re injured".

    "Wow!" She was amazed.

    In the end, they didn''t know who recognized them but among the fans, but one of them recognized them. "It''s Sam''s family, that''s her mom!"

    Some of the fans approached them, spooking the middle-aged woman.

    "Here," a little boy of maybe 5 or 6 years old handed a food flask to her. "I begged my mom to make my favorite food for Sam. Please give it to him, it''ll help him recover faster".

    Staring this boy in the eye and seeing the look on his face, Mrs. Moses was amazed, she could not bring herself to reject the boy. She took the food flask.

    "Promise me you''ll give the food to him".

    "¡­"

    "Please".

    "Ok". She nodded, and smiled, surprisingly. "I''ll give it to him".

    "Tell him to get well soon!" Happier now, the boy said with a grin.

    Mrs. Moses smiled, and then, surprisingly, she addressed the fans. "Don''t worry, Sam is fine. The doctor said he suffered a knee injury, my husband told me that it''s normal in football, I think". She shrugged.

    "Don''t worry," her smile widened. "His mother is here now; I''ll take care of my son so he''ll recover soon enough".

    "Thank you, ma''am".

    Being the recipient of so much attention and love, Mrs. Moses felt weird. Her son was injured but somehow, she felt on top of the world, it was a strange feeling.

    Walking into the hospital alongside her family, her mood already changed, she had a cheeky grin on her face.

    Mr. Moses coughed, stealing a glance at his wife. "Are you truly my wife? Are you sure you''re not an impostor?"

    "Who was the one screaming and wailing that her son is dead, how come you''re smiling all of a sudden?"

    Mrs. Moses glared at her husband.

    He coughed again. "I''m just saying".

    "Shut up!" She snapped.

    Throughout, Sophia never said a word. She was tensed during the journey from Delta State here but after the experience outside the hospital, this girl was now giddy, she could not wait to meet her brother. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Entering the hospital, Mrs. Moses led the way and walked directly past Coach Yemi Daniel without even sparing the coach a glance.

    "Hey," the coach ended up dropping his hand awkwardly.

    Mr. Moses apologized. "Don''t mind my wife, she gets like that sometimes".

    "I understand". Coach Yemi chuckled. "It''s her son we''re talking about after all, women get emotional, she carried him in her womb for 9 months".

    Mr. Moses grinned. "Thank you, coach". He said seriously. "You joining him personally to the hospital, it means a lot to me, I appreciate it".

    Coach Yemi Daniel scratched his hair. "It''s partly my fault that he got injured, so you know, my conscience could not let me leave him alone".

    "I''m glad". Mr. Moses smiled, and then, he joined his family inside.

    Inside, Sam was already awake, already wolfing down on the food that the little fan outside gave to him.

    Mr. Moses was flabbergasted as he glared at his wife. "Sarah! Really?! You really gave him the food?"

    "That was a random fan outside, what if the food was poisoned?"

    Mrs. Moses waved her hand dismissively, staring at her husband with that ''are you dense'' gaze. "You really think that sweet boy will poison our son?" She shook her head. "You really are a man, you think like bulls at times, leave this to the women".

    "¡­" Mr. Moses was left speechless.

    He opened and closed his mouth, in the end, he simply walked up to his son. "Hey champ, how are you feeling?"

    Sam grinned. "I feel great!"

    While they had family time, Coach Yemi Daniel left outside to meet the group of reporters that were waiting for him due to the fan reception outside.

    He was going to give an interview.

 Chapter 70: An interview

    Walking outside the hospital, Coach Yemi Daniel waved to acknowledge the fans before standing with the female reporter and her crew."Thank you for having us coach". The reporter smiled. "I''m sorry about the horrifying incident today at your home stadium, how is Sam doing?"

    Coach Yemi Daniel smiled. "The boy is fine; he already woke up and is currently spending time with his family".

    "Oh, that''s good to hear".

    "Coach, there are rumors on the internet, do you think Sam sustained this injury because you overplayed him?"

    "I didn''t overplay him". Coach Yemi shook his head. "I play Sam in games because he is that good, there are older players on the bench but he starts games because he has the ability to".

    "Even as he is injured, if you ask him, he''ll tell you that he''s glad he played all the games that he played this season".

    "I do admit I should have managed his minutes better".

    "Does that mean you agree that the injury is your fault?"

    Now, Coach Yemi was slightly irritated. He stared at the reporter. "If that''s what you want, a scapegoat, then yes, I was responsible for the injury".

    "The same way I''m also responsible for Austin''s injury and every other injury that hit the squad, are you satisfied now?"

    The reporter coughed. "It''s illuminating to hear your thoughts".

    "What of today''s game? People are not paying attention to it but we can''t help but highlight your reaction to Sam''s injury".

    "With all due respect sir, you literally abandoned the game, your squad, and the fans, deciding to follow your player to the hospital instead".

    "A certain section of people believe this is why Enyimba FC lost the game today. They believe that if you stayed in the stadium, supporting your team through the difficult period, Enyimba FC would have won".

    Coach Yemi Daniel stared at the female reporter, then he replied. "If Austin was not injured, we would not have won the league title".

    "Pardon?"

    "Just stop with this your little games, it irks me".

    "Enyimba FC already had a legendary season that is forever etched in our history. Last season, we went trophy less, then I didn''t see you asking so many questions. But this season, we managed to win the double, winning the 2 biggest trophies that we''re competing for".

    "All this was because of Sam''s contributions on the pitch".

    "Like you said, the fans didn''t complain about the loss today because unlike you, they acknowledge his help throughout the season and the role he played in Enyimba FC winning the double".

    "Sam didn''t suffer a normal injury, my player literally passed out on the pitch and you expect me to stay focused on the game?"

    "I know I''m obligated by a contract to prioritize the club first, but I''m also human, my humanity urged me to prioritize my injured player in that moment".

    "You may not know but I scouted Sam myself. I met him playing in the suburbs of Abraka, I brought him here to Enyimba FC myself!"

    "I promised his father that I would take care of him".

    "So yes, I owe him that much".

    "If anybody is dissatisfied with my decision, they can take it up with me".

    "My team losing today in his absence is another indication of the incredible role that he played throughout the season. I don''t care if you see it, I see it".

    "Sam had a legendary debut professional season, so yes, he deserves everything, including the fan support that''s he''s currently receiving. I think the fans would agree with us".

    "YES!" The fans outside chorused loudly.

    "See?"

    "Miss reporter, if you don''t have any questions for me, I think it''s time I take my leave, I want to check up one last time on my player before leaving".

    The female reporter nodded awkwardly. "Thank you for having us coach".

    "Don''t mention". Coach Yemi Daniel walked out on her.

    Returning to the hospital room where his player was kept, Coach Yemi knocked before entering only to meet the family of 4 dining together.

    On the bed, Sam was on a video call at this moment.

    ''That voice,'' he recognized it. ''That is his best friend, right?''

    Coach Yemi walked up to his player, being careful to avoid his mother''s path. "Tough guy," he called, grinning. "For a moment there, you made me really scared you know".

    Sam chuckled. "That bastard got me good, I can''t believe I fainted".

    Coach Yemi laughed. "So, how are you feeling?"

    "I feel great, thanks to you, my family, and the fans". He grinned.

    "I shouldn''t be disturbing you with that right now, you need to rest but I feel as one of the important cogs making the wheel of Enyimba FC move, you deserve to know".

    "We lost the game, on penalties".

    "I know," Sam''s shoulders dropped in dejection. "My father told me".

    Coach Yemi laughed. "Don''t feel down, it''s not your fault".

    Sam sighed. "I just really had such high hopes of winning a treble in my first professional season that to lose it at the last moment, it pricks a bit".

    "It''s normal, you''ll get used to it, every football player gets used to the feeling of losing trophies in their career".

    "Atletico Madrid of Spain have lost the UEFA Champions League final to their city neighbors; Real Madrid I think 2 or 3 times".

    "Just think of that".

    Sam grimaced. "That''s awful".

    Coach Yemi chuckled. "And at least, we''re not Arsenal who bottled the league after such a huge lead on Manchester City at some point in the season".

    Sam chuckled, feeling better. "You''re right".

    Coach Yemi looked at his wristwatch. "It''s already late, I think I''ll take my leave now. I still have a squad of players waiting for me in the stadium, I also need to give them first-hand information on your condition".

    "Ok," Sam nodded. "Please help me thank the fans for their support as you leave, tell them that I''m fine".

    "I would have gone myself but the doctor forbade me from leaving the bed".

    "I understand". Coach Yemi nodded.

    Just as the coach was about to leave, there was a beeping sound.

    Beep!

    (NEW! 1 Unread Message!)

    Immediately after taking a look at his phone, without reading the full contents of the message yet, Mr. Moses raised his head and looked straight at Coach Yemi Daniel.

    The coach shifted. "What?"

    "It''s a delegation from Lille".

    "¡­" Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "¡­"

    "¡­..!"

 Chapter 71 First European contact

    Beep!(NEW! Unread Message!)

    (Good day Mr. Moses.)

    (This is a congratulatory message to celebrate the achievements of your son and client throughout the 2022/2023 football season.)

    (We here at Lille Olympique Sporting Club have a habit of appreciating talent and we could not help but notice your son''s performances for Enyimba FC, mostly the iconic performances in the CAF champions league.)

    (We believe that Sam is made for the top, we wish him a great career ahead and once again, congratulations. We hope he recovers from his injury soon enough.)

    (Sender: LOSC)

    After reading the contents of the message that he just received, Mr. Moses was flabbergasted as he threw a glance at his son''s coach before focusing on Sam.

    He was feeling an emotion at this moment, but for some reason, he suppressed it. It was definitely because of Coach Yemi Daniel who was present.

    Coach Yemi coughed. "Umm, what did you say? You received a message from a delegation from Lille? By Lille, you mean the French Ligue 1 club?"

    "Yes". Mr. Moses nodded.

    Coach Yemi Daniel''s eyes turned sharp immediately, Sam''s eyes gleamed.

    The 2 women in the hospital room, not understanding what the hell was going on could only stare, wild guesses flying through their heads.

    "Sir, please, can I see it?" Coach Yemi requested politely.

    Mr. Moses stared at the middle-aged coach, and then with a sigh, he handed his phone over for the coach to go through the message.

    Reading through the message, Coach Yemi Daniel heaved a sigh of relief, but at the same time, he also sighed tiredly. "It''s just his first professional season and the big hitters are already at alert, sigh¡­"

    Coach Yemi looked at his player''s father. "It''s just first contact but the fact that they made contact in the first place means they''ve been scouting Sam for some time already, maybe their scout was even present in one of the CAF champions league knock-out games".

    He sighed. "I signed a 2-year contract with your son, hoping that at the very least, he could spend 2 years with me before going to greener pastures".

    "I guess I''ll likely say goodbye earlier than I expected".

    He sighed again. "Thanks for showing me the message again, Mr. Moses. I appreciate it. I''ll inform the club so we''ll be prepared for any European approach".

    "Welcome coach, it''s fine, you''ve treated my son well just like you promised, I at least owe you that much".

    Coach Yemi smiled and with that, he stepped out of the room.

    "Dad, give me, give me!" An impatient Sam demanded immediately after his coach left the room as he took his father''s iPhone and read through the message.

    Once he was done reading through it, a look of pride blossomed across his face. "Yes!" He whooped excitedly.

    "What happened?" Mrs. Moses asked, still confused.

    Mr. Moses looked at his wife. "Your son was just approached by one of the biggest clubs in France".

    Her eyes widened. "An overseas club?"

    "Yes".

    "Does that not mean more money? Bigger career?"

    Mr. Moses smiled. "Yes".

    "Halleluiah!" She jumped, celebrating excitedly. "Sam, you''re about to blow!"

    "Football is not so bad after all," she laughed.

    It was just first contact, nothing concrete yet, no talk about a contract yet but to Sam, it meant the whole world.

    The only bumming fact was that it was not the perfect story that he scripted in his head. ''I wish it was FC Barcelona''. He thought.

    ''But there''s still time''. He thought, motivated already at the thought of recovering from his injury and returning to the pitch.

    After crashing out of the FA cup, the season for Enyimba FC finally came to an end which meant an extended break for the players to relax and recover from the grueling schedule of football.

    European football would start in early August, and considering that it was still just late June, this meant that Sam still had about a month to hope for his beloved football club to contact him.

    ''I wonder if I did enough this season to attract their attention''.

    ''I hope''. He clenched his fists. ''I''ll even seek the system''s help if that''s what I need for it to be FC Barcelona''.

    "What are you thinking of?" At that point, Mr. Moses interrupted his son.

    "Nothing," Sam smiled. "Just thinking of Barca".

    Hearing that, Mr. Moses grinned. "That''s my ultimate dream too, son".

    A few minutes later, the nurse came back, stressing the need for the patient to rest properly so he would recover faster.

    Sam slept about a dozen more minutes later.

    ¡­

    Returning to the Enyimba International Stadium, to Coach Yemi Daniel''s surprise, all his players were still at the stadium waiting for him, including his assistant coach as they got remote information about Sam''s condition.

    Entering the dressing room, Coach Yemi Daniel faced his players with a big smile on his face. "It was a hugely successful season". He said.

    "We achieved all our goals, the league title, and more importantly, the CAF Champions League for the 3rd time in the history of the club. Without the FA cup, it''s still a legendary season in Nigerian football history".

    "Let''s savor it boys and not linger on today''s defeat". Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Tomorrow, we''ll start our open-bus parade officially to celebrate a successful end to the season with our 2 trophies".

    "Today, all I want from you is to go home, relax, do anything you want and tomorrow morning, meet me here in the stadium for the celebration".

    "And lastly, Sam is fine". He smiled.

    "Let''s make tomorrow exciting for him and Austin!"

    The players cheered, applauding excitedly as some of them brought out the wine that they hid since, bursting the champagne.

    Through it all, they recorded themselves, later uploading it for their fans.

    With that, the 2022/2023 season officially came to an end for Enyimba FC. It was a legendary and highly successful season in the history of not just the club, but the history of Nigerian football.

    Every single player in the squad just got their CVs bumped, including Sam. Discover stories with empire

    In his system status tab, he now had a tab for major career trophies, and it was updated with the NPFL trophy and the CAF champions league trophy.

 Chapter 72 Holiday

    A few weeks after the end of the 2022/2023 NPFL season and as the champions were decided, the NPFL released a publication on social media concerning the upcoming 2023/2024 football season.The news was also publicized by major Nigerian news channels.

    (NTA News Story!)

    (BREAKING NEWS!)

    (After a lot of planning by the administration, the schedule for the 2023/2024 NPFL season has been decided.)

    (The league will go back to the regular 38-matchday seasonal schedule, and the season starts on 9th September, 2023.)

    (Together, let''s make Nigerian football great again!)

    Immediately after the publication, all the clubs and players of the NPFL finally knew how much holiday time they had to rest and unwind in preparation for the new season. Fortunately, they had more than a month of rest time.

    Additionally, the Nigerian FA cup already came to an end as its winner was concluded after Enyimba FC crashed out of the tournament.

    Against all odds, despite managing to knock Enyimba FC out of the tournament, Plateau United was unable to ride the momentum forward and get to the final as they fell at just the next round of the tournament.

    In the end, Enugu Rangers and Bendel Insurance made it to the 2022/2023 Nigerian FA Cup final and after a cagey affair, secured a 1-0 win which took their historical tally of FA cup wins to 3, their first win since 1980.

    For Bendel Insurance, it was a historical season.

    And with that final played, football officially came to an end in Nigeria as the players of all the clubs finally got time for themselves to rest and recover.

    A particular player, Sam took advantage of the opportunity to the fullest.

    Since he was still injured and recovering, he would likely not play football yet even after the season started. This was the reason why his parents persuaded him to follow them back to Abraka, Delta State after the doctor approved it.

    That way, Sam got to stay and live with his family again after the events of last year December 22nd that turned his life upside down.

    Returning to Abraka, Sam soon learned that his life was no longer the same.

    He left as an anonymous youth in the town who loved football, but he returned as a star who just won the CAF Champions League trophy with one of the biggest clubs in the country, Enyimba FC.

    "Hey, bro, is that not Sam?"

    "It''s him! The rumors are true, he really came from Abraka!"

    "Should we approach him?"

    "No, just take a picture of him".

    Since he was always playing football, both at home and being on the road, traveling for away matches, Sam never really got the time to think more about it but now that he was free all of a sudden, he felt the price of stardom.

    It was not fanatical yet but still, it affected his life in subtle ways.

    And of course, Ian, his best friend and his father kept on bragging to the end of the world about him, leaving him embarrassed every single time.

    Sam felt weird. It almost felt like for almost all his life, he was invisible and finally, after becoming a star, he became visible to the world.

    People recognized him in the streets, some thought he earned millions, asking him for money and give away in the streets.

    At first, it felt a bit unbearable but Sam soon became used to it. And after he didn''t give anyone money after a few days, they stopped asking.

    In this time, Sam enjoyed life even as his system was lenient. Due to his injury and since he could only walk with a crouch for now, his system put all his daily system quests on hold.

    Talking of system quests, he remembered a series of system notifications that he already opened even before his injury.

    He got them immediately after winning the league title with Enyimba FC, it was the second season system quest he completed of the original 3 that he was given. Unfortunately, he failed the FA cup season system quest.

    ~----~

    [You have completed a Season System Quest!]

    [Congratulations! You have completed Season Quest 1!]

    [You have completed mission 1: Win the NPFL Championship title with Enyimba FC!]

    [You have been rewarded with +50 Skill Points!]

    [You have been rewarded with a random reward!] Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Randomizing reward¡­, please wait¡­]

    [Randomization complete!]

    [You have received a golden card!]

    [Click to open reward card:]

    ¡­

    Sam was familiar with this sequence; he had seen it before when he got a golden card with an image of Ronaldinho that gave him his only legendary inheritance of the elastico dribble skill.

    This time, the golden card hovering at the middle of the system interface had a different image of another familiar football face.

    This time, it had the image of the legendary Polish forward, Robert Lewandowski who now plied his trade for FC Barcelona.

    The image was that of a prime Lewandowski donning his FC Bayern Munich jersey. In the image, the legendary Polish striker jumped, suspended in the air as he was in the process of volleying a shot into the net.

    Sam was familiar with this image. ''It''s that game!'' His eyes gleamed. ''The one where Lewandowski scored 5 goals within 9 minutes!''

    Sam''s heart tightened in excitement; he already had a hunch about what this random reward would be about. He didn''t hesitate further, clicking on the golden card and immediately, it burst into countless golden specks and from the golden specks came his reward.

    ¡­

    [You have been rewarded with an ability card: Shoot it like Lewy!]

    [Available card uses: 3]

    [Card Effects:]

    >This card can only be used within a minute after scoring a goal. Once used, for the next 10 minutes, your positioning, shooting technique, and shot power are amplified, granting you an 80% chance of scoring with every shot that you take<

    ¡­

    [You have been rewarded with a +3 increase to 5 random football attributes!] Discover hidden tales at empire

    [Randomizing attribute¡­, please wait¡­]

    [Randomization complete!]

    [You have been rewarded with a +3 increase to your physicality attribute!]

    [You have been rewarded with a +3 increase to your shooting attribute!]

    [You have been rewarded with a +3 increase to your pace attribute!]

    [You have been rewarded with a +3 increase to your passing attribute!]

    [You have been rewarded with a +3 increase to your defending attribute!]

    [Congratulations! You have met the requirements to level up!]

    [Your overall player rating has increased to 77!]

    [NOTE: The higher your attributes, the harder it is to increase!]

    ¡­

    Player Attributes:

    *Pace: 76

    *Shot: 75

    *Pass: 79

    *Dribbling: 74

    *Defending: 38

    *Physicality: 66

    *Stamina: 80

    Overall Rating: 77

    ~----~

    Right at that moment, Sam was broken out of his daze as his sister pushed his door open, rushing into his room.

    He was almost irritated before he saw his parents right behind her.

    ''What¡­?''

    "Happy birthday!" They screamed.

    "Huh? It''s my birthday?"

 Chapter 73 Birthday celebration and new season

    "Happy birthday!"Sam was surprised. "Huh? It''s my birthday?"

    "Already?!"

    Jumping up from his bed, he opened his phone, checking his date and then, his eyes widened.

    {August 6th}

    Sam was born in August 6th, 2005 and today, he was 18.

    Last year, his birthday came and went in a flash, his family only remembering when it was evening and barely celebrating it, only wishing him happy birthday but this year, it was different.

    After his son''s exploits over the past few months, Mr. Moses was determined to make it a birthday to remember this time.

    "Go get set son, wear beach clothes, we''re going to McCarthy Beach".

    "Really?" Sam was ecstatic.

    "Do I look like I''m joking?"

    Well, by the end of it all, if Sam was asked to describe his 18th birthday celebration in one word, the only word he could think of was memorable.

    Going to the popular beach in Abraka, Delta State, Mr. Moses did not hold back, splurging money to make it memorable for his son.

    They enjoyed themselves, treating themselves to the best food that was on offer at the beach, spending nice time swimming and sunbathing.

    It was not a public celebration per say, just quality family time.

    Personally, to Paul, none of these experiences compared to the excitement of watching his dad play football for the first time in his life.

    In his beach attire, Mr. Moses joined a hastily formed mismatch beach football team that was created haphazardly as he played beach football alongside other people in the beach.

    Paul was excited to see his dad play, but the score line was not friendly.

    After 50 minutes of football, the team that his father played for ended up on the wrong side of an 8-0 hammering.

    It was totally embarrassing as Mrs. Moses and Sophia laughed at Mr. Moses till they cried, leaving the man blushing in shame.

    "You greenhorns!" He boasted at his opponents to save face. "None of you can match me in my peak. In my peak, I was called the Abraka Messi".

    "Abraka Messi, pfft!" They laughed at him and his teammates even more.

    "Just you wait, let my son recover from his injury first, he''ll show you greenhorns what true football feels like".

    In the end, the man who had his ego bruised could only rely on this, shamelessly boasting with his son who played professional football.

    It was petty but with it, he managed to save some face for himself.

    After an unforgettable day at the beach, they returned home only after it was getting dark and on getting home, they finally presented Sam with his birthday gift.

    "Happy birthday!" They chorused again, unveiling the gift.

    "¡­!" Sam was flabbergasted.

    Sitting on the table before him was the familiar box of an iPhone. On top the box, the words iPhone 13 pro max were written.

    Sam''s eyes widened. "Dad! You finally got me an iPhone?"

    "Hehe," this man smiled proudly. "I always told you that you were not big enough to use an iPhone yet. Well, you''re big enough now".

    "Thank you, dad!" Sam hugged his father excitedly.

    Of course, after these past few months of playing football with Enyimba FC, Sam already had the money to get an iPhone 13 pro max for himself but due to his busy football schedule, he never really had the time to pay attention to it.

    Right now, though, he didn''t care about the money, it was the gesture that mattered to him and the event at which he got it.

    The gift made his birthday even more memorable and to cap it off, his mom made his best traditional home-made soup, Banga soup and fufu.

    Sam ate to his fill, finally retreating to bed for the night as a fulfilled man.

    ¡­

    After his birthday, time moved fast to Sam as he spent most of his time at home, eating and being pampered by his parents.

    The days moved fast as football news started circulating from Europe.

    After winning an incredible treble, knocking the European Giants, Real Madrid from the champions league in tyrannical fashion with a convincing 4-1 second leg score line after an exciting first leg 1-1 draw, Manchester City were the reigning European champions.

    Not just the reigning European champions, they were reigning European treble winners after snatching the premier league title from Arsenal late, and also winning the FA cup in Wembley stadium, stealing it from their cross-city rivals, Manchester United. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Manchester City as a club was currently in the best period of its life where it gained a rapid followership on social media and new fans all across the world.

    They were the European club on top of the world.

    During the break after the 2022/2023 season, most of all the news was on Manchester City''s treble, Erling Haaland''s incredible debut season, with less attention put on Messi and Argentina''s world cup win in the summer of 2022.

    All this news led to one thing, the balon d''or race for the 2022/2023 football season was heating up and 2 names led at the top, Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi.

    More attention was also put on Rodri after his incredible displays during Manchester City''s historic run, including his Champions league final winning goal.

    He was also in the running for the balon d''or, the first time in more than a decade since a defensive midfielder was truly in the running for the balon d''or.

    In the transfer market, European clubs were also active as the headlines were led by Real Madrid''s capture of the English midfielder, Jude Bellingham after a summer of speculation.

    Another club that stole the headlines in the summer was Chelsea FC.

    After the change of ownership from Roman Abramovich, Todd Boehly, the new Chelsea owner and billionaire clearly came with big ambitions as he splurged money, acquiring the services of the likes of Mykhailo Mudryk and Enzo Fernandez amongst other big-name transfers.

    Another transfer that caught the attention of the world was Manchester City''s midfield hero, Ikay Gundogan making the switch from Manchester City to FC Barcelona in Spain.

    While all this happened, Lille stayed in contact with Mr. Moses.

    Despite waiting and hoping though, constantly keeping tab of any news FC Barcelona related, Sam''s hopes were crushed ruthlessly, Lille remained the only European club that stayed in contact with him.

    And after a few months of rest, a new football season, the 2023/2024 season finally started in the big 5 European leagues.

    It was also at this time that Lille sent their first contract offer to the Nigerian midfielder who just played his first professional season last season.

 Chapter 74 First contract offer from LOSC

    During the holiday period after the conclusion of the 2022/2023 football season, Sam finally made it official, making his father his official agent.Every contract-related issue was to go through his father.

    During the holiday after the first contact from Lille to his star midfielder, returning to his club, Coach Yemi Daniel spoke with the right executives and just 2 weeks later, the young midfielder''s contract was upgraded again shortly after the previous upgrade.

    Sam''s monthly salary was upgraded again from 500,000 naira to 1,000,000 naira, and finally, they slapped him with an official release clause.

    If any club wanted to snap the young midfielder away from Enyimba FC, they would have to trigger his release clause of 2 million Euros.

    In the NPFL, it was incredibly rare to see players with such a significant release clause but Sam''s case was special for Enyimba FC, Coach Yemi Daniel influenced the decision.

    To Sam, 2 million Euros was a ridiculous sum of money.

    The figures were too big for him to wrap his head around, so he left everything in his father''s care while he slowly worked his way back to fitness.

    Due to the delay in the start of the NPFL 2022/2023 season, the effects spilled into this new season a bit as the league delayed more than the big 5 European leagues before starting their season. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Before the NPFL season started, LOSC finally approached Mr. Moses with a professional contract for his client.

    There was no physical representative, just a simple email was sent.

    Mr. Moses broke down the hocus pocus down, and in simple terms, Lille Olympique Sporting Club were offering his client a 10,000 Euros a week salary after triggering his contract clause of 2 million Euros.

    They were also offering a signing bonus of 500,000 Euros.

    The delegation from Lille already approached Enyimba FC, trying to bring the release clause down but the Nigerian club were unwilling, staying firm with their decision.

    Left with no choice, Lille offered their first contract offer after fulfilling the release clause requirements but a certain agent was not satisfied with the offer.

    When converted to Nigerian naira, 10,000 Euros a week was approximately 7,000,000 Nigerian naira a week!

    Accumulated for a month, that was 28,000,000 naira a month!

    20 million was a sum of money that Sam had only ever heard of in numbers before. Compared to his current salary in Enyimba FC of 1,000,000 naira per month, it was a significant upgrade but a certain Mr. Moses was not satisfied yet.

    Insistent that his client was worth more than that, Mr. Moses negotiated for the weekly salary to be increased to at least 30,000 Euros per week while the signing bonus was upgraded to 1,000,000 Euros.

    These figures left Sam dizzy.

    1,000,000 Euros in Nigerian naira was approximately 700 million naira!

    "Dad, what if they withdraw their contract offer?"

    "Then it was not meant for you". Mr. Moses did not seem to know what pressure was at all in the contract negotiations.

    "Calm down Sam. This is my field, leave it to me. If LOSC really wants to sign you, they will agree to my contract terms and even if they can''t, they''ll negotiate".

    "If they don''t, then you''re not fated to play for Lille".

    "Have some faith son".

    Well, for the next few weeks to a month, Lille never responded, leaving Sam incredibly disappointed but with his family there with him, he was able to pick himself up, focusing on the upcoming season of the NPFL.

    By now, he already recovered from his injury and since the season would start soon, Coach Yemi Daniel already called his players back to Abia State.

    Despite going to Abia State already, Sam could not train fully with his teammates yet as the coach took it cautiously with him, taking him through light training to ease him back into full fitness.

    By then, Austin was already back to full fitness.

    With his contract situation out of his mind, Sam was able to focus back on his football, working hard on getting back in shape.

    While all these happened, time moved and soon enough, like the fleeting pages of a book, the D-day was here.

    The NPFL 2023/2024 season finally started.

    For matchday 1, Sam was unavailable to be selected as Coach Yemi Daniel was unwilling to risk him entering the game.

    Austin started the first game of the season and like expected, Enyimba FC rode the momentum of last season, blowing their opponents apart with a convincing 4-0 score line away from home to kickstart the new season.

    For the next game, in matchday 2, at home, Sam finally had his return to the pitch as he was introduced in the dying stages of the game.

    He could not chip in with a goal contribution but he played tidy football, playing his part in another convincing 3-1 win at home.

    And just like that, after 2 games, Enyimba FC were in a familiar position, sitting comfortably at the top of the NPFL table.

    For the next game, Sam also started on the bench but finally, on matchday 4, he started his first game of the season for Enyimba FC in their home stadium, the Enyimba International Stadium.

    For that game, the stadium was packed and the atmosphere was electric as the excited fans welcomed their star midfielder back into the starting XI.

    "Zinedine Sam!"

    "Zinedine Sam!"

    "Zinedine Sam!"

    Chants like this filled the stadium as he lined up alongside his teammates.

    Paul still felt disappointed due to the silence from LOSC, but exposed to the familiar electric atmosphere created by the adoring Enyimba FC home fans again, he smiled, forgetting about the pending contract situation.

    All his mind settled with Enyimba FC again.

    In that game, he finally got his first goal contributions of the 2023/2024 season, scoring an incredible screamer and chipping in with 2 assists in a 4-1 victory at home to collect his first man of the match award of the season.

    "Sam, how do you feel to be back among the goals?"

    Sam smiled amid heavy breathing. "It''s always a nice feeling to score a goal. After my injury last season, starting this season has been difficult but I''m adapting. I can feel it, I''m rediscovering my best form gradually".

    "Yes," he nodded, still smiling. "It feels good to be back among the goals".

    "What do you think of Enyimba FC this season? After your incredible exploits last season, there are many betting on your club to flop this season, still affected by the fatigue of playing so many high intensity games last season".

    "They predict Enyimba FC to go trophy less, what do you think?"

    Sam grinned. "Soon enough, we''ll be competing for our first trophy of the season and personally, I won''t bet against my club not winning it".

    "Please, can you clarify on what trophy you''re talking about?"

    "The FIFA Club World Cup of course".

    The reporter shifted a bit, signaling his cameraman to pay closer attention. "In case you''ve forgotten Sam, Manchester City on the back of their historic treble season are also competing in the Club World Cup".

    "Even with that, do you think your club stand a chance?"

    "You never know," he shrugged. "Don''t count us out just yet".

    "Ok Sam, I''ll pay more attention to the club world cup after this".

    "Anyways, thanks for having me, do have a nice day".

    "You too".

 Chapter 75 4 months...

    Enyimba FC started the 2023/2024 NPFL season on a high.The first 4 games of the NPFL season for the Aba-based club was smooth-sailing as they won all 4 matches, sitting comfortably at the top of the league table.

    Enyimba FC was still in form, riding the momentum of the previous season but unlike last season though, this time, it didn''t last the whole season.

    The next 3 games after matchday 4 of the NPFL 2023/2024 season, Enyimba FC suffered, showing a drastic switch from their previous form. And all of it was due to a certain game as in the matchday 5 encounter, there was an incident.

    In the first half, Enyimba FC dominated like usual, scoring the first goal in the 18th minute of the game as after an incredible solo run from the halfway line, Chijioke rounded the opposition goalkeeper before scoring an incredible goal.

    Just 5 minutes later, Chijioke, the Enyimba left winger doubled his goal tally in the game as he finished off a well-worked Enyimba team move, poking the ball into the net past the goalkeeper as Emeka offered the assist.

    By half-time, Enyimba FC led 2-0.

    Second half though was when all hell broke loose.

    For the majority of the second half, Enyimba FC maintained their dominance, dominating possession and creating more chances but in the 57th minute of the game, an incident occurred.

    After an ugly collision between 2 players on the pitch, Farouk was stretchered off the pitch after suffering a muscle injury.

    The injury was not caused by the collision, only aggravated by it. The true cause of the muscle injury was fatigue.

    Coach Yemi Daniel made changes immediately, bringing the backup defensive midfielder of his team but the damage was already done.

    Despite being on the lead with 2 goals already by then, Enyimba FC faltered in away ground, letting 2 opposition late goals to ruin their night as they settled for a draw, their first of the season.

    Both goals went through the mismatch defensive midfielder that was substituted into the game.

    A furious Coach Yemi Daniel subbed off the midfielder in the dying minutes of the game, introducing Olisema but it did little to change the outcome. The damage was already done.

    Despite drawing a game for the first time this season, the media was not focused on that, rather, they were focused on the incident.

    Discover more content at empire

    After the game, the doctors gave their verdict, ruling Farouk Mohamed out for a month and it was clear immediately that it would be a difficult month.

    In their next game, matchday 6, Enyimba FC managed to snatch a narrow 1-0 victory at home but in their matchday 7 encounter away from home, against their bitter rivals, Plateau United, they suffered their first defeat of the season.

    That extended their rough patch to a draw and a loss in 3 games.

    Enyimba FC suffered without a proper defensive midfielder on the pitch, and though Coach Yemi Daniel tried to improvise, it was not working.

    The backup defensive midfielder just could not do what Farouk did.

    On their 8th game of the season, just before the FA cup started, Coach Yemi Daniel tweaked his team formation again, going for a balanced formation that enabled him to play with 3 center midfielders.

    Sam''s role on the pitch changed, giving him more authority and freedom to roam at the center of the pitch alongside Austin and Olisema.

    Together, they played as all-purpose center midfielders.

    With this tactical change, the results also changed.

    The goals dried up for Enyimba FC as in the next few games, even as Farouk worked his way back to fitness, they struggled to score goals, drawing a few games and those that they won, they won with close 1-0 and 2-1 score lines.

    But then, the ultimate disaster happened as in one of the FA cup matches, despite winning 3-1, Emeka ended up suffering a knee injury that ruled him out for approximately 2 months.

    To Enyimba FC, this was a true disaster.

    Emeka was the only out and out center forward of the whole squad.

    Just like the pundits predicted, the fatigue of playing so many intense games in the champions league last season, playing multiple games across days with little to no rest was taking a toll on the Enyimba FC team. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It was also because of the fact that this season, Enyimba FC competed in all major trophies that could be available to a Nigerian club.

    Playing in so many competitions took its toll on players.

    As the season progressed, the schedule ramping up even as Farouk came back from injury, fate piled on Enyimba FC''s misery as Austin suffered another setback, a muscular injury.

    And barely just a week later, Olisema joined him in the injury list.

    Enyimba FC was hit hard by injuries, 3 important players of the starting XI were kept out of the pitch due to injuries, leaving the team incredibly vulnerable.

    The only player of the team that could be said to be in tip-top shape this season was Sam. After his injury last season, once he recovered, he became the only point of consistency for Enyimba FC this season.

    Sam''s numbers may have dropped drastically compared to his debut season due to the overall drop of the level of his teammates and injuries, including his coach''s tactical tweaks, but his performances never dropped.

    He was still fighting and running himself to the ground every game, contributing in the best way he could and in his day, he dominated imperiously.

    As the season progressed, he showed that he was far above his teammates physically, almost like he was on some crazy diet.

    He was on no diet though.

    Rather, with his physical conditioning elixirs that he got from completing the daily system quest, Sam was the sole shining light of Enyimba FC, masking an otherwise underwhelming start to the season.

    As the season progressed, they dropped points occasionally till they dropped all the way from the top spot to 4th position in the league table.

    During this time, game after game, Sam was the one constant in an Enyimba FC team heavily hit by injuries.

    He was also the only reason why they remained competing in all fronts.

    Games that Enyimba FC won, he was the X Factor, stealing memorable victories from the jaws of defeat.

    Games that Enyimba FC drew, he was the anchor that held everything together, preventing his team from capitulating completely under the pressure.

    As for games that Enyimba FC lost, he was almost the only shining light of the team that kept them competing.

    Like this, the days moved swiftly like the rolling pages of a book.

    The 1st month passed, including the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th months as the season fully matured, growing into its deep stages.

    And finally, it was December¡­

    By now, sitting in 5th position in the league table, Enyimba FC was under a lot of scrutiny from the media but most of it was shelved, temporarily.

    They were shelved because of the footballing event that started in December.

    Due to winning the CAF champions league last season, establishing themselves as the best team in all of Africa, Enyimba FC qualified, gaining an exclusive ticket to play in a very important club tournament.

    The FIFA Club World Cup was scheduled to start in December.

 Chapter 76 FIFA Club World Cup [1]

    The FIFA Club World Cup is one of the most respected club tournaments in the world.It is a tournament that brings together the champion clubs from each of the six continental confederations, plus a representative from the host nation.

    This time, the host nation for the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup was Saudi Arabia.

    The format of the competition already undergone various changes over the years, but the typical structure remained the same.

    There were only 7 competitors; the UEFA champions league winner from Europe, the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores winner from South America, the CAF champions league winner from Africa, the AFC champions league winner from Asia, the CONCACAF champions league winner from North America, the OFC champions league winner from Oceania, and the host nation''s league champion.

    For the first round of the competition, the host nation''s representative plays against the champion of the OFC (Oceania).

    In the second round, the winner of the first round joins the champions from CAF (Africa), AFC, (Asia), and CONCACAF (North America). Two knockout football matches are held at this stage to determine the progressors.

    After the second round, the tournament ramps up straight to the semifinals where the winners of the second round meet the UEFA champions league winner and the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores winner who only enter at this stage.

    The winners of the semifinals play in the final, while the losing teams compete in a third-place match for third place.

    All matches in the FIFA Club World Cup are single-elimination matches. If a match is tied after 90 minutes, it goes to extra time and if necessary, penalties.

    After more than 4 months of club football, the FIFA Club World Cup was finally organized, and it''s first game was scheduled for December 11.

    For Enyimba FC, it was a way to escape their current season troubles.

    4 months into the season, the team was slowly coming back into shape, Austin already back from his injury, including Emeka, only Olisema remained out of the line-up as he suffered a serious groin injury.

    Like usual, Coach Yemi Daniel did his homework for the tournament, providing the fixture updates to his players.

    (FIFA Club World Cup!)

    (First round:)

    >Al-Ittihad ¨C Auckland City<

    >Date: 12 December, 2023<

    By then, the Enyimba FC squad was already in Saudi Arabia as they acclimatized with the pitches where they would play against some of the best clubs across all the football-playing continents of the world.

    Domestically in the league, Enyimba FC may be having an up and down season, but they were still the reigning African champions league winners.

    In the hall of the hotel where they lodged, together alongside their coach, the Enyimba squad stayed and watched the first game of the club world cup.

    Al-Ittihad, the Saudi Arabian club representing the host country started the tournament as they took on Auckland City, the reigning OFC champions league winners representing Oceania or better known as Australia.

    In the first game of the tournament, Al-Ittihad showed the prowess of the home side, riding the momentum of the superior number of their fans that stayed supporting them as they dominated the game from the first minute, running Auckland City haggard by half-time.

    Al-Ittihad went to half-time leading by 1 goal to nil, courtesy of an incredible team goal by their striker but the score line didn''t reflect the reality on the pitch at all. Auckland City was thoroughly outplayed by the Saudi Arabian giants.

    And when the second half started, the floodgates opened as the Saudi Arabian club doubled their lead shortly after restart before sealing the game 3-0 at the 70th minute of the game.

    After that, they simply saw the game out against the toothless Auckland City.

    The Oceania-based club meekly bowed out of the tournament direct from the first day, stealing headlines across the world.

    Alongside his players and his analysts, Coach Yemi Daniel broke down and analyzed Al-Ittihad''s performance, identifying their main strengths and weaknesses.

    The Nigerian coach didn''t just pay attention to the Saudi Arabian club out of leisure though. It was because if the Saudi team won, in the second round of the tournament, they were scheduled to play against Al-Ittihad.

    He was already preparing for their first game of the tournament.

    3 days later, the D-day for the second-round games arrived.

    (FIFA Club World Cup!) Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (Second round:)

    >Leon ¨C Urawa Reds<

    >Date: 15th December, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Enyimba FC ¨C Al-Ittihad< Read the latest on empire

    >Date: 15th December, 2023<

    For the first game of the second round, Urawa Red Diamonds also known as Mitsubishi Urawa Football Club, a club from the city of Saitama, Japan, the current reigning AFC champions league winners were to take on the reigning CONCACAF champions, Lean from North America.

    It was a game between two evenly ranked teams, and the rating were proved true due to the intense game that followed.

    Determined to win the game and progress deeper into the semi-final of the tournament, both teams started with their best starting XI.

    During the first few minutes of the game, Leon dominated, coming close to scoring a few times but Urawa Reds of Japan remained defensively disciplined, shutting their opponents out till they also forced their imprint on the game.

    After the first 20 minutes of Leon domination, the game stabilized, becoming an even game as Urawa Reds finally started taking the battle to their opponents.

    The first half was an intense affair of high-octane football as both teams went hard at each other, going back and forth. Both teams had their chances, but neither of them was clinical enough to take it.

    The first half ended 0-0, a draw.

    No outside figure knew what the coaches of both teams told their players during half-time, because once second half started, the players of both teams rushed out, playing with even more intensity and energy.

    There were even more chances in the second half as the forwards feasted, penetrating into the defense constantly but failing at just the last moment.

    And then, one of the 2 teams finally paid the price for their relentless energy.

    After a reckless tackle on an Urawa Reds player, the Leon midfielder got a red card and that was the turning point of the game.

    Leon changed their game plan, defending deep in their half after changes from their coach as Urawa Reds launched attacking raids after attacking raids in their box. Despite a valiant defensive performance, Leon faltered.

    In the 81st minute of the game, Leon hearts around North America were shattered as Urawa Reds managed to sneak the ball into their net.

    The first game of the second round ended 0-1 in Urawa Reds'' favor.

    The Japanese team progressed to the semifinals of the FIFA Club World Cup.

    The second qualified team would be decided between Enyimba FC, the Nigerian-based club and Al-Ittihad, the Saudi Arabian giant.

    FWEEEE!

    The game started.

 Chapter 77 FIFA Club World Cup [2]

    In the dressing room, the Enyimba FC players sat, slightly tense as they looked up at their coach who paced up and down the room.For the past few months since the start of the NPFL season, Enyimba FC had a difficult time with injuries. Only their defense was still stalwart as across the midfield and forward lines, they already suffered multiple injuries already.

    Maybe it was luck but as December approached, most of the Enyimba players in the injury list finally made their return.

    At the moment, Cyril Olisema was the only important Enyimba FC player still injured and with Farouk''s return, his spot in the starting XI was not even guaranteed.

    Austin already returned some time ago and worked his way back to fitness already, but Emeka was still not in tip top shape for the FIFA Club World Cup.

    Despite this, his name was in the starting XI.

    Enyimba FC simply didn''t have the budget to poach another center forward of his qualifications. Coach Yemi Daniel had no choice but to work with what he had, and so far, the coach was doing a good job.

    After about a minute of pacing around, Coach Yemi Daniel finally stopped and with his hands resting on his waist akimbo, he finally addressed them.

    "It''s our first game of the FIFA Club World Cup". S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You know what our fans want," he paused, letting that sink in first then he continued. "You also know what I want".

    "Al-Ittihad may be strong but we are no push-overs too".

    "On paper, we''re a stronger team so let''s go there and do what we do best in knock-out stages of tournaments," Coach Yemi Daniel grinned. "Last season, we performed miracles to win the CAF champions league".

    He looked around at his players'' faces. "Are we out of miracles?"

    "No". Only Austin answered.

    "Come on!" Coach Yemi spread his hands, dissatisfied. "Come on guys, are we out of miracles?!" He said in a louder voice, then¡­

    "NO COACH!" The players roared.

    Coach Yemi grinned. "That''s what I thought".

    "Boys, let''s go out there and play our best football".

    "Let''s enjoy ourselves".

    He looked at his wristwatch, checking the time. "We have 90 minutes to wrap this up".

    Thinking of something, he smiled. "I don''t know about you guys, but I can''t wait to lock heads against Pep Guardiola come 22nd".

    He looked at his striker. "Emeka, don''t you want to test your ability against the proclaimed best striker in the world?"

    "Don''t you want to rub shoulders with Erling Haaland?"

    Hearing that, Emeka clenched his fists instinctively, feeling his blood boil.

    Coach Yemi Daniel grinned. "Thought so, so better not get injured".

    He looked at his 2-star midfielders. "Manchester City have some of the best midfielders in the whole world. Austin, who knows? Just one game, maybe it''s that game against a team of that caliber that''ll help you raise your game to a new level".

    "Sam, you too".

    He grinned again. "Don''t you want to rub shoulders with Kevin De Bruyne?"

    What else did his players need to hear to raise their mood to cloud 9?

    Well, that was all they needed.

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    At the moment, Manchester City was the best club in the world bar none. The Enyimba FC players never really paid attention to it before now but with their coach reminding them, they remembered, Man City was also in this competition!

    What other motivation did they need to win than the prospects of playing against the best club in the world?

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, starting the game, Enyimba FC kicked off the game as they came out roaring like a Dragon.

    For a moment, it felt like a role switch was in play.

    For a moment, it didn''t feel like Al-Ittihad was the club playing at home at all. Rather, Enyimba FC played like they were the one with the home advantage.

    They played like they were in their backyard, in the Enyimba International Stadium and with such a performance, results followed.

    For the first 20 minutes of the game, Enyimba FC dominated, posting ridiculous statistics of 73% possession against Al-Ittihad''s 27%.

    Al-Ittihad tried to wrestle control over the game but they couldn''t, Enyimba FC''s midfield trio were all in the zone state, playing at an otherworldly level.

    The first goal of the game came from one of them.

    Playing tiki taka football in the middle of the pitch, Farouk set his more advanced partners up as with short one-two passes, Sam and Austin penetrated into the Al-Ittihad 18-yard box till Sam set his captain up with a neat flick.

    The ball was set up for Austin almost perfectly, away from the onrushing defenders and the center midfielder did not hesitate, rifling the ball into the net.

    In the 12th minute of the game, Enyimba FC led 1-0.

    Just 3 minutes later, in the 15th minute of the game, after an impressive hold up play from Emeka, the Enyimba center forward set up the rampaging attacking midfielder who was on top of his game today, leaving the ball to him to shoot.

    Sam did not miss his mark, hitting the ball with venom and rifling it into the top right corner of the net with imperious power.

    The Al-Ittihad goalkeeper stood no chance.

    2 goals in 4 minutes!

    From there on, Enyimba FC totally dominated the first half, blowing out their opponents with a third goal once again set up by Sam.

    This time, Victor finished the attack, putting his name on the scoresheet.

    Enyimba FC went to half-time leading their opponents 3-0 but by then, the game was already decided because they didn''t just win against Al-Ittihad today, they literally annihilated them, swept them under the rug, mutilated them!

    The Al-Ittihad morale was at an all-time low.

    In the dressing room, Coach Yemi Daniel was all smiles. "Good job boys, good job".

    In the second half, Coach Yemi subbed off Emeka but it didn''t affect anything. Enyimba FC played safe in the second half, not wanting to risk an injury as they executed their coach''s orders to the book, focusing on maintaining possession.

    In the 60th minute, Austin was subbed off for a more defensive player.

    10 minutes later, Sam was also subbed off.

    The second half ended in a goalless draw, giving Enyimba FC a straight ticket to the semi-final of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup as they swept the Saudi Arabian giants aside with a convincing 3-0 score line.

    The publicity in the CAF champions league is much, but it held no candle to the publicity surrounding the FIFA Club World Cup.

    After that impressive performance, Enyimba FC entered the world''s radar.

    The second round of the tournament was over, and on to the semifinals.

 Chapter 78 FIFA Club World Cup [3]

    (FIFA Club World Cup!)(Second round results:)

    >Leon 0-1 Urawa Reds<

    >Date: 15th December, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Enyimba FC 3-0 Al-Ittihad<

    >Date: 15th December, 2023<

    ¡­

    (Semifinal fixtures:)

    >Fluminense ¨C Enyimba FC<

    >Date: 18th December, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Urawa Reds ¨C Man City<

    >Date: 19th December, 2023<

    To Enyimba FC, the most glorious fact of the second round of the FIFA Club World Cup was not the fact that they swept Al-Ittihad under the rug, qualifying at their expense, but rather the fact that they ended on the other side of the draw.

    It would have been even more painful after all their efforts, hoping to meet Manchester City in the final of the tournament, they ended up meeting them prematurely in the semifinal.

    At it seems though, the goddess of luck was smiling on them.

    Enyimba FC didn''t have the luxury to focus on a distant Manchester City side though. This was because in the semifinal, they met another stern test in the form of Fluminense, the South American club.

    As the reigning champions of the Copa Libertadores, a trophy that was even more highly rated than the CAF champions league, Enyimba FC were not delusional to not be wary of their strong opponents.

    Fluminense were in strong form and Enyimba FC respected them for it but they didn''t approach the game with fear, rather approaching it with the same mentality that they approached the Al-Ittihad game.

    The vibe in the club was a positive one.

    For 3 days, alongside his teammates, Sam trained intensely even as Coach Yemi Daniel also did his work, taking care of the tactical aspects of the game.

    For the upcoming game, Sam had an even more difficult task, he would be taking on his first free role since starting his football career.

    Due to his impressive ball retention ability and his improved dribbling activity, and his stamina, Coach Yemi Daniel wanted him to be the thorn in the side of the strong South American side.

    In essence, for 90 minutes, Sam was expected to run himself to the ground, making sure that he was a menace in the South American side.

    It was difficult but Sam was up to the challenge.

    Before the game, he visited the rest room where he looked at his reflection in the mirror; he grinned. ''This is it¡­, the moment that the system always wanted''.

    ''The moment that it even had to bend reality just to make possible''.

    ''Games like this, they''re what defines a career''.

    Thinking of this, he remembered a song that his father recommended to him earlier in the year. "Lose yourself," he muttered, smiling.

    "It''s now or never".

    He left, going back to the pitch, then¡­

    FWEEEE!

    It was a blockbuster encounter against two strong teams with recent incredible achievements. Fluminense was in greater form but from the first minute, Enyimba FC set a marker on the game.

    They were not going down without a fight!

    The first half was a tight and cagey affair as both teams played physical football with great intensity, not giving their opponents time on the ball, rushing to win it back and kickstart their own attack almost immediately.

    In most parts, the first half was chaotic but a certain player thrived in the chaos, Samuel Moses.

    Sam was still playing at an elite level compared to the standards of the NPFL, but compared to his debut season, his level dropped a bit this season.

    He noticed it and worked extra hard but with time, he learned that it was not just because of him, but his team.

    He was already outgrowing the Enyimba FC team.

    By now, he was the out and out best player of the team.

    And though he didn''t want to admit it, Sam knew that Enyimba''s performances this season were part of the reason why the attention on him after his record-breaking debut season reduced.

    It was also the reason why Lille was not pushing yet to get his signature.

    At some point, it left him depressed but after enough time of reflecting on it, it only left him yearning for more, yearning to prove them wrong.

    ''I can do more!''

    ''I will do more!''

    And what better time than now to do more?

    Amid the chaos, Sam thrived, imprinting his footsteps all over the pitch for Enyimba FC as he helped his team hold the fort against the rampant Fluminense.

    The game was an even encounter throughout the first half, but in the 45th plus 2 minutes, a moment of individual brilliance opened it up.

    Receiving the ball close to the halfway line, Sam held it, facing his side of the pitch even as 3 Fluminense players immediately closed him down.

    As they did, this was when he pulled out another moment of magic from his trick box.

    Touching the ball with the heel of his boots, Sam did a feint, moving as if he intended to continue rushing towards his side of the pitch before dragging the ball back with the heel of his boots, leaving the 3 Fluminense players for dead.

    "¡­!" Gasps erupted around the Saudi Arabian stadium.

    In one move, Sam eliminated 3 opposition players before charging towards the left side of the pitch with the ball.

    He evaded more challenges, deftly flicking the ball and pushing it above the outstretched legs of 2 more Fluminense players.

    By now, Sam was already close to the Fluminense 18-yard box from the left.

    He was initially running towards the corner flag with the ball when he stopped, cutting the ball back to his right.

    Immediately after he did this, reading him, a Fluminense midfielder immediately rushed in for the tackle¡­, but it was the wrong move.

    Whoosh!

    Sam''s legs moved so swiftly that it almost seemed like a snake''s bite, dragging the ball one way with his right leg before rapidly cutting it back at an acute angle with the same right leg to his left.

    "Oh my God! An Elastico¡­!" The commentator screamed.

    "And that Fluminense player is left praying to dead gods, what an ankle-breaker move!"

    "What a piece of individual skill!"

    "Sam is free, will he shoot? Oooohhh¡­!" The commentator exclaimed. "And what a cut! Can you see this Drake?" The commentator laughed. "That guy is sliding to Jerusalem; and Sam is back on his right foot!"

    "Will he¡­? And yes he did!"

    Sam was already in the zone state.

    After eliminating the first player with an elastico dribble, with his spatial awareness, he saw it as the Fluminense player slid in for a tackle.

    Sam reacted fast, cutting the ball and skipping away from the player.

    At that moment, for a second, he was left unmarked.

    Sam took one look at the goal, bent his body before curling the inside of his right boot around the ball, lifting it up with a perfect curling shot.

    The ball rose into the air, rotating rapidly even as the Fluminense goalkeeper jumped on a full-stretch dive.

    "Will the goalkeeper catch it? Will he? And ooohhh¡­!"

    "What a goal!"

    "An absolute banger!"

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    "They call him the African Zidane, and here again, he''s done it!"

    "What a first half performance!"

    The Fluminense goalkeeper''s hand nicked the ball, but it was not enough as the ball slipped through, nestling into the net.

    As the commentator sang his praises, Sam ran off towards the corner flag, spreading his arms to acknowledge the adoration of his fans.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!" S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    They chanted loudly.

    And then, he slid on his knees, pointing a finger at his head in celebration.

    His teammates slid after him, hugging him excitedly from behind.

    FWEEEE!

    The game soon restarted but it was too little time for Fluminense to do anything, the first half ended 0-1 in Enyimba FC''s favor.

 Chapter 79 FIFA Club World Cup [4]

    FWEEEE!Second half started.

    Sam''s incredible solo goal in the first half was clearly unexpected, briefly affecting the Fluminense momentum but it didn''t last long.

    During halftime, the Fluminense coach definitely told his players some crazy words because they came out for the second half firing on all cylinders.

    What Sam''s goal did was rile up this strong team even more.

    In the second half, the Fluminense players increased their work rate, running all over the pitch as for the first few minutes of this half, they dominated and it was not without fruit as they got a result in a short time.

    After 5 minutes of dominating possession, they scored from their first shot.

    POW!

    The sound as the leg hit the ball was like that of a bullet leaving a gun''s muzzle, evident of the power behind the shot!

    The Fluminense left winger started the move, dribbling through multiple Enyimba FC players through the left wing as he penetrated into their 18-yard box after displaying impressive flair with the ball.

    He didn''t try to shoot though, nor did he pass to his lethal striker, rather, this winger''s intelligence showed as he passed to the only player with no marker who was just outside the 18-yard box.

    The Fluminense attacking midfielder did not miss his chance, hitting the ball first-time with pure venom as it shot towards the middle of the post with power!

    The ball was sent towards the top center of the post, but its power was too much and its speed was too fast.

    Ojo, the Enyimba FC goalkeeper could only dive awkwardly as the ball shot past his arms with fear-inducing force!

    It was a thunderous goal!

    "What a rocket shot!" S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "And Flumimense are back in the game!"

    "Drake I''m telling you, that was straight out of the Universal Soldier playbook, what a venomous shot!"

    "1-1¡­, game on!"

    In the 50th minute of the game, the game was tied 1-1.

    That also served as a wake-up call for Enyimba FC as the whole team were roused from their slumber, turning the game into a pound for pound bout.

    In the midfield, Farouk became a stalwart, rushing after and tackling every loose ball even as Austin played as the anchor, rotating possession.

    Emeka''s hold-up play improved.

    As for Sam, he was all over the pitch, winning back possession, spraying passes left and right, playing crazy defense-splitting passes while unleashing that occasional rocket shot that left the Fluminense goalkeeper always on his toes.

    The tension of the game was palpable.

    Having won the man of the match award of the second-round game, Sam''s performances today rose above every other player, putting him forefront for the award again, till a moment of shock stunned Enyimba FC.

    After receiving a pass from Ojo, the Enyimba FC right center back was immediately subjected to the Fluminense aggressive press as left with no choice, he passed back to his goalkeeper, and then came the blunder.

    The Fluminense striker didn''t just press the center back as predicting his pass option, before he passed, he already charged towards Ojo.

    And the pass was a weak pass.

    Thud! Thud!

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    Hearing the thudding sounds of the striker''s boots as he rapidly charged towards the ball, Ojo panicked.

    This goalkeeper felt his body fill up with adrenaline.

    He also charged out, the only thought in his mind being to kick the ball far away from his box, but then, the pressure of the game got to him.

    Having been subjected to the loud roar of the fans since the first minute of the game, in this moment of truth, Ojo made his first blunder.

    His left leg kicked, but he missed the ball completely!

    "¡­!" This goalkeeper was stunned.

    The ball rolled in-between his legs, going behind him and straight into the post. It crossed the line¡­, it was a goal.

    "GOALLLL¡­!"

    Roaring loudly, the Fluminense striker celebrated exuberantly.

    This striker charged to the touchline, jumping over the barrier as he waved his arms up and down, charging up the Fluminense supporters as they roared.

    In the 68th minute of the game, Enyimba FC lost their lead, going 2-1 down.

    The tension increased, becoming even more palpable.

    The whole Enyimba FC team could already stare at the jaws of defeat. Most of them succumbed to it, surrendering to the superior Fluminense spirit but a certain player refused to succumb.

    Staring at his opponents as they celebrated, only one thought went through Sam''s mind. ''It''s not over yet!''

    ''We can still do it; we can still win!''

    FWEEEE!

    When the game restarted, desperate to score again, Enyimba FC''s ball progression became disorderly and rushed as they began losing possession of the ball rampantly to the frustration of a certain coach.

    "Calm down, calm down!" Coach Yemi Daniel kept on yelling from the touchline but his players could not hear him anymore.

    The game already got to them, seeping into their head like a virus.

    After that 2nd goal, riding the momentum, Fluminense finally claimed superiority over their opponents as they started dominating possession.

    "Calm down!" Coach Yemi Daniel kept on yelling, frustrated.

    This coach watched as the minutes passed and as his team''s play kept on becoming more atrocious. He watched as the game slipped away from his team''s grasp, and amid it all, only one player in blue stayed playing his game.

    His name was Samuel Moses.

    Even while all his teammates seemed to transition into Sunday league players, having succumbed to the pressure already, Sam remained locked in.

    With red eyes filled with fanatic focus, he ran, pursued, tackled, passed, moved the ball with zeal and a singular purpose, to score.

    80 minutes passed¡­

    By now, Fluminense already came close to doubling their lead a few times as some Enyimba FC away supporters in the stadium were already reduced to tears.

    They watched as their team capitulated under the pressure.

    In the end, the pressure cascaded as in a moment of madness in the 86th minute of the game, the same Enyimba FC center back who scored the own goal pulled the Fluminense striker in the box, causing a penalty.

    The player also received a red card as the Fluminense striker flailed his arms wildly again, riling up the Fluminense fans even more.

    Enyimba FC''s misery piled on in loads, the team now reduced to 10 men while facing a penalty kick.

    At this point, disappointed Enyimba FC supporters started leaving the stadium, too devastated to watch the game more.

    The confident Fluminense striker stepped up to take the penalty.

    FWEEEE!

    This striker did a short run, took a look before placing this ball perfectly towards the bottom right corner. It was a perfect penalty kick, but¡­, it was an even more perfect dive.

    No one saw it coming!

    Going on a full-stretch dive towards the right side of the pitch, after his previous blunder, Ojo managed to pull off a miracle, saving the perfect penalty!

    Ojo pushed the ball out of his net!

    Austin was the first player to react, rushing at the ball before clearing it without looking high up into the pitch.

    As soon as the ball was cleared, the first player to react was¡­ Sam!

    Thud!

    He moved!

 Chapter 80 Mamba mentality!

    The mamba mentality¡­, what was it?Was it real? Or was it just a myth?

    To some, to sum up what the mentality is, it means to be able to constantly try to be the best version of yourself. It is a mentality, a lifestyle, it''s a constant quest to try to be better today than you were yesterday.

    Well, the tens of thousands of fans gathered in the Saudi Arabian stadium today got the privilege to witness it first-hand, after the ball was cleared.

    As soon as the ball was cleared, Sam felt like a bolt of electricity just went through him, pushing him into such an excited state like electrons that he jolted into action instinctively!

    Thud!

    He moved!

    There was a Fluminense player close to him, the player tried to drag his jersey and pull him down, committing a tactical foul for his team but Sam was having none of it as he flung his hands wildly, shrugging the player''s grasp off as he collapsed to the pitch helplessly.

    Sam was already in the zone state with all distractions abstracted from his mind, the main thing on his mind being the ball, the pitch, and its inhabitants.

    The first things he noticed was the flight trajectory of the ball.

    He also noticed the player who tried to drag him down, including the last defender that Fluminense left as the sweeper, including the fact that the Fluminense goalkeeper didn''t stray off his lines.

    The goalkeeper was disciplined, staying at alert in his lines despite the fact that his team was dominating the game since.

    This meant that Sam could not try his long-range shot trick this time.

    Sam also noticed that as the ball descended, the last Fluminense defender, the sweeper was already charging towards him to wrestle for the ball.

    And he also noted that the defender was not fast enough, meaning that he would get the ball first, forcing the defender to tackle to get the ball back.

    It was a 50/50 situation but it was fine, it was not all bad yet.

    In reality, it was a 70/30 situation simply because of the mental state that Sam was in at this moment, almost like he was floating among clouds, then¡­

    The ball finally descended.

    Bam!

    The defender was already close but with one deft touch of the ball, ignoring the pressure of his opponent''s press, Sam brought the ball under control and with another deft touch, he pushed it in-between the defender''s legs.

    With 2 deft touches, Sam controlled the ball, and nutmegged the sweeper!

    The stadium erupted in cheers but Sam heard none of it, because he had someone else to beat, the goalkeeper.

    The sweeper defender tried to drag him down too, risking a red card but having expected it, Sam evaded him, rushing after the ball, then¡­

    Bam!

    He kicked the ball long, and then he dug in¡­

    Sam could feel his heart beating rapidly against his chest, his lungs burning as it pumped oxygen through his body rapidly even as he moved.

    As he moved, the Fluminense goalkeeper retreated, protecting his post but Sam kicked the ball long again after the first time, deliberately.

    And that was the bait¡­

    "¡­!" Alarmed to what he judged as a poor touch, the Fluminense goalkeeper charged out of his post aggressively, chasing after the ball, but Sam was faster.

    Sam arrived at the ball first, stopping it with a deft touch even as the goalkeeper kept on charging towards him like a train.

    At that moment, time seemed to stop, space and time seemed to freeze, and then¡­, the Fluminense goalkeeper saw stars.

    "ANOTHER ELASTICOOOOO¡­!!!" The commentator screamed.

    "The goalkeeper was literally deleted!"

    "Zinedine Sam!"

    "Zinedine Sam!"

    "Zinedine Sam!" The commentator screamed in a shrill tone at the top of his voice even as tens of thousands of fans around this stadium stood up.

    With that elastico, Sam sent the goalkeeper one way, jumping over his outstretched leg, and then, he poked the ball into an empty net.

    It almost looked too easy for him.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    The Sam chants broke out again.

    In the 87th minute of the game, after Ojo pulled off a crazy penalty save, Sam added the finishing touches at the other end, scoring a goal straight out of the top drawer in terms of how iconic it was.

    The game was tied again, 2-2¡­

    Sam didn''t celebrate though, charging into the net as he picked the ball before charging back all the way to the half-way line.

    His eyes remained red in focus, firmly locked in the zone state.

    That goal definitely rattled some nerves.

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle blew again, the Fluminense players, flustered and even more determined now charged at the Enyimba FC half with even more dangerous attacking raids and this time, Sam went back to defend.

    Sacrificing himself, fully zoning into his free role today, Sam recklessly went on sliding tackles, blocking shots, intercepting passes.

    90 minutes passed; the score remained 2-2¡­

    90 plus 1 minute¡­

    90 plus 2 minutes¡­

    90 plus 3 minutes¡­

    90 plus 4 minutes¡­ S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    90 plus 5 minutes¡­

    90 plus 6 minutes, the last minute of additional time of normal game time, Sam won the ball back all the way in his half again and this time, kicking the ball long again, he started another counter-attack.

    Badump! Badump!

    Sam could feel his heart beating heavily against his chest, warning him against over-exerting his body but Sam didn''t care, the win was what mattered.

    Digging in, he charged through the left flank with the ball, eating yards of space even as the swift Chijioke charged after him, about to overtake him.

    As Chijioke overtook him, Sam passed the ball to his front, letting this winger run into it even as he diverted his run, cutting back into the middle of the Fluminense 18-yard box and that was when Chijioke floated the ball back in.

    There were 2 Fluminense players tracking Sam, making sure that he was locked out while one of the center backs was diligently keeping Emeka quiet.

    Despite his trackers, as he ran into the 18-yard box, Sam jumped despite the high boot of his opponent to win the ball, deftly controlling the high ball with his chest amid gasps around the stadium.

    His opponent''s high boot hit his chest but Sam showed no reaction, his red eyes only fixated on the round ball now descending from his chest.

    Bam!

    Sam felt the second player hit him with his body, pushing but he didn''t fall, nor did he react, rather flicking the ball with his right lap.

    With that flick to the right, as the ball floated in the air, he turned, rotating after the ball and then without thinking, his right leg swung up with power. Discover stories with empire

    Sam hit the ball on a volley!

    BAM!

    At that range, the goalkeeper could only react like an epilepsy patient, falling to the ground while sprawling his hands helplessly as the ball rushed past him.

    The net shook¡­

    "GOALLLL¡­!!!" Sam roared.

    Removing his blue jersey, Sam charged towards the corner flag, embracing the wave of adoration suddenly directed at him by the fans as he nodded in acknowledgement before showing his jersey to the fans, pointing at his name and number.

    {Samuel #19}

    "WHAT A GOALLLLL¡­!" The commentator roared with his cracked voice.

    "WHAT A GAME!"

    "WHAT A GOAL!"

    "Samuel Mosesssss¡­.!"

    "Samuel Mosessss¡­!" He was freaking out.

    "Mamba mentality!" He roared. "That''s the mamba mentality!"

    "What a goal! What a moment! What a game!"

    "The boy wonder just single-handedly won Enyimba FC the game!"

    Enyimba FC won the game 2-3.

 Chapter 81 A date with Manchester City

    (FIFA Club World Cup!)(Semifinal result:)

    >Fluminense 2-3 Enyimba FC<

    >Date: 18th December, 2023<

    In a sporting event that sent the whole footballing world reeling in shock, after an impressive display that stole headlines all over the world, a young 18-year-old midfielder called Samuel Moses sent his local club to the final of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup.

    If the footballing world across Europe didn''t know of the name Samuel Moses before now, after the game against Fluminense, they definitely knew now.

    And unexpectedly, Sam scooped his second successive man of the match award in the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup tournament.

    And as was expected, he presided over the post-match interview.

    With sweat all over his face, still breathing rapidly from how much he exerted himself in the game, Sam faced the male reporter with a big smile on his face.

    The male reporter grinned. "I can see someone is in a good mood".

    Sam grinned back at him. "Who wouldn''t be?" He chugged down a gulp of water down his throat. "I mean, come on, not even I scripted it like this, my performance today was beyond my expectations". Sam chuckled.

    "Well, to sum up my view of your display today, first of all, there is a tradition that I once learned from a movie, you should watch it at your free time, 3 Idiots".

    "I learned this from the movie".

    Telling his cameraman to pay attention, the male reporter removed his face cap before bowing in Sam''s direction. "Your highness, thou art great oh!"

    "Receive this humble offering".

    "Stop it". Sam laughed loudly, including the other people available for the interview, but then he grinned. "Actually, I''ve watched the 3 Idiots and if my memory doesn''t fail me, you''re supposed to remove your pants".

    "Stop!" The reporter burst out laughing.

    After their light-hearted exchange, the interview finally started officially. "Honestly, words can''t express the magnitude of your performance today Sam. I finally understand why they call you the African Zidane, how do you feel?"

    Sam grinned. "I feel great, honestly, I feel like I''m floating".

    "My teammates are literally worshipping me at this point," he chuckled. "During the game, I didn''t know how cool it looked but watching the replay after the game, I finally understand how ridiculous my last goal was".

    "Honestly, I don''t know how I did it, I just did it".

    The reporter grinned. "Well, Sam, congratulations, because that''s the mark of great footballers. They simply do things on the pitch, incredible things that even they themselves can''t explain".

    "After your performance today, I believe that you''re now on the radar of some European clubs. Some of my sources tell me you''ve already been approached by a European club, is that true?"

    Sam shook his head. "I can''t say, my father is in charge of all contract-related matters. All I care about is playing football".

    "If an acceptable offer do comes my way to play in Europe though," he grinned. "I won''t hesitate, I want to prove my talent to the world".

    "I wish you good luck in that endeavor Sam". The reporter smiled again, looking at his paper before continuing the interview.

    "After your heroics today, at the expense of Fluminense, you just bought yourself a date with Manchester City in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup. Do you think your club stands a chance against the best club in the whole world?"

    "Do you think you can put out this same performance against Manchester City in the final?"

    Sam smiled. "First, the last finalist of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup final is not decided yet, Manchester City still has to play their first game tomorrow".

    "Do you think Urawa Reds stand a chance against them?"

    Sam shook his head. "It''s not a matter of what I think, it''s football and in football, anything can happen".

    He rubbed his chin, contemplating his words. "If we do meet Manchester City in the FIFA Club World Cup final though, I can''t promise anything, the only thing I can promise the Enyimba fans is that we will give our best like we always do".

    "Last season, against all odds, we made it all the way to the final of the CAF champions league, going all the way and winning it in the end".

    "Are you saying¡­?"

    Sam shook his head again. "I''m not saying anything, I''m simply saying that I won''t reject another miracle if it comes".

    He grinned. "Afterall, this is football".

    "What about you? Do you think you can put out the same performance today against Manchester City in the final?"

    Enjoy new chapters from empire

    "Who knows?" Sam shrugged. "But I''ll give it my best shot, believe that".

    "I do believe Sam". The male reporter smiled again, and then he looked at his wristwatch. "My time is over Sam; I wish I had more time with you". Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You''ll have another time another day Mr. John".

    The reporter smiled. "It was a nice time with you Sam, do have a nice day".

    "You too".

    With that, Sam finally returned to his teammates in the dressing room. To his surprise though, immediately after he entered the room, Austin burst a bottle of champagne, pouring it all over him as the team celebrated their victory again.

    Raising Sam up, they threw him up and down excitedly in the air, acknowledging his big role in their incredible comeback today.

    After returning to their hotel rooms, later in the day, Sam had a video call with his family as he spoke with his overexcited mom and sister.

    Mr. Moses was just proud of his son.

    That same day, his contacts from Lille finally contacted him again including delegates from 3 other European clubs, leaving this middle-aged man ecstatic but he did not bother his son with the contact talks for now.

    He let Sam focus on his football, the final for now.

    The next day, Manchester City finally took on Urawa Reds in the other semifinal game and just like the whole world expected, the reigning European champions blew their opponents away completely.

    And finally, the semifinal results were ready.

    (FIFA Club World Cup!)

    (Semifinal results:)

    >Fluminense 2-3 Enyimba FC<

    >Date: 18th December, 2023<

    ¡­

    >Urawa Reds 0-3 Man City<

    >Date: 19th December, 2023<

    ¡­

    (Match for 3rd place:)

    >Urawa Reds ¨C Fluminense<

    >Date: 22nd December, 2023<

    ¡­

    (Final fixture:)

    >Man City ¨C Enyimba FC<

    >Date: 22nd December, 2023<

    Enyimba FC got their date with Manchester City.

 Chapter 82 Bronze medal winners

    For the next 3 days, news around the football world were focused on 1 specific event, the approaching FIFA World Cup final between Manchester City, the reigning European Champions and the champions from Africa.Before that day, not many people knew or had even heard of Enyimba FC but after the game against Fluminense, the name Enyimba FC entered the map.

    Fans across the world learned the identity of Man City''s final opponents.

    And by learning about Enyimba FC, they also progressed, learning about their exploits last season, rising up as underdogs against all odds all the way to the CAF champions league final and winning in incredible fashion.

    It was the perfect underdog story.

    And by learning this incredible story, they also learned about the boy wonder who spearheaded the Enyimba heroics last season, Samuel Moses.

    Learning the fact that the season prior to the 2022/2023 season, Enyimba FC literally went trophy less lent even more credibility to the team''s achievements and most importantly, Sam''s brilliance.

    Adding the fact that Enyimba FC crashed out of the FA cup immediately after he suffered an injury only added more substance to his legend.

    The legend of the African Zidane rising from the suburbs of Abraka, Nigeria, rising to the top of African football, sweeping away all competition. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It was not an official book but articles like this started popping up and circulating around social media, and with popular football social media pages like GOAL.COM and others fanning the flames, a certain player experienced a popularity surge again.

    All across Nigeria and beyond, fans wearing jerseys with the name Sam and the number 19 started circulating all over social media.

    And most of these fans didn''t wear his name on number on the Enyimba FC jersey and colors, rather wearing it in their own club colors.

    There were fans from England doing it, fans from even Germany and France, and some from Spain too.

    With all this publicity suddenly surrounding him at the age of 18, Sam would have been overwhelmed if not for the ever-present support of his family and his coach. Coach Yemi Daniel was ever ready to help and keep Sam grounded.

    Despite the fact that his social media followership exploded, with tons of crazy accounts chatting him up, some even sending him nudes and asking him to be their girlfriend, Sam managed to ignore it all, training diligently alongside his teammates for their date against Man City in a few days.

    For this game, Coach Yemi Daniel went gaga, coaching his players with incredible detail on a lot of tactical nuances and know-hows.

    "I''ve never seen the coach give so much for just 1 game," Austin told Sam one day. "Damn, he really wants us to pull off a miracle, do you think we can?"

    Sam looked at his captain. "I don''t know, but I do hope we do".

    All the players put in more than 100% in training, making sure they were in tip-top shape and finally, like the rolling pages of a book, 3 days passed swiftly and it was already D-day.

    It was 22nd December.

    Enjoy new adventures from empire

    The match for 3rd place between Urawa Reds of Japan and Fluminense of South America was played first in the afternoon.

    Just like the world expected, Fluminense came roaring from the very first minute of the game, leaving their stamp of authority on the game.

    They dominated the first half, running Urawa Reds ragged, a first-half performance that culminated in a convincing 0-2 score line.

    During half-time, the Urawa Reds coach did his thing, motivating his players the Jose Mourinho way as they all came out for the second half like hungry Lions.

    In the first 10 minutes, their high energy tactic paid off as they caught Fluminense off-guard, scoring a goal in the 54th minute to cut down the score line by half.

    Fluminense were not having it though, they were not about to have another Enyimba FC here and botch the chance to collect the bronze medal.

    Reminded of scars past by that goal, the Fluminense players reacted like an angry Chicken whose eggs were stolen by a Hawk.

    And when a mother Hen was angry, she would turn heaven and earth upside down until she avenges her children and finds peace.

    It was not strange for mother Hen to take off flying like Eagles in pursuit of Hawks when it came to their eggs, and in this game, Fluminense truly took off like Eagles after the score line was halved by Urawa Reds.

    The intensity for the next 15 minutes turned borderline crazy as both teams ran each other to the ground. After withstanding the pressure for 15 minutes, Urawa Reds finally wilted under the pressure of a superior opponent.

    In the 70th minute, the Fluminense attacking midfielder thundered in another outside the box rocket shot that left the Urawa Reds goalkeeper eating grass.

    The ball rushed through the field like a bullet, nestling into the bottom right corner of the net and doubling Fluminense'' lead again.

    Just 3 minutes later, in the 73rd minute, the same attacking midfielder made it a game to remember, finishing off an incredible team play from Fluminense as he tapped the ball into an empty net.

    In the 73rd minute, Fluminense tripled their lead, making the score line 1-4 in their favor. The fans in attendance watching the game were thoroughly entertained.

    After scoring the goal, the Fluminense midfielder charged towards the corner flag before doing a backflip in celebration.

    The Fluminense players were flying and in a good mood.

    For the remaining minutes of the game, they enjoyed themselves with the ball, dominating possession, playing neat tiki taka football, with some occasional dizzying moments of brilliance from the Fluminense wingers as they cut through their opponents with brilliant dribbles like a hot knife through butter.

    By the 90th minute, Urawa Reds was already humiliated. This did not stop the Japanese team from scoring a second consolation goal though as in the last minute of the game, they scored a 2nd goal.

    The 3rd place game ended 2-4 in Fluminense'' favor after an incredible display.

    Fluminense won the bronze medal of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup.

    And finally, all the attention turned to the final.

 Chapter 83 FIFA Club World Cup final

    Hours before the final commenced in the evening, Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City coach had an interview."Good evening coach, your team will be playing against the underdogs from Africa in just a few hours, how do you feel about the game?"

    "I''d feel better if the heat was not so scorching". He flashed a smile, wiping the sweat off his face.

    The reporter laughed. "It''s an Eastern thing, you have to get used to it in Saudi Arabia".

    "So I heard".

    "It''s hotter in Africa though where those boys come from".

    Pep Guardiola smiled. "So I heard too".

    This coach rubbed his bald head. "First of all, I''d say don''t call them underdogs. They''re not underdogs after going through Al-Ittihad and Fluminense in such fashion, seeing them as underdogs after all that is just foolish at this point".

    "I and my team will approach this game like every other game".

    "We respect them, and we shall play them with that level of respect. Hopefully, we win". He smiled again.

    "That''s a nice mentality to have against an inferior team," the reporter smiled, about to say more when Pep Guardiola stopped him again.

    "They''re playing us in the final, that''s not inferior".

    The reporter chuckled. "If you say so. Before you leave, I want to hear your opinion about the boy they call the African Zidane".

    "Not just this season, last season which is surprisingly his debut season was also filled with surprises as he dragged his club all the way to the continental double of the CAF champions league season and the NPFL trophy".

    "This season again, he''s doing it, impressing in their domestic league. Besides, he''s the main reason why Enyimba FC made it to this stage".

    "Coach, what do you think of the boy? Do you have any special plans against him?"

    "The boy is good," Pep Guardiola smiled. "I watched the Fluminense game 3 days ago so I understand all the hype around him, it doesn''t mean we''re scared though. My team is perfectly capable of handling him". He said confidently.

    "We''ve played against much tougher opposition and survived, so, we''ll be fine".

    He looked at his wristwatch. "If that''s all, I need to go now, I have a schedule to meet".

    "Sir, please wait, I have another question for you¡­"

    He didn''t wait though, he left, leaving the reporter disappointed. He didn''t have all the time in the world to give to an unofficial interview, he had a game to prepare his team for.

    For the last few hours to the game, the atmosphere became excitable as the stadium in Riyadh became filled with tens of thousands of fans.

    Most of the fans were in the sky-blue jerseys of Man City, mostly Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne jerseys. Very few fans wore the biro blue of Enyimba FC to the stadium for the final.

    For this game, it was almost like a home game for Man City, the Nigerian club was heavily outmatched in terms of fan attendance.

    And finally, the Man City team bus arrived to much fanfare.

    Once the sky blue and white bus pulled into the stadium, the fans cheered loudly, welcoming their star players. Some of the players gave a bit of their time to sign autographs before entering the stadium. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The Enyimba team bus already arrived much earlier to much smaller fanfare.

    In the dressing room, the coaches of both teams did the final work on their team before releasing them as they walked out of the dressing room.

    Right there in the tunnel, before the game, Sam alongside his teammates had the best moment of their football careers.

    Right there in the tunnel of this stadium, Sam stood shoulder to shoulder with some of the best and most high-profile players in the world.

    Badump! Badump!

    He could feel his heart beating hard against his chest.

    Standing in a tunnel where at one side there was Erling Haaland, the best striker in the world and at another side, Kevin De Bruyne, the best midfielder in the world, it was hard to stay calm.

    And not just them, seeing stars like Phil Foden, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Ederson, and even Ruben Dias left Sam slightly hyperventilating.

    It was taking his all not to be starstruck by the scene before him.

    When he eventually got over his fanatism though, Sam settled, taking the immense moment of this game in. ''It''s a final¡­, against Man City''.

    He took a deep breath. ''It''s my moment''.

    ''The moment that the system worked so hard and expended so much energy to create for me''. He smiled slightly. ''And I worked so hard to get to''.

    ''I''ve made it here; I can''t afford to capitulate now''.

    Paul closed his eyes and raised his head, taking in the incredible noise of this stadium. ''Calm down, calm down,'' he chanted in his mind.

    ''Don''t let the pressure get to you, calm, let it flow away like the tide,'' he rubbed his palms together. ''Today is my day''.

    ''It''s now or never!''

    Receiving the signal, the players finally made their way out of the tunnel to a loud roar from the tens of thousands of fans surrounding this stadium.

    Under this atmosphere, all the Enyimba players felt overwhelmed.

    This was not their first time under this type of atmosphere, it was simply the caliber of opponents that they were in this atmosphere with that made them feel overwhelmed. They felt like dogs that were stuck in a cage with Wolves.

    Sam recovered faster than his teammates though, clapping his hands. "Come on guys, stay focused!"

    "We have 45 minutes ahead of us, we can do this!"

    Seeing his reaction, Austin finally reacted, echoing his words and in no time, the team managed to shake off the cold feet they were feeling.

    Standing in the middle of this pitch shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne, Sam still felt starstruck, but with a different motivation this time.

    ''The student shall eclipse the master!'' He grinned.

    At that moment, the referee took a look at his wristwatch, and then¡­

    FWEEEEE!

    The game started.

 Chapter 84 An Erling Haaland masterclass!

    FWEEEEE!Enyimba FC started kickoff, but they didn''t hold possession of the ball for too long as Manchester City asserted their authority over the game early.

    Austin and Sam started the game with their bloods boiling, filled with adrenaline but even that was not enough against the best team in the world, a team filled with world-class superstars.

    Playing in the same midfield alongside the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri, Austin and Sam felt like toddlers playing against their older siblings.

    The thing about them though was that they didn''t give up.

    Manchester City dominated possession, forcing the whole Enyimba FC team to go back and defend but Enyimba FC refused to give them an inch to score still.

    For the first 15 minutes of the game, Enyimba FC suffered but they managed to stay compact, defending with incredible zeal like a team, blocking off all obvious shooting lanes as Ojo saved 3 consecutive shots on target, one of them coming from the deadly striker, Erling Haaland.

    The work rate of the whole team was incredible for that first 15 minutes as they ran all over the pitch, but even that was not enough against a team of Manchester City''s caliber.

    In the 18th minute of the game, one of the Man City big names left his imprint on the game, tearing it open with reckless abandon.

    Receiving a diagonal pass from Bernardo Silva in the midfield, the Man City no. 17, Kevin De Bruyne took one touch of the ball with his right foot, controlling it with an inch-perfect touch before switching to his left foot, effortlessly turning away from a challenge.

    After turning away from the challenge, leaving his opponent for dead, De Bruyne took another touch of the ball with his left foot, kicking it forward slightly and setting himself for a shot at goal.

    Noting the threat, Farouk charged in, sliding but it was not enough to make De Bruyne hesitate as this midfielder''s left foot hit the ball with power from outside the box.

    It was a perfect technique.

    POW!

    Like a missile, the ball rose from the ground with speed, rising up and rushing towards the top left corner of the post.

    Ojo took 2 steps before jumping on a full-stretch dive. He tried his best but it was not enough, the ball snuck past him, but then¡­

    Bam!

    It hit the top post.

    "The post is definitely the goalkeeper''s best friend here!"

    "But what a shot from De Bruyne! Just typical of him at this point, you expect things like this from him every game, but the ball is not yet out of play, it''s a rebound¡­"

    "Oh! And here comes Erling Haaland¡­!"

    "He''s between 2 defenders! Can he¡­? Oh, yes, he does!"

    "Goal! 1-0 to Man City!"

    And just like that, Manchester City went ahead.

    Immediately after the ball smashed against the post, rebounding back into the 6-yard box, even as Ojo scrambled back to his feet, Erling Haaland, the Man City no. 9 and striker reacted first, pouncing on the loose ball.

    2 defenders sandwiched the imposing striker but it was not enough as outmuscling them, Haaland managed to poke the ball into the empty net.

    It was recorded as an assist to Kevin De Bruyne.

    Haaland whirled off in celebration.

    "Come on guys!" Austin clapped. "Wake up! We can do this!" Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    FWEEEE!

    For the next few minutes, Enyimba FC played with urgency, trying to get back into the game but unable to retain possession, they were fighting a losing battle.

    This was undoubtedly the most frustrating game that Sam had ever played.

    As an attacking midfielder, he loved having a lot of the ball but in this game, he didn''t have the luxury. Man City simply hoarded possession, reducing him to a tacking merchant as he ran all over the pitch, fruitlessly chasing after the ball.

    When the Enyimba FC players managed to win back possession, they barely stringed a few passes together before their opponents won back possession.

    They were heavily outmatched, and on this night, they were totally outplayed.

    6 minutes after the first goal, Rodri won back possession again, this time dispossessing Austin and without hesitation, he passed to De Bruyne.

    Raising his head and taking one glance, the veteran midfielder hit the ball with the inside of his boot, playing a penetrative through pass through two Enyimba defenders into the path of the running Erling Haaland.

    The Enyimba FC defense was split by the inch-perfect through pass.

    Haaland took only 2 touches of the ball, the first touch to slightly control the ball and the next touch to smash the ball into the bottom left corner of the net.

    In the 24th minute of the game, Man City was already leading 2-0.

    It was a total walloping.

    After scoring the second goal, Man City seemed to reduce the game intensity a bit as they rotated the ball more, playing more through the midfield but they did manage to set up Haaland 2 more times.

    Ojo pulled off a sensational save one time while the other time, one of the Enyimba center backs had to take a yellow card for the team just to stop the rampaging striker from getting his 3rd goal of the game.

    Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden also came close to scoring a few times, but none of it was concrete until the 43rd minute of the game.

    Receiving the ball from Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden went on a mazy run, dribbling down the left side of the pitch past multiple Enyimba players before floating a cross into the box.

    Despite being tightly marked, Haaland managed to sneak out of trouble again, finding enough space and doing the rest with his impressive strength to volley the ball past Ojo into the net for his 3rd goal of the night.

    It was a powerful shot into the top right corner, Ojo stood no chance.

    Haaland scored a first half hattrick in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup. Immediately after scoring his 3rd, his teammates swarmed him, congratulating him and when they were done, Haaland did his iconic meditation celebration.

    By then, the Enyimba FC camp already dissolved into chaos as the players accused each other for leaving the striker unmarked.

    Austin tried his best to diffuse the situation but it was only a temporary measure, the team already lost fighting spirit and zeal.

    The first half ended 3-0 in Manchester City''s favor.

    Enyimba FC were humbled.

 Chapter 85 Just one goal!

    The mood in the Enyimba FC camp was well, depressing.In the dressing room, the players sat, resting their backs helplessly and this time, even Coach Yemi Daniel was sprawled at a corner of this dressing room, also seated. This coach threw a glance at his players, but the sight made him sigh.

    He felt weak for the first time in a long time.

    What was there to say?

    The facts were laid out before them, Manchester City swept them aside like a hurricane and they were just not resilient enough to withstand the storm.

    Thinking of the imposing blonde striker, this coach gritted his teeth, then he sighed again. ''We tried our best''.

    He had no words to say to his players.

    Should he motivate them? 3 goals down already courtesy of the incredible hattrick from Erling Haaland, and against a team with Manchester City''s defensive record, he saw no way of his team coming back into the game.

    Besides, Pep Guardiola did an incredible job, coming up with such a tight-knit tactical formation that Coach Yemi Daniel saw no loopholes to exploit.

    Austin and Sam sat beside each other in the dressing room and at this moment, alongside their teammates, they were also seated, resting their backs.

    The mood was truly depressing.

    Austin touched Sam. "Hey," he inclined his head to look at him, smiling slightly. "Did you see that through pass from KDB?"

    He looked down. "I only used to watch him do those through TV before, to watch it live, on the same pitch with him, it''s an honor honestly".

    "Honestly, I''m satisfied with bowing out with just that alone".

    He looked at Sam again. "I mean, we tried our best, we exceeded expectations and that''s enough for me".

    Sam looked at his captain, he shook his head. "We really exceeded expectations, yes, but I''m not satisfied yet".

    Sam took a deep breath, and then he stood up, his eyes gleaming as he stared round at his teammates.

    Noticing him stand up, the others paid attention to him, including the coach. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Under all their gazes, Sam felt a bit tense but he conveniently ignored it. He raised a finger for emphasis. "All we need is one goal".

    "Trust me, that''s all we need to get back into this game".

    "I don''t care what you believe in, just believe in me one more time, tonight. Remember last season?" He grinned. "In the CAF champions league, they said we couldn''t do it, but we did!"

    "It''s because you trusted in me, don''t wilt now because it''s Man City".

    "For just 45 more minutes, please trust me". The look in his eyes showed just how serious he was. "Whenever you get the ball, pass to me, pass to me in good positions and let me do the rest".

    "Just one goal, please".

    "Come on!" He clapped.

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    "COME ON!" Sam riled his teammates up till they felt their bloods churning again. "It''s not over yet guys, we''ve still got 45 minutes!"

    "It''s just a 3-goal lead".

    He grinned. "Even if we go down in the end, let''s go down fighting!"

    "Let''s go out there and give the best team in the world hell!"

    That was all that the Enyimba FC players needed, they felt their bloods boiling hot again like an inferno as they soon stepped out into the pitch again for the second half. The momentum was still full Man City in the stadium.

    The Man City players were in a great mood, and their fans were loud but the Enyimba FC players no longer cared about all that.

    If they were going down, they would go down fighting.

    FWEEEE!

    Manchester City kicked off the second half.

    And straight from the 45th minute, led by Sam''s aggressive press, Enyimba FC came out with even more intensity than the first half, running all over the pitch.

    The full Enyimba FC team became reckless.

    "Come on, we can do it!"

    Austin was the captain but at this moment, on the pitch, Sam felt like the true captain as he got into the head of his teammates, leading them like a war General leading his troops to sure death for a kamikaze attack.

    His troops didn''t need to know that it was a kamikaze attack though, all they needed to know was the orders and how to execute them to perfection.

    The Enyimba FC squad became incredibly reckless, pressing the ball with incredible intensity. Their tactic paid off as for 20 minutes, neither team had a clear sight at goal, the score line remaining 3-0 till the 65th minute.

    Even at this stage, exhausted, the Enyimba FC players still ran themselves to the ground, pressing with incredible intensity.

    Even Coach Yemi Daniel was shocked at his team''s energy on the pitch.

    Any other team subjected to this intense press would have likely buckled under the intense pressure from the Nigerian players but this was Manchester City.

    Stealing the ball again just after Enyimba FC won it back in the midfield, Rodri passed to the press-resistant Bernardo Silva.

    Receiving the ball towards the right, Bernardo Silva twisted and turned like a slippery eel, drawing the opposition in and leaving Enyimba FC players on the ground before playing a safe pass to Kevin De Bruyne.

    KDB took only one touch of the ball, hitting it with the outside of his boot towards the right wing as soon as Bernardo Silva passed to him and the right wing was where Phil Foden lurked.

    There, Phil Foden took one touch of the ball, rushing into the Enyimba FC 18-yard box before taking a clean shot.

    The lean forward rifled the ball into the roof of the net, leaving Ojo stunned.

    4-0 to Manchester City.

    Phil Foden whirled off to the corner flag before sliding on his knees in celebration after putting his team 4-0 up in the 66th minute of the game.

    Besides, Kevin De Bruyne just racked up an incredible tally of 3 assists in this game alone, a hattrick of assists.

    "F*ck!" A riled-up Austin reacted, slamming his fists on the pitch in frustration as he threw a look at Sam.

    The look he saw in Sam''s eyes though shocked this player.

    ''H-he hasn''t given up yet?!''

    Sam''s eyes were red, still determined, still gleaming with incredible focus. Austin was shocked. ''This boy!''

    And then he rose up again, clapping. "Come on! We can still do it!"

    FWEEEE!

    When the referee''s whistle sounded, the Enyimba FC players kept on giving their best even as Man City''s game intensity reduced again.

    The Enyimba FC players tried to take advantage but it was hard when you were going up against a defense comprising Ruben Dias, John Stones, and Manuel Akanji, all 3 of the best defenders in the world.

    But then, in the 73rd minute of the game, against the run of play, it happened.

    Farouk won back the ball before passing to Sam immediately like the attacking midfielder wanted.

    As soon as Sam''s leg touched the ball, he felt electricity course through him, making his eyes gleam, his brain taking in all the situation on the pitch before him.

    Bernardo Silva rushed in but flicking the ball up, Sam skipped past this player, and then¡­, while the ball still floated in the air, Sam''s right leg swung with power from outside the 18-yard box, executing a knuckle ball shot.

    BOOM!

    The sound was like that of a missile as his right leg hit the ball, sending it towards the top left corner of the post with incredible power.

    The ball rose up high above the post before dipping back down, into the net.

    Ederson dived but it was not enough, the ball nestled into the net.

    "GOALLLL!" Sam screamed, jumping and planting his feet down furiously while pumping his fists excitedly as more adrenaline flowed, evidence of finally venting some pent-up frustration since.

    And immediately after, he did it.

    ~----~

    [You have accessed ability card: Shoot it like Lewy!]

    [Card Effects:]

    >This card can only be used within a minute after scoring a goal. Once used, for the next 10 minutes, your positioning, shooting technique, and shot power are amplified, granting you an 80% chance of scoring with every shot that you take<

    ¡­

    [You have made use of ability card: Shoot it like Lewy!]

    ~----~

    The look in Sam''s eyes¡­ changed.

 Chapter 86 An iconic performance!

    On the pitch, Austin was the teammate who was closest to Sam''s position and he was the first to feel the change in his teammate.He could not describe it with words, it was almost like, Sam''s aura changed, becoming more menacing, chilling, and lethal, like a vampire.

    The Manchester City midfielders also felt it but they didn''t pay attention to it. Sam didn''t celebrate his goal, eager to restart the game, and then¡­

    FWEEEE!

    From that moment on, everything changed.

    To many, that goal was just a consolation for Enyimba FC but the players didn''t feel that way at all. Afterall, Sam was still there, saying the words to rile them up and give their all for the final 17 minutes of this game.

    As for Sam himself? Well, it was safe to say he exploded.

    Immediately after that goal, Sam felt like a changed being. It was almost like there was a limit to his ability on the pitch before but with that goal, the limit was finally unlocked, pushing him into a superhuman state.

    It showed on the pitch.

    For the final 17 minutes of this game, with his incredible stamina pushing him on, Sam ran all over the pitch, pursuing the ball and intercepting passes.

    And when he won back possession or received passes from his teammates, he became a threat, no longer held down by the Man City midfield''s imperiousness as for a few minutes, he seemed to stand on the same level with the best midfielders in the world.

    When the ball got to him, Sam skipped past challenges with ruthless efficiency, playing dangerous passes at a worrying frequency.

    And occasionally, he went on that mazy dribble, going through multiple Man City players and the closest he came, he almost unleashed a shot until Ruben Dias shoved him aside with his imposing body.

    Enyimba FC didn''t create anything concrete yet for 10 minutes but in those minutes, Sam seemed to have entered God mood. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Anytime the ball touched his leg, Enyimba FC''s threat increased by 100%!

    He was a menace; the brilliance of the Manchester City team was the only thing that kept him at bay till now but even that was not enough.

    The ability card that Sam triggered lasted only 10 minutes, but he had 3 uses of it. Just before the card usage duration could expire, he made use of another one, stacking it''s use with the first card, still riding on the momentum of his first goal.

    And finally, his efforts paid.

    After 10 minutes of going at it non-stop, not giving an inch to his fatigue or the seemingly insurmountable score line, Sam decided to switch it up.

    It was already the 83rd minute of the game.

    ''F*ck it!'' Sam growled in his mind. ''It''s now or never!''

    Receiving a pass from Farouk again in the center of the pitch, from over 25 yards out, Sam took a look at goal, set himself up for a shot, and then¡­

    "It''s definitely too far for him to think about it".

    "Sam has been otherworldly these past few minutes, but still, it''s too much. Wait! He''s doing it¡­, he did it!"

    "He took the shot! Will it go in?"

    "Will it? Will it? Ohhhhh¡­ my God!"

    "What a goalllll!"

    "From over 25 yards out, what a rocket!"

    "Samuel Moses has reduced the Man City lead by half! What are we seeing here? No one saw this coming, definitely no one!"

    "Game on for Enyimba FC!"

    Sam''s incredible shot was nothing short of extraterrestrial. Ederson jumped but somehow, the ball still managed to escape his grasp.

    The shot was just too fast, and too strong. Stay tuned for updates on empire

    In the 83rd minute of the game, Enyimba FC against all odds managed to reduce the deficit by half and it sent alarm bells ringing through Man City.

    Pep Guardiola made a few changes, putting in fresh legs and immediately, Man City asserted their authority over the game again for the final minutes.

    They became the bigger threat again, testing the Enyimba FC goal time and time again, yet the score line remained 4-2.

    Time passed¡­

    84th minute¡­, nothing.

    85th minute¡­, still nothing.

    86th minute¡­, still nothing.

    87th minute, and then, the miracle happened.

    After impressive hold up play from Emeka, the center forward set up his attacking midfielder for a shot at goal but Sam never got the chance to take the shot because sky blue jerseys rushed to block his path.

    He didn''t risk the shot though, rather, Sam followed his instincts.

    Still in the zone state, he moved like a hurricane into the 18-yard box, elusive like the wind and as terrible as a storm.

    Nutmegging the closest player in sky blue that rushed in, Sam rushed into the 18-yard box towards the right, looking for a shooting angle even as his eyes were also on the look out to spot a perfect passing lane.

    The whole Man City defense was put on its toes because of one player, him.

    Displaying quick feet, shifting the ball, retaining possession in the 18-yard box, Sam skipped past a couple of challenges but the shooting angle he sought never came, nor did the perfect passing lane.

    Manchester City was just too defensively disciplined.

    At that moment was when Ruben Dias rushed close, colliding against him hard as the force of this player pushed him.

    Sam didn''t fall though, rather using the laws of simple physics to take advantage of that sudden momentum in his favor, he swirled like a roulette on top the ball. He took 2 touches.

    First touch with the heel of his boot to stop the ball, and second touch to drag it and roll with it beyond Ruben Dias and all the players in sky blue blocking everywhere around him towards the right side of the box.

    In that moment, under the tension of this stadium, with so many world-class players marking him and keeping him out, Sam executed the roulette skill!

    And with it, space opened up, a tiny space but in the zone state, his brain picked it up immediately like a hungry machine.

    BAM!

    Sam hit the ball immediately with his right foot into the bottom right corner of the net as the ball snuck into the post.

    Ederson didn''t move, he never saw the ball coming.

    In the 87th minute of the game, 3 minutes from time, Sam did the impossible, scoring his 3rd goal of the 2nd half to make it a hattrick in just 15 minutes!

    "ZINEDINE SAM!" The commentator roared in a shrill voice.

    "Zinedine Sam!"

    "Zinedine Sam!"

    "What a goal! What a moment!"

    "They asked questions if he could do it against the best of the best, well now here it is, against the best team in the world!"

    "What a player!"

    "And now, just 1 more goal to equalize the game, can they do it?!"

    Immediately after the ball entered the net, Sam jumped, pumping his fists excitedly as with wide eyes, pupils dilated, he roared. "COME ON!!!"

    The game was on!

    Could he actually do it?

    Could Enyimba FC actually do it?!

 Chapter 87 An iconic goal!

    It was 87 minutes into the final of the FIFA Club World Cup, and Manchester City was leading by a slim margin of 4-3.Could he actually do it?

    Could Enyimba FC actually do it?

    Sam''s first goal in the 73rd minute of the game definitely rattled some Man City nerves but the players only saw it as a minor threat.

    His second goal in the 83rd minute rattled even more nerves mostly due to the nature of the goal. Scoring a goal from 25 yards out showed Sam''s incredible confidence and form in the final moments of this game.

    But to the Man City players, it still only seemed like a consolation goal.

    But his 3rd goal?

    That 3rd goal was what swung the momentum for the first time this game from Man City''s iron grip, swinging in Enyimba FC''s direction.

    Manchester City was the best club in the world with world-class footballers, but even for world-class footballers like them, there were times when they are caught on a pinch on the pitch.

    And in these moments, it was more on mentality than anything else.

    There was only 3 minutes till the end of the game. Man City was still leading but on the pitch, it didn''t feel that way at all.

    Enyimba FC didn''t play like they were losing, nor did they play like they were drawing the game either, rather, this team played like they were winning.

    "COME ON!" Sam roared, riling his teammates on.

    By the 87th minute of the game, most of them were already tired after running themselves to the ground for much of this game but with Sam still leading from the front, all of them stayed believing.

    At this moment, they were like grunt soldiers on a battlefield.

    Following the orders of their commander, they didn''t care if they were fighting a losing battle or if winning required them to sacrifice their lives, all they cared about was accomplishing their commander''s orders and winning.

    For those final minutes, the noise in the stadium in Riyadh truly climbed to a crescendo, rising to record-breaking decibels.

    On the pitch, the tension was palpable.

    The stakes of this final had never been higher. Now, it was up to Manchester City to uphold their reputation as the best club in the world and see off the incredible challenge from their reportedly inferior opposition.

    It was just 3 minutes remaining of the 90 minutes but in that short time, Samuel Moses remained the standout player.

    The no. 19 jersey was like a ghost haunting the Man City players.

    Sam already went rogue, disobeying his coach''s instructions as he took on a free role in the final minutes of this game all due to the singular purpose of getting his 4th goal of the game, or creating it if possible.

    He didn''t care if he scored the goal, he just wanted his team to win.

    There was only one thing ringing in his head. ''Win!''

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    ''I need to win!''

    Anytime the ball touched his leg, to many of the spectators, it didn''t feel like it was Sam who was on the pitch at all, rather it seemed like a prime Zidane reincarnated into the body of the young Nigerian.

    Sam skipped past challenges like they were not there.

    Rodri, the Man City mainstay rarely went on sliding tackles but Sam''s incredible form in the final minutes of this final left this midfielder chasing shadows, using every trick in his incredible repertoire just to stop him.

    At exactly the 90th minute, Sam came close again, unleashing another outside the box shot that beat Ederson, again.

    "Oh my God! Will he do it?!"

    "Sam is in God mode this evening!"

    "Will it enter? Ohhhhh¡­, it hits the post!"

    "What a shot!"

    Hearing the sound of the ball hit the post and watching it rebound back into the field, Sam felt his heart sink but that feeling lasted for only a moment.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    He kept on chanting in his mind like it was some sutra.

    After 90 minutes, the referee added 4 minutes of additional time to this incredible final and in those last 4 minutes, all hell broke loose.

    This time, it was not just Sam anymore.

    Just like Sam wanted to win by all means, Manchester City also wanted to win and the big names of this legendary team started rearing their head again.

    Manchester City had a pride to uphold. They didn''t demolish Real Madrid 4-1 at home in the champions league semifinals last season on the way to winning only to come here and lose to an African team.

    By then, Erling Haaland, the deadly striker was already dead tired, barely impacting the game but 3 players remained a menace, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, and most importantly, the maverick midfield enforcer, Kevin De Bruyne.

    In those final minutes, it was pound for pound.

    It was war!

    Shots were taken at a crazy frequency as both teams worked their way through the opposition, trying to find another goal to kill the game.

    And finally, in the 90th plus 3 minutes, it came¡­

    Sam''s endless stamina on the pitch helped him win back possession, but he barely held onto the ball when Bernardo Silva''s press came. Going one way and using a feint, Sam left this short player for dead and dashed the other way only to run into a road block, Rodri.

    The defensive midfielder cleanly won back the ball, outmuscling Sam and leaving him on the ground.

    While Sam scrambled to get back on his feet, he was given a VIP ticket of exclusive viewing angle to watch the moment that killed the game.

    As soon as Rodri won the ball, the loose ball rolled freely into the path of the marauding Kevin De Bruyne.

    With one touch of the ball with his right leg, this attacking midfielder took the ball in his strides even as he set himself up.

    Farouk was already rushing in to tackle but it was too late.

    Kevin De Bruyne didn''t even take a look at goal, simply raising his right leg before unleashing a whipped shot towards goal.

    VROOM!

    Farouk heard the ball fly past him like a rocket!

    It was a ground ball. Green grass tore off the field from the ball''s sheer momentum, flying haphazardly as if in in worship of the ball''s passage.

    Ojo dived low, but it was not enough.

    The ball snuck into the bottom left corner of the post, sneaking into the net!

    The commentator erupted. "Ohhhhhh¡­ my God!"

    "What a GOALLLL!!!"

    "Kevin De Bruynneeeee!"

    "The Belgium King has done it!" S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "A deadly Belgian bullet straight through Nigerian hearts all over the world!"

    "What a goal! What a shot!"

    "And the game is decided!"

    "5-3 to Man City!"

    Sam was in the process of standing up when he watched Kevin De Bruyne produce this iconic moment, adding to his long career full of iconic moments.

    Once the ball entered the net, Sam felt like an arrow just pierced his heart.

    He collapsed back on the pitch, eyes closed and welling with tears even as Kevin De Bruyne charged to the corner flag to celebrate with his teammates.

    ''It''s over''. He thought, devastated.

    FWEEEEE!

    The final whistle sounded soon after, bringing the game to an end.

    Kevin De Bruyne won the man of the match award for the game after his 4 goal contributions of 1 goal and 3 assists.

 Chapter 88 2023 FIFA Club World Cup winners- Manchester City

    As soon as the final whistle reverberated, all the Enyimba FC players collapsed on the pitch, devastated and mourning their loss.While the Manchester City players celebrated their victory, the Enyimba FC players were left devastated.

    This was the reality of football, there was always the winners who celebrate at the end and the losers at the end of every football game.

    This time, Sam ended up on the losing side in the most important game of his career so far and to his young heart, it was a heart wrenching experience.

    Sam could not hold his emotions in, he collapsed in tears on the pitch.

    As the Man City celebrations continued, the Enyimba FC players slowly picked themselves up one after the other and in tandem, they walked towards Sam, trying their best to console him.

    Austin hugged him, patting him on the back. "Stop crying man," he held Sam''s face, grinning. "You remember what you said in the dressing room?"

    "Even if we go down in the end, let''s go down fighting".

    Austin smiled. "What do you think? We did go down fighting".

    "We showed them hell Sam!"

    Sam chuckled, wiping his tears. "Yes, we showed them hell".

    It was embarrassing, crying in front of cameras that broadcasted the event to the whole world but Sam was just that overwhelmed. He was usually good at controlling his emotions but this time, he lost control completely.

    What truly made him recover though was a gesture from an opposition player.

    After celebrating with his teammates, Kevin De Bruyne walked up to Sam before removing his jersey and handing it over to him.

    "¡­!"

    For a few seconds, Sam was stunned, unsure of what the hell was happening till it finally clicked in his head. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    His eyes widened; he was shocked. "Y-you want to swap jerseys?"

    ''F*ck! I''m sooo foolish! Why would I ask?''

    Kevin De Bruyne smiled and responded politely though. "Yes". He nodded.

    Sam hastily removed his own jersey before handing it over to the Manchester City legend even as he took the sky-blue jersey.

    Holding the sky-blue jersey in his hands, Sam felt tears welling in his eyes again but this time, he didn''t let them drop, wiping them off before they could.

    He looked at the Manchester City midfielder, emotion welling in his eyes. "Thank you". He said.

    Kevin De Bruyne smiled at him before patting him on the back. "You played incredibly man; you almost won the game for your team". He laughed.

    Sam reciprocated, laughing. "Yeah, I almost won".

    As soon as Kevin De Bruyne walked off, Austin''s teammates swarmed him, enviously staring at the sky-blue jersey that was on his hand and that was when it clicked in their heads.

    There were other world-class players still on this pitch with them!

    Immediately, Austin started it, seeking the other Man City players out to swap jerseys. Austin managed to swap jerseys with Bernardo Silva, the timeless Manchester City center midfielder.

    Farouk swapped jerseys with Rodri, while Emeka managed to swap jerseys with the incredible Erling Haaland.

    The Enyimba FC players were having a field day. Exchanging jerseys with their idols made the bitterness of their damning loss lessen a bit.

    And then, the time to award them for their performance came.

    After Kevin De Bruyne''s crazy performance in the final, the most important game of the tournament, he scooped home the golden ball award of the FIFA Club World Cup 2023.

    As for the golden boot award, it had an unexpected winner.

    Despite with the likes of Erling Haaland and Phil Foden competing in the FIFA Club World Cup 2023, after his haul of 1 goal in the second-round game against Al-Ittihad, his hattrick against Fluminense, and his 2nd consecutive hattrick against Manchester City, Sam scooped the golden boot award with his haul of 7 goals.

    Erling Haaland came up second with 5 goals after his haul of 3 goals in the final and 2 goals in the semifinals.

    Sam''s chances may have been boosted by the fact that he played one more game than the Norwegian striker, but still, it was an impressive feat.

    In Sam''s young career, scooping the golden boot award of an important tournament like the FIFA Club World Cup was a turning point to him.

    It truly set him off in the radar of European clubs.

    After handing over the individual awards, the players finally lined up as a team to take their medals. Enyimba FC climbed the podium first, taking their silver medals as they entered a joint team photo.

    After them, the players in sky-blue finally climbed the podium while subjected to a lot of noise by their fans as they received their gold medals.

    After the medals were awarded, Ikaay Gundogan, the Manchester City captain who didn''t start the game but entered in the second half finally lifted the trophy as the players celebrated excitedly.

    For Manchester City, it was their 5th trophy of a truly legendary year.

    Manchester City were the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup champions.

    After the trophy lifting, the players finally made their way to the dressing room after acknowledging their fans who traveled the distance to support them.

    A few thousand Enyimba FC away fans made the trip which truly excited the Enyimba FC players as they acknowledged their support.

    While the other players made it back to the tunnel, one player went to the media where he was supposed to have an interview, Kevin De Bruyne.

    The Belgian midfielder gave the interviews his full attention, answering all their questions with a straight face until he was asked a specific question.

    As soon as he was asked, De Bruyne smiled, a rare thing before the media.

    "The boy is good, but even better than his ability with the ball is his mentality. He''s a winner, and I respect him for it".

    He chuckled. "If we were not careful, he would have single-handedly orchestrated a comeback and maybe win his team the game".

    "So, what do you think about him?"

    The Belgian midfielder weighed his words carefully before answering. "He won''t last long in the Nigerian league".

    "He''s Europe material, he''s made for the top".

    "I hope to compete against him in the future".

    "Thank you for having us".

    "The pleasure is mine".

    With that, the interview finally came to an end, capping off an incredible day in the history of football.

 Chapter 89 Rewards

    Watching Kevin De Bruyne''s interview in the dressing room alongside his teammates, Sam had a big smile on his face as he clutched the sky-blue jersey on his hand tighter, vowing to cherish it.Like usual, Austin sat beside him.

    Austin could not help but throw a glance at his teammate even as the interview slowly drew to an end. "Thank you, Sam". He muttered.

    "Huh?" Sam looked at him. "For what?"

    Austin smiled. "For everything," he sighed. "For deciding to play for Enyimba FC".

    "Meeting you has truly changed my life".

    Austin always appreciated Sam, but this time, Sam could feel that there was something else attached to it. "Hey, you ok?" He asked, concern in his voice.

    Austin looked at him, tears welling in his eyes, then he chuckled. "I got a contract offer".

    "What? Really?" Sam was genuinely surprised.

    "Yes," Austin nodded, even more emotional now. "A contract offer from Europe, a club in one of the top 5 European leagues".

    "Wolfsburg contacted my agent immediately after the game, and they''ve already offered a contract".

    Austin slumped in his chair, a look of disbelief in his eyes. "Do you know how old I am Sam? I always thought that I already hit my peak and playing for Enyimba FC is the most that I can do with my football career, but this?" He sighed loudly.

    "I never saw this coming, not even in my wildest dreams".

    "I''m tempted to say that it''s because of my talent and all, but no," he looked at Sam again. "I know it''s because of you". He chuckled.

    "Remember last season?" A look of nostalgia crept up this captain''s face as his emotions cascaded. "Against Al Ahly in the CAF champions league semifinals after we drew 2-2 at home, going to their stadium, I genuinely felt that we were done, but you didn''t feel that way".

    He sighed again. "I envy your confidence Sam, that mentality to keep on believing till the very end of the game, it''s what helped us to win that game".

    "I can still remember the nerve-wracking penalty shootout like it was just yesterday". He looked at Sam and chuckled again. "These memories man, they''ve defined my career¡­, I can''t forget them".

    He took a deep breath. "God bless the day you signed the contract with Enyimba FC," he smiled. "It changed my life".

    At that moment, Coach Yemi Daniel finally entered the dressing room with a big smile on his face. Enyimba FC may have lost the game, settling for 2nd position in the tournament but at this moment, it didn''t feel like that at all.

    After getting over the initial disappointment, the players finally understood the significance of their performance today.

    They literally played against Manchester City, the best club in all of Europe.

    To give them such a tough fight, it was the greatest win of this night.

    Coach Yemi Daniel grinned. "Congratulations guys, that performance out there today, I will never forget it".

    Saying that, he paid special attention to one of his midfielders, Samuel Moses. "Sam, thank you for everything".

    "You''ve made Enyimba FC great again". He grinned, just in time as Sam''s teammates erupted in a round of applause in acknowledgement of his performance tonight. Everything that happened for Enyimba FC on the pitch today was all Sam.

    Sam was the superhero sent to save them today.

    "Anyways, guys, you can smile better now, the prize money for the silver medalists of the FIFA Club World Cup has been decided," Coach Yemi Daniel smiled. "All of you are going home with 20,000 Euros each".

    "Converted to naira, that is approximately 14 million naira each".

    "YES!" The Enyimba FC players celebrated excitedly.

    All of them were exhausted, but if nothing else, the prize money alone was enough to allay all of their exhaustion and feelings of disappointment.

    While Coach Yemi Daniel still addressed the players, Sam was surprised as the familiar interface of his system suddenly lit up with new notifications.

    ~----~ Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [You have completed FIFA Club World Cup matchday System Mission: Final]

    [You played all 90 minutes of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup final!]

    [You scored a hattrick in the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup final!]

    [Calculating reward¡­, please wait¡­]

    [Calculation complete!]

    [You have been rewarded with 25 Skill Points!]

    ¡­

    [You have completed FIFA Club World Cup System Mission: Silver Medalist!]

    [You dragged your club, Enyimba FC to clinch second position in the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup only behind Manchester City!]

    [Calculating reward¡­, please wait¡­]

    [Calculation complete!]

    [You have been rewarded with 40 Skill Points!]

    [You have been rewarded with 2 energy elixirs!]

    ¡­ Your next chapter awaits on empire

    [You have completed a hidden System Mission: Golden Boot]

    [You won the Golden Boot of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup!]

    [Calculating reward¡­, please wait¡­]

    [Calculation complete!]

    [You have been rewarded with 30 Skill Points!]

    [Click to open reward card:]

    ¡­

    Sam was still in the dressing room alongside his teammates when these series of notifications appeared, leaving him stunned.

    This time, his curiosity could not wait though so trying his beast to be as inconspicuous as possible, he secretly clicked on the card hovering before him.

    Like usual, immediately after he clicked on the card, the bright light surrounding it became even brighter before it burst into countless golden specks and from the specks came out his reward.

    ¡­

    [You have been rewarded with an ability card: Thread it like KDB! ¡Á2!]

    [Card Effects:]

    >Once used, for 30 minutes, you gain the incredible playmaking skills of the Belgian midfielder, Kevin De Bruyne. You get the vision and the skill to play penetrative defense splitting through passes just like KDB<

    ¡­

    [Due to the incredible state of mind you entered in today''s game and due to your unreal performance, Real-time game experience accumulation triggered!]

    [Congratulations! Your shooting attribute has improved by +2]

    [Your spatial awareness skill has improved!]

    [Your zonal marking skills has improved!]

    [Congratulations! Your stamina attribute has improved by +1]

    [Congratulations! Your passing attribute has improved by +1]

    [Your overall player rating has increased to 78!]

    ¡­

    Player Attributes:

    *Pace: 76

    *Shot: 77

    *Pass: 80

    *Dribbling: 74

    *Defending: 38

    *Physicality: 66

    *Stamina: 81

    Overall Rating: 78

    ~----~

    Staring at the last in the series of notifications, Sam grinned. ''Just like Coach Yemi Daniel said, playing against the best players is the best way to improve''.

    He stared at his captain who jubilated at the prize rewards alongside the others. ''I think he improved too''.

    And with that, their time in the stadium in Riyadh finally came to an end.

 Chapter 90 Back to Nigeria

    Unlike in other matches, Sam did not call his parents that day on getting back to his hotel room. In the game against Manchester City, everyone of the Enyimba FC players ran themselves to the ground.They were all exhausted after returning to their hotel rooms.

    With the aid of relaxation music decided by Austin, his roommate, Sam slept immediately after taking his bath to freshen up and as soon as he laid on the bed.

    While Sam slept, he had a dream.

    It was hazy, he could not pinpoint the exact jersey that he wore but, in the dream, he saw himself lifting the UEFA champions league trophy excitedly.

    In another part of the dream, he entered a picture with the UEFA champions league trophy alongside his parents, his sister, and an unknown girl.

    Heck, who was she?

    ''Sam¡­'' He heard his name being called, but it was echoing.

    ''Sam, Sam¡­''

    "Sam!"

    "Ah, what?" He was jolted awake, deprived of the opportunity to explore his sweet dream even more.

    Once he woke up, noting that it was a dream, he glared at his captain. "You just interrupted a very sweet dream".

    Austin stared at him. "Oh, really? Was it a wet dream?"

    "F*ck off!"

    They both laughed.

    Sam could not help but notice though that Austin was already dressed. "Where are you going?"

    Austin looked at him weirdly. "Is that even a question? Go and take your bath, our flight will be leaving in an hour".

    "F*ck! I slept that late?"

    Sam jumped up from the hotel bed, rushed into the bathroom to take his bath and in 30 minutes, he was already set with his luggage bag.

    Alongside his captain, they left the hotel room, met up with their teammates and coach before leaving the hotel. Outside the hotel, fans waited for them, fans who were eager to get autographs and pictures.

    But since they had a tight flight schedule to meet, they could not entertain the fans this time, simply waving at them to acknowledge them before leaving.

    The flight back to Nigeria was a long one but after a few hours, the plane finally touched down in the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, the federal capital territory of Nigeria.

    After that, most of the players separated at the airport. The FIFA Club World Cup was the only active football tournament in football due to a short break.

    After the tournament, Coach Yemi Daniel took advantage of the short break, giving his players a little holiday to spend with their families.

    This was why after biding farewell to his coach and his teammates, Sam took the next flight to the airport in Asaba, Delta State.

    He was going home.

    From Asaba, he took an uber drive to Abraka.

    Finally returning back to his home, Sam was treated to a triumphant welcome that was organized by his parents and their neighbors.

    Mrs. Moses was prepared for the occasion, cooking enough jollof rice to feed a whole party of people.

    And as the people trooped in, asking questions about the occasion, she explained with immense pride. "My son is playing for Enyimba FC and today, he is coming back home, we''re celebrating it".

    "Do you want a second serving? Don''t be shy, there''s enough food". S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The middle-aged woman was in a good mood and when Sam finally touched down, she was the first to run towards the uber drive with joy printed all over her face. "My boy is back!" She screamed.

    If Sam was not taller than her, he would have been suffocated by the tight embrace as his mom lifted him off the ground. "Woah, mom!"

    "Shut up and let me hug you!"

    Sam was left speechless. "Mom¡­," he complained. Continue your journey on empire

    "Sam!!!" Sophia followed behind her mom, eagerly waiting for her turn to hug her brother and immediately after his mom left him, she jumped in his embrace. With a big smile, Sam hugged her bag.

    His sister added more weight compared to the last time he saw her but due to his physicality as a professional football player, he easily carried her.

    And finally, Mr. Moses walked into the scene. "Welcome home son". His voice was that of a proud father.

    "Hey buddy, how was Saudi Arabia?"

    Hearing the familiar voice of his best friend, Sam turned to look at him, grinning widely. "Ian!" He called.

    They both hugged before Ian threw him the ultimate question. "My guy, hope you didn''t come without any gifts from Saudi Arabia". He gave him the ''your money or your life'' eye. "Or you better start going back!"

    Sam chuckled. "Rest guy, I brought gifts".

    Despite being exhausted yesterday after the game, before returning to the hotel with his captain, they both strolled into the streets of Saudi Arabia, getting some non-perishable local food before also shopping in a supermarket.

    Sam bought enough snacks for his sister, and enough gifts for his best friend and his parents.

    These people were not the only faces that welcomed him though.

    Unfamiliar faces also welcomed him. "Welcome home Sam, you''re a proud son of Abraka. My son loves to play football too, I hope you show him the way".

    "Welcome home superstar!"

    "Did you bring goodies from abroad?"

    "Hey Sam, you remember me? It''s Coach James!"

    Hearing that name, Sam''s eyes widened as he stared at the slightly familiar face again. "Coach James?"

    "Yes man, it''s me, how are you doing man?"

    "I''m fine!" Sam ignored all the others, walking up to his old coach with a grin on his face. "Coach, how are you doing? What of the team?"

    "I''m fine Sam, I''m surviving. About the team though," he grinned. "They''re doing great, we played against D''Tigres again and guess what? We thrashed them again". This coach laughed loudly.

    Ignoring all the others who welcomed him, Sam walked off with his old coach, they had a lot of things to talk about and catch up on.

    Talking with Coach James, Sam felt so much nostalgia.

    It was almost Christmas again and last year Christmas was when Coach James gave him the opportunity to play and impress before Coach Yemi Daniel.

    It was just 1 year but to Sam, it felt like a lifetime ago.

    After doing catchup with his old coach, Sam finally went inside where he feasted on his mom''s sweet delicacy, and then, he finally caught up with his dad.

    "Dad, any update?"

    Mr. Moses grinned. "Oh yes son, there are updates, lots of updates".

    It was time to discuss his career.

 Chapter 91 Career discussion [1]

    "So, dad, how many clubs have made contact to get my signing?"Hearing that, Mr. Moses smiled proudly before raising his 2 hands up, showing 9 fingers.

    Sam''s eyes widened. "9 clubs?!"

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    "Yes son," this middle-aged man''s proud smile widened even more. "Just within yesterday and today after the FIFA Club World Cup final, 9 clubs contacted me but I already wiped 5 of them off your list".

    "Why?"

    "It''s because they''re clubs outside Europe''s big 5 leagues".

    Mr. Moses looked at his son. "You already told me what you wanted after the contract talks with Lille stalled. After Enyimba FC, you''re only considering clubs in the big 5 European leagues, right?"

    "Right," Sam nodded. "So, who are the clubs?" S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Mr. Moses opened a document, looking through it. "First, our delegates from Lille contacted me again yesterday. They were the ones to contact first and since they have my phone contact, they called me directly".

    "They''ve fixed a meeting date already".

    "In 2 days, their delegates want to meet with us to discuss physically about getting your signature".

    "Wow!" Paul was surprised.

    Seeing his reaction, Mr. Moses grinned. "But Lille is just the tip of the iceberg. Unlike before, your star power already changed, we now have the bargaining chips".

    "Apart from Lille Olympique Sporting Club, 3 other clubs from Europe also made contact for your signature," Mr. Moses looked at his son. "Wolfsburg from Germany, Villareal from Spain, and Fulham from England".

    Hearing these 3 names, household names that literally every football fan who followed football knew, Sam felt a bit breathless.

    Heck, it was literally just a year ago when he was still banned from playing football by his mom.

    To get here in such a short time, he felt emotional as he heard these club names being called but he asked a question. "Did you say Wolfsburg?"

    "Yes, what?"

    Sam smiled. "Nothing, it''s just that they contacted my captain too, it''s the first time that delegates from a European club contacted him".

    "Oh!" Mr. Moses nodded in understanding. "I see what they''re trying to do now. They know he won''t refuse their contract terms so by getting his signature, they want to use that relationship between both of you to get to you".

    "They know that if Austin asks you personally to join Wolfsburg, due to your relationship in Enyimba FC, that would already be an advantage in their favor".

    "Good signing strategy". Mr. Moses complimented them. "I''m impressed".

    He looked at his son. "So Sam, what do you think about the 3 clubs?"

    Sam stood up, walking around his room as he rubbed his silky short black hair. "I''m not sure dad, it''s been just a year, getting to this stage already where I''m discussing Europe, I''m a bit overwhelmed, and disappointed too".

    He looked at his father. "After my performance yesterday, I thought just maybe, I may have finally entered the radar of the top teams in the world".

    "Even De Bruyne praised my ability," he smiled. "I thought that was enough, but I guess it''s not yet enough".

    Mr. Moses looked at his son, understanding how he felt. "Son, wayum wayum bi jegedi".

    Sam looked at his father. "What does that mean?"

    Mr. Moses grinned. "We''re Isoko, it''s a quote from where I come from." This middle-aged man had a look of reminiscing in his eyes. "When I was younger, your grandfather used to say it to me".

    "It''s another way for saying trust the process. Take it slow at a time, it''s the little drops of water that creates a mighty ocean". He smiled. "That''s what it means".

    "I''m a Barca fan too. FC Barcelona may not have contacted you today, but keep believing son, one day, you''ll become so big that even they can''t ignore you".

    "The club is in a period of transition now and I believe that in the future, you''ll be the cornerstone that''ll lead Barca back to it''s peak, so be patient son".

    "For now, focus on improving your game, shoring up on weaknesses and perfecting your strengths so that when you eventually go to FC Barcelona, you go there as the perfect specimen, the complete player".

    Sam just stared at his father; a smile crept up his face. "Wayum wayum bi jegedi," he muttered, then he went to sit back on the bed.

    "I''m ready dad, show me the contract terms".

    "That''s my boy!" Mr. Moses laughed, patting him on the head.

    He opened his document again, focusing on certain parts.

    Mr. Moses grinned as he saw the contract terms again. "Remember the last time?" He looked at his son. "I bargained for the terms to be improved, for your weekly salary to be at least 30,000 Euros and for your signing bonus to be at least a million Euros. Guess what? They did one more than what I initially wanted".

    Sam''s eyes widened. "Really?"

    His father nodded. "This time around, Lille is offering you a weekly salary of 40,000 Euros and a signing bonus of 3,000,000 Euros on a 5 years contract".

    "5 years?!"

    Mr. Moses laughed. "Yes, that''s the only part of their contract offer that I find worth negotiating. Apart from that, their offer is the highest of all the clubs that offered you a contract".

    "I''m not giving 5 years of my football career to Lille," Sam said before focusing on the document again. "Tell me about the other clubs".

    Mr. Moses nodded, opening the document to another page. "Wolfsburg''s contract offer is the 2nd best offer after Lille, and theirs is much more reasonable in terms of the contract term".

    "They''re offering you a weekly salary of 30,000 Euros and a signing bonus of 2,000,000 Euros on a 3 years contract with an extension clause".

    "Their contract also has more clauses for bonuses for games where you perform at an extraterrestrial level, winning the man of the match awards".

    "Their bonuses for winning any trophy or individual award is also higher".

    Sam paid keen attention as his father broke the contract terms to him, and then Mr. Moses opened his document again, going to the next club.

 Chapter 92 Career discussion [2]

    "Fulham and Villareal''s contract offer are basically the same with very little differences, that is why I left both for last".Mr. Moses opened his document again, opening to the page where the familiar emblem of the Spanish club was drawn.

    "The only thing separating both clubs is that Villareal are willing to show their determination to get your signature by sending their delegates to meet us here in Nigeria to discuss the contract terms physically".

    "As for their offer, Villareal is offering you a weekly salary of 25,000 Euros and a signing bonus of 2,000,000 Euros on a 3 years contract with an extension clause".

    "Considering how determined they are to get your signature, even sending delegates here to Nigeria, I think I can wriggle around them and negotiate the salary to 30,000 Euros a week".

    And finally, he opened to the last pages of the document.

    "Just like Villareal, Fulham is offering you a weekly salary of 25,000 Euros and a signing bonus of 2,000,000 Euros on a 3 years contract with an extension clause".

    "Compared to Villareal though, one of their bargaining chips is the presence of a familiar face in their team," Mr. Moses smiled at his son.

    Sam completed his sentence for him. "Alex Iwobi".

    "Yes," Mr. Moses nodded. "They went to all the trouble of specifically mentioning his name. They''re giving you a chance to play with a veteran Nigerian international who also plays in their team in the midfield".

    "Besides, another bargaining chip in their favor is the hype and publicity around the English premier league".

    "They know how inviting the league is to foreign players due to the publicity around it, and they''re banking on that to help them outbid other clubs".

    Mr. Moses looked at his son. "So, what do you think?"

    Sam did not answer immediately. Rather, he stood up and walked to his window, looking down at the boisterous street outside.

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    A few seconds later, he looked back at his father and asked. "Dad, I need advice, what is your advice?"

    Mr. Moses cleared his throat. "Son, it''s your career, I can''t dictate it for you, you know what''s best for you but I''ll start by asking you a question".

    He looked Sam in the eye. "What are you playing football for? What do you want? Is it money or do you want to leave a mark in football?"

    "¡­" Sam could not answer immediately.

    Mr. Moses took a deep breath. "Ok, let me make it easier for you. Do you play football to make as much money as you can and retire rich, or do you want to be a legend whose story is forever imprinted in the history of football?"

    This time, Sam answered immediately. "I want to be a legend".

    But then, he looked at his father. "Don''t get me wrong dad, I''m not a saint. I can''t say I don''t want money but I''m not greedy, I''m satisfied with what all 4 clubs are offering me as a salary".

    "If I was maybe Kylian Mbappe and I received the kind of offer he got from PSG, maybe I''ll hesitate," he chuckled. "But not with this".

    He looked outside through the window again. "I want to enjoy football, I want to play to my heart''s content, I want to enjoy iconic champions league nights, I want to life trophies," he looked at his father again. "I want to be a legend".

    Mr. Moses smiled. "So?"

    Sam smiled back at his father. "Since FC Barcelona is not yet noticing my shine," he grinned. "It only means I''ve not done enough yet".

    "Dad, I want to do so much that no club in the world can afford to overlook me, and I think the best way to do this is going to the premier league".

    Sam looked outside through the window again, his eyes turning dreamy. "When Lille''s offer first came months ago, I was hyped, already envisioning myself playing for them already at some point but now, everything has changed". S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I have more options now, better options, a better league".

    "In the premier league, there is tough competition with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea all elite sides".

    "If I can play with a league with all these elite clubs and shine even with a mid-table team," he smiled. "Then, I don''t think even Barca can ignore me anymore".

    He looked at his father one more time. "Dad, that is what I want".

    Mr. Moses smiled again. "Wayum wayum bi jegedi," he muttered.

    "Yeah," Sam nodded. "Wayum wayum bi jegedi".

    "It''s settled then," Mr. Moses finally stood up, folding his documents. "But they don''t have to know yet".

    "Huh?" Sam looked at his dad.

    Mr. Moses grinned like a shrewd businessman. "Like I told you, with your current star power, 25,000 Euros is a bit too small for you".

    "I will try to negotiate for higher, at least 30,000 Euros per week".

    "And the key to doing this is to play hard to get".

    "Really?" Sam asked, skeptical.

    "Yes, trust your dad". Mr. Moses said confidently. "In 2 days, I will meet with the delegates from Lille and give them unreasonable demands".

    "A day later, I will also meet with the delegates from Wolfsburg and do the same thing with them. They can''t meet my demands, so they''ll back out but the act of meeting them alone will make Fulham desperate if they really want you".

    "Then, they should readily agree to meet my demands".

    "Are you sure?"

    "Trust me".

    Well, his dad said to trust him and that was what Sam did, focusing on relaxing to recover at home with family and his best friend even as his dad became busy with the contract talks.

    And in a few days, it was Christmas.

    Just like last year, Coach James already arranged a game between his club, Black Hearts FC and D''Tigres again, another Christmas game.

    This time, Sam and his best friend went to the pitch in the Delta State University, Abraka to watch as spectators.

    After an exciting display, Black Hearts FC managed to win the game for the second consecutive year 2-1.

    Sam celebrated excitedly with his old teammates.

    The victory capped off a memorable Christmas day celebration for him.

    A few more days later, Mr. Moses finally concluded the contract talks. Delegates from Fulham would enter Nigeria the next day for the contract signing.

 Chapter 93 Signing for Fulham FC

    It was December 27th, 2023, 2 days after Christmas.It was a cool Wednesday evening.

    Mrs. Moses made Sam''s best native food, fufu and Banga soup that evening. After father and son ate to their fill, they were in high spirits.

    Mr. Moses looked at his son. "Son, are you ready?"

    "Yeah," Sam took a deep breath, then he smiled. "I''m ready".

    Father and son were both dressed in a neat black suit as Mrs. Moses and Sophia walked up to them, adding the finishing touches to their dressing.

    Then, Mrs. Moses gave them a thumbs up. They were ready to go.

    "I love you". Mr. Moses whispered and kissed his wife on the lip before carrying his briefcase and turning to leave.

    Sam grinned as he stared at his excited sister. "Sophia, when I come back, you better speak to me with a little more respect".

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    "Yes big bro!" She said loudly, eliciting laughter from the rest of the family.

    And finally, Sam and his father entered the car. After putting on the ignition, Mr. Moses waved at his wife and daughter before driving off with his son.

    They had a meeting with the Fulham delegates scheduled for 4:00pm.

    That evening, in the upper floor of Cold Scoop, one of the biggest restaurants in Abraka, Sam and his father met with the delegates from England representing the professional football club, Fulham.

    As soon as they entered, the white man opposite them who was in a dark blue suit stood up with a big smile on his face, shaking his father''s hand.

    "Mr. Moses," he smiled brightly. "I can finally associate a face with the name, it''s nice to meet you finally".

    "You too Mr. Clark". Mr. Moses smiled back at him.

    After shaking his hand, Mr. Clark, the delegate from Fulham FC finally focused on his real client. He extended his hand out for a handshake with a big smile on his face. Sam did not keep him waiting, taking his hand with a smile.

    "I''ve heard so much and watched so much about you Sam, it''s so nice to finally meet you in person".

    "You too sir". Sam responded politely.

    Soon, father and son sat down as Sam kept quiet while his dad did all the talking. They already finalized the terms, so Mr. Moses simply discussed certain finer details of the contract for a few minutes before finally ending all the talks.

    Mr. Clark looked at Sam, smiling. "All that remains now is your signature, Sam, and you will become the newest signing of Fulham football club".

    Sam looked at his dad and seeing him nod, he smiled before taking the contract document and a black pen, then he scribbled his signature.

    When they entered this exclusive part of the Cold Scoop restaurant, Mr. Clark was the only one inside but at some point, a cameraman entered when Sam took the pen to sign on the piece of document, the cameraman recorded everything.

    In the medialized world of modern football, this was very important. It would be part of the advertisement strategy when introducing Fulham''s new player to their fans as part of a publicity campaign for the club.

    As soon as Sam signed his signature, he stood up, including his father and the delegate from Fulham as with bright smiles, they shook hands again.

    "We hope to have a nice working experience with you, Samuel".

    Sam nodded. "I hope to have a great time in Fulham too".

    "Due to the transfer window restraints, we can only register you as a player of Fulham once the January transfer window opens in January". Mr. Clark looked at his wristwatch. "Aside that, your medicals have already been scheduled for this week Saturday, 30th".

    "I will make it".

    "Your trip from Nigeria is all expense paid by Fulham FC. Also, we prepared a VIP ticket for you to watch our next game of the premier league at home against Arsenal on Sunday, 31st".

    "After your medicals, right after the game on Sunday will be the day of your unveiling". Mr. Clark smiled. "I can''t wait to see you in the colors of Fulham FC".

    "Me too, Mr. Clark". Sam smiled back. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Oh," the Englishman stopped. "Before I forget, about your signing bonus. The 2,000,000 Euros will be wired to your bank account early tomorrow".

    Sam nodded, smiling again. "Thank you".

    With that, shaking hands one last time, Mr. Clark finally left the popular restaurant as alongside his entourage, they finally left the city of Abraka.

    As soon as the Englishman and his entourage left, Sam inclined his head, looking at his dad with an uncontrollable smile on his face.

    The look on Mr. Moses'' face was full of pride as he looked at his son, he laughed. "I love you son, you''re my jackpot". He went closer and hugged him.

    "I prayed to the football gods for a football career, I failed and see the way the gods answered my prayer," he grinned. "You''re my blessing Sam".

    Thinking of something, Sam grinned. "What do you think dad? Let''s go to McCarthy Beach again, let''s celebrate the event".

    Unlike what Sam expected though, Mr. Moses shook his head. "I would have loved to go with you Sam, but your mom," he chuckled. "Well, you know your mom".

    "She''s even more excited than both of us combined".

    "She''s adamant that we''re not going anywhere rather than the church to thank God for everything".

    Sam grimaced. "Really?"

    Mr. Moses chuckled, nodding.

    "Can I skip it?"

    Mr. Moses tsked. "Unfortunately, no".

    Sam sighed, succumbing to the tyranny of his mother. That evening, returning home, as soon as they confirmed the good news, an over-excited mom went on her knees in tears, dramatically rolling on the floor.

    "The God of chosen answers prayers!" She sang loudly in tears.

    "My God has done it!"

    "Oh God! I can''t believe it; my son is going to Europe!"

    That evening, Mrs. Moses dragged her full family to the church, Living Faith Church in Abraka where the pastor in charge prayed for all of them.

    Only after this did the excited mother let the father and son do what they wanted. It was already too late to go to McCarthy Beach, so Mr. Moses took his son to a bar instead, Chill Zone Bar where they had a great time.

    While they were in the bar was when Fulham FC finally released an official message on their social media handles of their new signing.

    Internet exploded.

 Chapter 94 A trip to England

    In football, there is a term referred to as transfer windows.A transfer window is a specific time during a football season when clubs can buy and sell players. The transfer window was introduced in 2002 as a compromise between FIFA and the European Commission to stabilize club squads and preserve contractual stability for players and clubs.

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    Most European leagues have two transfer windows, one from the end of the season to August 31st, and then another in January.

    To complete a transfer, a player is registered with the new club through FIFA during the period of the transfer window.

    If transfers are done outside the transfer window, new signings must wait until the next registration period to play for the club.

    This was the reason why Sam''s new club registration was scheduled to be completed in January when the transfer window finally opens.

    Immediately after Fulham FC released the news about their new signing, the internet exploded, taken by storm by excited Nigerian fans.

    Support flooded across all social media platforms for Sam, with the fans showing high hopes and expectations of him performing well in the premier league.

    Not all the storm was support though. Of course, there were always the dissidents who would discredit his achievements and doubt his credibility.

    They labeled him a 1-season wonder of an unknown league, predicting him to flop in the premier league.

    Sam did not care about all of that though, he didn''t pay attention to it.

    The past few days after signing the contract with Fulham FC were one of the most relaxing periods of his life as he enjoyed family time.

    He also spent a lot of time alongside his best friend, both of them placing bets on how long it would take him to make his stamp in the premier league.

    Enyimba FC also dominated the news as after Fulham FC met their new release clause of 8 million Euros for their young attacking midfielder, the Nigerian club became rich with money overnight.

    And not just that, Enyimba FC dominated the news for another reason as Sam was not the only player who left Enyimba FC after the FIFA Club World Cup.

    Austin also stole the headlines after completing his move to Germany to play for Wolfsburg, and the most surprising case was that of Emeka.

    After an impressive season last season, Emeka also caught the eye of clubs in Europe as he was snapped by Ajax in the Eredivisie in Netherlands.

    There were also rumors of European clubs approaching Farouk Mohamed.

    All in all, it was a great period of transition for the Nigerian club but the club was not in a crisis as with all the money being injected into their coffers, they had more than enough money to build a brand-new squad from ground up.

    The most significant news came on December 30th. After a few days of speculations and rumor, Coach Yemi Daniel became the next name in the departure list from Enyimba FC.

    After serving the Nigerian club faithfully for a few years, the coach finally proved his credentials, earning himself a big money move to France to ply his trade in the French league.

    On the 29th of December, a day before the news of his departure became public, Coach Yemi Daniel organized a get together with all his players in Abia State.

    There, Sam regrouped with his teammates one last time as they ate, drank, danced, and played a friendly game to commemorate the past 1 and a half seasons together, performing miracles and creating iconic memories.

    After the get together, returning to Delta State, Sam finally got ready to leave the country for good.

    He spent a lot of time with his family before going to his best friend''s place and spending significant time with him.

    He and Ian went way back, all the way from JSS 1 in Abraka Grammar School which was about 8 years ago.

    Ian also told him of his own life. After writing the last JAMB examination, Ian finally made the cut-off mark. If things went well for him, he was expecting to get an admission letter to study medicine in the prestigious UNIBEN (University of Benin) in Edo State.

    Sam drank a toast with his best friend before finally biding him farewell. That night he slept early so he could wake early on Saturday morning.

    That morning, Sam woke up, completed his daily system quest, ate his mom''s food, before going to the airport with his family.

    He was going to England with his father who also doubled as his agent.

    Right there at the airport, his mom made him kneel as she prayed on him for almost 20 minutes, banishing almost a thousand demons in the process. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    When Sam''s patience wore thin, she finally stopped, hugged him and kissed him on the forehead. "My son, go and show the prime league".

    Sam facepalmed. "Mom, it''s the premier league".

    "Whatever".

    Mr. Moses laughed before kissing his wife and daughter farewell. Watching them enter the plane, Sophia broke down in tears.

    Watching her cry, instead of consoling her, Sam laughed. "I''ll be back before you know it!" He yelled in her direction.

    And finally, the hatch closed, separating the family of 4.

    A few minutes later, the plane finally moved and in no time, it levitated before gradually disappearing in the sky as Sophia wiped her tears.

    Her mom stared at her. "It''s ok".

    She sobbed still.

    "I said it''s ok".

    She sobbed still.

    Then, she glared at her. "That''s enough! When your brother was with you, you didn''t show him this much love, stop being dramatic".

    Sophia wiped her tears and glared at her mom before storming off.

    "Spoilt brat," Mrs. Moses muttered, cursing.

    ¡­

    To Sam and his father, the journey was a smooth one.

    After more than 8 hours in the air since they departed from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos Nigeria, they finally arrived at the London Gatwick Airport in London.

    And from there, they met with the delegates from Fulham FC who took them through the rest of the journey to Fulham in West London, England.

    This was Sam''s first trip to England.

 Chapter 95 First game as a Fulham player; Fulham vs Arsenal

    Arriving in England, Sam could tell that it was different to all the other countries that he had visited since he started his football career.Maybe it was just his excitement doing it but he didn''t care.

    Back home, to Nigerians, London and England were synonymous with success, the same thing with Canada. This was why Sam felt that it was different, his excitement levels were consistently high since his arrival.

    Craven Cottage has been the home stadium of Fulham football club since back in 1896. The iconic stadium is located in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

    The ground''s capacity was just 29,589, lower than some of the best stadiums across Europe but also with more capacity than the Enyimba International Stadium where Sam saw as his home ground for the past 1 and half seasons.

    As soon as Sam arrived, he was led into the stadium, to the medical section where he was to have his medicals.

    With his system taking care of things, Sam was not scared of any hiccups.

    He passed his medicals with flying colors.

    After the medicals, he was finally introduced to his coach. The 49-year-old Marco Silva, Fulham''s senior team manager welcomed his new player in high spirits.

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    After acquainting with his coach, one of the assistant managers, Goncalo Pedro took the job of leading the new player on a tour through the stadium.

    Fulham FC may not be one of the top leading clubs in Europe, but as a club that has played consistently in the top division of the English premier league for years, they had a lot of history.

    Sam was introduced to all this history by the assistant coach, after which he finally left the stadium to settle into the hotel that was recommended by the club. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Alone, Sam would have probably been overwhelmed by being exposed to the new environment and all the new unfamiliar faces but with his dad alongside him, joining him through it all, Sam was able to stay relaxed.

    After his 8 hours journey, the father and son duo were already exhausted but before going to sleep, after taking their bath, they did the video call ritual.

    "Hey! Sam!" Sophia yelled as soon as the call connected.

    "Come on, tell me, how is England?"

    "Are the roads made of gold?!"

    "Come on, tell me!"

    "Get off you stubborn child!" Mrs. Moses pushed her daughter aside before finally smiling at the camera. "How are you doing my son? How is England?"

    Mr. Moses and his son were exhausted but he dared not indulge his wife. The duo did their best to summarize their experiences, from the 8 hours journey to getting to the city of Fulham, to Sam''s medical, everything.

    Only after they narrated everything did Mrs. Moses finally calm down, but then, remembering something, she asked. "Have you checked? Is there any plug there for African food?"

    Mr. Moses grimaced tiredly. "I''ve not checked yet but be rest assured, it''s England, surely there''s a restaurant for homemade African dishes".

    "I''m not resting assured anything!" She snapped. "Make sure you check tomorrow, my son is not about to go years on end without good food, got it?"

    Mr. Moses sighed. "Got it ma".

    She finally smiled. "Goodnight, I love you".

    By the time Mr. Moses ended the call, Sam was already sleeping. He switched off the lights before also laying down on the bed.

    He didn''t sleep yet though, thoughts wandering through his head. ''The system, where did it come from?''

    ''What is its origin?''

    He inclined his head on the bed, looking at his son. ''I hope it has no adverse effects. I''ll stay positive''. He decided with a sigh.

    Looking up at the ceiling of this hotel, he thought about tomorrow and his son''s career. It still felt like just yesterday when he sent his son money to get boots and a jersey to play in the Christmas game on December 2022.

    "How time flies," he muttered, smiling.

    He looked at his son again. ''Can Sam really go all the way? Can my son really win the balon d''or trophy one day?''

    ''He''ll be the first African to do it since George Weah''.

    He smiled foolishly. ''I can''t wait''.

    As his agent, he knew everything about his son''s football career. This was why he knew that the past few days of rest was the best that Sam would get in a long time, this was because the premier league season was already heating up towards its second half.

    ''19 matchdays out of 38 matchdays have already been played, that is exactly half of the season''.

    ''Tomorrow''s game marks the start of the second half of the season''.

    ''I hope they win''.

    Mr. Moses slept smiling.

    ¡­

    The next day was a big day in Fulham city.

    The Fulham FC fans rallied for their beloved club in their home stadium as they welcomed one of the clubs that was currently the biggest in the English premier league, the high-flying Arsenal.

    Despite the fact that it was a home game for Fulham FC, they were the heavy underdogs.

    For this game, Sam got to sit down with his dad in the stands in a VIP chair as they got the best spot to watch the game in the stadium.

    As soon as the game started, Arsenal started on a high confidently. They seemed on their way to sweeping Fulham FC aside like a storm as their starboy, the tricky winger, Bukayo Saka opened the scoring in the 5th minute of the game, giving his team the lead early.

    To Sam, it was a damning goal that grounded him in the reality of his current club. In terms of quality, his current club, Fulham FC may be miles better than Enyimba FC but in the English premier league, they were just a mid-table team.

    On this day though, the mid-table team created a miracle.

    Sam bore witness as his club refused to give in to the high-flying Arsenal team, equalizing the game 1-1 after 29 minutes by Jimenez, the Fulham striker.

    The game went to halftime with the score line draw.

    When second half started, Arsenal started as the better side but against the run of play, Fulham created a miracle, scoring an unexpected goal in the 59th minute to complete their comeback and take the lead through De Cordova-Reid.

    For the remaining minutes of the second half, Arsenal kept knocking but incredibly, Fulham FC held on to steal a famous win from Arsenal.

    Fulham won 2-1.

    "Yes!" Sam celebrated his new club excitedly.

    To him, it was the best way to commence his support of the English club.

 Chapter 96 Samuel Moses, no. 11

    Immediately after the end of the English premier league game in Fulham, the footballing world was taken by storm.That loss signified a momentum shift in the premier league title race.

    What made it even more explosive was that it gave on-lookers a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu, they had witnessed this happen before just last season.

    From the beginning of the 2023/2024 premier league season, Arsenal set a marker. Like in the previous season, they had been in shocking form, high-flying as they contended at the top of the premier league table, putting out convincing winning displays left and right.

    They didn''t just compete convincingly in the premier league, they also dazzled with scintillating performances in the UEFA champions league, convincing the world that the once all-conquering Arsenal was back in Europe''s elite tier.

    But in just 4 games, all that seemed to be spiraling down to a disastrous fall.

    First was the game against Aston Villa at home during matchday 16. For Arsenal, everything had been smooth sailing till that game.

    Unlike what most people predicted, playing against the imperious Arsenal at home, Aston Villa stunned the Flying Emirates, managing to snatch a narrow 1-0 win and after that game was when the momentum switched.

    In their next game, in matchday 17, hosting Brighton at home, Arsenal won 2-0 but their next game was a tough encounter against Liverpool in Anfield.

    In the matchday 18 encounter, Arsenal managed to ground out a 1-1 draw in one of the most intimidating stadiums in the world, Anfield.

    After that game, to many, Arsenal was back, having shaken off the momentary rust of the Aston Villa game.

    After that impressive display, in matchday 19, everyone expected them to carry on that form as they hosted West Ham united in their home stadium, the famous Emirates Stadium and that was when the first true shock of their season happened.

    Against all odds, even as the race for the premier league title ramped up at the top of the table, facing West Ham at home, Arsenal actually managed to lose 0-2 to the visitors, shocking the footballing world.

    That loss definitely rattled Arsenal nerves all across the world, leaving their fans uneasy and the aftermath of that was evident from their display again in the matchday 20 encounter against Fulham.

    The only difference this time was that Sam was now a Fulham player, and watching that game live, despite the fact that he didn''t play, he felt on top of the world as he watched his team win against one of the best teams in the world.

    That game rocked the Arsenal title-charging momentum.

    For Fulham though, it was an iconic victory.

    The happy mood of the victory became the perfect atmosphere for Sam''s unveiling in front of over 20,000 Fulham fans.

    When the announcement was made after the game, the fans made a lot of noise, welcoming their newest Nigerian player as Sam jogged onto the pitch.

    Sam was not the 2nd Nigerian professional football player to receive a contract from Fulham FC. Just this season alone, there were 2 Nigerian players in the roster before him and with his addition, he became the 3rd Nigerian.

    Apart from Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, the defender known for his no-nonsense defending reputation was also a Nigerian international.

    Under the atmosphere of this stadium, Sam was not overwhelmed at all. Rather, he felt at home since he could feel their joy and adoration.

    Having played for Enyimba FC for a full year, he was used to the atmosphere of packed stadiums. Instead of letting it overwhelm him, he embraced it, riding the energy of the excited fans.

    Taking the ball, he juggled it to roars of excitement, spicing it up with a few skill moves to the delight of the fans before saying a few words to the excited fans.

    He ended it with a vow. "I''ll give my best for the badge".

    After that, he was finally presented with his jersey which he showed to the fans. On the jersey was written his name and his new number.

    {Samuel #11}

    He would be playing as the new number 11 of Fulham FC. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After the unveiling, Coach Marco Silva, the middle-aged coach who was in a good mood after his victory against one of the top teams in the English premier league allowed his new signing into the dressing room as Sam was officially introduced to his teammates.

    After the introductions, as the players met, a particular player met him. Noticing the player, Sam smiled. It was a familiar face, Alex Iwobi.

    "Welcome to Europe brother," Alex Iwobi extended his hand for a handshake which Sam took with a big smile on his face.

    "Thank you, sir," Sam greeted respectfully. "I''ve watched you play for the Nigerian Super Eagles for years; I''ve been a secret admirer for long, I can''t believe I get to play with you now".

    Hearing that, Alex Iwobi smiled. "Do you have a place you''re staying in now? My home has a lot of space, you can stay with me till you get your own house".

    "We''re brothers you know, and we should help each other out".

    "Thank you," Sam acknowledged his offer politely. "I''ll speak with my dad about it, but now we''re staying in a hotel".

    "That''s good". Alex Iwobi nodded before looking at his wristwatch. "You can join me; I''ll drop you off at the airport".

    "And if you''re not too busy, you can drop in with your dad for dinner too".

    Sam smiled. "Thank you, I''ll tell him".

    "Good luck man, I can''t wait to see you integrated into the team".

    With that, they finally walked to the park where the Nigerian international''s car was parked. There, Sam reunited with his dad and together, Alex Iwobi took them on a lift, driving out of the stadium.

    Outside the stadium, the Nigerian international signed a few autographs for fans, taking pictures too before finally driving out.

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    About a dozen minutes later, Alex Iwobi dropped them off at the hotel where they lodged before leaving.

    Later in the evening, Sam left the hotel with his father.

    They went on a visit to Alex Iwobi''s home.

 Chapter 97 A dinner

    Alex Iwobi''s home was just as Sam expected it to be.The Nigerian international lived in a luxurious 8-bedroom villa right there in Fulham, a few minutes'' drive away from Fulham''s home stadium, Craven Cottage.

    For the duration of his stay with his son in England, having made preparations ahead of time, Mr. Moses already paid money to hire a car for transportation.

    He drove his car to the Nigerian international''s home.

    Since they exchanged contacts after their little chat at the end of the game, Sam called Alex Iwobi, informing him of their visit ahead of time. This was why as soon as their car arrived at the villa, they were let in.

    In no time, they were led to one of the massive dining rooms where Alex Iwobi, his wife, and his children were already about to eat dinner.

    Seeing them enter, Alex Iwobi smiled. "Welcome, come on in".

    "Thank you, sir". Sam nodded respectfully, entering with his dad.

    "Sam, meet my wife". Alex Iwobi looked at his beautiful wife. "Darling, this is the Sam that I told you about. He''s my club''s newest signing, and most importantly, he''s a Nigerian like me, he came from the outskirts of Delta State". Find more chapters on empire

    Hearing that, the beautiful young lady smiled in wonder, looking at Sam with a mischievous smile on her face. "Delta State? Warri¡­, it''s Warri right?"

    Sam laughed. "Yes, Warri is in Delta State".

    She grinned. "No warri me, no gimme issue, no gimme stress," she joked in pidgin, quoting words from a popular Nigerian comedy movie as Sam and his dad laughed in response.

    Mr. Moses laughed as he finally sat on one of the chairs. "Alex, I see you''re doing the needful to teach your wife the Nigerian ways even here in London".

    Alex Iwobi chuckled, rubbing his long hair awkwardly. "I don''t do anything, it''s just her, she''s very interested in Nigeria and things related to it".

    "She''s a big fan of AY and Sabinus, even Brain jotter too".

    Mr. Moses laughed again on hearing that. "Those guys are good," he looked at her. "I''m telling you, watching their comedy skits can literally heal depression".

    "Especially Sabinus," she added, laughing. "That guy is crazy!"

    "I agree". Sam also joined in, laughing.

    They talked about a few more random topics before digging into their food. They didn''t want to teach the children bad table manners.

    Mrs. Moses worried about where her son could get good African homemade dishes to eat, well, her worries were without basis for just today.

    Sam had no idea if it was because Alex Iwobi knew they were coming, but his wife made Nigerian homemade dishes, preparing Banga soup and garri. Despite it coming from her, the combination was incredibly delicious.

    ''Damn,'' Sam stole a glance at her. ''She most likely learned all this through YouTube or tik tok''.

    ''She really loves Nigeria''. He smiled.

    When most of the food on their plates was almost gone, Alex Iwobi finally initiated another conversation as he stared at Sam. "So, how''s Nigeria?"

    "Nigeria is still Nigeria, the way you left it". Sam replied, making Alex laugh.

    "Well, as you already know, Bola Ahmed Tinubu won the presidential election and is now our president so yeah, tough times ahead". He chuckled.

    "How do you know that for sure?" Alex stared at him.

    Sam stared back. "You say that only because you don''t live in Nigeria. If you live in Nigeria, you''ll know how much trouble we are in, it''s unbelievable really". He chuckled mirthfully.

    "And the rising inflation rate," Mr. Moses added. "If care is not taken, the dollar rate may hit a thousand naira soon enough, and in a democratic country like Nigeria, dubbed the giant of Africa, that''s just disgraceful".

    Alex sighed. "I guess like they say, it''s what it is".

    "It is what it is". Sam and his dad echoed.

    After eating, Alex, Sam and his father went to relax outside where Alex finally brought up football related talks, asking about Sam''s career so far.

    He didn''t have the time to watch the FIFA Club World Cup final, but he heard of the noise around a young Nigerian midfield prodigy that followed it.

    He didn''t even know Sam was this prodigy till now.

    "Wait, so you''re that Zinedine Sam that I''ve been hearing so much about?"

    "Yeah". Sam smiled cheekily.

    Alex laughed loudly. "Wow, and I was so worried about you, thinking of how you''ll fit in here in England and force your way into the Fulham starting XI".

    "If there''s so much hype around you though, there must be a basis for it".

    "I have a little pitch here in my house, we can practice together if you want".

    "Besides," he said after remembering something. "You remember the offer I made you?" He shrugged, pointing at the villa. "As you can see, it''s just me, my wife, my children, and some maids, that''s all".

    "It''s a big house, it can comfortably take in 2 or 3 more inhabitants".

    "So, like I said before, we''re brothers," this time he looked at Mr. Moses a bit before looking at Sam again. "If you feel you''re not ready to get a house here in England yet, you can stay in my home till you are ready".

    He smiled. "Here, it''s peaceful and we don''t have security problems. And with me staying with you here, I can assure you that you''ll be able to focus on your football".

    "We can practice one on one here in my pitch before general training".

    "And talking of general training," he looked at the time. "It''s already getting late, as a footballer, you need to keep a good sleeping schedule".

    "It helps in keeping you fresh for every training session and game".

    "Tomorrow, training starts by 8, but as a new player of Fulham FC, you should be at the stadium at least 30 minutes before time".

    Sam nodded. "I understand".

    "So Sam, what do you think about my offer?"

    Sam did not answer immediately, rather he looked at his dad.

    Mr. Moses cleared his throat. "You know, before coming here, my son already told me about your offer and we already talked about it".

    "But before making any decision, I want to ask," he looked at Alex Iwobi. "Why are you being so generous?"

    Alex shrugged. "I was once a newbie in England too. I know how hard it is to settle down in a foreign country without someone to help you, and I don''t want Sam to go through that. That''s why". Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Mr. Moss looked in his eyes for a few seconds, then he nodded. "I understand. Actually, I don''t intend to stay in England for too long myself".

    "I''ll be returning to Nigeria soon".

    "My son already agreed to stay with you. But during my duration here, we''ll still stay in the hotel. When I''m leaving, I''ll entrust my son to you".

    He smiled. "I hope you take care of him in my absence".

    "Don''t worry, Sam is in good hands".

    "Then I''m relieved".

    Sam and his dad stayed with the Nigerian international for about 30 more minutes before finally heading back to their hotel.

    Tomorrow was a big day for Sam.

    This was because tomorrow, he would be having his first training session alongside his new teammates for Fulham FC.

 Chapter 98 High-grade vitality elixir

    ~----~[You have completed System Daily Quest: Mentality Monster!]

    [You have been rewarded with a low-grade physical conditioning elixir!]

    ¡­

    [You have marked a system milestone of completing the daily system quest for more than 1 year!]

    [You are eligible for a system reward!]

    [Congratulations! You have unlocked bonus reward: High-grade physical conditioning elixir!]

    >High-grade physical conditioning elixir: This is a miraculous elixir that is capable of completely eliminating fatigue, making post-match recovery instantaneous. It also accelerates recovery time from injuries<

    [Congratulations! You have unlocked bonus reward: High-grade vitality elixir!]

    >High-grade vitality elixir: This is a miraculous elixir that is capable of increasing the innate vitality of a football player, granting you more physical resilience to injuries, and also improving your general physicality and stamina<

    [NOTE: A high-grade vitality elixir is different from a high-grade vitality fruit!]

    ~----~

    Due to Alex Iwobi''s advice yesterday, as soon as Sam got to his hotel room alongside his dad, he took his bath before quickly sleeping.

    This was to wake up early the next morning.

    The next morning, waking up early, he did his daily ritual, leaving the hotel building and jogging through the streets of Fulham.

    Nobody recognized him in the street, a rare privilege that he already forgot how it felt like since he started gaining prominence in Nigeria.

    That morning, he didn''t just jog, he also jogged to Craven Cottage, Fulham''s home stadium very early where he completed his remaining daily system tasks in the stadium gym. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After a long time, the system already changed the name of his daily system quest from getting back in shape to mentality monster.

    Waking up early every day to engage in physical activities was not easy, not even for Sam. Afterall, footballers also get holidays, but Sam never got a holiday to rest from his daily system quests since he got his system.

    Seeing those notifications though, he was stunned.

    It still felt just like yesterday when he got his system and started completing daily system quests, but in the blink of an eye, a whole year already passed.

    ''I''ve really come a long way already,'' Sam thought, feeling nostalgia.

    Staring at the 2 bonus rewards that he got, Sam was hyped. He was hyped due to the description of the 2 high-grade elixirs, but also because of the fact that he still had a vivid recollection of his very first high-grade goodie from the system.

    A recurring ankle injury was what almost ruined his budding football career before it even started, but after getting his system, a high-grade goodie from the system was what turned the situation around.

    Sam could still vividly remember consuming the high-grade vitality fruit.

    He had full trust in anything high-grade from the system, this was the main reason why he was so hyped on seeing the rewards.

    ''Damn, it pays to be diligent''.

    ''A befitting price for a mentality monster''.

    He kept the high-grade physical conditioning elixir in his inventory. It was another miraculous elixir, but since he didn''t have an injury now, he had no use for it. As for the high-grade vitality elixir though, he had an immediate need for it.

    Without hesitation, Sam consumed the elixir, and then he felt changes.

    There was a hot sensation that started from his chest, before rushing to his abdomen, leaving him burning up. ''F*ck! I shouldn''t have ingested it outside!''

    Sam clutched his stomach, reeling in pain.

    The burning sensation lasted for a few seconds before coming to an end, suddenly disappearing but in those few seconds, Sam became drenched in sweat.

    As soon as the sensation disappeared, he heaved a sigh of relief.

    And right after, his system lit up with new notifications.

    ~----~

    [You have ingested a high-grave vitality elixir!]

    [Your physical constitution has improved!]

    [Your pace attribute has increased by +5!]

    [Your physicality attribute has increased by +4!]

    [Your stamina attribute has increased by +3!]

    ~----~

    "¡­"

    "¡­"

    "¡­..!"

    Sam''s jaws literally dropped in shock.

    He was so flabbergasted by what he was seeing that this time, he just could not keep his thoughts to himself. "What the f*ck!" He literally screamed right there in the streets of Fulham.

    "What in the name of freaking Christ!"

    "This thing can increase my pace?!"

    "Damn! Is that even natural? Can pace be increased so easily?!"

    "Hey man, keep it down". A bystander complained the next moment, dragging Sam back to the reality that he was not in the streets of Abraka, Delta State, but rather he was now in Fulham, England.

    ''F*ck!'' He cursed in his head before jogging off.

    Even as Sam jogged back to the hotel though, he could not take off the image from his system interface that was now stuck in his head.

    ''What the f*ck!'' He kept on cursing in disbelief.

    At some point though, he finally stopped, paying attention to his system status again, focusing on his attributes to confirm that he didn''t hallucinate.

    ~----~

    [Congratulations! Your overall player rating has increased to 80!]

    ¡­

    Player Attributes:

    *Pace: 81

    *Shot: 77

    *Pass: 80

    *Dribbling: 74

    *Defending: 38

    *Physicality: 70

    *Stamina: 84

    Overall Rating: 80

    ~----~

    "¡­!" Sam''s eyes opened so wide that it almost seemed like they would just burst and pop out of their sockets.

    ''Damn! It''s real!''

    At that moment he felt a yearning, like a drug addict. ''My precious!'' He screamed in his mind.

    ''How can I get more high-grade vitality elixirs?!''

    ''I want!''

    In just one moment, Sam''s attributes changed in such a way that they literally became unrecognizable. The same thing for his body; he didn''t try it out on a pitch yet but Sam could tell that his body was different.

    He looked ahead, an excited gleam in his eyes. Read exclusive chapters at empire

    Coming to the English premier league, though Sam had confidence in his abilities, he could not help but feel a little trepidation simply due to the reputation of the league.

    If at an overall rating of 78, he still felt some trepidation before, after this increase though, Sam literally oozed confidence.

    He grinned, looking forward to today''s training. ''Bring it on!''

 Chapter 99 First training session

    Sam returned to the hotel just before the 7:00am mark. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.After greeting his father who was just waking up, he took his bath, got set before quickly taking the car off to Craven Cottage, his team''s home stadium.

    A little while ago in Nigeria, since he already hit 18 years, the legal driving age, Mr. Moses finally taught his son how to drive.

    Sam already got his driving license.

    Just like Alex Iwobi advised, Sam took it a step closer, arriving at Craven Cottage when it was just 7:15am.

    He was the very first Fulham player to arrive for training.

    About 15 minutes later, other players arrived and a few more minutes later, Coach Marco Silva also arrived.

    Without wasting anytime, the manager quickly led his players to the gym in the stadium. Sam already knew before now that different managers had different coaching and training styles, but this was his first time experiencing it.

    Unlike Coach Yemi Daniel''s style of taking his players to the pitch, taking them through some light training before ramping it up, the Fulham manager, Marco Silva''s ways were more modern, more refined. Find exclusive stories on empire

    Entering the gym, Sam quickly noted something. ''It''s far more advanced than any other gym I''ve seen in Nigeria''.

    ''Damn! I''m going to love this''.

    Alongside the other players, following the instruction of the assistant coaches, the players started working out in the gym.

    The first set of exercises were game-recovery exercises.

    The feat of defeating Arsenal in their last game was not an easy one. After such a grueling defeat, most of the players comprising the starting XI of Fulham FC were still suffering from post-match fatigue.

    This was why the first set of exercises were post-match recovery exercises.

    After the unique set of exercises, Coach Marco Silva took it up a notch, giving his players freedom to work on themselves the best way they knew.

    Most of the players, especially the defenders immediately started lifting weights and working on their legs, trying to condition their physicality.

    As for the forwards and midfielders, they mostly did agility training, using the treadmill and other modern gym facilities.

    In the gym, Sam followed Alex Iwobi''s leadership, sticking to his fellow Nigerian like glue. They started in the treadmill, jogging at first before progressing to a full-blown sprint before reducing the intensity again.

    After about 40 minutes of exercising in the gym, Coach Marco Silva clapped. "Ok, that''s enough, time to go outside to the pitch".

    "You have 10 minutes of rest, catch your breath and join me on the field".

    "Yes, coach". The players answered.

    "How are you feeling?" Alex Iwobi asked as Sam chugged down a bottle of water.

    Hearing the question, Sam smiled and looked at him. "I feel great, better than before even. I can''t wait to impress the coach".

    Alex grinned. "I love your confidence; you''ll need it in the premier league".

    Just like the coach said, he kept to his time and exactly 10 minutes later, he entered the gym again, clapping loudly and summoning them to the pitch.

    On the pitch, the real team training finally started.

    After a few more general training drills, Coach Marco Silva divided his players, separating them into 6 vs 6 sides. This was the first real training game of the day.

    Sam was isolated in a team filled with foreign faces, and the team he was facing was that having Alex Iwobi.

    He was not deterred though; he was determined to do his thing.

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the game started, Sam showed his intensity and physicality, running all over the place, showing his incredible stamina as he won back the ball frequently while winning most duels.

    He didn''t play like an 18-year-old at all, rather, he played like an imposing young man who was in the prime of his physicality.

    Sam was in a great mood; he was enjoying the game.

    He would have been the best player of this game, if it was not so technical.

    In 6 vs 6 games, the pitch was not as open as an 11 vs 11 game. The space to run in was much smaller, time spent on the ball was shorter which meant a shorter time frame to make decisions.

    6 vs 6 games were games of technicality and fast decision making.

    Sam covered the most distance in the game but it was clear that his technicality was not yet at that elite level of his teammates.

    Despite this though, Sam was a stand-out performer as he showcased his skills to his coach, helping his side win 6-5 against Alex Iwobi''s side.

    After the game, the Nigerian international approached him with a big smile on his face, wiping his sweat. "You''re good Sam".

    "Honestly, I didn''t expect such a performance, kudos man".

    Sam grinned. "Thanks". Then, he sneaked in a cheeky question. "Do you think I''ll make it into the coach''s starting XI for the next game?"

    Alex smiled. "Not a chance man. Don''t get me wrong, you were one of the stand-out performers today, but Silva is not that flexible".

    "I''ve worked with him before in Everton so I know. He prefers sticking with proven veterans rather than exciting new players, so you''ll need to prove yourself to him over an extended period of time before he really trusts you".

    Sam grimaced. "Thought so".

    Coach Marco Silva introduced more training drills as time went on. Throughout though, the coach never set up an 11 vs 11 training game, sticking with the smaller 6 vs 6 and 3 vs 3 games.

    After a few hours of going at it, the coach finally called it a day, today''s training was over.

    After Fulham''s game against Arsenal on 31st December, they had 4 days of rest before their next game which was in the FA Cup.

    Fulham would be taking on Rotherham on 5th January 2024, a club from England''s lesser divisions in the FA Cup third round.

    And after the training session, Coach Marco Silva finally dropped his starting XI.

    Samuel Moses was not part of the names that made the list.

 Chapter 100 FA Cup- third round

    (FA Cup!](3rd round fixture:)

    >Fulham ¨C Rotherham<

    >Date: 5th January, 2024<

    ¡­

    Sam did not make Coach Marco Silva''s starting XI, but he was not that discouraged though. This was because even bigger names in the Fulham FC squad did not make the coach''s starting XI for the FA Cup game.

    The likes of Raul Jimenez, Willian, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and even Bernd Leno, the Fulham no. 1 goalkeeper were not in the starting XI, telling Sam that the coach had no intentions of playing with his strongest squad.

    In hindsight, it made sense, Fulham was playing against a club from the lower divisions; the coach would want to rotate his team.

    (Fulham FC starting XI:) S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (M. Rodak: Goalkeeper)

    (K. Tete: Right Back)

    (T. Adarabioyo: Right Center Back)

    (I. Diop: Left Center Back)

    (T. Castagne: Left Back)

    (H. Reed: Center Midfielder)

    (S. Lukic: Center Midfielder)

    (H. Wilson: Right Winger)

    (A. Pereira: Center Attacking Midfielder)

    (B. De Cordova-Reid: Left Winger)

    (R. Muniz: Striker)

    It was not Fulham FC''s strongest lineup but it was still a strong team on paper compared to the starting XI from Rotherham.

    For the next few days in the prelude to the game, Sam was not disappointed, even more motivated by the coach''s decision as he put in more than 100% in every training session, always being the first player to report to training since he arrived.

    And in every training session, he was consistently always among the best performing players, showing his ability in every game.

    And with his performances, his teammates finally started opening up to him, recognizing his ability with the ball on his leg.

    Sam was slowly building prominence in the squad with his displays and hard work during every training session. His hard work finally paid off a day to the game as Coach Marco Silva called him aside.

    "You''re doing well, Sam, keep it up. I didn''t want to rush you into games, to observe you more first but I think I''ve observed enough".

    "Sleep early today and get ready, tomorrow, you''ll play".

    Hearing that, Sam smiled with gratitude on his face. "Thank you, coach, you won''t regret this decision".

    "That is up to me," the coach stared at him. "You just do your thing".

    "Yes coach".

    He was still not in the starting XI but that little assurance from the coach was all that Sam needed to sleep well that night.

    Returning home, he followed the coach''s advice, sleeping early.

    In the blink of an eye, he woke up, it was already a new day, the D-day.

    Craven Cottage was filled to the brim with the home supporting fans as they came out in droves to support their club.

    Once the players lined up on the pitch, the referee''s whistle went off, kickstarting the game.

    Since they were playing at home, the Fulham players had the advantage of home support against their opponents. Stacked against their already numerous advantages, they started the game on the front foot.

    For the first few minutes of the game, Fulham FC dominated possession, pressing the lower division team but an early goal didn''t come though.

    Rotherham remained defensively disciplined, defending doggedly until they finally grew into the game, making the game even.

    Both teams had their chances, probing with attacks and finally, Fulham was the one to open the scoring first in the 24th minute.

    After Lukic won the ball back in midfield, he passed to Pereira, the Fulham attacking midfielder who immediately skipped past challenges with his mastery over spatial awareness, bombing down the Rotherham half.

    When he was close to the 18-yard box, one of the Rotherham center backs came closing him down with malicious intent and this attacking midfielder finally passed to his left where the Fulham left winger, De Cordova-Reid lurked.

    The pass was not perfect but the left winger reacted immediately, pouncing before the nearest Rotherham player could clear the ball.

    De Cordova-Reid pushed the ball away from the outstretched leg of the Rotherham player, cut into the box 18 from the right, then took a look at goal before hitting a curled shot towards goal.

    Wrapping the inside of his right leg around the ball, it flew high, rotating rapidly as it curled into the top right corner of the post, leaving the Rotherham goalkeeper ruing his luck since he came so close to pushing the ball out.

    "Goal!" De Cordova-Reid pumped his fists in excitement before rushing towards the corner flag to celebrate.

    In the 24th minute of the game, Fulham finally took the lead.

    That goal seemed to embolden the Fulham players, making them even more confident as the momentum fully swung in their favor. Enjoy more content from empire

    It was just the final touch remaining for the floodgates to open as Fulham became rampant, going on one attacking raid after the other, launching floods of attacks against the Rotherham defense line.

    Despite Fulham''s dominance throughout the first half though, especially in the final stages of the first half, they failed to extend their lead, going to halftime with the score line still 1-0 in their favor.

    When second half started, Fulham resumed the game with the same momentum, dominating their opponents, only lacking the final touch to put the ball into the opposition net a second time.

    De Cordova-Reid came close to doubling his goal tally this game a few times, but he just fell short at the last moment.

    Muniz, the Fulham striker for this game also came close with half-chances, but the Rotherham goalkeeper was on top of his game.

    At the 60th minute, Coach Marco Silva finally made a few changes, subbing De Cordova-Reid out of the game after an impressive performance so far.

    Sam still had to wait for his turn though.

    The game continued, the second half with no goals till the 75th minute when the Fulham manager, Marco Silva pulled the plug on his substitutions again.

    This time, he made a triple change, taking off Muniz, the striker, Pereira, the attacking midfielder, and Wilson, the left winger.

    Sam and Alex Iwobi were introduced into the game at the same time in the 75th minute, 15 minutes to the end of the game.

    Sam jogged into the game with a slight smile on his face, only one thought was on his head. ''There''s still time to make my mark''.

 Chapter 101 Debut game; debut moment of magic

    ''There''s still time to make my mark''.FWEEEE!

    Immediately after the referee''s whistle went off, restarting the game, Sam used a familiar mantra to calm his nerves as he jogged about the pitch.

    For this game, he replaced Pereira as the attacking midfielder of the team while Alex Iwobi had more of a defensive midfield role.

    As soon as the game restarted, with fresh legs, Fulham FC increased their intensity, dominating possession even more than before.

    Entering this game, Sam was determined to do just one thing, make his mark but he didn''t rush about it.

    A season and a half of playing in the NPFL for Enyimba FC already taught Sam a lot of things, and one of these things was to not be rash.

    He still had a vivid recollection of his first game for Enyimba FC where due to his overenthusiasm to make his mark, he cost his team a goal. Though he made amends later in the game, that moment haunted him for a long time.

    This was why for the first few minutes after entering the pitch, Sam seemed to turn into Xavi Hernandez reincarnated.

    Just like the Barcelona legend, for 10 minutes, he played tidy and effective football, boasting incredible stats of a hundred percent pass completion rate.

    With his tidy passes, setting up his teammates to take the risk, Sam helped Fulham FC dominate the possession even more for the final minutes of this game, thoroughly killing the Rotherham momentum.

    After 10 minutes on the pitch though, with only 5 minutes remaining till the 90th minute, Sam finally decided to be adventurous a bit.

    Receiving the ball in the middle of the pitch, just like before, the desperate Rotherham players expected him to pass sideways to the nearest teammate as they pressed aggressively, blocking his passing lanes while rushing towards him.

    They expected to intimidate him with their aggressive press but Sam was not impressed. At that moment, he decided to switch it up.

    ''Let''s leave a moment for the fans to remember''.

    Bam!

    Flicking the ball with the tip of his boot, he raised it above the first Rotherham player''s outstretched leg, easily skipping past the first challenge.

    The second challenge came from the right.

    With his spatial awareness, Sam knew that this was the closest player to his position. Feeling mischievous, he decided to take more risk.

    As the player charged in, he took a heavy step, staggering slightly as this player was destabilized by it, reacting by staggering backward unsteadily.

    When the Rotherham player realized that it was a feint, he became even more aggressive, charging forward again and that was when Sam did him dirty.

    Shifting the ball with the outside of his boot, Sam took the ball closer to the Rotherham player and just as this player stretched his leg out to steal the ball, Sam smoothly switched from the outside of his boot to the inside, cutting the ball back.

    He deleted the Rotherham player with the elastico dribble. Enjoy new stories from empire

    It was executed so silkily that it almost seemed like a snake''s bite, and the aftermath was the Rotherham player collapsing to the field on his butt.

    "Oh my!" The commentator exclaimed, laughing. "The new guy is feeling cheeky! What a move!"

    "And oh¡­, he''s played a pass, what a pass!"

    "Jimenez is one on one with the goalkeeper!"

    Immediately after skipping past the 2 challenges in the middle of the pitch, space opened up in the Rotherham formation. That was when Sam spotted Jimenez, the striker who was subbed into the game alongside him and Alex Iwobi make a run.

    He did not hesitate, playing an inch-perfect defense splitting pass.

    Raul Jimenez charged past the defenders, calmly controlling the ball before shooting it at goal with his second touch.

    The Rotherham goalkeeper who was already charging towards him made his body big and unfortunately for Jimenez, the ball hit the goalkeeper''s leg, rebounding back into the 18-yard box as players scrambled for it.

    In the end, one of the Rotherham players got there first but due to the urgency, he executed a flawed clearance of the ball, shooting it high into the air instead of clearing it upfield.

    The ball descended in the midfield where Alex Iwobi lurked.

    A Rotherham player tried to win the aerial duel from the Nigerian international but outmuscling the opposition player, Alex Iwobi calmly won the ball before taking a look up the field, spotting a few options.

    There were others in better positions but at this moment, Alex ignored all of them before threading a pass to Sam who just entered the 18-yard box.

    A Rotherham player slid on the pitch, trying to intercept the ball but it just slipped past his outstretched leg.

    The ball was an inch perfect pass in Sam''s running path.

    Sam took the ball in his strides, pushing it forward slightly and setting himself up before unleashing a whipped ground ball towards goal.

    The Rotherham goalkeeper was rooted to the spot, only watching as the ball rolled through the ground with speed towards the bottom left corner.

    He watched the ball all the way till it nestled into his net.

    "Goalllll¡­!" Sam pumped a fist in celebration before turning, pointing at Alex Iwobi as he jogged towards the Nigerian international.

    Alex Iwobi turned around, letting Sam jump on his back to celebrate.

    "What a goal!" The commentator screamed. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What a debut for the young Nigerian player".

    "He started the move, it didn''t pan out, and yet somehow, he still ended it!"

    "What a debut performance!"

    "It''s a dream debut for him".

    In the 86th minute of the game, Fulham FC scored the 2nd goal of the game through Sam, dooming Rotherham to a damning loss.

    After that goal, the Rotherham momentum truly dissipated completely as Fulham FC fully dominated the rest of the game, coming close to scoring a few more times mostly through Jimenez.

    Fulham FC did not get the 3rd goal though.

    After additional minutes by the referee, the game finally game to an end.

    Fulham FC won 2-0.

    [Author''s NOTE: Congratulations to me and us on 100 chapters! Wow!]

 Chapter 102 EFL Cup semifinal- leg 1 of 2

    (EFL Cup!)(Semifinal- Leg 1 of 2:)

    (Liverpool ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 10 January, 2024)

    ¡­

    De Cordova-Reid won the man of the match award of the Rotherham game.

    Immediately after the game, the winger faced the media where he did an interview, answering multiple questions, including questions relating to the young Nigerian midfielder who made his debut for Fulham today and got a goal for it.

    De Cordova-Reid may not have a personal relationship with Sam yet, but they were teammates. He had only glowing words for the young attacking midfielder, wishing him the best to help take Fulham FC to greater heights together.

    Shortly after the game, after Sam returned to his hotel room to rest where he got treated to another video call session with his mom and sister back home in Nigeria. After the video call session was when his manager sent him their next fixture.

    Apparently, Coach Yemi Daniel was not the only coach who sent his players fixtures for the next game, Coach Marco Silva practiced it also.

    When Sam saw the details of the next game though, he was surprised.

    The EFL Cup was also known as the Carabao Cup in England.

    It was not the tournament that caught his attention though. Rather, it was the opponent that Fulham FC would be facing in the first leg of the Carabao Cup game.

    Having watched his team play against one of the best clubs in England in the form of Arsenal just about a week or so ago from the stands, pulling off an upset and winning the game, Sam was about to see his team take on another heavyweight of the English premier league.

    It didn''t matter that they would be playing Liverpool FC in the Carabao Cup at all, Liverpool was still one of the best clubs in England.

    Thinking of Liverpool reminded Sam of his game against Manchester City in the final of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup.

    Both of these clubs had a similar level of prestige in the premier league. Under the tutelage of Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool already built a dynasty in England.

    And considering that his current team, Fulham was far stronger than his old club, Enyimba FC, Sam could not wait for his team''s next game.

    He was motivated to do even more in training.

    For the next few days, Sam kept on being the first player to report to training every day and in the training sessions, his performances only became more prominent as he slowly settled into his new surroundings.

    He was already building a tight understanding with Alex Iwobi. Anytime that they were both on the same 6-side team, their team won majority of the times.

    Fulham''s manager, Marco Silva saw all these but when the time came, he stuck with his starting XI formation.

    (Fulham FC starting XI:)

    (B. Leno: Goalkeeper)

    (T. Castagne: Right Back)

    (T. Adarabioyo: Right Center Back)

    (I. Diop: Left Center Back)

    (A. Robinson: Left Back)

    (H. Reed: Center Midfielder)

    (J. Palhinha: Center Midfielder)

    (B. De Cordova-Reid: Right Winger)

    (A. Pereira: Center Attacking Midfielder)

    (Willian: Left Winger)

    (R. Jimenez: Striker)

    Marco Silva''s starting XI was a strong one but he left a few big names out of the squad entirely, names like Alex Iwobi.

    Just like Sam, Alex Iwobi was still a relatively new player to Fulham FC having signed a contract with them just early last year 2023.

    Like most teams did in the Carabao Cup, Coach Marco Silva was not putting all his chips on winning the game, rather keeping certain chips for Fulham''s next game in the premier league.

    While the likes of Alex Iwobi didn''t even make it to the bench, staying out of the lineup entirely, Sam made it to the bench for this game.

    Like Fulham, Liverpool approached this game with a reasonably strong lineup with the likes of Virgil Van Dijk and Konate starting in defense, Mac Allister starting in midfield, while Diogo Jota and Luiz Diaz started in attack.

    It was a mix of experience and young energy for the Liverpool team as the likes of Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliot also started the game.

    One fact played in favor of Liverpool FC for this game though, it was the simple fact that they were playing this game in their iconic stadium, Anfield.

    All his life as a football fan, Sam watched most of football''s iconic stadiums only on TV, having bitter and sweet memories from them. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Anfield in particular was one of the stadiums he dreaded most.

    Afterall, it was this same stadium that killed his favorite club, FC Barcelona''s dreams for a 6th UEFA champions league title back in 2018.

    Despite coming to Anfield with a solid 3-0 lead from the first leg back in Camp Nou, Barcelona, and with the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez still plying their trades for FC Barcelona, Barca fumbled in the atmosphere of this iconic stadium, surrendering their lead and losing 4-0 in Anfield.

    When Sam stepped into Anfield on 10th January, feeling the energy of the fans in red as they sang their iconic song ''you''ll never walk alone'', he felt goosebumps.

    ''What¡­ a stadium!''

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle went off and the game started, just like most people expected, Liverpool FC started the game on the front foot, dominating Fulham FC in most parameters in the field of play.

    Against the run of play though, it was Fulham who opened the deadlock first.

    Stay updated with empire

    In an unexpected moment of magic from the Fulham winger, after receiving a pass in the right, Willian, the silky winger went on a mazy run through the Liverpool FC defense, dashing past players with his pace before setting himself up and curling a shot past the Liverpool goalkeeper.

    Kelleher who started in place of Allison Becker, the Liverpool no. 1 goalkeeper dived but the ball just barely curled past his hands into the net.

    Against the run of play, Fulham FC went on the lead, 1-0.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" Screaming loudly, Willian ran to the corner flag, slapping his chest excitedly as he celebrated wildly.

    The whole Fulham FC team celebrated excitedly.

    And when their celebration eventually died down, the referee blew his whistle, the signal to continue the game.

    FWEEEE!

    To Liverpool FC, the game truly started from that point.

    A war started on the pitch.

 Chapter 103 The Anfield Effect [1]

    What is the Anfield effect?To many, it was a myth, just a term made up by Liverpool fans to scare their rivals when they visit their home stadium, but was it really just a myth?

    Liverpool FC is one of the oldest clubs in England with a lot of history, only behind Manchester United and over the years, there was one thing that opposition players always testified of, even legends of the game, and it was the atmosphere of this stadium during the high-stake games.

    Legendary football players like the Brazilian legend, Ronaldo Nazario already testified of the Anfield effect, the very effect of playing in this iconic stadium.

    Coming from 3-0 down to win 4-0 at home and snatch the final spot of the UEFA Champions league was not something that any club could do.

    Not even the best clubs in the world could do it, and most definitely not against the FC Barcelona squad of 2018 led by a rampant Lionel Messi, yet, Liverpool managed to do it, how?

    They did it because of the Anfield effect.

    Sam had watched Liverpool games as a neutral fan lots of times as he grew up, witnessing miracle after miracle happen in this stadium, and finally, for the first time in his life, he experienced it as a professional football player.

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded after Willian''s goal for Fulham, to the Liverpool players, the game truly started at that point.

    A war started on the pitch!

    Jurgen Kloop, the Liverpool manager was known for a few things, including his chill attitude and his 4-3-3 formation, but his formation was less known and notorious compared to his tactical approach to football.

    Jurgen Kloop adapted the tactical approach of gen-gen pressing.

    It was a chaotic, high-intensity approach to football where the work rate of all the Liverpool outfield players is expected to be at an insane rate across 90 minutes.

    It was a grueling approach to football, but for Jurgen Kloop, it paid dividends.

    This chaotic, high-intensity approach to football was why in the premier league, Liverpool FC were known as Manchester City''s kryptonite.

    Afterall, during the Pep Guardiola era in the premier league, Liverpool under Jurgen Kloop are the only club to have pipped Man City to the premier league title once, with the Pep Guardiola machine taking all other titles.

    Manchester City were renowned as the control machine. With incredible ball-retaining midfielders like Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden, they play a game of control where they carefully work their way towards goal and simply blow their opponents away, but not Liverpool FC.

    Jurgen Kloop''s mentality was simple; when playing against the masters of control, don''t try to beat them at their own game, instead, switch it up.

    Switch it up from control to chaos, pure unadulterated chaos.

    In the 2018/2019 season, Liverpool FC fully embodied this philosophy at its peak as led by the legendary forward trio of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, and Mohamed Salah, Liverpool swept aside all opposition to win the double of the UEFA champions league and the premier league title.

    Of course, even during their peak, one thing was a constant that enabled them pull off miracle after miracle, the Anfield effect.

    From the 19th minute, as soon as the game restarted after Willian''s goal, Liverpool FC came roaring out like a rabid mother Tiger whose cubs were threatened by another predator.

    The Tiger came roaring out rabidly with chaos and furious retribution.

    "Allez!" "Allez!" "Allez!"

    The Liverpool fans started, singing, chanting, drowning the iconic stadium with noise and in the chaos of the noise, the Liverpool players thrived.

    The Liverpool team as a whole played like a master of chaos.

    From the back, Virgil Van Dijk, the tall and imposing center back kept an incredibly cool head, leading the team from the back and kickstarting their play as the rest of his defense alongside him snuffed out all further Fulham attacks. Experience tales with empire

    The triumvate of Willian, De Cordova-Reid and Jimenez were completely locked out by the Liverpool defense for the rest of the first half, letting their midfield and offense to thrive in the chaos that followed.

    With Van Dijk leading from the back, Diogo Jota led from the front.

    The Portuguese forward led the attack, pressing alongside the rest of his forwards with relentless intensity as they didn''t let the ball stay in Fulham legs for more than a few seconds.

    And with the Argentinian International, Alexis Mac Allister orchestrating play from the base of midfield, assisted by his partners in crime in midfield today, Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones, Liverpool FC posed a great threat with every attack.

    The Liverpool attacking trio for this game each tested the Fulham goalkeeper multiple times as the half wore on but Bernd Leno was on top of his game, putting out impressive save after save to keep his team in the game.

    The more the game wore on and the louder the stadium became, the more rattled the Fulham players became, leading into more mistakes.

    And the more mistakes they made; the more chaos reigned.

    And the more chaos reigned, the more the Liverpool players thrived.

    20 minutes passed¡­

    30 minutes passed¡­

    And finally, on the 41st minute, after relentless attacks against the Fulham box, Liverpool FC finally had their closest chance of the first half.

    Receiving the ball in the center of the pitch, Alexis Mac Allister, the Argentinian international drove forward a bit with the ball and out of the blue, he unleashed an incredible shot at goal from almost 30 yards out!

    BANG!

    The ball rose high into the air, beating the goalkeeper before hitting the post, making a loud banging sound reverberate as the flustered Fulham players pounced on the rebound, barely clearing it off back into the field.

    For the remaining minutes of the first half, Liverpool FC kept dominating their opponents, trying chance after chance to no avail.

    Diogo Jota came closest after Mac Allister but in the end, Bernd Leno was still on top of his game, keeping him out.

    Incredibly, Fulham managed to escape to half time still leading 1-0. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The question was, would their lead last?

    Afterall, the Anfield effect was still in play.

 Chapter 104 The Anfield Effect [2]

    In the dressing room, an agitated Coach Marco Silva paced up and down with his hands in his pocket. When he finally spoke, he tried to sound calm."We''re winning guys, I want you to keep your head in the game when we resume for the second half. Remember, we''re winning".

    "Don''t let the Anfield atmosphere affect you too much".

    "Try to ignore the Liverpool fans and just focus on playing football".

    "Now see, our tactical approach to the second half will be a little more reserved than the first. This time, I want us to be more defensive".

    "Defend like a team, don''t do the mistake of getting drawn into their chaotic rhythm". He clapped. "Let''s go out there and play our own game, come on!"

    FWEEEEE!

    When second half started, the Liverpool domination restarted instantly.

    And this time, it was led by Luis Diaz.

    Down the left-hand side of the pitch, having ghosted for most of the first half, the Colombian winger finally entered the zone state, regularly violating Castagne for the first 10 minutes of the second half as this right back was twisted and turned inside out.

    Castagne tried his best, but the more he tried, the more Luis Diaz twisted him inside out with crazy dribbles down the left-hand side.

    It was almost like every move he made, Luis Diaz could just do enough to beat him on the dribble and run past him.

    "Allez!" "Allez!" "Allez!"

    The atmosphere in this iconic stadium was now fever high.

    The Fulham players were literally playing football in a battlefront. They were barely hanging on against this atmosphere of football created by the fans in red, it was almost suffocating them.

    For the first few minutes of the second half, they did a good job to curb the Liverpool momentum, including the rampant Luis Dias but there was only so much that they could do.

    In the 68th minute of the game, the stalemate was finally broken.

    Receiving the ball in the left-hand side from Curtis Jones, the Colombian winger, Luis Diaz put on his nitro boost again as like a floating rocket, he floated into the Fulham 18-yard box, weaving past players like they were not there.

    Luiz Diaz dribbled past Castagne and 2 more Fulham players, leaving them for dead even as he weighed his options in the 18-yard box.

    At one side, there was Diogo Jota calling for the ball. At another side, there was Harvey Elliot and at the opposite end, there was Bradley, the young Liverpool right back who was making an overlapping run.

    The Fulham players scrambled to cover all the passing options. They focused on that so much, forgetting that Luis Diaz was now close to their goalkeeper.

    BAM!

    The Colombian winger pulled the trigger, unleashing a low shot towards goal from a tight corner but for the umpteenth time this game, Bernd Leno was the Fulham savior as making his body big, this goalkeeper''s leg managed to save the ball.

    The ball bounced back into the 18-yard box as the Fulham players scrambled to recover and clear the ball, but they were not fast enough.

    Curtis Jones, the young Liverpool midfielder was the first player to get to the loose ball and this player didn''t hesitate, unleashing a volleyed shot towards goal.

    Bam! Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Bernd Leno dived again but it was not enough as Curtis Jones'' volleyed shot was directed towards the opposite side of the goal.

    The ball shot into the net with power, shaking it furiously.

    "GOALLLL¡­.!" Anfield as a whole roared in ecstasy.

    Having stayed believing, faithfully roaring their team on since, the Liverpool fans were finally rewarded with the equalizing goal that tied the game 1-1 but they were not satisfied yet.

    The Liverpool fans wanted more.

    "Allez!" "Allez!" "Allez!"

    That goal only injected more energy into the Liverpool momentum.

    Their gen-gen pressing style became even more aggressive after the play restarted, as for the next few minutes, they totally suffocated Fulham FC.

    In the touchline, Coach Marco Silva paced up and down, agitated and finally, not able to hold his nerves any longer, this manager made changes.

    Marco Silva made a triple change, subbing off Reed, Pereira, and Willian who was now ineffective after his goal, putting on Wilson, Cairney, and Sam.

    Coach Marco Silva patted the young Nigerian on the head. "Do your thing, match their intensity, you have the stamina for it".

    Marco Silva''s instructions for Sam were simple. He already gave up on his formation, now he wanted to match Liverpool''s gen-pen press.

    He wanted to introduce players with stamina to counter the press.

    The Fulham coach was not the only one to make changes though, shortly after, Jurgen Kloop, the Liverpool manager made a double change, taking off Harvey Elliot and Ryan Gravenberch while introducing Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo.

    With the fresh legs, Liverpool FC became more menacing on the pitch.

    The fans were supplying their players with endless energy.

    "Allez!" "Allez!" "Allez!"

    Badump! Badump!

    On the pitch, Sam could feel his heart beating against his chest rapidly.

    It had been a long time since he was this tense in a football game. The last time he felt like this, he was still an inexperienced player during his first game in Plateau United''s home stadium, Enyimba FC''s bitter rivals.

    In that game, Sam made mistakes, feeling like the atmosphere of the stadium was suffocating him. And this time, Sam felt the same way, perhaps even worse.

    The whole Fulham FC team was playing horribly.

    ''Come on!''

    ''This is my moment; I must seize it!''

    ''I can''t fumble now!''

    Sam did his rituals, growling all the words he could in his mind to help his concentration but he never even came close to entering the zone state.

    The Anfield effect was already in play.

    Playing in this iconic stadium, Zinedine Sam was shackled, tamed.

    And finally, merely 3 minutes after Curtis Jones'' goal, 2 minutes after Sam entered the pitch, it finally happened, the game-changing moment.

    This time, it was the endless chaotic energy of Darwin Nunez that forced the Fulham defenders into making silly mistakes, setting up Cody Gakpo, the second Liverpool substitute for the goal.

    Isolated in the box after a poor Fulham clearance, Cody Gakpo took the loose ball in his strides, skipped past a few challenges before slipping the ball past a helpless Bernd Leno into the net.

    And with that goal, Fulham''s fate was sealed.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!" Anfield roared as soon as the net shook.

    Running towards the corner flag, Cody Gakpo slid on his knees in celebration even as the loud roars of adoration from the fans put a smile on his face.

    Liverpool FC now led 2-1.

    There were no more changes to the game.

    For the remaining minutes of this Carabao Cup game, Fulham FC tried to create something as Sam slowly grew into the game but it was not enough.

    He was nowhere near his best level on this game.

    Despite how much Sam tried, it was not enough.

    FWEEEEE!

    It was only when the final whistle sounded, bringing the game to an end that he collapsed on the pitch, realization dawning in. ''We lost''.

 Chapter 105 Welcome to the premier league

    ''We lost''.They were just 2 words but to Sam, it felt like the weight of the whole world was pressing down on him.

    Laying down on the pitch, he looked up, a strange look on his face.

    The Liverpool FC players didn''t celebrate too much, simply waving at their fans to acknowledge their support before walking into the dressing room.

    And that was when while still laying down on the pitch, Sam noticed a player in the colors of Fulham FC walk towards him. Not the jersey, just casual clothes.

    Inclining his head to look, he recognized the face. It was Alex Iwobi.

    At some point, noticing him on the ground on the pitch, the Nigerian international walked into the pitch to help him up.

    Standing above him, the Nigerian international stared at him, smiling slightly. "I know, it feels awful right? I feel the same way after every defeat too," but then he chuckled. "But you''ll have to get used to it Sam".

    "Here in the premier league, unless you are perhaps playing for Manchester City, you have to get used to losing games".

    "That way, it won''t leave scars". Alex Iwobi extended a hand to help him up.

    For a moment, there was a dazed look in Sam''s face like he was thinking about something, then he smiled. "I don''t want to get used to losing, but when I lose, I think I can take it better now".

    Alex shrugged. "Anything you say man".

    Taking Alex Iwobi''s hand, Sam helped himself up and as soon as he stood up, his eyes lingered in the Liverpool FC players in red as they walked into the tunnel.

    There was a strange glint in his eyes. "There''s a second leg of this game, right?"

    "Yes, and we''ll play it in our home stadium".

    "Good," Sam nodded, the glint in his eyes turning sharper. "Next time, I won''t lose".

    Alex Iwobi looked at him, shaking his head and chuckling. "That''s not even Liverpool''s strongest lineup, but I like your mentality man". He slapped Sam playfully on the shoulder. "Let''s go".

    Sam obliged, walking out of the iconic pitch alongside Alex.

    As he walked out, remembering something, he looked up at the stands that were filled with tens of thousands of fans in red.

    Sam grinned, thinking. ''Next time, you guys will remember my name, I promise!'' He clenched his fists tightly as he left.

    After an impressive display all game, being the main shining light for Liverpool FC throughout the game, the Argentinian International, Alexis Mac Allister scooped home the man of the match award for this game.

    And with that, today finally drew to a close.

    As soon as Sam got back home to his hotel room, after having another video call session with his mom and sister even as they talked about the game, his mom especially cursing the Liverpool defense which made Sam palm his face tiredly, Sam finally got a new WhatsApp message from his coach.

    It was the fixture for Fulham''s next game. After the game against Liverpool FC, Fulham''s next game was in 3 days.

    (Premier League:)

    (Chelsea ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 13th January, 2024)

    As soon as he saw the club name on the fixture, Sam could not help but chuckle. ''Damn! What a welcome to the premier league''.

    On his first weeks in England, he already watched and participated in his team playing against 2 of the English premier league''s most prestigious clubs already in the form of Arsenal and Liverpool.

    And now, his club was about to go up against a 3rd heavyweight of the English premier league in Chelsea FC, and all of it was within a matter of days.

    ''It''s good though''.

    ''Big games mean more publicity, it''s the perfect setting to make a name for myself early in the premier league''. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Thinking of something, he grimaced. ''That is if I play though''.

    Alex Iwobi''s words never left his head yet. Back in Nigeria, Sam may have been seen as the African Zidane, a generational player already, but here in England, there was no shortage of generational players.

    To the Fulham manager, Marco Silva, all he had was an exciting talent who was yet to be proven consistently in the biggest stages.

    Sam wondered if Coach Marco Silva would trust him for the Chelsea game.

    He didn''t think too deep into it though, thinking too much would deprive him of sleep. Instead of thinking, he would rather sleep, wake up early and focus on putting even more in training to convince his coach.

    Sam slept early that night.

    Waking up early the next day, he started his ritual again. Running through the streets of Fulham and ending in Craven Cottage, the home stadium of Fulham FC, he quickly completed his daily system quest before returning back to his hotel room to freshen up.

    Not too long after, he reported to the stadium again for training, this time even earlier than ever before as he got there just a few minutes after 7.

    Again, he was the first Fulham FC player to report for training.

    Before his coach and other players could come, Sam did some personal training on the pitch with the ball as he put in the hard work.

    And when the manager eventually game, at exactly 8:00am, training started.

    And again, Sam put out another stand-out performance in training.

    For the next few days, Sam kept on putting impressive performances in training as he made the squad that would be traveling to London to play against Chelsea FC, staying in the bench for the second consecutive game.

    Alex Iwobi also stayed in the bench for this game.

    For the second consecutive game, Sam made a trip to one of the most iconic stadiums in the world and all of England, Chelsea FC''s home stadium, Stamford Bridge.

    Marco Silva''s starting line-up for this game was his perceived current best starting XI.

    Diop and Adarabioyo started in center defense. Tete started as the right back of the team, while Robinson completed the 4-man defense as the left back. Like usual, Bernd Leno started as the goalkeeper.

    In the 4-2-3-1 formation, Cairney and Palhinha started as the defensive midfielders. Pereira started as the attacking midfielder, Willian as the left winger, while Wilson started as the right winger.

    For this game, Raul Jimenez led the attack as the striker.

    On the Chelsea side though, they were going up against the likes of Raheem Sterling, Cole Palmer, Thiago Silva, and Enzo Fernandez.

    It was going to be another uphill battle for Fulham FC.

 Chapter 106 A trip to Stamford Bridge

    Sitting on the bench, Sam took in the atmosphere of this stadium including the elite players that lined up in blue for Chelsea FC.A few years ago, while still plying his trade for Manchester City, he remembered Raheem Sterling being one of the best wingers in the world.

    The now Chelsea forward''s output in front of goal may have reduced a lot, but he was still one of the fastest dribblers in the whole world.

    And Cole Palmer? Despite the fact that this was his debut season for Chelsea FC, the young attacking midfielder was having a terrific season already.

    Sam clenched his fists tightly. ''I''ll get to his level soon enough''.

    The Chelsea midfield was anchored by the reliable presence of a world cup-winning midfielder in Enzo Fernandez, alongside the tenacious Moises Caicedo.

    It was a strong lineup, Sam wondered how his teammates would fare.

    As soon as the whistle went off though, he knew.

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded to kickstart the game, Chelsea started the game on the front foot but the domination was lesser than Sam expected. His teammates didn''t buckle before their superior opponents.

    Despite playing in one of the most iconic stadiums in the world, against superior opponents, the Fulham FC team managed to play a much-improved game than in the Liverpool game, sticking to their football philosophy.

    For the first few minutes of the game, a few players shone as the stand-out players already. The midfield duo of Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo impressed, helping Chelsea dominate the midfield battle.

    And progressing forward, a young player stole all the plaudits for the first few minutes of this game in the name of Cole Palmer.

    Having developed a reputation for himself in the premier league this season already, giving him the nickname Cold Palmer, in this premier league game, the young English midfielder was once again living up to his reputation.

    Cole Palmer was torturing the Fulham FC defense.

    His vision was incredible, consistently splitting the Fulham defense open with defense splitting passes only for Broja, the starting striker for Chelsea FC to fluff his lines, missing chance after chance.

    On the left-hand side, despite the fact that he was far less effective than his counterpart on the right, Raheem Sterling was also being a menace.

    Anytime the ball touched his leg, this silky winger was electric, going on mazy runs as he dribbled through multiple players.

    If only his mazy runs had an end product, he would be the best player of this game even as Fulham combated impressively to impose themselves in the game.

    Despite the fact that they played better than in the Liverpool FC game, Chelsea was still dominating the game.

    Fulham''s shining light in this half came in the forms of Willian and Raul Jimenez. The left winger was once again being electric, torturing Malo Gusto at a worrying consistency down the Chelsea left hand side.

    Experience tales at empire

    The only thing was that just like Raheem Sterling, he lacked the end product.

    He showed impressive chemistry at times with Jimenez though, setting up the Fulham striker a few times in good spots as Jimenez showed his threat, threatening the Chelsea goal repeatedly.

    The only reason why Jimenez was not able to get his name on the scoresheet yet and open the scoring was because of the presence of the reliable Chelsea stalwart, the ageless Brazilian legend, Thiago Silva.

    Despite being 39 years old already, this center back showed that age was just a number as he was comfortably head and shoulders above every other Chelsea defender, locking out the Fulham forwards.

    The first half was mostly frustrating for both teams until a moment of madness just before halftime when a Chelsea player was tripped in the box.

    FWEEEE!

    The referee immediately blew for a penalty.

    Raheem Sterling came forward, trying to take the ball to take the penalty but Cole Palmer refused to hand it over, stepping forward to take the penalty kick to the ire of the Chelsea left winger.

    Taking penalties were part of Cole Palmer''s duties since he was the designated Chelsea penalty taker, and he didn''t want to leave the opportunity to Raheem Sterling just because he was a senior player.

    As soon as the referee''s whistle blew again, the young English midfielder took a breath before doing a short run and shooting the ball into the net.

    The goalkeeper dived towards the other side, letting the ball nestle confidently in the left side of the post.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" The Chelsea fans erupted with loud roars of jubilation.

    Running towards the corner flag even as he was swarmed by his teammates, Cold Palmer did his already iconic chill cold celebration.

    The Chelsea fans felt on top of the moon.

    The first half ended 1-0 in Chelsea FC''s favor.

    In the dressing room, a furious Marco Silva went on a rant as he berated a few of his players'' performance in the first half.

    While the coach ranted, Sam stared at him, hoping for some reaction but the coach stayed stubborn. He made no changes for the second half.

    When second half started, Fulham FC improved but just a bit as Chelsea''s firm grip on the game continued.

    There were beliefs in the media that Chelsea''s main problem this season was goalscoring. Once they got the goal though, the Chelsea team was deep and compact enough to protect their lead.

    In the second half, Fulham hustled and struggled to no avail, trying everything in their repertoire to get the equalizing goal.

    Their relentless attack only opened them up to devastating counterattacks from the rampant Chelsea forwards which still didn''t yield much fruit.

    As the game wore on, desperate, Marco Silva finally made changes, a double change as he removed Wilson and Paulinha, putting De Cordova-Reid and Alex Iwobi in their place to try turning the game around.

    Despite the 2 experienced players being introduced to the game, the Chelsea team refused to give an inch, barely giving the Fulham forwards a sniff at goal.

    At the 80th minute, even more desperate now, Marco Silva made 2 more changes, taking Jimenez off for Muniz while introducing Castagne for Tete yet it was not enough for them to turn the game.

    Throughout, from the bench, Sam threw glances at his coach, praying for just one opportunity to enter the game yet the manager never looked in his direction.

    In the end, the score line didn''t change.

    After 90 minutes plus additional minutes by the referee, the premier league game in Stamford Bridge ended 1-0 in Chelsea FC''s favor.

    Sam never got the chance to play even a single minute.

    He sighed. ''Today is not my day''.

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 Chapter 107 A talk with Alex Iwobi

    The atmosphere in the Fulham dressing room was dampening after the loss against Chelsea FC in Stamford Bridge.Chelsea was one of the best and most renowned teams in England but this season, they were in a period of transition. This was why the Fulham players felt like they missed an opportunity to run away with a point in the premier league.

    None of them said anything though, including the coach.

    Once they were ready, they packed their things and left the stadium to join their bus. As they left was when Sam whispered to his Nigerian counterpart.

    "We could have done better".

    Alex looked at him, and only patted him on the back in response.

    The whole team took a flight back to Fulham City and as soon as they arrived, separating from their other teammates, Sam looked at Alex Iwobi. "Are you free today? I want to visit your place".

    "Today? You don''t want to rest after the game?"

    "I didn''t play".

    "Oh," Alex nodded in understanding before looking at his time. "Yeah, you can, I think I''m free this night".

    "Thank you". sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Returning to his hotel room, Mr. Moses tried to speak with his son but Sam was not in the mood. After greeting his father, he informed him.

    "Please dad, I want to go visit Alex Iwobi and spend the night there, maybe play a game with him on his pitch".

    "Is it not too late?"

    "No".

    Mr. Moses looked at his son, a complicated look in his eyes. "When will you return?"

    "Tomorrow morning". Explore more adventures at empire

    As Sam quickly got ready to leave, his dad stopped him. "Son, you''re doing great, don''t put too much pressure on yourself".

    "When the time comes, you''ll enter the Fulham starting XI, just be patient".

    Hearing that, Sam flashed a smile at his father. "Thanks dad".

    With that, he left the hotel, taking the car as he drove through the streets of Fulham towards Alex Iwobi''s apartment.

    On arriving, the gateman let him in having been informed of his arrival already. Inside, Sam was treated to a delicious African dish that Alex''s wife already prepared in anticipation of his arrival.

    During today''s dinner though, she was not as vibrant as the last dinner since she could read the atmosphere, telling that Sam and her husband were not in the best mood since their club lost a game today.

    After eating, Alex Iwobi led Sam towards the green field of his little football pitch as they conversed. "I know how you feel man, sorry".

    He stole a glance at Sam. "But Sam, I think you should work on your expectations. I know it may be hard to understand the distinction now, but this is no longer the NPFL, this is the premier league".

    "You''re not guaranteed a spot in the starting line up anymore like you are still playing for Enyimba FC. As you can see, even I am fighting for starting spots".

    Sam sighed, looking ahead at the green field. "I just feel that I''m good enough to make the starting XI already".

    "You''re good enough doesn''t mean you''ll automatically make it, you know that right?"

    Sam looked at him. "Then am I not working enough? Be truthful, every day, I''m the first to report to training and in every training session, I''m one of the better performers every day and I have no niggling injury issue, so why?"

    Alex chuckled. "You know, I ask that sometimes too, every player does, but we have no choice. We just have to deal with it".

    Originally, Sam had no qualms with being patient.

    He had gone through this phase with Coach Yemi Daniel sometime before so he understood the need to prove himself. His only frustration was that he was not even getting the chance to do so like he wanted yet.

    In normal circumstances, he would have stayed patient still but about a week ago, this stopped being a normal situation.

    This was because his system finally updated his season system quest.

    ~----~

    [Congratulations! You have played your first game for Fulham FC as a substitute; you are now eligible for the season system quest!]

    [Considering that you entered the premier league half-way through the season, only 1 season system quest is available.]

    [Season Quest: Trophy Quest- Break the mold!]

    >Fulham FC has gone trophy less through multiple seasons for a long time. In your debut season in the premier league, break this mold and help Fulham FC win its first trophy in years<

    [Season Mission: Win a trophy!]

    [Mission Reward: Random reward!]

    ¡­

    [Penalty for mission failure: -3 decrease to 5 random football attributes!]

    ~----~

    As soon as Sam saw this new system mission, he felt like coals of fire were lit in his butt and this was why he became desperate.

    For this season, Fulham FC were competing in 3 different competitions, the EFL Cup, the FA Cup, and the premier league title.

    Of the 3 competitions, Sam eliminated the premier league first. There was a reason it was the hardest league in the world, Sam had no delusion that somehow, he could push a mid-table team like Fulham to winning the league in his first season.

    The same went for the FA Cup. As the oldest cup competition in the world, the FA Cup had a lot of prestige and clubs in the premier league attached a lot of importance to it.

    Among the 3 tournaments, the EFL Cup was the weaker one.

    Most strong teams in the premier league never field their strongest lineups in the EFL Cup. They rest their main players during the EFL games, giving bench and young players opportunities to prove themselves.

    Liverpool more or less did the same thing in their last game despite the fact that they won in Anfield.

    This was why Sam set his focus on the EFL Cup. In his books, it was the only slightly realistic way for him to break Fulham FC''s trophy drought.

    Another reason why he was so desperate was the fact that after the Chelsea game, their next game was in the EFL Cup again against Liverpool FC, the second leg to determine one of the finalist of the EFL Cup.

    One game to take him a step closer to completing the system mission.

    This was the main reason why Sam was so desperate to play.

    If the normal Fulham played against Liverpool, despite the fact that they were playing at home, Sam was still not confident in his team winning.

    This was why he was so frustrated and wanted to change this status quo by all means.

    Thinking about the last word that Alex said to him, Sam suddenly stopped, forcing the Nigerian international to stop too.

    As Alex looked at him, he asked. "Fortune favors the bold right?"

    Alex Iwobi narrowed his eyes. "What do you want to do?"

    Alex shrugged. "Since the manager is so dead-set in his old-school way and fails to recognize the talent that is on his hand, I''ll just have to take the Ronaldo approach, be bold and tell him of my worth to his face till he sees it".

    Alex shook his head. "Sam, I don''t advise that, it can easily backfire".

    "I already made my decision," Sam chuckled. "There''s no other way".

 Chapter 108 Fortune favors the bold

    Fulham FC''s next game was in the EFL Cup and it was in 11 days.It was more than enough time for the Fulham players to rest up and prepare for the blockbuster encounter to determine their fate in the EFL Cup.

    Like usual, Coach Marco Silva sent the fixture to his players.

    (EFL Cup!)

    (Semifinal- Leg 2 of 2)

    (Fulham ¨C Liverpool)

    (Date: 24th January, 2024) sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡­

    (Current Aggregate: 1-2)

    After the Chelsea game, due to having more than enough time to prepare for the next game, the Fulham manager, Marco Silva gave his players 2 days of rest to properly recover before training started again.

    When the D-day for training eventually game, just like before, Sam was the first player to report to Craven Cottage for training, even earlier than ever before.

    And eventually, when training started, once again, Sam put out an eye-catching performance.

    As his confidence grew since coming to England, so did his performances in training as he played at a level heads and shoulders above some of his teammates.

    Coming to England, at first, Sam was intimidated but after his breakthrough to 80 overall rating, his feeling of inferiority reduced but when he finally decided to use his snooping tool on all his teammates, his confidence fully returned.

    The Fulham FC team was full of players with a lot of experience in the highest stage, playing in the big 5 European leagues but that was all that they had more than Sam. Sam beat them in almost every other way.

    The day he decided to use his snooping tool on his teammates, to his shock, Sam discovered that in terms of overall rating, there were only 2 players in the whole Fulham FC team that were better than him.

    Only Raul Jimenez, the Fulham striker and Bernd Leno, the Fulham goalkeeper were higher rated than him at 81 overall rating each.

    There was only 1 more 80 overall rated player in the Fulham team in Joao Palhinha, the Fulham defensive midfielder, followed by the likes of Alex Iwobi and Willian at an overall rating of 79 each.

    All the other Fulham players were rated 77 and below.

    The day that Sam learned this, his confidence rose to the moon and alongside it his performance in training. He didn''t play like a new player at all, rather like a veteran with a lot of playing experience.

    Despite his eye-catching displays in training for the next few days though, including his incredible work rate and diligence, always being the first to come to training, he was still at the periphery of Coach Marco Silva''s starting XI formation for the blockbuster encounter against Liverpool FC.

    The lack of recognition bothered Sam. He didn''t let it kill his enthusiasm, but it was like torture.

    He felt like a metal placed on an anvil and despite proving his tenacity time and time again, Marco Silva kept on hitting him on the anvil with disappointments.

    It was hard, but with the help of his family, Sam was able to stay believing.

    At some point, in one of the video calls, Mrs. Moses snapped, raining insults on the stupid coach who was too dense to recognize the gold at hand in the form of her son who was going to become the best player in the world.

    "Don''t mind him my son, you''re the best player in that team".

    "Don''t worry, I''ll put that foolish coach of yours in prayers. Trust me and trust God, in a few days, when the fires of heaven burn that ass of his, he''ll put your name in that starting book of his".

    "Starting lineup". Mr. Moses corrected his wife.

    "Whatever!"

    It was just typical mom, but listening to her rant eased Sam''s pain.

    But this time though, on the 21st of January, 3 days to the game, Sam finally got fed up. He finally decided to take the drastic action that he thought of about a week ago.

    The next day, on the 21st, he was the first Fulham player to report to training like usual and when the coach arrived and training eventually started at 8:00am, Sam ingested one of the energy elixirs that he stored in the inventory.

    With the help of the energy elixir, in today''s training session, Sam was able to play at a truly extraterrestrial level, dwarfing the performance of all his teammates as he showed his talent.

    By the end of it all, his unbiased teammates were left heaping praise on him for his performance today, yet he stayed at the periphery of his coach''s starting XI.

    That day, after the training session, as other players got set to start going home, Sam set his eyes on his coach.

    His eyes gleamed. ''Fortune favors the bold''.

    ''It''s now or never!''

    Sam walked up to Coach Marco Silva when he was isolated with only one of his assistant coaches. "Coach, I need to speak to you".

    Inclining his head and noticing him, Marco Silva smiled. "Hey Sam, how are you doing?"

    "I''m good coach".

    "That''s great," Marco Silva grinned. "Your performance in training today was really great, you''ve really attracted my attention. Keep it up and you''ll be rewarded".

    Sam took a deep breath. "Actually, coach, that is why I came today".

    "Oh". Marco Silva said, paying more attention to him now.

    Sam looked his coach in the eye. "Coach, I know it''s not my place but please, I want to play in the next game against Liverpool".

    "We can''t afford to lose it, and I believe I can help us win".

    "You''ve seen my performance in training, you''ve seen my diligence, you''ve seen my ability, just give me this chance and I promise you won''t regret it".

    Silently, Marco Silva just stared at Sam for a few seconds and then he picked up his bag. "I heard you Sam".

    He turned to leave with his assistant. "This should be the first and last time that you try that with me".

    "As for your answer. I am the coach, I make the decisions, that is my job. You stick to your job, got it?"

    "Yes boss".

    Coach Marco Silva walked away with his assistant.

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    Sam hesitated as he stared at this middle-aged man leave, but then he gritted his teeth. ''Fortune favors the bold''. He chanted in his mind, then¡­

    "If you want to win tomorrow''s game, I am your only chance".

    It took all of Sam''s courage to say that.

    Hearing that, Marco Silva paused a bit but without saying a word, he left.

    Sam returned home feeling like a huge burden already left his chest. He already said his mind, so he no longer paid attention to it.

    For the next few days in all the remaining training sessions, he kept on giving his best even as he stayed at the periphery of the coach''s starting XI, only making the bench.

    And then, like the flipping pages of a book, the D-day approached, tomorrow, and with it the final starting XI was nailed in.

    Raul Jimenez was to lead the line as the striker with Willian, Pereira, and De-Cordova-Reid behind him as the attacking playmakers.

    Palhinha and Ciarney started in the defensive midfield positions, while the defense comprised of Castagne, Adarabioyo, Diop, and Robinson.

    Bernd Leno started in between the posts.

    As for the opposition side, Liverpool FC fielded a strong line up led by an attack of Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, and Luis Diaz.

    Their midfield comprised of the trio of Harvey Elliot, Alexis Mac Allister, and Ryan Gravenberch. While their 4-man defense comprised Conor Bradley, Jarel Quansah, Virgil Van Dijk, and Joe Gomez.

    Kelleher started in between the posts again with Allison on the bench.

    The game was poised to be a blockbuster encounter.

 Chapter 109 A blockbuster encounter vs Liverpool

    Sitting on the bench, Sam watched as his teammates lined up against some of the best players in the world.The feeling in his chest was not the best, but he stayed calm.

    ''I already did all I could, now is to wait for the repercussions of my actions''.

    Since standing up to his coach after the training session, he never came any closer to making Marco Silva''s starting XI lineup. And not just that, these days, the coach barely looked him in the eye and that did not bode well to his career.

    Sam just hoped it was not too bad to be salvaged yet.

    Today, Craven Cottage was filled to the brim with almost 30,000 fans.

    Just like Sam, the enthusiastic Fulham FC fans knew that the Carabao Cup was their only true chance of breaking their silverware drought if they were to win one this season, that was why they came out in droves to support their team.

    The noise around the stadium was defending as the fans in black and white sang their team on, boosting them with endless energy, and finally, the game started with the referee''s signal.

    FWEEEE!

    After the coin toss, Liverpool FC were to start the game from kickoff.

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, Liverpool FC passed the ball, commencing play as the Fulham FC players charged aggressively after the ball.

    It was clear today that the Fulham players were filled with a lot of energy.

    Buoyed by the loud noise made by the fans, the Fulham players pressed with relentless energy, eventually stealing the ball back and immediately, a quick-fire Fulham attack started.

    Pereira was the one who won the ball back deep in the Liverpool half and immediately, he passed to Willian who was running down the left wing.

    Taking the ball in his strides, the pacey Fulham winger hit the ball down the wing before chasing after it at full speed, running past the young Liverpool academy graduate, Conor Bradley.

    Bradley recovered quickly though, not letting Willian dribble through but the Fulham winger thought on his feet, quickly dragging the ball back before playing a raking pass into the middle for Pereira to run into.

    Immediately, the Liverpool defense scrambled to defend, Quansah especially charging towards the opposition attacking midfielder.

    Pereira didn''t shoot the ball though, instead, he jumped over it, leaving it to his teammate who shadowed his run from the right-hand side of the field.

    De Codova-Reid was the one who shadowed Pereira''s run.

    "¡­!"

    For a moment, the Liverpool defense panicked as space opened up on their defense and Cordova-Reid didn''t hesitate, hitting the ball first time, an accurate whipped low shot towards goal.

    It was an impressive shot but Kelleher, the Liverpool goalkeeper was alert as he dived, pushing the ball out for a corner to make the first save of the day.

    The noise in this stadium rose to a crescendo, acknowledging the play as the energetic Fulham fans went behind their team.

    When the corner was taken though, Darwin Nunez rose above everyone else, heading the ball away to safety.

    And after that Fulham quick attack, Liverpool FC finally settled into the game.

    For the first few minutes, Fulham FC had the better chances but the Liverpool defense cleverly shot them out. The Liverpool attack was also active as the trio of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, and Cody Gakpo worried.

    And the more time went on, the more they grew into the game.

    With Alexis Mac Allister dictating the game from midfield, it was only a matter of time before Liverpool took control of this game.

    And ironically, they didn''t need to take control yet before they got a result.

    The Fulham energy was still high up until the 11th minute when they came crashing down from their high throne, receiving a reality check.

    Receiving the ball in the left wing, Luis Diaz created the first miracle moment of this game as he exploded immediately, going on a mazy run.

    Using his quick feet to wriggle and skip past challenges, he burst into the Fulham 18-yard box and as the energetic Fulham players swarmed him, he used a simple ball flick to escape the confinement, creating space for himself.

    "Oh¡­! What a flick! The Colombian is in the mood!"

    "Will he shoot?!"

    "Yes he does!"

    "Oh myyyyy! What a GOALLLL!"

    Immediately after Luis Diaz created space for himself, without even taking a look, this winger wrapped the inside of his right boot around the ball, curling in a perfect shot towards goal that left Leno going on a full-stretch dive.

    The Fulham goalkeeper''s hand barely missed the ball, allowing it to nestle into the net as Liverpool scored the first goal of the night. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The Colombian winger immediately charged towards the corner flag, pumping his fists excitedly while kissing the Liverpool badge in celebration.

    In response, the Fulham fans drowned him in a chorus of boos.

    "BOOO¡­!"

    The commentator laughed. "The fans are angry but Luis Diaz doesn''t care, all he cares about is his goal".

    "That goal definitely has a lot of repercussions for this game".

    "With that goal, Fulham now trail Liverpool with 2 goals. Unless somehow, they magically score 2 goals without conceding another, they''re packing their bags home from the Carabao Cup".

    "And honestly, I don''t see those 2 goals coming, Liverpool is just starting".

    It was brutal but it was reality.

    The commentator was right, Liverpool FC was just starting.

    After that goal, Liverpool FC took over control of the game in a stranglehold. The whole team as a whole switched on, finally reporting to work.

    The Fulham FC players ran themselves to the ground, trying to regain their rhythm but Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister did not let it.

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    The midfielder and winger combined repeatedly, breaking down the Fulham defense like a hot knife through butter as they created attack after attack.

    They dominated Fulham FC despite the loud noise being made by their fans.

    Behind them, their defense was rock solid.

    That first attack was the only time Willian got the better of the young Conor Bradley as led by Virgil Van Dijk, the Liverpool captain, the whole team defended superbly, shutting off all Fulham attacks.

    Liverpool FC played admirably, dominating Fulham. Perhaps the only blemish to their 1st half display was the fact that they didn''t score the 2nd goal to extend their lead.

    The game went to halftime with Liverpool leading 0-1 in Craven Cottage.

 Chapter 110 A reality check

    "What the heck happened out there?!" Marco Silva raged in the dressing room as soon as his players entered."Can someone tell me what the heck happened?!"

    "How can you start the game so good and end it so horribly?!"

    "What went wrong???!"

    He panted, glaring at his players. "Pereira, you were sh*t! Cordova-Reid, you were sh*t! Is that how we want to win this game?!"

    Today, this coach was done with mincing words with his players as he told them the meanest words he could think of.

    He didn''t just criticize Pereira and De Cordova-Reid''s performance, he also criticized Willian, Cairney, and heck, he criticized the whole defense.

    Marco Silva was already emotional, weighed down by the performance of his players in the first half. After his rant, he located a chair and sat down, panting heavily as he had a look of frustration on his face.

    After about a minute or so, he finally calmed down. He cleaned his face with a towel before facing his teammates again. "Come on guys".

    He looked them in the face. "We can still do this; you just have to believe".

    "Teams have comeback from much worse situations before. Even Liverpool, do you guys remember the miracle of Istanbul?" He grinned.

    "If Liverpool could do that, we can''t we create our own miracle of Istanbul?"

    "Do you think we''re too small to do it?"

    There was no response.

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    "Come on guys, do you think we''re too small to do it?!"

    "No coach".

    "Good," Marco Silva nodded. "Now listen to me," he looked at them. "I''m not making any changes yet, I''ll keep on trusting you guys".

    "Remember the game plan, stick with it, and give your all".

    "We need a goal, come on!" He clapped. "Go in there and get me the first goal! We can do this!"

    Like he said, Marco Silva didn''t make a single change for the second half and this was a decision he grew to regret.

    As soon as the second half started, Fulham FC kicked off play but they didn''t hold possession for long, the aggressive Liverpool press won the ball back and almost immediately, Luis Diaz almost scored his 2nd goal of the game.

    The goalpost came to the rescue, leaving a frustrated Marco Silva kicking angrily on the touchline as he yelled a few words in anger.

    The coach''s frustrations didn''t matter though, the war continued on the pitch. To the Fulham players'' credit, they didn''t role down on their belly.

    The Fulham fans were still loud, creating a noisy atmosphere to support their team and in this atmosphere, the Fulham players strived to play their game.

    Among the forward line, despite their incredible work rate this game, they could not create anything tangible against the Liverpool defense, only Jimenez caused a threat the few times that the ball got to him.

    Virgil Van Dijk had him firmly under control.

    Liverpool started the second half on a high, dominating but as the game wore on, they reduced their intensity a bit as Fulham started regaining control, but never enough control to pose a serious threat to their goal.

    The Fulham players on the pitch tried everything, did their best but the brutal reality was that their best was not enough.

    60 minutes in and still no goal, an agitated Marco Silva finally made changes.

    The Fulham coach made a double change, taking off Cairney and De Cordova-Reid who was locked by Joe Gomez all game, introducing Muniz and Alex Iwobi to try giving his team some attacking thrust.

    With Alex Iwobi''s introduction, Fulham''s control over the game became a bit firmer but that was all, their attacking threat barely increased.

    A few minutes later, Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager made a double change, bringing in Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones while taking off Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch.

    With the change, Liverpool''s attacking threat increased even more.

    As for Fulham, their attack remained as bland as ever against the star-studded Liverpool FC defense.

    Having screamed his lungs out in the touchline for the past dozen minutes and still no improvement, Marco Silva finally gave up on his team, going back to the bench immediately after the 75th minute mark when another of his team''s more promising attacks led to a corner.

    With the likes of Darwin Nunez and Virgil Van Dijk defending the corner, he saw no hope of his team scoring but that was the unpredictable aspect of football.

    As soon as the corner was taken¡­

    "GOALLL¡­!" The Fulham coach jumped to his feet, running around the touchline as he celebrated excitedly.

    Against the run of play, Diop, the Fulham center back rose highest for the corner, planting a firm header beyond Kelleher into the goal to score Fulham''s goal of the game in the 76th minute of the game.

    "What a header!"

    "Are Fulham back in the game?"

    "They still need one goal to make the aggregate even, but surely this goal can turn the momentum round, right?"

    Diop, the Fulham center back didn''t celebrate his goal, simply pumping a fist at the home fans to acknowledge them before picking the ball and running back.

    They needed to restart the game fast.

    Standing on the touchline again, Coach Marco Silva was hopeful, cheering his team on alongside the fans but after the game restarted, his energy started reducing as Liverpool put out a defensive masterclass.

    All the Fulham FC attacks were like bricks harmlessly thrown against a stone wall; it didn''t even budge it.

    And with the Argentinian midfielder, Alexis Mac Allister still boxing the midfield battle with Luiz Diaz still being electric, Liverpool still posed a great threat.

    As the minutes wore on, the Fulham manager''s endless energy slowly drained till his face became that of frustration again.

    He made another change, introducing Tete into the game in place of Castagne who picked up a knock, and yet his team was barely stringing passes together.

    80 minutes passed; Liverpool still dominated.

    85 minutes passed; Liverpool still dominated. And that was the straw that broke his already weak mental defenses, Marco Silva gave up on the game as Jurgen Klopp made another double change.

    The Liverpool coach introduced the French defender, Ibrahima Konate alongside Clark, taking off Alexis Mac Alister and Darwin Nunez from the game.

    With the double change, Liverpool totally locked the game off.

    Marco Silva watched as his players made mistake after mistake, failing to do the bare basics to commence an attack.

    The pressure already got to his players, now all he saw was chaos.

    Marco Silva gritted his teeth, admitting defeat to the superior team but at that moment, one of his assistant coaches snuck up to him.

    "We already lost grips over the game, why not give the boy a chance? You know who I mean".

    Hearing that, Marco Silva stared at his assistant before staring at the boy, then he shook his head. "I need to discipline him. He needs to know his place".

    "Silva, can you put your pride down for once and think of the team?" Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The coach glared at his assistant but he didn''t flinch.

    "What will it take away from you? Pride? Who cares about pride if it will help us win the game?"

    "The game is literally already over; you''ll only be handling him a few minutes to live up to his words".

    "If he can''t, fine, you can punish him all you want".

    "But, what if he can?"

    Silence; Marco Silva just stared at his assistant.

    "What if he can?"

    Marco Silva closed his eyes, then he sighed. "Tell him to warm up, he''s entering the game".

    His assistant tapped him on the back before leaving. "I think you made the right decision".

    A few seconds later, Sam started jogging on the touchline, warming up and a minute later, he was introduced into the game.

    Sam was introduced into the game at just the 88th minute, 2 minutes to fulltime.

    What could he do?

 Chapter 111 Mamba mentality 2.0! [1]

    Back in the semifinal of the FIFA Club World Cup, against Fluminense, the South American giant, Enyimba FC was about crashing out of the tournament when Sam displayed something that was incredibly rare even among elite athletes.The mamba mentality.

    To some, it was real. To others, it was a myth but Sam didn''t care about all of that as he jogged into this stadium, all he cared about was making his wish real.

    Jogging into the stadium, Sam only had one thought in his head. ''Win!''

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    He chanted it like a mantra, a mantra that made all the electrons in his body flow in an excited state, pushing him into a state of absolute focus.

    Sam was introduced into this game in just the 88th minute.

    Sitting on the bench since, he was frustrated, angry at his coach even but the moment that he was told to enter the pitch, he forgot all his anger and frustration.

    He didn''t care that he was being introduced into the game so late, all he cared about was doing what he could to make an impact in that little time.

    That was the mamba mentality.

    Entering the pitch after replacing Pereira, Sam scanned the pitch, taking everything into his head with his incredible grasp over spatial awareness.

    At this moment, he didn''t care about being a Kevin De Bruyne, nor did he care about being a Bernardo Silva, all he cared about was being an Erling Haaland.

    ''I need a goal!''

    ''I must score a goal!''

    ''We must get a goal, by all means!''

    That last part was very important, Sam entered this pitch with the mentality to snatch the 2nd goal by any means necessary, even if that meant having to drag it from in between the teeth of the devil himself.

    His eyes burned like fire, his legs itchy and eager to take part in the proceedings, to impose himself on the pitch.

    FWEEEEE!

    Thud!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded and Liverpool FC played the ball, Sam erupted like the spawn of an angry Dark Dragon.

    He chased after the ball like his life depended on it, like an angry hound.

    To the Liverpool players, they already won the game so they tried to pass it around and kill time. The Fulham players felt the same way, so they only did the bare minimum, eager to get it over with and leave the pitch.

    Only one player played with the mentality of a Lion on the pitch at this moment, and his name was Samuel Moses.

    Sam ran everywhere, chasing after the ball, showing relentless energy and at times, it made the skillful Liverpool players humiliate him by nutmegging him and passing around him in triangles with no teammate to support him.

    The commentator laughed. "Damn! What energy being showed by the young Nigerian but the Liverpool players are just toying with him at this point".

    "They''re telling him, boy, this is our stage, not yours".

    Sam heard all of it but he didn''t care about all of that.

    All he cared about was the one thought ringing in his head like a bell.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    90 minutes passed and Sam was yet to get his first touch of the game, yet he was not deterred, continuously running and chasing the ball down.

    4 minutes of additional time was added to the game by the referee.

    The first minute of additional time passed, Sam kept on chasing, the same fiery look like a fire was burning in his eyes still on him.

    And in the 2nd minute of additional time, Sam finally touched the ball for the first time since entering this game.

    Bam!

    As soon as the ball touched his leg, Sam felt like electricity just went through his whole body, electricity that triggered electrolytes all over his body, flooding his body with endless adrenaline.

    Sam''s eyes widened, burning with fire.

    There were 2 Liverpool players shadowing and marking him as soon as the ball touched his leg. Shrugging off Harvey Elliot with his sheer size and physicality, as the second player outstretched his leg, Sam pushed and dragged the ball.

    Like a snake bite, he executed the elastico dribble, eliminating Diogo Jota like he was not there and immediately, he pushed the ball forward, chasing after it.

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    With his pace, he was incredibly swift.

    As soon as Sam caught up with the ball, another Liverpool player blocked him. Reducing his speed slightly even as his fiery eyes watched this player alertly, Sam waited, biding his time, baiting him in.

    As soon as this player''s leg stuck out, Sam executed the la croqueta, cutting through him like a hot knife through butter.

    By now, he was now close to the Liverpool 18-yard box.

    He had a few passing options, one in Willian to the left and another in Jimenez who was now running into space, calling for a through ball.

    Both were appetizing options, but nothing that Pereira had not tried since. The Liverpool FC defense was on top of its game. If he passed, it would result in the same outcome as when Pereira still played.

    That was why at this moment, instead of passing, from outside the box, Sam took a look at goal, then¡­

    POW!

    His leg hit the ball with venom, the sound reverberating through the stadium like thunder as the ball rose high into the air towards the top left corner of the post.

    "¡­!" For a moment, Craven Cottage became as silent as a church.

    Kelleher went on a full-stretch dive and somehow, as if he became flying superhuman himself, Kelleher managed to pull off an incredible save.

    Virgil Van Dijk easily shoved Jimenez aside with his shoulder as the striker tried to run after the loose ball. The imposing Liverpool center back arrived at the ball first, calmly protected it before clearing it upfield.

    In that moment when Sam ran with the ball, the Fulham afterburners started burning for a few seconds, but now, all of it died again as soon as they lost the ball, turning cold.

    All of it except one player, Sam.

    Even after the ball was cleared off, Sam continued his run into the Liverpool 18-yard box because he already calculated that the ball would fall to Palhinha, the Fulham defensive midfielder.

    Palhinha took one touch of the ball before clearing it blindly back upfield to the Liverpool half, praying for a miracle.

    Sam was the furthest player in the Liverpool box as this ball came back in.

    From one side, one of the best defenders in the world shadowed him in Virgil Van Dijk while from another side, another of the best center backs in the world in Ibrahima Konate shadowed him but Sam did not react to any of it, only reacting to the voice in his head.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    Sam''s eyes burned with fire.

    His eyes were so focused that drool gathered in his lips.

    Sam''s wide eyes watched this ball fly through the air, till it started descending, till it finally arrived at his position.

    It was a high ball so he jumped, rising into the air after it.

    Bam!

    The ball hit Sam''s chest and like a baby who entered the embrace of its mom, it stopped thrashing about, coming under control.

    As soon as the ball hit his chest, Sam''s head geared into overdrive, his spatial awareness firing on all cylinders as he accessed his options.

    There were no easy passing lanes, all his teammates were ahead of him, away from the Liverpool FC goal and he was with his back towards goal.

    There was no easy way of doing it.

    But when there is a will, there is a way.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    And then, the spark of epiphany came like a beacon of light in darkness, completing the puzzle in Sam''s head.

    He no longer hesitated.

    Thud!

    As soon as his legs hit the ground again after his jump even as Virgil Van Dijk slammed into him from behind, trying to shove him off the ball, Sam stood his ground even as his left leg raised up, hitting the ball with his lap. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As the ball rose up again, Sam''s eyes followed it, wide open, the same fire burning in them and then, against what anyone expected, he jumped.

    Jumping acrobatically, Sam pulled off a move that he had never tried in his career before now, he pulled off an overhead kick!

    "Woah! Is that what I think it is?"

    "Yes! A bicycle kick and OH MY GODDDDDD!!!!"

    "WHAT A GOALLLLL!"

    In the last minute of additional time, Sam pulled off a miracle, bringing his team level with an out of this world overhead kick goal.

    Kelleher was rooted to the spot.

 Chapter 112 Mamba mentality 2.0! [2]

    "Woah! Is that what I think it is?""Yes! A bicycle kick and OH MY GODDDDDD!!!!"

    "WHAT A GOALLLLL!"

    "Damn! This came straight right out of the playbook of the football gods!"

    "What a goal!"

    "What a moment!"

    "See how much it means to the fans!"

    Craven Cottage erupted loudly.

    At some point in time, some of the disappointed Fulham FC fans already started leaving the stadium but when they heard the loud roars tearing through the roofs of this stadium, all of them rushed back in to see the cause of the commotion.

    Those that already exited the stadium were not let back in, and these devastated fans could only rue their luck.

    "What a moment for the young Nigerian!"

    "He has singlehandedly dragged Fulham out of their ruins!"

    "Now that I remember, back in Nigeria, they called him the African Zidane, and my God if this was not a Zidane moment!"

    "A goal straight out of the top drawer!"

    "A moment of magic!" S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Right at that moment, they didn''t know who started it but a chant immediately started blasting through Craven Cottage.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    The ecstatic Fulham FC fans sang at the top of their voices.

    In the 90th plus 4 minutes of additional time, the very last minute of the game, Sam pulled Fulham FC from the very ruins of defeat, bringing the game level.

    The final whistle sounded soon after.

    The game went to extra-time.

    During the short break, an overwhelmed Marco Silva did not know what to say to his players. Heck, he could not even look Sam in the eye. He only said a few words of encouragement before sending them back into the pitch.

    FWEEE!

    When extra time started, the players of both teams were already tired but determined to win, they continued playing their football.

    After that goal from Sam, the spirits of the Fulham players returned but not enough for them to suddenly start dominating the game.

    As soon as extra-time started, a rampant Liverpool determined to put in more effort to finish off the game started dominating again.

    Diogo Jota was a menace in extra-time, terrorizing the Fulham FC defense but determined not to let another goal in and riding the energy of their fans, the Fulham defenders defended like their lives depended on it.

    And no longer under such a tight time limit, Sam finally settled into this game, entering his element as the main Fulham man throughout extra time.

    Settling into his attacking midfield role, Sam pursued the 2nd goal like his life depended on it, playing defense-splitting through passes to Jimenez 1 or 2 times only for the Fulham striker to the thwarted by Van Dijk''s imposing presence.

    With his presence, the level of the Fulham team as a whole improved a notch.

    Sam took 1 or 2 outside the box shots too as he tried even more to impose himself, forcing Kelleher into 2 impressive saves.

    The midfield battle was like a war, physical and chaotic.

    And in this chaotic battlefield in the middle of the pitch, an 18-year-old dominated, rising above all the veterans competing with him on the same battlefield, making his impact known and felt.

    The first half of extra-time ended goalless, Fulham FC was still winning 2-1 and the aggregate score was still 3-3.

    In the second half of extra-time, despite playing over a hundred minutes already, it was a Liverpool player who came closest to breaking the duck.

    Receiving a looping ball that beat the whole Fulham defense from the imposing Netherlands International at the back, Virgil Van Dijk, Luis Diaz beat his man for pace before chasing down the ball and charging towards goal.

    It was a one-on-one situation.

    For the umpteenth time this game, Craven Cottage became deathly silent, breaths held as Luis Diaz took his shot only for Bernd Leno to pull off an incredible save, keeping his team in the game.

    Just 4 minutes later, the same Luiz Diaz was at it again as he went on a mazy dribble through the Fulham FC defense before looping a pass to Diogo Jota.

    The Portuguese International did not think, riffling the ball in only for Bernd Leno to make another impressive save. Unluckily for the Fulham goalkeeper though, the rebound fell perfectly for the rampaging Luiz Diaz.

    Luis Diaz poked the ball into the net, briefly silencing Craven Cottage again but immediately after, the flag was raised.

    FWEEEE!

    The call was offside.

    The Colombian International ruffled his hair in frustration. The game continued as both sides tried to impose themselves into the game and in the final minutes, a familiar name seemed to have gone anonymous till the 118th minute.

    By now, legs all across the pitch were heavy from exhaustion. It was incredibly hard to string a few passes together.

    But in the 117th minute, starting another attack, Muniz bombed through the right-hand side of the pitch, charging past Joe Gomez and beating him for pace as he crossed the ball into the Liverpool 18-yard box.

    Raul Jimenez jumped but Virgil Van Dijk beat him in the air again, jumping higher as he cleared the ball back into the field only for Alex Iwobi to quickly spray the loose ball to the left side of the pitch where a tired Willian ran.

    As the ball went towards Willian was when Sam finally started executing his late run into the Liverpool 18-yard box.

    Having been anonymous for the past few minutes of this last half of extra time, no one detected him, he was like a ghost.

    Exhaustion in the part of the Liverpool defenders played a part in why he was so elusive like a ghost.

    Afterall, football was not just a physical game, it was a mental game too.

    The tired Willian didn''t even try to take his man on and dribble, simply throwing a blind cross into the 18-yard box again.

    As soon as Willian''s leg hit the ball, Sam felt his adrenaline levels rise again.

    That mantra was still chanting in his head.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    At the last moment, Virgil Van Dijk saw him move as the alert Liverpool defender reacted to his movement.

    But Sam also saw the Liverpool defender move. Even as he paid attention to Virgil Van Dijk, he also watched the incoming ball and this was when Sam noticed that the cross was not a perfect one, it was lower than intended.

    But in that moment, Sam used it to his advantage.

    Virgil Van Dijk moved, reacting to his movement but Sam changed his movement at the last moment, ducking and rushing underneath the outstretched left arm of the Liverpool defender as the ball floated in.

    Sam ducked, rushed, and then he dived after the ball.

    Sam jumped, executing a low diving header as his head hit the ball even at the incredible speed that it moved at.

    BAM!

    Kelleher barely reacted, flailing his arms but it was not enough as the ball snuck into the embrace of the Liverpool net.

    It was a goal.

    Silence, then¡­

    "GOALLLLLL¡­!" Craven Cottage exploded!

    The commentator exploded with the fans, screaming at the top of his voice. "Zinedine Sam!"

    "Zinedine Sam!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM!"

    "WHAT A GAME! WHAT A GOAL! HE HAS DONE IT!"

    "The Nigerian prodigy has done it!"

    ...

    [NOTE: All the Paul mistakes have been edited, sorry guys, Ali especially lol. A surprise is coming on the 10th, hope I can excuse the past editing mistakes with that. Anyways, that''s that.]

 Chapter 113 EFL Cup finalists- Fulham FC

    "Zinedine Sam!"Your next journey awaits at empire

    "Zinedine Sam!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM!"

    "WHAT A GAME! WHAT A GOAL! HE HAS DONE IT!"

    "The Nigerian prodigy has done it!"

    As the commentator roared, the realization of his goal dawned on Sam and his teammates and immediately, all of them went gaga out of sheer euphoria.

    Sam felt liberated, emotions that he had been suppressing since finally hit a crescendo as they cascaded like a flood.

    Dodging his teammates who tried to hug him, Sam charged towards the corner flag, a look of sheer joy on his face as he dived on the pitch on his belly, sliding forward even as the fans roared his name.

    "SAM!" "SAM!" "SAM!"

    His teammates did the same celebration as him, diving on the pitch and sliding after him and after they slid to a stop, Sam jumped back on his feet, pupils dilated in euphoria as he roared back at the fans.

    "YEAHHHH¡­!" His vocal cords vibrated, riding the energy wave of the fans.

    And finally, his teammates started jumping on him from behind, celebrating the goal excitedly and it was not even just the players. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Having been on the touchline, fidgeting anxiously since, as soon as the ball entered the Liverpool FC net, Coach Marco Silva lost his composure.

    Forgetting the rules, this coach removed his black suit top, throwing it away as he charged into the pitch, running as fast as his leg could carry him towards his players as he lost himself in the celebrations.

    When the Fulham players saw their coach coming, they moved out of the way, giving him free access to his savior as without giving a damn about the way he looked to the public, this coach jumped on his player.

    Sam caught the coach, laughing even as Marco Silva screamed in his ear at the top of his lungs. "Hell yeahhhh!"

    "F*cking yesss Sam!"

    Coach Marco Silva was so happy he could not control his emotions, he kissed Sam repeatedly on the forehead as soon as he stood on his feet again and then he whispered into his ear. "That starting spot, it''s yours".

    Hearing that, Sam grinned and then he muttered. "Thank you, coach".

    Coach Marco Silva laughed. "You earned it".

    While the Fulham FC players celebrated euphorically alongside their fans, most of the younger Liverpool players collapsed on the pitch, exhausted and tired.

    The older players went up to them, consoling them and helping them up, telling them that the game was not yet over.

    At that moment, the referee finally ran towards the gathering of Fulham players where their coach was before showing a yellow card to their coach for his misbehavior on the pitch.

    Marco Silva did not mind though, laughing even as he hugged the referee before running back out of the pitch to the touchline.

    After about a minute more for the chaos to die down, the referee finally blew the whistle to continue the game.

    For the remaining 2 minutes, Luis Diaz tried going solo to create something but he was eventually thwarted by the suddenly energetic Fulham FC defense.

    That was the only meaningful attack they could create in 2 minutes.

    FWEEEEE!

    The semifinal EFL Cup game finally came to an end.

    After an incredible game stretched across 2 legs, Fulham FC prevailed over the English footballing giants, Liverpool, beating them with an aggregate of 4-3.

    And just like everyone expected, Sam won the man of the match award of this game despite the fact that he was introduced only 2 minutes to fulltime during the normal time period.

    Having won his first man of the match award since coming to England, shortly after the final whistle, Sam saw himself standing before English reporters.

    "Sam, how do you feel? You just showed off an incredible performance to the whole world, singlehandedly dragging your team to create an off-set against Liverpool and book a spot in the EFL Cup final, how do you feel?"

    Sam grinned at the camera, wiping off his sweat even as he breath heavily. "Of course, I feel great".

    "For a while now, I''ve been at the periphery of the team, I didn''t even play in the last game against Chelsea so I was eager to prove my worth to the team".

    "To come in and score 2 goals to equalize and win the game for my team," he shook his head, smiling. "I couldn''t have scripted it any better than this".

    "I''m just grateful to my family, they supported me through this difficult period". He grinned at the camera. "Mom, you can calm down now, no need to fight the coach again, your son has done it".

    "I love you!" He blew a kiss at the camera.

    "And dad, thank you for everything. Sophia, you too, I hope you''re seeing this, your brother is close to standing on top of the world". He grinned cheekily.

    The female reporter smiled. "How did you feel coming into the game so late and with such a score line? Did you know that you would score that goal ahead of time?"

    Sam looked at the reporter incredulously. "Are you for real?" He chuckled. "I believe in myself but I''m no seer. In fact, that goal was purely instinctive, that is my first time scoring an overhead kick goal in my career".

    "Congratulations Sam," the female reporter smiled. "I also hear this is your first time scoring a headed goal too".

    "Ah!" Sam touched his head. "That too, I didn''t even know". He laughed.

    The interview continued as the reporter asked him a few more questions about the game, his 2 goals, and his mentality on the pitch. Sam answered everything before he was finally vindicated from the press.

    After posing with his man of the match trophy before the camera, he finally returned to the dressing room to join his teammates where they were still celebrating.

    None of them thought they could do it, yet here they were.

    As soon as he entered, Alex Iwobi walked up to him, hugging him excitedly. "Bro, you''re a monster!" He said, laughing.

    A few more minutes of celebration later, the players finally left.

    All in all, it was an unforgettable semifinal game for Fulham FC.

 Chapter 114 New system perk

    As soon as Sam got back home to his hotel room in Fulham, like usual, after meeting his dad who was equally as excited as he was, despite the fact that he was exhausted after putting his all to win today''s game, Sam called his mom.Through the video call, he saw his overexcited mom and sister.

    Having watched the game back home on TV, Mrs. Moses was so excited she was literally dancing when the call went through.

    She heaped praise on her son, describing his performance with all the superlatives she could despite the fact that she didn''t understand 99% of what went on in a football pitch.

    Enjoy new stories from empire

    Sam was left blushing due to her praise.

    Sam also spoke to his sister, using the opportunity to brag before her, and then he told his family the good news from Coach Marco Silva on the pitch.

    He never told his family before now that he confronted his coach. When they heard, they were shocked, especially Mr. Moses who knew a bit more about football and what happened in a football club.

    It was risky but, in the end, it paid off. That was all that mattered.

    After the video call session, still feeling signs of exhaustion, Sam finally laid down on his bed but he did not sleep immediately.

    Lying down on his bed in the hotel room, he accessed his system interface, finally paying attention to notifications that he ignored before.

    Immediately after the semifinal game came to an end in Craven Cottage, Sam received a barrage of notifications right there on the pitch while he still celebrated the incredible victory alongside his teammates.

    He could not pay attention to the notifications then though due to the moment, but now, he could finally pay attention to them.

    A long list of notifications opened before his vision.

    ~----~

    [You have completed EFL Cup game system mission: Win the game!]

    [You played over 30 minutes of this game and won the man of the match award!]

    [Calculating reward¡­, please wait¡­]

    [Calculation complete!]

    [You have been rewarded with 5 Skill Points!]

    ¡­

    [Due to the incredible state of mind and body you entered in today''s game and due to your unreal man of the match winning performance, real-time game experience accumulation has triggered!]

    [Your spatial awareness skill has improved!]

    [Your zonal marking skill has improved!]

    [Your shot accuracy has improved!]

    [Congratulations! Your shooting attribute has improved by +2!]

    [You have unlocked a new skill: Overhead Kick!]

    [Your mastery over the football skill ''Overhead Kick'' has improved to basic!]

    ¡­

    [You have completed hidden system mission: Do it in England!]

    >You''ve done it in Nigeria in the NPFL for Nigeria, now it is time to prove that you are not just a 1-season wonder and limited to the Nigerian league. Prove your talent in a game that England will never forget<

    [Hidden mission completed!]

    [Congratulations! The system has awakened to level 4!]

    [You have unlocked level 4 perk: Match Analysis A.I!]

    >The match analysis A.I is a unique A.I developed by the system and personalized for the host''s use. After every game, the A.I breaks down your performance in a game, highlighting your high points and your low points<

    >The A.I points out where you did good and where you did bad. It is a great tool for self-reflection and to identify areas of improvements and to know your strengths better than before<

    ¡­

    [The system perk, Snooping Tool has been upgraded to level 4!]

    [You can now access the mental profile of players!]

    [Upgrade Snooping tool to level 5 to access real-time mental data to know the real-time mental state of players, both teammates and opponents!]

    ¡­

    [The system perk, Inventory has been upgraded!]

    [The system inventory slots have increased to 16 slots!]

    ~----~

    After going through the series of system notifications that were waiting for him, Sam could not help it as a big grim came over his face.

    ''Yes!''

    After months of his system staying stagnant since it''s last awakening and upgrade, finally, his system finally awakened to level 4 and with it came a new system perk.

    Since getting the system, after the first awakening, Sam got the snooping tool, then the skills market with the second awakening, the inventory with the third awakening, and now he had a 4th system perk.

    Reading through the description of the match analysis A.I, Sam''s grin widened. To improve, it was important to self-reflect and acknowledge your flaws.

    One big problem of professional football players was recognizing their strengths and flaws, this was one major factor that separated truly world class players from the others.

    Players like Lionel Messi were short and in football, it was supposed to be a weakness originally but recognizing his weakness, Messi worked his playstyle around it, amplifying his strengths so much that they masked his weaknesses.

    You would rarely see Lionel Messi score a headed goal, but that did not make him an average player. He was still one of the best players in the world.

    With the help of the match analysis A.I, Sam could do the same, recognizing his strengths and weaknesses and working his playstyle around it to make sure that he played at his best anytime he was on the football pitch.

    And even more excitingly, Sam was happy because another of his attributes improved again. To a professional footballer, there was probably nothing more addictive than seeing actual improvement in your skills and ability.

    And again, he got a new skill in his repertoire.

    Throughout his career, even in his youth days, Sam had never been the flamboyant type of player, preferring to keep it simple and practical.

    He had never attempted a bicycle kick until today, and somehow, his instincts were right and he managed to score the equalizing goal from that moment.

    That moment clearly left an imprint, and now, the overhead kick skill became part of his repertoire. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After all these new additions, Sam was eager to view his system status again and that was exactly what he did.

    ~----~

    [Player status!]

    Host: Samuel Moses

    Current Career Status: Premier League player, CAF champions league reigning champion

    Talent Rating: A+

    Player Position: Attacking Midfield

    Player Attributes:

    *Pace: 81

    *Shot: 79

    *Pass: 80

    *Dribbling: 74

    *Defending: 38

    *Physicality: 70

    *Stamina: 84

    Overall Rating: 80

    ¡­

    [Owned Football Skills:]

    [Basic mastery level: La croqueta; body feint; Power shot; step overs, roulette, knuckle shot, overhead kick]

    [Intermediate mastery level: Elastico, Cruyff turn]

    ¡­

    [Legendary Inheritance: Elastico]

    ¡­

    [System Remark: An elite young talent playing in one of the best leagues in the world!]

    ~----~

    Compared to the last time he checked; Sam''s talent rating already increased from B all the way to A+.

    Sam grinned; he was addicted to growth.

 Chapter 115 Fulhams new star?

    Immediately after the semifinal game between Fulham FC and Liverpool, social media was taken by storm.In twitter and in all major social media platforms, the news was about Fulham''s incredible comeback victory against a star-studded Liverpool team in the EFL Cup semifinal and the game''s star, Samuel Moses.

    Despite entering the game at just 2 minutes from regular fulltime, Sam still managed to influence the game, singlehandedly winning it for his team.

    Clips of his overhead kick goal were all over tik tok and YouTube.

    And for the umpteenth time in his still budding career as a professional football player, Sam experienced all his social media accounts experiencing a crazy upsurge in followership as the hype around him in England truly picked up.

    After his performance against Manchester City in the FIFA Club World Cup final, he announced his name to the world but even as he got a lot of fans due to it, he also got a lot of doubters and downright haters.

    There were questions, was he just a one-season wonder?

    Could he do it in a league bigger than the NPFL?

    And now, Samuel Moses provided his answer to his doubters with his incredible performance as a super sub in the EFL Cup semifinal game.

    All over social media, there was a lot of hype, questions like if Samuel Moses was the newest star of the Fulham FC team.

    Questions like if Samuel Moses was the last piece of the puzzle to complete a Fulham team that could go on to shock England.

    There were a lot of speculations and hype as Sam''s prestige in England truly picked up, but Sam paid very little attention to what happened on social media.

    The Liverpool game was not the end of the world.

    After spending a full season and a half in Enyimba FC already, Sam already knew this. The life of a professional football player was not easy, it was hectic and if he wanted to stay at the top, he needed to stay focused and dedicated.

    This was why Sam shut off all the noise and hype around him, focusing on his football instead.

    He knew that if in the next game, he played bad, people would forget all the hype about him mere days ago and start hating him, labeling him a wonder for only one game and this became motivation for him to work even harder.

    After the Liverpool game, like usual, even as his players were exhausted and were recovering from the fatigue of the intense game, Marco Silva already started preparation for future fixtures as he sent his players fixtures to 2 games.

    (FA Cup- 4th round!)

    (Fulham ¨C Newcastle)

    (Date: 27th January, 2024)

    ¡­

    (EFL Cup- Final!)

    (Chelsea ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 25th February, 2024)

    (Venue: Wembley Stadium)

    After Sam''s incredible performance in the game against Liverpool, knocking the English giants off the tournament, he booked his team a spot in Wembley Stadium for a blockbuster encounter with Chelsea FC next month.

    Alongside the fixture message, Coach Marco Silva also sent a congratulatory message to his players, commending them on their performance and also the need to perform even better in the EFL Cup final.

    Making it to the final of any competition in England was not easy, and Marco Silva didn''t just want to be a passenger riding along after getting to this stage.

    He wanted his team to give their all and win the EFL trophy.

    If not anything, it would be the highlight moment of his coaching career.

    This was why he sent the congratulatory message which also dubbed as a motivation message to his players. If they were to win against Chelsea come next month, the squad needed to work harder than ever before.

    And on that day, they had to give above 100% on the football pitch.

    The message didn''t change anything to Sam though, it only made him more focused on his goal. ''I intended to win from the very beginning''.

    ''Against Chelsea is hard but it''s not anything I''ve not experienced before''.

    ''I''ve faced Manchester City and I performed''.

    ''I''ve faced Liverpool and I performed''.

    ''I just have to keep working hard and be in my best state, then even against Chelsea or any other team in the world, I can perform too''.

    After the Liverpool game, the Fulham players had just 2 days to rest and prepare for their next game in the FA Cup round.

    Considering how much energy they put into the Liverpool game, it was literally impossible for all the star players to fully recover before the FA Cup game but they could not complain, it is what it is.

    That morning, Sam woke up early like usual, quickly jogging off to complete his daily system quest and when he was done, again, he was the first Fulham player to report to training in the morning.

    This time though, Marco Silva no longer ignored his diligence. Once he drove into the stadium, Sam was the first player that he walked up to meet.

    He hugged his player, then smiling at him, he commended. "The stadium staff have been telling me about your diligence since you came to the club, keep it up Sam, your mentality is one of a kind".

    Thinking of something, he chuckled. "I still can''t believe you actually confronted me to let you play, you have balls boy".

    Sam laughed. "I just had to do it; you were not seeing me and I had to make you see me".

    Coach Marco Silva laughed before patting him on the shoulder.

    A few minutes later, the Fulham players made their way to the gym before later entering the pitch as they trained for their next game.

    And again, Sam was a stand-out player in training. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    With his physical conditioning elixirs that he got from his system every day after completing the daily system quest, Sam had a massive advantage over every other professional football player in the world.

    He could recover from match fatigue far faster than other players.

    And after training ended that day, when Marco Silva finally revealed his starting XI for the Newcastle game, Sam was left grinning from ear to ear.

    For the first time since coming to England, Sam finally made the starting XI formation of Fulham.

    He would be starting against Newcastle.

 Chapter 116 FA Cup game- against Newcastle United

    Due to the fatigue that still lingered from the Liverpool EFL Cup game, Coach Marco Silva heavily rotated his starting XI for the Newcastle United game.Instead of Bernd Leno starting between the posts for Fulham FC, Rodak, the second-choice goalkeeper started instead.

    And instead of Raul Jimenez leading the line, Muniz was given a chance to start at the head of the formation as the striker for this game.

    Behind the striker, Pereira was given a rest, making way for the young Nigerian midfielder who stole all the headlines in the last game, Samuel Moses.

    Beside Sam on both sides, De Cordova-Reid started on his left, replacing Willian as the left winger for this game while Wilson started as the right winger.

    Palhinha was also rested for this game, giving Lukic and Reed the chance to start as the double pivot for the game.

    As for the 4-man defense, it comprised of Diop and Ream in central defense, Robinson as the left back, and Tete as the right back.

    Compared to the formation that started against Liverpool, it was a weaker formation on paper and considering that Newcastle United was another heavyweight of English football, most prominently in recent seasons, it was going to be a tough game.

    After the take-over by Newcastle''s new owner, a billionaire, despite the fact that the owner didn''t splurge hundreds of millions in the transfer market like predicted, Newcastle United still experienced a big change already.

    The team was now a force to be reckoned with in the English premier competition. And today, they clashed against Fulham in Craven Cottage.

    With the likes of Aleksander Isak, Anthony Gordon, Bruon Guimaraes, Schar, Burn, Kieran Trippier, and Martin Dubravka all starting, it was clear that Newcastle United came with their strongest lineup and were determined to win.

    Despite the fact that Fulham FC managed to pull off such a big off-set against Liverpool, Fulham was still seen as the heavy underdog for this game.

    And considering the fact that Coach Marco Silva rotated so heavily, this became even more so but one specific player on the pitch didn''t agree to this sentiment.

    Donning the no. 11 jersey for Fulham FC, on the pitch, Sam had no other thoughts in his mind but thoughts of winning.

    ''I have to win, and win again, and keep on winning''.

    ''That''s the only way to keep on improving and get to the very top''.

    FWEEEE!

    When the game started, Fulham FC started kickoff brightly as for the first few minutes of this game, it was a tightly-contested affair.

    The Fulham FC attack was not as bland as in the Liverpool game during the early stages. With Sam at the helm of the Fulham midfield, Sam showed what he could do on a football pitch, orchestrating the play.

    Since he was not in a rush this time, he was calm, rotating possession on the pitch between his teammates like a robot that could not make a single mistake.

    He kept on threading dangerous passes to his teammates, rising head and shoulders above all his teammates on the pitch but his teammates could not finish the chances that he created.

    And now wary of his threat, the Newcastle players marked him tightly, not giving him the chance to try outside the box shots.

    It was not all Sam on the pitch though.

    Of course, a tightly-contested affair meant that it went both ways. With their star players, Newcastle United imposed themselves on this game as Guimaraes and Aleksander Isak caused problems for the Fulham defense.

    Despite the chances that were created by both sides, the game remained goalless until the 39th minute of the game.

    After some scrappy defending from the Fulham defense, Longstaff, the Newcastle midfielder pounced on a loose ball, rifling it into the roof of the net and beyond Rodak as he scored the first goal of the game.

    That goal definitely roused Fulham FC awake as they put more urgency into their play, despite this, it did not yield fruit.

    The first half ended with Newcastle United leading 0-1. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    When second half started, Coach Marco Silva made a single change, taking off Reed and introducing Palhinha into the game as immediately, the Fulham team became more solid and compact.

    Fulham played with intent in the 2nd half, being the better team as they came close to scoring a few times but then in the 61st minute, they were stunned.

    Against the run of play, Danny Burn, the Newcastle left back after an impressive overlapping run played clever interchanging passes between Aleksander Isak and from nowhere, this left back snuck the ball into the bottom left corner.

    It was 0-2 to Newcastle United out of nowhere!

    That goal definitely set the coals of fire burning down Fulham''s ass.

    And finally, the urgency got to Sam. By now, most of his teammates were already showing signs of fatigue but unwilling to give up, buoyed by Palhinha''s performance since coming on, Sam led the attack, orchestrating play.

    5 minutes after the second Newcastle goal, he finally did it, playing a defense-splitting through pass to Muniz.

    The Fulham striker got to the ball before Martin Dubravka, and as the goalkeeper charged in, he pushed the ball forward, going around him before poking the ball into an empty net to cut the Newcastle lead by half.

    Sam got an assist, and Muniz got his goal.

    1-2 by the 66th minute.

    Sam kept on trying, giving his best, being Fulham''s best player by some margin as he kept on orchestrating play yet his teammates failed to capitalize on the chances that he created a second time.

    He tried to take a go personally but the Newcastle United players marked him tightly, preventing him from doing anything tangible with the ball.

    Towards the end of the game, Sam cut a frustrated figure as he did so much yet there were no results to show for his effort.

    In the end, despite his effort, Fulham FC lost the game 2-1 to Newcastle United to crash out of the FA Cup.

    Fulham''s journey through the FA Cup came to a heartbreaking end just after they pulled off a miracle in their last tournament game.

    The Fulham fans didn''t complain though, rather, they applauded their players, Sam chants erupting at some point to acknowledge his stand-out display.

    Fulham may have lost, but with this performance, a question was answered.

    Yes, Samuel Moses, the young attacking midfielder and no. 11 was Fulham''s newest star player.

 Chapter 117 Star player

    (Premier League fixtures:)(Fulham ¨C Everton)

    (Date: 30th January, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Burnley ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 3rd February, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Fulham ¨C Bournemouth)

    (Date: 10th February, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Fulham ¨C Aston Villa)

    (Date: 17th February, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Man United ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: TBD)

    After the FA Cup game against Newcastle United, despite the fact that Fulham FC lost the game, it announced Sam to the spotlight as Fulham''s newest star player.

    With his performance against Newcastle United, Sam seized his moment, solidifying his spot as a starting player ahead of Pereira in the Fulham team.

    After the Newcastle game, their next game was against Everton in the premier league and just like before, not underestimating their opponents, Sam trained hard in training, preparing to his best ability for the game.

    For this premier league game, Coach Marco Silva reverted back to his strongest lineup, starting the likes of Raul Jimenez, Bernd Leno, Palhinha, and Castagne again with the biggest omission being Pereira.

    Sam already monopolized the attacking midfield spot for himself.

    And again, it was a home game for Fulham FC.

    Buoyed by the loud noise being made by their fans and their endless energy, Fulham FC came attacking aggressively from the very first minute of this game but from the first minute, another thing was clear.

    Everton approached this game with a defensive mind-set.

    For almost 90 minutes, Everton frustrated Fulham, thwarting attack after attack from the team in white, black, and red as they occasionally threatened on the counter.

    This game was supposed to end in a draw, but a certain player disagreed.

    In the 89th minute of the game, Sam dribbled with the ball into the opposition 18-yard box, wriggling past Everton players and just before he could shoot, he was dragged down in the Everton box and immediately, the referee blew his whistle, awarding a penalty kick to Fulham.

    After playing admirably for most of this game already, Raul Jimenez stepped up to take the penalty before expertly sending the Everton goalkeeper the wrong way, converting to give his team the lead and win the game.

    Jimenez won the man of the match award for this game.

    Fulham''s next game was against Burnley on 3rd February, another league game. And this time, it was an away game.

    On away ground, Fulham FC dominated the newly promoted team as 2 early goals from Palhinha and Muniz who replaced Jimenez for this game in the 17th and 21st minute set Fulham up for the win until a 2nd half collapse cost them.

    2 late goals from Burnley at the 71st and 90th plus 1 minute from Fofana doomed Fulham to a draw, until a familiar defiant player reared his head again.

    When the stakes were highest, Sam proved his quality, scoring his first premier league goal when it was most needed.

    Sam scored an absolute rocket in the 90th plus 5 minutes, sending Burnley hearts across the stadium to despair as he dragged his team to victory.

    The game ended 2-3 in Fulham''s favor.

    And just like that, after back to back victories, Fulham started climbing the league table after some eye-catching performances.

    Fulham was suddenly unrecognizable, they played like an entirely different team to the one that played during the first half of the season.

    After the Burnley game, 7 days later, Fulham welcomed Bournemouth in Craven Cottage for another premier league game.

    And this time, Fulham didn''t fumble, dominating from beginning to end.

    De Cordova-Reid opened the scoring early in the 6th minute, sending Fulham ahead and Muniz who started ahead of Jimenez for the second consecutive game sent the dagger through Bournemouth hearts, doubling the Fulham lead in the 36th minute of the game through a Sam assist.

    The first half ended with Fulham leading 2-0.

    When second half started, Bournemouth improved and after 5 minutes, they were rewarded for their efforts in the 50th minute as they pulled one back through Senesi but Fulham did not lie waiting.

    Just 2 minutes later, in the 52nd minute of the game, Sam played an unreal defense-splitting pass, prying the Bournemouth defense open for Muniz to run one-on-one against the Bournemouth goalkeeper and the striker did not make a mistake, scoring the 3rd goal for Fulham.

    Sam got his second assist of the game.

    And just 8 minutes later, Sam added the nail to the coffin, scoring another rocket from midfield in the 60th minute of the game to make it 4-1 to Fulham FC.

    With 1 goal and 2 assists, Sam won the man of the match award of this game.

    He was adapting to English football like fish to water.

    Fulham''s next game was another home game but it was against a difficult high-flying Aston Villa side. The Fulham squad was in good spirits though, they approached the game confidently.

    In just an hour though, Aston Villa shattered their hearts after an Ollie Watkins masterclass in Craven Cottage.

    Scoring 2 goals in between both halves of the game in the 23rd and 56th minute of the game, giving his team a 2-goal advantage, the game seemed sealed till Muniz reduced the lead by half in the 63rd minute.

    For the 3rd consecutive game, he started ahead of Jimenez.

    Muniz''s goal changed the momentum of the game as the Fulham fans went behind their players, roaring them on to make a comeback and the player at the center of it all was a familiar name.

    Samuel Moses orchestrated the proceedings, leading the fight for a comeback.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    The familiar chants blasted through Craven Cottage again.

    Sam tried his best, using every trick in his books to try helping his team claw themselves out of defeat but Aston Villa was just too tenacious and most importantly, Dibu Martinez, the Aston Villa goalkeeper put out a goalkeeping masterpiece, keeping the Fulham forwards silent. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The game ended 1-2 in Aston Villa''s favor.

    Despite the defeat, the feeling in the Fulham FC camp was still positive, the club was still experiencing the best run of their campaign this season so far.

    After the Aston Villa game, Fulham FC was supposed to take on Manchester United in another premier league game on the 24th February in Old Trafford, the red devils'' home stadium but the game was postponed.

    The premier league game was postponed because the next day, 25th February, on Sunday, Fulham FC would be taking on Chelsea FC in Wembley Stadium to play the Carabao Cup final.

 Chapter 118 EFL Cup final- Chelsea vs Fulham

    (EFL Cup- Final!)(Chelsea ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 25th February, 2024)

    (Venue: Wembley Stadium)

    For Sam, it all started on that faithful night, 28th May, 2011, and it commenced in the iconic Wembley Stadium.

    Sam still remembered the memory vividly like it was yesterday.

    He still remembered the energy in the viewing center as Manchester United and FC Barcelona fought it out in the most important fixture of club football, the UEFA champions league final.

    Since that time, it was already 13 years and now, no longer a boy but a man now, Sam was about to play his first game in this very same iconic stadium.

    And just like that night, it was going to be a final game.

    All these reasons and more made the Carabao Cup final game even more special for Sam. The venue for the game was a stadium that had a special place in his heart, and he was determined to create another unforgettable memory from it.

    ''We must win!'' That was the only thought that dominated Sam''s mind in the build up to the game.

    After the Aston Villa game, the Fulham players had 8 days to prepare for the EFL Cup final and through these days, in training, Sam trained like a beast.

    He put in more than 100% in every training session, pushing himself beyond his limits all in preparation for one of the most important games of his life.

    His career was still a short one but Sam already participated in a few iconic games, specifically his run with Enyimba through the CAF champions league, the run through the FIFA Club World Cup, and now the run through the Carabao Cup.

    In all 3 of these tournaments, he put in more than 100% effort and despite the fact that the end result was not always what he wanted, he still won 1 out of 2 trophies in these tournaments and the 3rd trophy was now pending.

    Sam already made his resolve; he was determined to get the Carabao Cup trophy to cement his first season in England.

    It didn''t matter if they were going up against Chelsea whose form in the league was inconsistent, or if they were even going up against the mighty Real Madrid, Sam was just determined to win no matter who the enemy was.

    What made the game even more important to him was the fact that to motivate his son even more, Mr. Moses took care of the logistics and after a month since he came to England, his mom and sister finally took a flight to meet him here.

    Mrs. Moses and Sophia came to watch the game and support Sam live. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    With them present, Sam was even more determined to win.

    And after 8 days of going at it hard, putting beyond his best in every training session, finally, it was the D-day.

    30 minutes before the game, the lineup of both teams was released.

    Both teams started with their strongest line up.

    Muniz managed to bench Raul Jimenez for this game again, starting at the top of the 4-2-3-1 formation as the striker spearheading the attack.

    The 3-man midfield behind him comprised of Sam in the attacking midfield position, Harry Wilson as the right winger as De Cordova-Reid picked up a knock in training, while a surprising name completed the 3-man offense behind Muniz.

    After flirting at the periphery of the Fulham starting line-up for months, Alex Iwobi finally made the big step up, convincing the coach through his performances in training to start him ahead of Willian for this important game.

    Alex Iwobi started in the left wing.

    Behind the 4-man attack, 2 defensive midfielders played as the anchors in Lukic and Palhinha.

    The 4-man defense comprised of Robinson in left back, Calvin Bassey who recovered from his injury and Adarabioyo in center defense, while Castagne started as the right back of this team. Bernd Leno started in goal.

    It was a strong team on paper, but the Chelsea team was even stronger.

    For the Carabao Cup game, Maurichio Pochettino, the Chelsea coach started with his strongest lineup with the same 4-2-3-1 formation.

    Nicolas Jackson started up top as the striker, and behind him, Conor Gallagher played directly behind Jackson, flanked on both sides by Raheem Sterling on the left and the scintillating Cole Palmer on the right.

    Behind them, anchoring the game for Chelsea were Moises Caicedo and the Argentine world-cup winning midfielder, Enzo Fernandez.

    Their 4-man defense comprised of Malo Gusto as right back, Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill in center defense, with Ben Chilwell covering the left back spot.

    Petrovic started in between the posts for Chelsea.

    That night, Wembley stadium was sold out as tens of thousands of fans in blue dominated, supporting their club energetically. The Fulham fans did not slack though as they also stormed this stadium in the tens of thousands.

    It was a clash between blue against white, black, and red.

    Even before the game started, as Sam entered the pitch alongside his teammates, he felt the tension in this stadium.

    In a final, the stakes were at the highest but Sam was no newbie to this.

    He grinned, taking in the energy, and then¡­

    FWEEEE!

    The game started.

    For the first 10 minutes of this game, it was chaos as both sides went pound for pound at each other, playing physical football as they tried to dominate the proceedings and assert their authority over the game.

    For the first 10 minutes, neither team managed to create a meaningful attack as Chelsea and Fulham defended like a team, snuffing out any attack pattern.

    And then after 10 minutes, Chelsea asserted their authority over this game.

    With Enzo Fernandez calmly pinging the ball around in midfield, helping his team gain control over the game and with his partner, Moises Caicedo playing as the destroyer, shutting off any Fulham attack, the forwards got their chance to shine and Cole Palmer seized it with aplomb.

    The English midfielder was the outstanding player of the first half as Cole Palmer torched the Fulham defense time and time again.

    His first touch was electric, enabling him to beat the Fulham players time and time again but despite this, he could not find the net.

    Calvin Bassey and Adarabioyo were putting out a defensive masterclass.

    The first half came to an end 0-0.

    It was a cagey game.

 Chapter 119 Cold Palmer

    During half-time in the dressing room, an agitated Marco Silva walked up and down the dressing room, paying attention to his players.All of them were tensed, still filled with the adrenaline of the first half.

    Despite the fact that the first half ended 0-0 with neither team managing to break the duck, it was a highly intense game full of ups and downs.

    After pacing up and down some more, Marco Silva clapped loudly, attracting the attention of his players. "Come on guys!" He stared at them.

    "This is the game of our lives!"

    "When last did you play in a final?"

    "A final is something that comes once in a lifetime for most football careers, that''s how important tonight is for us".

    "I don''t know about you but I definitely don''t want to just come and go as a passenger, I want to create a memory that I can proudly tell my grandchildren about, something to brag to my great grandchildren". He grinned.

    "All of you did well in the first half, but this second half," he pounded his fists. "I want more".

    "Give me more!" He roared.

    "Give me enough to win!"

    "I don''t care whether you have friends on the other side of the pitch. Tonight, there are no friends, only enemies".

    "And in war, you don''t spare your enemies, you kill your enemies".

    "Come on!" He clapped again. "Let''s go out there and bury Chelsea!"

    By the time Marco Silva was done with his speech, all the players felt their blood boiling hot like they were dumped in a volcano.

    Sam felt his brain heating up like it was on fire.

    All the Fulham players were fired up, determined to give their all to win the game but they were not the only ones.

    Probably Maurichio Pochettino did the same thing with the Chelsea players because when they came out into the pitch for the second half, all of them had eyes burning with fire and determination.

    The tension between both teams became palpable, and when the referee''s whistle finally sounded, this tension became a supernova.

    It exploded.

    FWEEEE!

    Fulham restarted the game and immediately, the Chelsea players were all over them, pressing aggressively like hungry Pitbulls.

    Feeling the energy of the Chelsea players, it ignited a competitive spirit in Sam, pushing him into an otherworldly level of concentration again.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    The familiar mantra started in his head again.

    Sam was a calm person, respectful and not troublesome, but this personality became a thing of the past when his competitive spirit was triggered.

    His competitive spirit was only triggered by football and when it was triggered, he was like an unstoppable Lion who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted and in this second half, Sam was triggered.

    Sam utilized his incredible stamina, running all over the pitch, combating against the physical Moises Caicedo and the sturdy Chelsea defense.

    Most times, he was outmuscled by the more physically imposing Chelsea players but Sam still managed to get what he wanted, to create chaos.

    And in the chaos, he thrived, stealing loose balls and spraying passes left and right as he set his teammates up.

    Alex Iwobi was also having an impressive game as he pressured the Chelsea defense from the left, bullying Malo Gusto with his physicality.

    On the other side, Raheem Sterling finally switched on, going on mazy dribbles down the left-hand side as he tortured Castagne this second half.

    Despite all the eye-catching performances around the pitch, Cole Palmer remained head and shoulders above every other player on this pitch as this midfielder put out a display to remember, threatening every time his leg touched the ball.

    In the first 10 minutes of the second half alone, he forced Leno into making an impressive save even as he set up Nicolas Jackson 3 times!

    It would have been 3-0 if the Chelsea striker was not so profligate.

    Both teams were playing at a high level, thriving in the chaos on the field but despite their performances, a goal failed to materialize in this game.

    Muniz personally was having a game to forget as despite chances created by Sam, Wilson, and Alex Iwobi, he failed to capitalize.

    All in all, this game was proving to be a horror game for the strikers. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The energy of the fans in the stands never died though as the game wore on, instead, it only increased, rising to a crescendo as their noise rose through the roof.

    Their energy buoyed on the players on the pitch.

    It was no longer just a game, it was war!

    Sam tried his best, trying everything in his repertoire to influence the game and leave an impact, yet the goal failed to materialize.

    Cole Palmer did the same for Chelsea and just like that, time passed.

    55 minutes passed, still no goal¡­

    60 minutes passed, still no goal¡­

    70 minutes passed, still no goal¡­

    And then, in the 73rd minute of this game, the deadlock was finally broken.

    Riding the energy of this stadium, after receiving a long pass from Enzo Fernandez, Raheem Sterling calmly took the ball in his strides in the left wing, controlling it with his lap as he exploded, going on a mazy run.

    This Chelsea winger went haywire, utilizing his quick feet and pace to penetrate the Fulham defense like a hot knife through butter.

    He turned Castagne inside out, leaving the Fulham right back for dead before cutting into the 18-yard box and curling a shot towards the top right corner.

    Leno went on a full-stretch dive but it was not enough.

    "Will it? Will it?!"

    "And oh! The post comes to the rescue!"

    Raheem Sterling grabbed his hair, ruffling it in frustration as his incredible effort rebound off the bar into the field.

    And in the chaos as the Fulham players scrambled to clear the ball, that was when the English maverick entered the equation.

    Thud!

    Eyes narrowed in focus on the rolling ball, legs running in a calculated rhythm one step before the other, Cole Palmer was so focused he entered a state of trance.

    And when his left leg hit the ball from just outside the 18-yard box, he hit it with the venom he accumulated for over 70 minutes of this game.

    BAM!

    The shot was a ground ball, tearing the green grass apart, rotating like a destructive ping pong ball as it snuck past the scrambling legs of Fulham defenders and then past Leno''s outstretched arm before nestling into the bottom left corner of the Fulham net.

    Wembley Stadium was briefly silenced, then¡­

    "PALMERRRRR¡­!!!" The English commentator screamed at the top of his voice, and like a dynamite setting off the iconic English stadium as the tens of thousands of fans in blue roared in ecstasy.

    While the commentator went all lyrical with his words, drowning the goal with superlatives, Cole Palmer ran towards the corner flag to celebrate.

    As soon as he arrived, calmly, this midfielder did his cold celebration.

    Chills¡­, the Chelsea fans felt chills¡­

    The fans worshiped him, screaming at the top of their lungs even as the other Chelsea players came and jumped all over him, celebrating excitedly.

    In the 73rd minute, Cole Palmer broke the deadlock, making it 1-0 to Chelsea.

    Fulham was put on the backfoot.

 Chapter 120 10 minutes of madness!

    After putting out such a valiant performance already for 70 minutes, to concede in such a manner, all the Fulham players felt deflated.All their efforts through 70 minutes was for naught.

    All of them felt distraught but even in the distraughtness of this situation was when a certain Fulham player''s mentality reared its head again.

    When Cole Palmer scored the goal, Sam tracked back, pursuing the English midfielder so he had VIP view of the amazing goal.

    Having VIP view of the goal did not crack his spirit though.

    Instead, it only provoked his competitive spirit even more.

    Sam''s eyes were wide again, burning with a fiery zeal to win, a determination to give his all, and an acknowledgement that he could not do it alone.

    "Come on!" Sam clapped, roaring at his teammates.

    "It''s not over yet, we can still do it!"

    He pointed at his head. "Keep your head in the game, it''s just 1 goal difference, trust me, we''ll make a comeback and win today!"

    Sam was a youngster, just an 18-year-old, the senior players in this Fulham team were not obliged to listen him at all but at this moment, seeing this player talk, the other Fulham players felt his confidence.

    It was crazy how even in the worst of situations on the pitch this boy still managed to regain his confidence, it was almost delusional like a mad man.

    But who cares? If that was what it took to complete a comeback this game, the Fulham players decided to believe in a mad man.

    And when the referee''s whistle sounded again, the Fulham players showed that they were not dead. They were far from dead; they were still alive and kicking!

    FWEEEE!

    Just before the game started though, after successfully getting into the head of his teammates, making them believe in his confidence, Sam did something.

    He made use of one of his trump cards.

    ~----~

    [You have accessed ability card: Thread it like KDB!]

    [Card Effects:]

    >Once used, for 30 minutes, you gain the incredible playmaking skills of the Belgian midfielder, Kevin De Bruyne. You get the vision and the skill to play penetrative defense splitting through passes just like KDB<

    ¡­

    [You have made use of an ability card: Thread it like KDB!]

    ~----~

    In recent years in football, in metrics for attacking midfielders, there were attacking midfielders with great vision and who had the technique to play defense-splitting passes, and then there was the Belgian maestro, Kevin De Bruyne.

    For the past 5 to 6 years, KDB was by far the best assist-giving midfielder in all of Europe, dazzling game after game with his vision and passing technique.

    And at this moment, in this game with his team down 1-0, when the stakes were highest, Sam made use of a trump card that no other footballer other than him could make use of.

    He channeled KDB!

    Cole Palmer scored in the 73rd minute, and as soon as Fulham restarted play, determined to maintain their lead, the Chelsea players did not let Fulham maintain possession as they returned to pound to pound football.

    Led by their destroyer, Moises Caicedo, the Chelsea team went physical, fighting for every ball and disrupting any meaningful Fulham play.

    For a few minutes, they succeeded, until the 80th minute of this game.

    By then, the atmosphere in this stadium already heated up to a crescendo like a burning fire and in that hell, Sam finally thrived.

    For the past few minutes, he took advantage of his incredible stamina, pursuing the ball since and then in the 80th minute, he finally won the pound for pound battle, stealing the ball from Moises Caicedo.

    Sam had only 2 football skills that were at the intermediate level, his elastico dribble and Cruyff turn.

    And at this moment, immediately after he stole the ball, as Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez pressed, determined to get the ball, Sam executed the Cruyff turn, effortlessly evading the challenge from both players.

    He won the ball back in midfield, and now, he charged forward with it.

    Conor Gallagher quickly charged him down but with a la croqueta, Sam left the English midfielder for dead and that was when his senses tingled.

    Since utilizing the ability card and channeling KDB, Sam developed something like a sixth sense to spot passing lanes and at this moment, viewing all his options, he played a pass that would be impossible to 99% of midfielders in the world.

    From midfield, he played a raking pass that cut through the Chelsea defense like a hot knife through butter, through all its defenders, before slowing down in a platter of gold for the onrushing Alex Iwobi.

    Alex Iwobi simply decided to run blindly, he never expected such a pass but seeing it, the Nigerian International did not miss his moment.

    It was literally served on a platter of gold for him.

    As Petrovic rushed out, Alex simply stuck out his leg, tapping the ball into the net in the 81st minute of the game.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!" The Fulham fans erupted like evolved Chihuahuas, roaring at the top of their lungs!

    Alex Iwobi scrambled back to his feet, pumped a fist to the fans before rushing into the Chelsea net, picking up the ball and running back to the middle of the pitch to quickly restart play.

    In the 81st minute, the game was tied again, 1-1.

    Game on.

    Bam!

    Chelsea restarted play and still, they could not reassert their authority as every authority on this pitch was already taken by a mad man, mad Sam.

    Dropping deeper than before to stay more on the ball, Sam became an orchestrator, playing passes that split Chelsea open time and time again.

    The Chelsea players tried to wrestle for control but once he was gone, he was gone, he was never looking back.

    The final 10 minutes of this game was total madness, madness orchestrated by the mad man, mad Sam. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The tension increased, the stakes dangled, alluring the players on both teams and finally, in the 88th minute, the game was decided by the mad man, again.

    At some point, Jimenez already entered this game, replacing Muniz.

    Receiving the ball just outside the Chelsea 18-yard box, Sam took 2 touches, 1 to control the ball and the other to chip a delicate cross into the box.

    Watching the ball float in the air, Petrovic, the Chelsea goalkeeper hesitated.

    Should he stand his ground and wait or should he rush out to punch the ball?

    That moment of hesitation was all it took as jumping, Raul Jimenez unleashed a diving header reminiscing of Robin Van Persie''s iconic goal in the FIFA World Cup many years ago.

    The ball went straight into the roof of the net, leaving Petrovic scrambling.

    1-2 to Fulham in the 88th minute of this game.

    "MAD MAN!" The commentator screamed.

    "The Nigerian Zidane has struck again!"

    "What a cross! What a touch! What a goal! What a moment!"

    "As soon as the ball touched his leg, you knew that something special was about to happen and oh boy did it happen!"

    "2 assists to Samuel Moses!"

    "Back in January, he drowned Liverpool with his powers and tonight, we''re witnessing him drown Chelsea with the same powers!"

    Charging toward the corner flag, Raul Jimenez slid on his knees in celebration even as the Fulham fans roared in ecstasy.

    10 minutes of madness turned this game around.

 Chapter 121 2024 EFL Cup champions- Fulham FC

    "And Fulham FC are the 2023/2024 EFL Cup Champions!""What a moment for the fans!"

    "What a moment for the club!" Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "They''ve had an amazing run. They''ve gone through Norwich City, Ipswich Town in the round of 16, Everton in the quarterfinals, the almighty Liverpool in the semifinal, and now Chelsea".

    "What an amazing run!"

    "They deserve this trophy after such an impressive run and performance tonight, they deserve the moment".

    After Jimenez''s goal in the 88th minute, sending Fulham ahead of Chelsea in the final, the agitated Chelsea players responded immediately as they tried to score the equalizing goal but it didn''t come.

    Led by their determined 4-man defense, Fulham defended like a team for the final minutes of the game, even using the dark arts of time-wasting to kill the game.

    In the end, it was all worth it.

    Fulham FC won the EFL Cup final.

    As soon as the referee''s whistle blasted after additional time, bringing the game to an end, multiple Fulham players immediately broke down in tears on the pitch as the emotion of the moment overwhelmed them.

    They could not believe what they just achieved, it felt like a dream.

    Emotional and filled with ecstasy, they acknowledged their fans, gathering towards them as they waved to the loud roars generated by them.

    On the other side, the Chelsea players were mostly downcast but none of them collapsed on the pitch as some even took the initiative to leave the pitch immediately, walking down the tunnel.

    One of them stayed behind though, Cole Palmer, and Sam took his chance as he jogged towards the young Chelsea midfielder, requesting for a jersey swap.

    Cole Palmer may still be a young player but it was clear that he was destined for the top. Besides, in Nigeria, Chelsea fans literally worshipped him so Sam was determined not to miss this chance to swap jerseys with a true star of the game.

    Cole Palmer obliged, swapping jerseys with him.

    Like expected, after the end of the game, Sam was awarded with the man of the match award after his game-winning 2 assists.

    After the excitement died down a bit, Fulham FC''s name was finally engraved on the EFL Cup as the trophy presentation time came.

    The distraught Chelsea players went up first, taking their silver medals as their fans stayed and applauded them. When it came to Cole Palmer''s turn to take his medal, the applause around the stadium rose up a notch.

    After the Chelsea players, the Fulham players finally climbed the podium to take their gold medals alongside their coach.

    Walking through the podium, Sam had a big grin on his face.

    When he took his gold medal, the applause rose up to a crescendo as he smiled, waving at the fans.

    And then came the trophy-lifting time.

    Tom Cairney was Fulham FC''s captain for the 2023/2024 season. Despite the fact that he didn''t start the game, he was subbed into the game sometime in the second half and he played till the end.

    At this moment, this player grinning from ear to ear lifted the trophy before walking towards his teammates and together, they jumped, celebrating even as celebratory ribbons were shot into the air to commemorate the moment.

    Just like Sam wanted, he added another unforgettable moment to his still very short football career.

    And this time, he did it in England.

    After the trophy lifting, the players finally started taking turns, taking pictures with the trophy and when it came to Sam''s turn, he took it to his family.

    When she found out that they were allowed to enter the pitch, Mrs. Moses felt drugged in excitement as she ran into the pitch, hugging her son excitedly.

    "My boy!" She said proudly. "I''m so proud of you Sam!"

    His dad said the same thing, hugging his son with a proud smile on his face even as Sophia was busy taking selfies on the Wembley pitch.

    Afterall, it was not every day that a non-professional footballer could boast of entering the Wembley pitch. Heck, even most professional footballers never got the chance to step inside this iconic stadium.

    Sophia was determined to take as many pictures as possible to mark the memory.

    After she was done, the family of 4 finally crowded together around the trophy as they took a family picture.

    Sam felt on top of the world as he celebrated his victory with his family.

    After taking pictures of the trophy with his family, he also took pictures of the trophy with Alex Iwobi who hugged him soon after.

    "You''re a monster man, now I see why you felt you were good enough to force yourself into the starting XI".

    "Heck, Sam, you''re a freak!"

    Sam laughed, unsure of how to respond to not make it sound cringy.

    After all the celebrations, Sam was not yet free as after winning the man of the match award due to his performance that night, he was forced again to have a post-match interview with the reporters.

    They asked him the regular questions, how he felt about his team winning their first trophy in so many years, how he was able to play without pressure in the game, and what he thought about the rest of Fulham''s season.

    They also asked him who his inspiration to play football was this time.

    Sam answered all the questions the best way he could, mostly giving positive answers but when it came to his inspiration to play football, he became more animated and passionate. "I''m a die-hard Lionel Messi fan". He grinned.

    "To me, he is the G.O.A.T".

    "And considering his role in the greatest game I''ve ever watched live, the 2022 FIFA World Cup final that changed my life, I would say he is my inspiration".

    "Being a professional football player is hard but sometimes, when I think of Messi''s humble beginnings and how much he sacrificed to become the player he is, I become motivated to sacrifice even more".

    "That''s a nice sentiment Sam, I wish you success for the rest of the season".

    "Thank you".

    With that, Sam was finally extradited from the reporters.

    Tonight finally came to an end for him, it was an unforgettable night.

 Chapter 122 A new household name in Fulham

    After the EFL Cup final game between Chelsea and Fulham, immediately after the game ended, just like expected, England was taken by storm.Not just England, social media was taken by storm.

    Among the 3 domestic trophies in England, the EFL Cup may be the least valued of the 3 but it was still a major club trophy in England.

    No one saw Fulham winning the EFL Cup trophy at the beginning of the season. Not even after they knocked out Everton in such a fashion. Heck, not even after they knocked out Liverpool.

    They were the big underdogs of the tournament and yet somehow, they were able to defy all odds, going all the way to win the big trophy.

    And the crux of it all was one name, Samuel Moses. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    All the accolades could not be pushed to only Sam, it would be unfair to the other Fulham players. Afterall, just like the young Nigerian attacking midfielder, all of them gave their all for the game.

    The difference between Sam and the others though could be summed up in 2 words, X Factor.

    Fulham FC was never seen as one of the top clubs in England, but nor were they seen as one of the bottom feeders in the league fighting against relegation.

    Fulham was a proper mid-table team.

    They were not too ambitious, they just did the bare minimum to stay afloat in the league every season, just enough to not call it a failure.

    This was the lifestyle of the club, this was their sustenance, but all of it changed when they bought the young attacking midfielder from Nigeria and added him to their ranks.

    Sam was not content with the bare minimum.

    After Sam''s performance in the FIFA World Cup final against the almighty Manchester City, Sam truly entered the radar of top clubs all over the world.

    Not all of them went for him immediately but of those that went for his signature, Fulham hit the jackpot, getting his signing.

    They didn''t go for Sam because he was some proven veteran who could dominate games across 90 minutes, not because he was an established world-class star, rather, they went for him because of his mentality above anything else.

    Sam definitely had the talent; he had the skill.

    Afterall, if he didn''t have the skill, no amount of determination would have let him show up against Man City''s defense but his skill alone was not supposed to be enough to let him do the things he did on the pitch.

    Since coming to Fulham FC, Sam brought his mentality with him.

    Of course, for the first few games, he stayed at the periphery of the starting XI for Fulham but after his clutch performance against Liverpool in the EFL Cup semifinal, even the blind could see the need to start him the next game.

    And in the next game against Newcastle United, despite the fact that his team lost again with a much weaker team, Sam managed to show what he could bring to the Fulham team every game if he became part of the starting XI.

    The next game, his manager, Marco Silva started him again and he came up clutch again, helping his team snatch the victory from Everton.

    And since then, Sam never looked back.

    Fulham FC had always been a good team but with Sam, he brought the winning factor to this mid-table team.

    He brought that sense of inevitability that no matter how Fulham FC played in any game, with Sam on the pitch, they would always come out with a result.

    Considering that he was just 18, this was ridiculous and considering that he was just coming to England after playing all his career in Nigeria in the Nigerian league made it even more unbelievable.

    After the EFL Cup final, as the rave for Sam exploded even as the National England TV also broadcasted it, the local Fulham TV focused on their player more.

    "Hey Derek, thank you for making it to the show today".

    "It''s a pleasure Sasha". The middle-aged retired ex-Fulham player smiled at the camera as it focused on him.

    "So Derek, today''s show will be focused on the name currently flying all over the internet and over all of England," she smiled beautifully. "Sam, or should I say Samuel Moses?"

    "Sam, Samuel Moses, our no. 11, Zinedine Sam, the Nigerian Zidane, whichever one you call him is correct because that boy is a monster".

    She chuckled. "That''s rich coming from you Smith, considering you played the bulk of your career in the premier league with Fulham FC".

    The middle-aged man smiled. "I''m not even joking. I''m telling you Sasha, mark my words, Samuel Moses is the next big thing in English football".

    "That is high compliment".

    "He deserves all the compliment in the world. Come on Sasha, what else do you want me to say after such a performance against Chelsea? Almighty Chelsea!"

    She smiled. "Well, I can''t argue with you Smith, Sam really took all of us by surprise with that swashbuckling performance".

    "So Smith, what do you think is his greatest strength?"

    "His mentality". The middle-aged man answered immediately, smiling. "Sam is good, he has good technique, but to me, his scariest quality is his mentality".

    "I don''t know if it''s true but I heard he approached his coach, demanding to play him in the game against Liverpool if the coach wanted to win the game".

    "I mean, come on, do you know the balls it requires to do such a thing? After just coming to England? As a Nigerian?"

    "I mean, give the boy his accolades, he''s got balls of steel".

    "It shows his mentality".

    "And look at both games. Against Liverpool FC, the coach literally introduced him 2 minutes away from time yet in that short time, Sam managed to create a miracle and like they say, the rest is history".

    "This means he''s not just the talk type, he''s the talk and do type".

    "Against Chelsea, he did the same thing after everyone thought Cole Palmer would steal all the headlines".

    "No, Sam was not content with that. He was defiant, singlehandedly winning Fulham the game again and it''s first trophy in years".

    "Sasha, as a Fulham supporter, there''s no better time in the world than now".

    "Mark my words, all Sam need is time to shore up on some certain aspects of his game. With that mentality of his, he''ll win the Balon d''or someday!"

    "Woah, that''s rich!"

    "Yes, very rich but I mean it". Smith laughed. "I mean, he''s the man now, he''s the new household name in Fulham".

    "To me, he already attained that streets will never forget status for Fulham fans, that''s how high I rate him".

 Chapter 123 The mom syndrome

    While the whole of England was still held in a fever pitch state due to the conclusion of the EFL Cup, focusing on his incredible performance, Sam enjoyed quality family time after returning to the hotel.That night, Mrs. Moses was very active, leading the celebrations as the whole family celebrated Sam''s first trophy in England.

    And of course, trust his mom, she prayed over his head, making sure that no evil power could stop his trend of success.

    "My son, you shall win many more trophies".

    Silence.

    "My son, you shall win many more trophies".

    Silence.

    Bonk!

    She hit Sam on the forehead and when he stared at her in grievance, she glared at her son. "What are you doing? You say Amen when I pray over you".

    Sam sighed. "Ok mom".

    "My son, you shall win many more trophies".

    "Amen".

    "No weapon fashioned against you shall prosper".

    "¡­"

    "Say amen!"

    "Amen".

    "Good," she nodded, satisfied. "Where your enemies say you will fall, that is where you shall rise and get to your peak".

    "Amen".

    "No witches and wizards can get to you. My son, you are protected".

    "Amen".

    "You are loved".

    "Amen".

    "You shall become the best player in your team".

    "Amen".

    "You shall win the¡­," she paused, throwing a quick glance at her husband who quickly understood, whispering a few words to her.

    She smiled, focusing back on her prayer. "Sam, you shall win the balloon don".

    "Mom, it''s not balloon!"

    "Shut up and say amen".

    Sam sighed; he could only put up with it. "Amen". He said.

    "Tomorrow, when we leave, we shall experience journey mercies back to Nigeria".

    "Amen".

    "There shall be no accident".

    "Amen".

    Thinking of something, she added with even more energy. "And none of these evil girls in England will ever catch your eye, God forbid!"

    Sam sighed. "Amen".

    "You shall marry a good wife in due time and have a good family".

    "Amen".

    Satisfied now, Mrs. Moses finally ended her prayer, dragging her son up as she hugged him with joy written all over her face.

    She was not yet done though.

    When Sam thought he was finally free, his mom dragged him out of the hotel room to the corridor where she engaged him in a conversation.

    "Son, tell me the truth, do you have a girlfriend?"

    That came out of nowhere.

    "¡­" Sam was speechless.

    She smiled at him. "Come on, we know these things, I was a young girl too. Don''t tell me none of the girls here in England are throwing themselves at you yet, and you know, it''s normal, you''re a fine boy".

    "Just tell me the truth, I won''t be mad".

    Sam stared at his mom, thoroughly speechless. "Mom, I don''t have a girlfriend".

    She smiled knowingly. "Is she not here in England?"

    "Mom!"

    "Oh! Did you leave her back in Nigeria?"

    "¡­"

    "Is it Amaka?"

    "Oh wait, is it Sarah, that girl from your secondary school?"

    "Mom!"

    "Or is it Amanda, the landlord''s daughter?"

    "Ah!" She gasped, pointing a finger at her son like she finally figured it out. "It''s Blessing! It''s her. That girl from your pharmacy shop then, the one with the very big ass, it''s her right?"

    Now, Sam was just frustrated and embarrassed. "Mom¡­!"

    She chuckled on seeing his reaction, patting him on the back to appease him but then she stared at him suspiciously again. "You really don''t have a girlfriend?"

    "No mom, I don''t, I don''t have any girl in my life apart from you and Sophia".

    She stared at her son, then she smirked. "Oh, is her name Sophia?"

    Sam sighed in frustration. "No! Mom¡­!"

    "Ok, ok, don''t raise your voice, this is England you know," she peeked around. "But you really don''t have a girlfriend?"

    "I don''t mom".

    "That''s good," she patted his back in approval. "You don''t need a girlfriend now, now''s the time to focus on your football and your career".

    "My son, women are dangerous".

    "I''m a woman so take it from me. If you let the wrong woman into your life, she can easily scatter everything you''ve built and ruin your life".

    "Normally, I would say I want to look for a girlfriend for you but no," she shook her head. "Even I don''t trust the girls I know; this is something and a journey you''ll have to embark on by yourself".

    "When you find the right woman, you will know".

    "Don''t rush it, trust me, it''s best for you and your career".

    Sam stared at his mom, then he nodded. "Yes mom, I understand".

    "Good," she nodded, satisfied. She peeked around again before speaking. "I''m telling you all this because Mrs. David, our neighbor told me of what her husband told her about footballers playing in Europe".

    She stared at her son with intensity. "She said when players start getting fame in Europe, all the whores in the world will starting coming after you".

    "They don''t love you son; they just want your money and your fame".

    Her eyes widened as if she remembered something. "She even said they go as far as sending their naked pictures and videos". Her eyes widened in horror. "God forbid, not my son!"

    Sam chuckled on seeing his mom''s reaction. "I know all these things mom, it''s actually normal here in Europe".

    "Let it not be normal for you oh!" She said loudly.

    "I know," he chuckled again. "Don''t worry mom, I promise you, when I finally meet a girl that I love, you''ll be the first person to know".

    "Promise?"

    "Promise". Sam nodded resolutely.

    And with that, Mrs. Moses was finally fully satisfied. They went back into the hotel room as they ate to their fill, continuing the celebration of Sam''s first trophy in England.

    Sam already paid for 2 more rooms for his sister and mom in the hotel. After the celebrations in his room, his dad and mom finally retreated to their room, while his still very much excited sister retreated to her room too.

    That night, lying down alone on his bed, Sam sighed contentedly. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    His life and career were going just the way he wanted it to go.

    ''I hope it doesn''t change''. He thought as he started feeling sleepy.

    He didn''t sleep yet though. With everybody gone and with him alone in his room, he finally paid attention to his system again, specifically notifications that he had ignored since.

    His rewards for completing his season system quest ahead of time.

 Chapter 124 New system card

    ~----~[You have completed Special EFL Cup game system mission: Win the EFL Cup final against Chelsea FC!]

    [You played over 90 minutes of this game and won the man of the match award!]

    [You managed to contribute to your team''s victory with 2 assists!]

    [Calculating reward¡­, please wait¡­]

    [Calculation complete!]

    [You have been rewarded with 150 Skill Points!]

    ¡­

    [You have completed a Season System Quest!]

    [Season Quest: Trophy Quest- Break the mold!]

    >Fulham FC has gone trophy less through multiple seasons for a long time. In your debut season in the premier league, break this mold and help Fulham FC win its first trophy in years<

    [You have completed Mission: Win a trophy!]

    [You have been rewarded with +100 Skill Points!]

    [You have been rewarded with a random reward!]

    [Randomizing reward¡­, please wait¡­]

    [Randomization complete!]

    [You have received a golden card!]

    [Click to open reward card:]

    ¡­

    Seeing the golden card that hovered in the interface of his system, Sam''s eyes lit up in excitement. He was familiar with this sequence.

    He had experienced this same reward format of his system 3 times before.

    The first time, he clicked to open the card only to get an image of Ronaldinho that gave him his only legendary inheritance of the elastico dribble skill.

    Till date, the elastico dribble was still the most dangerous weapon in his arsenal despite being a midfielder and not a winger. It added an unpredictable element to his game that confounded opponents 99% of the time.

    The second time he got a golden card and he clicked it, he ended up with his first ability card, the Shoot it like Lewy card.

    This was the ability card that boosted his performance beyond normal, enabling him to put out his unforgettable hattrick display against Manchester City in the FIFA Club World Cup final.

    As for the third time that he got a golden card and he clicked it, he ended up with something he valued only below his legendary inheritance, he got his second ability card and this time, it didn''t come from a legendary striker or winger but it came from a legendary attacking midfielder.

    To Sam, the Thread it like KDB ability card was the most prized possession in his system inventory.

    With it, he could channel KDB''s otherworldly playmaking ability for a whole 30 minutes in any game he wanted.

    This same card was the reason behind how he was able to turn Fulham FC''s fortune in the EFL Cup final against Chelsea FC, outperforming Cole Palmer with 2 incredible assists and stealing the man of the match award.

    Thinking of the match that was still very fresh and vivid in his head, Sam grinned. ''I wonder what I will get this time''. He thought.

    ''Another ability card?''

    ''Or maybe another legendary inheritance?''

    ''What if it''s a legendary inheritance from Messi? Or even an ability card from Messi?'' He felt his excitement levels rising.

    ''Damn! I''ll take anything from Messi!''

    No longer able to hold his excitement, Sam finally clicked on the golden card. Immediately, it shattered into countless golden specks and from the specks came out his reward, a card.

    Seeing it, Sam''s eyes lit up. ''An ability card!''

    Even before the card could fully materialize, he stared at it keenly, eager to know the famous football player''s face that would be on it.

    ''Messi!'' ''Messi!'' ''Messi!''

    He chanted in his mind but the first thing that he noticed shattered his expectations, it was the jersey that this player wore.

    It was a familiar white jersey with black stripes at the side.

    And then, he noticed the brown hair, the incredibly handsome face like that of a model, and then he noticed that this player was captured on the card mid-motion, about to hit the ball from a set-piece position just outside the 18-yard box.

    Immediately, Sam knew who this player was.

    And finally, the card revealed itself in its full glory.

    It was a picture of David Beckham, the retired English football player in his English jersey about to take a free-kick for England.

    Sam finally paid attention to his system interface again.

    ¡­

    [You have been rewarded with an ability card: Bend it like Beckham!]

    [Available card uses: 3]

    [Card Effects:]

    >This card can only be used during a set-piece. Once used, for 10 minutes, for every freekick that your team gets, you gain the ability and technique of a prime David Beckham, giving you a +80% scoring buff when taking a free-kick<

    ~----~

    Sam stared at this new reward with eyes so wide that they almost popped out of their sockets. "Damn!" He muttered.

    "It''s not an 80% scoring chance like the Shoot it like Lewy card, rather it''s a +80% scoring buff and that''s entirely different".

    Sam''s eyes gleamed with excitement. "This means that even in the worst-case scenario, if my natural free-kick ability is only about 20% or so, with this buff, it makes it 100%".

    Sam''s eyes widened even further. "That''s a guaranteed chance of scoring from a freekick!"

    In that moment, Sam felt like a supernova explosion just took place in his head as the realization of his new card settled in his brain.

    The fact that he could use this card 3 times was the cherry on top.

    From his younger days when he was an avid football enthusiast, Sam was never the best freekick-taking expert in his team so he rarely took freekicks.

    Since his professional career started, he never took one set piece for Enyimba FC either but now this could change.

    His eyes gleamed calculatively. ''I know it''s just an ability card but if somehow, I can use it to practice instead of just in a game as a scoring trump card, can''t I improve my freekick technique with it?'' Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    At this moment, the possibility of what he just thought of left Sam extremely excited. And thinking of improvement, he thought of his general football ability.

    ''I''ve been accumulating skill points for a long time without spending them, I think it''s time I look beyond the attributes and improve my technique and skills''.

    ''Besides, recently, with the game analysis A.I, I know my ability far better than before, including my strengths and weaknesses''.

    And so, for the first time in a long time, Sam focused on his skills market.

    He rubbed his palms together excitedly. ''Let''s spend!''

 Chapter 125 Spending spree

    Sam was exhausted but exhaustion got nothing on him, he was excited to work on his technique and skill through his unique cheat that no other professional football player had in the world, his system.He accessed the skills market.

    ~----~

    [Skills Market]

    [Current available football skills: 5]

    [Available football skills will be updated every 24 hours]

    ¡­

    Sam unlocked the skills market when his system was just level 2, and now, his system was level 4. Just as his other perks leveled up as the system leveled up, the skills market also leveled up with them.

    When he first got the skills market, the current available football skills tab only had 3 football skills at a time but now it already improved twice to 5.

    And when he first got the system perk, available football skills were scheduled to be updated every 48 hours which was 2 days, but now, having reduced to 36 hours before, after the system''s recent awakening, it reduced to 24 hours.

    This meant that Sam could access new system skills every 24 hours.

    Excited, Sam paid attention to the system perk on his interface.

    ¡­

    [Current available football skills: 5]

    >Cruyff Turn<

    (Host status: Already owned!)

    (Host mastery of this skill is at the intermediate level)

    (Spend skill points to improve this skill to the advanced mastery level)

    ¡­

    >Spatial Awareness<

    (Host status: Already owned!)

    (Host mastery of this skill is at the intermediate level)

    (Spend skill points to improve this skill to the advanced mastery level)

    ¡­

    >Sliding Tackle<

    (Host status: Not owned!)

    (Host does not yet have mastery of this skill)

    (Spend skill points to purchase the basic mastery level of this skill)

    ¡­

    >Power Header<

    (Host status: Not owned!)

    (Host does not yet have mastery of this skill)

    (Spend skill points to purchase the basic mastery level of this skill)

    ¡­

    >Freekick<

    (Host status: Not owned!)

    (Host does not yet have mastery of this skill)

    (Spend skill points to purchase the basic mastery level of this skill)

    ¡­

    [NOTE: Already owned skills are outside the skills market already, you can still spend skill points to increase your mastery over them any time you want and have enough skill points to do so!]

    ~----~

    Sam stared at the information on his system interface with wide eyes.

    He was not stunned because of the new skills at all, rather it was because of the note at the end of the skills market tab.

    Sam never knew he could just spend skill points to simply learn higher masteries of his current football skills, this was why he just toiled and worked the normal way to improve his skills.

    ''Damn! I didn''t know this before''.

    ''Why did I never check the skills market after the first time?''

    He felt a bit frustrated with himself. Who knew if games that he had lost with higher mastery over his skills, he may have helped his team win?

    He didn''t dwell on it too much though. ''Better now than never''.

    He was satisfied with the fact that he discovered it in the first place. And this discovery opened up a whole new door for him to spend all the skill points that he had been accumulating since he started his professional football career.

    Before spending though, Sam focused on the 5 current available missions in the skill tab again. Of the 5 skills, he already owned 2 of them, leaving 3.

    As an attacking midfielder, Sam had no use for sliding tackles. Instead of focusing on a skill for defenders, he would rather focus on attacking skills to take his strengths to the next level.

    That was the way to become a better player.

    The only problem was the expense. Despite accumulating skill points for so long, it was just enough to upgrade one of his intermediate level skills to the advanced level, either of Cruyff turn or spatial awareness. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The elastico dribble was a football skill of a higher level which meant it required more skill points to upgrade it to a higher mastery level.

    He didn''t have enough skill points for such spending.

    This was why Sam curbed his expectations, directly taking his gaze away from the skills with intermediate mastery and focusing on the other ones.

    He kept his gaze still on the 3 new skills.

    Having scored his first headed goal in the game against Liverpool FC, the idea of a power header skill in his repertoire now seemed appetizing to Sam.

    And having just gotten a bend it like Beckham ability card, he was even more excited at the sight of the freekick skill.

    He no longer hesitated, purchasing both skills.

    ~----~

    [Skill points have been deducted!]

    [You have purchased the basic mastery of the skill: Power Header!]

    ¡­

    [Skill points have been deducted!]

    [You have purchased the basic mastery of the skill: Freekick!]

    ¡­

    After these 2 purchases, Sam stood up from his bed, picking up a paper and a pen as he wrote all his available skills and their masteries down.

    He did a little math, calculating how much his available skill points could go. And once he knew that, he drew a priority table, listing the skills that he needed more than others in a descending order.

    After that, Sam went on a spending spree, draining all the skill points that he had been saving since he started earning skill points from his system.

    ¡­

    [Skill points have been deducted!]

    [You have purchased the intermediate mastery of the skill: La Croqueta!]

    ¡­

    [Skill points have been deducted!]

    [You have purchased the intermediate mastery of the skill: Body Feint!]

    ¡­

    [Skill points have been deducted!]

    [You have purchased the intermediate mastery of the skill: Power Shot!]

    ¡­

    [Skill points have been deducted!]

    [You have purchased the intermediate mastery of the skill: Power Header!]

    ¡­

    [Skill points have been deducted!]

    [You have purchased the intermediate mastery of the skill: Freekick!]

    ¡­

    After his spending spree, Sam''s system tab that displayed his football skills experienced a qualitative change and not just that, he got a surprise notification alongside it that left him even more giddy.

    ¡­

    [Owned Football Skills:]

    [Basic mastery level: Step overs, roulette, knuckle shot, overhead kick]

    [Intermediate mastery level: Elastico, Cruyff turn, La croqueta, body feint, power shot, power header, freekick]

    ¡­

    [Legendary Inheritance: Elastico]

    ¡­

    [Congratulations! Your potential has increased!]

    [Your talent rating has increased to S tier!]

    ~----~

    That night, Sam slept like a baby.

 Chapter 126 Familys day out

    After the incredible performance of his players, helping him win a trophy in his Fulham career, the ecstatic manager, Marco Silva was generous as he gave his players 2 days off to celebrate the victory.They deserved the rest.

    Besides, Fulham''s next game was in March 2nd against Brighton in the league at home, so even after the 2 days of rest, they still had 2 days to train and get up to speed for the game.

    2 days to train and prepare for a league game was cutting it close but Coach Marco Silva was ready to play the gamble.

    Besides, he felt that the vibe in his team was greater than ever before. With some effort, his team should be able to push over the line.

    The next morning, waking up and getting the news from his coach, Sam was even more excited as the first thing he did was cancel his family''s trip back to Nigeria. This was an opportunity to spend more time with his family in London and Sam was not about to waste it.

    After canceling the trip, Sam met up with his sister, handling over his bank account to her and leaving the planning for her.

    He told her only a single sentence. "Family''s day out".

    Hearing that, Sophia''s eyes lit up excitedly as she started planning with gusto.

    While she planned, getting ready in his work-out clothes, Sam jogged out of the hotel building as he embarked on his daily system quest.

    This time, as he jogged through the streets of Fulham, Sam finally noticed a difference compared to previous times.

    "That''s Sam, right?"

    "It''s him!"

    "The one who helped Fulham win against Chelsea?"

    "Yes!"

    Sam was stunned. ''Damn! That was fast''.

    In the end, he was swarmed by excited Fulham fans and left with no choice, he signed autographs for the fans while also taking pictures with them.

    When he eventually extradited himself from them, he was finally able to complete his daily system quest. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ~----~

    [You have completed System Daily Quest: Mentality Monster!]

    [You have been rewarded with a low-grade physical conditioning elixir!]

    ~----~

    Starring at the notification, Sam grinned, thinking. ''I wonder when I can finally meet the next milestone of the daily system quest''.

    He still remembered the event of his last milestone vividly.

    Heck, he doubted he could ever forget it.

    After marking the system milestone of completing daily system quests across a period of one year, his system rewarded him lucratively with a high-grade physical conditioning elixir and a high-grade vitality elixir.

    Thinking of how the high-grade vitality elixir increased his pace, an attribute he never thought it was possible to be improved and the miraculous effects of the high-grade physical conditioning elixir which he was yet to use, he felt himself burning up with desire.

    ''I can''t wait to meet the next milestone!''

    The more time Sam spent with his system, the more he truly acknowledged how lucky he was. There was one thing to become good in football, mastering your strengths, and there was another thing to improve your weaknesses.

    In football and life in general, pace is a genetic factor.

    Elite football players like Kevin De Bruyne who were slow players would kill to get their hands on something that would improve their pace. And here Sam was, getting it on a platter of gold.

    In hindsight, not exactly a platter of gold because he worked hard for it.

    Despite the fact that Sam was not a big social media person, he still paid attention to the current news. He stumbled upon the show where an ex-Fulham player talked about him, emphasizing his mentality.

    Thinking of it, Sam chuckled. ''When you have something like my system pushing you every day, setting fire on your ass in the form of mission penalties, man, you have no choice but to up your game!''

    Sam already had a competitive mentality from when he was young, but with the system''s approach, his mentality turned from just competitive to monstrous.

    Afterall, he didn''t want to lose his system.

    To keep it, he would work hard, run himself to the ground and perform at a monstrous level in games no matter how many times it was required.

    ¡­

    When Sam returned to the hotel, his family was already ready.

    Sam''s mom and her husband were also excited to go on a family''s day out around London. To the Nigerian mom, it was a dream come true.

    Sam quickly went in, took his bath and got dressed in some trending clothes before going out with his family.

    Well, having given the planning task to Sophia already, as the day progressed, Sam gave her a thumbs up in his mind as he was satisfied with almost everything.

    The first place they went to was a famous African food restaurant right there in London. Sam wondered how his sister managed to find this place so fast when he was still looking for a reliable African food plug since.

    After eating their fill, they went to the Science Museum in London, one of the top attractions of this city in England.

    At the Science Museum, this family of 4 were amazed as they were exposed to marvels of science, some of which they never even conceived as real before now.

    After leaving the Science Museum, they visited Stamford Bridge. And this time, Sam had to go on a disguise with his family just to have a tour of this stadium.

    His disguise was not enough though, someone recognized his father and that was how Sam was swarmed again, forced to engage in fan service again.

    "Don''t you think it''s time you get a bodyguard?"

    Sam chuckled. "I don''t think so, they''re being so clingy and fanatical because the memory of the EFL Cup win is still so fresh".

    "Just give them time, it''s normal, they''ll focus on other players soon enough".

    Mr. Moses shrugged. "If you say so".

    After enjoying an unforgettable tour of this iconic stadium in London, Sophia finally pulled the penultimate of her plan, taking her family on a tour to the Buckingham Palace.

    "¡­!" Even Sam did not see this coming.

    He was stunned but then thinking of something, he stared at his sister sharply. "How much did you pay to buy this opportunity?"

    Sophia avoided her brother''s gaze. "Let''s enjoy the tour!" She ran ahead.

    When Sam later checked his bank account, he felt like strangling his sister but the deed was already done.

    By evening, his family already had a great time in London.

    They went back to the African restaurant for dinner which his mom already approved as where he should be eating.

    After eating, they finally went back to the hotel.

    It was a great day out.

    ¡­

    The next day, Sam finally led his family to the airport.

    After almost 2 months of staying with him in London, Mr. Moses was finally about to go back to Nigeria with the rest of his family.

    Trust Sam''s mom, she prayed on him again at the airport before they left.

    As for Sam''s decision on where to stay after his dad left, after extensive discussions with his family, he decided to forfeit the chance to live with Alex Iwobi.

    He would stay in the hotel until he got his own house here in London.

 Chapter 127 Rest, reset, refocus

    After sending his family off at the airport, the next thing Sam did was focus on completing his daily system quest.Once he was done, he went back to his hotel room where he spent less than 30 minutes before taking his car to Craven Cottage.

    After over 2 months of staying in England, Sam finally got his first car.

    It was a gray Lexus IS 350.

    As for his reason for going to Craven Cottage that early? The answer was personal training, Sam went to the stadium to train.

    Yes, Coach Marco Silva gave his players 2 days of rest but that did not mean that Sam was must do exactly as his coach said.

    Yesterday was more than enough for him to rest. And after having such an enjoyable time with his family, he felt refreshed already.

    He already rested to reset, shedding all the mental exhaustion of the past 2 months of grueling English football. And now, Sam was ready to refocus again.

    Afterall, winning the EFL Cup was not the end of the world.

    The premier league season was yet to come to an end.

    Besides, after going through such a significant upgrade in terms of his football skills which resulted in his talent rating increasing to S tier, Sam was determined to live up to the expectations on his shoulders.

    He wanted to use today to acclimatize with his new abilities and masteries, getting a full grasp over them before training resumed tomorrow.

    And arriving at Craven Cottage, that was exactly what Sam did.

    He trained from morning till afternoon and when the sun became scorching, he went home before returning around 5 in the evening. He trained for another hour and 30 minutes before finally retreating home for good.

    With that training, Sam shrugged off any effects of the grueling final between Chelsea that still remained. He was back in tip-top shape.

    That evening, Marco Silva who was already informed by the stadium staff about his star player who came for training today finally sent the next fixture details to his players.

    Their next opponent was Brighton in the premier league.

    (Premier League:)

    (Fulham ¨C Brighton)

    (Date: 2nd March, 2024)

    Due to the clashing schedule of the EFL Cup final, Fulham''s league game against Manchester United was postponed and a new date was yet to be decided.

    This was why they focused on the Brighton game next.

    ¡­

    The next day, Sam returned to his normal schedule.

    Waking up early, completing his daily system quest, getting to the stadium for training faster than every other player, Sam was back.

    When coach Marco Silva came for training, he patted his young prodigy by the head, holding back the words he intended to say.

    And when training commenced, it was clear that something changed.

    To many of the Fulham players, the EFL Cup was their first ever won trophy and after winning it, it did something magical to their confidence.

    All the Fulham players trained at a level higher than what they did before. It was clear that the mood in the Fulham camp was a positive one. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The next day, it was the same thing as all the players trained at a level higher than what they normally did and when they eventually welcomed Brighton to Craven Cottage on 2nd May, they taught Brighton football.

    Very few people saw it coming despite Fulham''s current form.

    Muniz led the line from the front as the striker.

    And having forced his way into Fulham''s starting XI in the important game against Chelsea, Alex Iwobi retained his spot behind Muniz in the left wing.

    The 4-man attack was completed by Sam''s intimidating presence in attacking midfield and Harry Wilson on the right wing.

    Reed and Lukic sat on top the defense as the double pivot for this game, while the 4-man defense comprised of Adarabioyo and Calvin Bassey in central defense. Robinson started as the left back, while Castagne started on the opposite side.

    Unlike Fulham''s 4-2-3-1 formation, Brighton started with a 3-4-2-1 formation and it was with this formation that Fulham thrashed their fellow English club.

    Despite the likes of Evans Ferguson, Enciso, and Estupinian all starting with Lewis Dunk in central defense, none of them could stop what Fulham had for them.

    It started early, as early as the 21st minute.

    Muniz created the first goal, setting up his right winger, Wilson after some incredible hold up play as Wilson netted the first Fulham goal.

    11 minutes later, Wilson turned provider as he set Muniz up after a mazy run down the right side of the pitch.

    It was set up for Muniz perfectly, leaving the Fulham striker to tap into an empty net and with that, all Brighton momentum was killed.

    For the rest of the first half, Fulham FC dominated.

    When second half started though, Brighton improved their gameplay, rushing at Fulham with revenge in mind but the Fulham players stayed compact.

    Lukic and Reed both had a decent game as defensive midfielders as they helped the defenders hold the fort, and when Lukic was eventually replaced by Palhinha, this game was killed for good.

    The imposing defensive midfielder asserted his authority over the game immediately after he entered, snuffing off all Brighton attacks.

    And of course, another stand-out was Sam.

    He may not have played a big role in both goals in the first half, but Sam was having an amazing game still as he pinged the ball around in midfield, having an impressive 98% pass accuracy.

    Fulham dominated the midfield battle with his help.

    Despite the dominance, Brighton refused to give up until after 90 minutes the nail was added to the coffin, sealing their fates.

    This time, it was Sam.

    Having played a tidy game as more of a central midfielder this game, Sam finally did what he did best, floating a dangerous cross into the Brighton box from the right, igniting a chaotic scramble in the box.

    Despite the chaos, a Fulham player dominated as Alex Iwobi rose above his marker, planting a firm header towards goal in the 90th plus 1 minute.

    Alex Iwobi scored the goal that destroyed all Brighton spirits in the stadium.

    The game ended 3-0 in Fulham''s favor.

    Muniz won the man of the match award for his incredible performance despite being subbed out of the game at some point in the second half.

    It was a triumphant Fulham return to league play after their EFL Cup heroics.

 Chapter 128 Hectic schedule [1]

    (Premier league:)(Wolves ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 9th March, 2024)

    After winning the EFL Cup and dropping out of the FA Cup already, the only competition remaining for Fulham FC to play in was the premier league.

    Fulham''s next game was against Wolves away from home in the league.

    After thrashing Brighton in the last game, even as the media once again started raving about the shocking surge of the Fulham team, Sam set another personal goal for himself outside of his system.

    In the premier league, Fulham was renowned as one of the mid-table teams but Sam was determined to make this identity become a thing of the past.

    After the upsurge of performances in recent months, Fulham already rose from 13th position where they were previously in the league by 2 places to 11th place but Sam wanted more.

    This was because of his aspirations for next season.

    By the end of the season, Sam would not have played a full season for Fulham FC yet since he came mid-way through the season. This was why he started making preparations for next season.

    His dad''s predictions were that due to the release clause that was slapped on him by Fulham FC, no big club would come for him yet till he proved himself properly through a full season in the premier league.

    This was why Sam started planning for his 2nd season in Fulham already.

    He already told his dad, the only club''s offer that could move him at this point of his career was from FC Barcelona. He was ready to reject any other contract offer no matter how lucrative it was.

    His goal was just as impossible as the initial trophy-winning goal from the system since Fulham was not an English club that won trophies.

    But Sam''s mentality was straightforward to a fault. ''If we could do it and win a trophy, why can''t we do it again in the remaining games of the season?''

    His goal was an extremely ambitious one.

    In the premier league, the top four teams qualify for the champions league, and the fifth-place team qualifies for the Europa league every season.

    However, the FA Cup winner also gets a Europa league spot, and if the FA Cup winner finishes in the top five, that spot goes to the next-best Premier league finisher on the table.

    If Manchester City wins the FA Cup this season, the sixth-place team in the premier league gets a spot in the Europa league, and the seventh-place team goes to the Conference League play-offs.

    But if Manchester United wins the FA Cup this season having made a pretty deep run already, the sixth-place team goes to the Conference League, while the seventh-place team misses out on Europe.

    This was Sam''s goal, European football.

    It doesn''t necessarily have to be in the highest tier of European football, the UEFA Champions League. Even if it was the Conference league, Sam was contented with that with Fulham FC, he just wanted to play and create history with Fulham.

    To make his crazy goal a reality though, Fulham FC would truly have to step up, entering God-mode for the final stretch of the 2023/2024 premier league campaign.

    Not only would they have to win all of their remaining games, but they would also have to pray for their rivals in the league to stumble and not just stumble, to stumble hard. That was the only way for Fulham FC.

    Sam didn''t give a damn about the difficulty though, as soon as he set his mind towards it, he worked towards it with his monstrous mentality.

    For the next few days, Sam focused purely on football.

    Every training session, he remained the first player to report to training even as he kept on dazzling with his performances every training session.

    Time moved swiftly and in no time, it was 9th May already.

    Fulham FC traveled to Wolves; it was not going to be an easy game.

    Ready for the challenge though, a Fulham team who was in form started the game with intensity as they managed to shrug off the loud noise being made by the Wolves fans, playing their football away from home.

    Fulham playing their game did not mean that Wolves faltered though. Rather, buoyed by the loud noise being made by their supporters, Wolves played beautiful intense football.

    Both teams started with their strongest lineups.

    With the likes of Pedro Neto, Pablo Sarabia and Gomes all starting in this game, Wolves played incredible football, trying their best to dominate the in-form Fulham team who just refused to give in.

    And with the likes of Sam, Alex Iwobi, Wilson, and Muniz all starting from the beginning with Calvin Bassey and Adarabioyou holding the tuff behind, Fulham FC started and played strongly throughout the first half.

    The first half was a cagey affair as both teams went against each other pound for pound, going for blood.

    Both teams threatened, their star players creating moments of magic but none of it resulted in something tangible yet, a goal.

    The first half ended goalless.

    When second half started though, both teams played with even greater intensity and Wolves were finally rewarded for their efforts.

    7 minutes after the restart, Wolves scored first through their marauding left back as after some impressive link-up play, Ait-Nouri the left back rifled the all into the net past a sprawling Bernd Leno.

    Fulham responded to that goal by upping their intensity, Sam once again impressing with his stamina as he chased the ball everywhere.

    But then, against the run of play, Wolves got a second goal in the 67th minute.

    Cairney, the player that was substituted in got the goal as he finished off another impressive team move to double his team''s lead.

    67 minutes in, Wolves led 2-0 and the Fulham fans deflated.

    Even the Fulham players lost their conviction but just 3 minutes later, all of their eyes were burning with intensity again as they chased the equalizing goal.

    In the 70th minute, having taken matters into his own hands, Sam took the ball from midfield and went on an incredible solo run, slicing through multiple Wolves players including the goalkeeper as he rounded the poor guy before scoring into an empty net.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!" The deflated Fulham fans roared back to life.

    That goal turned the tides, giving Fulham the momentum.

    For the rest of the second half, Wolves defended, curbing attack after attack from the suddenly rampant Fulham team.

    They almost got away with it when at the last minute, after 90 and 8 additional minutes, Fulham got the equalizer to bury all the Wolves enthusiasm.

    Again, it was Alex Iwobi and it was Sam who delivered the assist, playing a penetrative defense-splitting pass for the Nigerian International to run into one-on-one with the Wolves goalkeeper and he did not miss his mark, scoring. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Immediately after the goal and the wild celebrations that followed, the referee finally blew the whistle, bringing the game to an end.

    Despite playing in such tough away ground in such a tough fixture, Sam managed to produce the goods again, chipping in with a goal and an assist to help his team escape with a point.

    He won the man of the match award for this game.

 Chapter 129 Hectic schedule [2]

    With his man of the match trophy, Sam walked to the dressing room alongside his teammates after the game came to an end.All his teammates were in a good mood, celebrating their performance. Only Sam had a gloomy look on his face as he reflected on the game.

    ''2 points missed''. He thought.

    He was not satisfied with a draw; a draw only made his chances of dragging Fulham from mid-table to the upper half of the league table even more impossible.

    Sam felt a bit of regrets and what-ifs about the Wolves game, but in the end, he just accepted reality and was grateful. ''At least we didn''t lose''.

    In the dressing room, Marco Silva was in a good mood as he gave a long speech, congratulating his players for the display, calling out a few names and expectedly, Sam was at the center once again.

    "Sam, next season, we''re pushing for the balon d''or".

    The other Fulham players laughed, including Sam.

    As soon as Coach Marco Silva was done with his speech though, as soon as he gave his players the signal to leave, he also gave Sam a signal to meet up with him before going to the team bus.

    Sam obliged, meeting up with his coach.

    Marco Silva hugged him, ruffling his hair playfully like Sam was his son before whispering a few words to him. "You did good today Sam, with your help, we were able to snatch another point from sure defeat again".

    "My inner man wants to give you only compliments but you see Sam, I sense a lot of potential in you and I will feel guilty if I don''t help in my own way to make sure you fulfill it".

    He stared at Sam. "I''ve noticed an aspect of your game that I think I should critic".

    Hearing that, Sam paused, looking at his coach.

    "Don''t worry, keep going, I''ll tell you as we go to the team bus. It''s nothing too serious".

    "Ok". Sam nodded and moved.

    "By now, maybe you''re not yet the out and out best player of my team but it''s clear that you''re the one that brings the X Factor".

    "With your presence, we always seem capable of grinding out a result and I''m grateful for that, I appreciate it but you have a weakness".

    "You know what that weakness is?"

    Sam shook his head.

    "You trust your teammates too little".

    Sam paused again, looking at his coach.

    Marco Silva smiled. "Let''s continue walking"

    They walked and he continued. "It''s clear that you have a lot of confidence in your ability and it''s not misguided. You''re focused, you''re determined, and you work hard. Damn, perhaps the best hard-working 18-year-old I know".

    Sam chuckled at the compliment.

    "But the thing is, sometimes, on the pitch, you tend to do too much. I know your stamina is one of your strongest points, but you abuse it".

    "Don''t get me wrong, you pressing is a good thing but sometimes you''re so adamant in chasing after the ball that you drift out of position and guess what happens to the team? The team formation gets pried open".

    "That first Wolves goal, this was what caused it".

    "I love your energy and enthusiasm on the pitch but Sam, you have to learn to trust your teammates more. There are formations for a reason".

    "You know what I want you to do next game?"

    Sam hesitated slightly and then he shook his head.

    "Next game, instead of using your relentless energy to run all over the pitch after the ball, drifting out of position, I want you to use that energy to lock your area of the pitch instead".

    "Focus all your energy there and make it an impenetrable wall, and trust your teammates to do the same in their side of the formation".

    "You know, once your teammates notice that you trust them more, your performance elevates them. Even if not to your level, but to a level close to yours".

    "In the long run, this will build chemistry and benefit the team more than if you try to do everything by yourself".

    "And trust me, this is one of the main qualities that separates a maestro of football from a novice".

    Sam listened, a serious look on his face and then he looked up at his coach, smiling. "I will heed your advice coach, thank you for telling me".

    ''He thanked me?'' Marco Silva was stunned.

    Over the months as he coached this player, Marco Silva tried to get to him, to know him more and to understand his personality.

    And especially after Sam confronted him, he saw Sam as a prodigy who knew his worth which was a good thing but was maybe too prideful.

    But after this, this coach''s opinion of his player changed. ''Not only is he a hard worker and has monstrous mentality, he has the talent too, and most importantly of all, he listens''.

    Staring at Sam at this moment, this coach felt seeds of excitement blooming in his heart. ''I can''t wait for him to realize his full potential''.

    ''Football is about to welcome a true monster!''

    ¡­

    (Premier league:)

    (Fulham ¨C Tottenham)

    (Date: 16th March, 2024)

    The fixtures came thick and fast.

    After playing against Wolves away from home 6 days ago, Fulham was to take on Tottenham in their next league game, an even more fearsome opposition. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Their advantage was that they were going to play the game at home.

    For Sam, it meant that no rest as he continued reporting to training extremely early every day, working on his skills, improving daily and making sure he stayed fit for the game as he impressed in every training session.

    And eventually, the D-day came, 16th March.

    Both teams started with their strongest lineup.

    Muniz started up front for Fulham. Behind him was a changed trio of Alex Iwobi, Sam, and Willian. Further behind them was Palhinha and Lukic.

    The 4-man defense comprised of Castagne, Adarabioyo, Bassey, Robinson, and Bernd Leno who started in between the posts.

    They were to play against a scary Tottenham team featuring the likes of Heung Min Son, James Maddison, Kulusevski, and Christian Romero.

    This was a changed Fulham team though.

    They were scared of no one.

 Chapter 130 Hectic schedule [3]

    FWEEEE!From the very first minute of this game, Tottenham set a marker with their outstanding Korean forward as the star. Heung Min Son started the first half brightly, torching the Fulham defense with some impressive runs and plays.

    And just behind him, the English midfielder, James Maddison also imposed his authority as he orchestrated play for Tottenham.

    With these 2 players as the core of the team, Tottenham started brightly, playing high-offensive football under their coach, Ange Postecoglou.

    Originally, in moments like this in games of this caliber, Sam would have started running everywhere across the forward line already, desperate to assert his authority over the game and make his team dominant.

    But today though, Sam did not run everywhere.

    Rather, he focused on making the space around the attacking midfield area where he was positioned impenetrable to the Tottenham buildup.

    Focusing on only this, Sam noticed one thing. ''It''s so much easier''.

    And it bore fruit.

    No meaningful Tottenham attack went through the middle as shutting down his area of the pitch with his relentless press, Sam played as a defensive midfielder in an attacking midfield position, winning tackles and intercepting passes.

    For the first few minutes of this first half, it was not vintage Fulham yet but this team became more solid than ever before.

    With Sam being such an example in the middle of the pitch, the other Fulham players were challenged as motivated, they all elevated their game.

    All over the pitch, the Fulham players who were sleeping previously were aroused and once all of them became awake, the game became locked.

    It became a cagey affair as both teams could not create any meaningful attack. And as the game finally settled, becoming tight and cagey like this, Sam finally thrived in the deadlock.

    With his teammates now performing their jobs close to perfection, Sam got more touches of the ball and more time with it too.

    And one rule that premier league clubs were learning recently was that, never allow Sam too much time on the ball.

    Sam went berserk!

    For the first 30 minutes of this first half, he stayed doing his job to perfection and now once his teammates upped their game, Sam took it a step higher.

    Pass after pass, dribble after dribble, he made fans of the black, white, and red persuasion jump up on their feet regularly as gasps constantly erupted around this stadium.

    Due to his performance, even the commentator seemed to become a poet as he described his gameplay with different superlatives.

    As Sam played, doing one thing after the other, he realized something.

    His eyes widened. ''I''m enjoying myself!''

    With his teammates now performing their jobs, he got to do even more, thoroughly enjoying himself as he tortured the Tottenham defense.

    He was playing the neatest and most aesthetically beautiful game of his life.

    The only reason why he didn''t create a goal yet was because of Dragusin and Christian Romero''s valiant defensive performance at the heart of the Tottenham defense, but even this did not last forever. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In the 42nd minute, the deadlock was finally broken as after receiving the ball close to the Tottenham 18-yard box, Sam held the ball, shrugging off a few challenges before threading a needle pass through the Tottenham defense immediately after Muniz started his run.

    The Tottenham defense was rooted to the spot, only reacting after the striker already beat the offside trap and went behind them.

    One-on-one with the Tottenham goalkeeper, Vicario, Muniz did not miss his mark, calmly rolling the ball into the bottom left corner.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" Craven Cottage exploded.

    "What a goal! What a pass!"

    "As accurate and perfectly timed as a shot from a medieval archer''s bow! Maybe even Leonidas'' bow himself!"

    "What a performance!"

    "Neat and tidy as you would like".

    "Sam has truly taken the premier league like a storm, what a player!"

    Both teams went to half-time with Fulham leading 1-0.

    During half-time, Marco Silva did not hold back this time, heaping praise on his star midfielder''s performance and that was the last cherry to unlock Sam.

    You thought his performance in the first half was already great?

    Watch out for the second half.

    In the second half, Sam still somehow managed to level up his game even more, playing like a seasoned maestro on the pitch as he tortured Tottenham.

    If you didn''t know him before now, you would never believe that this was just an 18-year-old boy playing against men, husbands, fathers, and veterans.

    Just 4 minutes after the restart, Sam sent a looped ball over the Tottenham defense for Alex Iwobi to run into, cutting this defense open again.

    The Nigerian International took the ball in his strides, charging towards goal as he held on to possession having been stopped by the Tottenham right back.

    As Alex Iwobi bid his time, waiting, Lukic finally arrived at the Tottenham 18-yard box with his late run and immediately, Alex threaded the ball to him.

    The defensive midfielder did not hesitate, hitting the ball first time as it floated past Vicario''s outstretched arms into the top left corner of the post.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" The Fulham fans got more reason to celebrate.

    Sam didn''t get another assist, but it was a beautiful pre-assist.

    Just 12 minutes after that 2nd goal though, Fulham rounded an incredible performance off with a 3rd goal at the 61st minute of this game.

    And again, it was Sam.

    Receiving the ball in the Tottenham 18-yard box, as the aggressive Argentine defender, Romero charged towards him, Sam flicked the ball first-time with the heel of his left boot towards empty space behind the Tottenham defense.

    Empty space that Muniz charged into and nailed the Tottenham defeat, tapping into the net to score Fulham''s 3rd goal of the game.

    In the 70th minute, Sam was subbed out of the game but he already did more than enough as he received a standing ovation from the Fulham fans.

    A frustrated Tottenham team could not mount a comeback in his absence.

    The game ended 3-0 in Fulham''s favor and Sam won the man of the match award after his impressive display capped off by his 2 assists.

    Fulham took all 3 points from Tottenham.

 Chapter 131 Hectic schedule [4]

    After the Tottenham game, once again, Fulham FC was on the spotlight due to the impressive overall Fulham display but more importantly, because of Sam''s incredible display, overshadowing the likes of Heung Min Son and Maddison.And most of the attention was focused on his heel flick assist.

    Once again, Sam was trending on multiple social media platforms as YouTube editors edited the life out of his heel flick assist.

    At some point, when the noise grew too loud for him to ignore, Sam went to YouTube to watch it himself and he had to admit, he would become a fan too if he saw something like that.

    This YouTube guy was so good he made the perfect video edit.

    From the background music, to the light effects, to the vibration, everything was perfect, making it a short video that stayed stuck in your brain after watching it.

    Sam left a like for the YouTube guy, once again creating another storm.

    He didn''t care about this new storm though. After leaving a like and saving the video on his iPhone, he left online and focused on recovering from the game.

    Winning against Tottenham was not the end of the world. Sam was still a long way from achieving his goal, Fulham needed to do more, much more.

    Fulham''s next game was another league away game, and it was against Sheffield United.

    (Premier league:)

    (Sheffield United ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 30th March 2024)

    This game was scheduled to take place 14 days after their last league game, which was literally like a holiday to the players.

    This was why the English FA finally rescheduled the Manchester United match, rescheduling it in-between this time in a day Manchester United was free.

    And just like that, the Fulham players got another hard game to play.

    They were not deterred though. Since Sam became a starting XI Fulham player, part of his mentality was already rubbing off on his teammates.

    These players no longer feared anyone or opponent.

    A few more days of intense training and preparation later, Sam finally made his first trip to the most iconic stadium in England, Old Trafford.

    Old Trafford was exceedingly loud as the fans in red sang and cheered their team on, making the noise rise above the roof in extremely loud decibels.

    Like usual, both teams started with their strongest line-up.

    With Muniz upfront, Alex Iwobi, Sam, and Wilson behind him, Fulham started with their best attack. Lukic and Reed were the defensive midfielders today.

    The 4-man defense comprised Robinson in left back, Bassey and Adarabioyo in central defense, while Castagne as the right back. And of course, Bernd Leno started in between the posts.

    Compared to them, Manchester United had a much scarier starting XI.

    Just like Fulham, Manchester United lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

    Marcus Rashford started up front as the striker, and behind him were the trio of Alejandro Garnacho on the left, Bruno Fernandes, the Portuguese enforcer in the middle, and Forson on the right.

    Behind them were the duo of Casemiro and the young prodigy, Kobbie Mainoo. Behind them making up the 4-man defense were Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire, and Victor Lindelof.

    Andre Onana started in between the posts for Man U.

    FWEEEE!

    From the first minute, it was clear that this was going to be an intense encounter.

    Both teams were experiencing contrasting forms in the league.

    Manchester United were going through a rough patch in the league, barely winning games but write them off at your own peril. Their history alone made them a fearsome opposition to every opponent in the league.

    It seemed so too today at first as in the first half, Manchester United dominated this game in Old Trafford with a string of impressive plays.

    Everything offensive in this Manchester United side went through Bruno Fernandes, and the player on the left was the rod of destruction with which Fernandes controlled this game.

    Alejandro Garnacho had a crazy first half as he constantly beat his man, turning Castagne inside out. He hit the post, setting up Rashford 3 times in the first half alone only for the English star to fluff his lines.

    Manchester United heavily dominated the first half yet they had nothing to show for it, the first half came to an end 0-0.

    During second half though was when the atmosphere in Old Trafford truly changed. Not for good though, but in woe. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In second half, led by their young Nigerian prodigy in attacking midfield, Fulham FC came back roaring like a Dragon that finally awoke from its slumber.

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    And again, Sam was at the center of everything good for his team.

    The Manchester United team completely lost cohesion under this pressure, their captain, Fernandes visibly showing his frustration on the pitch as he shouted at his teammates and that discord finally proved costly.

    After a simple corner routine, Wilson floated the ball in as Calvin Bassey, the Nigerian international rose above every other player, planting a firm header into the Manchester United net.

    "¡­!" Old Trafford was silenced.

    65 minutes, 0-1 to Fulham.

    That goal definitely seemed to bring the frustrated Manchester United players back to reality. But they didn''t try to play like a team at all, rather going alone and trying to do everything themselves individually.

    Rashford barely passed the ball when he got it, Garnacho seemingly being content with turning Castagne inside out with no end result, while Fernandes took outside the box shots at every opportunity he got.

    It was clear that it was desperation driving them on now, but sometimes, even desperation yield results.

    In the 89th minute of this game, when their fans already started leaving the stadium, Manchester United finally equalized this game also from a corner.

    Harry Maguire, the English international defender was the one who leaped highest this time, planting a powerful header towards the top right corner.

    And with it, Man United came back into this game, but the status quo lasted only 7 minutes.

    Another moment of magic, another Sam assist, and another Alex Iwobi late goal doomed Manchester United fans all over the world to a painful defeat.

    In the 90th plus 7 minute, Alex Iwobi scored the final goal of this game as he picked up crumbs from another defense splitting Sam pass.

    Fulham FC managed to steal all 3 points from Man United in Old Trafford.

 Chapter 132 A thriller [1]

    (Premier league:)(Sheffield United ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 30th March 2024)

    One game played, another game incoming.

    This was the sentiment of the Fulham players as the league season heated up towards its final stages.

    Despite the fact that this season, Manchester United was infamously in an inconsistent period and form, the win against the top English club was undoubtedly still a confidence booster to the Fulham players.

    If they could beat Manchester United, they could beat anybody!

    With this mentality, the Fulham players quickly forgot about the past games, focusing on their next fixture in the league against Sheffield United.

    Again, it was an away game in a tough stadium.

    In the build-up to the game, Sam stayed diligent, constantly being the first player to report to training and putting more than 100% in every training session.

    After all the preparations, the days moved fast and finally, it was D-day.

    Sam made his first trip to Bramall Lane, Sheffield United''s home stadium. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This stadium had a historic significance. Bramall Lane is the oldest major league ground in the world, having hosted its first game in 1862, in a match between Hallam and Sheffield Club.

    Sam did not enter this stadium to pay attention to some piece of history though, like he trained for, he approached this game to win.

    Having stringed together a winning run already after downing the likes of Tottenham and Manchester United in the league, Sam was determined to continue the winning run against Sheffield United.

    And like usual, both teams approached this game with their strongest lineup.

    Muniz started again as the striker ahead of Raul Jimenez, and behind him, there was Iwobi who started as the right winger today, Willian on the left, and Sam directly behind Muniz.

    These days, Pereira was a stranger to the Fulham starting XI as the young Nigerian already monopolized his spot in the lineup through sheer brilliance.

    Behind the 4-man attack were the 2 defensive midfielders, Lukic and Palhinha playing as the pivots and behind them, the 4-man defense comprised of Robinshon, Calvin Bassey, Adarabioyo, and Castagne.

    And of course, Bernd Leno started in between the posts.

    Unlike most games in the premier league where Fulham FC approached as the underdog on paper, this time, on paper, they were the superior side.

    And as soon as the referee''s whistle sounded to kickstart this game, that superiority showed as Fulham started on the front foot, dominating possession.

    Sam had been putting more than 100% so much in games, pursuing the ball so much that he almost forgot what it meant for his team to hold majority of the possession already. This game reminded Sam of that joy, that feeling of dominance.

    Despite the fact that they were playing in a hostile stadium, the changed mentality of the Fulham players reared its head as they managed to shut out all the noise, playing their football.

    Sam, Muniz, Willian, and Palhinha were all playing at an elite level this game as they took the game by the helm, dictating it.

    Leading from his area in the attacking midfield position, Sam orchestrated the offense with his passing range and his incredible vision for his age.

    He kept on prying the Sheffield United defense open like it was not there.

    This was one of those games where Sam thoroughly enjoyed himself. But despite Fulham''s clear dominance on the pitch, it didn''t show on the score line.

    Sheffield United''s 3-5-2 formation enabled them to bombard the midfield with players, and this moment, all these midfield players played defensively, neutralizing any attack before it could threaten their defense.

    With the Fulham players playing at such an elite level though, they were cut open occasionally by defense splitting passes.

    And this was when their 3-man defense reared its head.

    Muniz was having an amazing game, having multiple chances to score already but the Sheffield United''s defense made it hard for him. Not just them, Grbic, the Sheffield United goalkeeper was on top of his game.

    He kept on trying to no avail.

    After 40 minutes, Sam took matters into his own hands and tried an incredible effort from outside the box but somehow, Grbic still managed to tip the ball away from his net for a corner.

    And when the corner was played, the in-form goalkeeper snatched the ball from the air before it could pose any significant threat to his team.

    Despite all of Fulham''s dominance in the first half, it ended goalless.

    In the dressing room, Marco Silva took it easy, praising his players for their dominant performance but sternly, this coach demanded more.

    "You can do more, so go out there and do more!"

    "We need goals!"

    Motivated, the Fulham players charged back into the pitch but as soon as they entered the pitch again was when they noticed something different about the Sheffield United players.

    Clearly, Marco Silva was not the only one who did some Jose Mourinhoish stuff, the Sheffield United coach did the same thing.

    The Sheffield United players approached this second half with a do or die mentality, they were determined to win by all means.

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded to restart play, the game started and immediately, it was clear that the intensity of the players in red and black changed.

    Led by Brereton, one of the 2 Sheffield United strikers, this team fed on the energy of their fans all over this stadium that now rose to a crescendo as they played like a pride of injured Lions pouncing on their prey.

    The Fulham players did not buckle though, matching their energy but 13 minutes after the restart, the deadlock was broken.

    In the 58th minute of this game, Sheffield United broke the deadlock.

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    The Sheffield left winger received the ball in the left wing before driving forward resolutely with it, skipping past the first challenge then the second and just as he approached the goal, forcing Leno to rush out to meet him, he kicked the ball with the outside of his boot, passing it across goal.

    Calvin Bassey, the Nigerian international reacted immediately but someone else reacted faster with poacher instincts, Brereton.

    The Sheffield striker pounced before the Nigerian international could clear the ball, tapping the ball into an empty net.

    "GOALLLL¡­!!!" Bramall Lane exploded!

    The Sheffield United fans erupted in ecstasy.

    And that became the start of an unforgettable classic.

 Chapter 133 A thriller [2]

    Brereton''s goal opened up the game.With that goal, the goalless game got its first goal and it was not from the team that everyone expected. Rather, it was from the home team.

    And that, dear friends, became the catalyst for an all-time classic.

    FWEEEE!

    That goal served as a wake-up call for the Fulham players. At some point, dominating their opponents already made them complacent and they began looking down on the Sheffield United players, till this shocker woke them up.

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded again, it was like electricity to the Fulham players and now, it coursed through body, supercharging their body with adrenaline.

    Sam especially entered the zone state immediately. ''Damn! I can''t believe I actually became complacent!''

    ''This is professional football! Dammit Sam!'' He berated himself. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''Looking down on the competition is the gateway to defeat!''

    Once he removed the distractions from his mind, Sam was able to focus on this game again and with it, he entered the zone state.

    The first goal of this game entered in the 58th minute from Sheffield United, and just 4 minutes later, Fulham responded!

    It was a corner routine.

    As soon as the ball was floated in from the corner, Palhinha who was isolated at the far side of the 18-yard box headed the ball, directing it towards the top left corner as the Sheffield goalkeeper and defenders watched it float in.

    None of them expected the ball to enter, but it did.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!" The Fulham fans in the away stands responded immediately, roaring at the top of their lungs.

    "Yeahhh!!!" Palhinha pumped his fists in excitement, throwing a fist at the fans to acknowledge them before charging back to the midfield.

    In the 62nd minute of this game, it became 1-1.

    Game on.

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded again, Fulham took charge, having briefly regained momentum over this game through that goal.

    They were about to restart their domination when Sheffield dented another question mark on the game.

    A Sheffield player stole the ball from Lukic in midfield before immediately charging on a solo run into the Fulham 18-yard box.

    Acknowledging the threat, the Fulham players reacted urgently, trying to cut this player off but this player was already in the zone state.

    Like the wind itself, he cut through Fulham like a hot knife through butter, effortlessly skipping past challenges and at some point, he raised his head to take a look before playing a cut back pass into the 6-yard box.

    Bam!

    1 touch, another tap-in goal!

    2-1!

    "GOALLLL¡­!" Bramall Lane erupted again.

    From the scoreless first half, this game was already transitioning into a thriller and the motivated Fulham players were not going out without a fight.

    Sheffield brought the battle to them, and they responded in kind.

    In the 68th minute of this game, mere 6 minutes after Fulham''s equalizer, Sheffield United went back on the lead through McBurnie, their second striker but just 2 minutes later, they doubled their lead, sinking Fulham into the abyss.

    This time, it was another mazy run from midfield but instead of a simple cut back, after taking a look at the scrambling Fulham defense, this Sheffield player floated a teasing cross into the net.

    "Clear the ball!"

    "Mark him!"

    The Fulham players roared as they moved into action.

    Calvin Bassey and Adarabioyo reacted, pouncing towards the ball but none of them could get to it first as the thorn in Fulham''s side this second half pounced again, sinking the dagger into the heart of Fulham fans watching this game across the world.

    "Brereton¡­!!!" The commentator roared.

    "What a second half we''re seeing!"

    "Sheffield United have taken the game back from Fulham! What a performance, what a goal! What a game!"

    It was the deadly Sheffield United striker again. He tried to head the cross into the net and when he couldn''t, he instinctively raised his leg, poking the ball into the net with his lap past a sprawling Bernd Leno.

    In the 70th minute of this game, Fulham were down by 2 goals.

    But that was when it became interesting.

    "Come on guys!" Sam clapped, motivating his teammates. "It''s not over yet, we can still do this, come on!"

    Led by the young Nigerian, Fulham refocused on this game, trying to create another miracle even as both coaches started making changes.

    For the remaining minutes of this first half, Sam give beyond 100%, playing like a monster with endless energy.

    He pursued the ball, he won back possession, he played defense-splitting passes, he took shots at goal, but nothing seemed to work.

    70 minutes passed, no goal¡­

    80 minutes passed, no goal¡­

    85 minutes passed, and that was when the miracle started.

    De Cordova-Reid was just subbed into the game mere seconds ago.

    As play continued, Sam won back the ball in the midfield and as the Sheffield United players surged towards him, recognizing his threat, Sam protected the ball with his physicality, observing his options before playing a horizontal pass.

    The ball cut through the field to De Cordova-Reid who was isolated in the middle of the pitch. This winger took just 2 touches of the ball.

    The first touch to control the ball, and the second to unleash a thunderous shot that almost tore the Sheffield United net open.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" The Fulham fans regained their energy immediately!

    "De Cordova-Reid¡­!!!"

    "What a goal!"

    "Mere seconds after entering the game! Can Fulham mount a comeback? Can they create another miracle?!"

    In the 86th minute, De Cordova-Reid scored to reduce the Sheffield United lead by half courtesy of Sam''s assist, and 7 minutes later, the miracle was completed, this time by Muniz.

    Having scored the second Fulham goal, De Cordova-Reid became provider for the third in the 90th plus 3 minutes of this game. Discover more stories at empire

    Bursting into the box after a pacey run from the right, this winger crossed the ball to Muniz. It was a flawed cross, arriving behind Muniz but the Fulham striker improvised.

    Rising into the air even as he was marked by Sheffield United players, Muniz jumped acrobatically and unleashed an overhead kick!

    BAM!

    Grbic, the Sheffield United goalkeeper was rooted to the spot, only watching as the ball floated past him into the net.

    As soon as he fell down, seeing the net shake even as the stadium became loud again, the Fulham striker jumped back on his feet, pumping his fists excitedly as he picked up the ball and rushed back to the center of the pitch.

    In the 90th plus 3 minutes, it became 3-3.

    From a goalless first half, this game became an incredible 6 goal thriller.

    But was there more to it?

    Would Fulham do the crazy and win this game?

    FWEEEE!

    Play restarted.

 Chapter 134 A thriller [3]

    From 2 goals down, Fulham overcame the odds against them and managed to score 2 quick-fire goals, bringing the game level.But could they do more?

    In the 90th plus 7 minutes, Sam tried.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    The mantra already started in his head, ringing like an alarm.

    By now, Alex Iwobi was already subbed out of the game. After winning the ball back in midfield, Palhinha immediately passed to Sam.

    Bam!

    Immediately after taking a touch of the ball, like electricity, adrenaline surged into Sam''s body, setting all his electrons into an excited state and immediately, in a state where instinct and intention became one to him, Sam moved.

    Sam took one touch of this ball and with his spatial awareness, he noticed the Sheffield United player rushing towards him.

    With his second touch, he spun like a roulette, ditching the player in red and black as gasps erupted around this stadium.

    The second Sheffield United player charged in on a sliding tackle but already in the state of zone, Sam reacted as if in ultra-instinct, pushing the ball with the outside of his boot as he nutmegged this player just before he could hit the ground sliding.

    Whoosh!

    And as his boots slid in, Sam jumped over him.

    More gasps erupted over this stadium.

    Sam was still deep in the middle of the pitch as he did all this and immediately after skipping past both challenges, he raised his head just in time to notice Grbic, the Sheffield United goalkeeper slightly off his lines.

    "¡­!" It was like thunder struck inside his head.

    Since making the switch from the NPFL to the premier league, Sam had played multiple games already but the goalkeepers in England were all elite players, he had never noticed a goalkeeper stray off his lines till today.

    There was only one explanation for this oversight, the pressure of this game finally got to this goalkeeper.

    Fulham was not the only one chasing the winning goal.

    Sheffield United were also desperate to get the winning goal after letting their 2-goal lead slip, and the pressure and information colliding in the head of this goalkeeper was what caused this oversight.

    Sam gave zero f*cks about the cause though, he only cared about the reality before him and immediately, he pounced.

    Raising his right leg even as the veins all over his body stretched taut, Sam swung his leg and hit the ball with venom.

    BAM! S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Like a rocket, the ball rose as soon as his leg hit it, shooting high into the sky before dipping back down after attaining a certain height.

    All the while, Grbic, the Sheffield United goalkeeper who was now panicked charged back desperately to defend his goal.

    He would not arrive in time.

    "What a shot from Samuel!"

    "Is this the decider? The miracle of Fulham?!"

    "And ohhhhh¡­! Can you believe it? It hits the crossbar!"

    The stage was already set for Sam to score a historic goal to drag Fulham FC from the ruins of defeat, creating another clutch moment in his first season for the English club to win another premier league game.

    Everything was set, it was so close, but it was just not meant to be.

    As soon as the ball bounced away for a goal kick, the ref''s whistle finally sounded, bringing this game to an end.

    Sam collapsed on the pitch immediately, looking up at the sky as a bitter smile crept up on his face. "So close," he muttered.

    "It was so close".

    "What a tightly-contested affair!" The excited commentator raved. "What an end to an incredibly exciting game!"

    "I dare say this is the best game of the whole season!"

    "What a game!"

    "What an atmosphere!"

    "This is what football fans watch the game for, games like this, they''re legendary!"

    "A thriller, that''s what this is called!"

    "Damn! What a second half!"

    "The first half is basically forgettable at this point. It all seemed like this was going to be a boring game between 2 mid-table teams but what a thriller, a 6-goal second half thriller!"

    "I won''t forget this game in a long time, I doubt anybody who watched it would".

    Sam stayed on the ground, panting heavily till one of his teammates came up to him, offering him a hand.

    Sam finally smiled, taking the hand and helping himself up.

    It was De Cordova-Reid, the Fulham winger. This player grinned before patting Sam on the back. "We gave our all, that''s what matters".

    Sam grinned back. "Yeah, that matters".

    And with that, they finally made their way to the dressing room.

    After the incredible second half thriller, all the players who participated were mentally exhausted even more so than they were physically exhausted.

    All they wanted was to rest and sleep to recover.

    They had no choice though, one of them still had to face the reporters. Having changed the game with his goal and assist despite being subbed on late, De Cordova-Reid won the man of the match award for this game.

    This winger approached the media, answering the questions of the reporters on various topics, a lot of them focusing on Sam.

    De Cordova-Reid answered to the best of his ability, trying his best not to say anything controversial and after a few minutes, he was finally free.

    After such a grueling game, all the Fulham players were eager to leave.

    They quickly left to their team bus but before entering, they signed a few autographs for the away fans who came all the way to watch their game.

    After signing autographs and taking a few pictures, they finally made their way to their team bus which took them to the airport.

    About an hour later, Sam finally entered his hotel room.

    His mom wanted a video call again but Sam was just too exhausted for it. Immediately after taking his bath and entering his bed, he slept off.

    When he woke up, he would call his mom and speak with her.

    Sam didn''t necessarily achieve his primary goal of winning the game, but it was still a good game nonetheless.

    And most importantly, he learned a good lesson.

    ''Never underestimate the competition''.

 Chapter 135 Passive Skill- Stalwart

    Unlike what most people expected when the much-anticipated transfer of the young Nigerian midfielder to the premier league was concluded by Fulham FC, Sam''s start in England had been nothing short of blistering.It didn''t take him long, directly on his debut game that he opened his account for Fulham, getting his first goal for the club.

    And it was just a first of many more goals and assists to come.

    It was not just the goals and the assists though, Sam''s work rate on the pitch alone elevated Fulham as a team.

    But most importantly of all his achievements was the EFL Cup trophy.

    No matter how much his haters and doubters tried to downgrade his achievements, it was still a fact that before the Nigerian Zidane era as fans already started calling it, Fulham had not won a single trophy in years.

    With Sam''s addition though, within just a few games, he won Fulham its first trophy in years. If that was not legendary, nothing else was.

    Sam took the premier league by storm.

    But while to the outside world, it seemed incredibly easy what he did on the pitch, personally, Sam knew that it was harder than even he expected.

    Back in Nigeria, in the NPFL, Sam was not just a star, despite playing just 1 and a half season for Enyimba FC, he was already more or less a superstar.

    Making the transition from the NPFL to the premier league though, Sam learned something, he learned firsthand the sheer physicality of the English premier league.

    He still impacted games, helping Fulham win, but it was more because of his mentality than any other thing. In most of these games, Sam engaged in so much physical duels that his body was left aching at the end of it all.

    Of course, with the physical conditioning elixirs that he consumed daily; it helped a lot with his post-match recovery but even this was not enough during the first few months.

    That was how intense and grueling the physical drain of the premier league was but after almost 3 months, Sam was finally adapting.

    This growth was fully embodied in the Sheffield United game.

    Despite doing everything that he normally did during games, riding on his incredible never give up mentality, Coach Marco Silva could not help but notice something during the game.

    Despite facing the physically imposing Sheffield United players, unlike in other games when Sam wriggled his way out of trouble through sheer energy and skill, today, Sam stood up to the physical challenge than in other matches.

    Sam didn''t even notice this, only his coach who was now fully invested in his development noticed.

    Coach Marco Silva did not inform him though, only discussing it with his assistants to know how they would approach Sam''s future development.

    After the Sheffield United game, Sam was exhausted and was why he slept early. Waking up around 4am in the morning though, he saw a new system notification that surprised him.

    ~----~

    [You have completed premier league matchday mission: A stalemate!]

    [You played over 90 minutes of this game, doing your part in an exciting 6-goal thriller that ended in a stalemate!]

    [Calculating reward¡­, please wait¡­]

    [Calculation complete!]

    [You have been rewarded with 15 Skill Points!]

    [You have been rewarded with bonus 5 Skill Points!]

    ¡­

    [Due to your role in participating in such an intense and grueling thriller, effectively asserting your authority over the game, real-time game experience accumulation has triggered!]

    [Congratulations! You have broken a bottleneck!]

    [Your physicality has improved by +3!]

    [Your overall system rating has increased!]

    [You have unlocked a passive skill: Stalwart!]

    >You have proven your credentials as a reliable stalwart with well-rounded attributes in the middle of the pitch. You can score, you can assist, you can dribble, and you can press; you are the complete package<

    >+10% to all 4 packages when on the pitch<

    >All 4 packages refer to your shooting attribute, your passing attribute, your dribbling attribute, and your stamina attribute<

    [System Remark: Solid Player!]

    ¡­

    Player Attributes:

    *Pace: 81

    *Shot: 79

    *Pass: 80

    *Dribbling: 74

    *Defending: 38

    *Physicality: 73

    *Stamina: 84

    Overall Rating: 81

    ¡­

    [Owned Football Skills:]

    [Passive skill: Stalwart]

    [Active skills:]

    [Basic mastery level: La croqueta; body feint; Power shot; step overs, roulette, knuckle shot, overhead kick]

    [Intermediate mastery level: Elastico, Cruyff turn]

    ¡­

    [Legendary Inheritance: Elastico]

    ~----~

    Staring at the notifications on his system''s interface, Sam was pleasantly surprised. He grinned. ''Surprise surprise!''

    This was not Sam''s first time knowing of a passive skill.

    He first noticed it when he played against Liverpool in the EFL Cup semifinal. Then, walking into the tunnel shoulder to shoulder with the likes of world-class stars like Virgil Van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister, and the others, he had a prime opportunity to go on a rampage with his snooping tool.

    The good thing about his snooping tool was that he could use it to scan multiple players at once to know all of their ability status.

    And of the 11 Liverpool players that he checked before the game started, 3 of them had passive skills, the only time Sam had seen them in a player before he also saw one in Cole Palmer when he clashed with Chelsea in the final.

    Alexis Mac Allister had a passive skill called midfield maestro. It improved his playmaking skills by 20% on the pitch.

    Allison Becker, the Liverpool goalkeeper who Sam got the opportunity to scan on the bench also had a passive skill called One-on-one specialist. It improved his one-on-one saving skills by an incredible 40% on the pitch.

    Cole Palmer had a passive skill called midfield enforcer. It improved his ability of contributing to a game by scoring a goal or assisting by 15%, and this percentage increases to 20% in the final minutes of a game.

    As for Virgin Van Dijk, the Liverpool legend did not have just 1 passive skill but 2. His first passive skill was called Solid Defender; it improved his zonal marking and tackling abilities by 20% on the pitch. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As for his second passive skill, it was called Power Header. It worked in conjunction with the Power Header skill, increasing Van Dijk''s chances of scoring when he uses the power header skill by 30%.

    After reading the status of these players in awe, admiring their passive skills, finally, Sam got his very own passive skill and it was just as impressive as theirs.

 Chapter 136 A new girl in the hotel

    Immediately after receiving the best morning news from his system in the form of his very own passive skill, excited, Sam finally woke up, going about his day with gusto as he started with his daily system quest.Just as he got set in his gym clothes, about to jog out, his iPhone beeped with a new notification and it was from his coach.

    It was the fixture for Fulham''s next game.

    (Premier league:)

    (Matchday 31)

    (Nothingham Forest ¨C Fulham)

    (2nd April, 2024)

    Seeing the message, Sam felt a bit nostalgic all of a sudden.

    It still felt just like yesterday when the Fulham agent came all the way to Abraka, Nigeria to get his signature in December last year. Heck, it still felt like yesterday when he and his dad just stepped foot in London, England.

    But in the blink of an eye, it was already 4 months. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "How time flies," Sam muttered before quickly jogging out.

    He didn''t know why his coach could not send the fixture on the night after the game like he did normally, but he had a guess. ''He''s exhausted''. He thought.

    The players were not the only ones who were exhausted after the grueling game in Bramall Lane against Sheffield United, the rollercoaster of emotions throughout the second half also left Coach Marco Silva extremely exhausted.

    Sam guessed that this was the reason why his coach sent the fixture only now. Besides, personally, he was still feeling the hangover.

    In the second half, he wore himself out, both mentally and physically.

    This morning, Sam''s legs still felt heavy. He frowned slightly as he thought about the fact that their next game was just in 2 days.

    There was no way for the Fulham players to be at 100% for that game, but it was what it was, the grueling nature of professional football at the highest level.

    Sam could only hope that he and his teammates would pull through.

    He didn''t just jog out this time. Having learned his lesson from recent days, he wore a gray Gucci hoodie, burying his face with the hood so that he would be less recognizable in the streets of Fulham.

    These days, he was no longer a figure of obscurity in Fulham.

    Though it was already reducing as the recency bias of the EFL Cup died, Sam was still very much a cult hero for Fulham fans already and he was popular.

    With this disguise though, Sam hoped to evade them. At first, he was able to avoid attention but when he was jogging back, he realized how na?ve he was.

    The fans already knew the hotel where he stayed, and most of them already knew that he came out every day to jog too. They blocked Sam, forcing him to sign more autographs, take pictures, and even do videos!

    Celebrity life was not for the weak.

    In a way, he enjoyed it too though, it was refreshing when it was not toxic.

    "Sam, please don''t leave Fulham, play for us forever".

    "Sam please win us the premier league! You can do it, right?"

    "Sam, please help us win the next game against Nottingham Forest. My dad promised me a box of chocolate if Fulham wins".

    Sam responded with smiles to all the fan wishes, and when he was done, he finally jogged back to his hotel, completing his daily system quest.

    Entering the hotel premises that morning though, he could not help but notice a new white girl that he had not seen before. He knew she was new because he had never seen her in the hotel before.

    Sam would have ignored her as he entered the hotel, but she took the initiative to wave at him, stopping him.

    She smiled, exposing her cute dimples. "Sam, right? You''re the Nigerian who plays for Fulham FC, I know you". She chuckled with her soothingly sweet voice.

    Sam smiled back at her, extending a hand for a handshake. "Nice to meet you".

    "Nice to meet you too," she took his handshake, still smiling. "Since I already met you here, I guess I''ll just make it to your next home game. That''s against Nottingham Forest, right?"

    "No," Sam chuckled, suddenly more confident as the conversation steered in a direction that he was knowledgeable in. "Our game against Nothingham Forest is an away game, we''ll be going to their home stadium in The City Ground".

    "Oh," she sighed, seemingly disappointed.

    "If you''ll stay long enough though, you can visit Craven Cottage to watch our next game, it''ll take place on the 6th".

    "Oh!" She finally brightened up again. "I think I''ll stay that long. I''ll definitely make it Sam, and don''t lose, make sure you win".

    "We will!" Sam said confidently, grinning, and then he was finally about to walk in when this girl stopped him.

    "Wow, so mean," she chuckled. "You won''t even ask for the name".

    "Oh, sorry, my bad". Sam scratched his short black hair. "You''re?"

    "The name is Kayla, Kayla Banks".

    Sam smiled, deliberately moving animatedly as he faced her with a smile. "Ok Kayla Banks, it''s nice to make your acquaintance, how''s the family?"

    She chuckled. "Not funny!"

    "I know". Sam laughed and then, he finally left, entering inside the hotel and quickly locating his hotel room.

    Once he was inside his room, he quickly forgot about Kayla. He met a lot of people these days, meeting one more person did not register deeply in his brain.

    Entering his room, he went straight to his bathroom before taking his bath and freshening up, getting ready before leaving for training at exactly 7:15am.

    Again, Sam was the first Fulham player to arrive for training.

    Like in recent weeks, as soon as he arrived, the first thing he did was use his game analysis A.I system perk to analyze his last game performance, noting down his weaknesses and strengths and with this, he drafted today''s personal training plan.

    He worked with that plan, commencing training before more Fulham players started showing up for training.

    When the coach finally arrived, the finishing touches were done to make the pitch set for training and at exactly 8:00am, training started.

    Today''s training was nowhere as productive as the Fulham players hoped, almost all of them were still weighed down by fatigue.

    Only Sam performed admirably after consuming a physical conditioning elixir earlier in the morning already.

    Just like that, training came to an end.

    The next day, Sam repeated the same routine and then the next and in no time, the D-day for matchday 31 of the premier league already approached.

    Sam joined his teammates and went on a trip to Nothingham City.

 Chapter 137 Matchday 31; against Nothingham Forest

    The Fulham players already did the needful, doing the training part to the best of their ability after the grueling Sheffield United game, and now they were in another away stadium in England to grind out another result.For this game, both teams started with their strongest lineups.

    Fulham started with Bernd Leno in between the posts, the 4-man defense comprising of Robinson, Calvin Bassey, Adarabioyo, and Tete while the double pivot role was taken by Joao Palhinha and Lukic.

    Like usual, Muniz started ahead of Raul Jimenez and behind the striker was the 3-man offense of Sam, Wilson, and Alex Iwobi.

    As for Nothingham Forest, they started with a formidable team comprising popular names like the likes of Aina, Danilo, Anthony Elanga, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

    On paper, both teams were evenly matched but despite this, the odds were on Fulham to win based on recent form. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    When the game started though, the reality was far different from what most people expected.

    Starting in front of the Notthingham supporters, the game started slow at first, both teams playing slow and conservative football for the first few minutes until a goal came from nowhere, destroying the slow tempo of the game.

    Just like Fulham, Nothingham Forest played with a 4-2-3-1 formation and it started from one of their double pivots, Danilo.

    After some basic passing in midfield to keep and rotate possession, receiving the ball, Danilo teased, turning around with it before playing a grounded through pass out of the blue that cut the Fulham defense open.

    Tete who started as the right back for Fulham today erupted, trying to get to the ball but his speed was child''s play before the rapid Callum Hudson-Odoi.

    The Nothingham Forest winger went off like a jet, accelerating past the right back, calmly taking the ball in his strides before charging towards goal.

    Bernd Leno was forced to charge out of his goal to close the rampaging left winger down and when he did was when this winger curled the ball round him, calmly slotting into the bottom right corner.

    In the 9th minute, Nothingham Forest broke the deadlock, going ahead as their tens of thousands of supporters in The City Ground erupted.

    That goal increased the tempo of this game after the restart.

    Forced awake by the goal, the Fulham players finally showed up to work, doing their normal thing as they pressed and passed Nothingham Forest to death.

    For the next few minutes that followed, Fulham dominated and it was Sam again providing the goods as he kept on playing promising passes to his striker and wing forwards only for them to fluff their lines.

    It was clear that the Fulham forward like was not gelling today.

    10 minutes after the first goal, in the 19th minute, against the run of play, Fulham''s profligacy in front of goal was punished again by Nothingham Forest.

    And this time, it was scored by the powerful striker, Wood.

    After some incredible play from Anthony Elanga along the wing, the former Manchester United player, Wood came on the end of a delightful cross, heading home to double his team''s lead in this game.

    If the first goal was a shocker, then the second was a reality check.

    The Fulham players played with even more urgency as they dominated proceedings, trying to score their first goal even as Nothingham Forest started wrestling back authority over this game.

    As the game wore on, the Fulham dominance lessened and lessened till it became virtually non-existent.

    The Fulham players were showing signs of tiredness.

    And then, they paid the price again for their lethargic legs as in the 45th plus 3 minute, Morgan Gibbs-White, the Nothingham Forest attacking midfielder added salt to injury, scoring an incredibly volleyed shot to make it 3-0.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" The City Ground exploded.

    None of the tens of thousands of Nothingham Forest fans in this stadium saw this coming before kickoff. It felt like some fantasy dream, and they were thoroughly enjoying it as their club tore Fulham to shreds.

    During half-time, Marco Silva went on a rant, berating his players for the lethargic performance as he asked for improvement in the second.

    "Come on guys, we can''t draw our last game and lose this one".

    "Not after the standards we''ve already set".

    He glared at them. "It''s not over yet, I want you to win as you go back out there. We can still win this game".

    When the game restarted again though, reality showed that Fulham could not. And not just that, Fulham suffered a tragedy.

    Just 3 minutes into the first half, taking matters into his own hands after winning possession deep in his half, Sam went on a mazy run as all his sights were set on goal but acknowledging his threat, Danilo, the Nothingham Forest defensive midfielder took one for the team as he brought Sam down aggressively.

    Immediately after hitting the ground in horrible fashion, Sam grabbed his right calf as he screamed in pain.

    The referee had to stop the game, calling the medical staff in.

    "¡­!" In that moment, Coach Marco Silva felt like his heart was in his throat.

    After a little diagnosis on the pitch, Sam could not continue. Apparently, he suffered a muscular injury. It was not too serious but he could not continue.

    Sam limped out of the field of play, leaving his team in shambles.

    ''Dammit!'' He cursed in his mind.

    With Sam gone, the Fulham team tried to revert to their old ways and play their game in his absence. It worked once, just 6 minutes later as after a well hit set-piece from the corner, Adarabioyo jumped highest, heading the ball into the net and reducing the score line to 3-1.

    After that goal, the Fulham players became even more motivated to get the 2nd goal and then the 3rd but they quickly learned it was not going to be easy.

    Nothingham Forest played like a team, defending valiantly throughout the course of the second half and in the end, they got a famous victory.

    Fulham lost 3-1, the club''s first loss in a while in all competitions.

    Their unbeaten run crashed landed in painful fashion.

 Chapter 138 Matchday 32; against Newcastle United

    (Premier league:)(Matchday 31)

    (Fulham ¨C Newcastle)

    (6th April, 2024)

    After further extensive tests at the wake of the Nothingham Forest game, the fear of Fulham fans across the world were finally allayed.

    The doctors confirmed that Sam did indeed suffer a muscular problem but it was just a minor tear, he would be available for selection in Fulham''s next game.

    Coach Marco Silva was the most relieved person by this news.

    The Newcastle game had special meaning to the Fulham players and fans. Afterall, it was Newcastle who knocked them out of the FA Cup in the 4th round.

    This game was like a revenge game and since it was going to be played in Craven Cottage, Fulham''s home, the players and fans were determined to win.

    During the build-up to the game, Sam could not train with his teammates as he focused on recovering from his minor injury.

    And for the first game in months since forcing his way into the Fulham starting XI, Sam was not on the Fulham starting XI. He started on the bench.

    Both teams started with their strongest available lineups.

    With Sam injured, Pereira finally returned to the Fulham starting XI, forming the 4-man offense alongside Willian in the left, Alex Iwobi on the right, and Muniz starting as the striker.

    Behind them were Joao Palhinha and Cairney in defensive midfield, while the 4-man defense comprised Castagne, Adarabioyo, Calvin Bassey, and Robinson.

    Bernd Leno started in between the posts.

    Newcastle United did not pull their punches either as the likes of Aleksander Isak, Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes, and Kierran Tripper all started.

    After Fulham''s recent run of 2 games without a win, this team was determined to return to winning ways in the league.

    Buoyed by the loud noise being made by their fans, the Fulham players played their best football against Newcastle, taking the battle to them but as the superior team on paper, Newcastle United also refused to give an inch.

    It was a game of pound for pound filled with exciting battles all over the pitch.

    The first half was a cagey affair that ended goalless.

    When second half started though, both teams showed certain signs of fatigue and exhaustion but the game continued at a very high intensity.

    Both teams kept on going at each other, going on dangerous attack after attack as the offensive players of both sides tried their best to impose themselves on the game and be the difference maker.

    The defense was on top of its game though, both teams defending doggedly to keep the game scoreless until the 80th minute of the game.

    The deadlock was broken, sending all Fulham hearts across the world to despair, seemingly dooming them to a 2nd consecutive loss in the league.

    Winning the ball back in midfield, Bruno Guimaraes, the elite Newcastle midfielder who dominated in the fluid Newcastle 4-3-3 formation drove forward a bit with the ball before unleashing a thunderous shot to score a worldie.

    The ball went straight towards the roof of the net at the center, but the reason why it beat Leno was because of the tremendous power behind the shot.

    It almost tore the net open, breaking the deadlock in tyrannical fashion.

    After trying their best all game only to concede so late, the Fulham players gave up but shortly after was when Coach Marco Silva finally said f*ck it.

    He pulled the plug late, retrieving Pereira just 2 minutes later in the 83rd minute and taking the risk to introduce Sam into this game after confirming with the player that he was fit enough to play.

    At some point, Coach Marco Silva already took off Willian as he introduced De Cordova-Reid into this game and this player contributed to the miracle that followed after Sam entered the pitch.

    Sam didn''t even need to chant his mantra this time. Having watched his team play and be frustrated for 80 minutes, his blood was boiling.

    As soon as he stepped foot into the pitch, he went to work, doing what he did best, abusing his stamina to impose himself on the game.

    With Sam''s endless energy, it was clear immediately that the team was elevated with his presence because his teammates also started pressing more.

    It happened in the 89th minute.

    Palhinha won the ball back in midfield and without hesitation, he passed to Sam who skipped past a challenge, nutmegging a Newcastle player before quickly spreading the game open, threading a pass to the left where Cordovo-Reid lurked.

    This left winger immediately erupted as soon as his leg got the ball, taking it in his strides as he turned Kieran Tripper, the English right back inside out before floating a cross into the box.

    Sam was the one who passed the ball to De Cordova-Reid but in a moment of abusing his stamina again, he had been running since and when the left winger crossed the ball, he already arrived at the 18-yard box.

    Jimenez who was already subbed into this game was marked tightly, including Alex Iwobi who lurked but the Newcastle players failed to do it all, failing to spot Sam''s late run and that was what doomed them.

    As Sam charged into the box, all his eyes were fixated on the ball.

    And as it descended, he jumped and nodded powerfully.

    BAM!

    Having increased his mastery of the power header skill to intermediate mastery already, Sam executed a perfect header, combining a mixture of power and placement that left Dubravka, the Tottenham goalkeeper with no chance.

    The ball rushed towards the top left corner of the post before nestling in and immediately, the away fan section in Craven Cottage erupted.

    While the commentator screamed, immediately waxing lyrical about the young Nigerian prodigy, the excited Fulham fans blasted in chants.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    Tens of thousands of fans sang around this stadium.

    In the 89th minute, Sam equalized, making it 1-1 to Fulham.

    He celebrated his goal, charging towards the corner flag amid roars from the Fulham fans even as he slid on his knees, pointing to his head before the camera.

    "Mentality," he mumbled to himself, grinning.

    That goal took the momentum away from Newcastle United completely for the first time this game.

    FWEEEE!

    When play restarted, Fulham worked hard, chasing the winning goal as Sam stayed as the most dangerous player in the field of play. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Despite his effort and the team''s overall effort, Newcastle were able to barely hang on and ride this game to an end.

    The game ended 1-1, another draw and Sam won the man of the match award after rescuing his team again late from the throes of defeat.

 Chapter 139 Need for speed? Need to win!

    (Premier league:)(West Ham ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 14th April, 2024)

    Located in the south of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is London Stadium, another of the iconic stadiums in England. The London Stadium''s history was that it was built to host the London 2012 Olympics.

    And now, it was the home stadium of one of the elite teams in the English premier competition, West Ham United.

    The 62,000-capacity stadium was one of the biggest in all of England, and this was the venue for Fulham''s next challenge in the premier league.

    It was an imposing and incredibly tough stadium to get a good result from.

    After extending their winless run in the premier league by the stalemate against Newcastle United, Coach Marco Silva finally came under pressure by the media and the fans.

    They seemingly forgot that he already led this team to win its first trophy in years, rather, all they focused on was the recent defeats and draws.

    If Fulham extended the winless run by either losing or drawing to West Ham the next game, threads of #MarcoSilvaOut popping out on social media may not be too surprising.

    This was the nature of football. You had to perform, and keep performing, that was the only way to stay in the good favors of the fans.

    Once you start performing badly, you lose faith with the fans.

    After the recent run of form, this was the situation that now plagued Coach Marco Silva, making their next game even more important.

    The buildup to the West Ham game was intense.

    After the Newcastle game on the 6th, instead of the short 3-day break that separated the Nothingham Forest and the Newcastle game, this time, the Fulham players had a good 7 days to prepare for their next game.

    The players used this time judiciously.

    Playing 32 games in a 38-game season was no easy feat. The players were exhausted, but with the 7-day rest, they had enough time to rest, reset, and refocus on their ambitions for the rest of the season.

    And again, during this period of reset, Sam stayed diligent.

    When Sam was younger, in the era of mobile games, there was a mobile game he once played called need for speed. In that game of racing cars like asphalt, the main emphasis was speed, speed above everything else.

    You have a fast car, you win.

    You have a slow car, you lose.

    You have a slow car and you want to win, you either upgrade your car or you save money to purchase a faster car.

    At this moment, in the build-up to the West ham game after the draw at home against Newcastle United, only one thing rang in Sam''s head that served as extra motivation for him, the need to win!

    Fulham FC could not afford to lose another game, nor could they afford to draw the game; the only acceptable result for the West Ham game was a win.

    Forget about the collective, personally, Sam did not want to lose another game. He could not afford it; after all, his system already struck again.

    2 days earlier in the build-up to the game, he got a new system notification. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ~----~

    [You have received a new system mission: Win!]

    [Mission Description: Fulham FC is going through a rough patch of form, a winless streak, this is not supposed to be in the resume of a player aspiring to become the next Football God!]

    [Mission Objective: Win!]

    [Mission Reward: Form Boost!]

    >Form Boost: This is a system boost that randomly boosts 3 of your main attributes by +3 stat points for one game<

    ¡­

    [Penalty for mission failure: -5 decrease to one of your attributes!]

    ~----~

    It was a very simple mission, with a very simple explanation.

    In essence, the system was just telling him; win or suffer the consequences!

    The system mission left Sam thinking. ''This unrelenting need for me to win by the system, is it truly just to make me improve? Why do I feel like the system gets something from me becoming a better footballer?''

    ''Sometimes, it''s demands are not just for me, it seems a bit more personal''.

    The rational him wanted to prod more about this but Sam didn''t care too much about it. ''Who cares? It wants me to win, I want to win, that''s all that matters!''

    Instead of looking at it as punishment by his system, Sam rather looked at it as even more motivation.

    In the 7 days leading up to the game against West Ham in the London Stadium, Sam trained like hell, giving about 150% every training session!

    It got so intense his manager had to tell him to calm down a few times.

    Sam''s obsession with winning felt overbearing in the build-up to this game. Even as it scared his coach a bit, Marco Silva was also happy because this mentality of his star player seeped into the rest of his team.

    Watching the young newcomer who already became a star do so much, putting so much effort even in his fame, trying to impress every time, the other Fulham players could not help but be impressed.

    And with being impressed, they also felt their bloods boil hot.

    ''This guy¡­''

    ''I won''t let a newcomer steal all of our shine!''

    ''I won''t let his monopoly over coming first every training session stand anymore!''

    ''I want to challenge him!''

    ''Damn! I don''t believe I''m less talented than he is!''

    ''Hehe! Sam, just watch, I''ll prove to you in training!''

    Not all the Fulham players thought like this but with the majority thinking like this, the Fulham squad as a whole was fired up as they trained like a beast.

    In those 7 days, if Fulham FC was a meek Wolf before that was injured after the string of losses and draws, Coach Marco Silva watched as his team transmogrified from a Wolf to a Lion, and then to an angry Dragon.

    Fulham FC was angry!

    Fulham FC wanted to win!

    And then, in the blink of an eye, it was D-day.

    The Fulham team traveled to the London Stadium.

 Chapter 140 Resurgence; a statement display!

    When the Fulham players lined up in the London Stadium, camping in hostile territory, as they heard the loud roars of the West Ham supporters, they didn''t cower, rather they felt their blood boil hot like a Dragon who was provoked.Fulham FC was provoked.

    And in mythological history, even in the tales of the Lord of the Rings and the iconic Game of Thrones series, when a Dragon was provoked, it never ends well for the trouble makers.

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, the Dragon roared.

    FWEEEE!

    West Ham United started kick-off but it was almost like Fulham won the ball back immediately, due to their insanely aggressive press!

    Right from the first minute, this team showed their intent to press like monsters, showcasing relentless energy on the field of play.

    And for the first time in how many games, Fulham FC entered a game with tyrannical momentum, breaking the deadlock early.

    Kickoff just started as the West Ham players pinged the ball between themselves when Muniz pounced like the head of a Dragon, stealing the ball in a dangerous position in just the 1st minute of this game! Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Panicking, the West Ham defenders tried to recover but the striker was already off, charging towards the West Ham United post.

    The goalkeeper rushed out and as he did, calmly, Muniz kicked the ball, lobbing it above this goalkeeper and into the net.

    "GOALLLLLL¡­!" The away fans section erupted.

    As soon as the ball found its way into the net, Muniz charged behind the post, pupils dilated as he stared at the horde of West Ham supporters.

    He glared at them and roared. "Come on!!!"

    "BOOOO¡­!" The West Ham supporters responded with a chorus of boos but Muniz didn''t give a damn, his actions already set this pitch on fire.

    When the referee''s whistle sounded again to restart play, West Ham tried to get back into the game but this team found soon enough that doing that was going to be an uphill task.

    West Ham could not retain possession. The players barely received a pass when they were hounded by not one but multiple Fulham players.

    It was almost like the Fulham players were everywhere, playing with such an intensity that rivalled that of a prime Liverpool''s gen-gen pressing.

    Maybe if it was a technical team like Manchester City, they would have been able to beat this crazy press with sheer technicality and brilliance but West Ham United was no Manchester City.

    Knowing this, a prowling Fulham capitalized.

    The second goal of this game came just 7 minutes after the first, in the 8th minute after a well-worked team move as De Cordova-Reid ended it, scoring an incredible curled effort that beat the West Ham goalkeeper.

    10 minutes later, Alex Iwobi completed a first-half riot by Fulham after another trademark penetrative through pass from Sam.

    Running into the pass, all the Nigerian International had to do was poke the ball as it went in between the legs of the West Ham goalkeeper.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" The away fans section exploded in cheers again.

    "¡­!" The rest of this stadium was as silent as a church.

    "What a goal!" The commentator raved.

    "The 3rd Fulham goal in just the 18th minute!"

    "Damn! Fulham are on a ruthless streak today!"

    "It''s not that West Ham are playing bad, Fulham are just playing on a truly devastating form today, what a first half this is turning out to become!"

    "And who knows? It''s just the 18th minute, things may soon turn worse and ugly for viewers of the West Ham persuasion!"

    "The only question is if Fulham can keep the intensity. This intensity is not something that can be sustained across 90 minutes of a football match".

    "At some point, they''ll get tired and they''ll have to reduce the tempo, is that when West Ham will finally come into this game?"

    Well, things didn''t go exactly as the commentator predicted, but one prediction did go as he thought.

    Things did turn ugly.

    After going 3 goals down in just 18 minutes, the West Ham players finally rallied, organizing themselves and playing solid football to frustrate the rampant Fulham players who were playing incredibly intense football.

    For about a dozen minutes or so, they figured Fulham''s press out, slowly growing into the game and trying to impose their authority till the 32nd minute when all of their efforts were ruthlessly destroyed by individual brilliance.

    In the 32nd minute of this game, Sam got his second goal contribution of this game after assisting Alex Iwobi earlier.

    And again, it was one of those trademark rocket shots from outside the box.

    Receiving the ball just outside the West Ham 18-yard box, Sam nutmegged a player to the side, setting himself up before unleashing a rocket straight into the top right corner. The goalkeeper stood no chance.

    As soon as the ball entered, Sam jumped, screaming at the top of his lungs as he pumped his fists excitedly.

    "BOOOO¡­!" The West Ham fans drowned him in boos in return but he didn''t care, he wanted more and Fulham got more.

    In the 45th plus 3 minutes, Sam added salt to injury, scoring Fulham''s 5th goal just before halftime as he lashed in to a cross in the 18-yard box with a venomous volleyed shot!

    POW!

    The West Ham goalkeeper didn''t even see it coming, he was rooted to the spot.

    "My God!" The commentator exclaimed. "This is not just a defeat anymore, this is bullying!"

    "What a statement first half from Fulham!"

    The first half ended 0-5 to Fulham FC.

    When second half started, Coach Marco Silva made a few changes, taking off Alex Iwobi and De Cordova-Reid but the Fulham momentum didn''t stop.

    By now, all the West Ham players wanted was a consolation goal to save face but it didn''t come, rather the score line only turned uglier.

    In the 66th minute of the game, Sam got his 4th goal contribution, setting up Willian who scored the 6th goal of this game!

    It was a total destruction.

    And 8 minutes later, in the 74th minute of this game, Sam got his hattrick, capping off his unreal performance with 5 goal contributions!

    "ZINEDINE SAMMMM!!!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM!" The commentator screamed in a shrill voice. "The boy is a menace! A force of nature! A typhoon of destruction!"

    "He has single-handedly ripped West Ham to shreds!"

    "The Nigerian Zidane is a menace!"

    "Oh ye premier league, fear the Nigerian wonder!"

    Just a minute later, Sam was finally subbed out of this game in the 75th minute but only after nailing West Ham''s defeat, dooming this elite team to a humiliating 0-7 home loss, Fulham''s highest margin win all season.

    The game ended 0-7, Sam scooped up another man of the match award and his first premier league match ball after scoring a hattrick.

    This was a statement victory.

 Chapter 141 Title- Space Interpreter

    "What a performance out there today Sam! After the run of form that Fulham has been stuck in for the past few weeks, a lot of people were interested to know how Fulham would respond in today''s game"."Besides, with all the talk about your manager, Marco Silva under the threat of losing his job, your team was under a lot of pressure but despite the pressure, you and your teammates managed to pull through, how did you do it?"

    Sam panted heavily, wiping his sweat as he faced the reporter.

    It was time for the post-match press conference after the West Ham game and after winning the man of the match award again, he had to face the camera.

    He took a deep breath. "First, I didn''t do it, we did it". He stared at the reporter. "I am just one part of the machine called Fulham, only with the help of my teammates did we win today''s game with such a margin".

    "Are you saying you won because of teamwork?"

    "Yes," Sam nodded. "Football is a team game".

    "That''s a nice mentality to have Sam". The male reporter smiled. "Since making the move from the NPFL to the premier league in January, you''ve achieved a lot of things with Fulham already, including even winning a trophy".

    "And today, you crossed another big milestone, scoring your first premier league hattrick. As an attacking midfielder, that is impressive statistics".

    "Sam, how do you feel about this?"

    Sam stared at the reporter, then he finally smiled. "I feel great, obviously, but I want to thank my teammates".

    "Without their effort, I never would have done it alone. Their incredible intensity in today''s game helped me elevate my game even higher, this is why we were able to beat West Ham at home".

    Smiling, the reporter nodded, asking Sam a few more questions that he answered. After about 5 more minutes, he finally left but the interview was not over yet. Someone took Sam''s spot. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Cairney, the Fulham captain stood before the camera to complete the post-match press conference. "Cairney, compared to the beginning of the season, Fulham now plays like an entirely different team".

    Fulham''s captain smiled. "Of course we play different. Afterall, not every team in the premier league can boost of a prodigy like Sam in their ranks." He chuckled. "I''m privileged to train alongside him every day and play with him".

    "Sam is destined for the top. With him, I feel that we can do anything".

    The reporter chuckled. "The sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu I feel from hearing this is honestly scary. Back in Enyimba, Sam''s teammates said the same thing about him".

    "Naturally," Cairney laughed. "The boy''s work rate is just monstrous".

    "So, captain, do you have any piece of advice for the Nigerian prodigy?"

    Cairney rubbed his chin before he answered. "My only advice will be for him to keep his head down, to stay humble".

    "These days, football is heavily commercialized. We live in the 21st century where it is very easy to get distracted. If Sam wants to fulfill his potential in football, my advice for him is to stay humble and focus on his football".

    "Playing football is the most principal thing, everything else comes with it".

    The reporter smiled. "Before you leave, one last question. After today''s statement victory, what does it mean to Fulham''s form?"

    "Do you think your team can keep that energy for future games?"

    Hearing that question, Cairney grinned; he answered with a straightforward sentence. "Fulham won''t lose again!"

    The next day, the trending headlines all over news channels and social media was Cairney''s words.

    (Daily Sun News!)

    (Fulham won''t lose again!)

    (Fulham thrash West Ham 0-7 in away ground!)

    That win did not just mean a lot to the fans, it also meant a lot to the Fulham players. It brought their confidence back.

    ¡­

    After the game, as soon as Sam got home, after ending a video call with his family, he was assaulted by a series of system notifications.

    ~----~

    [You have completed premier league matchday mission: Victory!]

    [You played 75 minutes of this game, being the best player on the pitch with 5 goal contributions; 3 goals and 2 assists!]

    [Calculating reward¡­, please wait¡­]

    [Calculation complete!]

    [You have been rewarded with 25 Skill Points!]

    [You have been rewarded with bonus 10 Skill Points!]

    ¡­

    [You have completed system mission: Win!]

    [You have been rewarded with a system boost: Form Boost!]

    ¡­

    [Congratulations! You have completed a hidden system mission: Hattrick Milestone!]

    >Hattrick Milestone: You have met an incredible milestone in the career of an attacking football player, scoring your first hattrick in the premier league. There are multiple milestones in the hattrick series; you have met the first milestone<

    [You have been rewarded with a Legendary Inheritance!]

    [You have been rewarded with the advanced mastery of the Legendary Football Skill: Spatial Awareness!]

    [NOTE:]

    >You have inherited the Legendary inheritance of another football legend, the great German and Bayern Munich midfield maestro, Thomas Muller<

    >Thomas Muller is a legend of football who not only mastered the spatial awareness skill, but also personalized it, dubbing himself the space interpreter. His command over space on a football pitch is at the legendary mastery level<

    >You''ve awakened the advanced mastery of spatial awareness. To get to the legendary mastery level through your inheritance, all you have to do is train and get better, the other requirements have already been fulfilled since it is an inheritance<

    ¡­

    [You have gained the football Title: Space Interpreter!]

    ¡­

    [Owned Football Skills:]

    [Passive skill: Stalwart]

    [Active skills:]

    [Basic mastery level: La croqueta; body feint; Power shot; step overs, roulette, knuckle shot, overhead kick]

    [Intermediate mastery level: Elastico, Cruyff turn]

    [Advanced mastery level: Spatial awareness]

    ¡­

    [Legendary Inheritance: Spatial Awareness]

    [Legendary Inheritance: Elastico]

    ~----~

    As soon as Sam saw these series of system notifications, he felt dizzy.

    Laying down on top his bed, he felt like his head was spinning, like his room came alive, dancing a crazy dance step to an even crazier song.

    Sam felt a splitting headache assault him.

    ''What¡­ is going on?!''

    He was alarmed, but he could do nothing about it; Sam fainted.

    ¡­

    The next morning, when Sam woke up, he felt different.

    The way he saw and interacted with the world changed, forever.

 Chapter 142 Imperious form [1]

    After the game against West Ham on April 14th, when Sam reported to the next Fulham training session in Craven Cottage, his teammates and his coach could tell that something changed immediately.Sam''s perception of space already underwent a drastic evolution.

    With his intermediate mastery of space previously, Sam was already a master of spatial awareness, sensing and manipulating space on a football pitch but after inheriting the great Thomas Muller''s inheritance, Sam evolved.

    Sam became the next Space Interpreter of football.

    In Germany, there was a saying about the Bayern legend. Despite already being on the wrong side of 30, the great German, Thomas Muller still plied his trade with Bayern Munich in the German top flight.

    This was not because of his insane physicality, nor even his unreal talent.

    Thomas Muller was always talented, but there were far more talented footballers when he first burst into the elite tier of football decades ago.

    The reason why Thomas Muller outlasted and outshined all his rivals was because of his football intelligence. His football I.Q was off the charts, and this was what enabled him to become the first true Space Interpreter in football history.

    Thomas Muller did not win games by abusing his physicality or speed, not even his dribbling ability. In all these eye-catching traits, he was just above average.

    The reason why Thomas Muller stayed at the top of football for almost 2 decades was because of his uncanny ability to interpret space.

    The vision to spot openings in enemy formations, to be that 3rd man, drifting into that blind spot, this was Thomas Muller''s strength.

    And now, Sam became the great German''s heir.

    In Fulham''s next training session, the whole Fulham squad was flabbergasted. To them, Sam was already an elite footballer with his skills, his mentality was just the cherry on top.

    But with Sam''s suddenly improved understanding over spatial awareness, his teammates truly started seeing him like a monster.

    As for Coach Marco Silva, he felt on top of the world.

    ''Damn! I''m definitely the luckiest coach in the world!''

    ''Is this what Pep Guardiola felt when he first handled a young Lionel Messi?''

    Any comparison with Lionel Messi was the greatest compliment that any young player could get in football. Marco Silva comparing Sam with the great Argentine in his mind only showed how much he rated his young prodigy.

    Fulham''s next game was not an easy game though.

    After demolishing West Ham away from home, in their next premier league game, Fulham would be playing at home in Craven Cottage but they were faced with another tough test in Liverpool.

    The merseysiders would be taking a trip to Fulham, London.

    In the build-up to the game, Sam trained like mad. His new upgrade in the form of his new inheritance did not get to his head.

    Sam already learned to never underestimate his opponents. Besides, he would be a fool to underestimate a team of Liverpool''s caliber.

    This was why Sam put his all in the build-up to this game.

    And of course, he kept on motivating his teammates.

    ''This brat!''

    ''We can''t let him upstage us like this!''

    ''Damn! I feel old beside him but I won''t give up!''

    ''Dream on Sam if you think I''ll lose to a brat like you!''

    ''I''ll train like mad!''

    With this mentality, the 0-7 thrashing in April 14th against West Ham didn''t register too much in the Fulham players'' minds as they prepared rigorously for their next test in the premier league.

    Time moved fast and in no time, the D-day for the test was here.

    It was 21st of April.

    (Premier league:)

    (Fulham ¨C Liverpool)

    (Date: 21st April, 2024)

    Like usual, both teams started with their strongest lineups.

    Fulham started with their regular 4-2-3-1 formation. Muniz started up top and behind him were the trio of Alex Iwobi, Sam, and De Cordova-Reid.

    Behind the trio were Joao Palhinha and Lukic, while the 4-man defense comprised Castagne, Adarabioyo, Calvin Bassey, and Robinson.

    Naturally, Bernd Leno started in between the posts for Fulham.

    On the opposite side, Liverpool started with an imperious lineup in a 4-3-3 formation. The trio of Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota, and Luis Diaz started up top.

    Behind the forward three was another trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endo, and Harvey Elliot while the defense was a star-studded lineup of Andy Robertson, Virgil Van Dijk, Quansah, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

    In between the posts stood the reliable figure of Alisson Becker.

    After being sidelined by injury for a time, the Liverpool duo, the attacking right back, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Allison were back in the lineup, making Liverpool even more dangerous.

    Despite the fact that Fulham were playing at home, the odds were against them. And having been knocked out by them in the Carabao Cup, a rampant Liverpool side was down for a revenge game.

    It was going to be a tough test but Fulham was not ready to go down without fighting.

    Heck, they were not ready to go down at all.

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, Liverpool FC started kick-off, playing the opener to an unforgettable game that soon unfolded.

    During the first few minutes of this game, the game was tight as both teams played with incredible energy and intensity.

    Liverpool started the game imperiously but like a stubborn Chihuahua, Fulham refused to give up, giving them back pound for pound.

    Despite Fulham''s impressive gameplay, after a lot of pressure, Liverpool opened the floodgates first and it was their talismanic right back who did it.

    After a foul by Palhinha just outside the Fulham 18-yard box, Trent Alexander-Arnold stood before a free-kick and as soon as the ref''s whistle sounded, he did it.

    After a short run, this right back whipped the ball expertly with his right foot, unleashing a curled shot towards the top left corner.

    Bernd Leno jumped but his hand could not reach the ball.

    It was a goal.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" The away fans section in Craven Cottage exploded.

    In the 32nd minute of this game, Arnold scored to give Liverpool the lead.

    The attacking right back with a smile on his face wheeled off towards the corner flag before spreading his arms in a shrug. In a sense, his celebration meant, Arnold never left, I''m back!

    After that goal, it seemed like the momentum would finally switch but Fulham didn''t give up, digging into this game led by Sam in midfield.

    And for the first game, Sam got to show his improved spatial awareness proficiency, showcasing his grand title as a space interpreter.

    He was combating in the midfield against seasoned and talented maestros on the Liverpool side but he didn''t look out of place at all.

    And of course, he was the one who eventually did it.

    In the 45th plus 2 minutes, Sam drifted into space where he received a pass from Muniz in the 18-yard box. As Liverpool players quickly closed him down, Sam shifted and shuffled the ball, looking for space, then¡­

    Bam!

    With the heel of his boot, he set up Castagne, the marauding Fulham right back who did not hesitate to pull the trigger.

    WHOM!

    Castagne''s shot reverberated like a rocket, leaving Allisson rooted to the spot as the ball tore its way into the roof of the Liverpool net.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" Craven Cottage exploded.

    Castagne whirled off away to the corner flag, celebrating wildly.

    Just before half-time, Fulham leveled the score. They were still very much in the game. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This was a team in imperious form.

 Chapter 143 Imperious form [2]

    During half-time, Marco Silva had a smile on his face as he addressed his players. "Congratulations guys, we played like warriors that first half"."This second half, we have no intention of letting up and giving them the game, let''s finish it like warriors just like we started!"

    "Get me that winning goal!"

    It was a short speech but it made the players'' blood boil.

    FWEEEE!

    After the players made their way back to the pitch, as soon as the referee''s whistle sounded again to restart play, the battle between Fulham and Liverpool restarted with the same intensity that they played the first half.

    This second half, Sam was already in the zone.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    The mantra chanted in his head and with it, his focus became narrowed, ignoring every other distraction as all his attention became abstracted to the ball.

    Just 3 minutes after restart, Sam came closest to pushing his team ahead in the 48th minute. After winning the ball back in midfield from Wataru Endo, he drove forward a bit with the ball, skipped past 2 challenges, set himself up, before unleashing a thunderous outside the box shot.

    The ball just barely missed the post, rushing out for a goal kick.

    "F*ck!" Sam cursed, grabbing his head in regret.

    He didn''t linger on his regret though. After that test shot, his legs felt like more alive they were on fire, he was ready to impose himself on this game.

    But as the game progressed though, Sam learned that he was not the only player with the intention and ability to impose himself on this game.

    Trent Alexander-Arnold, the maverick Liverpool right back also imposed himself upon this game as he tortured Robinson down the right-hand side, orchestrating clever plays and playing in a few dangerous crosses.

    For years in the premier league, Trent Alexander-Arnold has been crowned with the title of the best crosser of the ball in the league and in this game, this Liverpool phenom was showing his skill with the ball at his feet.

    In the first few minutes of this second half, Sam and Trent Alexander-Arnold stole all the attention with their incredible plays once the ball was with them.

    And in the end, one of them got the result first, Arnold did.

    After another Liverpool attack was thwarted, receiving the ball in the right-hand side even as Lukic closed him down aggressively, Arnold swiftly floated a cross into the Fulham box that was still congested by Liverpool players.

    The Liverpool players leaped desperately to clear the ball but unfortunately for them, a Liverpool player rose highest.

    Ryan Gravenberch rose highest, planting a firm header towards goal.

    Leno dived, his hand grazing the ball but it was not enough as the ball snuck through and into the net, breaking the deadlock again.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" The away fan section erupted again.

    Gravenberch charged towards the corner flag, sliding on his knees and pumping his fists as he celebrated his goal excitedly.

    In the 53rd minute, Liverpool went back on the lead again.

    Fulham was on the backfoot again.

    "Come on!" Sam clapped, yelling. "We''re still in this!"

    "One goal to turn the tides!"

    "We need just one goal!"

    When the referee''s whistle sounded again, the Fulham players truly came out of their shells as they took the battle to Liverpool.

    And again, Sam was the orchestrator.

    With the urgency to score settling in his brain, setting off all his electrons in an excited state, Sam played at an extraterrestrial level.

    With the ball, he dribbled, skipping past challenges and when he was about to lose it, he played crazy passes, splitting the Liverpool defense open time and time again and finally, it paid fruit.

    In the 60th minute, Sam slipped a pass through the Liverpool defense to Alex Iwobi on the right who did not hesitate, crossing the ball into the box to Muniz.

    The cross was not accurate though, going behind Muniz instead of coming at his front, leaving this striker no choice but to improvise but Muniz did it perfectly.

    With one hand on his jersey, cleverly pulling, the imposing Virgil Van Dijk kept this striker in check but Muniz was unwilling to give up. With eyes dilated in focus, as the ball floated in, he raised his right leg behind him, then¡­

    BAM!

    Muniz improvised, executing a scissor kick as he unleashed a volleyed shot at goal. Allison reacted, diving and touching the ball but again, it snuck past him.

    "YEAHHHH¡­!" Muniz jumped, pumping his fists excitedly as he riled up the Fulham fans who roared with him.

    "Damn! What a game this is turning out to be!"

    "2 teams that are in form, 2-2, what a game!"

    "Muniz, what a goal! Sam is on fire! He played his role on that goal to perfection though it is recorded as an Alex Iwobi assist".

    FWEEEE!

    The game restarted again as both teams played with even greater intensity.

    It was a cagey affair filled with exciting battles all over the pitch, and again, it required a moment of individual brilliance to break the deadlock a 3rd time, and again, it was in Liverpool''s favor.

    And again, it was the menace, Trent Alexander-Arnold.

    "What a pass from Arnold!"

    "Straight through the heart of the Fulham defense! Jota gets it but he''s sandwiched from both sides by Adarabioyo and Bassey, can he wriggle through?"

    "Oh! Twinkle feet, Leno is coming out, and ohhhh¡­ GOALLL!"

    "Diogo Jota has done it! Liverpool is in the lead again!"

    "And that is the 3rd time this game, can Fulham recover from this?"

    Having drifted into midfield with the ball at some point, Trent Alexander-Arnold played an accurate slicing pass through the middle of the Fulham team, right into Diogo Jota''s legs.

    The Liverpool attacker was sandwiched from both sides by Fulham''s center back duo but managing to stand his ground, he pushed forward, keeping the ball away from them with his quick feet.

    Bernd Leno charged out, closing him down.

    And just as Calvin Bassey slid in to clear the ball, like an assassin, Diogo Jota unleashed a whipped shot into the bottom left corner, giving his team the lead for the 3rd time this game.

    In the 72nd minute, it became 2-3 to Liverpool. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Could Fulham recover from this?

 Chapter 144 Imperious form [3]

    Could Fulham recover from this?The Fulham of earlier in the season would have given up, admitting defeat to this behemoth of English football, succumbing to Trent Alexander-Arnold''s freakish brilliance but this was no longer the Fulham of yesterday.

    This was the Fulham of Sam''s era, and post-Sam Fulham feared no opponent.

    They already beat the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea once already, and they could do it again.

    The commentator asked if they could recover from this, the Fulham players'' inner response?

    ''Definitely!'' Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And Sam led this rally.

    FWEEEE!

    After the 3rd goal, the Liverpool players expected to have broken the Fulham players'' spirits. They thought having broken their opponent''s spirits, they could finally dominate, riding this game out but they were in for a rude awakening.

    After that goal in the 72nd minute, Fulham became even more dangerous, more reckless, and much more assertive.

    After the 72nd minute, Fulham played high octane football!

    Bam! Bam! Bam!

    They pinged the ball around at a rapid tempo, slicing through the Liverpool press again and again while the offensive players ran their defenders ragged, unleashing shot after shot, forcing Allison Becker into impressive save constantly.

    For the last 18 minutes of this game, the whole Fulham team played like a tireless monster. The only reason why they didn''t score yet was because of 2 Liverpool players, Virgil Van Dijk and Alisson Becker.

    Buoyed by the incredible performance level of his attacking midfielder behind him, Muniz played like a man possessed, striving to get his 2nd goal by any means possible.

    Virgil Van Dijk''s clever defending helped nullified his threat, including Sam''s, but more credit was on Alisson Becker''s streak of form for the last 18 minutes.

    The Liverpool goalkeeper already saved his team from 2 one-on-one situations, and his lightning-swift reflexes helped him save lethal shots, keeping his team on the game and in the lead.

    If Liverpool won eventually, it would be a hard-fought one, but the Fulham players had no interest in just making it hard for them.

    They wanted to score!

    They wanted to equalize!

    They wanted to win!

    But it was hard¡­

    75 minutes passed, no goal.

    80 minutes passed, no goal.

    85 minutes passed, no goal.

    Then, in the 88th minute, it happened and this time it was all Muniz.

    After a bad Liverpool clearance from Quansah after another game-winning save from Alisson, Muniz pounced on the loose ball.

    As soon as Muniz pounced on the ball, Quansah recovered, trying to redeem his mistake as he closed the striker down aggressively only to be nutmegged by the striker who was already in the zone state.

    "¡­!" The fans around the stadium gasped at the nutmeg.

    Muniz charged after the ball, arriving first but he could not shoot as another enemy shadow outstretched a leg to block his shooting angle.

    Immediately, Muniz improvised, cutting the ball to the right to wriggle past again but Virgil Van Dijk got in his way with his other leg, poking the ball away as this imposing defender saved his team again.

    But it was a loose ball, and before any Liverpool player could get to it, Pereira who already replaced Alex Iwobi in this game rushed at the ball, then¡­

    Bam!

    One-time shot, goal!

    Craven Cottage exploded as Pereira charged toward the corner flag, waving his arms wildly as the riled up and excited Fulham fans roared.

    "Oh my God!"

    "Holy chills! What a super-sub performance!"

    "Pereira has done it! It''s 3-3, what a thriller! What will the end be like?"

    "If it ends like this, then Fulham have succeeded in doing the impossible!"

    All the Liverpool players felt deflated after that goal, but they didn''t give up. As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded again, they regrouped and went again, Trent Alexander-Arnold once again leading the fight-back from the right to get the winner the 4th time in this game.

    After 90 minutes, 8 minutes was added to this game.

    Those 8 minutes were 8 minutes of war!

    It was pound for pound football, both teams trying to impose themselves on the game and then, in the 90th plus 8-minute, mere seconds away from fulltime, Quansah fouled Muniz, bringing him down just outside the box.

    FWEEEE!

    It was a freekick.

    In training, Muniz was the designated Fulham freekick expert but at this moment, this striker felt tense as he stood before the ball.

    The freekick would likely be the last play of this game.

    It was the game-decider.

    Standing before that ball, Muniz felt like the weight of the whole world was on his shoulders. The weight of tens of thousands of Fulham supporters were on his shoulders, hoping that he would score and win them the game.

    The tension was fever-high.

    And that was when Sam approached the striker. "Please, let me take it".

    Muniz looked at Sam. "Are you sure?"

    "Yeah, I''m sure, I want to try it".

    Seeing the look in his eyes, Muniz obliged, patting Sam on the back. Nobody saw this coming, not even the other Fulham players as they were perplexed.

    "Now, what is going on here?"

    "Muniz actually left the chance to Sam, the young Nigerian".

    "We know Sam is good, the boy is a prodigy but a freekick? In a game of this importance? In this time of the game? That''s just reckless, that''s too much pressure on his young shoulders".

    Sam ignored the words of the referee as he walked up to the ball. His eyes were wide, fire burning in them, blazing with the fiery zeal to win.

    As soon as he stood before the ball, he did it.

    ~----~

    [You have accessed ability card: Bend it like Beckham!]

    [Card Effects:]

    >This card can only be used during a set-piece. Once used, for 10 minutes, for every freekick that your team gets, you gain the ability and technique of a prime David Beckham, giving you a +80% scoring buff when taking a free-kick<

    ¡­

    [You have made use of ability card: Bend it like Beckham!]

    ~----~

    Sam closed his eyes and looked up. He took a deep breath, then he did a short-angled run before doing his thing.

    Bam!

    Wrapping the inside of his right boot around the ball, Sam unleashed a curled shot towards the top right corner that evaded the wall of players.

    "¡­!" Craven Cottage froze, watching.

    Alisson Becker went on a full-stretch dive; and again, his hand grazed the ball but it was not enough. He was just unlucky this game.

    The ball nestled into the top right corner.

    "SAMUEL MOSESSSSS¡­!!!" The commentator roared.

    "WHAT A GOALLLL!!!"

    "Zinedine Sam has done it again!"

    "What a moment! He''s singlehandedly won Fulham the game!"

    "All game they''ve had to chase the game from behind Liverpool, and what a way to end it! Finally going ahead in the last minute of the game!"

    Sam charged towards the corner flag amid the roars of the stadium.

    Spreading his arms like a King, he embraced the adoration of the fans and once he got to the corner flag, he did the Jude Bellingham celebration.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!" Chants broke around the stadium.

    As the fans chanted his name though, Sam could not help but notice a familiar face in a corner of the stadium stands.

    He was surprised. ''Huh? Kayla?''

    Fulham won the game 4-3 after an unforgettable thriller.

    Despite Sam''s clutch moment, there was another player that was just above him through the course of the game.

    Despite being on the losing side, with a hand in all 3 of Liverpool''s goals including his freekick, Trent Alexander-Arnold won the man of the match award.

 Chapter 145 Imperious form [4]

    "Sam, you were absolutely incredible today! Despite facing an in-form Liverpool team, you were able to put in the goods for Fulham again, being the stand-out player, pushing your team to win the game"."Today, you scored the first freekick goal of your career".

    "Recently, in every game, it feels like you will soon break one record or another. The other day against Liverpool in the EFL Cup, you broke 2 personal records, scoring your first header goal and a bicycle kick goal".

    "Today again, against the same Liverpool, you broke another personal record, scoring your first freekick goal," the female reporter smiled. "Is it that you just have a thing for breaking records or is it a persona beef with Liverpool?"

    Hearing that question, Sam smiled bashfully, scratching his black hair. "Nah, I don''t think it''s as deep as a beef with Liverpool," he chuckled. "I think when playing against big opponents, I just become more determined to win".

    "The same thing happened with Manchester City. Despite the fact that I was still playing for Enyimba then, I just wanted to do something, anything".

    His smile widened. "Well, I got a hattrick to show for it".

    "Against Liverpool the first time, I managed to book a spot in the final of the EFL Cup for my team. As for today," he grinned. "3 points bagged so yes, I feel great, you don''t need to ask first".

    "Honestly Sam, to majority of premier league ball watchers, the result of this game is a major shocker".

    "Nobody saw Liverpool losing, not after the 3-horse race for the title is ramping up at the top".

    The female reporter looked at him. "Between Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal, after today''s result, who do you think will win the premier league title this season?"

    Sam scratched his hair. "This season, Manchester City is still Manchester City, you just can''t write them off no matter what period of the season we''re in". Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Also, it''s clear that Arsenal already built on the failures of last season. This season, they''re stronger, it doesn''t feel like they''ll bottle the title race again".

    "As for Liverpool, you just can''t write them off too. Under Jurgen Klopp, they''ve created miracles over the years and with the news that the German coach will be stepping down after this season, I believe the Liverpool players will be even more determined to win the title for their coach".

    "Honestly, despite the fact that I acknowledge the effort we put into winning, I still feel that we were favored by a bit of luck".

    "Well, I''ll accept it though," he grinned. "Like they say, fortune favors the bold and I guess luck is a fortune too".

    "What I want to say is that Liverpool has a stake to the title as much as their other 2 challengers. Mohamed Salah is still out injured and they''re playing like this".

    "Just imagine when the Egyptian King is back, Liverpool will be unstoppable".

    "Anyways, I wish all 3 of them luck. All I have to say is that next season," his eyes gleamed. "I promise you; Fulham will be challenging for the title too!"

    "Woah Sam! That''s a big promise!"

    Sam looked at the reporter. "Mark my words! We''ll challenge for the title!"

    With that, the interview finally came to an end. Somehow, the reporter failed to notice that Sam never answered the question she asked.

    Sam didn''t take this interview for winning the man of the match award, Trent Alexander-Arnold won it. Rather, he simply represented his team in place of his captain today, facing the media.

    After the game, Trent Alexander-Arnold also stood before the media with a glum expression on his face.

    "Trent, how do you feel? You played amazing out there today. You contributed to all 3 of your team''s goals and somehow, that was still not enough to win the game, do you think this will affect Liverpool''s title bid?"

    Trent Alexander-Arnold faced the reporter. "To me, it''s just a stumbling block in our title bid but we''re used to facing obstacles".

    "I just want our rivals to know that we won''t give up!"

    "We will keep on fighting, till the very end".

    ¡­

    After the game, taking his gray Lexus IS 350, after signing some autographs and taking pictures with fans, Sam finally drove off.

    When he arrived at his hotel though, he noticed a familiar car enter through the hotel gate just before him. He recognized that car.

    ''Is that¡­?''

    As soon as Sam parked his car, coming out, he finally confirmed his guess as someone stood waiting for him just outside his car.

    Sam smiled brightly. "Kayla right? I saw you at the game".

    "You remember my name, I''m glad". Kayla Banks smiled brightly. "And yes, I was at the game, I promised you I would attend your club''s next game, right?"

    Sam chuckled. "So, how was it? Did you enjoy it?"

    Kayla stared at him incredulously. "Are you serious?!"

    Sam laughed. "So?"

    "Really funny," she laughed half-heartedly. "I really feel like deflating your ego right now but I can''t, Sam, you were amazing!"

    "Against Liverpool?"

    "I never saw it coming," she gushed. "I just came to watch the game out of curiosity, to see you play, I never expected to be treated to such a thriller".

    "In hindsight, I''m glad I went, I would have missed out on such an unforgettable memory".

    She looked at him. "Are you busy?"

    "Not really, I just need to rest, you know to recover and all that".

    "That''s fine!" She grabbed his arm. "Come on, I''ll celebrate your victory with you! Have you tasted the hotel restaurant''s food? They''re nice".

    "Yeah, but¡­"

    "Don''t worry, it''s on me! You don''t need to be shy!"

    In the end, Sam could not reject the act of goodwill from this girl. Kayla dragged him to the restaurant where they enjoyed a good Japanese cuisine, one she personally recommended, stepping it down with a nice wine.

    As they feasted, they engaged in a conversation as they got to know each other more. Kayla was a model and having gotten a contract with a cosmetics company here in Fulham, she was here on a modelling photoshoot.

    Sam spent up to 2 hours with this girl before finally excusing himself. He didn''t want his parents to worry more, it was already long past their video call time.

    He exchanged contacts with Kayla before leaving.

    And with that, Sam did what he was supposed to do after getting home, bath, have a video call session with his family, and sleep to rest.

    When Sam woke up, he got a message from his manager.

    Fulham''s next fixture.

    (Premier league:)

    (Fulham ¨C Crystal Palace)

    (Date: 27th April 2024)

 Chapter 146 Imperious form [5]

    (Premier league:)(Fulham ¨C Crystal Palace)

    (Date: 27th April, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Brentford ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 4th May, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Fulham ¨C Manchester City) sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (Date: 11th May, 2024)

    Fulham''s next game was against Crystal Palace in the premier league.

    After the 2 hours spent alongside Kayla Banks in the restaurant, Sam got a new friend. He didn''t think too deeply into it though and when he next spoke with his best friend, he informed Ian about Kayla.

    "Hmm, Sam Sam," Ian burst out laughing as soon as Sam was done narrating. "Just friends huh?" He laughed.

    "Why are you laughing?"

    "Nothing, absolutely nothing," Ian laughed still. "I just feel like laughing, but just friends?"

    "Yeah, just friends".

    "Ok, I believe you". Ian stared at his best friend for a few seconds and then, not able to help himself, he burst out laughing again.

    "Hey!" Sam complained.

    "Honestly, Sam, sometimes, you''re just so cute and innocent, you''re not like an Abraka bred at all".

    "A girl you just met in the hotel, such a beautiful girl for that matter will just approach you, going to the extent of inconveniencing herself just to get that close to you and you think it''s just to be friends?"

    Sam stared at his best friend. "If it''s to not be friends, then what?"

    "¡­" Ian was speechless. ''You don''t mean it!''

    Ian coughed violently. "Ahem¡­, never mind, she''s just a friend, yeah".

    "Right".

    Ian coughed again.

    ¡­

    After that episode involving Kayla and Ian, Sam quickly slept everything off and when he woke up the next day, he was as fresh as freshly baked bread.

    ''The grind continues''.

    Without hesitation, Sam went about his day, starting it with completing his daily system quest like usual before quickly getting set and reporting for training.

    After the game against Liverpool, it was clear to the premier league that Fulham FC was back in form and teams were now wary of them again.

    Despite their recent form, the Fulham squad was not complacent though, especially Sam. After learning the bitter price of underestimating an opponent, he never dared to make the same mistake a second time.

    This was why Sam dived into training again and motivated by his work rate, his teammates strived to go beyond their limits again.

    Like this, the days moved swiftly and in no time, it was already 6 days.

    It was D-day of Fulham''s next game.

    Welcoming Crystal Palace to Craven Cottage, under the roar of tens of thousands of Fulham supporters, the Fulham players proved to their fans on the pitch that their form was here to stay on the long run.

    From the very first minute, the Fulham players full of energy ran the Crystal Palace players ragged, totally dominating the midfield battle.

    Fulham held possession for majority of this game but they found it hard to score a goal, until a moment of individual brilliance from their star.

    This time, it was De Cordova-Reid. After receiving a pass from Palhinha, the Fulham winger went on a mazy run, gliding past multiple Crystal Palace players before poking the ball into the bottom corner of the net in emphatic fashion.

    In the 38th minute, De Cordova-Reid broke the deadlock.

    After that, the Fulham domination only became more absolute but the second goal refused to come till halftime.

    Throughout the first half, Crystal Palace''s attack was completely nullified.

    When second half started, the Fulham intensity reduced a bit but they remained the dominating team and in the 52nd minute, Muniz finally added the nail to the coffin, scoring a screamer to take the game totally from Crystal Palace.

    For the rest of the game, Fulham dominated till a Crystal Palace shocker in the 87th minute against the run of play cut the Fulham lead to half.

    It was just a consolation goal though, the game ended 2-1 in Fulham''s favor.

    This was a team in imperious form.

    Despite not getting a goal contribution, Sam still had a solid performance.

    6 days later, Fulham went on the road, and this time, they played in enemy territory, in Brentford''s home stadium, the 17,250 capacity Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford.

    In this game, many predicted Fulham to finally lose their winning streak against a dangerous Brentford side and at first, it was truly a tough game.

    After an intense first half heavyweight clash that saw 5 yellow cards, including Sam taking his first yellow card of the season, the game ended 0-0.

    During second half, both teams came at each other with even more intensity.

    With the dangerous duo of Ivan Toney, the English center forward and Mbeumo, Brentford were absolutely devastating on the attack but the Fulham attack did not pale in comparison as they were also menacing.

    This was a high-octane game of attacking football. The defense of both teams were stretched, pushed to their limits by the unrelenting attacks from both sides.

    And finally, after a tight affair for almost 80 minutes, the deadlock was broken and this time, having missed out on a goal contribution in the previous game, Sam became the decider this time.

    And this time, he scored from a header.

    Abusing his height as a corner kick was floated in by Willian, Sam outjumped all the other players, heading into the bottom corner to score a bullish goal, once again showing his relentless competitive spirit.

    As soon as the ball entered the net, even as the stadium went silent, Sam charged towards the corner and when he slowed down, he pointed his fingers to heaven, doing the iconic Messi gratitude celebration.

    For the rest of this game, 10+ minutes, the Brentford players played like men possessed as they chased the equalizer but it was not meant to be.

    During the final minutes, Bernd Leno was absolutely immense, turning into a prime Thibaut Courtois as he thwarted all Brentford attacks, helping his team hold on till the final whistle.

    With that win, Fulham extended their winning streak to 4 wins.

    Fulham was truly in imperious form but after their run of 4 straight wins, finally, after the Brentford game, they faced their greatest test of grit yet.

    Fulham''s next game, they would be taking on the indomitable Manchester City who already entered their unstoppable title-charging form.

    This game was poised to be Fulham''s greatest test all season.

    Could they perform a miracle and win?

    Or more realistically, could they even rescue a point against Manchester City by getting a draw?

 Chapter 147 Test of grit; against Manchester City! [1]

    (Premier league:)(Fulham ¨C Manchester City)

    (Date: 11th May, 2024)

    Grit, what was it?

    In the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, grit is the firmness of mind or spirit; unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger.

    Fulham FC were definitely not in a danger of any kind, but they were definitely in a hard spot; they were facing a hardship called Manchester City.

    After winning 4 of the last 5 premier league titles already, in England, Manchester City were notorious and hated just as they were loved.

    To most premier league fans, Manchester City was the enduring threat pushing to turn the most competitive league in the world into a farmer''s league.

    And during these years of domination, Manchester City were known for a certain trait, the late title charge!

    Last season, in the 2-peat title race against Arsenal, at some point in the 2022/2023 premier league season, Arsenal led the league table by 11 points but a late charge of 15 straight wins secured Manchester City the title.

    Manchester City was not a team of miracles like Real Madrid in the champions league knockout stages, rather, they were a team that never even needed miracles because they almost always get the job done.

    In the premier league, they were the no. 1 team to beat.

    And finally, after securing their incredible winning streak of 4 games, Fulham faced their greatest test in the form of the league champions.

    Getting a single point from Man City was going to be a big challenge.

    The Fulham players didn''t lose hope though, their mentality already underwent an incredible shift since the beginning of January till now.

    Fulham had 13 days after their Crystal Palace game to properly prepare for their greatest challenge all season, and boy, did the boys put in the effort.

    In the build up to the game, all the Fulham players trained like their lives were on the line, they trained like they were preparing to play the champions league final and not just a league game.

    Physically and mentally, all the Fulham players were in their best state before the game and finally, D-day came.

    The star-studded Manchester City team made the trip to Fulham.

    In the tunnel, after using his upgraded snooping tool on them, Sam was not surprised to see that half of this Manchester City team all had passive skills.

    This was a team of superstars; their full starting XI were international players.

    Sam was not deterred by what his snooping system showed him though, rather the provocative sight only left his competitive spirit blazing even more fiercely, and finally, they entered the pitch.

    After the toss of the coin to determine the team to start kick-off, the referee''s whistle finally sounded, bringing the game underway.

    FWEEEE!

    Manchester City started kick-off.

    From the first minute, the energetic Fulham players charged after the ball, trying to win it back quickly with their incredible press but the Manchester City players stayed extremely composed under pressure.

    With Mateo Kovacic and Rodri pinging it around in the midfield, Bernardo Silva dropping deep to help them, Manchester City easily beat the aggressive press, slowing the game down to their desired tempo.

    The game was just starting but Manchester City was already showing their superiority. They dominated the game during the first few minutes.

    When the Fulham players noticed that their press was not working against the press-resistant Manchester City players, they reduced the intensity just as their coach instructed them, focusing on zonal marking.

    For a time, it worked, till it no longer worked.

    The deadlock was broken early in the 13th minute of this game.

    After receiving a pass on the left-hand side, the silky England forward, Phil Foden went on a mazy run, showcasing his flair and quick feet as he drifted past Fulham players like they were not there.

    When Palhinha challenged this forward, Phil Foden nutmegged him, setting himself up and that was when he unleashed a rocket shot with his left foot.

    The ball homed into the top right corner like a missile but could only hit the post, rebounding. Having made an overlapping run alongside Foden from the left though, the Man City left back, Josko Gvardiol pounced on the loose ball first, rifling it back into the net.

    Bernd Leno was rooted to the spot.

    0-1 to Manchester City in just the 13th minute.

    When the game restarted, Manchester City threatened to score another one immediately as Erling Haaland scuffed his shot just wide of the post.

    Kevin De Bruyne came close a few minutes later, only hitting the post as Manchester City dominated but Fulham stayed in the fight. They were being dominated, but the body language of the Fulham players never stopped being combative. They were determined to cause an upset.

    The rest of the first half, Manchester City dominated while Fulham threatened and yet, a second goal failed to materialize in this game.

    During halftime, Coach Marco Silva gave his players the most passionate speech that Sam had ever heard from him since joining Fulham.

    And when they re-entered the pitch, they entered with the same combative energy, briefly catching the napping Manchester City off-guard.

    This time, Sam opened the deadlock.

    After beating Manchester City''s offside line with a perfectly timed late run, Sam expertly brought the ball under control with his chest from Palhinha''s cross and as Ederson charged towards him, he lobbed the ball above the goalkeeper and into the net.

    1-1.

    Sam brought the game level in the 51st minute of this game.

    That goal certainly brought Craven Cottage back to life after the fans'' enthusiasm drastically reduced due to Manchester City''s domination since.

    The fans in black, white, and red regained their energy as they roared their team on. Immediately after getting the first goal to bring the game level, Sam came close again to score an immediate second only to be thwarted by a terrific save from Ederson, the Brazilian goalkeeper.

    Muniz came close shortly after too, this time orchestrated by Sam. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It was clear that this second half after being shackled by the superior Manchester City team since, Sam was finally in his element.

    Manchester City still dominated possession but Fulham was more threatening now, but against the run of play though, Man City, the English champions were the team to go ahead again.

    And again, it was Phil Foden, the English forward.

 Chapter 148 Test of grit; against Manchester City! [2]

    Again, it was Phil Foden and again, it was another silky-smooth dribble.Having caused the first goal through his mazy dribbling, Phil Foden went on another of those mazy runs again.

    Palhinha tried to hold the English forward down but with his flair, Foden left him for dead, drifting into the Fulham 18-yard box like he was surfing a wave.

    Calvin Bassey slid in for an aggressive sliding tackle only for this player to flick the ball above him, jumping after it and as Diop blocked with his leg, Foden unleashed a whipped shot, shooting the ball in between the legs of this defender.

    The ball rushed towards the bottom left corner like a missile. This time, Leno dived, almost hitting his head against the post but it was not enough.

    Agonizingly, the ball snuck past.

    1-2.

    Charging towards the corner flag, Foden jumped and pumped a fist in celebration as his teammates swarmed him.

    When the game eventually restarted, the situation became cagey again as Manchester City regained their dominance, Kevin De Bruyne occasionally showing his ability even as Erling Haaland was locked all game.

    Manchester City dominated for large swaths of the second half after getting the second goal, but 2 minutes of ridiculous brilliance turned the game on its head.

    The first happened in the 67th minute.

    It was from a corner kick and rising above every player in this pitch, Sam managed to get to the ball, powering a header past Ederson to draw his team level in the 67th minute of the game.

    And just a minute later, almost immediately after Manchester City restarted play, Sam managed to steal the ball before driving with it at the Manchester City defense without hesitation.

    No one supported him but Sam did not hesitate due to that and already in the zone state, he seemed to turn into a replica of Messi.

    Sam skipped past one, beating Rodri with his pace, before obliterating Mateo Kovacic with his technique, skipping past him with a roulette.

    And as he approached the defense, Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias shadowing him from both sides, Sam managed to do the impossible, cutting through 2 of the best defenders in the world with an immaculate executed elastico dribble. This was still the most lethal weapon in his arsenal.

    With that dribble, he went through the whole Manchester City team and as Ederson rushed out, Sam poked the ball with the outside of his right boot.

    It just rolled past Ederson''s outstretched legs. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!" The commentator screamed.

    "2 minutes of madness!"

    "2 minutes of pure Sam magic!"

    "My GODDD! Can anything stop Sam?!"

    "What a solo run, what a solo goal! Against Manchester City!"

    "Damn! He''s the sky blues'' bane, that''s 6 goals in just 2 games against them! What a record!"

    "Sam definitely loves playing against City!"

    It was 3-2 to Fulham all of a sudden, it seemed like magic.

    ''Another hattrick!'' Sam thought, drenched in euphoria.

    Not able to contain his overflowing emotions, Sam charged towards the corner flag and once he got there, he leaped into the air, executing an acrobatic backflip even as the Fulham fans started with the chants.

    "SAM!" "SAM!" "SAM!"

    Once Sam landed, acknowledging the fans, he kissed the Fulham badge passionately and then, the game eventually resumed.

    Both coaches made changes after that goal, making contrasting attacking and defensive changes as Pep Guardiola turned in the heat.

    And on the pitch, after the referee''s whistle sounded again to continue the game, the Fulham players felt the heat.

    Erling Haaland who had been anonymous for most of this game became bullish, physically torturing the Fulham center back duo and stretching the defense to let those behind him thrive.

    And thrive was exactly what those behind him did.

    Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne led the offense, Bernardo Silva sprinkling salt on top, but then, it was the Man City left back that produced the goods again.

    This time, Josko Gvardiol started the play all the way from deep in his half. This powerful left back went on a marauding run with the ball through the left-hand side of the pitch.

    Bombing past Castagne with his physicality and technique, the bullish left back managed to hold off the challenge from the Fulham center backs long enough for him to power a shot into the bottom left corner, beating Leno in his corner.

    It was uncharacteristic poor goalkeeping from the Fulham no. 1.

    But it had massive repercussions, Manchester City were back level just 3 minutes after going behind as Gvardiol drew the game level again in the 71st minute of this game.

    This game was proving to be a similar thriller to the one Fulham and Liverpool played almost 2 weeks ago.

    With that goal, the tension became even higher.

    Manchester City dominated, threatening and constantly forcing the Fulham players to put their bodies on the line to defend.

    The Fulham players played like they were in a battlefield.

    They defended with their lives and this was when Sam showed his specialty, locking out his area of the pitch completely with his incredible stamina till an error from Ederson, the Man City goalkeeper proved the decider in the 83rd minute.

    It was a gamble outside the box shot from Palhinha after trying other means to no avail. No way was that shot supposed to enter the goal, but after catching the ball, handling it, Ederson bounced it on the ground.

    Instead of hitting the ground though, the ball hit his boot instead, bouncing backwards instead of back up as it rolled into his net.

    "¡­!"

    Craven Cottage was briefly silenced; this was the most inexplicable of own goals but then this stadium erupted again.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!" The Fulham fans celebrated wildly.

    The Fulham players also celebrated, even God seemed to be on their side this game.

    For the final minutes of this game, it was Man City offense vs Fulham defense. Literally all the Man City players camped in Fulham''s half, bombarding them with attack after attack as Fulham defended with their lives.

    90 minutes, no goal¡­

    90 plus 1 minute, no goal¡­

    90 plus 2 minutes, no goal¡­

    90 plus 3 minutes, no goal¡­

    90 plus 4 minutes, no goal¡­

    90 plus 5 minutes, it finally happened as Diop took one for the team, dragging Julian Alvarez down in the box who already replaced Erling Haaland at some point.

    FWEEE!

    The Fulham center back received a straight red card, and then a penalty was awarded to Manchester City.

    The fans felt a bit disappointed but they didn''t show it as they applauded their center back as he walked out of the pitch.

    When Alvarez stood to take the penalty, the Fulham fans drowned him in an ocean of boos, trying to affect his concentration.

    The pressure of the moment was immense but having won a World Cup already after playing a starring role, this striker had nerves of steel.

    He calmly sent Bernd Leno the other way, shooting towards the left and into the net to score and drag Manchester City back level in the dying minutes of this game.

    4-4, and that was it.

    After an incredible thriller where both teams played their best football, football won as both teams shared the spoils.

    Fulham broke Manchester City''s winning streak and vice versa.

    But from a Fulham perspective though, it was still a win as they extended their unbeaten streak to 6 games unbeaten.

 Chapter 149 Matchday 38 of the premier league

    Immediately after the win against Manchester City in Craven Cottage, the Fulham fans stayed behind in the stadium as they celebrated their players.Fulham threw a mini party immediately after the game.

    This was not an impromptu decision though, rather, it was a premeditated one. After the best season of their lives in recent years, with a trophy to go with it, the EFL Cup, Fulham now celebrated their amazing season.

    They celebrated because the season was drawing to an end.

    The game against Manchester City was matchday 37 of the 2023/2024 premier league season, which meant the next game would decide the season.

    Amid loud singing and chanting from the fans around the stadium, together, the Fulham squad ran around the stadium, acknowledging their fans even as champagne and beer were used to spice up the occasion.

    Sam didn''t partake in the drinking though, his immune system never agreed with alcohol till today.

    The celebration did not take too long, this was because the Fulham club already planned an open bus parade to take the celebrations of their first trophy in years to the next gear.

    All the Fulham players joined the bus parade, including Sam as they drove around Fulham, jubilating with their fans.

    At the end of it all, Sam got back to his hotel room very late.

    He was thoroughly exhausted though. He didn''t waste time, quickly taking his bath before falling into the cool embrace of sleep.

    The next day, when Sam woke up, nothing changed, his regular schedule continued. Fulham was in imperious form but it did not mean he would turn complacent due to the great mood around the club.

    Instead of getting complacent, Sam only took it as more motivation to work hard and keep the high standards of his team.

    That morning, he completed his daily system quest like usual before taking the rest of the day to sleep and rest properly since Coach Marco Silva gave his players 2 days of rest after the performance against Manchester City.

    After the 2 days of rest though, Sam resumed training.

    Alongside his teammates, he trained intensely, preparing for their last game of the premier league season against Luton Town, the newly promoted club that was fighting against relegation.

    The next game would decide Luton Town''s fate, if they would stay in the premier league or if they would be relegated to the lower division league.

    This reason made the next game a must-win one for Luton Town. But Fulham also wanted to win, they wanted to end the season with a bang.

    On the next matchday, these 2 desires would clash in the last footballing battle of the season for Fulham.

    Coach Marco Silva already released the line-up and fixtures to his players some time ago.

    (Premier league:)

    (Matchday 38 of 38:)

    Your next chapter is on empire

    (Liverpool ¨C Wolves)

    (Date: 19th May, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Sheffield United ¨C Tottenham)

    (Date: 19th May, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Luton Town ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 19th May, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Brighton ¨C Man United)

    (Date: 19th May, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Man City ¨C West Ham)

    (Date: 19th May, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Arsenal ¨C Everton)

    (Date: 19th May, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Brentford ¨C Newcastle)

    (Date: 19th May, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Crystal Palace ¨C Aston Villa)

    (Date: 19th May, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Burnley ¨C Nottingham Forest)

    (Date: 19th May, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Chelsea ¨C Bournemouth)

    (Date: 19th May, 2024)

    It was the final matchday of the 2023/2024 premier league season.

    Following the tradition of previous seasons, on the last matchday, all the 20 clubs of the premier league would be playing at the same time, going at it one last time to decide their final position in the league table and most importantly, the winner of the 2023/2024 premier league title.

    Not only would it decide the premier league champion, it would also decide the champions league spots, including the Europa league spot, and the clubs that would be relegated out of the premier league entirely.

    The days to the build-up of these games was filled with anticipation.

    The players themselves felt the same way as they put their all in training every day, and in the blink of an eye, it was D-day again.

    The Fulham team went to away ground, Luton Town''s home stadium.

    Standing on the pitch in the last game of the 2023/2024 premier league season, Sam felt hyped. ''This is my first regular end to a season considering that the last NPFL season was an abridged format''. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''Last game of the season,'' he grinned. ''One more chance to shove myself in the limelight''.

    Sam approached this game with a winning mentality.

    And when the referee''s whistle started, with him leading in the middle of the pitch, Fulham quickly asserted their authority over this game.

    For this game, an entirely different line-up started with the likes of Raul Jimenez, Adama, Wilson, Reed, Tete, and Ream all starting.

    Despite the mix-up, Fulham were still the superior team.

    And like expected, Fulham opened the scoring first through Adama after a dangerous cross from Sam after dominating as the best player of this game since.

    It came late in the 43rd minute but finally, the floodgates opened.

    Just 3 minutes later, in the 45th plus 1 minute, Fulham conceded a penalty as Morris, the Luton Town right winger stepped up to score an emphatic penalty.

    But 2 minutes later, Fulham extended their league again through Jimenez this time from a simple tap-in after some scrambling in the Luton Town box.

    Half-time ended with Fulham leading.

    When second half started, Fulham took it a notch higher and it was all Sam as he extended Fulham''s lead, scoring a screamer in the 49th minute.

    Luton Town were losing by 2 goals but facing the threat of relegation, this team dug in to score another goal in the 55th minute, reducing the lead.

    It was not enough to save them though.

    14 minutes later, Sam added the nail to the coffin, going on a mazy run from midfield before rounding Kaminski, the Fulham goalkeeper and scoring an amazing goal to send the away section of this stadium roaring for the umpteenth time this game.

    In the 69th minute, Luton Town were trailing 2 goals down again.

    For the rest of this game, Luton Town tried their best buoyed by the loud noise being made by their fans as they tried to force a comeback but they could not. The game ended 2-4 in Fulham''s favor.

    And with that, Fulham''s season officially came to an end, spiced up with a win.

    Not just Fulham''s, the 2023/2024 premier league season officially came to an end and with it, the final league table was decided.

    The 2023/2024 premier league champion was decided.

    Manchester City were the champions of England again for a record 4th straight time.

 Chapter 150 2023/2024 premier league champions; Manchester City

    (Premier league:)(Matchday 38 of 38:)

    (Liverpool 2-0 Wolves)

    (Date: 19th May, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Sheffield United 0-3 Tottenham)

    (Date: 19th May, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Luton Town 2-4 Fulham)

    (Date: 19th May, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Brighton 0-2 Man United)

    (Date: 19th May, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Man City 3-1 West Ham)

    (Date: 19th May, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Arsenal 2-1 Everton)

    (Date: 19th May, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Brentford 2-4 Newcastle)

    (Date: 19th May, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Crystal Palace 5-0 Aston Villa)

    (Date: 19th May, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Burnley 1-2 Nottingham Forest)

    (Date: 19th May, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Chelsea 2-1 Bournemouth)

    (Date: 19th May, 2024)

    ***

    (Final premier league table:)

    (2023/2024 season:)

    1. Man City

    2. Arsenal

    3. Liverpool

    4. Aston Villa

    5. Tottenham

    6. Chelsea

    7. Newcastle

    8. Man United

    9. Fulham

    10. West Ham

    11. Crystal Palace

    12. Brighton

    13. Bournemouth

    14. Wolves

    15. Everton

    16. Brentford

    17. Nottm Forest

    18. Luton Town

    19. Burnley

    20. Sheffield United

    (Champions: Manchester City!)

    After a grueling 38-matchday season of elite football, the English premier league was finally decided and with it, history was made.

    Manchester City completed their dynasty under Pep Guardiola as after winning an unprecedented treble just last season, they continued, making it a 4-peat of straight premier league titles won by the Manchester based club as they dethroned their rivals, Manchester United of the record.

    Manchester City created history under Pep Guardiola.

    After a tight race all season, even as Liverpool dropped out of the race at some point, Arsenal under Mikel Arteta went all the way again this season but unfortunately, they could only settle for second spot again.

    Only 2 points separated them from the champions.

    Again, an impressive season from Arsenal only ended in misery. They were beginning to develop a reputation as bottlers.

    Aston Villa completed the top four spot after a mighty impressive season under Unai Simon, the ex-Arsenal coach. They completed the round-up of 4 English clubs that would be playing in the champions league next season.

    The other clubs of the famed big 6 of England settled for lesser European competitions next season having not made the top four spot in the league table.

    While the battle up top was fierce, so also was the battle at the bottom.

    Despite playing impressive football under their coach, Vincent Kompany, the Man City legend, Burnley could only settle for 19th position in the league.

    That position meant relegation.

    Sheffield United and Luton Town rounded up the 3 clubs that would be relegated out of the premier league for the 2024/2025 season.

    Personally, for Fulham, this was a mightily impressive season.

    When Sam just joined this club in January, Fulham hovered between 13th and 14th position in the league. Fast-forward to now, Fulham managed to finish at an incredible position of 9th beneath Manchester United.

    Sam did not quite achieve his initial goal of dragging Fulham to a European football spot, but still, he did enough to drag his team as far as he could.

    The performances against Liverpool and Manchester City in the league were still highlights that the Fulham fans would not forget anytime soon.

    9th position? To Fulham, this was an achievement worth celebrating on its own. Add the EFL Cup trophy into the discussion and Fulham suddenly had so many things to celebrate about.

    At the beginning of the season, to most Fulham fans and the media, Antonee Robinson, the American left back was the frontrunner from the start to win Fulham''s player of the season award for the 2023/2024 season.

    But at the end, things changed.

    Despite the fact that Sam joined Fulham only halfway through the season, having missed the entire first half, his impact was felt. Stay updated with empire

    Mere weeks after joining Fulham, not only was he able to drag his team to the final of the EFL Cup, he managed to help Fulham win it''s first trophy in years.

    Not just that, with his addition, Fulham''s performances in the league improved vastly compared to the first half of the season.

    These reasons and more were why at the end of the season, Fulham FC announced the recipient of their Player of the Season award as Samuel Moses.

    The fans were 100% in support of the decision.

    Sam took the award from his coach even as Marco Silva hugged him. This coach was emotional as he kissed the young Nigerian on the forehead.

    This was definitely the greatest season of his professional football career as a coach.

    He was glad that scout recommended Sam to the club.

    After the on-pitch celebrations which were made short since they were not in their home stadium, as the Fulham players left the pitch, going to the dressing room to get set to leave the stadium, Sam''s system lit up with new notifications.

    ~----~

    [You have completed premier league matchday mission: Victory!]

    [You played all 90 minutes of this game, contributing with 2 goals and 1 assist, being named the man of the match!]

    [Calculating reward¡­, please wait¡­]

    [Calculation complete!]

    [You have been rewarded with 15 Skill Points!]

    ¡­

    [The 2023/2024 premier league season has come to an end!]

    [Your team''s final league position: 9th!]

    [You have been rewarded with 1000 Skill Points!]

    ¡­

    [Congratulations! Your performances through the season were recognized and you won the Fulham Player of the Season award for the 2023/2024 season!]

    [You have been rewarded with 3000 Skill Points!]

    [Congratulation! You have received attribute rewards!] S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Your physicality attribute has increased by +3]

    [Your dribbling attribute has increased by +2]

    ¡­

    Player Attributes:

    *Pace: 81

    *Shot: 79

    *Pass: 80

    *Dribbling: 76

    *Defending: 38

    *Physicality: 76

    *Stamina: 84

    Overall Rating: 81

    ~----~

    Joining his teammates, jubilating, they returned to Craven Cottage. Through the journey, with his iPhone, Sam watched as the Manchester City celebrations started, celebrating their trophy haul.

    Watching them lift the premier league title again, he could not help but smile. ''That''s my goal next season!''

    After arriving at Craven Cottage, the players eventually separated to their different ways after a long speech from their coach.

    It was still just a few months since Sam came to England but it already felt like he was living here his whole life, he adapted like a fish to water.

    He didn''t leave the stadium yet though, he waited and about a dozen minutes later, someone walked into the park.

    "Sam!" A familiar voice called.

    Wearing trending tight jean trousers and a vintage polo shirt with nice-looking dark shades, Ian swaggered into the park.

    Sam grinned. "Bastard, finally you came".

    The 2 best friends laughed.

    Yesterday, Ian came to England. He watched Fulham''s last game of the season live and now, Sam had all the time in the world to spend with his best friend.

    To footballers, it was holiday!

 Chapter 151 Holiday [1]

    There was only 1 reason why Ian was here in London.Ian was here because for Sam, it was holiday time.

    Sam came to England in January after signing his contract with Fulham, and since then, it was already 5 months.

    While to Ian, it was 5 months of eventually pursuing his dream and gaining admission into medical school, to Sam, it was 5 months of also pursuing his dream, playing football in the premier competition of English football.

    To Sam, 2022 still felt just like yesterday when his mom still banned him from playing football. From December 2022 till now, it was not even 2 years yet and in that short time, Sam''s life already turned around completely.

    Not only was he making a lot of money now, money he never dreamt of a few months ago, he was also pursuing his dream of playing football.

    Since January, Sam never really got a moment of rest as a professional football player playing for Fulham. Even as he never made the Fulham starting XI back in January yet, he still trained and prepared like all his other teammates.

    When he eventually made the starting XI, his workload increased even more, truly pushing him into the busy elite tier of footballers.

    After 5 months of grueling football at the top level though, now, finally, Sam got a holiday to rest.

    He didn''t waste it and having planned with his best friend; he paid the flight fee for Ian to come to England to come meet him.

    Not just Ian though, Sophia, his younger sister also came with him.

    They had plans.

    After such a grueling but successful first season in England, Sam was determined to splurge money to make his first major holiday as a famous professional football player memorable.

    Ian drove the car back home, letting Sam rest. It was just months ago since Sam last saw his sister but seeing her again, he was surprised. ''Damn! Is she feeding on fertilizers?''

    Sophia already grew so much, looking incredibly beautiful already.

    They arrived at the hotel room to see that Sophia already got her stuff ready, including her travelling luggage. "Welcome big bro!" She jumped in his arms excitedly on seeing him.

    "Congratulations on your first season!"

    ''She greeted me first?'' Sam was perplexed. ''That''s a first, she almost always greets Ian first when we are together''. Sam shrugged, hugging his sister and getting ready to go arrange his luggage when he noticed something.

    "Welcome back". Sophia said.

    "Are you ready?" Ian asked, leaning in and kissing his sister on the cheek.

    "¡­!" Sam was alarmed.

    That was supposed to be a harmless gesture but knowing his best friend and his sister for years, picking up on that sudden incongruity, he had a hunch what it meant immediately as he looked at Ian with big eyes.

    "W-what?" Noticing his glare, Ian blushed and stammered.

    Sam''s gaze alternated between his best friend and his sister, noting both of their faces gradually turn pink, and then he glared at his best friend. "Come on Ian! She''s just 16!"

    "17 now!" Sophia quickly corrected, defiantly staring at her brother. "My birthday was on March, remember?"

    "But still," Sam sighed. "Since when did this start?" Stay connected with empire

    Ian coughed, throwing an awkward glance at Sophia. "Umm, just last month". He looked at his best friend. "Don''t worry Sam, nothing has happened between us".

    "You bastard! How dare you date my sister?"

    After a little scuffle between the 2 best friends, Sam finally accepted the reality unwillingly. Despite accepting it, he still glared daggers at Ian.

    Not willing to spend a day more in England though, he quickly got ready before finally following his best friend and sister out.

    When he was younger, in his prime years of watching anime, Sam once had a childish dream of traveling to Japan on a vacation when he was rich enough.

    While matchday 38 of the premier league approached and as he trained rigorously to prepare for it, Sam also planned with his best friend.

    After the past 5 months, he deserved a good vacation with family.

    Ian already booked the tickets since yesterday. All they had to do was check out of the hotel and drive to the airport, and their journey started.

    Sam flew to Japan for a well-deserved vacation.

    At the airport, fans recognized him though, taking pictures of him and effectively informing the whole world that he was going on a trip to Japan.

    Celebrity life was still something that Sam was yet to fully get used to.

    ¡­

    There were lots of things to do in Japan.

    Of course, the first thing that Sam did on arriving was sleep. He needed it after entering the road shortly after the game against Luton Town.

    While he slept, Ian and his sister went on a lovers'' date.

    After waking up, Sam treated himself to some local Japanese food just as he dreamed about long ago, and with that, his vacation officially started. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    For the next few days, alongside his best friend and sister, Sam toured Japan, engaging in different memorable activities and one of the most memorable ones for Sam was finally getting to enjoy one of those Japanese hot baths.

    Well, he had to say, it was an experience, a cleansing experience.

    Sitting in that pool of water, Sam felt all the accumulated stress in his body drifting away with the wind. It was like a form of meditation in itself.

    Staring at his sister and Ian who were on the opposite side of the pool, giggling and having a fun time, he felt a bit concerned and also a bit envious.

    "Ahh," he sighed, thinking. ''This would have been perfect with a companion''.

    For the past few days, Ian never stopped teasing him about his inability to get a girlfriend yet. Sam never really attributed much importance to it till now.

    This vacation would have indeed felt much nicer with a companion of the opposite sex who was not his sister.

    Thinking of a companion, he could not help but think of a certain girl, Kayla. ''Ah, yes, I took her contact but I never got to hit her up''.

    ''I hope now is not too late''. Sam did it.

 Chapter 152 Holiday [2]

    "What?!" Ian stared at his best friend incredulously."A girl is coming?" She took another glance at Sam. "To meet you?!"

    Sam felt a bit offended. "What do you mean by that reaction? Do you think a girl can''t come to meet me?"

    "No, no, it''s not that," Ian chuckled. "I''m just surprised, you know, you never really seemed like the type that could pull a girl".

    "Get lost bastard!" Sam cursed.

    Ian laughing, escaping from him.

    Well, it did feel incredulous to Sam too. He didn''t call Kayla though; all he did was send a WhatsApp chat message to the girl and she answered almost immediately like she had been waiting for it all this while.

    Sam never knew that she stayed in Netherlands till then.

    Apparently, she was English but her parents moved to Netherlands when she was younger, so she lived most of her life growing up in Netherlands.

    To Sam''s shock, despite literally being halfway across the world, Kayla Banks agreed to travel all the way to meet him in Japan.

    Sam still couldn''t believe that he asked her, what came over him? Was his best friend now influencing him? But what shocked him most was her agreement to come.

    It was crazy, almost scripted but it was reality. In the end, Sam had no choice but to accept the reality. And heck, he felt excited about it.

    The next day, Kayla finally arrived in Japan.

    "Ian, Sophia, this is Kayla".

    "Kayla, meet Ian and Sophia, my best friend and little sister".

    "Nice to meet you Kayla," Ian said with a big smile on his face, walking closer to her. "I am his best friend and she''s his little sister, and you are?" He asked in a mischievous tone.

    Sam glared daggers at his best friend. Before she could answer, he did. "Kayla is my very good friend".

    Kayla smiled. "Yeah, we''re friends".

    "Wow!" Ian exclaimed exaggeratedly. "A friend that can go halfway around the world for you," he stared with dreamy eyes. "They''re rare to come by, I''d know since even my best friend never went halfway around the world for me".

    Sam glared at Ian. "T-that''s enough, let''s go inside".

    "Yeah, let''s go inside," Ian grinned. "Let''s go know ourselves more".

    Well, it was safe to say that this vacation just became spicier.

    Sam didn''t just rent a hotel room in Japan this time though, rather, he rented a small villa here in the city of Tokyo, Japan.

    The villa had 5 rooms, more than enough room for all of them.

    That morning, Sophia made food. Having voiced her interest in Nigerian homemade foods earlier to him during their conversation in the restaurant back in Fulham some time ago, Kayla agreed that she would partake in the feast.

    While they ate, they got to know each other more.

    At first it was awkward, but with Ian who was ever ready to spice the conversation up, Kayla soon became comfortable, feeling at home.

    Around this girl, Sam felt a bit unlike himself. Today was one of those days when he was truly grateful to his best friend for easing the atmosphere up with his talk, he appreciated it.

    As they ate, discussing different topics, he could not help but pay attention to her more.

    Due to football and a lot of other things that always took his attention, he never took the time to pay attention to Kayla beyond the superficial till today.

    She was a beautiful white girl with silky smooth skin. Her deep black hair was long, falling freely down her back. Her eyes were blue and dreamy, making Sam wonder how on earth he failed to appreciate them since.

    "Ahem," Ian cleared his throat, interrupting Sam and throwing a knowing glance at him. "You don''t stare that hard the first time".

    ''What?! Bastard!'' Sam blushed, staring daggers at his friend. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ian only chuckled.

    After eating, they took their time to admire the scenery of Japan from the balcony of the villa before Kayla suggested that they go skiing.

    Unfortunately, Sam, his best friend, and his sister had zero idea about skiing. Kayla volunteered to teach them though, prompting them to go.

    Well, at the end of it all, they had an enjoyable time.

    In the evening, due to her presence, Sam insisted to go back for another hot bath. And this time, he was no longer envious.

    No one said it explicitly, but Kayla naturally stayed close to him in the water.

    Feeling her presence close, Sam felt his body heating up. It was a feeling that he was not exactly used though. ''Damn, this is so embarrassing!''

    Noting his unease, Kayla initiated a conversation, making him feel at ease.

    And before he knew it, he already forgot about being embarrassed as together, he engaged in conversations with her, getting to know her more.

    From one conversation to another, Kayla eventually asked a question. "You don''t have a social media handler?" She was genuinely surprised.

    "No, is it important?"

    "For a popular person like you? Very important". She nodded. "Give me your phone, let''s go through your social media handles, how many social media platforms do you have an account in?"

    Sam tilted his head and counted. "I think WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram".

    "You don''t have a tik tok account?"

    "Not really," Sam chucked. "It''s been dormant for a long time".

    Kayla sighed, shaking her head. "You''re really wasting a lot of your fame potential".

    Taking his phone, she went online and finally, she accessed what she wanted.

    (Instagram ¨C Samuel Moses)

    (3M+ followers)

    (4 posts)

    "3 million followers and just 4 posts?!" Kayla looked at him reproachfully. "Your social media really needs some work".

    "By the way, those 4 posts, what did you post?"

    Hearing that question, Sam froze. "Umm, please can you not look at it?"

    Experience tales at empire

    Kayla looked at him. "Why?"

    "Because they''re embarrassing childhood pictures I took during 4 dark years of my life when I didn''t play football".

    Kayla looked at him, suddenly smiling mischievously. "Now I want to see them even more".

    "Please¡­"

    Sam couldn''t stop her though, Kayla peeped, eliciting rapturous laughter from her. A few minutes later, after checking his Facebook and dormant tik tok accounts, thinking of something, Sam made her check transfermarkt.

    Transfermarkt was the official website to know the current value of every professional football player in the transfer market.

    Since transferring to Fulham, Sam never really paid attention to his transfer value but now, driven by curiosity, he checked and he got a big surprise.

    (Transfermarkt!)

    (Name: Samuel Moses)

    (England- Premier league)

    (Date of birth/Age: August 6th, 2005)

    (Citizenship: Nigeria)

    (Height: 1,86 m)

    (Position: Attacking Midfielder)

    (Current International: Nil)

    (Market Value: 30 million Euros)

 Chapter 153 Holiday [3]

    "Wait, your transfer value is now 30 million Euros?!" Ian stared at his best friend incredulously. "Damn! This calls for celebration!"But then he deflated. "Damn! Just 1 year and you''re already worth 30 million Euros, is my career as a doctor even relevant?"

    Sam was tongue-tied, he didn''t know what to say.

    But trust Ian, he soon glared at his best friend, grinning. "Sam, you can''t be so successful in life and your best friend is left wanting".

    "Today, you must spend on us! I mean real spending, splurge!"

    "Yes, big brother, splurge!"

    Sam was flabbergasted. When he eventually looked to his last line of support, Kayla, all his hopes were dashed when Kayla quietly went towards Ian and Sophia''s side. "Fine, where do you guys want to go today?"

    "Let''s go to an amusement park!"

    "Let''s go to the real locations of Jujutsu Kaisen! Let''s go to Shibuya!"

    Everyone paused, turning to look at Ian with eyes that said ''are you ok?'' Surprisingly, in the end, Ian managed to convince Sophia and Kayla with his smooth tongue and they ended up going to Shibuya.

    ¡­

    Sam spent 18 days with his best friend, sister, and Kayla in Japan.

    After 18 days, finally, on the 7th of June, on a Friday, Sam finally got ready to leave Japan. Their next destination was Nigeria.

    Sam stared at Kayla incredulously. "Are you for real? You really want to follow us to Nigeria?"

    "Yeah," she smiled mischievously. "Can''t I?"

    "No, you can," Sam smiled. "It''s just, you know, your family, I just thought maybe, you know".

    "That they won''t approve," she chuckled. "Sam, I''m 18, I''m an adult, I get to do whatever I want so long it''s not illegal".

    "Oh, right".

    And so it was decided, Kayla would be following them back to Nigeria.

    Before embarking on the journey back to his alma mater though, there was something even more important that Sam wanted to do.

    For most of his life, all Sam remembered was growing up in the outskirts of Abraka. When he was younger, he remembered times when things were really tough and his dad struggled to make ends meet. Discover stories at empire

    This was how Sam lived most of his life.

    At some point, after securing a better job, Mr. Moses managed to raise the standard of living of his family but it was still that of an average family in Nigeria.

    Now though, as a professional football player playing in one of the clubs in the top tier of English football, Sam finally decided to change the fortunes of his family and he wanted it to be a surprise.

    This was why he planned it with only his best friend, neither Sophia, nor Kayla, nor even his parents knew about his plan.

    That morning, before taking the flight back to Nigeria, Sam concluded a big deal with a legit house agent back in Nigeria.

    During December last year after his contract talks with Fulham were finalized, his signing bonus of 2,000,000 Euros was wired to his account. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    That money stayed in his account since then till now. Sam never really thought of any investment opportunities yet, nor did he spend it, banking his bills and expenses on his salary from his club, Fulham.

    Now though, Sam finally decided to spend a chunk of his money.

    After concluding the deal that morning, Sam purchased a big duplex mansion in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, Abuja in one of the most affluent districts for the rich in Maitama.

    Sam shelled out $600,000 which at the current ridiculously inflated dollar rate of 1,400 naira to a dollar was 840 million naira.

    Yes, Sam splurged 840 million naira to purchase a mansion in Nigeria.

    This was the luxury of living life as a professional football player plying his trade in one of the best leagues in the world.

    ¡­

    Since Kayla agreed to follow them to Nigeria, another big reason why Sam agreed to go with her was to introduce her to his mom.

    He still remembered the embarrassing conversation he had with his mom.

    Call him a mommy''s boy but Sam didn''t care, that was how he was raised. Before he would make any decision regarding the love side of his life, at the very least, he wanted his mother to know about it.

    When they eventually arrived in Nigeria, like nothing happened, Sam and Ian took the girls to Delta State, Abraka where they crashed in Sam''s home.

    Well, his parents'' home was definitely unbecoming for a footballer of his fame and caliber right now in the premier league.

    The fact that Sam was not ashamed of introducing this home to her made Kayla know another aspect of his character; he was not ashamed of his background. In a way, it made her respect him more.

    Of course, on his return back to Abraka, once the people got wind of it, Sam got a hero''s welcome.

    He obliged to most of their wishes, taking pictures with those he could before eventually forcing his way into his home with the help of guards.

    Having predicted something like this, Mr. Moses already spent money to hire some professional police officers and bodyguards to protect his son.

    Once they were inside, they helped themselves to the delicious native Banga soup and eba that Sam''s mom prepared for them.

    Seeing her eat her food with so much joy, Mrs. Moses'' opinion of the white girl that her son brought back home directly rose to above 50%.

    Sam took his first day back in Abraka to rest, catching up with Nigeria alongside his parents, most especially his father.

    The next day, Sam took his whole family out alongside Kayla and Ian, taking them to Asaba, the capital city of Delta State where they had a nice time at a restaurant, an amusement park, and eventually a beach.

    They stayed 3 days in Asaba at a hotel before finally returning to Abraka.

    On the day they returned, Coach James visited. This coach was all smiles. "Sam, I heard you came back in town so I organized a game".

    "I know you''re a big boy now but please, can you bless us with your skills one more time?"

    Sam laughed. "You don''t need to beg coach, you''re my very first coach, remember?" He stood up. "I''ll play".

    And so, Sam, Ian, and Mr. Moses left with Coach James.

    News that Sam would be playing in the rickety field of the Delta State University, Abraka spread far and wide like wildfire in harmattan.

    The university ground was filled with spectators despite the impromptu nature of the game, all here to see Sam play.

    And while all that happened, back home, while Sophia pressed her phone in her room, Mrs. Moses had quality alone time with Kayla, the white girl.

 Chapter 154 Holiday [4]

    "So, Kayla, right?""Yes, ma''am". Kayla responded respectfully.

    Having did a bit of research online, she knew that African parents were very much like Asian parents and put a lot of emphasis on respect and etiquette. This was why she tried to be in her best behavior around her.

    Mrs. Moses was experienced though. She may not have spent a lot of time around white women, but she knew women in general.

    She could tell the effort this girl was putting into pleasing her and her husband, and she wasn''t put off by it, rather, she was impressed and glad.

    Putting this much effort meant either of 2 things, either Kayla was so hell-bent on chasing after her son''s money that she would do everything to get it, or she really loved her son and yearned to have something to do with him.

    Of course, she was not na?ve. If Sam was not playing for Fulham and didn''t have so much money, Kayla would have never approached.

    She knew this but all she wanted to confirm was the love. So long Kayla truly loved her son, she didn''t care too much about the fact that she was attracted by the money. And besides, her son was very good-looking.

    ''Who doesn''t like good things?''

    Mrs. Moses looked at her with a big smile on her face. "Tell me, how did you meet Sam for the first time?"

    "He''s a very awkward boy when it comes to women though he won''t accept it, I want to know if he made the first move".

    Kayla chuckled. "Well, since you already said it I''ll have to agree, he really is awkward around girls".

    Mrs. Moses laughed. "Tell me more".

    "Can you believe in Japan, when we were together on a hot bath, he reacted so heatedly like he''s never been that close to a girl before. Is he a loner?"

    Mrs. Moses laughed loudly. "One reason why he''s like that is me," she chuckled. "I never really wanted my son around women at a young age, and yeah, I achieved my goal".

    Kayla laughed. "You sure did".

    "So, what about your parents, can you tell me about them?"

    Kayla hesitated slightly.

    "It''s fine, I won''t judge, I just want to get to know you better".

    In the end, Kayla spoke. "My dad is a lawyer while my mom owns a beauty cosmetics supermarket, it''s one reason I became interested in being a model".

    "My dad tells me she was a model once before getting married to him. I want to be like her, but more accomplished, I want to actually build a career as a model and she supports it".

    "My mom is my biggest supporter".

    Before they knew it, Kayla was already speaking with Sam''s mom for over an hour already. When Sophia came from her room to peak at them, she was astonished. ''So mom can actually be this chill?''

    ''Damn! It''s so unfair! Am I even her daughter?''

    At some point, she stormed into the living room. "Mom, I want to eat".

    Mrs. Moses glared at her. "You rude girl, how old are you? Can''t you see we''re talking¡­"

    "It''s fine," Kayla said, laughing. "Actually, ma''am, I''ve been studying Nigerian dishes for some time now and I thought of making food this afternoon".

    "I''m not perfect but I do have a certificate as a chef, so I think I won''t do a bad job at the very least".

    Mrs. Moses stared at her. "Kayla, are you sure?"

    "Yes ma''am," then she hesitated. "I think".

    Mrs. Moses smiled. "Ok then. I''ll stay with you; I''ll guide you through it".

    "Ah," she heaved a sigh of relief. "I''ll really appreciate that ma''am".

    Mrs. Moses waved a hand dismissively. "It''s fine, you can stop calling me ma''am, it has this ring to it". She chuckled. "Just call me mom".

    "Ok mom". Kayla smiled, adapting smoothly.

    ¡­

    Well, it was safe to say that the friendly game that Coach James organized had Sam''s prints written all over it.

    Most of the players that played in the pitch were once Sam''s teammates, but now, all of them saw him as someone that they looked up to.

    It was clear on the pitch that most of them avoided tackling him too strongly, but still, Sam''s sheer talent and ability made him shine above every other player on this pitch as he dazzled. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Coach James'' team won 7-2 with Sam scoring 4 goals and laying 2 assists.

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    This was despite not even finishing the game as Coach James subbed him off at the 75th minute to loud cheers and applause.

    "Damn, I feel great," Sam laughed as soon as he was subbed off. "It feels nice to play in this familiar field again, to simply enjoy football with no strings attached".

    "It really feels nice".

    Coach James grinned. "I''m glad you enjoyed it".

    After the game, Sam rewarded all the players who participated in the game with 50,000 naira each. At just 18, it felt a bit preposterous for him to be doing all this but Sam just felt like doing it.

    After that did he finally go home.

    Returning home, they were shocked to learn that Kayla actually made food.

    As soon as Sam returned, the first thing he did was confront his mom after leading her to her room. "Mom, did you force her to do it?"

    "Me? Of course not, what do you take me for?" She glared at him. "Take your hands off me! She volunteered to cook; you can ask Sophia".

    Hearing that, Sam heaved a big sigh of relief. He peeked at his mom. "So? Is she any good at making Nigerian dishes?"

    Hearing that question, Mrs. Moses smirked. "Go test for yourself. Sam, good job," she patted him on the shoulder. "You secured yourself a chef".

    ''Huh?'' Sam stared at his mom, confused.

    Seeing the confused look on his face, she was exasperated, pushing his head. "Just go and eat you idiot".

    While Sam left, his mom whispered towards him. "I approve".

    Sam stared at her again, still confused.

    Mrs. Moses shook her head. "Just leave, go".

    Sam left and when he tasted the food, he was tempted to accuse his mom that she made the food and simply pinned the glory on Kayla.

    He looked at her. "You really made this?"

    "Of course".

    "Wow, this is delicious!"

    "Thank you".

    That evening, Sam spent it memorably by strolling through the familiar streets of Abraka with Kayla, their hands intertwined together.

    The next morning, Ian came to his home again fully dressed and that was when, together, hurdling the family up, Sam told them. "I have a big surprise for you guys, just follow me".

    "We''re going to the airport".

    "Huh?" Mrs. Moses voiced out her surprise first. "Where to?"

    "We''re going to Abuja".

 Chapter 155 Holiday [5]

    "Surprise surprise!" Sam announced loudly, smiling."Dad, mom, Sophia, this is our new home".

    "¡­"

    "¡­"

    "¡­..!"

    It was safe to say that the family of 3 were mortified.

    Standing before them was a grand mansion that they only dared to dream of before now. But this time, it was no dream, it was reality.

    Mrs. Moses broke down in tears immediately as she held her son''s face, no longer able to control her emotions. "S-Sam," she stammered. "Is this really our," she hesitated, "our new home?"

    Sam grinned. "Yes mom, it is".

    "It''s a state-of-the-art mansion with 13 bedrooms and 3 gigantic living rooms". He smirked proudly. "So, yes, you won''t have to worry about where your grandchildren and great grandchildren will run around in".

    "All you have to do?" He grinned. "All you have to do is live long enough to meet your grandchildren and great grandchildren".

    Mrs. Moses chuckled and then she burst into tears as she held her son''s face dearly before hugging him tightly, not wanting to let go.

    "Big brother, thank you!" Sophia was also reduced to tears.

    Even Mr. Moses was not spared of the emotion of the moment. Staring at his son, all this man felt was pride. Read exclusive content at empire

    He patted him on the shoulder, nodding with his teary eyes. "Son, when I was young, my father once told me something. He said, grow up and become a greater man than I was".

    He stared at him with eyes filled with emotion. "Son," his voice quivered. "You''re already greater than I ever was, and I lived to see it happen".

    "If that is not the best thing ever, then tell me what is".

    Father and son hugged excitedly. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Standing at the side, Kayla and Ian gave this family their quality moment, admiring the ambience of cascading emotions between them.

    When they eventually entered inside after Mrs. Moses stubbornly insisted on having her pastor come all the way over to pray on and anoint the mansion, this excited Nigerian woman started a party.

    She was considerate though. The mansion was so big did not mean she invited her whole family, nor did she invite her friends.

    It was just her immediate family, Kayla, and Ian. In her newly upgraded kitchen, Mrs. Moses made the most delicious Nigerian meal you would ever taste with all the love she had in her heart.

    She made 3 different tantalizing soups, banga soup, okra soup, and vegetable egusi soup. Accentuating these meals with the best meat you could think of and correct eba, Mrs. Moses showed her specialty to them.

    Sam provided the money, while she was the artist.

    That day, all of them feasted, celebrating this big achievement in the mansion and later in the evening, Sam finally had some much-needed alone time with his father. This time, he didn''t speak to his dad from a father capacity, but as an agent.

    Mr. Moses finally brought his son up to speed on his career growth.

    Sam''s debut half season in the premier league was a blast.

    Originally, in football, it was in exceedingly rare occasions where the purchase of a single player could have such a transformative effect on a team.

    Ordinarily, a single player''s effects on a team was hindered by a lot of limitations. To truly win consistently, clubs needed to sign not one but multiple elite players to change their team, but there are special cases.

    The most significant time when the world of football witnessed a special case was when one of the all-time greats laced his boots for Napoli, the great Argentine attacking midfielder, Diego Maradona.

    The flawed genius was all Napoli needed to win the Serie A title.

    Dragging a mid-table team to become title contenders singlehandedly was not a feat for the weak, but a prime Diego Maradona managed to do it, even helping Napoli to win the Serie A title, Italy''s elite league title.

    Diego Maradona didn''t do it simply due to footballing ability though, the miracle of the city of Naples happened mostly because Maradona''s presence in Napoli lifted the spirits and mentality of the club''s players.

    This shift in mentality enabled them perform above normal with the legendary Argentine leading them, thereby leading to the miracle.

    The most recent time the world of football experienced something like that was with Lionel Messi, the little genius from Rosario, Santa Fe.

    After a slightly underwhelming spell at Paris Saint Germain in France, Lionel Messi finally left the elite tier of European football after 2 decades, going to America to ply his trade for Inter Miami and then, football saw another miracle.

    Within weeks of signing, Lionel Messi managed to lift a bottom feeder team in the MLS all the way to winning its first trophy, in just weeks!

    This was similar to what Sam did with Fulham, and this was still a younger and unexperienced version of him with new faces as teammates.

    Not only did Sam help Fulham win its first trophy in years, toppling the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea along the way, he led a late Fulham charge to rise from mid-table to 9th position in the premier league table by season end.

    Well, it was still too late at this stage to compare Sam to G.O.A.T candidates like Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona, but with an unbiased lens, it was impossible not to see the parallel in his career between that of these greats.

    This was why a few clubs decided to take the gamble with him.

    More than a dozen clubs in the elite tier of Europe sent Sam contract offers, and among them, there were 2 absolute top-tier teams.

    Bayern Munich bid for Sam with a contract of 35 million Euros, beating his official transfer value by 5 million but it was the one from a top tier premier league team that was even more ridiculous, Chelsea.

    Chelsea bid a ridiculous amount of 60 million Euros for Sam!

    The blue giants of England literally doubled Sam''s transfer valuation!

    Every other African player in Sam''s position would have jumped at the opportunity but yet, Sam didn''t budge.

    He stared at his father with a calm look on his face. "If it''s not FC Barcelona, then I''m going nowhere".

    Mr. Moses was an avid FC Barcelona fan, a die-hard fan even but at this moment, this man could not help but advice his son. "Sam, are you sure about this?"

    "Yes dad". Sam answered immediately.

    He grinned. "Barca or nothing".

    Well, that settled it.

    Mr. Moses left the contract offers on pending, not sending a reply to the almost 20 clubs that approached his son with tantalizing offers.

    Sam''s future was in his own hands.

 Chapter 156 Holiday [6]

    Time moved fast.While the rest of the world moved on with their lives, Sam continued enjoying his vacation in Nigeria with his family, his best friend, and Kayla.

    Since beginning to manage Sam''s social media accounts, managing his posts, Sam''s followership on social media began to surge with Kayla''s management, so much that she finally managed to secure him his very first endorsement deal.

    Kayla was a model, her initial journey to Fulham was to fulfill her part to take a modelling photoshoot on a cosmetics endorsement deal.

    With her connections, she managed to help Sam secure an endorsement deal with the same cosmetics company.

    To complete the deal, Sam, Kayla, and his best friend took another trip to Fulham where he engaged in the photoshoot session.

    Unlike with a model though, the money they paid Sam was even more.

    Immediately after the photoshoot session, satisfied with what they got, a large sum of money was wired into Sam''s domiciliary account.

    Beep!

    (You have received a wire transfer of 5 million Euros!)

    5 million Euros, for just an endorsement deal!

    The reason why Kayla managed to find such a deal for him was due to certain factors. First and foremost, Sam was a star Fulham player who recently drove the local club to the center of fame and the cosmetics company was also in Fulham.

    Another reason was because Kayla was able to convince them that next season, Sam would become even more popular.

    Then, even more lucrative endorsement deals would naturally come to him. Getting him now when others were yet to pounce was actually an opportunity.

    When you argued your point like this, not even the best deal negotiators of big companies in London could kill your argument.

    The day he received the wire transfer was one of the best days of Sam''s life.

    Before returning to Nigeria, secretly, not letting his best friend know, Sam did something with Kayla. Having been thinking about it for some time already, Sam used his money to work a school transfer for his best friend.

    Before Ian knew it, he suddenly received a transfer message transferring him from UNIBEN, his current school in Edo State, Benin City in Nigeria to the esteemed University of London.

    It came unexpected, like a breeze; Ian never saw it coming.

    And now it was the best friend''s turn to well up in tears. "Sam," he stared at his best friend. "D-did you do this for me?"

    Sam cringed. "Stop it man, that''s embarrassing, men don''t cry!"

    "You bastard!" Ian punched him before hugging him excitedly.

    What was the point of being successful and making a lot of money if he didn''t spend it on those he loved? This was Sam''s philosophy.

    By these actions, he felt even more happy than his friends and family whom he did it for, and then with his mind free, he finally started focusing on preparing for the new premier league season.

    Despite his vacation that started since, not one day did Sam ever fail to complete his daily system quest which kept him in shape.

    Now though, he ramped up his training and preparation.

    Sam didn''t just stop with that, to motivate his teammates, he started taking pictures of himself training and sending it to Fulham''s WhatsApp group chat for the players with provocative captions.

    Afterall, he alone could not do anything, he needed his teammates if he wanted to accomplish his ambitious plans for next season.

    (Are you guys still sleeping? Come on! WAKE UP!!! It''s time to start grinding for a new premier league season boys!)

    (This time, we''re going for the league title!)

    (You guys better not wimp out on me or I''ll kill you myself!)

    At first, Sam got no response but after doing it for consecutive days without stopping, some of his teammates had no choice but to respond.

    They were used to his ways after spending 5 months with him. They knew how dedicated and how much of a workaholic he was, but this?

    They still underestimated Sam''s mentality.

    The season was not even close to starting but the Fulham squad was already getting fired up by the updates from their star attacking midfielder.

    None of them were about to let loose and lose shape due to the vacation.

    While all that happened, in another big footballing news of 2024, the Euro 2024 tournament finally started.

    Its opening game was scheduled for 14th June 2024, and it was a game between the hosts, Germany and Scotland.

    On that day, back in Nigeria already, Sam watched the first game of the Euro 2024 tournament with his family, Kayla, and Ian.

    Sam wondered how Kayla''s parents let her move around the world so carefreely. ''I guess European parents are really a different breed''.

    Just like the whole world expected, on that first game, Germany set a marker to the rest of the elite teams in the tournament.

    They thrashed Scotland 5-1 after a scintillating display from their 2 prodigies, Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz. It was a typical German attacking masterclass. Explore hidden tales at empire

    After that game, all the people who watched the game threw their support behind Germany, including Sam. "Germany are definitely the favorites". He gushed.

    "They are literally stacked on every side of the pitch".

    "At the back there''s Antonio Rudiger and the others, literally imposing defenders. In attack, they have the likes of Leroy Sane and Kai Harvertz".

    "They have Manuel Neuer in-between the posts, yet despite all of these players and even legends, their midfield is somehow the most stacked part of their squad, both in the starting XI and bench".

    "With the likes of Toni Kroos, Ikay Gundogan, and Thomas Muller, all veterans, they are a fearsome side already but add the exciting duo of Musiala and Wirtz and you have world beaters!"

    "I don''t see any team stopping them!" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This was what Sam said, till he watched the next day''s group stage games. Of the 3 games that were played, the one between Spain and Croatia stole all the attention, announcing another heavyweight in form in this tournament.

    Spain put out a statement display, dazzling with their formidable team anchored by the Manchester City stalwart, Rodri.

    With the young duo of 16-year-old Lamine Yamal and 21-year old Nico Williams unleashing destruction from the wings, Spain tore a Luca Modric-led Croatia apart with reckless abandon.

    "What a game!" Sam gushed.

    "I change my mind; Spain are the favorites!"

 Chapter 157 Euro 2024 [1]

    Watching Spain''s game on day 2 of Euro 2024 left Sam feeling heated up.His reason was because of a young winger that he just watched in action, the 16-year-old Lamine Yamal.

    ''Damn, that boy is a monster!'' He thought, feeling genuinely impressed.

    As an avid FC Barcelona fan since 2011, Sam always kept tab on the Spanish club and he knew of Lamine Yamal, the young Spanish winger who made his debut for FC Barcelona last season.

    During his debut season, Lamine Yamal was able to showcase his incredible talent to the world despite being just 16.

    For a while, Sam had been impressed by Yamal''s story and brilliance but after the game between Spain and Croatia, it grew from just impression to motivation.

    ''Damn! At just 16?!''

    He grinned. ''If Yamal can do it at 16, who am I not to do it at 18?''

    ''I''m literally 2 years older than him!''

    For a while in the premier league, most especially in the Fulham team, Sam always saw himself as a prodigy due to how much older his teammates were but after today''s game, he was grounded in reality again.

    ''I''m not special, I need to work harder, much harder!''

    ''If Yamal can do it, I definitely can!''

    That day, Sam was left grinning from ear to ear, baffling Kayla and his best friend. Sam didn''t tell the reason though, he showed it with his actions.

    That night, Sam hit the gym, focusing on working his way back to full fitness even as the season was still far away.

    ''This long holiday is a privilege that I won''t have always''.

    ''Others are playing in the Euros; I have the privilege to rest. I will take advantage of it to the fullest to make sure I resume the season in better form than most if not every player in the premier league!''

    This became his first marker for the incoming new season.

    After the June 15 games, Euro 2024 continued. The outstanding game of the next matchday was between Serbia and England where the most talented group of English players were expected to blow their opponents away.

    Having played an incredible debut season with Real Madrid, winning the la liga player of the season award for it, Jude Bellingham was the face of this new England side but the game didn''t exactly pan out as people expected.

    England did win, but it was a narrow 0-1 win after a towering Jude Bellingham header dragged the English side over the line.

    The next matchday on 17th, the outstanding team was a Kylian Mbappe-led France against Austria but once again, it was a narrow 0-1 scoreline in France''s favor.

    The big teams were yet to show up to the tournament. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The next matchday on 18th, excited Cristiano Ronaldo fans all over the world tuned in as they watched their G.O.A.T lead Portugal out again as the skipper.

    Portugal recorded a narrow 2-1 victory over Czechia.

    The group stage continued for the next few days and after 26th June when it eventually came to an end, Euro 2024 viewers arrived at a conclusion.

    Most of the big national sides were yet to show up to this tournament, and it was increasingly clear that Germany and Spain were the clear favorites to go all the way and win the trophy.

    England kept on dazzling to deceive but nobody dared underestimate the 3 Lions; after all, they had a star-studded squad.

    In the round of 16, the battle for European glory heated up.

    The first big upset came directly from the first day of the round of 16 on June 29th as Italy was eliminated from the tournament after losing 2-0 to Switzerland.

    Germany swept Denmark aside with a comfortable 2-0 score line.

    On 30th, Georgia faced Spain and were seemingly on the way to creating another upset after scoring an early goal till Rodri, the Spanish talisman evened the score line before halftime. And when second half started, it became a riot.

    Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams dazzled again as Spain tore Georgia apart, ending the game with an impressive 4-1 score line.

    "Spain are definitely the favorites!" Sam gushed, fully in love. "I can''t wait to line up with both Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams soon enough".

    "But Williams is not a Barca player right?" Ian asked.

    Sam smirked. "Just give it time, our president will sign him".

    "But Barca is broke".

    Sam glared at his best friend. "Get lost!"

    Ian laughed. "But I didn''t lie, did I?"

    Sam refrained from paying attention to his best friend, giving his time to Kayla instead as he slowly indoctrinated this girl into the love of football.

    These days, they were almost always together.

    While Spain tore Georgia apart on the 30th, on the same day, England once again recorded another narrow victory over England and this time, they even needed last-minute heroics from Jude Bellingham again.

    England was walking a tight rope this tournament. Sam predicted that they won''t make it past the quarterfinals playing like this.

    On July 1st, France swept a Kevin De Bruyne-led Belgium aside with a 1-0 score line even as Portugal needed penalty heroics to win over Slovenia.

    On this day, it was safe to say that Cristiano Ronaldo fans across the world were devastated as not only did their G.O.A.T miss a penalty, he also collapsed in tears on the pitch but none of it did anything to diminish the greatness of the Portuguese legend.

    Sam was a Lionel Messi fan but not once did he ever dismiss Ronaldo''s greatness. ''At 39, he''s done more than enough for football''.

    ''We shouldn''t be sad that it''s ending, rather, we should be glad it happened''.

    He grinned. ''The suiiii is still an iconic celebration that gives me the jitters!''

    On 2nd July, the last of the round of 16 games were played as Netherlands swept Romania aside convincingly with a 3-0 display.

    And on the same day, the young Real Madrid prodigy, Arda Guler announced his name to the rest of Europe as he dazzled, leading his nation Turkiye to a 2-1 victory over Austria.

    Watching the likes of Arda Guler and Lamine Yamal dazzle, Sam felt wistful. ''I wonder when I''ll get to dazzle for my country too''.

    Nigeria was yet to give him his first international call up.

    Yes, Sam would play for Nigeria. Not once did he even think of playing for another country. ''Nigeria is my nation''.

    With the Turkey game, the quarterfinal fixtures were decided as 5 heavyweights in Spain, Germany, Portugal, France, and England made it.

    It was originally going to be an exciting battle for European glory, but then 2 specific fixtures spiced it up even more.

    (Euro 2024:)

    (Spain ¨C Germany)

    (Date: 5th July, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Portugal ¨C France) Find more to read on empire

    (Date: 5th July, 2024)

 Chapter 158 Euro 2024 [2]

    (Euro 2024:)(Spain ¨C Germany)

    (Date: 5th July, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Portugal ¨C France)

    (Date: 5th July, 2024)

    It was dubbed the clash of the heavyweights.

    Portugal vs France was going to be legendary as it would be a battle between mentor and disciple, the duo being the Portuguese legend, Cristiano Ronaldo and France''s talisman, Kylian Mbappe.

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    That game was going to be legendary but definitely not as legendary as Spain vs Germany. Afterall, it was a clash of the 2 clearest favorites.

    Most people thought it was unfair to pit them against each other this early in the tournament, but this was the brutal nature of tournaments.

    Spain and Germany would have to man up and prove their credentials, and oh boy, did both teams turn up.

    To Sam, watching Spain vs Germany live felt like Godzilla vs Kong all over again; it was just legendary!

    Throughout this game, Sam was on edge, feeling goosebumps.

    It was raw display of elite football.

    After 90 minutes of incredible football, both teams were tied 1-1, leading to extra time. And in the 118th minute of extra time, Mikel Merino, the Spanish substitute became the decider between the 2 teams, scoring the winner with a towering header past Manuel Neuer to send Spain to the semifinal of the Euros.

    The hosts were knocked out in agonizing fashion but they bowed out with their heads held high, they played amazing football.

    Portugal vs France was surprisingly bland as both teams played well below their standards, but simply due to the superstars lining the pitch that day, people watched still till the game was decided.

    France won after another Portugal penalty shoot-out. Ronaldo scored his penalty this time, but their goalkeeper could not bail them out a second time.

    France progressed.

    The next day, the last 2 games of the quarterfinals went as people expected. Surprisingly, again, England were pushed to the limits just as Sam predicted but they didn''t lose, narrowly winning through penalties.

    "Damn! They''re just progressing through luck at this point!" Sam complained after the game. "They''re not playing as a team at all".

    As for the very last game, Netherlands won 2-1 over Turkey.

    And then came the semifinals.

    (Euro 2024 semifinal:)

    (Spain ¨C France)

    (Date: 9th July, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Netherlands ¨C England)

    (Date: 10th July, 2024)

    Again, it was a clash of heavyweights but it generally progressed just as most people expected.

    Due to his nose injury, Kylian Mbappe was not performing close to his best throughout the tournament and finally after crashing against the towering wall called Spain, they crashed out of the tournament, losing 2-1 to Spain.

    This game got more publicity after comments from the French players, most notable from Adrien Rabbiot who talked down Lamine Yamal''s threat.

    Well, Yamal took those comments personal.

    On 9th of July, the whole football world was forced to acknowledge the name Lamine Yamal as after dazzling all game, the boy wonder scored a goal of the tournament contender, turning the same Adrien Rabbiot inside out before scoring an incredible curler past Mike Maignan, the French goalkeeper.

    It was the perfect statement performance from the young FC Barcelona winger. And well, in Nigeria, you had to see the reaction to this game on twitter.

    With the perfect timing of Portugal having crashed out in the last round of the tournament, now France crashing out, Lionel Messi fans had all the leverage in the world to taunt their Ronaldo counterparts.

    The memes on social media were creative and crazily devious.

    Lionel Messi fans were having a field day, buoyed by a Lionel Messi-led Argentina side''s progress through the 2024 Copa America tournament having made it to the final already.

    The England game ended against Sam''s predictions again as somehow, England managed to grind out a result against Netherlands, winning 2-1.

    "What the heck!" Sam was absolutely flabbergasted. "How on earth do they keep doing this every single time?!"

    "Damn! They actually made it to the final". He was stunned.

    Euro 2024 final was decided.

    (Euro 2024:)

    (Spain ¨C England)

    (14th July, 2024)

    Before the final game of Euro 2024, the Copa America final was played first and trust Sam, despite it being very late in Nigeria time, he stayed awake, watching this pivotal game.

    Tragedy struck in this final as Lionel Messi was forced out of the tense game against Colombia with an ankle injury, yet, without their skipper, Argentina did not fumble as they showed their mettle against James Rodriguez''s Colombia.

    The ex-Real Madrid player seemed to have regained his spark in this year''s Copa America, having dazzled with his performances leading to the final.

    Without Messi, Argentina struggled but their famous defense held, keeping Colombia''s rampant attack at bay till the second half of extra time when Argentina was saved by a Lautaro Martinez strike.

    On that night, to Sam, the world stopped.

    It was like reliving the 2022 FIFA World Cup final all over again.

    "YESSSSS!!!" Sam screamed at the top of his lungs, jumping excitedly as he woke Kayla up with a startle.

    She looked at him groggily.

    Sam ran up to her, shaking her excitedly. "It''s a goal!" He screamed. "We''re leading, Messi is about to win another Copa America!" S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Well, his words came to pass.

    Colombia tried but they could not find the breakthrough, Argentina won 1-0, effectively laying down their argument as one of the best international sides of all time as they matched the glamor of Spain''s golden era of the early 2010s with 3 back to back major international trophies won.

    After that game, in a jolly mood, Sam approached the Euro 2024 final.

    This time, he couldn''t predict. ''Who knows? Those undying cockroaches may go and shock the whole world''.

    England did threaten, equalizing through a stunning Cole Palmer strike after Spain took the lead earlier but Spain held their nerves through this final, showing that their credentials as favorites were not unfounded.

    In this final, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams dazzled again, and it was the later who nailed the dagger to English fans all over the world.

    Nico Williams scored the winning goal, winning the Euros for Spain.

    Sam celebrated excitedly. To him, football won.

    All in all, to him, it was an exciting closure to an unforgettable holiday and break from football.

 Chapter 159 Preparations for the new season

    The final of Euro 2024 was played on 14th July.2 days later, Sam finally left Nigeria, going to Fulham to officially start his preparations for the new 2024/2025 premier league season.

    After arriving in Fulham and spending a few days with him, Kayla finally bid farewell to him as she returned to Netherlands to meet her family.

    As for him, he threw himself into the joy of football.

    Watching Spain''s journey through Euro 2024 lit up something akin to a fire in his heart. Watching the young Spanish team anchored by Rodri go all the way, winning the Euros in such exciting fashion, he felt motivated.

    Watching Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams'' performances lit up a fire in his heart. ''Nothing is impossible''.

    From the very beginning of the 2024 Euros, the heavy favorites to win the trophy were England, France, and Germany.

    From the beginning, Spain was never really a serious contender.

    Afterall, a nation having a 16-year old as it''s starting right winger, could such a nation really be considered a true contender to win the trophy?

    Well, at the end of the tournament, the result spoke for itself.

    Spain didn''t lose a single game of Euro 2024. Simply believing in their own strengths, Spain played against every opponent, fearlessly executing their game plan to the finest details and it paid off at the end of the tournament.

    ''If Spain can do it, I can''.

    ''If Lamine Yamal can do it, I can''.

    In the days that followed after arriving back in England, Sam forgot about everything else in the world, including Kayla, including his little vacation, literally everything as the only thing dominating his head became football.

    Jogging through the streets of Fulham, completing daily system quests, and driving to Craven Cottage every day to engage in individual training, Sam already started working hard to prepare for the new season.

    And knowing that football was not an individual sport, he did well to take pictures and videos every day, sending to his teammates in their official WhatsApp group chat even as he kept on riling them up with his provocative captions.

    (It''s a new day, are you guys still sleeping? Unacceptable! A new season is starting in less than a month, let''s act like people aspiring to win the league!)

    (You think we can''t? Well, ask Spain about it.)

    (And let me let you in on a secret now. Most of the top players of our biggest competitors in the league all went to Euro 2024. While we had a nice vacation, recovering from last season''s schedule, they never had the same luxury.)

    (We are well rested than them and do you know what this means? It means that after Euro 2024, while the late vacation of their players would start as they try to catch up on some much-needed rest, we get to start preparing ahead of them for the new season.) S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (This is an opportunity to catch them off-guard. They''ll never see it coming, let''s make a statement performance to the rest of the premier league come 16th of August!)

    Sometimes, that was all that was needed to motivate mature grown men who kicked a ball around as a profession and received large sums of money every week as their salary.

    Shortly after Sam started sending these provocative messages, the second player of Fulham finally cut his holiday short, returning to Fulham.

    The player joined Sam in individual training.

    From the second, it quickly jumped to the fifth as Fulham players started preparing for the new season ahead of time while most other clubs were still in a state of stasis, recovering from last season and Euro 2024''s stress.

    The fixtures for the 2024/2025 premier league season was already decided. Fulham''s first game of the season would commence on 16th August and it was against one of the biggest giants of English football, Manchester United.

    Playing against Manchester United in the opening game of the season was a test of nerves to see if Fulham''s form from last season extended into this season.

    But in a way, it was a test that they wanted badly.

    Sam motivating them was for a reason, mentality was just as important as physicality and skill in football.

    With the right mentality, the expression of skill becomes effortless.

    Roberto Baggio was one of the greatest Italian players of all time, but there was a blemish to his name, a legendary World Cup run that became tragic at its end. It was impossible to get to the highest level of the game and stay there without the right mentality.

    Roberto Baggio was one of the strongest players in history mentally, but sometimes, even the best mental defenses were put to the sword by the stern atmosphere of some matches.

    The atmosphere of a FIFA World Cup final was unmatched in football, and it was even more unforgiving when it was a penalty shootout.

    After putting in impressive display after impressive display, dragging Italy all the way to the FIFA World Cup final in a legendary run, Roberto Baggio lost it all when he needed it the most in the high-stake moment as he skied his crucial penalty in the shootout.

    On that night, Italy lost and Roberto Baggio was haunted by it for life.

    The great Italian was not the only great player whose mentality failed when needed the most though. Even one of the G.O.A.Ts himself, Lionel Messi fell victim to it with his national team twice in 2014 and 2016.

    Then, Messi was extremely prosperous with his club side, FC Barcelona but glory with his country always eluded him.

    In 2014, Argentina finally went all the way, going to the FIFA World Cup final against Germany which they lost agonizingly to the Germans 1-0.

    Messi may have won the golden ball of the world cup, but missing out on the trophy was far more painful, overshadowing whatever joy was attributed to winning the golden ball award.

    In that game, Lionel Messi tried his best, playing a good game but it could not be disputed that the aura of the occasion got to him a bit.

    Vintage Messi didn''t show up in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final.

    This was the great hurdle of football, the ability to show skill in the biggest stages; it was hard even for the best players to ever kick a ball.

    Again, in 2016, Lionel Messi faced the same hurdle and this time, it was another final, the 2016 Copa America final against Chile.

    Despite playing another good game, dragging his team again all the way to the final like in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, when Lionel Messi stepped up to take his penalty, the indomitable Lionel Messi became vulnerable, skying his shot just like Roberto Baggio did decades ago.

    Your journey continues at empire

    Well, it was safe to say that the outcome of that game haunted the Argentine genius as he even retired from his national team, a decision he later changed his mind on.

    In recent years, Messi already won it all with Argentina but before the recent success, even the mercurial Argentine suffered in the big moments.

    Sam did not want to suffer in the big moments with his teammates, this was why he pushed them so hard with his mamba mentality.

    ''There''s nothing effort can''t do''.

    ''With enough effort, even the worst of atmospheres can be tamed to play your best game''.

    ''For the new season, Manchester United is our first hurdle''.

    ''If we''re to honestly stand a chance of doing the impossible and winning the league, we need to start with Manchester United!''

    Honestly, Fulham winning the premier league was unrealistic but Sam had something to lean on. ''Nobody expected Leicester to win the league in 2016, but damn expectations, they did it''.

    ''We can do it too!''

    Sam trained like he was possessed; he motivated his teammates like he was the team''s captain. It got so much at times it started feeling rude but his teammates were not offended, they were already used to being around their extremely competitive teammate.

    And then, news started dropping in Fulham.

    Fulham FC''s transfer board became active.

    On the 1st of July, Tosin Adarabioyo, the Fulham center back became the first in a list of departures as Chelsea snapped up the energetic defender.

    On the 6th of July, Bobby De Cordova-Reid also completed a free transfer to Leicester City. And most agonizingly, on the 11th of July, after speculations for months, Joao Palhinha finally completed his dream move to Bayern Munich.

    Bayern Munich shelled out 51 million Euros for the defensive midfielder.

    Another big name to leave Fulham was Luke Harris on 4th of August.

    It was not all departures for Fulham though. On the other end of the transfer market, Fulham also engaged in a bit of activity on the market.

    On 26th July, Fulham snapped up Ryan Sessegnon on a free transfer from Tottenham. But the truly big news came on 2nd August when Fulham splurged 31.8 million Euros on a prominent player of the premier league.

    After seasons of playing a peripheral role in the title-charging Arsenal side of recent seasons, Emile Smith Rowe, the Arsenal wonderkid finally decided to go for a new challenge and he chose Fulham.

    To excited Fulham fans, it was the signing of the season.

    To Sam, it was the best gift to bolster his ambitions for the new season.

    When Emile Smith Rowe was signed, Sam was one of the very first Fulham players to actively contact the player, trying to make friends with him and make him comfortable in the Fulham squad.

    And then, finally, it was time.

    It was time for pre-season friendlies and Fulham''s first opponent was Benfica in away ground.

    (Friendly:)

    (Benfica ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 2nd August, 2024)

 Chapter 160 Pre-season friendlies

    (Friendly:)(Benfica ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 2nd August, 2024)

    Benfica was the first warm-up ahead of the new season for Fulham.

    But ahead of the trip to Portugal to visit Benfica at home, while the Fulham squad was yet to be complete, Coach Marco Silva presided over behind closed doors'' games against QPR and Watford.

    QPR and Watford were not really opponents to gauge the level of his team, but they served as the perfect foils to see the fitness levels of his players.

    And it was safe to say that ahead of the trip to Portugal, Marco Silva was highly impressed by the fitness levels of a number of his players, most especially his favorite in recent times, Samuel Moses.

    Fulham recorded a 4-0 trashing of QPR before drubbing Watford 6-1.

    In both games, Sam impressed in the less than 60 minutes that he played as he chipped in with his fair share of goals and assists.

    Sam was not just happy with his performance, he was also glad with the level of his teammates. ''My strategy worked''.

    ''Most of them are already close to full fitness''.

    ''The 3 scheduled pre-season games should do it''.

    Against Benfica, Coach Marco Silva started with a strong lineup. The Portuguese giants were not scared of the English club though as they played their best football in this friendly game.

    For large swaths of the game, it was even as Benfica played amazing football in the presence of their home fans, but they just could not get the end product.

    And in what they failed in; Fulham excelled in after second half started.

    Sam dominated this game as the stand-out player, torturing the Benfica defense again and again. Despite the departure of big names like Palhinha and De Cordova-Reid, the impact was not being felt.

    With Sam in the lineup, it felt like the team never changed.

    After trying hard for the first 45 minutes to no avail, in the second half, Sam finally opened Benfica up with a defense-splitting pass for Muniz to run at and poke behind the goalkeeper into the net.

    In the 72nd minute, Fulham got the first goal.

    And 8 minutes later, in the 80th minute of this game, Sam did it again, this time playing Alex Iwobi in to score the second goal of this game, sealing Benfica''s defeat. It was a good warm-up game.

    At the end of the game, Sam approached a certain player with a shy look of excitement on his face, asking for his jersey.

    He approached the Argentine winger now plying his trade for Benfica, the legendary Angel Di Maria.

    Sam felt a bit bad as Di Maria did not recognize him, but his feelings were abated when the Argentine winger obliged to swap jerseys with him. Di Maria also expressed his feelings that he played a great game.

    Well, that was enough to bring out Sam''s fanboy side.

    Afterall, this was a legend of football that he had admired for a long time. The 2022 World Cup final performance alone was enough to turn him into the biggest fanboy, but beyond that, Di Maria was a legend of the game.

    Sam''s face turned as red as a potato. ''H-h-he complimented me?!''

    In the end, Di Maria patted him on the back before leaving.

    Sam clutched this jersey tightly. ''Another legendary piece to my collection''.

    His eyes gleamed excitedly. ''It''s became really big now. Kevin De Bruyne, Cole Palmer, now Angel Di Maria,'' he grinned. ''Hehe, now all I need is Messi''.

    After Sam''s performance against Benfica, excited Fulham fans flooded social media, speculating about the likely midfield partnership that would be struck between Emile Smith Rowe and Sam.

    "The premier league is not ready for this partnership yet!" They boasted.

    Well, in Fulham''s next pre-season game against Sevilla on 5th August, excited Fulham fans finally got to see the partnership that they yearned for.

    In this game, the new signing got to showcase his talent as he combined with Sam to perfection, scoring a neat goal from an even neater pass from Sam.

    Later in the game, Smith Rowe returned the favor, setting Sam up to score an absolute rocket, finally opening his scoring account in the pre-season friendlies.

    The game ended in a 2-2 draw between Fulham and Sevilla.

    One thing that became apparent from these 2 games was the level of this squad. For some reason, Fulham seemed even more dangerous than last season, this was despite the long list of sales and departures.

    This brought up a question on social media; what could they do this season?

    No one could tell until after the season started.

    To most neutral and rival fans though, Fulham was just flattering to deceive. To them, their EFL Cup run and eventual win was just a fluke against Liverpool and Chelsea sides that underestimated the opposition.

    According to these neutral fans, after knowing their threat now, big teams would know to neutralize them better.

    Besides, they labelled Sam a one-season wonder.

    Sam did not let all this negative news get to him though. ''Like dad would say, it''s normal. Afterall, even Erling Haaland was criticized when he first made the switch to the premier league till he shut them up with his record-breaking goalscoring performances''.

    ''I''ll just shut them up with my performances once the season start''.

    In Fulham''s last game of pre-season, they took on Hoffenheim on 10th August and this time, they simply blew their inferior opponents out of the window.

    Fulham won 3-0 after a totally one-sided performance.

    In this game, Sam did not get a goal contribution but his influence was heavily felt in the middle of the pitch as he orchestrated play, playing a part in all 3 goals that downed Hoffenheim.

    By now, it was clear that this team was already like a well-oiled machine churning with ruthless efficiency.

    Fulham post-Sam era was truly a different beast on the pitch.

    But then, after pre-season, the real test was finally about to begin.

    All across England and the world, you could feel palpable excitement in the air among the male gender. Afterall, the premier league was starting.

    After months of being deprived, matchday 1 was finally here. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (Premier league:)

    (Matchday 1:) Your journey continues with empire

    (Manchester United ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 16th August, 2024)

    The Fulham squad went on a trip to Old Trafford.

 Chapter 161 Premier league is back!

    (Premier league:)(Matchday 1:)

    (Manchester United ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 16th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Ipswich Town ¨C Liverpool)

    (Date: 17th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Arsenal ¨C Wolves)

    (Date: 17th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Everton ¨C Brighton)

    (Date: 17th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Newcastle ¨C Southampton)

    (Date: 17th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Nottingham Forest ¨C Bournemouth)

    (Date: 17th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (West Ham ¨C Aston Villa)

    (Date: 17th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Brentford ¨C Crystal Palace)

    (Date: 17th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Chelsea ¨C Manchester City) Your next chapter awaits on empire

    (Date: 17th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Leicester City ¨C Tottenham) S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (Date: 17th August, 2024)

    There is just this excitement that comes with a new premier league season.

    The emotions and expectations of all the fans of the different clubs, the rivalries, the banters, the passion, everything resumes anew.

    Manchester United played the opening game against Fulham but all the attention was not just on them for matchday one.

    There was a lot of excitement and anticipation around the games of other big English clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool, but the biggest excitement lingered on the heavyweight clash between Chelsea and Manchester City.

    To the Fulham players though, none of that concerned them as they arrived in the iconic Old Trafford to play their first game of the season.

    In the late 90s, early and late 2000s, going on a trip to Old Trafford was like a death sentence against their star-studded squads.

    In recent years, this myth of Old Trafford already more or less died. Literally, the stadium was old and in need of repairs while in terms of football, recent Man United squads were not like those of old that induced fear in opponents.

    Fulham went to Old Trafford without an ounce of fear.

    Both teams started with their best lineup.

    The home team started with Andre Onana in between the posts. Protecting him were the defensive quadrupole of Mazraoui, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, and Diogo Dalot.

    Casemiro and the young Kobbie Mainoo partnered in midfield on top the defense, while ahead of them were Ahmad Diallo, Mason Mouth, Marcus Rashford, and Bruno Fernandes.

    As for Fulham, Muniz led the attack.

    Behind the striker were the trio of Samuel Moses, Emile Smith Rowe, and Adama Traore, the imposingly swift attacker.

    Sam retained his spot in attacking midfield while Emile Smith Rowe started on the right, they were expected to play close to each other.

    Behind them were Alex Iwobi and Lukic who started in defensive midfield, and the 4-man defense comprised Robinson, Bassey, Diop, and Tete. Of course, Bernd Leno started in between the posts.

    The players made their way into the pitch to start the game.

    The commentator started proceedings. "Last time out, Erik Ten Haag''s team finished 8th in the table, their lowest placing since 1990".

    "The Dutch defender, Mathias De Ligt hoping to make his debut as the evening progresses".

    "¡­the players take the knee to reaffirm that racism or any other type of discrimination has no place in the premier league".

    "¡­Under the Friday night lights in Old Trafford, the kickoff to the new premier league season, a new adventure¡­"

    Hearing the voice of the commentator amid the noise made by the tens of thousands of fans in red, Sam felt his blood heating up.

    His face flushed in excitement. ''I''ve missed this''. He thought.

    He jumped, stretching his legs as he reacclimatized to the feeling, and then the referee''s whistle finally sounded to kick off this game.

    FWEEEE!

    Manchester United started kickoff.

    Having played a pretty disappointing campaign last time out under Erik Ten Haag compared to their lofty standards, the Manchester United fans were clearly expectant of a fight-back by their team this season.

    Afterall, the fans in red were already clamoring on social media about their title-bidding credentials this season.

    To back their talk with action, they had to start it this game.

    From the very first minute of this game, Manchester United asserted their authority as they put Fulham on the backfoot. They dominated possession but just like late last season, Fulham didn''t buckle under the pressure.

    Obeying the tactical approach of their coach to a fault, the Fulham players were ok with letting Man United hog the possession as they played and defended like a team. Fulham''s shape was extremely solid.

    The midfield duo of Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo impressed as they won the battle in their side of the pitch, and even Sam seemed to be locked out for most of this game in the first half.

    Sam kept on doing his thing though. He never got much time or space on the ball, so he simply abused his greatest aspect again, his stamina.

    While Fulham struggled to settle into this game, Sam abused his stamina, completely locking out his side of the pitch with sheer work rate.

    With time, his teammates used him as a point of reference as they settled into the game, improving their gameplay.

    Manchester United was still the more dangerous side though.

    The only blemish was their attack. For some reason, the 4-man Man United attack was failing to gel as they barely created any danger of note.

    The game continued like this for most of the half. And when Old Trafford thought the first half was going to be like usual, ending in a drab draw, in the 45th plus 3 minutes, Old Trafford was silenced.

    It came out of the blue.

    After being locked out from most of this game by Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez''s valiant display, when it seemed like he would disappear all game, Sam finally switched on the gear just once this first half, and that one time brought a tangible result with it.

    After receiving a pass from Emile Smith Rowe from the right, Sam took one touch to control the ball, then another touch to nutmeg the onrushing Kobbie Mainoo and as Casemiro closed in, he poked a pass with the outside of his boot to Emile Smith Rowe who ran in tandem with him.

    Bam! Bam!

    One touch football, short swift one-two passes.

    It didn''t feel like football at all, rather as the ball moved, alternating between these 2 young midfielders, it felt like some exquisite ancient dance.

    Immediately after passing to Smith Rowe, Sam ghosted into Casemiro''s blind spot and just like he expected, the ball rolled back into his path.

    Harry Maguire charged out to meet him and in one touch, he poked the ball back to Emile Smith Rowe who passed it back immediately in between the 2 Manchester United center backs.

    Abusing his superior speed and agility to dash behind Maguire, Sam took one look at goal and then¡­

    WHOP!

    He hit the ball with such force with his right foot to the bottom left corner that Andre Onana was left sprawling helplessly.

    It was a neat finish to an even neater team move.

    "GOALLLL!" The commentator screamed.

    "Can you believe it? Fulham scored first!"

    "I bet you that few people saw this coming! It''s the Nigerian Zidane again, Sam has done it again!"

    "Such chemistry between him and Smith Rowe, it''s almost like they''ve been playing together for years!"

    "What a goal!"

    "Old Trafford is silenced, how will Manchester United respond?"

    The first half ended 0-1 in Fulham''s favor.

    The atmosphere in this iconic stadium became even more oppressive, the tension increasing by the second, turning as thick as a quagmire.

    Could Fulham hold on to their lead?

 Chapter 162 Telepathic chemistry; a dream start to a new season

    Could Fulham hold on to their lead?This was the prevailing question all across Old Trafford as the 2 teams went into the tunnel for half-time. For the fans in red, they certainly wished for their team to orchestrate a turn-around in the second half.

    When the Fulham players entered the away dressing room, all of them were in good spirits as they faced their coach.

    They knew that coming to Old Trafford was always going to be tough, but they managed to execute the game plan so far, defending like a team.

    By the end of the half, they could tell that the players in red where already becoming flustered; that was exactly what Coach Marco Silva predicted.

    Marco Silva faced his players, he smiled. "Congratulations boys, you managed to complete 50 meters of the 100-meter race, and you''re in the lead".

    "In the second half, I want you all to stick to the game plan".

    "Stay tight, zonal mark them to block all dangerous passing lanes. Let your work rate remain high, and remember to keep Bruno Fernandes on a leash".

    "I don''t know why their coach played him as the striker today," Marco Silva grinned. "But it''s clearly not working, and if they don''t change things up, we just need to keep him stifled for the rest of the 45 minutes".

    He looked at his 2 center backs. "Bassey, Diop, I want the both of you to keep up with your antics, keep on harassing him".

    "Fernandes is notorious for losing his cool. Make him lose his cool and we''ll have the advantage".

    And then he clapped. "That''s all boys, let''s go out there and create more history!"

    "Yeah!" The fired-up Fulham players emerged from the tunnel.

    After 10 minutes of half-time, the players of both clubs finally lined up on the pitch again in opposite sides, and then the referee finally restarted the proceedings.

    FWEEEE!

    This time, Fulham started kick-off and almost immediately, a lack of concentration on the part of the Man United players almost let Fulham score a quick goal as after receiving a long pass from Alex Iwobi, Muniz''s lethal shot just grazed against the bar, sneaking behind for a goal kick.

    That shot definitely rattled nerves but after it, Man United finally calmed down. Whatever Erik Ten Haag told his players during halftime, it was clearly working as after 5 minutes, this team asserted their authority again.

    As the minutes progressed, the Man United players kept on pressing high up into the Fulham half, showing their intent to desperately score a goal.

    In front of their home fans, in the first game of the season, Man United did not want to start with a loss, or even a draw, they wanted to win!

    Bam!

    Bruno Fernandes tested Bernd Leno time and again with his lethal shots.

    Marcus Rashford was largely kept out of the game at the left-hand side of this pitch, but when he went on that occasional mazy run, dribbling past players, his final ball let him down as he gave the ball to Fulham players far too easily.

    As the half wore on, buoyed by the loud noise being made by their fans, the Manchester United fans played high octane attacking football.

    Changes finally started being made as Erik Ten Haag introduced Joshua Zirkzee, Alejandro Garnacho, and eventually Scott McTominay to revive his attack.

    The substitutions made sense as the game wore on, Man United''s threat visibly increasing, but then again, they didn''t have all the time in the world.

    70 minutes passed, no goal¡­

    80 minutes passed, no goal¡­

    85 minutes passed, still no goal¡­

    And just as infuriated Manchester United fans started leaving the stadium, a lapse of concentration by the Fulham defense after playing impressively for almost 90 minutes eventually opened them up. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Garnacho¡­!"

    "Scott McTominayyyyy!"

    "What a goal!"

    "It''s Zirkzee celebrating! Oh, the new boy was the one who got his leg to the ball, a goal on his debut! A dream debut!"

    That goal definitely seemed to swing the momentum back in Man United''s favor as the players in red began running with even greater urgency after the restart, chasing the winner as the Fulham players were finally made to panic.

    Throughout most of this second half, even as Manchester United held on to most of the ball, Fulham was still confident as they defended doggedly.

    After that 87th minute goal though, canceling Sam''s effort in the first half, the Fulham defense in the absence of Adarabioyo finally became a bit shaky.

    But then again, in recent times, they already had a beacon to look up to for courage when the going gets tough for them.

    Mere 2 minutes after Zirkzee scored the goal for Manchester United, Sam won the ball back in midfield before spraying a pass to the right towards Emile Smith Rowe even as he immediately started a rampaging run towards the United box.

    The United players saw his run, Martinez reacted, tracking his run but then again, no one thought his teammates would pass to him.

    The game was too tight to play such a risky pass.

    But Sam did not hesitate, he continued his run deep, having full confidence in his teammate''s trust in him. ''Give me the ball Smith''.

    ''Give me the ball, you know where I want it''.

    ''Just like we did in training''.

    And then, to the shock of the other Manchester United players, Smith Rowe took one touch of the ball to control it, shifted it a bit from McTominay''s press before floating the ball into the 18-yard box.

    As soon as Sam heard the ball being hit, his eyes gleamed. ''Yes!''

    He was running with his back to the ball towards Manchester United''s goal, Sam did not see the ball coming but he trusted in the passing ability of his teammate. And he was right, it was a pin-point accurate cross.

    As Maguire and Martinez tried to sandwich him, with eyes widened in intense concentration, Sam still didn''t see the ball but he saw the shadow of its descent.

    Bam!

    Kicking the ground, he leaped into the air.

    Rising into the air above the 2 Manchester United center backs, Sam raised his weaker left foot up and with the tip of his boot caressed the ball as it descended.

    Bam!

    It was a touch that screamed treachery.

    Sam''s delicate touch killed all the momentum on the ball, taming it on top his leg even as his wide eyes glowed with fire.

    "What a touch from Sam!"

    "He''s in the air! What can he do?"

    Thud!

    Your journey continues with empire

    Landing on the ground even as Martinez shoved his body aggressively, Sam stood his ground with his physicality as he raised his right leg, using his lap to control the ball again that was still in the air.

    Sam didn''t just use his lap to hit and control the ball once, he juggled it, using his lap to hit it 3 times.

    While Sam juggled, he was not in one place.

    He moved, turning just beyond Martinez''s reach of the ball even as he was still sandwiched between the 2 players and then¡­

    BAM!

    Sam''s right leg hit the ball in mid-air with pure venom, unleashing a volleyed shot that left Andre Onana fumbling in his near post.

    For the second time this game, Old Trafford was silenced.

    "SAMMMMMM¡­!!!" The commentator screamed.

    "The Nigerian Zidane is back!"

    "What a touch! What a piece of skill! What a goal!"

    "First game of the season and he''s still the same boy we know!"

    "That pass from Emile Smith Rowe was also straight out of the top drawer, what telepathic chemistry between the 2 wonderkids!"

    "It''s joy for Fulham and woe for Manchester United!"

    That goal in the 89th minute sent the world of football reeling in shock.

    Manchester United could do nothing in additional time, the game ended 1-2 in Fulham''s favor, dooming Man United to a loss in their first game of the season.

 Chapter 163 New season, same old Manchester United

    (Daily Sun News!)(New season; same old Manchester United! The Red Devils lose on their first game of the season to a young and energetic Fulham side led by wonderkids!)

    ¡­

    (National TV!)

    (Joy for Fulham, woe to Manchester United! Is it time for Manchester United to finally accept their losses and let go of Erik Ten Haag?)

    Matchday 1 of a new premier league season was always under a lot of publicity and scrutiny all across the world, and the first game hoarded a lot of this attention.

    This was why Manchester United''s matchday 1 loss became a trend.

    Ruthless rival fans trolled Manchester United fans on social media, requoting the new season, same old Manchester united iconic quote by the Daily Sun News.

    Most rival fans clamored for Manchester United to offer Erik Ten Haag, the Dutch coach a lifetime contract to manage the club. Others claimed he was already a Manchester United legend on par with the great Sir Alex Ferguson.

    Every single Manchester United player was trolled ruthlessly on all social media platforms, and another thing that trend on social media after the game was Mark Goldbridge''s reaction in his livestream to the loss. Enjoy more content from empire

    As soon as Sam scored the 2nd goal for Fulham, starting the season with a brace, the famous Manchester United went on a rant in his livestream, destroying things even as he rained curses on the 2 Manchester United center backs.

    "Maguire, f*cking Maguire again!"

    "How can both of you be sandwiching him and still let him score? Dammit!"

    Well, the first game of the matchday was not the end of the world. After trolling Man United to their satisfaction, premier league fans finally turned their attention to 17th when majority of the rest matchday 1 fixtures would be played.

    And it was safe to say that the drama, banter and excitement was back, and with it came with a bang!

    Against Ipswich Town, the newly promoted side, Liverpool met them at home and initiated them into the premier league with a 0-2 drubbing courtesy of fine goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah.

    In their first game of the season, Arsenal welcomed Wolves to the Emirates Stadium and there, the Gunners taught the visitors a lesson.

    Goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka doomed Wolves to a 2-0 loss.

    Everton vs Brighton was an absolute thriller. Goals from Mitoma and Welbeck gave Brighton a 0-2 lead against Everton at home, but after a 66th minute Ashley Young red card, Brighton ran away comfortably with the lead as they tripled their lead through Adingra''s late goal in the 87th minute.

    Between Newcastle and Southampton, despite Schar receiving an early red card in the 28th minute of the game, a 45th minute Joelinton goal enabled Newcastle to grind out a grueling 1-0 result.

    Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth settled for a draw after goals from Wood and Semenyo.

    West Ham vs Aston Villa was another thriller, but Aston Villa managed to edge their rivals away from home with a 1-2 score line with goals from Amadou Onana and Duran. West Ham''s goal came from a Lucas Paqueta penalty.

    Brentford vs Crystal Palace was another thriller, but goals from Mbeumo and Wissa in the 29th and 76th minute edged Brentford over their rivals as they won the game 2-1 at home.

    And then the magnum opus of matchday 1 was played on 18th August.

    2 heavyweights of the premier league in Chelsea and Manchester City clashed in Stamford Bridge.

    After getting a new coach, Chelsea fans were hopeful of getting a result but Manchester City was still Manchester City, they started the season swimmingly as they set a marker for the rest of the season.

    Goals from Erling Haaland in the 18th minute and Mateo Kovacic in the 84th minute doomed Chelsea to a 0-2 loss at home.

    And then, on 19th August, the last game of matchday 1 between Leicester City and Tottenham was played. It was safe to say that it was another thriller.

    Goals from Tottenham''s Porro and Leicester''s Jamie Vardy canceled both teams out, leaving them to settle for a tightly contested draw.

    Matchday 1 fixtures were finally concluded.

    (Premier league:)

    (Matchday 1:)

    (Manchester United 1-2 Fulham)

    (Date: 16th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Ipswich Town 0-2 Liverpool)

    (Date: 17th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Arsenal 2-0 Wolves)

    (Date: 17th August, 2024) Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡­

    (Everton 0-3 Brighton)

    (Date: 17th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Newcastle 1-0 Southampton)

    (Date: 17th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Nottingham Forest 1-1 Bournemouth)

    (Date: 17th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa)

    (Date: 17th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Brentford 2-1 Crystal Palace)

    (Date: 17th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Chelsea 0-2 Manchester City)

    (Date: 18th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Leicester City 1-1 Tottenham)

    (Date: 19th August, 2024)

    All in all, the premier league was truly back and it came with a banger. Premier league fans were not left wanting in terms of entertainment.

    And after matchday 1, a few names stood out among the players of the 20 football clubs of the premier league.

    The premier league''s team of the matchday was finally decided.

    (Premier league team of the week: Matchday 1!)

    (Goalkeeper: Mark Flekken)

    >Club: Brentford<

    (Right Back: Pedro Porro)

    >Club: Tottenham<

    (Center Back: Ruben Dias)

    >Club: Manchester City<

    (Center Back: Josko Gvardiol)

    >Club: Manchester City<

    (Left Back: Diogo Dalot)

    >Club: Diogo Dalot<

    (Midfield: Amadou Onana)

    >Club: Aston Villa<

    (Midfield: Mateo Kovacic)

    >Club: Manchester City<

    (Midfield: Samuel Moses)

    >Club: Aston Villa)

    (Attack: Bukayo Saka)

    >Club: Arsenal<

    (Attack: Yoane Wissa)

    >Club: Brentford<

    (Attack: Kai Havertz)

    >Club: Arsenal<

    After impressive performances in their first game of the new premier league season, these 11 players were the best in their respective positions and Sam made the list, once again announcing himself to football fans across the world.

    This was not his first time making the premier league team of the matchday, but this time it was different because now, he was no longer an unknown player.

    The reason why other Fulham players didn''t make the team of the matchday was because Manchester United dominated and were the better side throughout the game, only lacking in their offensive firepower.

    Sam singlehandedly won Fulham its first game of the season.

    Emile Smith Rowe should have a shout for the team of the matchday after his 2 assists'' performance, but still, it was a fair line-up.

    To Sam, first mission of the new season accomplished.

    And just like he expected, after the game, his system lit up with notifications of new season system quests.

 Chapter 164 The Black Mamba of football

    ~----~[Congratulations! You have played your first game of the new 2024/2025 premier league season for Fulham FC; you are now eligible for the season system quest!]

    [You have unlocked Season System Quests!]

    [Your club, Fulham FC is eligible to compete in 3 fronts; the English premier league, the FA Cup, and the EFL Cup!]

    [Season Quest 1: English Premier League]

    [Mission 1: Win the English premier league with Fulham FC!]

    [Mission Reward: +4 increase to 2 random football attributes, +10000 Skill Points, and a random bonus reward!]

    ¡­

    [Mission 2: Become the top assist provider of the English premier league!]

    [Mission Reward: +5 increase to your passing attribute and a random passing football skill!]

    ***

    [Season Quest 2: English FA Cup]

    [Mission 1: Win the FA Cup with Fulham FC!]

    [Mission Reward: +2 increase to 2 random football attributes!]

    ¡­

    [Mission 2: Win the best player award in the English FA Cup!]

    [Mission Reward: Random reward]

    ***

    [Season Quest 3: EFL Cup]

    [Mission 1: Win the EFL Cup with Fulham FC!]

    [Mission Reward: +5000 Skill Points and a random bonus reward!]

    ***

    [Season Quest 4: Champions League Spot]

    [Mission 1: Secure a top 4 finish for Fulham FC, guaranteeing Champions League football for your club in the next season!]

    [Mission Reward: +5 increase to your physicality and defending attributes!]

    [System Remark: The art of defending is not just for defenders, it''s a big step towards becoming an all-rounded midfielder!]

    ***

    [Season Quest 5: 30 goals contributions!]

    [Mission 1: Register at least 30 goal contributions in the 2024/2025 professional football season!]

    [Mission Reward: A legendary inheritance!]

    ~----~

    After the game against Manchester United, getting back home to his hotel room, when he saw the notification from his system about a new season system quest, he half expected it to be unlike any other one he had experienced in his 2 and half seasons of professional football but still, Sam never expected this.

    The premier league, EFL Cup, and FA Cup season system quests were within his expectations, but he didn''t see the last 2 coming till it came.

    In a way, the 4th season quest was a bonanza since it went hand in hand with the 1st season system quest. It was also like a compensation, in the very possible scenario that Fulham did not win the premier league.

    "Honestly, I''m being a bit delusional". Sam chuckled. "When did Fulham winning the premier league ever become a likely scenario?"

    But then his eyes gleamed. "It doesn''t matter". He grinned. "What matters is what I want and to what extent I''m willing to go to get it".

    "If I say Fulham wins the premier league," his eyes glinted with determination. "Who dares to stop me?" Enjoy more content from empire

    Maybe he really was just being delusional, maybe at the end of the season, Fulham would come crashing down in a painful fall but Sam didn''t care. To him, what mattered was giving his all.

    He thought of the late legendary NBA player, Kobe Bryant then he grinned again. ''This season, I shall be the Black Mamba of football!''

    And then, he focused on the 5th season quest, the one that surprised him the most. He paid attention to the mission itself, but his attention lingered more on the reward. ''Damn! Another legendary inheritance?''

    At this moment, Sam felt his body shaking in excitement.

    The elastico dribble was still the most lethal weapon in his arsenal of football skills. With it, he had destroyed unknown and famous football stars already.

    It was the purest expression of his determination on a pitch, his best skill.

    And now, Sam just got the opportunity to get another legendary inheritance.

    "Hehe," he chuckled. "Bring it on!"

    "30 goal contributions?" He laughed. "I will score 30 goals in all competitions this season!"

    Saying that and remembering something, Sam suddenly picked his iPhone and accessed social media. ''Talking of goal contributions, how many goals and assists have I given since I started my professional football career?''

    He never really paid attention to the details since the football just kept on coming with such speed since he made his professional debut.

    But now, Sam wanted to know and google gave him his answer.

    Well, he didn''t just know, it was safe to say that google took him through a rollercoaster of emotions of the past 1 year plus of his life.

    Sam smiled as he stared at the information before him. ''I almost forgot already; my first goal contribution was in my debut game against Nasarawa United''.

    ''I assisted Austin''s goal to seal a 1-3 win for Enyimba''. His smile widened. ''I think that''s the same day that I did a mistake earlier, giving a goal to the opponents''.

    ''But I managed to redeem myself with that late assist''. He smiled again, feeling nostalgic as he laid down on his bed while looking at his ceiling. ''Thinking back now, I''ve improved so much since that game''.

    ''Then, literally all my attributes were in the 70s and I think my dribbling attribute was in the 60s then but now,'' he grinned. ''I''m a whole other level of player. Besides, I''m now even playing in the premier league''.

    ''How time flies''. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He kept on reminiscing. ''After my debut game, in the other game, my first home game for Enyimba against Akwa United,'' he grinned. ''I got my first man of the match award after my game-winning 1 assist and 1 goal display''.

    ''That was my very first goal in professional football''.

    "Ah!" He sighed. "It feels like ages ago".

    Sam always knew about his talent, which became ridiculously amplified after getting the Ultimate Football System but still, he underestimated himself a bit.

    Apparently, Enyimba FC fans regarded him as a legend of the club despite his 1 and half season spent there.

    Well, his numbers certainly backed up the claim.

    Smiling, Sam looked at his iPhone for a few minutes before navigating to his contacts and dialing a certain number for the first time in a long time.

    (Outgoing call to Captain Austin¡­)

    After almost 6 months since last speaking with his original captain, Sam now yearned to speak with him again after his reminiscing.

 Chapter 165 A phone call to an old friend

    Click!As soon as the phone call connected, a familiar voice came from the other side. "And see who decided to call me today!" Austin said in a loud voice.

    Sam chuckled. "Hey boss, long time". Explore stories at empire

    "What?!" Austin exclaimed from the other side of the phone. "How dare you call me boss?"

    Sam was startled at first, wondering what he said wrong till Austin continued. "The Nigerian Zidane himself calling me boss, Sam, are you mocking me?"

    "Wait, what? No, come on¡­"

    "You''re definitely mocking me, right?"

    "No, Austin, come on!"

    Austin laughed on the other side of the phone. "Chill out man, I was just pulling your legs. You''ve never changed despite spending so many months in England already".

    Sam frowned. "What do you mean?"

    "Nothing," Austin chuckled. "You''re still the same Abraka rat I know".

    "Werey". Sam cursed in pidgin.

    Austin laughed. "So how are you doing man? You never call, hope I''m safe this one you called today, how''s football?"

    Hearing that question, Sam smiled again. "Football is great man, really great".

    Austin chuckled again. "You don''t need to tell me man. Honestly, who doesn''t know after you singlehandedly demolished Manchester United 2 days ago?"

    Sam chuckled. "That''s not funny, I didn''t do it alone".

    Austin sighed exaggeratedly. "It''s relieving and at the same time really annoying to know that you''re still the same humble Sam I know".

    "Honestly man, you don''t know how annoying it feels for you to say humble words like this after doing ridiculous things on the pitch. It''s f*cking infuriating!"

    "¡­" Sam was dumbfounded.

    In the end, he just laughed. "Whatever you say man. Actually, I was feeling a bit nostalgic as I decided to go over my career again".

    "Man, do you know that we played a total of 33 games including the playoff games in the 2022/2023 season?"

    "Yeah, I know".

    "Really?"

    "Yeah. Who didn''t know?"

    Again, Sam was dumbfounded; he coughed. ''I didn''t know!''

    "Anyways man, I checked my goal contribution tally and I was shocked".

    "43 goal contributions in 33 games right?"

    "¡­" Again, Sam was dumbfounded.

    "How did you know?!" He asked in a shrill voice.

    Austin chuckled. "Who wouldn''t know man? Like, you''re seriously so annoying Sam!" He growled sarcastically. "How would you expect me to forget after witnessing such a legendary season in person?"

    "To you, it may be normal that''s why you can afford to forget, but not a single day passes that I don''t remember that season Sam".

    "With 24 goals and 19 assists in 33 games, making a total of 43 goal contributions, honestly, Sam it didn''t seem like your first professional season at all".

    "I''ve said it many times but you''re a freak man!"

    Sam blushed. "Stop saying such embarrassing things!"

    Austin chuckled again. "Anyways, you were really amazing that season man. The best memories of my football career till now are from that season!" Austin''s voice rose up a crescendo as he also started reminiscing.

    "Man, do you remember our CAF champions league run?" Austin sighed exaggeratedly. "Crazy times man, crazy times".

    "Of course I do!" Sam said as he also remembered.

    "You remember our semifinal battle against Al Ahly? The one that ended in a penalty shootout. Damn! That game was nerves personified!"

    "Crazy stuff happened that game man! Damn!"

    "Don''t shout in my ear on the phone". Sam complained.

    "Shut up and listen!" Austin snapped. "That game was legendary man, Enyimba fans won''t forget it even in years".

    "Back in Nigeria, in Aba, they take me and you as legends already. Honestly, I never thought I would ever get such a status in this life".

    "Then, what of the quarterfinal game? Even the final game against Wydad, and then the FIFA Club World Cup next season". Austin sighed. "Mannnn, it was the greatest season of my life bar none".

    In the end, Sam could no longer bring himself to interrupt Austin as these 2 players drowned in memories, reminiscing together.

    At some point, Sam even wanted to cry. ''F*ck! That''s embarrassing!''

    ''But he keeps on making me remember such sweet memories, that bastard!''

    In the end, after they were done reminiscing, they finally started talking about their personal lives and goals.

    When Austin heard that Sam''s big ambition for this season was to win the premier league, the first reaction of this player was to erupt in laughter but when he eventually calmed down, he became serious.

    "Sam, are you serious?"

    "Yeah".

    "Wow!" Austin was amazed. "Honestly, I would say its bullshit coming from any other player but if it''s you, I won''t doubt it". sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "There''s only one problem," Sam sighed. "The premier league is not like the NPFL Austin. I''m a far better player than then now, but so is the competition, the competition is so much harder to play against".

    "The defenders, all of my opponents are an upgrade".

    "Remember those games when I singlehandedly take the game by the scruff of the neck and win? Here in the premier league, it''s far harder to do so".

    "It''s just not sustainable every game when I go up against the likes of players that are even better than I am in pure skill and technique".

    "Sam, you do know that your greatest attribute has never been your skill, right? But it''s actually your mentality".

    Sam kept quiet, letting him continue.

    "Back in Enyimba, that mentality of yours affected all of us, making us play better. Honestly, that is what earned me my move here to Wolfsburg in Germany".

    "I''ve watched a few Fulham games, I don''t know if you see it yet but Sam you''re already affecting that team, morphing it in your image".

    "Fulham was a perfect example of a mid-table team in the premier league before your arrival but now, here you are winning against Manchester United".

    "Honestly, Sam, that''s a big step in the right direction".

    Remembering something, Austin added. "I think something that helped us play so well in the CAF champions league was the good vibes around the team".

    "If you really want to win the league, yes, you can''t do it alone but if you manage to build the same good vibes in Enyimba in Fulham, I believe together alongside your teammates, you can".

    "Ah!" Austin sighed. "I miss being your teammate man, I envy those mother*ckers so much. They better treasure you".

    Sam cringed. "That sounds gay".

    "Get lost!"

    They both laughed.

    By the end of the call, Sam felt so good and had so much clarity in his head.

    In the end, he agreed with one thing that his friend said. ''The good vibes, I really need to bring it to Fulham''.

    ''It''s easier for me to enter the zone state when the vibe is good''.

    ''And in the zone state, I tend to perform miracles''.

    Sam''s eyes gleamed with determination. ''I will start with Emile Smith Rowe''.

 Chapter 166 A surprise

    After Fulham''s first game of the new season, the league game against Manchester United, they had 7 days to rest and prepare for the next game.Fulham''s next game was to take place between them and Leicester City in the premier league, and it was also their first home game of the new 2024/2025 season in Craven Cottage, making the players even more motivated to show up.

    Of course, before the game though, there were certain things that Sam decided to set in order after his call with Austin.

    One of these things was building a relationship outside the pitch with Fulham''s new signing, Emile Smith Rowe.

    The story of how Emile Smith Rowe eventually ended in Fulham was not news to any premier league fan. Afterall, it had been building for a long time.

    Emile Smith Rowe alongside Bukayo Saka of Arsenal were once dubbed as the 2 star boys having graduated from the academy together.

    During the early days of Mikel Arteta in the premier league, when a teenage Bukayo Saka started getting a prominent role in the Arsenal team that was in a transition period, Emile Smith Rowe also had a prominent role in midfield.

    He may not be the best player on the pitch, especially when he was lining up with the likes of Martin Odegaard and Thomas Partey in midfield but he was not completely invisible too. Emile Smith Rowe did his thing in the middle of the pitch tidily, helping Arsenal tick and win games.

    But then, as Mikel Arteta started building the team in his image, Emile Smith Rowe consistently started being reduced to a peripheral player on the pitch.

    First was the acquisition of Kai Havertz from Chelsea as the coach opted to play the German international in midfield at first. And then, later, the acquisition of Declan Rice from West Ham completely destroyed his hopes in consistently making the Arsenal starting XI.

    At first, Emile Smith Rowe was determined to stick with his boyhood club since he was a versatile player who could play across the midfield and forward lines.

    But even in attacking roles, Mikel Arteta made moves in the transfer market, bringing in the likes of Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City and Leandro Trossard too. These acquisitions finally clarified him of his position in Mikel Arteta''s plans.

    He was not in the coach''s plans.

    No matter who you are as a professional football player, no matter your nationality, no matter your mentality, or even your skin color, there was only one reaction after making such a damning realization, devastation.

    Even the likes of legendary players like the old version of Cristiano Ronaldo lashed out when he discovered he was not in Erik Ten Haag''s plans in Manchester United, Emile Smith Rowe was just a youngster in comparison.

    Dealing with such a big blow to his career was hard.

    Every academy graduate from most big clubs in the world dreamed of playing for their childhood club till they retire, retiring as a legend but not all of them get to fulfill this big dream, and Emile Smith Rowe unfortunately fell into this category.

    Even as Emile Smith Rowe completed his move to Fulham, it was clear that the player was yet to completely let go of his past ghosts from Arsenal.

    He was talented, but even the best players don''t play close to their best when they are not in the right mental state.

    Smith Rowe''s performances since coming to Fulham was more or less buoyed by Sam''s willingness to strike an understanding with him on the pitch.

    And now, after the talk with Austin, Sam decided to take it a step further.

    He asked a few teammates and easily got Emile Smith Rowe''s number. Sam did not know how to beat around the bush, he went straight to the point.

    "Hey, man, you free?"

    "Can I come over so we''ll work out and train together?"

    At first, Emile Smith Rowe was stunned. The media may be concocting stories about their telepathic chemistry on the pitch, but only he truly knew how estranged he still was with the Nigerian prodigy.

    This was why when Sam took the initiative to call him, he was stunned but then he agreed. "Are you sure you''re not occupied by other¡­?"

    "Nah, don''t worry about me," Sam interrupted him with a grin. "I am completely free and available to train with you".

    That morning, Sam met up with Smith Rowe in the streets of Fulham where together, they started jogging that early in the morning.

    If Smith agreed, Sam wanted to make him his jogging partner just like he did with Austin when they played together in the NPFL for Enyimba.

    At the end of their jogging, Sam led him to Craven Cottage where they used the stadium''s gym to complete their work out.

    At the end of it all, both players were sweating profusely but Emile Smith Rowe had a rejuvenated smile on his face as he looked at the Nigerian.

    "Sam, you do this every day?"

    Sam grinned, looking at him. "Yeah, there''s a reason I''m always fit for training".

    "It''s nice," Smith nodded. "I think I''ll be joining you, that''s if it''s ok with you of course".

    ''I didn''t even need to ask''.

    Sam smiled. "Of course, it''s ok with me".

    And with that, it was sealed as his system finally lit up with notifications, confirming that his daily system quest was completed.

    ~----~

    [You have completed System Daily Quest: Mentality Monster!]

    [You have been rewarded with a low-grade physical conditioning elixir!]

    ~----~

    Looking at the English player, Sam wondered. ''Am I the only one that can ingest the elixirs generated by the system?''

    He knew it was risky to even think of something like this but looking at Smith Rowe, he could not help but want to help. ''Something like the physical conditioning elixir may help him in recovering his confidence faster''.

    ''And if we''re to keep on winning games, I need him at his best''.

    Sam knew right now that it was impossible to share the elixirs he got from the Ultimate Football System, but he wondered if one day he would level up the system to the level where it became possible.

    ''That''s food for thought''.

    After bidding farewell to Smith Rowe, Sam challenged the English player to which of them would get home, get set, and return to the stadium faster for training.

    Well, Sam failed woefully because once he got home, he was surprised to see what seemed like a surprise box decorated with flowers and balloons by his hotel door. Sam checked with the hotel first to confirm that it was not something dangerous.

    The peculiar thing though was that the hotel staff refused to tell him the identity of the person who sent it, only naming the courier man who brought it.

    ''Hmmm, what are they being so secretive about?''

    ''But the fact they''re being secretive means it''s safe and from a familiar person. I wonder who it is''.

    Taking the surprise box, Sam entered his hotel room only to be startled by a sudden video call from his mom.

    ''Hmm, this timing''. He was suspicious.

    And when he picked the call, still sweaty all over, he was right.

    "Happy birthday!!!" His family screamed on the phone.

    "¡­!" Sam was surprised and taken off-guard.

    Not only his family was on this video call. Without him knowing, they already created a WhatsApp group with the name Happy birthday to Sam and they put him inside the group without informing him first.

    Apart from his parents and his sister, the other people in this WhatsApp group were Ian, his best friend and then Kayla.

    He blushed. ''Damn, mom! What were you people thinking?''

    ''We''re not even dating yet!''

    He was pretty sure that his mom was the one who suggested adding Kayla to the group. And then, in hindsight, this month really was his birthday.

    He was so focused in preparing for the new season and making Fulham competitive for the title that he completely forgot about other aspects of his life.

    His birthday was far gone, it was supposed to be on August 6th.

    Sam scratched his head awkwardly. "I completely forgot".

    "You moron," his mom berated smilingly, "who forgets his birthdays?"

    "When Kayla told me you would forget after going to England, I vehemently disagreed since you were always so particular about birthdays while growing up".

    She stared at him. "Does this mean my boy has now grown past birthday celebrations?"

    "No mom, no!" Sam chuckled cheekily. "I just forgot".

    Stay tuned to empire

    And then, they sang a unified birthday song for him, congratulating him on his achievements so far before eventually asking him to open the surprise box.

    Sam already expected to see something ridiculous, after all, his mom had a hand in the preparations but this, he did not expect something this ridiculous.

    The first thing in the surprise box was a new food flask. Hesitantly opening it, Sam was flabbergasted to discover homemade Banga soup and starch inside all the way from Nigeria. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Wait, mom, did you send this all the way from Nigeria?"

    "Of course, what do you mean and why are you looking at me like that? It''s my son''s birthday, I will do anything for him!"

    "Right," Sam sighed.

    "Make sure you eat it!"

    "Yes mom".

    After the food flask, the other package in the surprise box was a phone, an iPhone. After more than a year of sticking with his iPhone 12 since his father got it for him, his family finally upgraded him to the latest iPhone 15 pro max.

    This time, Sam smiled brightly. "Thanks dad!"

    His family wanted to talk more but Sam was on a time schedule. "I''m sorry mom, let''s talk later, I have a training session to meet".

    And with that, Sam left for training.

    He left in an incredibly good mood.

 Chapter 167 Potential to become the greatest player in football history!

    The next day, when Sam woke up, there was a massive framed picture in his hotel room."Finally!" Sam grinned as he stared at this massive framed picture.

    He ordered for this framed picture just 2 days ago, and last night, he got it. It was a framed picture tracking his career from Enyimba till date.

    A few days ago, he finally did some research to know how many goal contributions he already had in his career and it was safe to say that the figure Sam found left him totally flabbergasted.

    Since making his debut for Enyimba, Sam knew that he had been doing some crazy stuff in a football pitch but he was so focused in the moment and trying to win every game that he forgot to pay attention to the statistics.

    When he eventually saw the statistics, he finally knew why transfermarkt valued him at an incredible 30 million Euros despite being just 19 years old now.

    The framed picture was a treasured possession of his now.

    (Name: Samuel Moses)

    (Nickname: Zinedine Sam)

    (Jersey number: No. 11)

    (Image: =)

    ***

    (First professional football season: 2022/2023- NPFL)

    (Goals: 24)

    (Assists: 19)

    (Games: 33)

    ***

    (Second professional football season: 2023/2024)

    (Half season- NPFL)

    (Goals: 17)

    (Assists: 12)

    (Games: 21)

    ---

    (Half season- Premier league)

    (Goals: 16)

    (Assists: 15)

    (Games: 21)

    ***

    (Total goals: 57)

    (Total assists: 46)

    (Games: 75)

    Seeing it when it was just figures online, Sam was already shocked and impressed. Well, seeing it now when it was printed in a framed picture, Sam was beyond flabbergasted and impressed.

    "I really am a monster". He muttered.

    He had played just 2 seasons in professional football since making his debut in football but to the neutral eye, these stats were the stats of an absolute veteran of the game.

    His first season in football with Enyimba went so fast that Sam never even realized that he actually played 33 whooping games in just his first season. Most debutants could not boast of the same amount of games played.

    He didn''t rack up so many games because he was favored though. Afterall, just like he forced his way into the Fulham starting XI with Coach Marco Silva, he also forced his way into Enyimba''s starting XI.

    This was all earned by merit.

    Moving on from his first season, Sam actually managed to improve in his second season in professional football. With 21 games racked for Enyimba and 21 games racked for Fulham, he played an incredible 42 games as an 18-year-old.

    This figure could not help but remind him of a younger Pedri Gonzalez for Barcelona when he played so many games he ended up being plagued by injuries.

    Even till now, Pedri was not fully recovered from the strain of playing so many games as a youngster in that particular grueling season.

    Sam did the same thing, but yet, he was still performing. The main difference between him and Pedri was the Ultimate Football System. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    With the elixirs and gifts that he got from his system, unlike any other professional football player in the world and even in history, Sam could recover fast enough to maintain a consistent level of performance all season.

    And a big difference between him and Pedri was that he was not just racking up a large amount of appearances, and he was not just playing well, he was also showing up in the numbers category.

    In 75 games across his first 2 seasons as a professional football player, Sam already managed to rack up 57 goals and 46 assists.

    That was 103 goal contributions already for a 19-year-old teenager!

    It was just borderline crazy.

    ''Not even Messi or Ronaldo got numbers like this at my age''. This realization left Sam reeling in shock. ''Not even Mbappe, and not even Haaland too, I think''.

    After the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, after he just got the Ultimate Football System and it claimed of making him a football God, Sam always thought it was just a big bluff. He accepted it because beggars were not choosers.

    But now, seeing all that he had achieved in just 2 seasons of football and this was despite not even hitting his peak yet, he finally believed his system.

    That morning, staring at the framed picture, Sam clenched his fists tightly, his eyes shining in unrestrained excitement. ''I have the potential to become the greatest player in all of football''s history!''

    ''I have the potential to become the undisputed G.O.A.T of football!''

    ''And to think, Messi, you were the catalyst who pushed me into this path''. Sam grinned. ''God bless 2022, God bless Messi, God bless Mbappe, thank you for being my inspirations''.

    ''Thank you mentor''.

    With that, Sam finally went about with his day, swiftly completing his daily system quest with Emile Smith Rowe, his partner before reporting for training.

    With the good mood of his birthday still fresh, Sam was in great form as he impressed as the out and out Fulham''s best player in training for the next few days in the buildup to matchday 2 of the premier league season.

    And eventually, like the flipping pages of a book, the days disappeared.

    In no distant time, D-day, the day of reckoning was here.

    (Premier league:)

    (Matchday 2:)

    (Brighton ¨C Man United)

    (Date: 24th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Tottenham ¨C Everton)

    (Date: 24th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Crystal Palace ¨C West Ham)

    (Date: 24th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Southampton ¨C Nottm Forest)

    (Date: 24th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Fulham ¨C Leicester City)

    (Date: 24th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Man City ¨C Ipswich Town)

    (Date: 24th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Aston Villa ¨C Arsenal)

    (Date: 24th August, 2024) Explore stories on empire

    ¡­

    (Bournemouth ¨C Newcastle)

    (Date: 25th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Wolves ¨C Chelsea)

    (Date: 25th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Liverpool ¨C Brentford)

    (Date: 25th August, 2024)

    It was another exciting matchday of the new premier league season, and on the 24th, Fulham welcomed Leicester City in their home stadium, Craven Cottage.

    In this game, Sam felt totally free, carefree, and happy for the first time in a long time. Today, he felt like he could enjoy his game.

    His instincts told him that he would not need his robotic level of focus to win since that in itself was incredibly grueling. Today, he was determined to enjoy himself on the pitch before tens of thousands of Fulham supporters.

    Back in Nigeria, Enyimba fans were already long accustomed to the version of their star player who thoroughly enjoyed himself on the pitch, totally outplaying every player both in his team and the opposition team.

    The Fulham fans in comparison only knew the Sam that always came in clutch, scoring and assisting important goals to help their team get a result.

    Today, they were about to get accustomed to the samba Sam.

    What is samba?

    To Brazilians, in the indigenous language, samba means roda de danca, or a circle of dance since the indigenous people danced in celebration on many occasions, such as the celebration of popular Catholic festivals, Amerindan, or Afro-Brazilian religious ceremonies, but it was also practiced at random.

    Samba was usually attributed to the Brazilian national team; this was because of the incredible talent and natural flair of their players.

    All the way from the era of the great Pele and Garrincha, to the Romario teams, the Rivaldo, then the Ronaldo and Ronaldinho era, the Marcelo and Dani Alves era, and then the Neymar era, all of it was referred to as samba.

    Its literal meaning meant a dance, but to Brazilian footballers, the process of practicing their craft on a football pitch, displaying their flair, dribbling through players effortlessly like it was not there, it was part and parcel of the Brazilian football culture, it was samba.

    Sam was not Brazilian but he loved Brazilians, he always loved them with Neymar as his Brazilian idol.

    When he eventually learned Barca history, learning of the great Barca team led by Ronaldinho Gaucho, the mercurial Brazilian, he loved them even more.

    Sam was first and foremost an attacking midfielder but he loved the movement and flair of Brazilians, their dribbling ability, it gave him the kick.

    From Ronaldo to Ronaldinho, to Marcelo, to Dani Alves, to Neymar, these were all points of references that built his excitement in the sport of football.

    Perhaps this love was why he inherited Ronaldinho''s trademark skill, the elastico dribble.

    As Sam walked into the pitch today alongside his teammates and amid the loud roar of cheers from the Fulham fans, he grinned.

    ''Let me show you samba''. He thought excitedly.

    Sam felt adrenaline already flowing through his veins as he lined up on this pitch. Having spent the chunk of the past few days alongside him and training with him, Emile Smith Rowe was the first to notice the change in him.

    The English player narrowed his eyes. ''He''s different''.

    ''It''s as if¡­ he''s happier''.

    Yes, Sam was happy, far happier than he had been in months.

    Emile Smith Rowe was not worried, because his instincts told him that this change was not a bad change. He was positive that it would benefit the team.

    And when the referee''s whistle sounded¡­

    FWEEEEE!

    ¡­samba started!

 Chapter 168 Samba football

    Just like was expected from both teams, Fulham and Leicester City started with their strongest lineup of players.The home side like usual started with Bernd Leno in between the posts, with the defensive quadruple of Tete, Diop, Bassey, and Robinson forming the Fulham defense.

    In midfield, the duo of Alex Iwobi and Lukic started, sitting on top the defense while further up top was the trio of Adama Traore on the right, Emile Smith Rowe on the left, while Sam pushed through the middle as the attacking midfielder.

    Ahead of them was Muniz who led the line as the striker.

    As for Leicester City, Hermansen started in between the posts with the defensive quadruple of Kristiansen, Faes, Vestergaard, and Justin standing in his front as his protectors.

    Further ahead were the likes of the Nigerian international, Wilfried Ndidi and Winks. Among the 4 players sitting ahead of the defensive midfielders was a familiar face to the Fulham players.

    After a busy time in the transfer market for Fulham, they got Emile Smith Rowe while they sold a few of their players to rivals in the premier league and one of them now plied his trade for Leicester City and today, he was starting against his former club.

    Leicester City''s attack comprised of Buonanotte in attacking midfield, Fatawu on the right, the legendary Jamie Vardy in attack while on the left side of this attack was the familiar face, De Cordova Reid.

    When the referee''s whistle eventually sounded though, Sam did not give a damn about the fact that an old fried played for the opposition.

    In his eyes, they were all enemies.

    FWEEEE!

    From the very onset of this game, Sam showed his mood in this game as immediately after kick off as after receiving a pass from Lukic, he took one glance at goal before unleashing an audacious attempt at goal from the halfway line.

    Leicester''s goalkeeper scrambled back to his goal post but he was not fast enough as the ball beat him, but then the bar came to his rescue.

    "And the bar comes to the goalkeeper''s rescue!"

    "What an audacious attempt from Sam, the player who is in form, the player who is always in form!"

    "What a shot!"

    Sam licked his lips excitedly as he watched this ball fly over the bar for a corner kick. ''Nearly,'' he smirked. ''But nearly cannot kill a bird, I need to do better!''

    While Fulham got prepared to take their corner, the commentator went lyrical about the young Nigerian midfielder as he seemingly was not satisfied with what he already said. "But honestly, can we just give a moment to appreciate the talent of this Nigerian midfielder?"

    "Clearly, despite the fact that he''s still relatively a newbie to the premier league, none of it has affected Samuel Moses. Adaptation time seems like a myth to the young Nigerian, he''s taken to the premier league like a fish to water".

    "Just take a moment to focus on his statistics from last season for Fulham despite the fact that he only played a fraction of the premier league games after his late signing". Experience more tales on empire

    "A lot of people think it''s farfetched but take it from me, Sam is the next big thing in premier league football".

    When Fulham eventually took their corner kick, it resulted in a scramble in the Leicester City box but after some chaotic play, the Foxes managed to clear the ball upfield.

    And there, gentlemen, was the start of samba football.

    The shot from Sam was just him testing his legs.

    For the rest of this first half, Sam took control, dominating proceedings for his team and fortunately to help his case, the whole Fulham team showed up today as they rode the momentum created by his energy.

    From the beginning, Leicester City was already struggling to wrestle authority over this game and now, Sam took it a notch higher.

    Bam! Bam!

    Forward pass, return pass¡­; forward pass, return pass¡­

    Tiki taka, Sam played short one touch passes with his teammates in midfield as they thoroughly enjoyed themselves at Leicester''s expense.

    At this moment, Sam wore his title of Space interpreter on his sleeve as he passed, dribbled, and intelligently intercepted passes while occasionally throwing in the unreal defense splitting passes for the swift Adama Traore to run into.

    And most importantly, he played samba football, regularly weaving through multiple players with his impressive technique as every few minutes, the Fulham fans gasped and rose to their feet in amazement.

    All this was crammed into the first 15 minutes of this game.

    Within this short time, Sam already did enough to prove that he was heads and shoulders above every other player in Craven Cottage today.

    And eventually, the floodgates did open.

    This time, after exchanging a series of passes between Emile Smith Rowe in midfield, Sam went on a mazy run with the ball, elegantly weaving through Ndidi in midfield, then Winks as the center defenders closed him down aggressively.

    At the end of his rampaging run, Sam threaded a pass in between the 2 center defenders to the right for Smith Rowe who had been chasing him since to run into.

    Emile Smith Rowe ran after the ball then¡­

    Bam!

    The English midfielder took a venomous shot that seemed to carry a lot of meaning only for it to hit the bar, rebounding back and unfortunately for Leicester City, a Fulham player got to the rebound first.

    Having ran upfield alongside Sam as he went on his mazy run, ruthlessly cutting through players like they were not there, Alex Iwobi ended up in the right place at the right time.

    In the opposition 18-yard box, he unleashed an unstoppable volleyed shot as the ball tore its way into the top right corner of the net.

    Sam didn''t get an assist for this goal, but his imprint was all over it.

    The crowd at Craven Cottage roared with approval, chanting Sam''s name as he high-fived his teammates. Despite not being credited with the assist, Sam''s creativity had set the tone for that goal.

    Leicester City, now trailing, tried to regain their composure but it was futile.

    Fulham remained dominant as after that first goal, Sam grew more into his mojo and that only spelled doom for the opposition.

    In the 28th minute, he almost doubled the lead with a curling shot from outside the box, but Hermansen pulled off a brilliant save, diving low to his right.

    "Sam is unstoppable today!" The commentator raved. "You can''t take your eyes off him for a second!"

    Despite several more chances for Fulham, the first half ended with the score line still at 1-0. As the players walked off the pitch for the break, the atmosphere in Craven Cottage was electric.

    Sam was clearly the focal point and the fans couldn''t get enough of his samba-inspired performance.

    Leicester City returned from the break with renewed vigor, determined to wrestle control of the game.

    They pressed higher, forcing Fulham onto the back foot. In the 53rd minute, Jamie Vardy found himself unmarked in the box after a quick one-two. With the goal at his mercy, he struck the ball¡­ only to send it sailing over the bar.

    "VARDY MISSES A SITTER!" the commentator yelled in disbelief. "You''d bet your house on Vardy scoring from there, but somehow, he''s bottled it!"

    Leicester''s persistence began to pay off as they kept possession, stifling Fulham''s attacking rhythm.

    Sam found himself tightly marked, often swarmed by two or three players. The fouls began to mount, with Ndidi and Winks taking turns roughing him up. By the 70th minute, Sam''s frustration was palpable.

    In the 80th minute, Fulham''s defense faltered. Alex Iwobi, attempting to dribble past Ndidi, lost possession after a clean tackle. Leicester pounced on the mistake, launching a swift counterattack.

    Jamie Vardy sprinted down the right flank, shouting for the ball.

    Iwobi chased after him, desperate to recover. As the ball was played into Vardy''s path, Iwobi tugged on his shirt. The veteran striker tumbled theatrically to the ground.

    The referee blew his whistle and pointed to the spot.

    "Penalty for Leicester City! And a red card for Alex Iwobi!" the commentator exclaimed. "What a catastrophic moment for Fulham!"

    The Fulham fans fell silent as Vardy stepped up. His penalty was perfect, smashing into the top corner.

    "Vardy makes no mistake this time! It''s 1-1, and Leicester are back in this!"

    With just nine minutes of regulation time left and down to ten men, Fulham faced an uphill battle.

    Sam rallied his teammates. "We''ve got this! Stay compact and hit them on the counter!" he urged, clapping his hands to lift their spirits.

    Leicester, sensing blood, pushed forward, leaving gaps at the back. In the 86th minute, Sam finally found his moment.

    Receiving the ball in midfield, three Leicester players converged on him. With a quick body feint and a drop of his shoulder, he slipped past them like a ghost.

    The crowd erupted.

    "Samuel Moses is on fire tonight! He''s leading the charge, Fulham are countering!"

    With Leicester''s defense scrambling, Sam spotted Smith Rowe making a run. A perfectly weighted ground pass sliced through the defense. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Smith Rowe is through! One-on-one with the keeper!"

    The English youngster playing as a makeshift winger today did not hesitate as he chipped the ball delicately over Hermansen; the net rippled.

    "GOOOOOOAL!" The commentator screamed.

    "Fulham lead 2-1! Down to ten men, and they''ve done it!"

    Smith Rowe sprinted to the corner flag, arms wide in celebration, with Sam chasing him, pointing at his teammate.

    The Fulham bench exploded in cheers.

    Craven Cottage exploded in loud roars of jubilation.

    ---

    The clock ticked toward the final whistle, but Leicester weren''t done yet. In the 93rd minute, a cross from the left threatened to find Vardy in the box. Bernd Leno soared high, tipping the ball over the crossbar for a corner.

    Leicester threw everyone forward, but Leno caught the corner cleanly. Spotting Sam sprinting down the left flank, he launched the ball long.

    Sam chased it down, his pace leaving Leicester''s defenders in the dust and then one-on-one with Hermansen, he feinted right, dribbled left, and calmly slotted the ball into the net.

    "THAT''S IT! GAME OVER! SAMUEL MOSES SEALS IT FOR FULHAM! 3-1!"

    "What a game!"

    The stadium erupted in pandemonium. Sam slid on his knees; arms spread wide as his teammates piled on him in celebration. The fans chanted his name, recognizing the brilliance that had carried them to victory.

    ---

    Full-Time.

    The final whistle blew; Fulham won.

    Sam was named the Man of the Match for his dazzling display. As he walked off the pitch, the crowd''s cheers were deafening. The samba football maestro had once again stolen the show.

    ...

    >Read author''s note<

 Chapter 169 New status

    (Premier league:)(Matchday 2 results:)

    (Brighton 2-1 Man United)

    (Date: 24th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Tottenham 4-0 Everton)

    (Date: 24th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Crystal Palace 0-2 West Ham)

    (Date: 24th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Southampton 0-1 Nottm Forest)

    (Date: 24th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Fulham 2-1 Leicester City)

    (Date: 24th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Man City 4-1 Ipswich Town)

    (Date: 24th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal)

    (Date: 24th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Bournemouth 1-1 Newcastle)

    (Date: 25th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Wolves 2-6 Chelsea)

    (Date: 25th August, 2024)

    ¡­ S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (Liverpool 2-0 Brentford) Enjoy more content from empire

    (Date: 25th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. Arsenal GP: 2 Pts: 6)

    (2. Brighton GP: 2 Pts: 6)

    (3. Fulham GP: 2 Pts: 6)

    (4. Liverpool GP: 2 Pts: 6)

    (5. Man City GP: 2 Pts: 6)

    (6. Newcastle GP: 2 Pts: 4)

    (7. Nottm Forest GP: 2 Pts: 4)

    (8. Tottenham GP: 2 Pts: 4)

    (9. Aston Villa GP: 2 Pts: 3)

    (10. Brentford GP: 2 Pts: 3)

    (11. Chelsea GP: 2 Pts: 3)

    (12. West Ham GP: 2 Pts: 3)

    (13. Bournemouth GP: 2 Pts: 2)

    (14. Leicester GP: 2 Pts: 1)

    (15. Crystal Palace GP: 2 Pts: 0)

    (16. Everton GP: 2 Pts: 0)

    (17. Ipswich Town GP: 2 Pts: 0)

    (18. Man United GP: 2 Pts: 0)

    (19. Southampton GP: 2 Pts: 0)

    (20. Wolves GP: 2 Pts: 0)

    After 2 days of premier league football, this was how the premier league table looked. Fulham was in 3rd position, tied at 6 points a piece alongside some illustrious names of the English top tier.

    The most shocking entry in the premier league table this season was definitely Manchester United.

    Once the King of the English premier league, the English giants were now a shadow of their former selves as after 2 games, they were unable to acquire a single point, falling to 2 damning defeats.

    It was safe to say that it was a new low for the Red Devils.

    After Fulham''s game, racking up another win on the road and personally for Sam, having won another man of the match award, he stood before a reporter again as he addressed another post-match interview.

    "Congratulations Sam. Once again, you had an amazing outing in the premier league. That''s 2 wins in 2 games for Fulham, how do you feel?"

    Sam smiled at the female reporter. "Of course, I feel great. 2 wins in 2 games, that''s the perfect start to the new season that we hoped for and now we''re getting it, so of course I''m happy".

    "I hope we''re able to keep this form up in upcoming matches".

    The reporter cautiously looked at the Nigerian midfielder. "Sam, there are rumors going round in the internet that you claimed Fulham will win the league this season. How true are these rumors, and what do you feel about it?"

    Hearing that question, at first Sam was surprised but then he just smiled. "Like you said, they''re just rumors".

    He continued. "Personally, I have a lot of ambitions for this new season but it would be quite arrogant of me to outrightly declare that Fulham will win the league this season when you consider how formidable our opponents are".

    "All I have to tell you is that we will definitely give our all!" His eyes gleamed.

    ''And hopefully, our all is rewarded by the ultimate trophy to go with it''. He thought as he looked at the reporter.

    Hearing his reply, the reporter smiled. "I hope you achieve your personal ambitions this season Sam".

    "Thank you". Sam smiled back at her.

    "Sam, we could not help but notice that today on the pitch, you seemed to be enjoying yourself quite a lot. You dribbled far more often than you did before, at least till the second half started. Is this a change of your style?"

    Hearing that question, Sam''s smile widened. "Well, the simple answer to your question is that I was simply in a very good mood".

    But then he grimaced. "Like you said, till the second half. During the first half, I got to enjoy myself on the pitch, do what I love doing, connecting with Smith Rowe till Leicester decided to mark me out of the game".

    "Getting swarmed by 2 to 3 opposition players every time you get the ball is not a pleasant feeling," he sighed. "Anyways, I''m glad we won still".

    The reporter nodded. "In light of that, Sam, your status in the premier league already changed. To many, you''re the best player in Fulham FC currently".

    "And with this status comes certain privileges and inconveniences too".

    "You experienced one of this inconvenience today. With Leicester, it didn''t work but other clubs will definitely try to lock you out of games by sending multiple players to swarm you and cut you out".

    "How would you cope with this?"

    Sam shrugged. "It''s unpleasant but like Bukayo Saka said one time ago, getting targeted by opposition players is a validation of talent and ability".

    "So to me, it''s an honor, and I will embrace it with full gusto".

    He grinned. "They''re free to mark me and target me, but I also want to let them know that I won''t give up!"

    "Typical Samuel Moses". The reporter smiled.

    "One last thing, can you tell me about your relationship with Emile Smith Rowe since your chemistry with him on the pitch is very tight. And somehow, Smith Rowe has exceeded all expectations cast on him since his move to Fulham, and many speculate that it''s because of you".

    This time, Sam thought carefully about it before he responded. "First, I recently took the initiative to become friends with him recently. We''re good friends, it''s only natural that this friendship also translates to our chemistry on the pitch".

    "Another thing is that we''re both talented players".

    "Sometimes, ability is all that''s needed to build chemistry. We''re young, we''re energetic, we''re ambitious, and we''re good, all these similar qualities is what endears us towards each other on the pitch".

    "I believe that with time, our chemistry would become even more perfect".

    The reporter smiled. "I hope so too, it''s good to see Smith Rowe happy again".

    "Thanks for having us Sam, do have a nice day".

    "You too".

    As Sam walked out of the interview, he could not help but think back on what the reporter told him about. ''Status¡­, I guess my status has really changed''.

    ''Last season, I was just an inexperienced youngster making his debut in the premier league so instinctively, opponents looked down on me''.

    ''This made it incredibly easy for me to impose my will on the pitch''.

    ''But now, they''ve noticed me, they''ve acknowledged my threat,'' he sighed. ''My status in the premier league has changed''.

    ''Today is just a sample for the future. In future games, it won''t be just one player anymore, multiple players will swarm me anytime I have the ball''.

    ''They''ll even start kicking aggressively just to keep me out of the game''.

    Sam was supposed to be worried by these thoughts but for some reason, it made him even more excited. ''I''ve finally made them notice me!'' He grinned.

    ''The likes of Messi and Ronaldo were targeted for almost their whole career, but they lived above it all, building such legendary careers and legacies''.

    ''I can do the same''.

    He clenched his fist. ''I will do the same!''

    When Sam returned home that day, the first thing he did was open his dairy before updating his own statistics.

    {2024/2025 Season:}

    {Goals: 1}

    {Assists: 2}

    {Games: 2}

    {Total goal contributions: 3}

    As soon as he was done writing, he laid down on his bed, looking at his ceiling idly since he already took his bath and freshened up.

    "27 more goal contributions". He muttered with a slight smile on his face.

    Before retreating to sleep for the night, Sam did a video call with his family as he spoke with his mom who raved about his performance this game.

    Sam felt nostalgic. ''I can''t believe it''s this same Mom who would raise a storm over the mere fact of me and dad watching football, not to talk of playing''.

    ''Now, not only is she watching, she''s also showing a lot of interest in learning more about it. She''s now a lover of football, can you believe it?''

    He sighed. ''Time really changes people''.

    After the video call session with his family, before sleeping, Sam called another person, Kayla Banks.

    And this time, unlike when he called his family when his mom was raving, doing all the talking, Sam did most of the talking this time.

    With Kayla, he felt totally free and himself as Sam raved about how he felt before, during, and after the game. He explained what motivated him to play like this today, samba, and he also explained what samba meant to her.

    After he was done with his own, Kayla finally started as she told him about the full narrative of how her day went.

    Before they knew it, they already spent over an hour on the call.

    Sam was flabbergasted. ''An hour? Just now?!''

    In the end, they had to eventually end the call since he was exhausted and wanted to sleep.

    When Kayla blew him a kiss, Sam froze and what she said next made him lose control and blush.

    "Goodnight, love you".

    Well, that was the first time Sam heard that from someone not family!

    He forced a smile. "Goodnight, love you too".

    ''That sounds so weird!''

    As soon as he ended the call, Sam slept peacefully with a soothing feeling all over his body like butterflies were fluttering their beautiful wings in his belly.

    It felt nice.

 Chapter 170 2 games in 5 days

    After 2 matchdays of the new premier league season, football clubs in England were finally exposed to other tournaments, the first which was the EFL Cup which Fulham were the reigning champions of.And like expected, the introduction of other competitions for Fulham meant the schedule was about to ramp up for their players.

    After the game against Leicester City, Fulham players had only 2 days of rest before taking on Birmingham in the EFL Cup second round.

    And after that game, their next fixture of matchday 3 in the premier league gave them just 3 days of rest to play in away ground against Ipswich Town, the newly promoted club to the premier league.

    (EFL Cup- Second round:)

    (Birmingham ¨C Fulham)

    (27th August, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Premier league:)

    (Matchday 3:)

    (Ipswich Town ¨C Fulham)

    (31st August, 2024)

    It was 2 games in 5 days for Fulham.

    For Fulham as a club, it was going to be a monumental 5 days and it was up to their manager, Marco Silva to manage both games in the best way with the goal to win and not overburden his players.

    It was not Sam''s problem though, rather it was the problem of his coach; this was why after the game against Leicester, on a weekend, Sam had a merry time with his new friend in London, Emile Smith Rowe.

    It was not just the both of them though. Weeks after getting his admission to study Medicine in England, Ian finally met up with his best friend again.

    It was still a bit unusual for him to accept that his best friend was now a big celebrity, and he was not just meeting him today, he was also meeting another big football celebrity in Emile Smith Rowe.

    Sam invited Smith Rowe because first he wanted to introduce him to his best friend. Second, he wanted to indoctrinate Smith into the art of eating African food. Find adventures at empire

    And third, he wanted to talk about football with his partner in crime.

    Trust Ian, he only felt a bit of trepidation on meeting Smith Rowe the first time. As soon as they started eating together and Smith commended the food at the African food restaurant, Ian got his mojo and started free talking with the young English professional football player.

    They talked so freely you would think they had been friends for years.

    ''That bastard,'' Sam was stunned. ''He''s such a smooth talker''.

    Sam was glad though. Making Ian meet people like Emile Smith Rowe in itself was a step up in society for his best friend.

    Afterall, professional football players, especially those playing in clubs in European leagues were celebrities with a lot of influence and connections.

    During their time in the restaurant, they talked about Ian''s profession, mostly Sam insulting his best friend for choosing the medical profession just because it granted him easier and licensed access to all types of female.

    "Y-you bastard!" Ian was flustered for the first time as he stole a glance at Emile Smith Rowe.

    He glared at his best friend. "Werey, you wan ruin my steeze?!" He whispered in pidgin while gritting his teeth.

    Sam only laughed. "Did I lie?"

    Well, it was safe to say that Emile Smith Rowe was stunned.

    In training, on the pitch, in the dressing room, even while jogging, all he saw was a perfect Nigerian machine who only cared about training, playing, and winning games but now, he just found out that Sam was actually not a machine.

    Sam was actually not perfect, heck, he was far from it.

    He was just like every other person out there, goofy when he wanted to be, playful, heck, he spoke pidgin so naturally too, and he was human¡­, that last element meant a lot to Smith.

    For the first time, he truly relaxed around the Nigerian midfielder. Smith engaged more actively in their conversations as they spoke extensively.

    At the end, Sam finally pushed the conversation more towards football. He spoke about their chemistry on the pitch and how he imagined themselves playing better, his vision, and he also spoke of players targeting him more now.

    "Like Leicester showed, players will be targeting me more now but I''m ready". Sam grinned. "Afterall, I have elite teammates like you guys!".

    "Nah," Smith waved a hand dismissively. "I''m not as good as you".

    "You''re just being humble". Sam smiled. "Anyways, next time they box me with multiple players like that, you guys will have to step up!" He grinned again.

    With Sam staring at him so intensely, Smith flinched. "M-me?"

    "I believe you can do it".

    Sam relaxed on his chair. "We may have lost a lot of the team''s core when we lost players like Palhinha and De Cordova-Reid, but in exchange, we got you".

    Smith blushed "I''m not as valuable as Palhinha".

    Sam shrugged. "That''s to transfermarkt, what do they know? To me, you''re more valuable, especially since it synergies with the way I want to play football".

    Smith blushed again but hid it with food this time.

    Sam continued speaking. "With you, we can practice our combination plays to perfection and with that, I believe I can wriggle off any box". Sam''s eyes gleamed with confidence. "If they still want to stop me by all means, they will have to resort to offensive actions that will lead to yellow cards and even red cards".

    "And besides, this season, we have a fully fit Adama Traore!" Sam grinned.

    "What does that have to do with anything?" Ian asked.

    "It has something to do with everything!" Sam raved as he looked at his best friend. "You know what Traore''s greatest strength is?"

    "His pace". Smith answered. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Yes, his pace!" Sam grinned. "By losing players like Palhinha and the likes, we may have lost a bit of our backbone but in exchange, we are far more dynamic with you and a fully fit Adama Traore in the side".

    "Just imagine, me and you pinging things around in midfield then if we''re shackled, abusing Adama''s pace and setting him up".

    "We definitely have the vision and technique to pick him out in tight spaces".

    "Utilizing his speed perfectly will help us a lot this season".

    "Adama may not be the best finisher, but his pace and dribbling ability is all we need. It''s another alternative to breaking down stubborn defenses".

    "Even if he can''t score it himself, we have Muniz or Jimenez always at the ready on the box, and I can even chip in with the occasional late runs".

    "To me, it''s perfect football".

    "And this way, we won''t even have to cede possession to superior teams anymore". Sam looked at the ceiling of this restaurant dreamily.

    Hearing these words come out of the mouth of the Nigerian so freely, Smith was impressed; he admired him. He hesitated before saying. "Sam, do you really think it''s possible?"

    "Impossible is nothing!" Sam looked at the Englishman. "Honestly, I believe it''s possible, we just need to work, work, and work till we get it right".

    "And once we do," he chuckled. "Doom to the rest of the premier league".

    "Man, let''s just eat, I''m tired of all the football talk". Ian finally complained.

    Laughing, the 2 footballers obliged their friend and finished their food. A few minutes later, they finally left the restaurant on Smith Rowe''s car.

    ¡­

    27th August, 2024¡­

    Just like expected, Fulham''s manager, Marco Silva heavily rotated his team for the EFL Cup game to rest key players.

    Most key players like Sam, Bassey, Smith Rowe, Alex Iwobi, and Muniz all started in the bench, including Bernd Leno.

    Only a few familiar faces like Jimenez, Harry Wilson, and Castagne led the team as against Birmingham, without their bigger stars, they managed to grind out a result in this game.

    In the 10th minute, Fulham won a penalty that Raul Jimenez converted.

    In the 14th minute, Stansfield, the player who started at left wing today added the nail to coffin as he scored the 2nd goal to doom Birmingham to defeat.

    The game ended 0-2 in Fulham''s favor.

    Sam''s presence was never needed on the pitch, so he got to rest through it all, preparing for Fulham''s next game in 3 days.

    ¡­

    3 days later, 31st August, 2024¡­

    Ipswich Town took on Fulham at home.

    Both sides started with their strongest lineups, but this time, Marco Silva tweaked his formation to a 4-3-3 with Alex Iwobi and Adama Traore joining Muniz up top, while Smith Rowe, Lukic, and Sam played in midfield.

    Today, Sam started at the right side of the midfield trio.

    From the onset, it was clear that the Ipswich coach told his players to do just one thing, to lock Sam out of the game.

    At first, it was highly effective as Fulham''s attack became blunted for a large stretch of the first half. In front of their home fans, Ipswich Town got the opener as their striker, Delap latched into a delicious pass to score.

    Fulham did not panic, they continued playing their game till they improvised without Sam at the center of attention.

    And still, Sam orchestrated it.

    He passed to Alex Iwobi, who played the ball across the face of goal for the rapid Adama Traore to run into, tapping into the net to equalize the game.

    First half ended 1-1.

    Second half was much more physical and defensive from Ipswich as it was clear they were now ready to settle for a draw, but Fulham were uncooperative.

    It took 80 minutes for Fulham to break through their opponents a second time, and this time it was Muniz who provided the goals.

    Pouncing on a loose pass from an Ipswich defender, the Fulham striker scored a Luis Suarezish lethal striker''s goal from just inside the 18-yard box.

    The Ipswich goalkeeper stood no chance.

    And with that, Fulham won 1-2, extending their winning run to 4 straight games since the beginning of the new season.

    They were already high-flying.

 Chapter 171 A home in London

    (Premier league:)(Fulham ¨C West Ham)

    (Date: 14th September, 2024)

    After matchday 3 of the 2024/2025 premier league season, matchday 4 would only start in 14 days because the first international break of the new season finally came.

    ¡­

    Thud! Thud!

    Somewhere in London, the thudding sound of boots reverberated through the streets of Fulham as 2 young men dressed in track suits jogged along the road.

    These 2 young men were Sam and Emile Smith Rowe.

    This early in the morning, both professional football players were already out in the streets again as they went at their daily ritual with gusto.

    The reason why Emile Smith Rowe was still here in Fulham was simple, Lee Carsley, the new interim boss of the England national team did not call him up to represent his country in the games during the international break.

    As for Sam, he was here due to a more peculiar reason.

    As both players started jogging close to Craven Cottage, Emile Smith Rowe removed his earpiece before gently tapping Sam by the shoulder as he slowed down, also removing his earpiece while looking at him.

    Smith had a partly confused and partly thinking look on his face as he looked at his friend. "Umm, can you tell me how to say don''t disturb me in pidgin again?"

    Sam chuckled amid rapid breathing. "Simple Smith, no worry me".

    "Ah, yes, no worry me". Smith Rowe smiled. "No gimme issue, right?"

    "Yeah," Sam nodded. "No gimme issue, no gimme stress, all of them mean don''t disturb me".

    "See? Pidgin is actually easier than you think".

    "I guess so".

    If Emile Smith Rowe''s parents heard their son speaking like this, they would likely be horrified but that was one of the repercussions of being friends with a Nigerian who grew up in Nigeria.

    Pidgin was second nature to them, and since it was so cool to speak, why not teach it to friends who are not conversant with it?

    And that was how Emile Smith Rowe started learning pidgin.

    As soon as they took a sharp turn inside Craven Cottage, Smith could not help but look at his friend again. "Sam, don''t you think you should go home early today?"

    "Why?"

    "I mean, your girlfriend is waiting for you, right?"

    "¡­" Sam almost tripped.

    "M-my what?"

    Smith was confused. "Your girlfriend, did I say anything wrong?"

    "She''s not my girlfriend yet bro!" Sam hissed through gritted teeth. "And don''t say it so loud, paparazzi are always following us these days".

    Smith Rowe stared at him, surprised but he waited till they were inside the confines of the stadium before resuming the conversation. "You mean to tell me that Kayla is not your girlfriend yet?"

    "Yeah". Sam shrugged.

    "And you''re staying together in the same hotel room?"

    Sam was dumbfounded, he stared at Smith Rowe and scratched his black hair. "Yeah?"

    "You doofus!" Smith poked him on the head, laughing. "What the hell are you waiting for to ask her out? Christmas?"

    "Asking her out," Sam spaced out a bit. "Man, I don''t know, I''ve been meaning to for a time already but I just can''t seem to find the courage to do it".

    "¡­!" Now, Smith Rowe was flabbergasted.

    He stared at his friend incredulously. "The almighty Zinedine Sam, the light of Fulham, the scorer of clutch goals, too nervous to ask a girl out".

    Smith Rowe burst out laughing loudly. "Damn! This is perfect meme material!"

    "Shhhh!" Sam was losing it. "You''re too loud bro!" He hissed.

    Smith Rowe didn''t listen to him, laughing his lungs out still. "Honestly bro, this is so hilarious". He said as they made their way to the gym.

    As they started training, he continued the conversation. "But bro, honestly, I never saw you as the shy type. I mean, what''s there in asking a girl out?"

    "Easy for you to say, it''s not as if I''ve done it before".

    "¡­!" Now, Smith Rowe was bamboozled.

    He looked at Sam with eyes that seemed to scream ''impossible!'' "You mean to tell me you''ve never had a girlfriend your whole life?"

    "¡­"

    "Does that mean you''re a virgin?"

    "Why should I tell you?" Sam snapped.

    "Holy sh*t!" Smith Rowe was losing it. "Damn man, finally, I have something I''m more experienced in that I can teach you".

    "Come, listen to me, let me teach you¡­"

    "Get lost!"

    Sam felt embarrassed. Like Smith said, people almost never believed him when he said the truth but growing up with such a strict mother, Sam was sometimes too scared and most times too wary of the consequences to approach any person of the opposite sex for romantic purposes.

    He was still shocked by how easily his mom accepted Kayla, but still, he was yet to find the confidence to ask her out.

    Despite how much he wanted to evade the conversation, Smith Rowe imposed it on him, and eventually, he listened.

    Sam promised nothing though, he just said he would try his best.

    After his system informed him of completing his daily system quest, he finally bid Smith Rowe farewell not just for today, but for the next few weeks.

    This was because, for the first time in Sam''s short career, he finally got his first international call up by his home country.

    Sam would have a shot at representing Nigeria for the first time.

    "Goodluck man, I hope the coach gives you the chance to play". Smith Rowe waved at him as they parted ways.

    "Thanks man, I hope I play too".

    Getting back to his hotel room, just like Smith Rowe said, Kayla was there waiting for him. She arrived just yesterday to personally wish him happy birthday in her words, and for another important reason that they shared.

    Sam was finally ready to buy a house in London.

    After doing some internet surfing with Kayla for the past few weeks online, she finally found something that he liked that was within his budget here in Fulham.

    Sam settled for a fine luxurious semi-detached house in Fulham.

    Houses in London were expensive though. The average price of a house in Fulham, South West London is around 1,126,000 Euros. The average price for a flat in Fulham is 731,000 Euros.

    For a terraced property, it was more expensive with the average price at 1,700,000 Euros while for a semi-detached property, it was a whooping average price of 2,582,000 Euros.

    Sam didn''t have this amount of money to splurge on a house in Fulham. And since he didn''t want to stay in a less affluent district in London, he followed Kayla''s advice of going for a leasehold instead of a freehold.

    That was how he got the luxurious semi-detached house with 5 rooms in Fulham for a leasehold for far less than the price to buy the property outrightly.

    Today, with Kayla''s help, after completing his daily system quest, Sam finally moved out of the hotel where he had stayed for the first 8 months of his life in England. He had a nice experience at the hotel.

    He would give them a 5-star review later.

    Moving out with Kayla, Sam could not help but think back to the conversation he had with Smith Rowe as he looked at the girl.

    ''Damn, that bastard! Now I can''t think straight''.

    ''I''ll do it later''.

    All they had to do was enter the semi-detached apartment since with Kayla''s help, Sam already hired a professional interior designing company to set everything up before they entered.

    The house was the perfect home he had always dreamed of.

    Inside, Sam felt at peace.

    He ate Kayla''s food and spent quality time with her through the morning but that evening, both of them finally separated as Sam left for Nigeria.

    He responded to the call to duty to represent his country''s national football team. Sam was excited for it.

    Kayla stayed behind in London, in his house.

    On the flight back, Sam could not help but think about his career once again. He never expected to receive his first international call up at the young age of 19.

    ''My career is really all beds and roses so far''.

    On the flight, unable to curb the excitement he felt at the prospect of following in the footsteps of illustrious Nigerian internationals like Justin Jay Jay Okocha and Kanu Nwankwo, he decided to distract himself with something else.

    Sam focused on his system, more precisely his system status.

    ~----~

    [Player status!]

    Host: Samuel Moses

    Current Career Status: Premier League player, EFL Cup reigning champion

    Talent Rating: A+

    Player Position: Attacking Midfield Enjoy new chapters from empire

    Player Attributes:

    *Pace: 81

    *Shot: 79

    *Pass: 80

    *Dribbling: 76

    *Defending: 38

    *Physicality: 76

    *Stamina: 84

    Overall Rating: 81

    ¡­

    [Owned Football Skills:]

    [Passive skill: Stalwart]

    >You have proven your credentials as a reliable stalwart with well-rounded attributes in the middle of the pitch. You can score, you can assist, you can dribble, and you can press; you are the complete package<

    >+10% to all 4 packages when on the pitch<

    >All 4 packages refer to your shooting attribute, your passing attribute, your dribbling attribute, and your stamina attribute<

    [Active skills:]

    [Basic mastery level: La croqueta; body feint; Power shot; step overs, roulette, knuckle shot, overhead kick]

    [Intermediate mastery level: Elastico, Cruyff turn]

    [Advanced mastery level: Spatial awareness]

    ¡­

    [Legendary Inheritance: Spatial Awareness]

    [Legendary Inheritance: Elastico]

    ¡­

    [Ability cards:]

    >Shoot it like Lewy<

    [Card uses remaining: 2]

    >Thread it like KDB< S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Card uses remaining: 2]

    >Bend it like Beckham<

    [Card uses remaining: 2]

    ¡­

    [Title: Space Interpreter!]

    [System Remark: An elite young talent playing in one of the best leagues in the world!]

    ~----~

    Sam looked outside through the window of the airplane, a smile outlining his lips. ''I''ve come a long way''. He thought.

 Chapter 172 International break [1]

    Sam touched down in Nigeria when it was already late, and the first thing that welcomed him on the airport was not his family, but a system notification.~----~

    [You have received a new system mission: An International!]

    [Mission Description: In football, there is a certain pride that comes with representing your country on the international stage; it is the greatest pride of a professional football player. Prove to your coach that selecting you for the Nigerian squad was the right decision and force him into playing you.]

    [Mission Objective: Show that you are a worthy Nigerian international!]

    [Mission Reward: +3 increase to a random football attribute!]

    ~----~

    This was the best news that any player going on a mission to represent his country in the footballing landscape could receive.

    Sam never expected it, and it made him even happier.

    It made him even more determined to perform.

    After the system notifications did he finally meet his family who were waiting for him right there in the Abuja airport. Mr. Moses drove his full family on his car to welcome their son back home from England.

    After the game on the 31st against Ipswich Town, the next day Kayla came to London to meet Sam, and the next day he completed all his dealings in Fulham.

    Today was 2nd of June, a Sunday.

    Sam received his call-up to the Nigerian national team on 1st of June, and on that same day, the Nigerian coach sent him the upcoming AFCON qualifying fixtures for the national team.

    AFCON was the African version of the Euros and Copa America tournaments in Europe and America, the African Cup of Nations.

    (African Cup of Nations qualification- Group stage!)

    (Matchday 1 of 6:)

    (Nigeria ¨C Benin)

    (Date: 7th September, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Matchday 2 of 6:)

    (Rwanda ¨C Nigeria)

    (Date: 10th September, 2024)

    Sam and his new international teammates would play only 2 games before being released to focus back on club football. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Since the Nigeria squad''s home stadium was right here in Abuja, the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium, Sam stayed in his family mansion in Abuja. That night, he spent time with his family, catching up before sleeping early.

    It may not show on his face but Sam was incredibly excited about the opportunity of finally representing his country on the international stage.

    He was not just excited at the prospect of representing his country, another reason why he was so excited was because for the first time in his life, he was going to be playing for a side that was not always seen as the underdog.

    Yes, in international football, Nigeria was not always the underdog as they had a fairly high rank in the FIFA rankings.

    And according to the media, the current Nigerian squad was the most talented in years with some truly big names of football playing for the country.

    By representing Nigeria, Sam would get to play with big names like Victor Boniface and Victor Osimhen, 2 of the biggest strikers currently in the world, also the likes of Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze.

    Just thinking about them left Sam more excited than usual.

    This was why he slept even earlier than normal today.

    Sam wanted to bring his habit from Fulham to the Nigerian national team of being the first player to report to training, and he wanted to start it the next day.

    Just like he hoped, sleeping early enabled him to wake up early. The first thing that he did was to complete his daily system quest, after which he drove his father''s car to the national stadium in Abuja.

    Training was supposed to start by 8 but Sam arrived 45 minutes early, but unlike what he expected, he was not the first player to report to training.

    2 players arrived before him.

    Ola Aina, the Nigerian wingback and William Troost-Ekong, the Nigerian national team captain reported for training earlier than him.

    Sam was surprised, this was his first-time meeting both players.

    Seeing him, William paused and smiled. "You''re Sam right? The new addition to the squad".

    "Yes, nice to meet you sir". Sam went closer and took his hand for a handshake.

    "Welcome to the squad".

    "Thank you sir".

    "No need to call me sir, you can just call me William. We''re teammates now".

    This was not Sam''s first-time hearing this from older teammates but like usual, he declined politely. His mom would kill him if she learned that he was calling a man more than a decade older than him by his first name.

    "So, I heard you play for Fulham¡­"

    Engaging in small talk, the 3 players soon got ready before entering the pitch to start warming up.

    And just like that, Sam easily got over the dread of his new environment.

    A few minutes later, one after the other, new faces started showing up to the stadium and in no time, the coach finally arrived, Finidi George.

    Seeing the third coach of his still short professional football career, Sam''s eyes lit up with fire since by now, from experience, he already knew what coaches wanted from new players, they wanted to be impressed.

    Having impressed coach Yemi Daniel and then coach Marco Silva in Fulham before getting to play regularly, this time again, despite his reputation in Fulham, he had no doubt that he had to go through the same circle again.

    But this time, Sam was ready.

    Some big names may be with him on the pitch today, but Sam was not deterred or starstruck by them. Having played against countless big names in the premier league already, he was able to stay calm.

    All he wanted at this moment was to outperform them. ''I respect you guys, but I must outperform you all!''

    ''That is the only way to impress the coach!''

    And once training started, Sam did what he did best, impress.

    With familiar faces like Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey in the squad, Sam was able to quickly settle into his mojo, displaying his talent effortlessly.

    His confidence oozed anytime he touched the ball.

    In just his first training session, his teammates and his coach got to know more about his skills and ability on a football pitch.

    For the next few days, Sam continued impressing in training and then, like the rolling pages of a book, days passed and in no time, it was 7th September.

    The D-day was here.

    The Benin Republic national team arrived in Nigeria for the AFCON qualifying game. For the Nigerian side, Finidi George already released his starting XI long ago.

    Just like Sam expected, he was not in the lineup.

    He watched from the bench as the international football game started.

 Chapter 173 International break [2]

    FWEEEE!From the first minute of this game, one thing became very clear, Nigeria was the superior side.

    On paper, they were the superior side and it showed on the pitch.

    And since Nigeria was playing at home, buoyed by the loud noise of their home supporters as Sam watched the proceedings from the bench in awe, they dominated the visitors from Benin.

    Nigeria started with a 3-4-3 formation against their opponents'' 4-1-4-1 formation. Stanley Nwabali, the new face who displaced the former Nigerian number 1 during the last AFCON tournament to become the starting goalkeeper started in between the posts.

    Ahead of him was the 3-center back partnership of Samuel Ajayi, William Troost-Ekong, and the solid Calvin Bassey.

    The midfield comprised of Ola Aina, Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, and Onyemaechi.

    As for the attack, the trio of Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Boniface, and Ademola Lookman started in that order from right to left.

    When the game started, Nigeria overwhelmed Benin Republic.

    On every aspect of this game, Nigerian dominated. They dominated possession, locked and won the midfield battle; their defenders completely locked the Benin Republic attackers out of the game while their own attackers consistently terrorized the Benin Republic backline.

    The Super Eagles were imperious against their opponents, but the only thing lacking from their game so far was a goal.

    Despite being dominated, the Benin Republic players all stayed deep, digging in to defend with their lives and it worked for some time, till it no longer worked.

    Ademola Lookman, the mercurial winger who was in form opened the scoring during additional time of first half as after a trademark mazy run from the left side of the pitch, he blasted a perfect shot into the bottom right corner of the net, beating the Benin Republic goalkeeper.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" The Nigerian stadium roared to life.

    Ecstatic fans of the Super Eagles removed their green and white jerseys, waving it wildly with joy as they celebrated their team.

    Acknowledging the adoration directed his way, Ademola Lookman charged towards the corner flag and under all the attention, jumped high and turned in mid-air before dishing out the famous suiii celebration.

    "Suiiiii¡­!" The large chunk of the fans in the stadium did it with him.

    That goal definitely deflated the Benin Republic enthusiasm, Victor Boniface was the one who grabbed the assist for the goal.

    The first half ended with Nigeria already leading 1-0.

    When second half started, the Benin Republic players finally came out of their shells, proving threatening within the first few minutes of the second half but it was all just the struggles of a cornered rat.

    They withered soon after as the Nigerian domination continued.

    And just like the first half, the scoring problem seemed to continue till Finidi George finally pulled the plug, making a few substitutions.

    Having entered the game to replace Boniface at some point, Victor Osimhen utilized the few time he got as he lashed onto a well-driven cross, powering a header past the Benin Republic goalkeeper into the net in the 78th minute.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" The Nigerian stadium exploded again.

    "Victor Osimhen is on the mark again, the Nigerian striker is just electric!"

    While the commentator raved, spreading his arms, Victor Osimhen charged towards the corner flag in celebration as his teammates swarmed him.

    Watching from the bench, Sam felt his blood boil. He threw a hopeful glance at his coach but Finidi George did not even see it.

    Sam was calm though; he was used to this.

    That 2nd goal dampened the Benin Republic morale even more and finally, they gave up, fully retreating into their shells to prevent the score line from turning embarrassing but that was a mistake.

    In the 83rd minute, Ademola Lookman doubled his tally for the day, making it 3-0 for Nigeria as he scored from a well driven low shot.

    The Nigeria players were now enjoying themselves on the pitch.

    And this was when in the 86th minute, Finidi George pulled the plug again, substituting Ndidi out and introducing Sam, the youngster into the game.

    Sam almost could not believe his ears when the assistant coach informed him of the coach''s decision. ''Yes! I hit the jackpot today!''

    It was just 4 minutes, but it was 4 minutes of international football!

    To Sam, that was all he wanted to make his debut.

    When Sam entered the pitch, surprisingly, there was loud applause from the home fans, this was because they knew him mostly from his days in Enyimba FC.

    This support made Sam even more excited as he entered the pitch.

    ''It''s just 4 minutes, can I do something?''

    ''No, that''s the wrong thinking,'' he grinned. ''I have to do something''.

    With the coach''s 3-4-3 formation, there was no attacking midfielder, just central and defensive midfielders. When Sam received his international call-up, he already expected a situation like this.

    ''I won''t get to play at my preferred position all the time''.

    ''This is not Enyimba, nor even Fulham. If I get to play for Barca one day, the same thing may apply though, I must prove that I absolutely own the position before I get to play on it consistently''.

    ''And here, it''s even different. It''s a much more daunting task since I''ll literally have the coach change his playstyle just to fit me, an attacking midfielder''.

    ''Well, first, I have to prove my worth''.

    When Sam entered the game, he chanted a new mantra. ''Calm! Stay calm''.

    This way, he was able to contain the wild emotions of excitement in him, settling down and giving his all to focus on football.

    During the first few minutes, Sam''s impact was felt immediately in the center of the park as with him, Nigeria was able to hold on to possession more.

    Bam! Bam!

    He kept on passing balls with artistic fluidity like an elite central midfielder, spraying passes everywhere across the field to his teammates.

    A few of his accurate long passes elicited cheers from the home fans.

    Sam had very little time, but he did what he needed to do, maintaining a ridiculous 100% passing rate despite giving the most passes since entering the pitch.

    On his debut for Nigeria, Sam''s game was exceedingly tidy as he just passed, skipping past only 1 challenge at a time as he refrained from flashy dribbling.

    He thought this tidiness would be the only aspect of his game he got to show to his coach to impress him but then in the 90th plus 3 minutes, he noticed Ademola Lookman raise an arm up before going on a run on the left side of the pitch.

    ''It''s risky, a 50-50 chance, should I pass?''

    Sam was hesitant to botch his pass completion rate, but then, was passing just what he came to do? ''F*ck it! When did I start settling for only passing?''

    ''Besides, it''s Lookman, the man in form!''

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    Hitting the ball perfectly with the inside of his right foot, the ball curled upward past the full Benin Republic defense and then past Ademola Lookman''s marker before falling perfectly in the path of the inform Nigerian winger.

    The winger''s pace was too much for his marker.

    Lookman calmly took the ball in his strides, exploding forward with speed and immediately, a section of the home fans in the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium stood up in excitement.

    As the Nigerian winger charged in, Dandjinou, the Benin Republic goalkeeper charged out but maintaining his cool, Ademola Lookman calmly kicked the ball as it rolled in between the legs of the goalkeeper into his net.

    "¡­!" For a brief moment, the stadium was silent, then¡­

    "GOALLLLL¡­!" The home supporters roared again.

    "What a performance from the Nigerian winger! And he got his hattrick! But what a delicious pass from the young teenager on his international debut!"

    Ademola Lookman slid on his knees as he charged towards the corner flag in celebration before standing up, turning around and hugging Sam who already ran towards him excitedly to celebrate with him.

    Sam felt on top of the moon. ''I got my first assist for Nigeria!''

 Chapter 174 International break [3]

    Sam''s first game on the international stage ended with a 4-0 win to his country where he grabbed an assist and Ademola Lookman got a hattrick.Ademola Lookman won the man of the match award.

    One of the key moments of that memory that made him exceedingly happy after the game was when his coach approached him. "You did well Sam, that was a tidy performance".

    ''He doesn''t hide his praise!'' This was a welcome surprise, Sam was excited. ''This means I''ll have an easier time of worming my way into his heart''.

    To him, that exchange was the best aspect of his debut.

    Immediately after the game, Sam drove back to his family home right there in Abuja where he met his father who was already drunk in joy and passion.

    Mr. Moses was a lot of things, and one of those things he was biggest in was that he was a patriotic Nigerian despite how bad the Nigerian economy was turning into. And he was an even bigger football fan.

    The middle-aged man once tried to play football professionally but failed.

    Seeing his son fulfilling this dream on his behalf, playing for a club in England was already a great source of pride for him, but playing for Nigeria?

    To Mr. Moses, there was no greater pride than that.

    When Sam gave that unreal assist, while watching the game on his TV, this middle-aged man could not hold himself as tears streamed down his eyes.

    He felt like the luckiest dad in the whole world.

    ¡­

    A few days later, Sam joined the rest of his teammates as they went on a trip to Rwanda where they would play their last game of the international break.

    The game was scheduled for 10th September.

    In this game, the Nigerian coach, Finidi George started with the same line-up and players, making just a single change as he replaced Alex Iwobi with Dele-Bashiru who completed the midfield quadruple today.

    Rwanda played with a unique 4-4-1-1 formation.

    It was clear that despite playing at home, Rwanda intended to play defensive football. And when the referee''s whistle eventually sounded, they did just that.

    FWEEEE!

    The game started incredibly slowly as this Rwanda side showed their coach''s philosophy, playing a slow paced, physical, and grueling game.

    The Nigerian defense barely got any work as they snuffed out any Rwandan counterattack on time, but the midfielders and offensive players were having a horror day at work against the defensive block of their opponents.

    The players who were supposed to be creative on the pitch were finding it incredibly hard to create anything noteworthy.

    In recent times, Nigerian coaches have been heavily criticized by fans for playing boring defensive football despite having such an elite crop of attackers. And maybe they were right because today, there was zero creativity against the Rwandan defense as frustration mounted on the pitch.

    Only Ademola Lookman looked lively in attack, constantly driving at the Rwandan defense. He threatened but he got nothing to show for it.

    The first half ended in a drab goalless draw.

    During half-time, Finidi George was highly critical of his players as he gave a few instructions before sending them back to the pitch with no change made.

    And well, that was a decision that the coach learned to rue. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The drab performance continued as the Rwandans showed no intentions of coming out of their shell. Clearly, they were more than glad to settle with a draw.

    And despite the boring display, the Rwandan fans showed no signs of displeasure as their voice remained loud. They were firmly behind their team.

    ''So fans can actually love a display like this''. Sam''s eyes widened. ''No, I don''t think it''s love, they know they''re the underdogs so they just want to win''.

    ''They don''t care how their team do it, if they can''t win, then a point''.

    ''They''re satisfied with a point''.

    Today, Sam''s eyes opened to the reality of international football and it was safe to say that it was an eye opener.

    But still, he itched to take part in the proceedings. He constantly threw glances his coach''s way that were yet to be answered.

    After some time, Finidi George finally made a bunch of offensive changes as he swapped out his whole forward trio and 1 of his midfielders, introducing Frank Onyeka, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, and Awoniyi.

    Immediately, these fresh players injected much needed energy into the game as Nigeria became much more threatening.

    Osimhen, the lethal striker repeatedly unleashed dangerous shots after entering the game, but none of it bore fruit yet as the game drew to an end.

    This continued till the 80th minute.

    At this point, Finidi George felt exhausted since his team already tried everything in their arsenal to break the opponents'' defensive block to no avail.

    With nothing to lose, he made another change, introducing Sam into this game at the 80th minute.

    Sam did not think about anything, not even the opportunity that he just got. As he jogged into this pitch, he thought of only one thing.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    He already started chanting the mantra in his head.

    It seemed childish, the delusions of someone yet to recognize the immensity of mount Tai but that was Sam''s mantra and it worked for him.

    As soon as Sam entered this game, it changed. Like a Dragon spreading its dominion over its territory, he chased down every ball that passed through his area in the middle of the pitch with rabid energy.

    His energy enabled him to steal the ball within just a minute of entering the pitch. Immediately, the Rwandan players responded to his threat with multiple players swarming him.

    Sam didn''t panic as with his spatial awareness, his highest mastered skill at the advanced mastery level, he spotted Victor Osimhen''s markers briefly leave him in reaction to his movement.

    ''Wrong move!''

    Bam!

    Sam moved instinctively, caressing the ball with the outside of his boot while threading it through the Rwandan players with deadly accuracy.

    Time seemed to stop as the ball arrived before the Nigerian striker.

    "¡­!" This stadium briefly froze as Victor Osimhen got the ball, unmarked in the 18-yard box.

    This striker took one touch of the ball to control it, and then with his second touch he unleashed a powerful shot at goal.

    The Rwandan goalkeeper was rooted to the spot, but then¡­

    BAM!

    It hit the bar!

    Victor Osimhen tried to pounce on the rebound but he was bundled out of the way by the tall and physical Rwandan defenders.

    On his knees, Osimhen grabbed his head in agony at the missed opportunity.

    "What an impact from the substitute!"

    "He almost just became a super sub, what a steal and pass!"

    Sam did not listen to the commentator though, he only listened to the voice in his head.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    When the game continued, recognizing his threat now, every time Sam received the ball in a dangerous position, multiple Rwandan players moved to respond to his threat but that was not enough to stop Sam.

    In the short time he was on the pitch, he set up Moses Simon who took another shot that the in-form Rwandan goalkeeper stopped.

    And then, he unleashed a thunderous outside the box shot only for the goalkeeper to tip it over the bar for a corner.

    Sam ruffled his black hair in frustration but he quickly recovered, preparing for the corner.

    When the corner kick was taken, a determined Sam rose highest, planting a firm header towards goal only for the goalkeeper to catch it again.

    "Come on!" Sam screamed as the frustration of his teammates started getting to him; his blood burned hot like a volcano.

    90 minutes already elapsed, they had just 4 minutes of extra time.

    In the last 4 minutes, every Rwandan player camped in their defense, weathering storm after storm of Nigerian attacks.

    Sam''s inclusion into the pitch infused rabid attacking energy into the Nigerian side as they kept on going and then in the 90th plus 1 minute, Sam did it.

    Showcasing his title as Space Interpreter again, Sam drifted into space in the 18-yard box through the blind spot of the Rwandan defenders like an assassin, ghosting into the box as with his right leg, he latched into Moses Simon''s cross.

    Bam!

    Sam poked the ball into the net; the net rippled.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!" Screaming excitedly, Sam removed his jersey, swinging it wildly as he charged towards the corner flag.

    "What a goal from the Nigerian midfielder!"

    "Even I didn''t see him run, what a frightening command over space!"

    "But oh, wait, the referee''s assistant just confirmed and raised the flag. Can you believe it? It''s offside!"

    "What a game this is turning out to be!"

    Hearing the commentator''s words, Sam stopped his run, placed his arms on his head and looked only to see the offside flag.

    "Come on! I was not offside!" He complained loudly but the referee paid him no heed, beckoning for Rwanda to continue play.

    The referee did not forget to give him a yellow card for taking off his jersey.

    Sam''s frustration was rising to a boiling point.

    "Come on Sam, the game is not over yet". Osimhen patted him on the shoulder, trying to get him going again.

    Even the striker could tell that he was playing at an elite level.

    Sam nodded, jogging back but inside. He was boiling with frustration and just as he started jogging, Rwanda played a quick freekick, catching the Nigerian players off-guard who were yet to recover back to their natural positions having just tried to go celebrate with Sam.

    Sam spotted the danger immediately. ''This is bad!''

    Thud!

    He dug into his stamina, engaging in a sprint immediately.

    Muhire, the Rwandan second striker caught the Nigerian defenders napping as he caught the ball in his strides just after the halfway line, about to blast past the defenders with his pace when he heard thudding sounds behind him.

    Before he knew it, this player felt contact then he was swept off his feet aggressively from behind as he collapsed on the ground.

    Immediately, he grabbed his leg, exaggeratedly screaming in pain.

    FWEEEE!

    "Wow! A straight red card to Sam!"

    "Well, it was a sliding tackle from behind so the referee got that right. But it''s so cruel for the Nigerian teenager, just after having his goal disallowed".

    "He must have let his frustration boil over".

    When Sam stood up, only one question rang in his head. ''What have I done?''

    Sam was sent off the pitch.

    Nigeria drew the game 0-0.

 Chapter 175 Adversity and comfort

    "Don''t think too much about it Sam, the red card was not your fault. You actually took one for the team, so thank you". So Alex Iwobi said."Yeah, I understand". So Sam said.

    At the end of the game, he even laughed over the fact that he got a red card in just his 2nd international cap but on getting home, when Sam remembered the look the coach directed at him, he became devastated.

    ¡­

    Ring! Ring!

    Silence.

    Ring! Ring!

    Silence.

    A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door before it was pushed open. Mrs. Moses peeped inside her son''s room with a concerned look on her face.

    "Sam, your food is still waiting for you".

    "Sorry mom, I don''t feel like eating yet".

    Mrs. Moses lingered, then she sighed. "Ok, but at least pick Kayla''s call. She''s worried about you".

    Hearing that, Sam raised his head in the darkness. He just mumbled an ok.

    "Your food is waiting for you, anytime you want to eat". Saying that, Mrs. Moses finally left with a look of distress on her face.

    Ring! Ring!

    When the phone rang again, Sam hesitated slightly before walking over from his bed where he sat previously.

    "Hey".

    "Hey, babe".

    ''Babe?'' That distracted Sam a bit.

    "How are you doing?" Kayla''s soft voice sounded again.

    "I''m good, I guess".

    "You don''t sound good".

    "Haha, funny".

    Kayla stayed silent for a few seconds. "Can I enter? I''m at the door".

    Hearing that, Sam was stunned as he looked at his door. "Wait, what? I thought you were in¡­"

    "I took the first flight to come here".

    When Sam walked up to his door, he was beyond surprised to see Kayla standing at the door of his room.

    Immediately after the game in Rwanda, the Nigerian players took a night flight back and that was how Sam came to his family home. It was already late.

    He never expected Kayla to be here by this time.

    "Why¡­?" The question didn''t fully leave his lips when Kayla hugged him, shutting him up.

    Sam was stunned by the sudden hug, but he didn''t question it, he needed it. As soon as Kayla hugged him, he hugged back tightly, squeezing gently.

    "It''s fine". She whispered to him.

    Pent-up emotions that he had been holding back in were washed away by this hug, it was so simple that Sam could not believe it.

    All his anger at himself dissipated, and then he sighed in relief. "Thanks for coming Kayla, really".

    "It''s fine". She smiled as they finally broke away from the hug. "Go wear your clothes, we''re going out".

    "Really? To where?"

    "It''s a secret".

    While Sam went back inside to wear his clothes, Kayla met with his parents, informing them about certain things and when Sam was ready, they drove off.

    That night, Kayla drove him to a popular 5-star hotel there in Maitama, Abuja.

    There, she ordered delicious African food from the hotel''s restaurant which she feasted on with Sam before eventually leading him to the bar.

    Sam was never a heavy drinker but today, with Kayla leading him on, he didn''t feel the need to restrain himself as he went loose and drank till satisfaction.

    Listening to the music, and aided by the drink, Sam finally started venting his frustration. "I still can''t believe I was offside".

    "I don''t know how they saw it, but I believed I was onside, that was a goal! I saw the video replay, that was a goal".

    "I was so sure it was a goal!"

    "It''s fine," Kayla patted him on the back, reassuring him with her warmth. "Officials make bad decisions in football from time to time".

    "Why me?" Sam said in frustration. "Why today of all days? Why when I''m trying to impress the coach to solidify my spot on the team?!"

    "I''m so frustrated!"

    "You had to see the look on the coach''s face after I got sent off. I know, I did let the frustration get to me, but still it was me taking a bullet for the team because I recognized danger".

    "If that guy was left free to run, the team would have been in danger. There was a high chance of that resulting in a goal".

    "Why can''t he see it that way?"

    "Ah! I''m so frustrated!"

    "It''s fine, let it all out, you''ll feel better that way".

    Kayla was right, after venting for a few minutes, Sam finally calmed down as he no longer felt as frustrated, just a bit dizzy from the alcohol. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Do you want to dance?" Kayla asked gently.

    Hearing that, Sam grinned. "I''m not a good dancer but right now, I really really want to dance".

    And so, both of them went to the dance floor as they joined others under the red and blue lights, dancing to their hearts content.

    From freestyling to the Nigerian jams playing from the speakers, both of them soon left the rhythm of the music, dancing to their own rhythm instead as together in the dance floor, they hugged each other, Kayla''s head on his chest.

    And together, they swayed to each other''s rhythm.

    Find adventures on empire

    Feeling her so close to him, her body warmth energizing him, Sam slowly pushed her blonde hair to the side, caressing it gently then he whispered. "Thank you, Kayla, for this moment, I really appreciate it".

    Hearing that, she raised her head to look him in the eye.

    This close, they could feel each other''s breaths as their eyes stared straight into each other''s eyes.

    Staring into her eyes, Sam felt an urge. Perhaps, if he was sober, he would have been too deterred to do it but thankfully, he was not sober.

    Leaning in, Sam kissed Kayla on the lips.

    She didn''t fight it, responding in kind as she kissed him back.

    And in that moment, it was as if a supernova explosion of passion just triggered as both of them lost themselves in the moment, thoroughly savoring it.

    When they eventually broke out from the kiss, they looked at each other briefly before kissing again. Now with bated breaths, Kayla subtly suggested. "Maybe let''s go to the room?"

    "Ok". Sam obliged immediately.

    Leaving the bar, they went to the hotel room and immediately they entered inside, they locked the door and switched off the lights.

    There was the sound of interlocking lips again in the dark, then the sound of clothes being discarded, then a thudding sound as bodies fell on top the bed.

    That night, 2 young adults succumbed to their hormones and the urgings of their passion as they intertwined in the most ancient ritual of the opposite sex.

    That night, Sam seized to be a virgin.

 Chapter 176 A lucky Sam

    11th September, 2024¡­In a certain 5-star hotel room in Maitama, Abuja, Kayla Banks woke up.

    Rustle!

    The soft rustle of curtains stirred her awake as sunlight filtered through sheer fabric, painting golden stripes across the crisp white sheets of the bed.

    The room smelled faintly of fresh linen and a hint of something floral, perhaps the bouquet on the desk by the window. She stretched lazily, the plush duvet sliding off her as she blinked into the glowing light of morning.

    The bed was a cocoon of comfort, its pillows still holding the delicate imprint of her sleep, but she could not help but feel that something was missing.

    A distant hum of life outside filtered through the double-paned glass; a blend of city sounds muffled by the sanctuary of the hotel room.

    She sat up, her long black hair tumbling in loose waves over her shoulders, catching the golden morning rays as she finally realized what was missing.

    Kayla looked around. ''Where is he?''

    As soon as she had this thought, the door to the hotel room was pushed open. Kayla looked over.

    ¡­

    A few minutes earlier¡­

    Thud! Thud!

    A young man energetically jogged through the streets of Maitama, a subtle smile gracing his face as he seemed like the happiest man in the world.

    Sam indeed felt like the happiest man in the world.

    There was a spring in his steps too as he jogged, and with his headset over his head, he could not help but hum to the music currently playing happily.

    He was in a good mood.

    That morning, as he jogged, the events of yesterday in Rwanda never seemed to happen at all as they were replaced with just happy memories. Sam felt rejuvenated, he felt energy flooding his body.

    Shortly after, Sam got the notification that he was looking for.

    ~----~

    [You have completed System Daily Quest: Mentality Monster!]

    [You have been rewarded with a low-grade physical conditioning elixir!]

    ~----~

    Immediately after getting this notification, having calculated it perfectly, he quickly took a byline into the hotel building.

    Entering inside, he greeted the security personnel with a big smile on his face before walking to his hotel room, only to meet Kayla already awake.

    Sam froze for a moment, but then he smiled. "Hey, you''re awake".

    Still on the bed, Kayla looked at him. "Where did you go to?"

    "To jog".

    "Really? Even today of all days, you couldn''t just stay with me?"

    Sam chuckled before presenting something to her on a plate. "I got corn for you on the way". He quickly kissed her on the cheek and dodged before she could lash out, laughing. "I stink, let me go take a quick bath".

    "I''m joining you".

    "Huh?"

    "I''m joining you!"

    "¡­" Sam was speechless.

    Well, this was a situation that he had never found himself in before.

    After the events of yesternight, though both of them didn''t mention it yet, they didn''t forget it. Actually, they could not forget it.

    Getting intimate for the first time already built this level of instinctive trust and vulnerability between both of them that Sam''s thought about this unfamiliar subject changed. ''Maybe bathing together is not so bad after all''.

    In the end, they did just that. They took their bath together.

    By the time they were done, the hotel workers finally brought food for them. After enjoying the feast prepared by the hotel chef, they ate the corn as additives.

    Sitting close to each other, after eating, Sam finally cleared his throat. "Umm, about yesterday¡­"

    "It''s fine".

    "Huh?"

    Kayla looked at him, flashing him a smile. "It''s fine, really".

    Sam sighed, taking a deep breath. Considering how exposed and carefree Kayla seemed to be, Sam never expected her to be a virgin like him but yesternight, he got a big surprise.

    This was why he even felt the need to revisit the event. For a young adult like Kayla to keep her virginity till now, considering how beautiful she was, Sam knew how hard it must have been and was why he respected it even more.

    It took trust and a high enough degree of love to do it.

    Yes, the world was bad. Yes, the world was corrupt but even in a corrupt world, there are seeds of good and Sam was lucky enough to get one of the good seeds. ''I guess I''m really lucky''. He thought.

    Since Kayla said it was fine, he didn''t press more but finally, Sam felt ready to say something that he had been holding back since.

    Taking a deep breath again, still sitting on the bed, he interlocked his fingers with hers before looking into her eyes. "Kayla, would you be my girlfriend?"

    For a few seconds, Kayla just looked at him then she burst out laughing.

    Sam felt awkward. "Was it funny?"

    "Sam, you''re so funny!" Kayla laughed. "So formal, so official, just like the Sam I know". She leaned on his shoulder, still shaking from laughter. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I should have expected this from you". She chuckled again.

    "So, to you, I was not your girlfriend yet all this while?" She sat up again, looking at him with a cute frown. "I feel hurt, damn".

    "I''ve stayed in your family house, I''ve met your parents, I''ve even slept in your room multiple times, but yet you never saw me as your girlfriend yet?"

    "Umm, I," Sam scratched his head. "I just thought I had to ask first to make it official, you know".

    "You doofus!" She pushed him playfully by the head, laughing cutely.

    Sam looked at her. "So?"

    "Do you even need to ask?" She looked at him. "I accept". She jumped over him, pushing him down into the bed as she looked at him with her azure blue eyes.

    Then, she kissed him passionately.

    Stay tuned for updates on empire

    Sam truly felt that he was lucky. ''Can a morning ever go better than this?''

    ¡­

    That same morning, after getting ready, both of them went to the Moses'' family house. One glance at them and Mrs. Moses threw a proud smile at her son, winking slightly as Sam shifted uncomfortably under her gaze.

    Anyways, Sam was still beaming with joy.

    "Big brother, what happened? Why are you so happy?" Even Sophia noticed as she looked at him curiously.

    "Me? Nothing happened, I''m just happy". Sam said, smiling.

    Sophia looked at him suspiciously.

    That morning, after eating a second round of food at his family house, Sam finally bid his family farewell as he returned to England with Kayla.

    The international break was over.

 Chapter 177 A rejuvenated Sam

    Sam felt rejuvenated. Enjoy new tales from empire"Hey bro, you look really happy, what happened?" Emile Smith Rowe asked as he could not help but notice the strange situation of his friend.

    Sam was always lively, but this, this was different.

    "I''m happy bro, things have been so smooth lately".

    "Really?" Smith looked at him. "I followed the Nigerian games because of you. I saw what happened bro, sorry".

    "That?" Sam chuckled, waving his hand dismissively. "I''m already long over that, I''ll redeem myself in my next game for Nigeria after my suspension".

    "I think that''s the first red card of your career, right?"

    Hearing that, Sam deflated a bit. "Now that you say it, yeah, I think so but it doesn''t matter. It got nothing on me". He grinned.

    "I like your mood bro; I hope it reflects on our game in 2 days".

    Hearing that, Sam grinned again. "Rest assured bro, it will surely show".

    Training, rest, reset¡­, going through this circle for 2 more days, the D-day finally came. It was time for matchday 4 of the English premier league.

    (Premier league:)

    (Matchday 4 of 38:)

    (Southampton ¨C Man United)

    (Date: 14th September, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Man City ¨C Brentford)

    (Date: 14th September, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Fulham ¨C West Ham)

    (Date: 14th September, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Crystal Palace ¨C Leicester City)

    (Date: 14th September, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Brighton ¨C Ipswich Town)

    (Date: 14th September, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Liverpool ¨C Nottm Forest)

    (Date: 14th September, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Aston Villa ¨C Everton)

    (Date: 14th September, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Bournemouth ¨C Chelsea)

    (Date: 14th September, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Tottenham ¨C Arsenal)

    (Date: 15th September, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Wolves ¨C Newcastle)

    (Date: 15th September, 2024)

    It was another exciting matchday of the English premier league immediately after the international break and this time, Fulham was taking on West Ham at home. The players in white, black, and red were fired up.

    Today, Adama Traore was benched as Raul Jimenez started as the striker, while behind him was the trio of Sam in attacking midfield, while Emile Smith Rowe and Alex Iwobi started in the wings.

    Pereira and Lukic started in midfield. Tete, Andersen, Bassey, and Robinson started in defense, while Bernd Leno started in between the posts.

    In a packed Craven Cottage filled with tens of thousands of excited Fulham supporters, the referee''s whistle went off.

    FWEEEE!

    The first play of an exciting game was made.

    Bam!

    Wolves passed to kick off this exciting game.

    With the likes of Michail Antonio, Mohamed Kudus, and Jaren Bowen leading from the front, West Ham was a dangerous side.

    Aaron Wan-Bissaka, the ex-Manchester United player was their wildcard in defense and this fullback was clearly in form today.

    During the first few minutes of this game, both sides were even as they struggled for domination. They shared the possession percentage, threatening at intervals as both sides played their football.

    The most exciting battles though were in midfield as the players of both sides slugged it out.

    Raul Jimenez though was the star of the opening minutes of this game as Fulham settled, slowly tightening their grip on the game.

    After making a rare start in a long time, the striker seemed to have a point to prove as every touch, ever pass, and every movement from him was so threatening that he left the West Ham defense on tenterhooks.

    And eventually, he got his moment as from the right, Emile Smith Rowe played a pass for the determined striker to run into.

    Winning the physical battle with his marker, Raul Jimenez stood his ground, maintained his cool as Areola, the West Ham goalkeeper charged towards him before calmly lobbing the ball above the goalkeeper to score a sumptuous goal in the 24th minute of this game.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" Craven Cottage exploded.

    These days, the fans in black, white, and red were used to shouting this a lot. Their team was in truly terrific form. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Charging towards the corner flag energetically with pupils dilated in excitement, Jimenez jumped before bumping his chest with his fist excitedly. "Come on!" He roared.

    That goal sent the atmosphere in Craven Cottage fever-high.

    The referee''s whistle soon sounded to continue play.

    This game was not Michail Antonio''s game as Fulham''s defense locked him out completely, but the duo of Mohamed Kudus and Jaren Bowen worried. All of their dribbling and playmaking was yet to result in a goal though.

    "Emile Smith Rowe is so terrific today, while I dare say this is Raul Jimenez''s best game in the whole year!"

    "Sam is not feeling it yet, but he''s not playing bad either. He seems to be enjoying himself on the pitch".

    "Fulham are absolutely deadly recently".

    "But don''t write West Ham off yet, they can still score".

    "And oof! What a horror tackle from Rodriguez. He''s taken a yellow card for his troubles and conceded a freekick in a truly dangerous position!"

    "Jimenez doesn''t seem too badly hurt though".

    In the 43rd minute of the game, Raul Jimenez won a freekick for his team just outside the West Ham 18-yard box in a dangerous position.

    Like in training, Sam stepped up for this freekick.

    Walking up to the ball and setting it up, Sam had a teasing smile on his face throughout. He seemed to be enjoying himself a lot today.

    As soon as West Ham set up its wall and the referee''s whistle sounded, Sam took one last look at goal, did a short run up to the ball, and then¡­

    BAM!

    Sam''s shot synchronized with the West Ham wall of players'' jump.

    Well, they paid for their complacency of not putting an extra man to lay down as the ball rolled underneath the wall of players and straight into the bottom right corner of the West Ham net.

    The goalkeeper dived but his hand could not reach the ball.

    "GOALLLL¡­.!" Craven Cottage roared again.

    Smiling brightly, Sam spread his arms as he whirled towards the corner flag in celebration.

    "What a goal!" The commentator raved. "Another game, another Sam goal, it''s routine at this point".

    "Is there anything that Sam cannot do?"

    "He can score headers, he can score freekicks, he can score absolute bangers, he can score tap-ins, and he can still assist, and his work rate is so high".

    "Ladies and gentlemen, you''re seeing a legend in the making".

    "Sam is the complete package".

    Running to the corner flag, Sam stopped and spread his arms wide, doing the Jude Bellingham celebration as a familiar chant in Craven Cottage started.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    It was 2-0 to Fulham in the 43rd minute of the game.

 Chapter 178 An imperious Sam

    The game was tight at first, but after 2 impressive goals from Raul Jimenez and Sam, West Ham were quickly losing grip over the game.First half ended 2-0 to Fulham.

    Half-time was very short to the Fulham players, they could not wait to get back into the pitch for the 2nd half and when they did, the onslaught continued.

    The 3rd goal entered in just less than 2 minutes after the game resumed, in the first sequence of play orchestrated by Fulham.

    Sam started kick-off, passing to Pereira before starting a run straight down the middle of the pitch alongside Raul Jimenez as the West Ham defense responded to the threat of these 2 players.

    While both of them ran and as the West Ham press started, Pereira wiggled from a challenge before spraying the ball to the right-hand side where Emile Smith Rowe lurked.

    Having been expecting it, the right winger took the ball, drove forward with it a bit, raised his head to look into the box before unleashing a perfect cross into the box for the 2 players.

    The West Ham defenders scrambled to react.

    They jumped, but not high enough. With his athletic spring legs like those of a frog, Sam jumped high into the air before planting a power header towards goal, aimed at the top right corner.

    Reacting, Areola dived and his hand nicked the ball, but it was not enough.

    It snuck past his grasp and into the net.

    Craven Cottage was slow to react to this goal this time, but only by a second as the ecstatic Fulham fans quickly roared again in ecstasy.

    "GOALLLL¡­!!!"

    Smiling charmingly at the camera, Sam spread his arms in a shrug as he ran towards the corner flag, his smile widening into a grin.

    His teammates jumped all over him in celebration.

    "Are there anymore superlatives to describe this player? Just look at Fulham''s position in the premier league table, that''s the best superlative to describe him".

    "Samuel Moses is a transformative player!"

    "He''s a prodigy! A once in generation type of genius!" S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Come next season, big clubs are going to be flocking around him like Ravens around carcass. What a player!"

    "And it''s how he makes it look so easy! See him Derek, he''s enjoying himself!"

    "He sure is, he makes it look so easy".

    "And he''s struck such a great understanding with Smith Rowe. The boy looks like an entirely different player from the one at Arsenal".

    "You''re right, Smith Rowe has been so good since making the switch to Fulham. The only thing that remains is if he can be consistent about it".

    Sam was already enjoying himself since but that second goal¡­, that second goal seemed to push him over the edge into samba mode.

    "Hehehe," Sam felt like black spiderman.

    It was 3-0 to Fulham in the 47th minute of the game, and Sam got his brace.

    And from there on, it was all Sam.

    Sam receives a pass, throws a pass.

    Sam receives a pass, wriggle through one or two players, gives a pass.

    Sam receives a pass, obliterate his marker with just his first touch, settle down and play a penetrative defense-splitting through pass that cuts the whole West Ham apart like a hot knife through butter.

    Sam receives a pass, goes on a mazy run, cutting through multiple players with his silky skills like they were not even there.

    "What a prodigy!" The commentator raved.

    "This game, every time that Sam has his legs on the ball, the fans are expecting something. You can see it Derek, you can literally feel it".

    "Every time he has the ball, it''s like something is going to happen".

    "Is it only me or does he remind you of Ronaldinho too?"

    "He''s not Ronaldinho level yet but still, those elasticos of his, they can''t help but remind you of a prime Ronaldinho terrorizing defenders for fun".

    "Samuel Moses, what a fun player to watch".

    "The entertainment level of this game is at 1000% I''m telling you".

    As this second half progressed, it became increasingly clear to the West Ham players that in this kind of mood, Sam was simply unstoppable.

    The only reason why he didn''t get his hattrick yet was because the West Ham players were professional football players. They didn''t give up yet, still putting their all into this game and anytime Sam got the ball, 2 players quickly closed him down.

    Despite this, he remained a menace on the pitch.

    But what is a menace?

    Menace is just a show of intention to inflict harm, which meant Sam was more than a menace this game, because he did inflict the third harm to complete a perfect three.

    In the 83rd minute, when the West Ham spirits were at an all-time low, after a bursting run from Adama Traore through the right who was already substituted into this game to replace Emile Smith Rowe at some point, the rapid winger threw in a cross that fell into the 18-yard box.

    Mavropanos, the West Ham defender rose highest, heading the ball out but it was a poor clearance as it fell just outside the West Ham 18-yard box, where the danger man lurked, Samuel Moses.

    Sam rose up after the ball, then with his chest, he controlled it.

    Bam!

    The ball was perfectly tamed with his chest, then¡­

    Thud!

    As soon as Sam landed on his feet even as the nearest West Ham player was already desperately charging forward to close him down, he felt adrenaline flood his body even as his eyes dilated in excitement and focus.

    Swinging his right leg backward as Sam landed, he quickly flung it back in an iconic shooting technique, the knuckle ball technique.

    POW!

    Sam''s right leg unleashed a rocket of a shot!

    The ball flew up, above all the players in the 18-yard box even as Areola, the West Ham goalkeeper was rooted to the spot, just looking at the ball sail past him.

    But just as the ball seemed on a sure path of flying off for a goal kick, it waved, then swerved back down into the top right corner of the net with speed.

    The net rippled; another goal.

    Craven Cottage exploded, and again, smiling brightly, Sam charged towards the corner flag as he did the Robert Lewandowski celebration.

    "Samuel Mosesssssss!!!" The commentator screamed.

    "What a boy! What a monster! What a prodigy!"

    "I told you right Derek? The boy is a monster!"

    "He''s gone and scored a hattrick!"

    In the 90th plus 5 minutes, Ings, the West Ham substitute scored a late goal, depriving Bernd Leno of a clean sheet but the game was already decided.

    Fulham won 4-1 convincingly.

    Sam won the man of the match award. Your journey continues at empire

 Chapter 179 International mission- make a comeback

    Immediately after the end of the game against West Ham, Sam received a series of system notifications and it was not just what he expected.Apart from his matchday rewards for his performance against West Ham, Sam got an entirely new notification that he did not expect, a new system mission. Enjoy exclusive content from empire

    ~----~

    [You have unlocked an International system mission: Make a comeback!]

    [Mission Description: International football plays a big role in the reading of an elite professional football player''s career. To be recognized as a truly world-class player, you need to prove that you can also do it with your country.] S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Mission Objective: Rise above adversity and make a comeback in the Nigerian national team!]

    [Mission Reward: ???]

    ¡­

    [You have unlocked a new International system mission: Make a statement- I am King!]

    [Mission Description: Currently, you are at the periphery of the Nigerian national team. Make a statement display with any opportunity you get to show the whole country and your coach that you are the new King of Nigerian football.]

    [Mission Objective: Force the coach of the Nigerian national team to build his team around you!]

    [Mission Reward: Legendary Inheritance- Austin Jay Jay Okocha!]

    [System Remark: Prove yourself and inherit the legacy of the legendary Nigerian winger who was so good he had to be named twice!]

    ~----~

    Seeing these 2 new system missions, at first, Sam was stunned but then he grinned. ''Hell yeah!'' He celebrated in his mind.

    Any mission that gave him the chance to get a new legendary inheritance was something that Sam embraced with gusto. Afterall, his elastico and spatial awareness skills were already paying in dividends.

    These 2 skills showed him the importance of legendary inheritances.

    But Sam did not let the glamor get to his head though, by now, he could already tell that the system was using a carrot and stick method with him.

    A legendary inheritance was a once in a lifetime opportunity for professional football players. It was so rare that it was impossible for upcoming football players to get it, the only way to get one was to become a legend of the game and create one. And that was no easy endeavor.

    For Sam to get easy access to them like this was a gift, a privilege.

    This did not mean getting them would be easy though.

    The first mission to get another legendary inheritance that Sam had pending was the mission to get at least 30 goal contributions this season.

    At first, looking at it, it seemed easy but in truth, it was incredibly hard.

    Not only was Sam plying his trade in the premier league, the toughest league in the world, but which 19-year-old playing in the top 5 European leagues could confidently claim of getting 30 goal contributions in a season?

    None at the moment. This showed the difficulty of the mission that Sam had; it was a mission for freaks.

    As for the second one, forcing the Nigerian coach to build around him? This was even more ridiculous than the first.

    The Nigerian national team was a team fielding big names like Victor Osimhen who still had a contract with Napoli, Victor Boniface of Bayer Lekerkusen, Ademola Lookman of Atalanta, amongst other elite players.

    It was going to be an uphill task for Sam to upstage all these world beaters to present the case that he was the best player in the national team.

    Sam didn''t shirk away from the challenge though, rather, he grinned. ''The system is getting to know me better these days, hehe''.

    ''These are exactly the types of missions that I love most''.

    ''Impossible missions, but to me,'' he grinned. ''Impossible is nothing!''

    Talking of legendary inheritances, after getting back to his new home in Fulham, Sam decided to check his player status again with his system. But this time, he focused on a particular aspect, his trump cards.

    The things that made him Samuel Moses, the Nigerian Zidane.

    ~----~

    [Owned Football Skills:]

    [Passive skill: Stalwart]

    [Active skills:]

    [Basic mastery level: La croqueta; body feint; Power shot; step overs, roulette, knuckle shot, overhead kick]

    [Intermediate mastery level: Elastico, Cruyff turn]

    [Advanced mastery level: Spatial awareness]

    ¡­

    [Legendary Inheritance: Spatial Awareness]

    [Legendary Inheritance: Elastico]

    ¡­

    [Ability cards:]

    >Shoot it like Lewy<

    [Card uses remaining: 2]

    >Thread it like KDB<

    [Card uses remaining: 2]

    >Bend it like Beckham<

    [Card uses remaining: 2]

    ¡­

    [Title: Space Interpreter!]

    [System Remark: An elite young talent playing in one of the best leagues in the world!]

    ~----~

    This time, Sam focused on his ability cards.

    Sam''s passive skill, Stalwart was the perfect representative of his current ability. He was a solid attacking midfielder that could be trusted to perform every game, he had the skills to do it and the mentality to back it up.

    But despite all these, his skills, his attributes, there were certain trump cards that Sam only use in situations where it was absolutely needed, his ability cards.

    At the moment, he only had 3 ability cards but every single one of them was lethal enough to empower him to turn a game around singlehandedly.

    He still vividly remembered the first time he made use of an ability card against Manchester City in the FIFA Club World Cup final. Against Manchester City, with the Shoot it like Lewy ability card, he scored a hattrick against the world-beating Manchester team.

    With the Thread it like KDB and Bend it like Beckham ability cards, he had performed similar miracles in other games already.

    But Sam didn''t want to use them carelessly. Afterall, they were his trump cards.

    "No other player in the world has a privilege like this," his eyes gleamed as he whispered. "If I am to have any chance at achieving my ambitious goal for this season, the turning point lies in using my ability cards wisely".

    "Which game to use them, and what time".

    "I need to be wise".

    Sam ended the day with that consciousness in mind. Of course, once the thought of football left his head, he spent the time with his girlfriend cuddling.

    Life without Kayla and life with her was so different, Sam loved life now better than it was before.

    That night, Coach Marco Silva sent the fixture of the next game to his players.

    (EFL Cup:)

    (Preston ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 17th September, 2024)

    Sam and his teammates had just 2 days to rest and prepare for their next game in Preston.

 Chapter 180 An unbeaten run [1]

    Kayla was a model, but she was also a student.She schooled in the Netherlands, a prestigious university where she studied theatre arts, the course of her dream.

    Kayla hoped to make it in Hollywood.

    It was hard, extremely hard, but it was her dream. And when Sam learned about it, despite the many unpleasant stories that he already heard about Hollywood, he didn''t try to kill her dream, rather he supported it.

    Sam would support her in the best way he could.

    This was why in the 2 days building up to Fulham''s EFL Cup game against Preston in away ground, after spending another day with her boyfriend, Kayla finally returned to the Netherlands to focus on her school.

    Sam wanted Kayla close after his first intimate encounter with her, but he did not let his emotions override his logic.

    He knew that they had to focus on their budding careers and school.

    This was why he let her go. Of course, they would still be communicating daily on their phones but with Kayla gone, Sam was able to focus 100% on football again.

    He spent the most time with Emile Smith Rowe these days as they jogged together, worked out together, trained together, and played football together.

    In this climate, both of their football senses became sharper every day, their chemistry truly becoming telepathic.

    Physically and mentally, Sam and Smith Rowe were in their best state.

    And then, D-day finally came.

    Sam didn''t get to play in the last EFL Cup game against Birmingham but this time, Sam started. Coach Marco Silva heavily rotated his starting XI again, but he gave Sam the opportunity to play his first EFL Cup game of the season. Enjoy new stories from empire

    Since the beginning of the season, Fulham already played 5 games and they were in a crazy winning run of 5 games played, 5 games won.

    Even if they eventually drew a game, it would still be an unbeaten run and to Fulham fans who were not used to this, this was unprecedented. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Against Preston, their 6th game of the new season, Fulham had the opportunity to extend their winning run and with Sam starting, the Fulham fans had extremely high hopes of doing it.

    Today, Muniz led the line as the striker and behind him was the attacking trio of Reiss Nelson, Sam, and Cairney. The midfield comprised of Berge and Reed.

    Behind them in defense were Sessegnon, Cuenca, Diop, and Castagne, while the Fulham back-up goalkeeper, Benda started in between the posts.

    In paper, Fulham had the slight superiority over their opponents today.

    But a major fact of this game was that this was Preston''s home.

    FWEEEE!

    When the whistle sounded, the loud noise of the Preston fans drowned this stadium as they tried to suffocate the Fulham players and disrupt their game.

    At first, it worked in the early stages of this game as Preston troubled Fulham, occasionally testing their goalkeeper.

    It was a nervy opening for Fulham but they eventually settled into the game, buoyed by Sam''s calming presence upfield. The game briefly became even and as time wore on, both sides had their chances.

    In the end, the home side drew first blood.

    After an incredibly-worked team sequence from the Preston players, the ball found itself in the back of the Fulham net as Benda was rooted to the spot after a pile driver of a shot from outside the box by the Preston midfielder, Ledson.

    Preston entered the lead 1-0.

    For the rest of the first half, Fulham tried everything to turn the tides around. They dominated but they could not get a goal as Preston defended tightly.

    "And what a half we just witnessed!"

    "Against all odds, Preston are leading! Well, we should have expected it, this is not a full throttle Fulham team, most of their star players are on the bench".

    "Are we going to experience an upset from Preston today?"

    "Surely not, right?"

    "Surely, Marco Silva is going to bring in the big guns in the 2nd half".

    But unlike what the commentator predicted, Coach Marco Silva stuck with his starting lineup, leaving them to continue the second half.

    His decision was almost spat on when Preston almost scored an instant second goal just after second half started.

    Despite the threats from Preston, Fulham held their nerves and when it was time, they didn''t need their stars in the bench, they did it led by their star on the pitch in Samuel Moses.

    In the 61st minute, Sam opened the game up as receiving the ball deep, he went on a mazy run into the Preston half.

    The Preston midfield was congested as they played with a 4-4-2 formation, but the mercurial midfielder wiggled through them like they were not there.

    Sam did not do anything complicated, all he did was a few drop of the shoulders, feints, and a pass that set Reiss Nelson in one-on-one with the Preston goalkeeper.

    The winger did not miss, chipping the ball over the goalkeeper to even the score line back to where they started.

    In the 61st minute, it was back to 1-1.

    All the Preston effort was seemingly deflated like a balloon but unwilling to give up, the Preston players played the game of their life against Fulham.

    They threatened, defending like a team but then again, they were playing against a team that had Sam, a generational prodigy of the game.

    After introducing Raul Jimenez into the game already at some point, the striker used his impressive strength to good use in the box, holding up play perfectly and once he spotted Sam''s run, he chipped the ball into his path in the box.

    It was not a perfect pass, it had too much force and it was too high, but then¡­

    Bam!

    Jumping and raising his right leg high, Sam displayed unreal technique, bringing the ball under control with a gentle touch and as he descended, the ball descended with him.

    By the time Sam''s legs touched ground, Preston defenders were already all over him but that was when he did his thing.

    Tik! Tak!

    With the tip of his boot, he took 2 delicate touches of the ball and that was all it took as the ball evaded them like a snake''s deadly bite.

    "Uhhhh! An elastico! So cheeky!"

    The Preston defenders were made to see stars.

    With that elastico, Sam cut through the Preston defense like a hot knife through butter, now one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

    Due to his burst of speed after the elastico, he was still unbalanced and noting it, Woodman, the Preston goalkeeper charged out aggressively but Sam''s reactions were faster than he expected.

    Bam!

    A delicate touch from Sam and the ball gently rolled in between the legs of the onrushing goalkeeper.

    "Uhhh!" The commentator exclaimed again. "What a cheeky nutmeg! The goal is exposed, it''s Sam with the ball now!"

    One of the Preston defenders tried to recover and clear the ball but Sam did not let him, using one last burst of speed to charge past the goalkeeper and after the ball then calmly, he poked it in.

    The ball rolled into the net.

    In the 75th minute, Sam scored the winner, Deepdale stadium was silenced.

    Jogging to the side of the post, Sam sat down on the pitch, doing the iconic meditation celebration that was made popular by Erling Haaland.

    His teammates swarmed him.

    "An assist and a goal, what a player!"

    "A generational talent!"

    "The silence of this stadium is testament to his greatness. And Oh! The Preston fans have risen, they''re giving him a standing ovation!"

    "What a wholesome moment, Deepdale Stadium is appreciating greatness!"

    "Samuel Moses, what a player".

    In the 80th minute, Coach Marco Silva subbed Sam and others out of the game, introducing Emile Smith Rowe and Alex Iwobi.

    The game ended 1-2 in Fulham''s favor.

    And unsurprisingly, Sam won another man of the match award.

    Fulham extended their winning and unbeaten run to 6 games.

 Chapter 181 Unbeaten run [2]

    (fulham fixtures:)(premier league:)

    (fulham ¨C newcastle)

    (date: 21st september, 2024)

    ¡­

    (premier league:)

    (nottm forest ¨C fulham)

    (date: 28th september, 2024)

    ¡­

    (premier league:)

    (man city ¨C fulham)

    (date: 5th october, 2024)

    after the efl cup game against preston, the next task in fulham''s game fixtures was a lineup of premier league games starting with a clash against newcastle united at home.

    fulham carried their unstoppable momentum into this game.

    despite playing against a team that was on paper stronger than them, in front of their home fans, fulham did not let up as sam orchestrated this game, creating another masterpiece in front of fulham supporters.

    fulham opened the floodgates as early as the 5th minute as raul jimenez lashed into an emile smith rowe pass, unleashing a powerful volleyed shot into the net that left nick pope, the newcastle goalkeeper with little chance.

    after that goal, newcastle upped the tempo as they tried to get into this game but they were thwarted by a single player named samuel moses.

    sam started in attacking midfield but considering the threat of their opponents, he often drifted deeper in the midfield to help weather the newcastle offensive. it was safe to say that this was a defensive masterclass from him.

    defending was never part of sam''s great points, and he didn''t exactly like it either, but playing with austin in the npfl taught him to do the dirty work.

    and since he had the stamina to do it, why not?

    sam ran all over the midfield, playing a free role in this game as he tortured the newcastle players and their attacking rhythm, winning the ball back at every slight opportunity he got.

    he set raul jimenez up with another opportunity only for nick pope to pull out a sensational save, but fulham doubled their lead soon after and this time, it was from emile smith rowe.

    after a few twists and turns just outside the newcastle 18-yard box, with a perfectly executed cruyff turn, emile smith rowe burst into the box before shooting the ball towards the bottom left corner.

    nick pope stood no chance.

    "goallll¡­!" craven cottage exploded for the second time this game; the fans felt on top of the world.

    the first half ended 2-0 in fulham''s favor.

    immediately after the second half started though, craven cottage was stunned as harvey barnes scored a goal within just 1 minute after the restart in the 46th minute of this game.

    that goal definitely rattled nerves but sam dug in, locking his area of the pitch completely as with him leading the charge, his teammates stayed compact.

    for the next 45 minutes, it was attack after attack from newcastle united but fulham thwarted it all as sam played the role of a destroyer today.

    but then, after 90 minutes, in additional time, sam finally capped off his sensational performance with an assist as he played a perfect cross for reiss nelson to poke into the net.

    the game ended 3-1 in fulham''s favor.

    sam got only 1 assist today but his all-round game stole the show, he won another consecutive man of the match award.

    in exactly a week''s time after playing newcastle united at home, the fulham squad traveled to nottingham where they took on nottingham forest.

    visiting the city ground again, it was just as tough as sam experienced his first time. against nottingham forest at home, fulham were forced to sweat and work hard.

    the first half was a high-octane affair that ended in a goalless draw.

    the intensity increased even more in the second half. unlike the newcastle game, this was a highly intense game that had everything else except the goals.

    but in the and, after constantly torturing the nottingham defense all night, raul jimenez was tripped in the nottingham box as he won a penalty for his team.

    this striker confidently stepped up to score the penalty and he paid back the faith of his coach, scoring the goal to give fulham the lead.

    for the rest of the game, nottingham forest tried to no avail to equalize the game. fulham also tried to extend their lead but buoyed by the loud noise being made by their fans, nottingham forest was highly compact defensively.

    it was no wonder the only goal of the game so far came from a penalty.

    in the end, despite how much sam tried to impose himself on this game, he could not influence it the way he wanted.

    but still, fulham won. that was what mattered.

    fulham won 0-1, extending their unbeaten run to 8 games.

    after 6 exciting matchdays of the english premier league where fulham was on an unprecedented run of 6 wins out of 6 games, this was how the premier league table looked like currently.

    (premier league matchday 6 results:)

    (newcastle 1-1 man city) sear?h the n?vel(f)ire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (date: 28th september, 2024)

    ¡­

    (chelsea 4-2 brighton) continue your journey on empire

    (date: 28th september, 2024)

    ¡­

    (brentford 1-1 west ham)

    (date: 28th september, 2024)

    ¡­

    (everton 2-1 crystal palace)

    (date: 28th september, 2024)

    ¡­

    (arsenal 4-2 leicester city)

    (date: 28th september, 2024)

    ¡­

    (nottm forest 0-1 fulham)

    (date: 28th september, 2024)

    ¡­

    (wolves 1-2 liverpool)

    (date: 28th september, 2024)

    ¡­

    (ipswich town 2-2 aston villa)

    (date: 29th september, 2024)

    ¡­

    (man united 0-3 tottenham)

    (date: 29th september, 2024)

    ¡­

    (bournemouth 3-1 southampton)

    (date: 30th september, 2024)

    ¡­

    (updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. fulham gp: 6/ w:6/ d:0/ l:0/ pts: 18)

    (2. liverpool gp: 6/ w:5/ d:0/ l:1/ pts: 16)

    (3. arsenal gp: 6/ w:4/ d:2/ l:0/ pts: 14)

    (4. man city gp: 6/ w:4/ d:2/ l:0/ pts: 14)

    (5. chelsea gp: 6/ w:4/ d:1/ l:1/ pts: 13)

    (6. aston villa gp: 6/ w:4/ d:0/ l:2/ pts: 12)

    (7. newcastle gp: 6/ w:3/ d:2/ l:1/ pts: 11)

    (8. tottenham gp: 6/ w:3/ d:1/ l:2/ pts: 10)

    (9. brighton gp: 6/ w:2/ d:3/ l:1/ pts: 9)

    (10. nottm forest gp: 6/ w:2/ d:3/ l:1/ pts: 9)

    (11. bournemouth gp: 6/ w:2/ d:2/ l:2/ pts: 8)

    (12. brentford gp: 6/ w:2/ d:1/ l:3/ pts: 7)

    (13. west ham gp: 6/ w:1/ d:2/ l:3/ pts: 5)

    (14. everton gp: 6/ w:1/ d:1/ l:4/ pts: 4)

    (15. ipswich town gp: 6/ w:0/ d:4/ l:2/ pts: 4)

    (16. man united gp: 6/ w:1/ d:1/ l:4/ pts: 4)

    (17. crystal palace gp: 6/ w:0/ d:3/ l:3/ pts: 3)

    (18. leicester gp: 6/ w:0/ d:3/ l:3/ pts: 3)

    (19. southampton gp: 6/ w:0/ d:1/ l:5/ pts: 1)

    (20. wolves gp: 6/ w:0/ d:1/ l:5/ pts: 1)

    after 6 exciting matchdays of the english premier league, this was how the league table looked like 6 games into the 2024/2025 season.

    there were big surprises.

    ¡­

    [note: gp stands for games played; w stands for win; d stands for draw; l stands for loss; and pts stands for points. also, a win gives 3 points and a draw gives only 1 point to each team. a loss gives 0 point.]

 Chapter 182 Matchday 7; a season decider

    (updated premier league table standings:)(1. fulham gp: 6/ w:6/ d:0/ l:0/ pts: 18)

    (2. liverpool gp: 6/ w:5/ d:0/ l:1/ pts: 16)

    (3. arsenal gp: 6/ w:4/ d:2/ l:0/ pts: 14)

    enjoy new chapters from empire

    (4. man city gp: 6/ w:4/ d:2/ l:0/ pts: 14)

    (5. chelsea gp: 6/ w:4/ d:1/ l:1/ pts: 13)

    (6. aston villa gp: 6/ w:4/ d:0/ l:2/ pts: 12)

    (7. newcastle gp: 6/ w:3/ d:2/ l:1/ pts: 11)

    (8. tottenham gp: 6/ w:3/ d:1/ l:2/ pts: 10)

    (9. brighton gp: 6/ w:2/ d:3/ l:1/ pts: 9)

    (10. nottm forest gp: 6/ w:2/ d:3/ l:1/ pts: 9)

    (11. bournemouth gp: 6/ w:2/ d:2/ l:2/ pts: 8)

    (12. brentford gp: 6/ w:2/ d:1/ l:3/ pts: 7)

    (13. west ham gp: 6/ w:1/ d:2/ l:3/ pts: 5)

    (14. everton gp: 6/ w:1/ d:1/ l:4/ pts: 4)

    (15. ipswich town gp: 6/ w:0/ d:4/ l:2/ pts: 4)

    (16. man united gp: 6/ w:1/ d:1/ l:4/ pts: 4)

    (17. crystal palace gp: 6/ w:0/ d:3/ l:3/ pts: 3)

    (18. leicester gp: 6/ w:0/ d:3/ l:3/ pts: 3)

    (19. southampton gp: 6/ w:0/ d:1/ l:5/ pts: 1)

    (20. wolves gp: 6/ w:0/ d:1/ l:5/ pts: 1)

    "max, this is the updated premier league table. there are definitely a lot of surprises, which one do you think is the biggest surprise".

    "it has to be fulham charles". max, the premier league pundit laughed out loud. "it definitely has to be fulham".

    "i can confidently say it with my full chest now that when the season started, nobody predicted fulham topping the league table at any point of the season".

    "fulham has to be the biggest surprise package this season".

    "the way they''re playing? come on man, those guys are in a great run of form and i can''t wait to see how far they''ll go".

    "what do you think changed max?"

    "well, if i have to point out anything". he chuckled. "don''t point me out for being a fanboy but i would have to say samuel moses".

    "he''s been the one big change in fulham with a big bang impact".

    "last season, he already showed glimpses of what he could do in a premier league team as within just half of the season, he managed to drag fulham all the way from 14th position where he met them to 9th position at the end of the season".

    "16 goals and 15 assists charles! do you know what that means for a young 18-year-old attacking midfielder just making his debut in the premier league?"

    "the boy''s a phenomenon!"

    "i won''t lie though, despite that, i never thought i would ever experience what fulham is currently doing in the league but here i am".

    "6 wins in 6 games? that''s bonkers man!"

    "to me, the main difference is sam but it''s not just him. at some point, it''s just unrealistic for one player to have so much impact in a team, especially in a league as tough as the premier league".

    "i think what really changed is the mentality".

    "i did a bit of background check on sam so i would know. even during his first professional season when he played for enyimba, sam transformed his team''s mentality, turning them into even more formidable winners".

    "that''s the same thing that''s happening in fulham".

    "in big clubs like manchester city and the likes, drawing a game is bad, and losing a game is taboo. the only acceptable result is winning, but this is not the same in lesser clubs like bournemouth, fulham, and the likes".

    "to these clubs, the status quo is losing a game is not a crisis, drawing a game is not so bad, and winning is something to celebrate. that''s the difference in reality and mentality between big clubs and small clubs".

    "but since sam came, that mentality has changed".

    "fulham now think like winners, and it was already apparent from late last season. it''s just that it truly picked up now".

    "so yes, i''d say fulham are the real deal".

    "do you remember leicester of 2016?".

    charles, the show''s host laughed as he looked at the pundit. "are you really making that comparison now?" sear?h the n?velfire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "i''m serious charles," max laughed. "their momentum is reminding me of that leicester team, they have a lot of things in common. and if the big 6 just let up, fulham may just scoop the league title this season".

    "first of all," charles chuckled. "i think that''s impossible. man city are not about to let some upstart dethrone them after creating history already".

    "about man city, max, what are your predictions, man city vs fulham?"

    "a draw, i think a draw". max rubbed his chin. "like i already said, both clubs are now thinking like winners".

    "man city wouldn''t want to lose to the surprise table toppers, and fulham would not want to lose either to prove their credentials, so a draw is what i think".

    "either ways, it''s going to be a truly exciting game".

    the host chuckled again. "well, my prediction is 3-1 to man city, maybe sam gets the goal for fulham since he seems to be fond of scoring against the champions".

    after the punditry, the view on the screen finally changed to the fixtures for matchday 7 of the 2024/2025 premier league season.

    (premier league matchday 7 fixtures:)

    (crystal palace ¨C liverpool)

    (date: 5th october, 2024)

    ¡­

    (arsenal ¨C southampton)

    (date: 5th october, 2024)

    ¡­

    (brentford ¨C wolves)

    (date: 5th october, 2024)

    ¡­

    (man city ¨C fulham)

    (date: 5th october, 2024)

    ¡­

    (west ham ¨C ipswich town)

    (date: 5th october, 2024)

    ¡­

    (leicester city ¨C bournemouth)

    (date: 5th october, 2024)

    ¡­

    (everton ¨C newcastle)

    (date: 5th october, 2024)

    ¡­

    (aston villa ¨C man united)

    (date: 6th october, 2024)

    ¡­

    (chelsea ¨C nottm forest)

    (date: 6th october, 2024)

    ¡­

    (brighton ¨C tottenham)

    (date: 6th october, 2024)

    of the 10 matches of matchday 7 of the english premier league, as highlighted from the focus of this premier league punditry session, it was clear that the clash between man city and fulham at the etihad was the focal point.

    and it was not just to the pundits, to the rest of the premier league, this was the focus game of matchday 7.

    it was a season decider game for fulham.

    it was the game to know if they were just pretenders or if they were actually contenders for the premier league title.

    and knowing the immensity of their next game, the fulham players put in the work, putting in effort and working like a horse in training.

    sam''s mamba spirit infected them all in the build-up to the game.

    and when d-day finally came, the fulham squad didn''t go to the etihad stadium like a team of footballers at all, rather, they went like a troop of warriors going to claim victory in enemy territory.

    it was going to be a bloodbath.

 Chapter 183 A high octane game

    manchester city¡­in recent years in england, this name was synonymous with excellence and greatness. the last few years of the premier league were all manchester city as under pep guardiola, the manchester-based club already built a dynasty.

    the club in sky blue were the new kings of england.

    in the premier league, having won 5 out of the last 6 premier league titles, they were on top and in the 2022/2023 season, they finally broke their european drought, bagging home the elusive champions league trophy.

    and they didn''t stop with a champions league trophy back in 2023, as with the electric duo of erling haaland and kevin de bruyne spearheading the team from the front, manchester city went all the way to win the treble.

    just last season, they broke manchester united''s record of consecutive premier league wins, winning 4 straight premier league titles.

    in the modern premier league, manchester city was a behemoth.

    and it was this behemoth that fulham was going up against today.

    read new chapters at empire

    this was not sam''s first time facing the champions. back in the fifa world cup final with enyimba, he already faced them once and lost. and last season with fulham, he faced them the second time and rescued a point for his team.

    he had a good historical record against manchester city.

    but there was a prevalent theme in both games, manchester city were playing away from their home ground.

    in the fifa world cup final, they played in neutral ground and last season against fulham, they played in craven cottage.

    this time though, sam did not have that luxury cushioning the lethality of the reigning premier league champions.

    this time, the showdown was taking place in enemy territory, the etihad.

    alongside his teammates, sam was amazed by the loud noise made by the fans in sky blue around the etihad stadium as they stepped into the pitch.

    of course, both teams started with their strongest lineups.

    manchester city started with ederson in between the posts, and the quadruple of rico lewis, manuel akanji, ruben dias, and josko gvardiol ahead of him. mateo kovacic started as the sole holding midfielder.

    ahead of him comprised of a 4-man offense of bernado silva, phil foden, ikay gundogan, and jack grealish, while leading the line was the prolific erling haaland.

    for this game, coach marco silva tweaked his formation to make it more defensive in this tough stadium, playing a 5-4-1 formation.

    bernd leno started in between the posts, while the improvised 5-man defense comprised of robinson from the left, bassey, andersen, and tete. the 5th face was an unfamiliar one in defense, alex iwobi.

    this game, alex iwobi was tasked with the role of an inverted wingback. he had the freedom to drift from the back into midfield anytime he wanted.

    the 4-man midfield comprised of adama traore from the left, sam, emile smith rowe, and pereira on the right. raul jimenez led the lineup up top.

    fweeee!

    as soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, the game started.

    and from the get-go, it was clear that manchester city meant business.

    the media already pushed this game to the front of the masses, painting it as an absolute top of the table clash.

    the fans in sky blue were riled up long before the game, they wanted a bloodbath and with their loud noise buoying their players, the manchester city players played with the intention to slaughter.

    despite playing in the etihad though, fulham quickly showed that they had no intentions of rolling their bellies up in defeat due to intimidation.

    fulham was no longer a small club that would be intimidated.

    during the first few minutes of this game, manchester city dominated possession, their forward quadruple of bernardo silva, phil foden, ikay gundogan, and jack grealish torturing them with their silky combination plays.

    and with them setting up chances, erling haaland hit the post twice while forcing bernd leno into an impressive save within just the first 10 minutes.

    despite the fluidity of the champions, led by a certain player, fulham remained as compact as a rock with no openings.

    sam approached this game with the mentality to do the dirty work, he always knew that playing manchester city at home was going to be a tough game.

    in the middle of the park, he locked the game for fulham, cutting off any passing lanes with his ridiculous work rate and pressing ability.

    following his example, fulham dug in, defending like a team and when they occasionally won back possession, it was sam again leading the threat as he made use of adama traore''s pace to disturb the champions.

    during the first few minutes, it was high-octane display, a back and forth game. man city had their chances but fulham also threatened.

    it was a nervy game but then, the deadlock was finally broken, against the run of play as fulham stunned the champions.

    "alex iwobi to raul jimenez, and then pereira¡­, pereiraaaa!" the commentator screamed as the ball suddenly squirmed into the man city net.

    the move was orchestrated by paul. s§×arch* the n??el fire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    winning a ball deep in midfield, he sprayed it to the right where alex iwobi already ran upfield, overlapping.

    with one touch, the nigerian international passed to raul jimenez who skipped past a few heavy challenges in the man city box before passing back to alex iwobi. with a silky touch, alex retained possession and bid his time.

    once the space opened, he passed back into the box for jimenez who simply poked the ball into pereira''s space for the midfielder to direct into the far corner.

    ederson stood no chance.

    "goalll¡­!" the away fan section in the etihad exploded with cheers.

    charging towards the corner flag, pereira jumped, screaming loudly in celebration but the fulham joy was short-lived.

    in the 26th minute, pereira opened the deadlock and just 6 minutes later, the champions responded.

    this time, it was from a corner kick.

    as soon as the ball was floated into the fulham box, ruben dias, the man city defender rose highest, bringing the ball down with his head and just as a scramble started in the fulham box, a certain mateo kovacic arrived first.

    bam!

    the croatian international hit the ball on a volley towards goal.

    "kovacicccc¡­!!!"

    due to the players blocking him in the box, bernd leno did not even see the ball move till it was already in the net.

    the etihad exploded as the fans in sky blue roared back to life.

    in the 32nd minute of this game, 1-1.

    game on!

    fweeee!

    when the referee''s whistle sounded again, man city''s domination continued.

    fulham in sam''s era may be good but one great player could not make a team of that quality compete with another team comprised entirely of great players.

    for the rest of the first half, man city threatened but with fulham defending so superbly, it never quite came off. the first half ended 1-1.

    man city''s dominance was undeniable though.

    the only question was, would their dominance turn into results in the second half? nobody knew, this was an unpredictable game.

    ¡­

    after 10 minutes, the players entered the pitch to continue this high-octane affair, and just within a minute, it happened.

    just after kick-off by man city, a bursting run through the left and a tidy cross was thrown in only to land before a rampaging mateo kovacic again.

    the croatian international took one touch to bring the ball down and under control, then his next touch¡­

    bam!

    kovacic unleashed a thunderous shot from outside the box. bernd leno dived but the ball just barely bit him with its speed.

    "kovaciccccc¡­!!!" the commentator roared again.

    "the champions are back! just within a minute of the restart!"

    "fulham are cooked!"

    mateo kovacic charged towards the corner flag as he slid on his knees in celebration, turning the etihad into a boiling cauldron of palpable excitement.

    "that goal was straight to the heart of fulham fans around the world!"

    "will their domination continue?"

    it did continue, fulham were having a tough day at work.

 Chapter 184 Do you believe in miracles?

    fweeee!the manchester city domination continued.

    the fulham players did everything in their power, trying to force their way into the game but the manchester city players were just not letting it. s§×arch* the novel(f~)ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    by the 70th minute, both teams already started making changes. for man city, the likes of gundogan, foden, grealish, and akanji were eventually replaced by walker, stones, doku, and matheus nunes.

    for fulham, muniz, reiss nelson, and castagne were introduced in place of alex iwobi, lukic, pereira, and raul jimenez.

    the fulham striker, jimenez had a reasonably great game but at this point, coach marco silva just wanted anything, a miracle probably.

    your journey continues on empire

    did he believe in miracles? yes.

    did miracles happen often against the champions? no.

    it was a crazy gamble, coach marco silva had no idea if it would pay off or not, he just wanted any change to switch the game on its head.

    the game did change, but not in the way he expected it to.

    after toiling hard all game to keep the score line from turning ugly, a moment of individual genius from one of the man city substitutes curtailed the game completely from fulham''s fumbling grasp.

    receiving the ball in the left, jeremy doku, the silky man city winger bravely took on his man, going on an explosive run.

    with his trademark skill, he exploded with speed and power, leaving castagne for dead and eventually tete before shooting towards the right side of the post. leno dived but again, it was just not enough.

    things were not going fulham''s way today.

    "another goal to man city!" the commentator roared.

    "and it''s the electric jeremy doku again, what a player!"

    while jeremy doku danced towards the corner flag in celebration, the fulham players divulged into arguments, accusing each other for not closing the winger down fast enough, letting him shoot.

    on the sidelines, coach marco silva also raged as he threw his bottle of water to the ground before stomping over to the bench, visibly frustrated.

    surely, the game was already out of fulham''s grasp by now.

    surely, they were already done and out.

    surely, they no longer believed in miracles at this point but a certain player on the pitch never stopped believing, not even once.

    in the desperate moments was when that spirit rears its head in him again, that mamba spirit, that never say never spirit.

    ''win!'' ''win!'' ''win!''

    the mantra already started in his head.

    sam''s whole body already turned into a conduit to channel victory. his eyes dilated in focus, body brimming with adrenaline, he was in a state of ultra-instinct at this moment as sheer willpower became a drive for his physical body.

    doku''s goal for man city came in the 82nd minute, pushing fulham to despair with only 8 minutes remaining till fulltime but sam was undeterred.

    in the desperate moments was when the monster in him roared in defiance.

    fweeee!

    when the game started again, the man city domination continued. willpower could only do so much when the opposition team had so much quality and was playing at such an elite level.

    man city today played at their best.

    they toyed with fulham, until a mistake in the 88th minute of this game allowed muniz to steal the ball.

    a steal inside the 18-yard box¡­, a fatal mistake.

    instantly after stealing the ball, muniz turned with it, beating his man before unleashing a low shot at goal that beat ederson.

    "and woah! a consolation goal!"

    "surely, fulham are not back in this are they?"

    muniz rushed into the net, picking the ball and rushing back to the halfway line as he pumped his fists, motivating his teammates. "come on!"

    for sam in the last few minutes, the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak as man city relegated him to mostly a defensive role this game.

    but this time, sam had help.

    muniz bailed him out when he needed it the most, giving his team some much needed infusion of momentum. momentum that sam gladly took advantage of, riding it as if he was a surfer surfing a giant wave.

    after the 88th minute, samuel moses came to life!

    not in a flashy way, not in a samba way, but in a simple, pound-for-pound, warrior style as sam chased after the ball like a hound.

    man city started kick-off but with him chasing so relentlessly, they could only pass around, toying with him.

    it seemed demeaning; the man city players were clearly toying with him.

    it was prime meme material, but it only remained meme material till it ceased to be meme material¡­

    swoosh!

    sam stole the ball¡­, just outside the man city 18-yard box!

    it was a poor pass from matheus nunes as he became complacent due to his team toying with the young nigerian midfielder. he never expected sam to read his intentions like a telepathist, jumping on a sliding tackle just after he passed.

    bam!

    as soon as sam stopped the ball, his whole body surged to life, tingling from the sensation of all electrons in his body entering an excited state.

    truly, he was in a state of ultra-instinct, the zone state.

    after losing the ball, matheus nunes rushed forward immediately to redeem his mistake but rushing an ultra-instinct sam was a big mistake.

    bam!

    one push of the ball and it rolled in between the legs of the onrushing midfielder as sam nutmegged him, redeeming himself for how they toyed with him since but restoring his pride was not his goal.

    as soon as he nutmegged matheus nunes, kovacic charged in but pushing the ball to the left, sam shrugged off this midfielder''s press with his physicality.

    he charged to the left where rico lewis camped in right back for man city.

    sam didn''t want to go through the middle where the stalwart figures of ruben dias and john stones were, his instincts warned him against it.

    and since man city had the ball before, the ageless kyle walker was caught out of position, leaving rico lewis to cover for him.

    kovacic charged after sam again, pulling at his shirt.

    sam''s running momentum was killed, but instead of falling down and settling for a foul, he simply slowed down, letting kovacic overtake him, then¡­

    bam! bam!

    a lightning-fast maneuver of the ball.

    in a slick move, sam used the la croqueta skill in his repertoire to obliterate the croatian international as kovacic collapsed to the ground.

    with that maneuver, the ball moved a bit further from him than he expected.

    sensing weakness, rico lewis charged in but sam was faster.

    arriving first, sam trapped the ball but lewis was already on him. for a brief moment, sam''s brain froze as he was unsure of the correct move to make to escape out of this situation, he could not afford to lose the ball!

    and as lewis charged in, sam''s instincts took over.

    he did something he had never done on the professional stage before.

    lewis was too close to use his normal tricks, so sam simply put his body forward, wrapping both of his legs around the ball behind him, then he flicked¡­

    "uhhh! a rainbow flick!"

    "such a silky move from sam! he''s gone past lewis!"

    the young rico lewis was left tracking the ball back, staggering till he also collapsed on the pitch.

    sam got to the ball, pushing it away from rico lewis who was already on the floor and then, he dashed into the 18-yard box.

    john stones finally reacted but just as this player stuck out his leg, sam flicked the ball to the right, setting himself up in the box, and then he took his shot.

    bam!

    but ruben dias reacted, jumping on a desperate block.

    ¡­but sam expected this, ruben dias was playing too well this game not to react to such an obvious shot from him.

    this was why it was not a shot, but a feint, a fake shot.

    with that fake shot, sam cut through the 2 man city central defenders but he was still not safe. this was because the pacey kyle walker already recovered and was closing in on him, not giving him time on the ball.

    "¡­!" sam''s brain froze again.

    ruben dias was already recovering too; he would soon close him down.

    he had no time to settle down and take a proper shot with his right foot after faking the ball back to the left, and he didn''t have enough confidence in his left foot, bringing the dilemma.

    but in desperate situations, sam thrived.

    ''if i can''t shoot with my left, and i''m not positioned to shoot properly with my right, i must improvise!''

    ''i must make my own luck, create a miracle!''

    and sam did just that.

    bam!

    sam took his shot but it was not what ederson expected.

    instead of taking the risk to shoot with his left foot, he used his right at that awkward angle but it was a special type of shot.

    wrapping the outside of his boot around the ball, sam tried a shooting technique he had never used before in the professional stage, a trivela shot.

    "¡­!" the etihad stadium became as silent as a graveyard.

    holding their breaths, tens of thousands of fans in sky blue watched as ederson reacted late to the trivela shot.

    he dived but it was a late dive, the ball already went past him.

    time seemed to slow down as they watched this ball curl to the right and just as it seemed like it would go outside for a goal kick, it snuck into the very edge of the top right corner of the net.

    it was a goal!

 Chapter 185 The John Wick of football!

    "goallllllllllllll¡­!!!" the commentator screamed at the top of his lungs."zinedine sam!!!"

    "zinedine sammmm!!!"

    "zinedine sammmmm¡­!!!"

    "the nigerian zidane has struck a dagger straight into the heart of the champions a second consecutive time in the premier league".

    "last season, it was all him as fulham rallied to a draw against the champions at home! this season again, it is him, he is him!"

    "sam has rescued a point again for fulham in the 90th minute!"

    "what a goal! what a play leading to the goal!"

    "he stole the ball from nunes, he sent nunes to no man''s land, he sat kovacic on the ground! he rainbow-flicked rico lewis! ¡­leaving the poor boy on the ground".

    "he turned ruben dias and john stones, 2 of the best defenders in the world inside out, and that trivela¡­, oh my wife''s left nipple!"

    "john, profanities are not allowed in commentary¡­"

    the over the moon commentator ignored his partner, rambling on. "that was straight out of the top drawer!"

    "that is a goal that can only be thought of by the legendary quaresma himself, the lord of trivela shots!"

    "that is stuff of legends, stuff attributed to legends of the game like luka modric and the likes, that is what this young 19-year-old is doing, my god!"

    "show me a better 19-year-old in the world and i will show you a mad man!"

    "sam is insane!"

    "sam is out of this world!"

    "sam is currently in a level of his own! this is messi-class!"

    "he is the john wick of football!"

    while the commentator raved on about him, it took a moment for sam to realize that he just scored a goal and when he did, he let loose.

    charging towards the corner flag, sam was not patient enough to remove his jersey as he simply ripped it apart, reminiscing of a prime cristiano ronaldo in the champions league stage.

    with his jersey ripped apart, exposing his fit body and perfect abs, sam arrived at the corner flag and jumped.

    all the veins in his legs were exposed as he stretched his body.

    he jumped 3 times, stomping the ground hard in excitement every time even as he pumped his fists in ecstasy, basking in his moment.

    his teammates soon arrived the next moment, jumping all over him.

    the manchester city fans could not even bring themselves to boo him as sam did all these antics before. all of them could tell that they were witnessing something special, they could tell that they were witnessing greatness.

    perhaps, he really was the john wick of football.

    in the away fan section, a familiar chant broke out, a chant that no one expected to hear in the etihad stadium.

    "sam!" "sam!" "sam!"

    sam felt on top of the world.

    while the fulham players celebrated, the manchester city players reacted in baffled manners, ruing the manner in which that goal was scored.

    mateo kovacic remained on the ground, wondering how on earth he ended up there in the first place. ''this guy¡­,'' he thought.

    ruben dias and john stones were left wondering even more, trying to piece together the insane logic behind that goal. what was the probability of it even ending up in goal, that shot? probably below 5%.

    but 5% was just enough for sam to work with, to create his miracle.

    that day, the duo of manchester city center backs learned to believe in miracles. they could not bear witness to what just happened and still be unbelievers, it would be a blasphemy. sear?h the ¦Çov§×lfire .net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    when the celebrations eventually died down, it was clear that all energy was already sapped from this high-octane game.

    the referee added only 3 minutes of added time.

    in that time, both sides just tried to create something, trying to get the winner but they were too focused defending to put too much bodies upfront.

    this resulted in a tight affair that ended after 3 minutes of additional time.

    this high-octane game finally ended.

    just like max, the pundit predicted before the game, it ended in a draw and just like charles, the host of the show predicted, sam did get his name on the scoresheet so both of them were right in their predictions.

    all in all, it was by far the most exciting game of the matchday.

    ¡­

    a day after the exciting clash at the etihad stadium, the rest games of matchday 7 of the english premier league were finally concluded and the premier league table was updated again to show the current team rankings.

    (premier league matchday 7 results:)

    (crystal palace 0-1 liverpool)

    (date: 5th october, 2024)

    ¡­

    (arsenal 3-1 southampton)

    (date: 5th october, 2024)

    ¡­

    (brentford 5-3 wolves)

    (date: 5th october, 2024)

    ¡­

    (man city 3-3 fulham)

    (date: 5th october, 2024)

    ¡­

    (west ham 4-1 ipswich town)

    (date: 5th october, 2024)

    ¡­

    (leicester city 1-0 bournemouth)

    (date: 5th october, 2024)

    ¡­

    (everton 0-0 newcastle)

    (date: 5th october, 2024)

    ¡­ continue your adventure at empire

    (aston villa 0-0 man united)

    (date: 6th october, 2024)

    ¡­

    (chelsea 1-1 nottm forest)

    (date: 6th october, 2024)

    ¡­

    (brighton 3-2 tottenham)

    (date: 6th october, 2024)

    ¡­

    (updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. fulham gp: 7/ w:6/ d:1/ l:0/ pts: 19)

    (2. liverpool gp: 7/ w:6/ d:0/ l:1/ pts: 19)

    (3. arsenal gp: 7/ w:5/ d:2/ l:0/ pts: 17)

    (4. man city gp: 7/ w:4/ d:3/ l:0/ pts: 15)

    (5. chelsea gp: 7/ w:4/ d:2/ l:1/ pts: 14)

    (6. aston villa gp: 7/ w:4/ d:1/ l:2/ pts: 13)

    (7. brighton gp: 7/ w:3/ d:3/ l:1/ pts: 12)

    (8. newcastle gp: 7/ w:3/ d:3/ l:1/ pts: 12)

    (9. tottenham gp: 7/ w:3/ d:1/ l:3/ pts: 10)

    (10. brentford gp: 7/ w:3/ d:1/ l:3/ pts: 10)

    (11. nottm forest gp: 7/ w:2/ d:4/ l:1/ pts: 10)

    (12. bournemouth gp: 7/ w:2/ d:2/ l:3/ pts: 8)

    (13. west ham gp: 7/ w:2/ d:2/ l:3/ pts: 8)

    (14. leicester gp: 7/ w:1/ d:3/ l:3/ pts: 6)

    (15. everton gp: 7/ w:1/ d:2/ l:4/ pts: 5)

    (16. man united gp: 7/ w:1/ d:2/ l:4/ pts: 5)

    (17. ipswich town gp: 7/ w:0/ d:4/ l:3/ pts: 4)

    (18. crystal palace gp: 7/ w:0/ d:3/ l:4/ pts: 3)

    (19. southampton gp: 7/ w:0/ d:1/ l:6/ pts: 1)

    (20. wolves gp: 7/ w:0/ d:1/ l:6/ pts: 1)

    fulham retained their spot at the top of the premier league table.

 Chapter 186 Zinedine Sam; the face of Fulham

    after sam''s performance last season in the efl cup, dragging an unlikely fulham all the way to win the efl cup at the expense of heavyweights like chelsea and liverpool, he got the status of a streets would never forget player in fulham.but after his performance against manchester city on october 5th, his status was truly solidified in the city of fulham, london.

    after the man city game, a big mural of sam was made in the city, immortalizing the moment when sam''s rainbow flick took out rico lewis.

    there were also banners of him all over the city as fulham fans still basking in their victory despite the fact that it was a draw paraded their star player as the best player in the league.

    all of these had a ripple effect in sam''s career.

    the premier league was the most broadcasted of the top 5 european leagues in football, and games against elite teams of the premier league was one way for players to put themselves in the limelight.

    the game against manchester city was one such game.

    sam was no longer an unknown player in the premier league. he was well-known in london especially, but after his performance against man city, his popularity exploded and with it came endorsement deals.

    sam already got his first endorsement deal some time ago during his holiday after his first season with fulham, and this time, he got 3 endorsement deal offers.

    as a professional football player already building his brand, sam had to be wary of the companies he got associated with though to protect his image.

    with this in mind and with kayla handling the logistics, he rejected one of the company''s offers, settling for the last 2 and they were not small contracts.

    they were big contracts; the first being the biggest money deal that sam has ever made in his career till date.

    the first company was lexus, the luxury vehicle division of the japanese automaker toyota motor corporation.

    the contract with the japanese automaker company earned sam a whooping 12 million euros. and all he had to do was be one of the faces of the company brand, mentioning it in all his social media platforms and the company''s page.

    his second deal was less lucrative but still, considering where sam was coming from, it was a ridiculous sum of money.

    the second contract was a marketing deal with rolex sa, the leading luxury watch manufacturer in the world. sam got 4 million euros for his troubles, and a neat collection of 5 new rolex luxury watches.

    sam was already a lexus owner as his car was a gray lexus is 350, but the lexus deal made him a proud owner of a brand-new luxury lexus car.

    sam got a brand new white 2024 lexus lx worth approximately $100,000. it was a full-size luxury suv, and most definitely, it suited sam''s current status as a rising superstar of the english premier league.

    sam loved his new ride.

    apart from the 2 new endorsement deal contracts that sam managed to secure with 2 big companies in the world, another thing that excited him after the manchester city game was more personal than the contracts.

    this was related to his football and career.

    during the last 10 minutes of the game against manchester city, sam felt in a state of unnatural calm and tension, a contrasting mixture that resulted from his strong emotions and willpower to win.

    that contrasting mixture of emotions pushed him into the zone state.

    sam was not unused to entering the zone state when he was extremely focused on winning in football, but that day''s own, that one was different.

    it was that feeling that enabled him to try things out that he had never tried on the professional stage before then.

    not only did he use a rainbow flick to obliterate rico lewis, the man city youngster, but that trivela shot, sam still did not know where it came from. everything happened by instinct.

    and since his system didn''t give any notification concerning that, sam thought it was just a fluke but the feeling lingered, the feeling that something about him changed fundamentally.

    in consequent training sessions with emile smith rowe, the english footballer also told him that he noticed something different in his gameplay. s~ea??h the n?vel?ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    it took sam a few days of training for that feeling to finally solidify and when it did, sam felt like an entirely different player.

    and his system finally lit up with notifications, confirming it.

    ~----~ discover exclusive content at empire

    [your efforts in training and professional games have borne fruit, you have broken a skill bottleneck!]

    [you have unlocked basic mastery level of the football skill: rainbow flick!]

    [you have unlocked basic mastery level of the football skill: trivela shot!]

    [your owned football skill, la croqueta has automatically upgraded from the basic mastery level to the intermediate mastery level!]

    ¡­

    [congratulations! your dribbling attribute has increased by +2]

    [congratulations! your shooting attribute has increased by +1]

    [congratulations! your overall player attribute has increased to 82!]

    ----

    [owned football skills:]

    [passive skill: stalwart]

    [active skills:]

    [basic mastery level: body feint; power shot; step overs; roulette; knuckle shot; overhead kick; rainbow flick; trivela shot]

    [intermediate mastery level: elastico, cruyff turn; la croqueta]

    [advanced mastery level: spatial awareness]

    ¡­

    [legendary inheritance: spatial awareness]

    [legendary inheritance: elastico]

    ¡­

    player attributes:

    *pace: 81

    *shot: 80

    *pass: 80

    *dribbling: 78

    *defending: 38

    *physicality: 76

    *stamina: 84

    overall rating: 82

    ~----~

    after a long time of remaining stuck at an overall rating of 81, sam finally took another big step, jumping to an overall rating of 82 and the manchester city game was the big catalyst that pushed him towards this step.

    looking at his new skillset, sam could not help but grin and when he thought back to the manchester city game, his smile widened in excitement.

    "it was a nice game". he mumbled, smiling. "by the course of the season, if i can play a few more games like this to push my limits, my skillset and level will surely improve even more".

    "it will prepare me for the big stage next season, the champions league".

    he rubbed his palms in anticipation. "i can''t wait".

 Chapter 187 Just another day at work?

    after the game against manchester city at the etihad, fulham fc was in great spirits. they felt invincible already in the premier league.it was still just the beginning of the premier league but topping the league table, this was something that every single player of this squad had never experienced throughout their whole career.

    experiencing it now felt so strange and surreal, and then came the pressure.

    the premier league was a heavily broadcasted league. by staying at the top of the premier league table, fulham was suddenly under the spotlight.

    a lot of people wanted them to fail, even more predicted them to fail, and others were simply watching from the sidelines, waiting to see how long they would keep it up before finally faltering.

    and the media publicity?

    all of this was putting a lot of pressure on the shoulders of the fulham players, and after the man city game, this pressure only increased.

    the pressure to keep on performing, the pressure to not let up, even sam was not immune to it. despite his mentality, sam felt the pressure and it made him even more desperate to keep on working hard.

    he coped better with the pressure through his occasional meditation routine.

    luckily for them, they were not thrown straight into another game after the manchester city game. unlike other premier league clubs that played in european competitions, during this time, fulham was relatively free.

    this was why they had a whooping 13 days to rest after the man city game.

    their next game was against aston villa in the premier league.

    (premier league:)

    (fulham ¨C aston villa)

    (date: 19th october, 2024)

    with 13 days to rest, take in all the feelings of the last game, shed away the pressure and prepare, the fulham players were more or less set for their next game far before 19th came.

    to them, it was just going to be another day at work; this mindset was what helped them cope with the pressure of staying on top.

    like expected, both teams started with their strongest lineups.

    having displaced muniz in recent weeks, raul jimenez started as the striker for fulham. behind him was the trio of emile smith rowe, sam, and adama traore, while the 2-man midfield behind them comprised of pereira and alex iwobi.

    the 4-man defense comprised of tete, andersen, calvin bassey, and robinson, while bernd leno naturally started in between the posts.

    for aston villa, employing the same 4-2-3-1 formation as fulham, ollie watkins started as their striker while behind him was the trio of morgan rogers, ramsey, and leon bailey.

    behind them was the 2-man midfield of amadou onana and youri tielemans, while their 4-man defense comprised digne, torres, carlos, and cash.

    emiliano martinez, the famous argentine goalkeeper started as the last man in between the posts for aston villa. sea??h th§× n??elfir§×.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    having gotten a famous result away from home at the etihad, the fact that this game was being played in craven cottage bolstered the fulham players even more. they were the favorites to win.

    the fans in black, white, and red were loud around the stadium.

    and when the whistle eventually sounded, the players rode the momentum and energy that was being generated by their loud noise.

    fweeee!

    from the first minute, fulham started this game on the front foot.

    in terms of recent form, fulham was dubbed as the superior team this game and they showed it on the pitch as they dominated the proceedings during the early minutes of this game.

    having been largely suffocated at the etihad, forced into a defensive role, sam was eager to get back into his mojo and it was showing.

    his first dribble with the ball and shot almost resulted in a goal as he hit the post in just the 2nd minute of this game, but that was just the beginning as 3 minutes later, sam played an unreal defense-splitting pass.

    the center back duo of torres and carlos were deleted by that unreal pass, leaving raul jimenez one-on-one with dibu martinez, the aston villa goalie.

    jimenez did not miss his mark, rifling the ball into the top corner.

    in just the 5th minute of this game, fulham''s superiority showed as they scored and sam got his 6th assist of the season.

    that was now 6 goals and 6 assists in 11 games this season.

    when play restarted, fulham hoped to build on their early momentum and they did as they kept on leading proceedings, until a moment of shock just 4 minutes later against the run of play stunned them.

    it was the aston villa attacking midfielder, morgan rogers that tore the script of this game apart, singlehandedly writing a new one for his team.

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    against the run of play, this midfielder stole the ball just outside the fulham 18-yard box. with a feint, he beat pereira before setting himself up and unleashing an unreal outside the box shot that homed into the top right corner like a missile.

    craven cottage was silenced¡­, no one saw this coming.

    "and where did this come from?!" the commentator raved.

    "what a goal from rogers! quick feet to wriggle past pereira, and an absolutely thunderous shot to beat leno, what a goal!"

    "and just like that, aston villa are back in the game".

    "maybe this is not going to be just another at walk at the park for fulham after all".

    in the 9th minute, just 4 minutes after fulham opened the scoring, aston villa equalized, bringing the scores back level 1-1.

    fweeee!

    when the game restarted, the fulham players pressed on led by sam but after that goal, aston villa became much more solid.

    they played like an impenetrable rock with no visible weak points.

    their offense, midfield, and defense were rock solid, not too threatening but they were having a solid game away from home.

    after those 2 lightning fast goals in the early proceedings, goals dried up in this game and despite both sides having their moments, none of them could break the deadlock again as the first half ended 1-1.

    during halftime, coach marco silva had a little talk with his players before sending them back into the pitch but clearly, his words were not effective enough.

    fulham started the second half weaker than the first as aston villa came out roaring from halftime like a dragon, quickly proving to be the superior team.

    it almost seemed like their tactic was conserving their energy in the first half only to show their true colors in the second half.

    fulham tried to regain control of this game even as they lost it but before they could, matters worsened in the 59th minute of this game.

    lashing onto a pass across the face of goal, the sharp ollie watkins poked into an empty net to give aston villa the lead.

    "goallll¡­!" the commentator screamed.

    "damn! this is football, unpredictable!"

    "nobody saw this coming during that first half, but here we are, aston villa are actually leading fulham at home!"

    "craven cottage is as silent as a graveyard".

    "they clearly didn''t see this coming, neither did we".

    charging towards the corner flag, ollie watkins slid on his knees in celebration. while they celebrated, the fulham players focused on themselves.

    "come on!" sam clapped, riling his teammates up.

    they could not draw against manchester city at the etihad and come back home triumphantly only to lose in the next game, or even draw again.

    when the game restarted, the fulham intensity increased immediately, almost turning a bit reckless.

    yes, it was reckless because in the 64th minute, disaster struck.

    "oh, what a horror tackle by andersen".

    "what is the referee''s decision going to be?"

    fweeee!

    "oh! it''s a straight red card!"

    "wow, fulham are down to 10 men in the 64th minute!"

 Chapter 188 Picked apart

    in the 59th minute, aston villa scored.they went ahead for the first time this game.

    in the 64th minute, andersen got a straight red card after an overzealous challenge, dooming fulham to play the rest of the game with just 10 men.

    there was still 26 minutes to play in this game, and not just that, fulham were trailing one goal behind their opponents.

    immediately after the red card decision by the referee, coach marco silva responded immediately, making changes.

    marco silva took off pereira and emile smith rowe who was having a bad game in his standards since making the switch to fulham. in place of the 2 attacking players, he put in diop, a defender, and cairney, a more well-rounded player.

    fulham''s playstyle on the pitch changed immediately, becoming a bit more defensive to make up for the loss of one player.

    fweee!

    when play restarted though, it was clear that fulham was shaky.

    through the course of the past few weeks and months, a lot of pressure was already being mounted on their shoulders, most especially after they did the impossible of actually being at the top of the premier league table.

    in the preparations to this game, the pressure mounted, affecting them a bit but they managed to shrug it off due to the time they had to prepare for the game.

    but after that red card? everything crumbled.

    fulham lost their grit and compactness; they were like a chicken without a head as soon as the game restarted after the red card.

    and sensing weakness, aston villa pounced.

    for the second straight game, sam was forced to track back, putting in defensive work to help his teammates weather the sudden oppression from the aston villa players.

    the fulham fans were still loud, roaring on their team, hoping for a miracle but then, just 5 minutes later, the worst happened.

    the aston villa pressure got so much that one of the fulham defenders made a mistake, executing an atrocious interception of the ball from an aston villa cross.

    instead of clearing the ball or intercepting it, diop made a fatal mistake, instead poking the ball into his own net and scoring an own goal.

    "oh my god!"

    "fulham are being picked apart!"

    "they''ve been exposed completely after that red card, this is not fulham, they''re crumbling from within and that own goal is the perfect show of it".

    "it was just a matter of time".

    "you can''t challenge for the premier league title with such a squad. it''s impressive that they managed to stay up top for so long, but let''s be realistic, they never stood a chance".

    "if not aston villa, another club would have exposed them eventually".

    "to me, the fulham fans should be grateful that it happened at all, the past few weeks and months was an unforgettably terrific time to them".

    "will this dissolve into a rout? fulham are clearly disorganized, let''s watch, time will tell".

    the fulham players deflated after that goal.

    only a certain player was not yet dissuaded as his competitive spirit lit up even more at the challenge of striving for a comeback and winning with 10 men.

    ''win!'' ''win!'' ''win!''

    the mantra already started in sam''s head. as play restarted, all he thought about was winning but his teammates were just not in the same wavelength as him.

    first, emile smith rowe was no longer in the pitch and second, no other fulham player believed that they could do anything this game.

    this forced sam into a one-man army scenario.

    he could tell that no word he said to his teammates at this point would affect a thing. from the look in their eyes, the pressure already got to them and they were already broken, this was not something that could be fixed with mere words.

    this was why sam decided to fix it with his brilliance. s§×ar?h the n??efire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    the whole fulham team was playing bad this second half except one man, sam. he ignored his coach''s orders, running all over the pitch, chasing after the ball as he challenged with his sheer work rate.

    "this is what separates sam from other players. the young nigerian midfielder does not know how to give up, he keeps on going, striving".

    "he''s clocked the most kilometers in this game by a significant margin".

    "his work rate is insane, he''s trying his best, if only he was playing for a bigger club, he would truly have the opportunity to blossom".

    sam kept on doing what he was doing, pushed by only the thought of winning but aston villa was too experienced to let one player ruin all their hard work. discover more stories at empire

    besides, dibu martinez was having a terrific game.

    sam already singlehandedly created a few chances for himself, testing the aston villa goalkeeper more than once but martinez always rose up to his challenge every single time.

    frustration started boiling in but sam did not let it overwhelm him just yet.

    he kept on going, he kept on striving.

    ''i can''t lose!''

    ''i must win!''

    ''i can''t afford to lose, i must win!''

    75 minutes passed¡­

    80 minutes passed¡­

    90 minutes passed¡­

    "surely, it is the end now, fulham have been picked apart by a rampant aston villa side today".

    all of sam''s work was in vain, he could not get a second goal for fulham. but then in the 90th plus 3 minutes, another mistake was added to the catalogue of mistakes in this game as philogene, the aston villa substitute committed a blunder, fouling a fulham player just outside his box.

    fweeee!

    the referee immediately awarded a straight red card, pointing to the spot for a freekick in favor of fulham.

    "it''s a red card to aston villa but at this point, it''s of no consequence, the game is already over".

    the game may be over but as sam approached the ball, alex iwobi was surprised to see a fire still burning in the eyes of this player.

    the nigerian international was amazed. ''he still hasn''t given up?''

    standing before the ball, sam spread his legs in an iconic stance reminisce of the portuguese legend, cristiano ronaldo, and then he took a deep breath.

    fweeee!

    as soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, sam executed an angled run towards the ball, then¡­

    bam!

    sam hit the ball low, under the wall of aston villa players as it rotated with speed till it nestled into the bottom right corner.

    craven cottage was again silenced.

 Chapter 189 Perfect response to a setback? You bounce back

    craven cottage was again silenced, then the commentator raved."what a brilliant goal!" the commentator screamed loudly. "damn, to execute that when the game is already over for your team".

    "damn! this boy is brilliant!"

    "mamba mentality at its finest!"

    "sam is the kobe bryant of football, go argue with your keyboard!"

    "fulham may definitely lose this game but sam did not lose, he can end this game with his head held high in pride, what a player!"

    craven cottage was silenced not because of the goal, not because of the fact that it didn''t mean much to the overall goal of fulham as a team since they were still losing 2-3, but simply because of the mentality of their player to execute it.

    at 90 plus 4 minutes, they could tell that all their players already gave up in getting a result from this game since they still trailed 1-3 to aston villa.

    heck, even the fans themselves already gave up.

    but even in this adversity, to still have the presence of mind, willingness, and drive to go for a goal, the fans were astonished at sam''s mentality.

    and then the chants broke out again.

    "sam!" "sam!" "sam!"

    this was supposed to be a heartbreaking loss for fulham, having broken their unbeaten streak finally but sam''s performance today felt like a win to the fans.

    sam didn''t celebrate his goal, simply pumping a fist to briefly acknowledge the fans before going back upfield to continue the game.

    when the referee''s whistle sounded, the game only continued for 2 more minutes that were pretty uneventful as aston villa resorted to time-wasting till the referee''s whistle eventually sounded again for fulltime.

    fulham lost 2-3 to aston villa.

    officially, they recorded their first defeat of the 2024/2025 season.

    and incredibly, despite being on the losing side this game, sam won another consecutive man of the match award due to his heroics this game, not only his sheer work rate but his tangible result with a goal and an assist.

    when sam faced the reporters for the post-match interview and he was asked questions, he had only a simple reply for the reporters.

    "we will bounce back".

    he didn''t say more than that, walking out on them for the first time in his career since he didn''t feel in a mood to answer questions.

    after the game, coach marco silva could not even bring himself to criticize his players, especially sam. the coach simply patted him on the back, acknowledging his effort in the game.

    before leaving, he looked at his players. "this is a wakeup call for us. we already lost once; do you feel good about it?"

    "no coach".

    "do you want to feel this way again?"

    "no coach".

    "then work!" this coach''s eyes narrowed. "work your asses off, work like your life depends on it, train! that is the only way to bounce back".

    "that is the only way to start winning and keep on winning".

    when sam got back home to his apartment, as soon as he had his bath and laid down on his bed, he got a voice call from a familiar contact.

    (incoming voice call from my heartbeat¡­)

    looking at the call contact, he smiled instinctively, already feeling his stress and frustration of today''s game partially gone.

    he picked up his phone with a big smile. "hey¡­"

    ¡­

    fulham''s next game was another premier league game and it was in 6 days against everton.

    (premier league:)

    (everton ¨C fulham)

    (date: 26th october, 2024)

    their defeat in the game against aston villa affected the full team, but sam''s defiant performance till the last minute affected them even more.

    the team was in a state of uncertainty and sensing it, cairney, the fulham captain finally decided to do something since he felt partly responsible for it as the captain. cairney decided to invite all his teammates for a small dinner party.

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    sam was not used to going to dinner parties, but this time, for the team, he decided to go with his friend, emile smith rowe.

    both of them got dressed in a neat black suit.

    in the dinner party, apart from feasting on the delicious meal that cairney''s chefs prepared, the players also got themselves entertained by engaging in a few games, question and answer sessions, and truth or dare sessions.

    of course, even in the games, sam remained the center of attention.

    "who is the most dedicated player in the club?"

    "sam!" his teammates roared, leaving sam chuckling as he enjoyed himself.

    "who is the most punctual?" sear?h the n?vel(f)ire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "sam!!!" they roared in an incredibly loud voice.

    "who is the most aggressive on the pitch?"

    "bassey, that bastard!"

    they laughed.

    "who is the best defender?"

    "bassey!"

    "diop!"

    "castagne!"

    "ok, let''s do a poll and see who wins".

    after the poll, diop won over calvin bassey by a very tiny margin.

    "who is the best midfielder?"

    "sammmm!!!" they roared again.

    "the best striker?"

    "ahem," cairney coughed, stealing a glance at the 2 main strikers of the team. "i think, let''s do a poll".

    if it was up to him, he wanted them to skip this phase of the question and answer game session entirely but his teammates would clearly not buy that.

    in the end, after a quick poll, despite the fact that muniz was the more regular starter this season, raul jimenez won the poll by a tiny margin.

    "who is the strongest player?"

    "bassey!" they echoed.

    "who is the fastest player?"

    "traore, that monster!" they laughed.

    "who always does too much in training?"

    "sam!"

    sam had to protest this one. "come on guys, really? do i do too much in training?"

    "yes!" they laughed. "you bastard, you always play like it''s a real game in training, humiliating men grown enough to be your father, you insolent bastard!"

    sam laughed. "well, it''s not my fault if my father is not as good as me".

    they all burst into laughter, pointing fingers at cairney.

    in the end, it was a good time out between teammates of a club currently hot in england.

    after the defeat against aston villa, fulham was out of the top of the premier league table but they didn''t pay attention to it as feeling even more motivated and united, they focused on the everton game.

    "let''s show them hell!"

 Chapter 190 Tearing Everton apart

    (premier league:)(everton ¨C fulham)

    (date: 26th october, 2024)

    both teams started with their strongest lineups, it was predicted to be a tough away game for fulham after their blunder at home last time out.

    for everton, jordan pickford started in between the posts with a defensive quadruple of young, tarkowski, keane, and mykolenko ahead of him. the midfield duo sitting on top of the defense comprised of idrissa gueye and doucoure.

    calvert-lewin started as the striker, while behind him was the trio of harrison, mcneil, and ndiaye.

    as for fulham, it was raul jimenez again starting as the striker with alex iwobi, sam, and emile smith rowe starting behind him.

    berge and pereira started as the midfield duo, while their 4-man defense comprised of a familiar lineup of robinson, calvin bassey, diop, and tete. bernd leno started in between the posts.

    both teams started with their favored 4-2-3-1 formation.

    fweeee!

    when the referee''s whistle sounded, it was an even game at first during the first few minutes of this game till fulham slowly started taking control.

    since sam was not forced into a more defensive role in this game, he had all the leverage in the world to do what he did best, create and everton was made to suffer for his brilliance.

    all across the first half, sam played with flair and elegance, showcasing his silky dribbling skills and accurate passing abilities.

    he had a 100% passing accuracy in the first half, never misplacing a pass as he pinged the ball left, right, and center, repeatedly cutting through the everton defense like a hot knife through butter.

    up top, raul jimenez was having an amazing game as he was supplied by sam regularly. pickford''s amazing performance was the only thing currently keeping his name from the scoresheet.

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    at times, everton also had their moments buoyed by the loud noise being made by their fans as they threatened.

    despite fulham''s domination towards the later part of this first half though, somehow, the score line remained blank till the referee''s whistle sounded, signaling half-time.

    it was a wonder how this game was still 0-0 considering that it was so open-ended, both teams seemed like they could score any moment.

    during halftime, coach marco silva didn''t say too much to his players, simply telling them to keep a level head, to not make reckless mistakes on the pitch and to simply enjoy their football.

    when second half started, that was exactly what the fulham players did, enjoy themselves and it bore result in very little time.

    everton tried to threaten but once fulham settled, they resumed their domination of this game and 15 minutes after the restart, the game opened up.

    after some incredible hold-up play by raul jimenez in the everton box, this striker set up his winger as alex iwobi ran in, taking the ball in his strides before tarkowski could intercept it before simply poking it into the bottom corner.

    jordan pickford reacted but there was very little that he could do at such close range, jimenez''s pass was just perfect. s§×ar?h the nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    in the 61st minute, fulham finally broke the deadlock, going ahead 0-1.

    and that, was a mistake on everton''s part because as soon as the first goal entered, the floodgates were opened.

    just 3 minutes after the first goal, in the 64th minute, sam played another unreal defense-splitting pass, setting up raul jimenez again and this time, the fulham striker did not miss his mark.

    taking one touch to control the box, jimenez unleashed a venomous shot towards the bottom right corner. the ball just missed pickford''s outstretched arms.

    0-2 to fulham.

    the fulham players already found their mojo, they were in their zone already as their domination continued.

    everton tried to come back into this came but with berge breaking up the line, intercepting passes and acting as the destroyer, he protected his defense, ensuring that fulham always remained in the game.

    he left the rest for the more offensive players, and they showed their ability again and this time, sam got his name on the scoresheet.

    this time, it was an outrageous knuckle ball from him from outside the box.

    what made it even more impressive was the fact that it was not just a knuckle ball shot, sam hit it on a volley after a weak clearance from everton.

    "zinedine sam at it again!" the commentator raved.

    "is there a game where the young nigerian doesn''t show up?"

    "every game, i''m telling you, he''s there. even in bad fulham games, in the good ones too, he''s the one constant that keeps on performing every game".

    "what a monster!"

    sam was not satisfied with just that yet though, he did more.

    this time, he was the one who started the play, going on a mazy run as he dribbled through players like they were not there and just as he was about to be tripped, he passed the ball to emile smith rowe who started on the right wing.

    he was tripped but having passed the ball already, sam quickly sprang back up to his feet, charging into the 18-yard box again just in time for smith rowe to float a pass in.

    rising above all the everton players, sam planted a power header towards goal. jordan pickford got his hand to it, but the power behind the ball was too much, it snuck past his grasp and into the net.

    "the monster strikes again!"

    "that''s 2 goals and 1 assist to sam now, what a player!"

    "it''s 0-4 to fulham, they''re having a blast!"

    but again, sam was not satisfied with just that. at some point, muniz already replaced raul jimenez in the team.

    and this time, after going on another mazy dribble that saw him use almost all the silky weapons in his arsenal, weaving through players like they were not there, he played a perfect pass, slicing the defense open and setting up muniz; the striker unleashed a perfect shot.

    bam!

    one touch, one goal.

    muniz scored with his first touch of the game, and with it, sam also got his 2nd assist of this game, taking his overall goal contributions to 4!

    it was an absolute hammering for everton, they were humiliated by the rampant fulham in front of their home fans.

    everton got a consolation goal late after 90 minutes but it meant very little.

    when the whistle eventually sounded, the everton players heaved a huge sigh of relief since they were finally vindicated from the embarrassment.

    sam won another man of the match award; he was on a streak.

 Chapter 191 An imperious run of form

    (premier league:)(fulham ¨C brentford)

    (date: 4th november, 2024)

    read new chapters at empire

    ¡­

    (crystal palace ¨C fulham)

    (date: 9th november, 2024)

    ¡­

    (fulham ¨C wolves)

    (date: 23rd november, 2024)

    after sam''s brilliant display against everton, leading his team as they thrashed their rivals, he took his tally for the season to 9 goals and 8 assists in just 12 games, an incredible tally for any player.

    sam was feeling good and in extension, fulham was feeling good.

    after the everton game, they had more than a week of rest preparing for their next game. and this time, they took on brentford at home.

    both teams approached this game with their strongest lineups.

    with the likes of bryan mbeumo and lewis-potter all starting for brentford, they were a threatening side and fulham was well prepared to face their threat.

    fulham started with a lineup that had only few changes to their old one, as reiss nelson started today.

    due to fulham''s form in the premier league though, wary, brentford approached this game with a defensive mindset despite also playing the same 4-2-3-1 formation as their rivals.

    against the run of play in the first half, janelt, the brentford midfielder stunned craven cottage as he scored from a header, sending brentford up front.

    in the 24th minute of this game, the fulham defense was undone as brentford started losing.

    familiar patterns seemed to be rearing their heads again but this time, led by sam, fulham simply refused to give in to whatever pattern.

    they played with their head down and in the game.

    the first half ended with them losing 0-1 still to their opponents but after second half started, they seemed to come out of their shells. coach marco silva must have given them a hell of a dressing down in the dressing room.

    brentford defended effectively for a time despite the fulham pressure, but it was a familiar name that rendered all their efforts null.

    sam explosively cut into the brentford lines like a god.

    nutmegging players, shoving them aside with his physicality, and then the ever-present elastico to cut through them before exercising his impressive finishing.

    from start to finish, it was perfection from the young fulham midfielder as he singlehandedly dragged his team level in the 65th minute of this game.

    game on!

    both coaches made changes as the game wore on, contrasting offensive and defensive changes as clearly, brentford was fine with settling for a draw while fulham wanted nothing less than a victory.

    despite sam playing in an extraterrestrial level this game, after one of the substitutes was assigned to man-mark him in this second half, his influence waned though he remained a threatening presence in the field.

    brentford''s defensive approached worked as even at 90 minutes, the score line remained level but this time, coach marco silva''s changes worked wonders.

    a super sub became fulham''s savior today.

    in the 90th plus 2 minute, harry wilson became the savior, lashing into a cross from emile smith rowe to score the winning goal.

    but not satisfied with that, in the 90th plus 7 minutes, the super sub struck again with his head again. this time, it was a diving header as he got on the end of another perfect smith rowe pass.

    incredibly, after an intense affair all night, fulham won 3-1.

    emile smith rowe won the man of the match award.

    ¡­

    the next game on 9th november against crystal palace in away ground was another perfect example of samba football orchestrated by sam and smith rowe.

    in this game, despite playing in away ground, fulham dominated for large swaths of the game as sam and smith rowe continuously combined to devastating effect, cutting crystal palace open again and again.

    and with the fulham defense on top of their game, the palace attack led by ismaila sarr and juan mateta was completely shut out.

    after a series of one-two passes between sam and smith rowe, methodically working their way through the palace defense, emile smith rowe finally added the finishing touch, scoring a clinical goal to give fulham the lead.

    fulham led at the 45th plus 2-minute mark, sam got the assist.

    during the second half, crystal palace tried to rally but the heat created by sam and smith rowe was too much.

    with frustration mounting, one of their players finally made a stupid mistake, collecting a straight red card after a reckless foul to reduce crystal palace to 10 players and that was the end of the line for them.

    the foul resulted in a freekick for fulham that didn''t result in a goal.

    but sam eventually got in on the fun just 5 minutes later, scoring in the 81st minute of this game before harry wilson again as a super sub wrapped up the game in the 83rd minute, dooming crystal palace to a resounding defeat at home.

    fulham won 0-3.

    emile smith rowe won the man of the match award again.

    ¡­

    fulham''s next home game against wolves became the true challenge.

    like usual, both teams started with their strongest lineups and bolstered by their home fans, despite the fact that fulham got the lead early through an alex iwobi goal, wolves equalized soon after through matheus cunha.

    both goals were scored in the 20th and 31st minute respectively.

    the first half ended 1-1, but when second half started, fulham seemed to lose control as a joe gomes goal in the 53rd minute exposed them.

    in the 53rd minute, they began trailing 1-2 to their opponents.

    fulham fought hard for the equalizer to no avail till the 80th minute. again, it was sam getting his name on the scoresheet.

    his goal production rate for fulham was just ridiculous.

    his output was unlike an attacking midfielder; it was even higher than that of elite strikers in the premier league.

    in the 80th minute, 2-2.

    fulham leveled the game in the 80th minute and started chasing the winner but not done yet, matheus cunha pulled the plug again, stunning fulham in the 87th minute with his second goal of the game.

    in the 87th minute, fulham trailed again 2-3¡­, it was a crazy game.

    but despite the constant trials from their opponents, fulham simply refused to give up as sam responded 3 minutes later, scoring an absolute screamer that beat sa, the wolves goalkeeper to bring his team level again.

    90 minutes, 3-3¡­

    fulham started chasing the winner again, but then, they were stunned again in the 90th plus 5 minutes by a goncalo guedes goal in the 90th plus 5 minutes.

    90 plus 5 minutes, 3-4¡­

    "damn! incredibly, fulham are trailing again! surely, they can''t recover from this, can they?"

    a minute later, sam raised a ball above the wolves defense for muniz to lash on to, unleashing an instinctive striker''s shot to level the game.

    "goalllll¡­!" the commentator was going bonkers. "what a goal! what a time to score it, what a game!"

    but the drama was yet to come to an end.

    2 minutes after that goal, in the very last minute of play, fulham won another freekick about 30 yards away from goal.

    "surely he won''t think about it".

    pow!

    "¡­"

    "¡­"

    "¡­..!"

    craven cottage was briefly stunned, and then¡­ ecstasy.

    "goalllll¡­!" the commentator roared at the top of his voice.

    "zinedine sam¡­!!!" he screamed.

    "oh freaking christ! this boy was sent from god himself!"

    "what did i just witness?! holy mother of gods, what a goal!"

    "at the last minute? a freekick? which other 19-year-old can boast of doing things that this boy do? forgive me, which other footballer can?"

    "sam is an enigma, a maverick!"

    while sam charged towards the corner flag, removing his jersey and screaming at the top of his lungs, craven cottage roared in ecstasy as the fans adored the best player of their team.

    after his hattrick and unreal-game winning performance, sam naturally won another man of the match award.

    90 plus 5 minutes, it was 3-4 against fulham.

    fast-forward to 90 plus 8 minutes, it was 5-4 to fulham.

    the commentator''s verdict? sea??h th§× n??elfir§×.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "damn! what a game!"

 Chapter 192 Another hurdle to cross; Tottenham Hotspur

    (premier league matchday 12 results:)(leicester city 1-2 chelsea)

    (date: 23rd november, 2024)

    ¡­

    (fulham 5-4 wolves)

    (date: 23rd november, 2024)

    ¡­

    (everton 0-0 brentford)

    (date: 23rd november, 2024)

    ¡­

    (arsenal 3-0 nottm forest)

    (date: 23rd november, 2024)

    ¡­

    (bournemouth 1-2 brighton)

    (date: 23rd november, 2024)

    ¡­

    stay tuned for updates on empire

    (aston villa 2-2 crystal palace)

    (date: 23rd november, 2024)

    ¡­

    (man city 0-4 tottenham)

    (date: 23rd november, 2024)

    ¡­

    (southampton 2-3 liverpool)

    (date: 24th november, 2024)

    ¡­

    (ipswich town 1-1 man united)

    (date: 24th november, 2024)

    ¡­

    (newcastle 0-2 west ham)

    (date: 25th november, 2024)

    ¡­

    (updated premier league table standings:)

    fulham gp: 12/ w:10/ d:1/ l:1/ pts: 32) liverpool gp: 12/ w:10/ d:1/ l:1/ pts: 32) arsenal gp: 12/ w:6/ d:4/ l:2/ pts: 22) chelsea gp: 12/ w:6/ d:4/ l:2/ pts: 22) brighton gp: 12/ w:6/ d:4/ l:2/ pts: 22) man city gp: 12/ w:6/ d:3/ l:3/ pts: 21) nottm forest gp: 12/ w:5/ d:4/ l:3/ pts: 19) tottenham gp: 12/ w:6/ d:1/ l:5/ pts: 19) aston villa gp: 12/ w:5/ d:3/ l:5/ pts: 18) newcastle gp: 12/ w:5/ d:3/ l:4/ pts: 18) brentford gp: 12/ w:5/ d:2/ l:5/ pts: 17) bournemouth gp: 12/ w:4/ d:3/ l:5/ pts: 15) west ham gp: 12/ w:4/ d:3/ l:5/ pts: 15) man united gp: 12/ w:3/ d:4/ l:5/ pts: 13) leicester gp: 12/ w:2/ d:4/ l:6/ pts: 10) everton gp: 12/ w:2/ d:4/ l:6/ pts: 10) ipswich town gp: 12/ w:1/ d:6/ l:5/ pts: 9) crystal palace gp: 12/ w:1/ d:5/ l:6/ pts: 8) wolves gp: 12/ w:1/ d:3/ l:8/ pts: 6) southampton gp: 12/ w:1/ d:1/ l:10/ pts: 4)

    after matchday 12 of the premier league, the placements at the top and bottom of the 2024/2025 premier league table solidified.

    and by this point, at least, it became clear that fulham didn''t just come on a picnic at the top of the premier league table. it still was not clear if they could maintain their consistency across a 38-matchday season.

    but what was clear at this point was that for now, fulham was staying on top.

    after 12 matchdays of the 38-matchday season, incredibly, fulham retained their spot at the top of the premier league table.

    no one saw this coming when the 2024/2025 premier league season just kicked off back in august.

    another big shocker was manchester united''s placement, including liverpool and chelsea''s resurgence under their new coaches.

    in the case of chelsea, they were not fully firing on all cylinders yet but under enzo maresca who replaced maucichio pochettino, it was clear that chelsea now had a game plan that they were playing towards.

    there was this sense of inevitability around the team in blue that it was just a matter of time and once they got used to their coach''s system, they would form a formidable team.

    compared to chelsea though, liverpool was another surprise package of the new premier league season.

    last season when jurgen klopp, the legendary liverpool manager announced that he was stepping down, to lots of liverpool fans, it felt like the end of the world.

    afterall, jurgen klopp was such a world-class coach with a lot of experience that just thinking of a substitute to replace him gave their fans a lot of headache.

    yes, jurgen klopp was irreplaceable.

    and yes, arne slot, the new liverpool manager was no jurgen klopp but he was just that, arne slot.

    arne slot football already mesmerized liverpool hearts around the globe, and their convincing performances since the beginning of the season already set them up as genuine contenders for the title this season.

    they would be the favorites already if not for the surprise package of the new season in the form of fulham pushing them head-to-head so far.

    the 2024/2025 premier league season was already full of many surprises.

    apart from the placements at the top, the highlight of matchday 12 of the english premier league this season was definitely fulham''s incredible comeback win against wolves. s§×arch* the n?vel(f)ire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    the whole game, it felt like fulham was chasing ghosts but then, their talismanic attacking midfielder, sam awakened at just the right time when his team needed him the most to change the game, just like he had done so many times for fulham already since signing for the club early in the year.

    sam''s performance against wolves was nothing short of legendary and fans could not stop talking about it, even more so since it took his tally for the season to 14 goals and 9 assists in just 15 games!

    having scored headers, scored freekicks, and a hattrick already, he was having an absolutely terrific season.

    sam''s elite performances were synonymous with fulham''s shocking placing in the premier league table.

    another shocking highlight of matchday 12 was man city''s shocking capitulation to tottenham at the etihad.

    in the premier league alone, this was manchester city''s 3rd straight loss.

    the champions looked nothing like their old selves since they lost rodri, their ballon d''or winning holding midfielder to injury but still, they were playing far below expectations, extending their losing streak with the tottenham hammering.

    man city was at its lowest, and it was clear that there were lots of rivals in the premier league who took pleasure in their suffering.

    afterall, one thing people loved more than seeing a hero was seeing a hero fall, and it was the current situation with manchester city.

    while manchester city was going through a crisis, fulham thrived and at this moment, they didn''t have the time nor the luxury to pay attention to the misery of their rivals.

    this was because they had challenges of their own.

    after the game against wolves at home, fulham faced another big hurdle to cross in the prospect of taking on tottenham at home.

    playing in the tottenham hotspur stadium for a win was not going to be easy, and this coincided with when the north londoners just hammered man city 0-4 at home. tottenham hotspur was brimming with confidence, but so was fulham.

    now, these 2 inform teams would clash on the first day of december.

    (premier league:)

    (tottenham ¨C fulham)

    (date: 1st december, 2024)

 Chapter 193 London clash

    what is a derby?a derby is commonly known as a match between two local clubs that are geographically close to each other, for example teams that are from the same city or from the same part of the country.

    then london derbies, what are they?

    london derbies are clashes between football clubs based in london.

    arsenal against tottenham hotspur and millwall against west ham united are ranked as two of the most ferocious london derbies.

    as for fulham, personally, they contest west london derby rivalries with brentford, chelsea, and queens park rangers.

    and considering that fulham is the oldest professional football club, its fans attribute a lot more meaning to derby games.

    fulham may not be the strongest team, and their rivalry with tottenham may not be the fiercest, but their fans were extremely passionate.

    and the rest was done by the media, fanning the flames of 2 in-form teams in the premier league both based in london clashing at the top.

    due to all these reasons and more, the build-up to the game in the tottenham hotspur stadium was filled with a lot of banter, boasting, and drama.

    and when the d-day eventually came, the atmosphere in the tottenham hotspur stadium was electric as the fans gave a hostile welcome to their rivals.

    like expected, both teams started with their strongest lineups. enjoy exclusive content from empire

    forster started in between the posts for tottenham, and the 4-man defense protecting him comprised of porro, dragusin, davies, and udogie.

    the 3-man midfield comprised of sarr, bissouma, and james maddison, while the 3-man attack started with the trio of brennan johnson, heung min son, and timo werner, the german attacker. s~ea??h the n??el fire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    tottenham started with their trademark 4-3-3 attacking formation under ange postecoglou, their manager.

    as for fulham, coach marco silva approached the game with his usual 4-2-3-1 formation with raul jimenez starting again as the striker.

    behind the striker was the trio of sam, emile smith rowe, and alex iwobi, while behind them stood the duo of berge and lukic in midfield. the defense contained the regular quadruple of robinson, bassey, diop, and tete.

    and of course, bernd leno started in between the posts.

    it was poised to be an exciting game.

    fweeee!

    as soon as the referee''s whistle sounded to kick off the game, tottenham immediately exploded, starting this game on the front foot.

    just like the game fulham played against manchester city in the premier league, it was a high-octane game with high energy from the opposing forwards of both sides, the only thing lacking being the goals.

    heung min son, the korean forward had an amazing game in the first half as he continually tortured the fulham backline to no avail.

    there was still no goal to show for his efforts.

    on the opposing side, sam did the same as again, raul jimenez did an amazing job upfront, troubling the tottenham backline also.

    with sam feeding him, raul jimenez was having another amazing game.

    throughout the first half, the home fans had their hearts on their throats due to the intense exchange between both teams in this half.

    but then, despite the game''s intensity, it surprisingly ended 0-0 by halftime.

    during halftime, coach marco silva had a little team talk with his players, urging them to up the tempo even more and beat tottenham at their own game.

    this kind of game plan was incredibly exhausting to players but due to the grueling training that his players put themselves through in recent times, it was easier for them now to play such an intense game without gassing out before their opponents.

    when second half started, fulham did just that.

    and it was a familiar face that led the press.

    sam flexed his incredible stamina again, running all around the pitch and intercepting balls as he imposed his presence on the pitch.

    but then, despite sam''s display, tottenham were not playing bad either as in front of their home fans, they soon got a reward for their efforts from a stunning brennan johnson strike.

    after going on a mazy run down the right-hand side of the pitch, the winger turned robinson inside out before cutting in and curling a shot towards goal.

    the shot beat bernd leno, going beyond his reach and into the net.

    in the 59th minute of the game, the deadlock was finally broken and it was tottenham who went in the lead.

    that goal stunned fulham but they did not give up, upping their tempo even more. with sam leading the proceedings still, fulham''s incredible tempo finally caught tottenham off-guard as sam set up cairney, his captain.

    set up one-on-one with the tottenham goalkeeper, the fulham veteran did not fumble as he toyed with the goalkeeper, going around him before hitting the ball into an empty net.

    cairney celebrated his goal wildly, running towards the corner flag and sliding on his knees in celebration.

    after that goal, the game became even tighter as both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances.

    fulham kept on trying till the 83rd minute when disaster struck.

    cairney got a red card after a reckless tackle on a tottenham player. the intensity of this game was so high that he couldn''t restrain himself.

    again, in another game in the english premier league, fulham were forced to play with 10 men. it was becoming a trend, a prelude to disaster.

    the last time against aston villa, fulham capitulated after going 1-man down as aston villa tore them apart. this time though, having learned from their past mistakes, they refused to give up.

    sam stayed fighting, and so fulham stayed fighting.

    ''win!'' ''win!'' ''win!''

    the mantra was already chanting in his head.

    with one man down did he play even more, proving a threat with every touch of the ball that he had, every movement, every pass.

    this time, against all odds against a team of tottenham''s caliber, sam''s mamba mentality got him the result that he sought after.

    there was little time remaining after cairney got the red card, but undeterred, sam did what he did best and it bore fruit.

    it happened in the 89th minute.

    after another mazy run from deep in his half, sam was tripped in the tottenham box after an aggressive tackle.

    the player only got a yellow card for it but fulham got a penalty.

    "come on!" sam screamed like he just won the lottery.

    at this point, he would take anything just to win.

    the atmosphere in the tottenham hotspur stadium instantly became hostile as the home fans drowned them in boos, but sam did not pay attention to them.

    between raul jimenez and muniz, any of the 2 strikers that started in any game was the designated penalty taker.

    today though, having won the penalty and having seen how he was playing, muniz decided to leave the penalty to sam. this was the first time that sam was about to take a penalty in a professional football game.

    "are you sure man?" he looked at muniz.

    the striker patted him on the back. "i trust you, do it".

    that was all sam needed.

    placing the ball down and taking a few steps back, he looked at the goalkeeper who was doing all he could to taunt and get into his head.

    noting his antics, sam smirked and then he did an angled run towards the ball, then¡­

    bam!

    he whipped a powerful shot towards the top left corner of the net.

    the goalkeeper dived but he was never getting there, the power and accuracy behind that shot was just too much.

    "goal!" the commentator exclaimed.

    "a goal and an assist to sam in another game!"

    "the boy wonder has done it again, this time in tottenham''s backyard. samuel moses is just incredible!"

    fulham won the game 1-2.

    it was a hard-fought victory.

 Chapter 194 A generational run of form?

    (premier league matchday 13 results:)(brighton 1-1 southampton)

    (date: 29th november, 2024)

    ¡­

    (wolves 2-4 bournemouth)

    (date: 30th november, 2024)

    ¡­

    (crystal palace 1-1 newcastle)

    (date: 30th november, 2024)

    ¡­

    (nottm forest 1-0 ipswich town)

    (date: 30th november, 2024)

    ¡­

    (brentford 4-1 leicester city)

    (date: 30th november, 2024)

    ¡­

    (west ham 2-5 arsenal)

    (date: 30th november, 2024)

    ¡­

    (chelsea 3-0 aston villa)

    (date: 1st december, 2024) read exclusive adventures at empire

    ¡­

    (tottenham 1-2 fulham)

    (date: 1st december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (man united 4-0 everton) s~ea??h the n?velfire(.)net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (date: 1st december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (liverpool 2-0 man city)

    (date: 1st december, 2024)

    "max, once again, here we are with the results from matchday 13 of the english premier league. which team do you think is the stand-out this time and which player do you think stole the show?"

    hearing this all-familiar question, max, the premier league pundit for the show threw a knowing look at the host. "charles, you already know my answer and yet you still ask". he chuckled.

    "come on, it''s samuel moses again and there''s no contender man. the nigerian zidane is taking the premier league by storm this season".

    max grinned. "you still remember last time out when manchester city welcomed fulham at the etihad? you still remember our argument, i said fulham would get a draw and you didn''t believe me, fortune favored me, the brave at the end". he chuckled. "in that game, sam was terrific".

    "today again, it was all sam man. the boy is just too good".

    "an assist and a goal, a penalty? i didn''t even know that sam had that in his repertoire, the boy is just too good".

    "he has no weaknesses in his game".

    "he''s playing so good it''s become increasingly difficult to believe that he''s just 19 and this is just his second season in professional football".

    "and charles, come on, this is just his first full season in the premier league".

    "and from what i read, that penalty against tottenham is the first in his full career, both in enyimba in the npfl and now in fulham, of course not counting penalty shootouts".

    "this is his first penalty kick and did you see that technique?"

    "cooly sending the ball into the top corner despite the goalkeeper diving the right way, man, this boy got balls of steel. he reminds me a bit of chelsea''s cole palmer; i''d even argue that he''s better".

    "i think they should be calling him cold samuel already, the boy''s game is cold, nerves of steel".

    "i mean, that''s now 15 goals and 11 assists in just 16 games this season, at 19! charles, do you know what that means?!"

    "that''s world-class numbers already!"

    "in case any other person was still doubting sam''s talent, well, there it is for you. sam is the real deal, and mark my words, my boy is here to stay".

    "with that performance, fulham retains its spot at the top of the english premier league going into matchday 14. this is unprecedented".

    "take it from me charles, some may call me foolish but i''m vouching for fulham now. fulham to win the premier league!"

    hearing such enthusiasm from the pundit, charles, the host could only chuckle. he did not have a valid argument to refute him.

    it was not just this tv show that broadcasted after matchday 13 of the premier league, and of them all, very few did not focus their show on the young nigerian midfielder currently plying his trade for fulham fc.

    others also focused on the blockbuster encounter between liverpool and man city. liverpool''s thrashing of the champions was another indicator of the current low point of the reigning premier league champions.

    manchester city were in a period of crisis.

    apart from that, all the other attention was on sam.

    the game against tottenham was in no way easy for sam and fulham, but having built a reputation for showing up in the big moments already, again, he simply did it for his club.

    he was already a cult hero in fulham.

    drawing against manchester city at the etihad in the premier league was one thing, after all it was worth only 1 point. but winning against tottenham in away ground was another thing entirely, it gave fulham 3 important points!

    at the end of the game, returning to fulham, an ecstatic coach marco silva went all out as he organized a mini party for his players that night.

    they didn''t hold back as they celebrated the win boisterously.

    during the celebrations, cairney was stunned due to all that was happening. this veteran fulham player has been in the club for years already, but there were only few times that all the players gathered to celebrate like this.

    afterall, this was not a team that really won trophies.

    and that was the crazy fact about it, this was not a trophy celebration, it was a win celebration. compared to the big clubs, it seemed a bit low but cairney would take it any time of the day, this was because this doesn''t happen before.

    this celebration organized by the coach showed the current solidarity in this team, there was unity, and they were enjoying their football.

    cairney stared at his teammates, emotions clouding his mind. ''i love this team man; i love all these guys''.

    ¡­

    after the tottenham game, getting home, sam was surprised to see a familiar yet unfamiliar contact displaying on his phone as it rang.

    (incoming call from best mom¡­)

    badump! badump!

    sam''s heart skipped a beat. ''when last did i call mom for a video call?''

    ''but wait, when last did she call me too?''

    with trepidation, sam picked up the call only to hear a very calm voice reverberating from the other end that made him shudder even more.

    "my son, how are you doing?"

    "i watched your game today again against tottenham¡­"

    she continued but sam did not pay attention to the other things his mom was saying, this was because he was horrified. ''she actually said tottenham correctly!''

    ''f*ck! i''m in trouble!''

    ''mom is really angry this time''.

    "mom, i can explain!"

    mrs. moses chuckled a bit, and unlike sam thought, she did not roar at him in anger. she simply said. "kayla has stolen my boy".

    after that, she cut the call.

    "¡­"

    sam was left speechless.

 Chapter 195 Matchday 14

    mrs. moses was just having one of her rants.since the last time when sam and his girlfriend stayed in nigeria, which coincided with sam''s professional debut for the nigerian national football team, this nigerian mother felt her son drifting away from her.

    as a mother though, who was once just a wife, and before that a girlfriend too, she understood exactly what was happening.

    sam was simply becoming mature after getting intimate with a woman.

    the hierarchy of loved ones in his heart already underwent a bit of a change. she and her husband still ranked high in sam''s heart but it was clear that now, at this early stage of their relationship, kayla now took the lead.

    this mother understood didn''t mean that she took it kindly though, after all, emotions don''t always follow logic.

    she loved kayla after spending time with her, she was happy that her son met a girl like him, but at the same time she could not help but feel a bit salty.

    who wouldn''t feel salty? to have their precious son''s attention stolen so suddenly, she was struggling to cope with it emotionally.

    understanding his mother though, sam knew exactly how to appease her. immediately after she cut the call, he called back but she didn''t pick up his call.

    sam didn''t give up though, he kept on calling, giving her 5 missed calls till she finally picked the 6th time. "you finally remember that you have a mother?"

    sam chuckled. "come on mom, you know you''re still number 1 in my heart".

    "hehe, mommy mommy, the only wife of moses, the most beautiful mother in the whole universe, the apple of moses'' eye, the one who brought sam into the world, world''s best mom!"

    well, that was the charmer.

    mrs. moses tried to stay difficult and indifferent but she simply couldn''t, sam''s sweet words already won her back completely.

    "this boy!" she gritted her teeth and cursed through the video call. "since when did you become such a sweet talker?"

    sam chuckled, then he laid down on his bed, sighing. "winning in your career builds your confidence," he looked at his mother. "a lot".

    "mom, this season, seeing what i''m doing in the premier league, it''s affected me so much psychologically but i''m dealing with it".

    his eyes shimmered with an unknown light. "i feel much more mature than i was last year, and with it comes confidence".

    he looked at his mom and chuckled again. "i''ve always been a sweet talker; i just never had the courage to express it till now".

    mrs. moses looked at her son, suddenly feeling proud. "no wonder you were able to charm a sweet girl like kayla, you remind me of your dad back in the day".

    hearing that, sam''s ears stood like antennas. "back in the day?"

    he laughed. "come on, come on, mom, tell me! i want to hear about back in the days! now that i think about it, you''ve never told me how the both of you met, tell me, tell me!"

    "calm down¡­"

    "you must tell me!" sam was adamant. "tell me the words dad used to woo you, and when you decided that he will be your husband".

    hearing these words from her son, for the first time in 19 years, sam saw his mom blush.

    "¡­!" he was shocked.

    he never knew that his hard mom was capable of blushing. ''damn!''

    in the end though, a slightly flustered mrs. moses postponed the reveal. "ok, i promise to tell you after your next game if you remember to call me".

    sam''s eyes lit up. "deal?"

    mrs. moses looked at her son, confused. "huh?"

    sam palmed his face, muffling a laugh. "come on mom, you''re disgracing me". he laughed aloud. "when someone ask you deal? you say deal to confirm it".

    "hmph!" she harrumphed. "that''s such a childish sentiment".

    "so deal?"

    she looked away from the camera haughtily, but in the end, she nodded, confirming the deal as sam pumped a fist in celebration.

    only after this did they end the call in a harmonious atmosphere.

    ¡­

    the next day, while the rave of fulham''s victory over tottenham continued in the city of fulham, sam already resumed his daily grind alongside his friend.

    he and emile smith rowe jogged through the streets of fulham.

    a few dozen minutes later¡­

    ~----~

    [you have completed system daily quest: mentality monster!]

    [you have been rewarded with a low-grade physical conditioning elixir!]

    ~----~

    it was just a first of many from sam in his preparations to fulham''s next engagement that would also be in the premier league.

    across the next few days, alongside his friend in emile smith rowe, they went about their days, jogging together, working out together, and reporting to training the earliest for team training sessions.

    in craven cottage, sam now had a partner in notoriety, emile smith rowe who already built a reputation for himself for his punctuality to training.

    actually, the reputation was because he was involved in a challenge with sam to see who would report to training earliest after their early morning training.

    mixed in with his daily life heavily filled with football and training were sam''s sessions with his girlfriend, kayla that he never failed to look forward to.

    talking with kayla was one of his best activities to kill time these days.

    when sam was exhausted from training, he calls kayla. when he felt a shift in his mood emotionally, he calls kayla. when he felt bored, he calls kayla and kayla was always available to receive his call.

    sometimes, she even sneaks out of lecture halls at her university just to have some private time and speak with him. sea??h th§× novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    it was weird, sam felt like a teenager in love.

    sam was unused to the feeling, but all he knew was that the joy he felt from interacting with kayla aided his increased enthusiasm for football in recent weeks.

    just thinking of kayla filled him with more energy to work and train.

    and like this, the d-day soon came for matchday 14 of the english premier league for the 2024/2025 season.

    (premier league:)

    (matchday 14:)

    (ipswich town 0-1 crystal palace)

    (date: 3rd december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (leicester city 3-1 west ham)

    (date: 3rd december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (southampton 1-5 chelsea)

    (date: 4th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (man city 3-0 nottm forest)

    (date: 4th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (newcastle 3-3 liverpool)

    (date: 4th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (everton 4-0 wolves)

    (date: 4th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (arsenal 2-0 man united)

    (date: 4th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (aston villa 3-1 brentford)

    continue your journey with empire

    (date: 4th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (fulham ¨C brighton)

    (date: 5th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (bournemouth ¨C tottenham)

    (date: 5th december, 2024)

    with most games of the matchday already played, fulham finally had their go.

    in a cool thursday evening in fulham, they clashed against brighton.

 Chapter 196 Vintage Fulham

    5th december, 2024¡­the atmosphere in craven cottage was electric.

    afterall, fulham''s main rival of the new premier league season, liverpool challenging at the top of the table already met a roadblock in the form of newcastle.

    with liverpool dropping points against newcastle united, fulham got an opportunity to go 2 points clear at the top of the premier league table.

    in previous years and seasons, going clear at the top of the premier league table, these were phrases and terms that sounded alien to fulham fans but fast forward to now, and they still couldn''t believe that they were using these terms to now describe their club.

    to fulham fans, the 2024/2025 premier league season felt like a season of fantasy football, sometimes they still couldn''t believe how good their team was playing against elite opposition.

    this was why this evening, the atmosphere in craven cottage was at a fever pitch, drowning the tiny voice of the away supporters.

    the home supporters were determined to go to war with their players and support them with their loud noise unrelenting from the very beginning this game. the loud noise made it seem like a derby game.

    without a doubt, the brighton players felt a bit intimidated.

    last season, brighton, aston villa, and newcastle united were mid-table teams of the english premier league that truly proved their credentials as top challengers, dethroning other teams ahead of them and climbing high through the premier league table rankings.

    aston villa even managed to sneak into the top 4 spot.

    this season though, these 3 premier league clubs were finding it increasingly harder to maintain their challenge for a top 4 spot in the table.

    and now, brighton had to take on the high-flying fulham away from home.

    besides, they no longer had their revolutionary coach in roberto de zerbi since the italian made the switch to france. this reduced their chances even more.

    before the game even started in craven cottage, fulham already won the psychological battle.

    like expected, both teams started with their strongest starting xi.

    like usual, it was bernd leno starting in between the posts and the defensive quadruple of castagne, diop, calvin bassey, and robinson stood in front of him. the midfield duo comprised of alex iwobi and berge.

    ahead of them, the 4-man attack comprised of muniz leading the line as the striker, while supporting behind him were the trio of emile smith rowe, sam, and reiss nelson. s§×arch* the novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    it was a strong team but the brighton team could not be scoffed at either.

    with the likes of joao pedro, kaoru mitoma, estupinian, adingra, and lewis dunk all starting in a 3-4-2-1 formation, this was a fearsome brighton side.

    fweeee!

    once the referee''s whistle sounded to kickstart play though, not all the brighton players showed up as the psychological inferiority made them play well below their normal standards at the beginning phase of this game.

    while brighton fumbled, fulham was at its imperious best.

    just 4 minutes into this game, having made a late run from deep in his half, alex iwobi controlled a pass from emile smith rowe, set himself up before unleashing a grounded shot into the bottom left corner.

    his shot beat the goalkeeper.

    "goallll¡­!" an electric craven cottage exploded.

    the fans in white, black, and red were in a world of ecstasy.

    alex iwobi pumped a fist in celebration even as his teammates swarmed him, celebrating with him.

    that early goal was the catalyst to a lot of brighton misery this game.

    after that goal, brighton withered like the leaf of a century-old tree, letting fulham completely dictate and dominate this game.

    the whole fulham forward line was having an amazing game, riding the energy being made by the loud home fans as they rewarded the fans'' passion with amazingly sweet football.

    for the rest of the first half, having withered already, brighton mostly defended, weathering wave after wave of furious fulham attacks.

    fulham were creating a lot of chances, and at the center of the chance creations was a familiar name, samuel moses. find exclusive stories on empire

    "sam!" "sam!" "sam!"

    the same chants broke out again around craven cottage.

    sam was having an amazing game, feeling his mojo as he dictated the tempo, slowing the game down or accelerating it as the situation demanded to help his team. he played like a midfield maestro today, a veteran controller.

    in the end, despite the numerous chances that fulham got, a dogged defensive masterclass from brighton for the rest of the first half managed to keep them at bay.

    the first half ended 1-0 in fulham''s favor.

    during halftime, coach marco silva''s speech was very short as he simply told his players to go out there and enjoy their football.

    when second half started, the fulham players did just that.

    they continued their domination, running brighton ragged till a moment of magic stunned fulham hearts across this massive stadium in the 56th minute of the game. it was completely unexpected, no one saw it coming.

    against the run of play, in the 56th minute of the game, quomah baleba, the brighton midfielder got on the end of a cross inside the fulham 18-yard box.

    no one saw it coming as this midfielder volleyed the ball into the net, beating bernd leno at his near post.

    "¡­!" craven cottage was silenced as the midfielder celebrated passionately.

    his overzealous celebration riled up the fulham fans, and then¡­

    "booooo¡­!!!"

    loud boos drowned out the passionate celebration of the brighton player, the home fans were incensed and their anger soon seeped into their players after the game restarted.

    as the game continued, the whole fulham team improved their gameplay even more, increasing the domination over brighton.

    they tortured the away team for long stretches of this game.

    brighton defended valiantly but, in the end, the pressure was too much as it got to the brighton players. the 3rd goal of this game was an own goal, and it came from o''riley as this player attempting to clear the ball, only ended up poking it inside his net.

    it was an unfortunate goal for brighton but heaven for fulham!

    "goalll¡­!!!"

    while o''riley reacted in dejection, craven cottage exploded again, roaring in loud cheers as their team went ahead again.

    that goal came in the 79th minute of this game.

    after almost 80 minutes of holding the in-form team, brighton finally fumbled and fulham was not happy with just that.

    8 minutes later, in the 87th minute of this game, alex iwobi added the final nail to the coffin as he latched on to a free-floating ball from a corner, heading it past the brighton goalkeeper and into the net.

    87 minutes, 3-1 to fulham.

    immediately after the goal, coach marco silva subbed sam out of the game to rest his star player.

    sam never had to invoke his mamba spirit to win this game, fulham dominated throughout and he simply got to enjoy himself.

    despite the fact sam was out, the game was already over, there was nothing brighton could do. in sam''s absence, his teammates saw the victory out.

    and with it, another impressive victory for the season was added to fulham''s memorabilia for the 2024/2025 season. they were truly high-flying.

    having scored 2 goals and played a big role in the own goal by brighton, alex iwobi managed to scoop home the man of the match award for this game.

    with the victory, fulham moved 2 points clear at the top of the premier league table.

 Chapter 197 The pressure and thrill of being at the top, and staying at the top

    (premier league:)(matchday 14:)

    (fulham 3-1 brighton)

    (date: 5th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (bournemouth 1-0 tottenham)

    enjoy new chapters from empire

    (date: 5th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. fulham gp: 14/ w:12/ d:1/ l:1/ pts: 38)

    (2. liverpool gp: 14/ w:11/ d:2/ l:1/ pts: 36)

    (3. arsenal gp: 14/ w:8/ d:4/ l:2/ pts: 28)

    (4. chelsea gp: 14/ w:8/ d:4/ l:2/ pts: 28)

    (5. man city gp: 14/ w:7/ d:3/ l:4/ pts: 24)

    (6. brighton gp: 14/ w:6/ d:5/ l:3/ pts: 23)

    (7. nottm forest gp: 14/ w:6/ d:4/ l:4/ pts: 22)

    (8. aston villa gp: 14/ w:6/ d:3/ l:6/ pts: 21)

    (9. bournemouth gp: 14/ w:6/ d:3/ l:5/ pts: 21)

    (10. brentford gp: 14/ w:6/ d:2/ l:6/ pts: 20)

    (11. newcastle gp: 14/ w:5/ d:5/ l:4/ pts: 20)

    (12. tottenham gp: 14/ w:6/ d:1/ l:7/ pts: 19)

    (13. man united gp: 14/ w:4/ d:4/ l:6/ pts: 16)

    (14. west ham gp: 14/ w:4/ d:3/ l:7/ pts: 15)

    (15. leicester gp: 14/ w:3/ d:4/ l:7/ pts: 13)

    (16. everton gp: 14/ w:3/ d:4/ l:7/ pts: 13)

    (17. crystal palace gp: 14/ w:2/ d:6/ l:6/ pts: 12)

    (18. ipswich town gp: 14/ w:1/ d:6/ l:7/ pts: 9)

    (19. wolves gp: 14/ w:1/ d:3/ l:10/ pts: 6)

    (20. southampton gp: 14/ w:1/ d:1/ l:10/ pts: 4) sea??h th§× n?vel(f)ire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    after matchday 14 of the english premier league in the 2024/2025 season, this was how the premier league table looked like.

    14 games in, there were still mind-blowing placements that regular fans of the premier league simply could not fathom.

    the shocking one was still the fact that 14 points in, fulham was still leading at the top of the premier league table and not just that, they were now 2 points clear of liverpool who was their closest challenger.

    another shocking fact was the fact that after 14 games, man city, the reigning premier league champions were now 14 points off the top of the table.

    at the beginning of the season, no one saw this coming.

    was manchester city out of the premier league title race?

    what is wrong with the champion team?

    was rodri really that good that without them, the champions are now playing like a mid-table team?

    questions like this kept on flying around as different speculations boiled, even those of sack revolved around pep guardiola and his team.

    another news in the new season was chelsea fc. after a few seasons of some pretty damaging lows, the pride of london seemed to have found their mojo again as they were now in the top four spot in the premier league table.

    and these days, they were truly hard to beat.

    led by the king, cole palmer, and with help from capable generals in the form of nicolas jackson, enzo fernandez, moises caicedo and the likes, chelsea was playing like a team that may go on and challenge for the title.

    despite the damaging defeat to the high-flying team, fulham in the last game, brighton were still 6th position in the premier league table.

    another shock was tottenham. last season, after 6 matchdays of flawless football from the north london club, tottenham led the premier league table at the top for some time as their fans raved that they would win the title.

    come season end, of course they didn''t win but still, tottenham was touted as a powerhouse under the offensive tutelage of ange postecoglou.

    these days though, you could hardly see a compliment come out of the mouth of tottenham fans regarding their coach, only offensive comments and talk of sack and ange postecoglou out these days.

    the situation around the tottenham coach perfectly depicted the ever-changing nature of football.

    today, you could be on top of the world with millions of fans supporting you around the world and tomorrow, after a few bad performances, be rest assured that all of them would turn on you.

    this was the pressure on elite footballers plying their trade in the top 5 european leagues to continue performing.

    apart from fulham, the greatest shock and reality check to a certain fanbase in this new premier league season had to be that of manchester united.

    after 14 matchdays of the new premier league season, manchester united were trailing at 13th position with 19 points gotten in 14 games.

    and currently, the once biggest club in england was now going through a period of transition as after another furious protest by their fans, erik ten haag was finally sacked from his position as the head coach of the english club.

    ruud van nistelrooy, a manchester united legend who served under erik ten haag served as the interim coach for a while and now, manchester united finally employed a new head coach in ruben amorim.

    after the exploits that this coach had with his team, sporting cp in portugal, leading them on a generational run, he was finally introduced to the rigor of the english premier league to test his mettle.

    the manchester united fans could only be hopeful.

    ¡­

    after the game, sam met up with emile smith rowe as they visited a familiar african food restaurant where they ate and conversed.

    they talked about a lot of things, mostly about football, and then they talked about the pressure of being the team at the top of the premier league table.

    a title race, especially in a team as prominent and competitive as the english premier league was no easy endeavor.

    sam may not show it, but he felt the pressure, the need to keep on giving his best and perform in every single game.

    in today''s game against brighton, he played an amazing game still but he finally met one of those games where he could not get his name on the scoresheet neither did he register an assist.

    despite this though, fulham didn''t fumble as alex iwobi stepped up on his absence, delivering the goods.

    ''i''m glad it happened like this''. sam thought, smiling.

    ''i can''t always perform at my best every time, knowing that i have teammates who got my back in difficult times is reassuring''.

    ''it relieves the pressure a bit, so i can reset and refocus''. his eyes gleamed.

    sam set his sights on the future, on maintaining his team''s momentous run.

 Chapter 198 Lung capacity- engine grade

    7th december, 2024, on a saturday¡­2 youthful men energetically jogged through the streets of fulham, the long legs of the black one easily eating yards of space with every step that he took.

    despite his long strides, the springy steps of the energetic young englishman beside him enabled him to keep up as they jogged.

    sweat dripped down their faces, giving more credibility to their efforts.

    despite the fact that they were currently jogging through half of fulham, the black one of the 2 youthful men had a big smile on his face as not breathless yet, with his headset covering his ears, he engaged in a conversation.

    "what? he asked if you were single?" sam chuckled. "well, what was your reply? hope you gave him the right answer".

    "you bet i did".

    "tell me, tell me exactly how you said it". he chuckled again.

    there was brief silence from the other side of the phone, then mischievously, the feminine voice continued. "i''m sorry josh, i have a lovely boyfriend so i''ll have to decline, i can''t give you my number for no reason".

    sam burst out laughing on hearing that.

    despite his loud laughter, his lungs were not overstressed as effortlessly, he kept on jogging with an even look of joy on his face.

    beside him, emile smith rowe could not help but pay attention to his friend. seeing the joy on sam''s face as he jogged and engaged in a conversation with who he knew, smith could not help but sigh. "lovers". he muttered, shaking his head.

    in recent days, while they engaged in their daily ritual as sam liked to call it, jogging through the streets of fulham, this became sam''s new side hobby.

    while jogging, he was almost always on the call with kayla, his girlfriend.

    at first, it was weird but now, smith had no choice but to be used to it.

    but this was not what emile smith rowe really paid attention to though.

    as they jogged, this englishman could not help but glance at his friend again. ''what luck or genes does he have to have such an engine of a lung?''

    ''is this how chelsea players then used to feel around n''golo kante?''

    it was already more than a month since he became close friends with sam and they started doing their daily ritual together, but emile smith rowe never failed to be amazed at the lung capacity of his friend and colleague.

    sam had the lung capacity of a literal beast.

    smith already felt like this for a long time but recently, when sam started mixing talking with kayla into his daily ritual, he was even more amazed. ''he''s still talking flawlessly despite such a long time?''

    ''come on man!'' smith rowe coughed blood; he felt like crying.

    ''damn, i wish i was your brother and i inherited the same genes as you!''

    knowing that this was only wishful thinking though, smith rowe had no choice but to focus on controlling his breathing, trying his best to keep up with the young nigerian while sam continued like he was just taking a walk around the park.

    sam''s effortless outlook while jogging was a result of his sheer stamina and also a result of consistency.

    sam was forced into his daily ritual of jogging and working out every day over a year ago when he first got his system at the eve of the fifa world cup 2022 in qatar. with time though, he learned to love the daily ritual.

    at first, jogging for so many kilometers felt like a big chore to him as he always ended up breathless and exhausted.

    the use of the physical conditioning elixir was what helped him.

    but these days, after doing it for over a year, his body already adapted to the stress so much that he completed all the quests in his daily system quest without breaking much of a sweat.

    these days, it really felt like a walk in the park.

    this convenience gave sam the luxury of not consuming all his physical conditioning elixirs immediately, storing some for future purposes.

    these days, sam kept them for grueling matches when exhaustion starts seeping in, reducing the level of all the players. while other players have no choice but to succumb to exhaustion, with a physical conditioning elixir, sam had the choice of actually recovering mid-game.

    no other professional football player in the world not called samuel moses was capable of this, not even the legendary cristiano ronaldo or lionel messi.

    he also used them for extra training sessions that he organized for himself and his friend. with these extra training sessions, sam could dedicate his time towards mastering specific aspects of his game.

    in recent weeks, his main focus was on shooting. he focused on improving his penalty kick and freekick taking abilities.

    by the end of his daily system quest that morning, sam''s effort for weeks was finally rewarded as his system lit up with a new notification.

    ~----~

    [you have completed system daily quest: mentality monster!]

    [you have been rewarded with a low-grade physical conditioning elixir!]

    ¡­

    [your efforts in training have borne fruit, you have broken a skill bottleneck!]

    [you have unlocked basic mastery level of the football skill: basic penalty technique!]

    [you have unlocked basic mastery level of the football skill: basic freekick technique!]

    ~----~

    for some time now, sam had been expecting this breakthrough having been paying attention to his progress, but he never expected that the eventual breakthrough would come outside of training, during his jogging sessions instead.

    ''hehe, it''s a welcome breakthrough anytime, any day''. he grinned.

    with the twin breakthroughs, his owned football skill tab in his system finally changed, now looking like this.

    ~----~

    [owned football skills:]

    [passive skill: stalwart]

    [active skills:]

    [basic mastery level: body feint; power shot; step overs; roulette; knuckle shot; overhead kick; rainbow flick; trivela shot, basic penalty technique, basic freekick technique]

    [intermediate mastery level: elastico, cruyff turn; la croqueta]

    [advanced mastery level: spatial awareness]

    ¡­ find adventures on empire

    [legendary inheritance: spatial awareness]

    [legendary inheritance: elastico]

    ¡­

    the changes didn''t stop at that either as after a while of staying stagnant, with both his penalty taking and freekick taking technique suddenly improving, his shooting attribute finally increased again by a figure of +1.

    his attributes now looked like this.

    ¡­

    player attributes:

    *pace: 81

    *shot: 80

    *pass: 80

    *dribbling: 78

    *defending: 38

    *physicality: 76

    *stamina: 84

    overall rating: 82

    ~----~

    noting these changes, sam felt like he was just injected by a shot of adrenaline as he felt his motivation levels for fulham''s next game rise even higher.

    he could not wait to try his improved skills on the football pitch. s§×ar?h the n??efire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    with that, he and his friend finally separated, going their separate ways in preparation for today''s training session.

    as professional football players playing for a professional club in england, there was little time of rest for them since training can take place any day of the week, including saturdays and sundays.

    they only had rests on sundays if the timeline for their next game was still far away, and the only other source of rest was if their coach felt generous and gave it as a bonanza to reward his players.

    ¡­

    fulham''s next game in the premier league was going to be another season-deciding game since they would be taking on last season''s 1st runner up, arsenal in a top of the table clash.

    the whole world watched; they could not wait to see how they would perform against another heavyweight of the modern premier league.

    personally for the fulham players, the buildup to the game was grueling as expected as they gave their all in preparation for the clash against arsenal.

    time moved fast and in no time, d-day was here.

    it was 8th december, 2024, a sunday¡­

 Chapter 199 Another season decider- against Arsenal

    another premier league matchday, another set of exciting heavyweight clashes in the most watched football league in the world.(premier league:)

    (matchday 15:)

    (everton ¨C liverpool)

    (date: postponed- time tbd)

    ¡­

    (brentford 4-2 newcastle)

    (date: 7th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (aston villa 1-0 southampton)

    (date: 7th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (crystal palace 2-2 man city)

    (date: 7th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (man united 2-3 nottm forest)

    (date: 7th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (fulham ¨C arsenal)

    (date: 8th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (leicester city ¨C brighton)

    (date: 8th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    experience more on empire

    (ipswich town ¨C bournemouth)

    (date: 8th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (tottenham ¨C chelsea)

    (date: 8th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (west ham ¨C wolves)

    (date: 9th december, 2024)

    with the everton vs liverpool clash postponed, 4 of the 10 exciting clashes of matchday 15 of the english premier league were already played but the fulham players didn''t pay attention to that yet as they focused on their own challenge.

    arsenal was not going to be an easy stumbling block to climb.

    at some point in the new season, arsenal seemed to lose their title-pushing momentum after losing their captain, martin odegaard to injury. but now, with their captain''s return, arsenal seemed to be back to their usual imperious form.

    coach marco silva was wary about the threat of their opponents but not deviating from his way, this coach set up his team in its normal balanced formation.

    besides, it was a home game, fulham had no intention of playing cowardly.

    just like expected, both teams started with their strongest starting xi.

    for fulham, the regular, bernd leno started in between the posts while directly in front of him was the quadruple of tete, diop, bassey and robinson. ahead of them was the midfield duo of berge and lukic.

    ahead of the midfielders was the attacking triumvate of alex iwobi, emile smith rowe, and sam. today, raul jimenez started as the striker.

    compared to them though, the arsenal team lineup looked far more imposing like an all-star gathering of heavyweights.

    starting in their typical 4-3-3 formation, their 3-man attack comprised of leandro trossard on the left, kai havertz in the middle, and bukayo saka mounting his post on the right side of the pitch.

    their midfield trio comprised of declan rice, jorginho, and martin odegaard, while their 4-man defense was formed by jurrien timber, kiwior, william saliba, and thomas party in right back, covering for the injured starting right back for arsenal.

    naturally, the spaniard, david raya started in between the posts.

    that sunday evening, the build-up to this game was already crazy as the fulham home supporters created an electric atmosphere to support their team.

    even more than the brighton game, their voice was loud, rising through the roof of craven cottage.

    it truly felt like a derby game.

    and when the referee''s whistle eventually sounded, it was the signal to start the tug of war between 2 in-form teams.

    fweeee!

    arsenal started kick-off and within just a few minutes, they managed to steal authority over this game from fulham despite the loud noise being made by their fans, signs of a great team with an elite mentality.

    arsenal dominated early, showing signs of getting an early lead but against the run of play in the early proceedings, the home side stunned arsenal.

    and for the umpteenth time this season, it was all sam-orchestrated.

    whoosh!

    having noticed a weakness in the arsenal midfield already, sam slid in as soon as jorginho got the ball, winning back possession with a perfect sliding tackle.

    before the italian could recover, he raised his head, spotting jimenez'' run in-behind immediately, then¡­

    bam!

    sam did not hesitate, hitting the ball up and high as it rose above the imperious arsenal defense led by william saliba.

    raul jimenez just managed to beat the imperious french defender for pace, squirming past kiwior after before hitting the ball on a first-time volley.

    bam!

    one hit, one goal¡­, the net rippled!

    it was raul jimenez''s first touch of the game and it resulted in a goal.

    "goallll¡­!!!" craven cottage exploded.

    "damn! what a perfect pass!" the commentator raved.

    "that sliding tackle to steal the ball was near perfect, and then that lobbed pass? that was just world-class from sam, absolute world-class!"

    "and then the finish? it was all vintage fulham in display!"

    "sam, what a prodigy we''re bearing witness to!"

    while the commentator raved, raul jimenez charged towards the corner flag, sliding on his knees in celebration as he pumped his fists excitedly, passionately taking in the adoration of the home fans.

    but after standing up, he pointed towards one of his teammates immediately, sam, attributing the glory of this goal towards him.

    and finally getting over their initial excitement caused by the goal, the home fans responded immediately, starting a familiar chant.

    "sam!" "sam!" "sam!"

    the chants exploded all across this stadium, a prelude to another sam masterclass in craven cottage.

    fweeee!

    when the game restarted, arsenal rallied behind their star attacking players, going on deadly attacking raids at the fulham box.

    but fulham didn''t stay idle either.

    with bukayo saka and martin odegaard orchestrating the threat for arsenal, sam and emile smith rowe stayed at the heart of everything fulham.

    these 2 friends entered samba mode on the pitch, passing and showcasing tiki-taka football, then the silky dribbles¡­, both of them were in imperious form.

    together, they tortured the arsenal defense time and time again, making this game an even and exciting end-to-end encounter. s§×arch* the n?vel(f)ire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    all the fans in this stadium, both the home and away fans had their hearts in their throats throughout the first half as both teams kept on having their chances.

    despite trying their best, arsenal simply could not break the rugged and compact fulham defensive set-up in the first half as stunning the world of football again, fulham actually went to half-time leading 1-0 against arsenal!

    the game was yet to come to an end, but the world of football was already experiencing upheavals in social media as fans raved about fulham''s form.

    during half-time, coach marco silva only had a little team talk with his players, urging them to do what they do best in the second half against arsenal.

    and finally, the 11 players of both sides made their way to the pitch again.

    the atmosphere in craven cottage was still fever-pitch.

 Chapter 200 The S factor; Sam and Smith

    the second half started.the s factor, what is it?

    in this sense, the s factor was different from the x factor. in recent weeks, fulham fans coined a term to describe the partnership between their 2 maverick midfielders and hence the term, the s factor.

    it was a term describing the deadly duo of sam and smith.

    since the term was first coined, it was already becoming extremely popular not just among fulham fans but across the english premier league.

    explore more stories at empire

    there was hardly any premier league fan that had not heard of the s factor partnership this season, the sam and smith factor.

    it was a term now reminiscing of legendary partnerships in football, like the legendary bayern munich robbery duo of arjen roben and franck ribery, or even the legendary msn, the unstoppable messi, suarez, and neymar triumvate.

    it was clear to any sane football fan that the s factor was yet to reach the levels of any of the 2 aforementioned legendary partnerships in football but still, the s factor partnership had similar impact for fulham as these legendary partnerships had for their clubs in the past.

    the duo of sam and smith was just unstoppable.

    after the start of the second half, from an even game that it was in the first half, the fulham players finally took control in the second in front of their home fans, stealing all initiative from a determined arsenal team.

    in a clash between 2 determined individuals, one conviction and drive always have to give way in the end and it was what happened between these 2 in-form teams.

    arsenal''s conviction gave way to fulham''s as the west london club dominated.

    sam and smith used their combination plays to tear the arsenal defense down time and time again, the only reason why the 2nd goal for fulham was yet to materialize was chiefly due to a single player, a frenchman, william saliba.

    while the rest of the arsenal defense struggled to keep up with the electric duo, only william saliba continued playing at an elite level.

    singlehandedly, the imperious french defender kept his team in the game but not satisfied with just defending, in the 52nd minute of this game, this imperious defender decided to send a dagger straight through fulham fans across the world.

    in the 52nd minute of the game, against the run of play, arsenal finally equalized and it was from an unlikely player, william saliba himself.

    this season, arsenal have been dangerous while playing from the corner, evident by their 2 goals from corner kicks with which they destroyed manchester united just a few weeks earlier.

    today again, this london club struck again from a corner kick as after a scramble in the 18-yard box, the ball landed perfectly for william saliba to poke in from close range.

    "goalllll¡­!" the mostly silenced away stand for most of this game erupted at this moment, screaming all their frustrations in this first half away as they jubilated.

    william saliba didn''t miss the passion of the traveling arsenal supporters though as dodging his teammates, he faced the fans before raising his arms to rile up the fulham supporters while bolstering the morale of the arsenal fans.

    "come on!" the imposing frenchman screamed.

    it was no news in the premier league that william saliba had a voice that didn''t fit his imposing frame and dominating playstyle, but still, at this moment, this roar just after his goal added an extra flavor of spice and chill to this game.

    the stakes were raised even higher!

    fweeeee!

    when the referee''s whistle sounded again to restart play, arsenal tried to ride that momentum and continue in search of the 2nd goal to win this game but they could only keep it up for a few minutes.

    in just a few minutes, the s factor struck again.

    sam did the dirty work, winning back the ball and laying it to emile smith rowe and once the englishman managed to slow the game''s tempo down a bit, he passed back to sam as both players resumed their unstoppable s factor partnership.

    with them passing around, fulham regained contro.

    instantly, all the arsenal momentum dropped back to square zero.

    bukayo saka and martin odegaard kept on disturbing, knocking on fulham''s door but their london rivals never let up, defending valiantly.

    with the defense being imperious this game, they gave sam and emile smith rowe the perfect platform to thrive upfront and dish the arsenal defense misery.

    as the game wore on, the partnership only became deadlier.

    in the 68th minute of this game, fulham finally got their closest chance as after receiving a pass from emile smith rowe, sam skipped past an opposition player, shuffling the ball to his weaker left foot before taking a shot.

    pow!

    it was a powerful shot but fulham fans around craven cottage gasped, left to rue their luck as they watched the ball beat david raya only to hit and ricochet off the crossbar back into play.

    "damn! the goalkeeper has the post to thank for that!"

    "what a goal that would have been!" s§×arch* the nov§×lf~ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "that''s fulham''s best chance to score again in this game!"

    the commentator was right, that was fulham''s best chance as sam also clutched his head in disbelief.

    in the end, the game continued.

    the s factor partnership continued while william saliba remained william saliba, always at hand to thwart them to the best of his ability every single time.

    this game, the frenchman was just imperious.

    arsenal also had their moments but none of them was as close as sam''s earlier effort. in the 82nd minute of the game, emile smith rowe was tripped just outside the arsenal 18-yard box as the referee awarded a freekick to fulham.

    walking up to the ball, sam contemplated using his ability card but he decided against it, eager to test his own freekick ability.

    another reason why he did was because sam felt that it was not yet necessary.

    ''we''re currently at the top of the league, we''re high-flying, it''s not necessary now''.

    ''but the situation may change anytime. when we''re desperately in need of it, trailing from our ultimate goal, in desperate situations is when i should use it''.

    with that, he made his decision.

    after taking a deep breath, sam took one last glance at goal and did an angled run towards the ball, then¡­

    bam!

    he struck the ball perfectly with the inside of his right boot, curling it high and around the defensive block.

    david raya went on a full-stretch dive.

    "¡­!" craven cottage was silenced.

    with bated breaths, the home supporters watched as the ball beat the arsenal goalie, moving towards goal.

    thousands of fulham fans rose up to their feet, raising their arms, about to celebrate only for the ball to swerve slightly and then¡­

    bam!

    the ball hit the crossbar, ricocheting outside for a corner kick.

    "f*ck!" sam cursed in disbelief.

    he was not the only one who felt that way. literally every fan supporting the white, black, and red cause tonight felt the same way as they watched in disbelief.

    even the commentator could not believe what he just saw as he raved, expressing his wonder about how on earth that was not a goal?

    definitely, the gods were pitying arsenal this game.

    in the end, it was a slightly dangerous corner kick which resulted in no goal.

    after a few more minutes of this end-to-end game, the referee''s whistle finally sounded, bringing the game to an end.

    the game ended 1-1, a draw.

    all in all, it was a pulsating encounter and for his valiant performance at the heart of the arsenal defense, william saliba won the man of the match award for this game, dethroning the electric duo of sam and smith.

 Chapter 201 Fulham; table toppers

    (premier league:)(matchday 15:)

    (fulham 1-1 arsenal)

    (date: 8th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (leicester city 2-2 brighton)

    (date: 8th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (ipswich town 1-2 bournemouth)

    (date: 8th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (tottenham 3-4 chelsea)

    (date: 8th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (west ham 2-1 wolves)

    (date: 9th december, 2024)

    a day after fulham''s top of the table clash against arsenal in the premier league in craven cottage, west ham finally took on wolves in the last encounter of matchday 15, eventually deciding the final results.

    after matchday 15, this was how the premier league table looked like.

    (updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. fulham gp: 15/ w:12/ d:2/ l:1/ pts: 39)

    (2. liverpool gp: 14/ w:11/ d:2/ l:1/ pts: 36)

    (3. chelsea gp: 15/ w:9/ d:4/ l:2/ pts: 31)

    (4. arsenal gp: 15/ w:8/ d:5/ l:2/ pts: 29)

    (5. man city gp: 15/ w:7/ d:4/ l:4/ pts: 25)

    (6. nottm forest gp: 15/ w:7/ d:4/ l:4/ pts: 25)

    (7. brighton gp: 15/ w:6/ d:6/ l:3/ pts: 24)

    (8. aston villa gp: 15/ w:7/ d:3/ l:6/ pts: 24)

    (9. bournemouth gp: 15/ w:7/ d:3/ l:5/ pts: 24)

    (10. brentford gp: 15/ w:7/ d:2/ l:6/ pts: 23)

    (11. newcastle gp: 15/ w:5/ d:5/ l:5/ pts: 20)

    (12. tottenham gp: 15/ w:6/ d:1/ l:8/ pts: 19)

    (13. west ham gp: 15/ w:5/ d:3/ l:7/ pts: 18)

    (14. man united gp: 15/ w:4/ d:4/ l:7/ pts: 16)

    (15. leicester gp: 15/ w:3/ d:5/ l:7/ pts: 14)

    (16. everton gp: 14/ w:3/ d:4/ l:7/ pts: 13)

    (17. crystal palace gp: 15/ w:2/ d:7/ l:6/ pts: 13)

    (18. ipswich town gp: 15/ w:1/ d:6/ l:8/ pts: 9)

    (19. wolves gp: 15/ w:1/ d:3/ l:11/ pts: 6)

    (20. southampton gp: 15/ w:1/ d:1/ l:11/ pts: 4)

    by the end of matchday 15 of the english premier league, incredibly, fulham was still the table-topping club in the elite tier of the english premiership.

    "max, again, it''s another matchday of the english premier league. i have to say yes, you got me on this one, fulham have really exceeded my expectations by far this season. but i still believe that they won''t win the league".

    "so, tell me, with the merseyside derby at goodison park between everton and liverpool postponed, of the 9 matches that were played in this matchday, which of them do you think was the best and provided the most entertainment value".

    after listening to the question, max, the premier league pundit flashed a smile. "my biased mind would say fulham vs arsenal. i mean, the s factor partnership was in full display, you needed to see sam operate man". he laughed.

    "but then, if i say that, i would be lying to my true self".

    "despite how much i don''t want to admit it, charles, i have no choice but to accept it that tottenham vs chelsea was the true outstanding game of this matchday and it was not even close".

    "chelsea traveled to the home of fierce rivals tottenham hotspur, and while they had one of the worst starts to a london derby you could possibly have, enzo maresca''s men rose to the occasion and pulled off a magnificent comeback, needing two penalties in their favor to do it". stay tuned with empire

    "but man, what a game it was!"

    "the true definition of an end-to-end game!"

    "my inner yearning for a mind-blowing story could not help but think if tottenham would actually score an equalizer in stoppage time after heung min son put that 3rd goal behind the chelsea net".

    "honestly, it was the best game of this matchday by far".

    "going 2 goals down in how many minutes, a cole palmer-led chelsea proved their mettle, proving their credentials in this season''s title run-in".

    "this season, in terms of influence, i would say cole palmer, mohamed salah, and samuel moses are currently the best players of this season''s premier league".

    "they''ve been just so influential for their clubs".

    "i would say they''re the front runners for the pfa player of the year award too, they''ve just been terrific this season".

    hearing that, charles, the show host chuckled. "it''s crazy how you say samuel moses so casually and nothing in me even protests it, it''s honestly crazy".

    "last season, no one knew samuel moses. all we heard was side talk about a talented nigerian kid who arrived in fulham, no one expected this, no one expected what we''re currently bearing witness to".

    "look at his current transfer value, the kid is rated by transfermarkt for a value over 50 million euros already".

    "he has to be the biggest bargain buy of the century!"

    max laughed. "you''re right on that one charles".

    ¡­

    while football fans across social media platforms raved about chelsea''s incredible performance and result, noting the similarities in fulham''s performance against arsenal too, a certain comparison finally arose on social media.

    (cole palmer vs samuel moses)

    no one knew who started it exactly, but across social media, polls started being made as a fierce popularity contest started.

    cole palmer fans clashed against samuel moses fans.

    in the end, after fierce voting across multiple social media platforms, the better of the 2 players currently was finally decided by majority voting by the fans.

    (cole palmer- 52% votes) sear?h the n?velfire(.)net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (samuel moses- 48% votes)

    cole palmer just barely got the edge over sam in the voting.

    the result of the poll caused a ripple effect across social media as it brought more renown to sam, increasing his popularity even more.

    and as his popularity increased was when a certain video suddenly became viral, trending on all viewing social media platforms.

    sam rarely paid attention to social media but he was surprised when even emile smith rowe asked him to enter his tik tok or youtube account and search for samuel moses.

    at first, he was reluctant despite the fact that it was smith rowe asking until he received a call from a certain phone number.

    (incoming call from favorite¡­)

    sam''s eyes widened as he got a call from kayla. ''what happened? is it that serious?''

    when he picked up the call, kayla said only a single sentence. "come online, i sent you a video on whatsapp".

    ''huh?'' even more curious now, after the call, sam finally opened his phone.

    as soon as he clicked on the video, his jaw dropped in shock immediately.

 Chapter 202 Viral video

    sam clicked on the video.it was made in a rickety setting, a setting that sam was all familiar with.

    it was a bare-bones building with wooden bench arranged in rows, all filled to the brim with people. there were 2 big tv screens at the very front of this building, and both showed the same football match. s~ea??h the novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    this was a viewing center in nigeria, and showing on the 2 big tv screens was the unforgettable fifa world cup final 2022 played in qatar between argentina and france.

    it was the 108th minute of the game in the 2nd period of extra time.

    by then, the tension in the game was already palpable, and in extension, the tension in the viewing center was also palpable as the viewers ignored their sweat, their eyes fixated on the proceedings on the big screen.

    and then it happened as lautaro martinez, the argentine striker received a pass inside the france 18-yard box.

    as soon as this happened, a youthful boy quickly jumped to his feet, roaring. "pass! pass the ball! pass the f*cking ball!"

    watching this scene, sam could not help but blush fiercely.

    the video was not of the best quality, and the youthful boy on the video looked darker and younger than the current him, but sam had no doubt that this was him on the night of the most memorable game of his life.

    ''damn! who made a video of me?'' he lamented.

    the video continued¡­

    as the youthful boy screamed, filled with tension, instead of passing, lautaro martinez took a shot.

    bam!

    it hit the french goalkeeper, hugo iloris.

    "f*ck!" sam could not help but mutter again as he watched the recording, having been transported back to the unforgettable day that it happened.

    on that day, he also cursed; he was already cursing when lionel messi pounced, poking the rebounded ball back in.

    discover stories with empire

    jules kounde, the french fullback who currently plied his trade for fc barcelona in la liga did a goal line clearance but goal line technology judged the ball to have crossed the line.

    "goalllll¡­!" the viewing center erupted with the roars of ecstatic argentina fans, and sam was at the forefront of the celebrations.

    unbounded, no longer caring about how he looked, sam pulled off his argentina jersey, leaving only his white singlet as he waved the jersey wildly while running to the front of this viewing center.

    by now, he already lost his composure in the emotion of this incredible football game. he was on a high where he no longer cared about anybody.

    he celebrated like a mad man, not caring how he looked. at some point, he even hugged his dad excitedly without knowing it.

    the other argentina fans also celebrated wildly.

    this was where the video came to an end.

    sam felt a deep sense of nostalgia as he watched the video, but at the same time, his face turned a deep shade of pink as he blushed. ''curse the bastard who took this video!'' tears streamed down his face.

    he finally understood why everyone wanted him to go on social media.

    at that moment, his phone rang again.

    (incoming call from best buddy¡­)

    "get lost!" sam cursed.

    when he took his best friend''s call, ian simply stayed, not saying anything for a few seconds and then he burst out laughing like a mad man.

    "get lost!" sam truly felt like crying, he cut the call.

    thinking for a few seconds, sam picked up his phone and dialed kayla''s number again, calling her to vent and unleash his grievance.

    but as soon as she picked his call, kayla also burst out laughing.

    "even you too?"

    she laughed still, wheezing uncontrollably. "sam, you just have to see the look on my face right now. my tummy is paining me god!" she laughed loudly.

    "stop¡­!" sam complained grievingly.

    "pass! pass the ball! pass the f*cking ball!" kayla mimicked him, laughing in between.

    "¡­" sam felt like crying.

    in the end, kayla took sam deeper, taking him to the comment section of this video on youtube where sam saw comments that cracked his ribs.

    >comments:<

    {i-am-ronaldinho: lmao, i always said that every great football player is first a big fan of the sport. just look at sam, the guy was even more of a maniac than i am, i love him even more now- emote laughing emoji}

    {zidane-meatrider: lol, sam wins the award for the best reaction to that goal. but come on man- emote crying-laughing emoji, sam looked so wretched and overweight there. man, i can''t believe that''s him, how did he come from that to becoming this?- emote laughing emoji}

    {i-smoke-smoke: man, this video takes me back, so many fond memories are swirling through my head now. i can relate so much with sam man, that night, this was exactly how i and my brothers reacted to the goal, peak night y''all}

    {fake-i-show-speed: sam is lowkey just like us, a crazy football fan lol}

    {fulham-till-i-die: that''s our superstar! zinedine sam!}

    {trenches-is-where-i-come-from: see that shirt pull, and that shirt waving?- emote laughing emoji, that''s the pure nigerian footballing spirit, sam is nigerian ghetto-bred through and through, now i believe}

    {trenches-is-where-i-come-from: to the coach of the nigerian national team, i hope you''re seeing this, you better select sam and play him in our next international game. the boy is too valuable and likeable to leave behind.}

    {manchester-united-till-i-die: who else does sam''s celebration remind of ryan gigg''s legendary solo goal against arsenal in the fa cup?}

    {flying-emirates-is-my-home replied to manchester-united-till-i-die: no one, you''re the only one who''s reminded of that}

    {fish-in-the-sea replied to flying-emirates-is-my-home: emote laughing emoji; emote laughing emoji; emote laughing emoji}

    {manchester-united-till-i-die replied to flying-emirates-is-my-home: lol, salty arsenal fan}

    {flying-emirates-is-my-home replied to manchester-united-till-i-die: lol, delusional manchester united fan, i don''t talk with europa league club fans}

    {manchester-united-till-i-die replied to flying-emirates-is-my-home: hahaha, where is your champions league trophy?}

    {flying-emirates-is-my-home replied to manchester-united-till-i-die: at least i''m not 14th in the premier league table lol}

    {manchester-united-till-i-die replied to flying-emirates-is-my-home: hehe, forever 1st runner ups, the immortal league bottlers}

    {fish-in-the-sea replied to manchester-united-till-i-die: emote laughing-crying emoji; emotional damage! i''m dying in laughter lmao- emote laughing emoji}

    reading through the comment section, before sam knew it, there was a big smile on his face as he read.

    "hehe," he chuckled.

 Chapter 203 Back-to-back challenge

    after sam''s video back from late 2022 went viral, his popularity grew even more as a lot of more football fans knew about him.he was now so popular that even non-football fans now knew about him.

    and this popularity translated in all his social media pages as within just a few days after the arsenal game, they surged, almost tripling in followership.

    and it was not just his social media pages either, compared to late last season or even early in this season, his transfermarkt value already experienced a big change after the string of performances that he was putting out this season, dragging fulham to the top of the premier league table.

    (instagram ¨C samuel moses)

    (15m+ followers)

    (22 posts)

    ¡­

    (facebook- samuel moses)

    (32m+ followers)

    ¡­

    (youtube- samuel moses)

    (5m+ subscribers)

    ¡­

    (transfermarkt!)

    (name: samuel moses)

    (england- premier league)

    (date of birth/age: august 6th, 2005)

    (citizenship: nigeria)

    (height: 1,86 m)

    (position: attacking midfielder)

    (current international: nigeria)

    (market value: 55 million euros)

    compared to the last time that sam checked, his transfermarkt value already almost doubled!

    this was crazy growth when it was not even half a season yet.

    the biggest growth though was undoubtedly in his social media accounts, and it was mostly expedited by the boon of his viral video, and also because he had the best social media manager in the world in kayla banks.

    his girlfriend became his social media manager some time ago. s§×arch* the n?vel_fire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    since then, in all the major social media platforms where sam was barely active, his stock started rising as he got more and more followers.

    sam never had a youtube account before but after taking over as his manager, kayla did the job for him, creating a youtube account on his behalf.

    and within that short time, to get up to 5m+ subscribers already was crazy!

    after every game that fulham played, kayla never failed to post, engaging his fans to grow his accounts. and it was even more effective since sam never failed to perform in every single game that he played in.

    it was like the concept of fatigue never worked against him.

    one of the biggest arguments against this high-flying fulham side was that once the season starts ramping up, and the games started coming thick and fast, they would be hit by exhaustion which will be their true reality check.

    in reality, even fulham fans were realistic, scared of the impact that fatigue would have on their team as the season progressed.

    fatigue did start hitting already, but the impact was nowhere as much as they expected, this was because of the overall effort put by the players into training.

    since sam''s arrival to the club, fulham fc already changed fundamentally as a club. it was a club that now had high standards of discipline.

    with coach marco silva not hesitating to place sam on a pedestal to his other players, making them look up to him, this coach watched as the spirit in his team was transmuted from complacency to that of mentality monsters.

    none of the veterans in fulham were fine with losing so consistently to the young nigerian midfielder, nor the young players in the club either.

    watching sam train so hard despite being so good already, putting his 110% in training every time, the rest were all forced to do the same.

    this was why this season, the effect fatigue had on the fulham players was so minimal, and this also translated to injuries.

    since the season started, no main fulham player has succumbed to injury yet because their consistency in training kept their body at the perfect level always.

    and since they were now even going as far as rationing their diet, the ones that could, the fulham squad was in its best physical shape in decades.

    and an ecstatic coach marco silva was the one reaping the rewards as he watched himself slowly become a legend, leading his club to the top of the english premier league table. the pressure was much but they were surviving.

    and it was not over yet, not nearly.

    read new adventures at empire

    after the grueling challenge of arsenal at craven cottage on 8th december, fulham''s next engagement was still in the premier league and this time, it was an even more daunting challenge.

    this time, sam and his teammates were traveling to anfield to face liverpool, their biggest rivals at the top of the table.

    it was going to be another top of the table clash.

    and in terms of difficulty, this could not compare to the game against arsenal at all since they played at home in craven cottage. this time, the fulham players would be traveling to one of the most difficult stadiums in the world.

    having experienced first-hand the sheer atmosphere that could be created in that stadium last season, sam knew exactly the type of challenge that his team was about to face.

    ''this is what will truly define our season''.

    ''the decider that''ll tell if we''re just pretenders or true challengers!

    as for what sam wanted? ''i will prove that we are true challengers!''

    the build-up to this game was brutal as not only did the media fan the flames, putting the pressure on the fulham players, liverpool players also went to the media, making comments that added even more drama to this game.

    liverpool and fulham had never been rivals but due to the comments and atmosphere leading to the game, it felt like el clasico.

    and despite the imperious form that fulham had been in lately, the odds and comments from neutral fans online still went against them.

    to most football fans around the world, fulham''s run of form was still nothing but a fluke, the true fulham would be exposed soon enough.

    and what better place to expose them than anfield, the killer of enemy dreams?

    a fan even said that if fulham won, he would cut his manhood as proof of his conviction, causing a stir online and adding even more spice to this game.

    with all these going on, time moved and very shortly, it was d-day.

    (premier league:)

    (matchday 16 of 38:)

    (liverpool ¨C fulham)

    (date: 14th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    [note: el clasico is the derby game between fierce rivals, fc barcelona and real madrid in spain]

 Chapter 204 Playing with 10 men; defiant Liverpool

    11 minutes, 1-0¡­17 minutes, red card¡­

    everything happened so fast, it felt like a dream to the liverpool fans, or more like a nightmare. in 17 forgettable minutes to the fans in red, all the plans and hopes that they had for this game came crashing down in oblivion.

    the context of this game changed completely.

    anfield became as quiet as a mouse.

    the home fans already made all the noise that they could, protesting the referee''s decision but the man refused to budge to the whims of the home fans, he stuck with his earlier decision.

    and since var didn''t stop him, his decision stood.

    the liverpool fans in anfield watched in disbelief as a dejected andrew robertson trudged off the field with drooped shoulders.

    in the build up to this game, liverpool fans approached the game with the superior mentality, adamant in teaching the pretend table toppers a lesson in football but 17 minutes into this game and they were tongue-tied.

    pereira''s goal so early in the game already rattled their nerves, and now this red card made them lose their composure completely.

    while liverpool reeled in disbelief, fulham thrived as they were suddenly doused with confidence. fulham was on course to a famous victory in anfield.

    for their opponents, for the first time in a long time, liverpool fans felt trepidations at anfield, a rarity.

    but this was not a situation that was entirely new to them.

    this was not a situation that they had not encountered before. afterall, they were trailing behind by just 1 goal and with a handicap.

    could this handicap compare to trailing 3 goals down against a strong fc barcelona team led by a prime lionel messi in 2019 who was plundering all types of goals for fun?

    the liverpool fans gave their reply to this question with their next action.

    boom!

    loud chants and cheers blasted around this stadium.

    at this moment, the home fans already adopted the us against the world mentality, mostly due to the referee''s decision.

    their already loud voice since the beginning of this game truly went through the roof this time, turning anfield into a literal microphone to channel their loud voices as the referee got prepared to blow his whistle to restart play.

    and when the whistle eventually sounded, the game continued, but in an entirely different vein.

    fweeeee! s§×ar?h the nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    a lot of people expected arne slot to make a defensive change after andrew robertson''s red card but this coach didn''t, rather giving his players the go ahead to take the game to their opponents.

    and the liverpool fans responded to their coach''s instructions with gusto.

    liverpool was no weak team; it was a strong premier league team comprised of talented young lads and centurion veterans of countless battles on the pitch from the egyptian king, mohamed salah to trent alexander-arnold, to virgil van dijk.

    they were a well-equipped weapon of mass destruction.

    besides, anfield was the best advantage that they could ever hope for, a stadium where they were famous for historically creating miracles.

    it didn''t matter that they were trailing 1 goal behind their opponents, it didn''t matter that they were playing with 10 men, all they wanted was to equalize this game and eventually win it and they would do everything possible in their power to achieve that objective.

    if it was their will to win, who could stop them?

    after the game restarted, liverpool took it slow at first, teasing their way back into the game as they got used to running around with one man less than their opponents.

    it was hard, but nothing too hard for this elite team to do.

    after a few minutes of acclimatizing to their handicap, their warm up was complete as the merseysiders ramped up the pressure, taking the game to their opponents in aggressive fashion.

    the game changed immediately, turning into a ferocious pound for pound battle between 2 heavyweight title challengers.

    while sam led the fulham charge, liverpool''s egyptian king led their charge.

    bam! stay tuned to empire

    a dozen minutes after the red card, in the 29th minute of this game, liverpool came close to leveling the game as luis diaz''s shot grazed the post, going out for a goal kick.

    it was a goal kick but the liverpool fans roared their players on like they just scored a goal; their passion was in full display.

    the atmosphere in anfield now was like a battlefield.

    despite liverpool''s seemingly unstoppable drive and relentless energy though, in the end, the reality was that they were playing with less men than their opponents and fulham was not going to let that advantage slide easily, not with the black mamba himself playing for them.

    the home fans may be doing their best to create a hostile environment for them, but the fulham players did not lose their ability to play football so easily.

    they followed the mamba spirit exuding from their talisman, samuel moses.

    the s factor did not really work this game as the energetic liverpool players locked sam and smith out through their sheer work rate, preventing them from connecting to devastating effect the way that they normally did but this did not stop sam from doing ridiculous things on this pitch.

    afterall, before the s factor became a thing, he was used to creating miracles on his own on a football pitch.

    the more liverpool played, suffocating this game, the more sam''s competitive spirit grew and the closer he got to the state of flow.

    when liverpool threatened to score, sam was the tip of fulham''s spear that retaliated, constantly taking the battle to their opponents with his mazy runs, stunning physicality, and incredible technique.

    from the halfway line up, sam was a threat wherever he got the ball.

    with a defender gone, the liverpool defense was more open for him to play his penetrative through passes.

    virgil van dijk''s impressive defensive display this game was the only reason why sam''s name was not yet on the scoresheet.

    last time out, it was the frenchman, william saliba against arsenal and now, the netherlands international was hoping to do the same thing against the electric sam. for now, and maybe till the end of this game, it was working.

    in the end, despite an incredible first half, after those early shocking proceedings, this game became all bark and no bite.

    the first half ended with fulham still leading 0-1 in anfield.

    during half-time, a slightly uneasy coach marco silva simply told his players to calm down, to not fall into liverpool''s intensity trap.

    this coach was uneasy simply because this was anfield.

    and just like he predicted, liverpool came out for the second half with even more intensity, mohamed salah especially playing like a man possessed.

    the second half barely started when the complexion of the game changed.

    "the ball goes to salah, and he loops it over the fulham defense".

    "who will get on the end of this one? and ohhhh, luis diaz!!!"

    "goal, finally!"

    instantly, like a dynamite, anfield exploded as the ecstatic liverpool fans roared at the top of their lungs.

    "and all of a sudden, liverpool are back in the game!"

    "what a pass, what a header!"

    just 2 minutes into the second half, in the 47th minute of this game, liverpool finally got their equalizer.

 Chapter 205 Remember the name, Samuel Moses

    in the blink of an eye, fulham''s lead was canceled.everything happened so fast, the second half just barely started when in a moment of individual brilliance from the egyptian king, liverpool where back in the game and mohamed salah got another assist for his troubles this season, increasing his goal contribution tally even more.

    but that goal was not the end of this game, rather, it was just the beginning.

    47 minutes in, 1-1¡­

    fweeee!

    the referee blew the whistle for the restart and like expected, that goal became the prelude to even more drama and action in this game.

    anfield remained extremely loud, cheering their team on as even with one man down, liverpool played fearlessly with skill and courage.

    while they played, they were also wary of fulham''s threat, fully conscious of the fact that they were playing with just ten men but perhaps, they were just not wary enough.

    after luis diaz''s goal, it was still an end-to-end game but the momentum was now slightly on liverpool''s side as x factor seemed to start favoring them this game.

    but with alisson becker and leno both being in terrific form, the scoreline remained 1-1 as both goalkeepers pulled off sensational saves, keeping their respective teams in the game till the later stages of this game and that was where the true drama began.

    in this game, close your eyes for a moment and you would miss an important highlight or moment leading up to more drama.

    the liverpool and away fulham fans had their eye peeled open, paying keen attention as they finally bore witness to another goal in this game.

    this time, it came in the 76th minute.

    "now iwobi¡­, sliding it through for robinson again, and he''s tucked it back and ohh, it''s innnn!"

    "fulham are back ahead, and it''s muniz with the goal!"

    having replaced raul jimenez at some point this game already, muniz got on the end of the incredible team move, scoring fulham''s second goal of this game and giving his team the lead again in anfield.

    this time, alex iwobi and robinson''s imprint were all over the goal as it was the former''s delicious pass and the latter''s inside run that resulted in the goal.

    76 minutes, liverpool trailed again, this time 1-2¡­

    there was less than twenty minutes to the end of this game but clearly a certain fanbase didn''t give up on the game yet.

    boos rang around anfield as they jeered their opponents. clearly, they were defiant, having no intentions of giving up yet as after the referee''s whistle, they continued cheering their team on.

    just 10 minutes later, the status quo changed, again.

    liverpool was just relentless.

    again, another moment of individual brilliance opened up this game, this time orchestrated and finished by liverpool.

    having just returned from a lengthy injury layoff, it was diogo jota, the portuguese international who added the finishing touch for liverpool this time.

    "it''s jota¡­, twisting, turning, scoring!"

    "returning with a bang!"

    the portuguese international brought this game back level exactly ten minutes after fulham scored their goal to go 1-2 ahead.

    charging towards the corner flag, diogo jota jumped and pumped a fist in celebration even as the commentator kept on going lyrical about his goal.

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    in the 86th minute of this game, 2-2¡­

    surely, with less than 4 minutes to go till fulltime, this game was going to end in a draw, this was what the regular football fan would think.

    but players were not regular, and definitely not a certain fulham player called sam.

    ''win!'' ''win!'' ''win!''

    the mantra was back.

    the mamba spirit was already rearing its head again.

    it was not just sam, clearly, the liverpool players also wanted to go all the way and get the winner. it was a clash of convictions and determination now.

    for most of this game, sam played good but not yet at his scintillating best as the talented liverpool midfield and defense did a good job in curbing his impact on the game, till now.

    now, with the knowledge that his club actually needed him did sam finally take the last step, entering the zone state.

    bzzz!

    in sam''s perception, everything about this game changed.

    sam became liverpool''s nightmare in the later stages of this game.

    after diogo jota equalized, liverpool was chasing the winner till exactly the 90th minute of this game when sam pulled a trick out of his magic box full of tricks, stunning anfield and all its inhabitants.

    lukic won back the ball, passing to sam and then from deep, he went on a marauding run, cutting through the liverpool half like a formless wraith.

    in the zone already, using feints, subtle shifts and shuffles of the ball, and delicately timed la croquetas, sam penetrated through the liverpool players like they were not there till he met a roadblock in virgil van dijk.

    thud!

    not willing to take the risk, sam stopped in his tracks but without pause, he quickly shifted the ball to his right side, and then¡­

    pow!

    with his dominant right foot, sam unleashed a thunderous piledriver shot towards goal.

    virgil van dijk tried to block the shot but he didn''t react on time as the ball went past him, flying towards goal like an unstoppable rocket.

    alisson went on a full stretch dive, his hand grazing the ball but it was not enough to stop it as it forced its way into the bottom left corner.

    "come on!" sam jumped right there on the field, in front of virgil van dijk, veins popping, pupils dilated in ecstasy as he screamed at the top of his lungs.

    "what¡­ a¡­ goal!" the commentator raved.

    "my god, i''m speechless, this is just sam at this point".

    "this is sam-class! the boy is in an entire stratosphere of his own!"

    "having been quiet for some time, he''s suddenly surged to life when his team needs him the most!"

    "he always shows up when fulham needs him, he is their superhero!" sear?h the ¦Çov§×lfire .net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "surely, that''s the end of the game, liverpool are done".

    but no, sam was not satisfied just yet.

    having borne witness as liverpool clawed their way from behind twice in this game already despite being a man down, he was not satisfied with a 1 goal lead, and this was why he ditched even more misery to the liverpool players, and in extension to their fans all around the world.

    in the 90th plus 5 minutes, sam doubled his goal tally for this game, scoring his second goal of this game and it was an absolute beauty.

    having been locked out for much of this game but with space all of a sudden to operate due to liverpool''s urgent need for another equalizing goal, emile smith rowe got all the time he needed to float a dangerous pass into the box.

    at first, it seemed like the pass was aimed towards muniz who lurked in the box but no, it was aimed at the player whose late run just brought him into the box as the ball descended.

    the ball was too high for sam though and having read the danger, virgil van dijk already reacted, charging towards his position to clear the ball.

    sam had no time to control this ball due to the impending arrival of the imposing netherlands international, and so, he simply decided not to control it.

    thud!

    kicking the ground, sam leaped and then twisting his body in mid-air, he swung his right leg with venom at the ball in the air, executing an incredible scissor kick that packed a lot of punch with it.

    bam!

    alisson was rooted to the spot; he didn''t even move.

    the ball was hit with so much power that it almost tore the net apart.

    anfield was once again silent, while the away fan section exploded soon after even as a mind blown commentator screamed shrilly at the top of his voice.

    "zinedine sam!"

    "zinedine sam!"

    "zinedine sam!"

    "this boy is just too good to be true!"

    "remember the name, samuel moses!"

    fulham won the game 2-4 after an unforgettable battle on the pitch.

 Chapter 206 Title favorites?

    (premier league results:)(matchday 16 of 38:)

    (arsenal 0-0 everton)

    (date: 14th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (wolves 1-2 ipswich town)

    (date: 14th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (newcastle 4-0 leicester city)

    (date: 14th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (liverpool 2-4 fulham)

    (date: 14th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (nottm forest 2-1 aston villa)

    (date: 14th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (brighton 1-3 crystal palace)

    (date: 15th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (man city 1-2 man united)

    (date: 15th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (southampton 0-5 tottenham)

    (date: 15th december, 2024)

    ¡­

    (chelsea 2-1 brentford)

    (date: 15th december, 2024) sea??h th§× novel?ire(.)ne*t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡­

    (bournemouth 1-1 west ham)

    (date: 16th december, 2024)

    (updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. fulham gp: 16/ w:13/ d:2/ l:1/ pts: 42)

    (2. liverpool gp: 15/ w:11/ d:2/ l:2/ pts: 36)

    (3. chelsea gp: 16/ w:10/ d:4/ l:2/ pts: 34)

    (4. arsenal gp: 16/ w:8/ d:6/ l:2/ pts: 30)

    (5. nottm forest gp: 16/ w:8/ d:4/ l:4/ pts: 28)

    (6. man city gp: 16/ w:7/ d:4/ l:5/ pts: 25)

    (7. bournemouth gp: 16/ w:7/ d:4/ l:5/ pts: 25)

    (8. brighton gp: 16/ w:6/ d:6/ l:4/ pts: 24)

    (9. aston villa gp: 16/ w:7/ d:3/ l:7/ pts: 24)

    (10. brentford gp: 16/ w:7/ d:2/ l:7/ pts: 23)

    (11. newcastle gp: 16/ w:6/ d:5/ l:5/ pts: 23)

    (12. tottenham gp: 16/ w:7/ d:1/ l:8/ pts: 22)

    (13. west ham gp: 16/ w:5/ d:4/ l:7/ pts: 19)

    (14. man united gp: 16/ w:5/ d:4/ l:7/ pts: 19)

    (15. crystal palace gp: 16/ w:3/ d:7/ l:6/ pts: 16)

    (16. leicester gp: 16/ w:3/ d:5/ l:8/ pts: 14)

    (17. everton gp: 15/ w:3/ d:5/ l:7/ pts: 14)

    (18. ipswich town gp: 16/ w:2/ d:6/ l:8/ pts: 12)

    (19. wolves gp: 16/ w:1/ d:3/ l:12/ pts: 6)

    (20. southampton gp: 16/ w:1/ d:1/ l:12/ pts: 4)

    after 16 games of the 2024/2025 premier league season, this was how the premier league table looked.

    not only was fulham still sitting at the top of the premier league table, but now, they were 6 points clear at the top!

    it was safe to say that the results of matchday 16 sent the football landscape reeling in shock, it felt like a change of guard, a season of change.

    the highlight of the matchday was fulham''s incredible top of the table clash against liverpool. in truth, realistic fulham fans never thought their team could win against liverpool, that was how high the odds were against fulham.

    no neutral premier league fan actually expected them to draw the game either, that was anfield!

    and yet, not only did fulham not draw, they actually won in anfield.

    to the world of football, this was big news.

    and it was not the only big news that came out of matchday 16, another noteworthy news was the result of the manchester derby.

    manchester united vs manchester city is an old derby game with a lot of history, from rooney''s overhead kick stunner, to aguero''s last minute goal stealing the premier league title from their local rivals, this derby was expressed in a lot of different ways and in matchday 16, this derby created more history.

    manchester city was playing bad, enduring an extended rough patch of form but still, many thought of them as the favorites going into the first manchester derby of the season.

    afterall, the game was played at the etihad.

    till the 88th minute of the game, manchester city seemed in cruise control till bruno fernandes'' penalty kick in the 88th minute drew them level, and then amad diallo''s stunning goal in stoppage time painted manchester red.

    manchester united fans across the world went bonkers in celebration, it was a landmark moment in the ruben amorim era for the reds.

    despite the fact that they still sat in 14th position in the league, manchester united fans did not care as they celebrated like they already won the league.

    another highlight of matchday 16 was tottenham''s 0-5 hammering of southampton. all 5 goals came in the first half, making it a truly scintillating half.

    arsenal''s draw against everton also raised a lot of eyebrows since technically, they were still in the title race but it didn''t draw nearly as much attention as the already aforementioned matches.

    and this attention was not just on social media, popular tv news and shows broadcasted the result of the matchday, including a familiar tv show.

    ¡­

    "max, tell me your verdict of matchday 16 of the premier league".

    the premier league pundit grinned after listening to the host''s words, and then suddenly jumping from his chair, he screamed. "zinedine sam!"

    "zinedine sam!"

    "zinedine sam!"

    "maxxxx¡­!" the host complained laughingly.

    the pundit laughed. "there you have it charles, that is the highlight of matchday 16 of the premier league for me, samuel moses is the highlight".

    the host recovered his composure and asked. "not the manchester derby?"

    "nah, sam is".

    "man, that was liverpool, and that was anfield, yet both were tamed by the presence of just that 1 young nigerian midfielder".

    "last time, i told you that sam''s influence is on the same level of mohamed salah and cole palmer, right?"

    "i''m taking that back," he grinned. "right now, sam is out and out the best player in the english premier league!"

    "woah, that is a lot of compliment coming from you".

    "yes, he deserves it, he more than deserves the title!"

    "sam is just bonkers man! it''s not just one game, it''s not just against specific clubs, he does it against everybody, even the so-called big 6 clubs".

    "he''s powerful, he''s fearless, and endlessly skillful, the boy is a menace for any team that faces him on the pitch!"

    "i would say the perfect word to describe him is to call him a gladiator".

    "yes, that is what sam is, a gladiator".

    "no matter who you are, no matter what reputation you have, play against sam and he''ll take you to deep waters and drown you there!"

    "right now, there''s no stopping him, no way to stop him!"

    "some say he''s too young, others say he''s playing for a small team but take it from me, he''s balon d''or level already!"

    "woah! you serious?"

    "yes, i am!"

    "wow max, honestly, i''ve never seen you this passionate about any club or any one player before. this is surprising". read exclusive adventures at empire

    "so, would you say fulham are now favorites to win the league title?"

    "definitely!"

    well, across the world, the name, samuel moses was truly being remembered as sam went viral again across social media.

 Chapter 207 Feeling on top of the world

    after the game against liverpool, sam felt on top of the world for various different reasons.first was the sheer boasting factor that was birth from beating liverpool in anfield courtesy of his game-winning goals and man of the match display.

    second was going 6 points clear at the top of the premier league table. despite the fact that liverpool had a game in hand, this was still an impressive feat from a fulham perspective.

    after the game, an emotional coach marco silva could not hold himself as on the way back on their team bus, this coach went bonkers, popping champagne and drenching his players in it right there in the team bus.

    in fulham, it was like a festival day.

    the celebrations were everywhere as fulham fans flooded the streets in the thousands, celebrating their victory against liverpool like they already won the league. it was the perfect statement victory against their doubters.

    at the moment, fulham was the team on top of the premier league.

    other factors affected their form. afterall, compared to them, while playing in the league, liverpool and other big teams also played grueling games in the revamped uefa champions league.

    but to fulham, none of that mattered. in the grand scheme of things, it was just excuses, they secured their spot at the top through sweat and blood.

    this was why collectively; they felt on top of the world.

    but experience taught them not to get too lost in the moment though. afterall, it was just one win, the premier league was far from being over.

    like a man once famously said, a league season is a marathon, not a sprint.

    if fulham are to go all the way and win the league, they must approach the season like a marathon, taking it one step at a time and staying disciplined to ensure that they were always in their best state to face challenges.

    personally, for sam, another reason why he felt on top of the world was because after his 1 assist and 2 goals against liverpool, he finally took his tally for the season to 17 goals and 13 assists in just 19 games!

    it was a milestone that was special to him because with that, he finally crossed 30 goal contributions for the 2024/2025 season.

    and it was not even halfway across the premier league season yet!

    ~----~

    [you have completed season quest 5: 30 goal contributions!]

    [mission requirement: register at least 30 goal contributions in the 2024/2025 professional football season!]

    [you have been rewarded with a legendary inheritance!]

    ¡­

    early in the season after playing their first game against manchester united, sam finally got a notification informing him of new season system quests.

    he got 5 new season system quests and of them all, only season quest 5 did not require him playing all the way to the end of the season before he saw results.

    despite this though, he never expected to register 30 goal contributions already before even the halfway point of the premier league season.

    in that aspect, he exceeded his own expectations.

    ''speaking with austin was the magic dealer. it was truly a good decision to decide to create a great bond with my teammates here in fulham''.

    ''becoming close friends with emile smith rowe has to be my best decision of this new season''.

    ''without him, i wouldn''t have met this milestone so fast''.

    sam trusted in his ability. at some point, he knew that he would eventually register 30 goal contributions, it was just the speed that stunned him and clearly, he was not the only one that was stunned by it.

    while he was thinking excitedly about the new legendary inheritance that he would get from his system, the system lit up with more notifications.

    ¡­

    [you have exceeded the expectations of the ultimate football system by registering 30 goal contributions before the halfway point of the season!]

    [you have completed hidden system mission!]

    [congratulations! your reward shall be upgraded!]

    [commencing upgrade¡­, please wait¡­]

    [upgrade completed!]

    [you have been rewarded with a legendary inheritance!]

    ¡­

    this time, the process of the system unveiling his reward was even more mysterious than before. s~ea??h the n?vel?ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    this time, it unveiled it like he was getting an ability card.

    the system screen briefly went black only for an unfamiliar black card with gold rims to appear, hovering at the center of the screen.

    the next moment, the card cracked to the sound of cheers even as celebratory ribbons were shot around the black and gold card.

    after the card cracked, a vivid extremely life-like depiction of a famous football player appeared before sam, looking straight at him.

    "¡­!" sam felt breathless.

    the face looking at him was a face that sam would never forget even if he was in his deathbed. this football player was that legendary, and famous.

    this player wore a familiar white jersey with gold strips at its corners. he had gold-dyed noodle hair, and at the moment, he was holding a football on his right hand, a confident gleam in his eyes.

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    "it''s cristiano ronaldo!" sam screamed in his hotel room.

    and then, it was unveiled.

    ¡­

    [you have been rewarded with a legendary inheritance!]

    [you have been rewarded with the advanced mastery of the legendary football skill: power shot!]

    [note:]

    >you have inherited the legendary inheritance of one of the greatest legends in the history of football, the great portuguese, manchester united, and real madrid legend, cristiano ronaldo<

    >cristiano ronaldo is a legend of the game who made the power shot skill his trademark during his legendary stints in manchester united and real madrid<

    >cr7''s trademark was cutting in from the left, and unleashing thunderous shots that left the goalkeeper no chance<

    >you''ve awakened the advanced mastery of the power shot skill. to get to the legendary mastery level through your inheritance, all you have to do is train and get better, the other requirements have already been fulfilled by your inheritance<

    ¡­

    [you have gained the football title: legs of steel!]

    ¡­

    [your shooting attribute has increased by +5!]

    [your overall player rating has increased by +1!]

    ~----~

 Chapter 208 [Bonus Chapter] CR7s heir

    In the world of football, fans tend to hype new players up, dubbing them the new Messi, the new Ronaldo, or even attributing them to nations like the Turkish Messi. But all of them were fake, till now.In his room, Sam got an upgrade that would make any offensive football player in the world incredibly envious, he became Cristiano Ronaldo''s heir!

    Sam was an avid Lionel Messi fan but who cared?

    Which sane football player aiming for the top of the footballing world would pass up on an opportunity to inherit a legendary skill from Lionel Messi''s rival?

    Sam loved Lionel Messi, but he respected Cristiano Ronaldo.

    At the peak of his powers, Lionel Messi was above every other footballer at such a stratosphere that it took a special kind of player to compete with him at this peak, and that special kind of player was Cristiano Ronaldo.

    Like Messi himself once put it during a rating a world-class players, it was him and Ronaldo, then everyone else.

    That was how high they were above everybody.

    Against Messi''s sheer talent and brilliance, the Portuguese legend became the first black mamba of football before Sam, challenging the legendary Argentine head-to-head for almost 2 decades through his sheer hard work.

    Sam would be a fool not to respect him.

    And now, he just became CR7''s heir.

    After the series of notifications that Sam got after the Liverpool game, this was how Sam''s system player status now looked like.

    ~----~

    [Player status!]

    Host: Samuel Moses

    Current Career Status: Premier League player, EFL Cup reigning champion

    Talent Rating: A+

    Player Position: Attacking Midfield

    Player Attributes:

    *Pace: 81

    *Shot: 85

    *Pass: 80

    *Dribbling: 78

    *Defending: 38

    *Physicality: 76

    *Stamina: 84

    Overall Rating: 83

    ¡­

    [Owned Football Skills:]

    [Passive skill: Stalwart]

    >You have proven your credentials as a reliable stalwart with well-rounded attributes in the middle of the pitch. You can score, you can assist, you can dribble, and you can press; you are the complete package<

    >+10% to all 4 packages when on the pitch<

    >All 4 packages refer to your shooting attribute, your passing attribute, your dribbling attribute, and your stamina attribute<

    [Active skills:]

    [Basic mastery level: Body feint; step overs; roulette; knuckle shot; overhead kick; rainbow flick; trivela shot, basic penalty technique, basic freekick technique]

    [Intermediate mastery level: Elastico; Cruyff turn; La croqueta]

    [Advanced mastery level: Spatial awareness; Power shot]

    ¡­

    [Legendary Inheritance: Elastico]

    [Legendary Inheritance: Spatial Awareness]

    [Legendary Inheritance: Power Shot]

    ¡­

    [Ability cards:]

    >Shoot it like Lewy<

    [Card uses remaining: 2]

    >Thread it like KDB<

    [Card uses remaining: 2]

    >Bend it like Beckham<

    [Card uses remaining: 2]

    ¡­

    [Title: Space Interpreter!]

    [Title: Legs of Steel!]

    [System Remark: An elite young talent playing in one of the best leagues in the world!] Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ~----~

    Looking through his player status, Sam could not help but feel that it was truly unfair to other players. ''It''s just unfair''.

    ''While others have to work their whole life for it, here I am, in my room, chilling after a game and leveling up just like that''.

    With the way he was before, Sam was already a menace in the premier league, terrorizing every opponent that he met but with now all of a sudden as CR7''s heir, his threat increased to a whole other level.

    Sam''s shooting was already elite before now and though he didn''t try it out yet, Sam believed that his shooting was now at a truly demonic level.

    Looking at his ceiling with a smile gently nursing his features, he thought. ''Is this how it feels to be a genius?''

    ''Something that others struggle for, you get it effortlessly, the only facet being that I''m someone who became a genius through a system''.

    Beating Liverpool in Anfield already made this day one of the best days of Sam''s life and career, becoming CR7''s heir increased his joy even more, but little did Sam know that his joy was yet to peak.

    The electronic ringing sound of his house reverberated the next moment.

    Immediately, Sam looked at the time.

    [10:32pm]

    ''Who is visiting me by this time?'' He thought, perplexed. ''Is it Smith Rowe? Or Ian? Did something happen?''

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    To be on the safe side security-wise though, Sam decided to check his CCTV system first and that was when his jaws dropped in shock.

    "¡­!"

    The next moment, in a scramble, he quickly put on his slippers before charging towards the door and opening it.

    As soon as she opened it, a familiar figure jumped into his arms.

    "Congratulations babe!" Kayla hugged him tightly. "I watched today''s game, haha, you were terrific!"

    Sam had so many questions in his mind, like, ''what are you doing here? What about school? How did you suddenly come to England?''

    Despite his many questions though, he shelved all of them aside simply because it felt incredibly good to meet his girlfriend again.

    Together, they went inside as Kayla finally explained her impromptu visit.

    She guessed that he would be in a good mood after his masterpiece performance in beating Liverpool, and since she was already a bit bored of school, she made the impromptu decision to embark on the trip and surprise him to celebrate today''s victory physically with him.

    And here she was.

    Sam did not care about the details though; all he cared about was that his girlfriend was here with him. He was incredibly happy.

    That night, Kayla decided to reward him with food as she went into the kitchen to make a new Nigerian food recipe that she learned.

    It was already far past Sam''s bedtime but for his girlfriend, he was ready to indulge for just one night.

    That night, Sam ate with his girlfriend, enjoying her delicious food and having a nice time together.

    And later into the night, they got intimate as Sam had a second intimate encounter with his girlfriend.

    It was a feeling that he was never going to get bored of.

    Truly, today ranked extremely highly in the list of the best days of his life.

    By the time that Sam finally slept with his girlfriend in his arms, he felt like a fulfilled man who was successful and had achieved it all.

    He felt on top of the world.

 Chapter 209 [Bonus Chapter] Matchday 17

    (Premier league:)(Matchday 17 of 38:)

    (Aston Villa ¨C Man City)

    (Date: 21st December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (West Ham ¨C Brighton)

    (Date: 21st December, 2024)

    ¡­

    Find exclusive stories on empire

    (Ipswich Town ¨C Newcastle)

    (Date: 21st December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Brentford ¨C Nottm Forest)

    (Date: 21st December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Crystal Palace ¨C Arsenal)

    (Date: 21st December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Everton ¨C Chelsea)

    (Date: 22nd December, 2024)

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    (Man United ¨C Bournemouth)

    (Date: 22nd December, 2024)

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    (Fulham ¨C Southampton)

    (Date: 22nd December, 2024)

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    (Leicester City ¨C Wolves)

    (Date: 22nd December, 2024)

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    (Tottenham ¨C Liverpool)

    (Date: 22nd December, 2024)

    Fulham''s game against Liverpool was not the end of the world and conscious of that, under their coach''s tutelage, the Fulham players kept on pushing, giving their all in training. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After that Fulham game, the players realized something.

    They didn''t really pay attention to it before now but after that Liverpool game, when they did, they discovered that the stock of every single one of them that played for Fulham game-in game-out already increased considerably.

    Their valuation in transfermarkt already experienced a massive increase and this did even more in bolstering the confidence of these players.

    There was this feeling of inferiority complex among mid-table teams before, most especially when they''re facing teams that were superior on paper.

    But now, after the victory against Liverpool, Fulham truly shed their identity as a mid-table team this season and their mentality changed with it.

    Even in training, they now played like players playing for a big club, there was no margin for error in their game anymore.

    The only acceptable outcome from them in games was perfection if they truly wanted to go all the way and win the premier league trophy.

    After the Liverpool game, they had 18 days of rest to prepare for their next game and they did not waste it, continuing to give their all in training like upcoming stars who aimed to impress their coach.

    They didn''t care that their next opponent was going to be Southampton, the club currently in the worst form in the premier league.

    They would prepare for it like any other game.

    Like this, the days passed and in no time, D-day was here.

    Like expected, both teams started with their strongest lineups.

    For Fulham, Raul Jimenez once again led the line as the starting striker, while behind him was the trio of Harry Wilson who was returning from injury, Sam, and Emile Smith Rowe.

    Behind the forwards was the duo of Lukic and Berge, while the 4-man defense comprised of Antonee Robinson, Cuenca, Diop, and Tete. Bernd Leno naturally started in between the posts for Fulham.

    For Southampton, McCarthy started in between the posts. Walker-Peters, Harwood, Bednarek, and Manning started ahead of the goalkeeper, while the 3-man center midfield comprised of Aribo, Downes, and Fernandes.

    Dibling started as the sole attacking midfielder, while ahead of him was the offensive duo of Armstrong and Sulemana.

    They played in a 4-3-1-2 formation.

    It was another Fulham home game played in Craven Cottage.

    On paper, Fulham were poised to blow Southampton out of the water and as soon as the first whistle from the referee blew, Fulham did just that, coming out of their shell like an apex predator that smelled blood.

    And in this game, with Alex Iwobi rested, the S factor partnership struck in all it''s deadliness as within just 3 minutes, the first goal entered.

    After a series of tiki taka passes to cut through the Southampton formation, Sam released the final pass back to Emile Smith Rowe who poked it in behind the defense for Raul Jimenez to run into one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

    McCarthy, the Southampton goalkeeper charged out immediately to snuff out the danger but keeping his cool, Raul Jimenez calmly rounded the goalkeeper before poking into an empty net to score his team''s first goal.

    The crowd in Craven Cottage didn''t roar as loud as they did at other times when their team scored, they simply sang their club songs, cheering on their players as they were feeling in a good football mood.

    They knew that their team would win, just by how many goals.

    After that first goal though, Southampton improved, matching Fulham''s intensity. Even as their attack remained blunt against Fulham''s defense, they were able to stay compact and defensively disciplined, keeping the rampant Fulham attackers at bay.

    10 minutes, 1-0¡­

    20 minutes, 1-0¡­

    30 minutes, 1-0¡­

    This game was seemingly about to dissolve into a boring affair where Fulham just attacked fruitlessly and Southampton defended, till a certain player decided to take matters into his own hands and entertain the home supporters.

    Still feeling in the mood of his girlfriend having visited after the Liverpool game, culminating in one of the best days of his life, Sam''s good mood translated into samba football on his part.

    He didn''t even go full throttle to flex his ability as CR7''s heir in this game yet, he simply decided to enjoy his football.

    And then, Sam did it, spraying passes left and right, cutting the Southampton defense down time and time again with his passes like some otherworldly Butcher that decided to ascend from the abyss to torment humans.

    He was Southampton''s ever-present nightmare and finally, the result came as in the 37th minute, Sam set up Emile Smith Rowe, slipping the ball in for him to rifle into the net, doubling Fulham''s lead.

    37 minutes, 2-0¡­

    3 minutes later, Sam did it again, setting up Emile Smith Rowe again with a perfectly weighted lobbed pass in the Southampton 18-yard box for the in-form winger to poke into an empty net from close range.

    40 minutes, 3-0¡­

    Fulham was tearing Southampton apart.

    But then, not satisfied yet, Sam did it again 5 minutes later, setting up Emile Smith Rowe for the third time this game.

    This time, it was a simple pass outside the box, setting the English winger up to unleash a thunderous shot from outside the box.

    McCarthy, the Southampton goalkeeper dived, touching the ball with his fingertips but it was not enough as the ball snuck past his grasp and into the net.

    "Yessss!!!" Emile Smith Rowe celebrated exuberantly.

    It was his first hattrick of the season, and it was also Sam''s first hattrick of assists in his career.

    45 minutes, 4-0¡­

    Southampton were not only being torn apart; they were being humbled.

    During half-time, Coach Marco Silva finally made a single change, taking off Sam and putting on Pereira to replace him.

    Sam already had a perfect game.

 Chapter 210 [Bonus Chapter] Matchday 18

    Alex Iwobi never had to be introduced into the game.After Sam and Smith''s masterpiece in the first half, Coach Marco Silva had the luxury to heavily rotate his team in the second half, giving rest to a few important players of his squad in preparations for Fulham''s next game.

    With Sam out of the game, Fulham''s threat in front of goal lessened considerably as Southampton finally started coming out of their box.

    They tried to create a few chances for their forwards but none of them was concrete enough, the rugged Fulham defense kept every attacking opportunity that they created at bay.

    In the end, even Emile Smith Rowe was taken off in the 65th minute of this game after one of the best games of his career.

    Fulham was still winning 4-0.

    In the 72nd minute, Fulham finally added the nail to the coffin as Raul Jimenez set Pereira up to slam in the 5th goal of this game, dooming Southampton to sure defeat and shutting off all non-existent hopes of a comeback.

    By the 90th minute, the body language of the Southampton players made it seem like they could not wait to leave the pitch.

    This was not just any defeat; it was a mutilation.

    Emile Smith Rowe won another man of the match award for the season after contributing with 4 incredible goal contributions.

    Later that evening, after the titanic clash between Tottenham and Liverpool, the premier league table was finally updated again after an exciting matchday.

    (Premier league results:)

    (Matchday 17 of 38:)

    (Aston Villa 2-2 Man City)

    (Date: 21st December, 2024) sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡­

    (West Ham 1-2 Brighton)

    (Date: 21st December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Ipswich Town 1-4 Newcastle)

    (Date: 21st December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Brentford 1-1 Nottm Forest)

    (Date: 21st December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal)

    (Date: 21st December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Everton 0-2 Chelsea)

    (Date: 22nd December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Man United 2-1 Bournemouth)

    (Date: 22nd December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Fulham 5-0 Southampton)

    (Date: 22nd December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Leicester City 1-1 Wolves)

    (Date: 22nd December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Tottenham 1-3 Liverpool)

    (Date: 22nd December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. Fulham GP: 17/ W:14/ D:2/ L:1/ Pts: 45)

    (2. Liverpool GP: 17/ W:11/ D:2/ L:2/ Pts: 39)

    (3. Chelsea GP: 17/ W:11/ D:4/ L:2/ Pts: 37)

    Stay updated with empire

    (4. Arsenal GP: 17/ W:9/ D:6/ L:2/ Pts: 33)

    (5. Nottm Forest GP: 17/ W:8/ D:5/ L:4/ Pts: 29)

    (6. Brighton GP: 17/ W:7/ D:6/ L:4/ Pts: 27)

    (7. Man City GP: 17/ W:7/ D:5/ L:5/ Pts: 26)

    (8. Newcastle GP: 17/ W:7/ D:5/ L:5/ Pts: 26)

    (9. Aston Villa GP: 17/ W:7/ D:4/ L:7/ Pts: 25)

    (10. Bournemouth GP: 17/ W:7/ D:4/ L:6/ Pts: 25)

    (11. Brentford GP: 17/ W:7/ D:3/ L:7/ Pts: 24)

    (12. Man United GP: 17/ W:6/ D:4/ L:7/ Pts: 22)

    (13. Tottenham GP: 17/ W:7/ D:1/ L:9/ Pts: 22)

    (14. West Ham GP: 17/ W:5/ D:4/ L:8/ Pts: 19)

    (15. Crystal Palace GP: 17/ W:3/ D:7/ L:7/ Pts: 16)

    (16. Leicester GP: 17/ W:3/ D:6/ L:8/ Pts: 15)

    (17. Everton GP: 17/ W:3/ D:5/ L:8/ Pts: 14)

    (18. Ipswich Town GP: 17/ W:2/ D:6/ L:9/ Pts: 12)

    (19. Wolves GP: 17/ W:1/ D:4/ L:12/ Pts: 7)

    (20. Southampton GP: 17/ W:1/ D:1/ L:13/ Pts: 4)

    After 17 matchdays of the English premier league, this was how the premier league table looked. Fulham was still leading the line with 6 points.

    This was no longer a shock to the premier league audience though, this time, the shock was that Manchester City, the reigning premier league champions finally dropped to 7th position in the league after their run of atrocious results.

    Manchester City was truly going through a crisis, nothing seemed to be working for them at the moment.

    On the pitch, under the eye test, Man City seemed to have regained their mojo and were playing well but the X factor was just not in their favor.

    Fulham did not have time to worry about the form of the champions though, this was because their next game was a troubling one.

    After clashing against almost all the top clubs in the English premier league and surviving this season already, they were now finally about to clash with the club that was rated as currently the most in-form team alongside them.

    Chelsea was in imperious form, and now, these 2 teams were set to clash in a London derby that was going to send ripples through the premier league scene.

    (Premier league:)

    (Matchday 18 of 38:)

    (Man City ¨C Everton)

    (Date: 26th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Newcastle ¨C Aston Villa)

    (Date: 26th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Nottm Forest ¨C Tottenham)

    (Date: 26th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Bournemouth ¨C Crystal Palace)

    (Date: 26th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Chelsea ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 26th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Southampton ¨C West Ham)

    (Date: 26th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Wolves ¨C Man United)

    (Date: 26th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Liverpool ¨C Leicester City)

    (Date: 26th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Brighton ¨C Brentford)

    (Date: 27th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Arsenal ¨C Ipswich Town)

    (Date: 27th December, 2024)

    Having quietly snuck to 3rd place in the premier league table while claiming that they were not in a title race, a resurgent Chelsea finally had a shot at the surprise package of this season, Fulham.

    The buildup to this game proved to be even more explosive than the build up to Liverpool vs Fulham as the media fanned the flames.

    The game was dubbed the London Rumble.

    It was a chance for Fulham to prove their credentials for the umpteenth time this season, proving that they were not up there by mistake and it was also a chance for Chelsea to show their credentials in front of their home fans.

    It was a Chelsea home game meaning the fans in blue would be welcoming the high-flying Fulham in Stamford Bridge.

    It was going to be a tough game but the Fulham players were undeterred.

    They approached it like every other game this season, giving their all in training, staying at an elite level throughout.

    With them doing their part, time did its part, accelerating and in the blink of an eye, it was 26th¡­, it was D-day.

    Chelsea welcomed Fulham to Stamford Bridge.

 Chapter 211 [Bonus Chapter] The London Rumble [1]

    They dubbed it the London Rumble.That evening, North London became explosive.

    Passionate Chelsea fans in blue across North London came out in numbers, going on a blue parade around the city of London.

    Blue ribbons, blue smoke, blue buses, Chelsea fans pulled out all stops, shutting London down on the 26th all in the preparation and passion for the game.

    The fans in blue made their voices heard hours before the game.

    From their actions, it was clear that they demanded nothing from their team but victory. Yes, Fulham was topping the premier league table.

    Yes, Fulham was a team in incredible form, but Chelsea was equipped with the tools to win this game and since they were playing at home, the Chelsea fans wanted nothing but a convincing victory.

    This was why they did all this fanfare.

    When the Fulham team bus rolled into town, they were assaulted by a tirade of blue. Passionate Chelsea fans welcomed them to their part of town, raining insults at them, shoving offensive banners in their faces.

    It was absolute chaos.

    The Fulham team bus needed security before it was able to make its way inside Stamford Bridge. This encounter alone already unnerved the Fulham players, which meant the fans in blue already partially achieved their goals.

    Sam knew what was happening. It was pretty normal in football; fans go to pretty extreme lengths just to put their opponents off their game.

    It was working, the Fulham players were barely holding on to their nerves.

    Sam was also affected but unlike them, he had an inner voice that reared its head whenever he was challenged.

    The fan service already registered as a challenge to his brain.

    ''Win!''

    The voice was already rearing its head.

    As they came down, Sam said just a single word to his teammates before leading the way out. "Let''s go get another famous win!"

    With that, he stepped out of the bus first.

    "BOOOOO¡­!"

    Instantly, Sam was drowned by a tirade of boos.

    Passionate Chelsea fans booed him loudly, showing him the middle finger whole also yelling offensive words at him.

    Sam simply took one look at the fans in blue and then, calmly, he wore his headset before trudging down into the stadium.

    His teammates took a line from his playbook, putting their headsets on just as they stepped out of the team bus as they increased their music volume, drowning the noise being made by the Chelsea fans.

    It worked. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Listening to music, they felt their tensed minds relaxing. And then, they finally entered their dressing room for the final preparations before the game.

    A few minutes later, both squads emerged out of the tunnel.

    There was no last-minute change to both team lineups, Chelsea and Fulham both started with their strongest lineups.

    For Chelsea, Robert Sanchez started in between the posts while their 4-man defense comprised of Malo Gusto, Adarabioyo, Levi Colwill, and Marc Cucurella. Ahead of them was the midfield duo of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.

    The 4-man attack comprised of Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, Jadon Sancho, and the resurgent Nicolas Jackson.

    Playing the same 4-2-3-1 formation, Fulham slapped Chelsea with their own lineup of players, promising an exciting clash in Stamford Bridge.

    Again, Raul Jimenez led the line as the striker while behind him was the trio of Alex Iwobi, Sam, and Emile Smith Rowe. Further behind them was the midfield duo of Lukic and Pereira.

    Their 4-man defense comprised of Robinson, Diop, Calvin Bassey, and Tete while Bernd Leno naturally started in between the posts.

    Due to the fan service from the home fans before the game, even before a ball was kicked, the tension in this stadium was already palpable.

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, it was like the horn to kickstart a war was finally blown as it exploded.

    The battlefield was already set, it was Stamford Bridge.

    The stakes were highest, 3 points were up for grabs. The armies of both sides were ready and determined, and their Generals were laser focused, ready to lead their troops into battle, a prelude to a titanic struggle.

    From the very first minute of this game, Chelsea took the game to Fulham after the referee''s whistle sounded, forcing the West London club to defend.

    For another game in this premier league season, Sam was forced back to help his team defend and he did it with gusto. This was because just like his teammates, he could sense the threat that this Chelsea team posed to them.

    From the midfield to attack, Chelsea was having a terrific game.

    Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez created the attacking thrust, utilizing their creativity to constantly break Fulham down, forcing them into compromising situations where they had to improvise to survive.

    During the first few minutes of this game, it was wave after wave of Chelsea attacks even as the home fans in Stamford Bridge roared their players on.

    It was a wonder why Chelsea didn''t get a goal yet by the 10th minute.

    But the North London club learned to rue their inability to score because after the 10th minute, Fulham was no longer content with absorbing pressure.

    Like a caterpillar unfurling from its cocoon and becoming a butterfly, Fulham soon transformed, spreading its wings and taking flight.

    And of course, this resurgence was led by a certain player, Samuel Moses.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    The Sam chants broke out in Stamford Bridge by the away fans.

    The home fan did not let it though as they drowned it with boos but in the zone state already, Sam did not let any of the noise affect him.

    Sam was not the first player to enter the zone state though.

    Cole Palmer entered the zone state first, directing the Chelsea attack and once Sam also entered the state of flow, he led Fulham on the counterattack.

    It became an end-to-end game of endless action.

    And just as Fulham was becoming threatening, another Chelsea player entered the zone state in Moises Caicedo.

    That night, the Ecuadorian International seemed to reincarnate, channeling the spirit of a prime N''golo Kante.

    That night, OG Chelsea fans didn''t see Caicedo, all they saw was the endless energy of N''golo Kante gliding through the pitch, causing mayhem, stealing balls, and creating counterattacking opportunities for Chelsea.

    With help from the Ecuadorian international, Cole Palmer took it a step further and in the 33rd minute of this game, the Englishman created Chelsea''s closest chance of this first half.

    POW!

    Cole Palmer''s direct shot forced Bernd Leno into an impressive save, stinging the Fulham goalkeeper''s arms.

    While he worried for Chelsea, Sam also worried for Fulham.

    With these 2 attacking midfielders taking the game by the scruff of the neck, the fans across this stadium had their hearts in their throat for most of this first half and then incredibly, despite the venom filled in this half, it ended in a goalless draw.

    The first half had no goals in it but still, it was exceedingly exciting.

    It was a half for the ages.

    Truly, it was the London Rumble.

 Chapter 212 [Bonus Chapter] The London Rumble [2]

    "Do you think we can''t win?" Coach Marco Silva confronted his players as soon as they were in the dressing room during half-time."Come on guys!" He clapped. "We can do this!"

    "Let''s shock them, let''s stun them, let''s make them remember and learn to dread us!"

    "Let''s go out there and score a goal!"

    "Come on!"

    Coach Marco Silva''s little team talk left the blood of his players boiling as they came out for the 2nd half, and it was the same mood in the Chelsea team. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Enzo Maresca seemed to have promised them heaven and earth because the Chelsea players came out of the tunnel with a fire burning in their eyes.

    FWEEEE!

    When the referee''s whistle sounded, this game continued, with even more fire, more venom, and more intensity.

    The second half was even more chaotic than the first as both teams showed their desperation, wanting to get a goal first.

    In this second half, offensively, 2 players remained the standout, Cole Palmer and Sam as every other player was no more than support to them. The intensity of this game was too much for them to thrive.

    It was a war on the pitch.

    The little flicks from Cole Palmer, the body feints, the tight-control and dribbling, the flair, attracting dangerous challenges from the Fulham players as they started slowly accumulating yellow cards.

    Every time that the ball touched his leg and he moved with it, the away fan section felt like they would die of anxiety.

    The same applied for the Chelsea fans, caused by Sam.

    While Cole Palmer''s game had more flair to it and was more refined, Sam''s game was more brutal and direct, straight to the point.

    His was the mazy runs, the powerful outbursts of speed, the nutmegs, the silky elasticos, the powerful shoulder shoves in a display of physicality, and then the occasional long range piledriver that stung Robert Sanchez''s gloves, Sam played like an absolute tank, a gladiator.

    Every time that he had the ball close to the Chelsea 18-yard box, the Chelsea defense moved, scrambling backward in response to his movements.

    This game was exciting, far too exciting, the Chelsea and Fulham fans were bearing witness to a game for the ages.

    Another impressive figure in this game as the second half wore on was Enzo Fernandez. Settling into his mojo, the Argentine international seemed to transform into a prime Toni Kroos, mounting in the base of the Chelsea midfield like a fortress.

    And from that point, he sprayed pin-point passes left and right around the pitch, both short and long ones with deadly accuracy, dictating Chelsea''s tempo and aiding Cole Palmer''s brilliance.

    With him taking care of the control part though, there was another teammate of his that protected the defense, most especially when Fulham''s Zinedine Sam went on his marauding runs.

    This game, the Ecuadorian International, Moises Caicedo was like the impenetrable ancient wall of China.

    Aggressive, physical, and skilled, Moises Caicedo played like a monster.

    He jumped into tackles with gusto, not scared of diving into sliding tackles just to win the ball back. He was Sam''s greatest bane this game even as Sam torched him a few times already.

    So long as Fulham didn''t score yet though, Moises Caicedo was satisfied, Sam could torch and humiliate him how many times he wanted.

    This game was a masterpiece!

    Despite all the excitement though, despite all the chances that were created, despite the individual brilliance in display, by the 70th minute of this game, the game remained a goalless draw.

    It was crazy, far too crazy to be real.

    By the 75th minute, it seemed like this game was going to be a straight draw when after relentless pressure all game, Cole Palmer went on another of his dizzying runs and this time, an unlikely opponent brought him down close to the Fulham 18-yard box.

    Hot-headed from 75 minutes of non-stop action, in the zone state, Sam could not hold himself as tracking back, he slid in, tripping Cole Palmer just outside the box.

    FWEEEE!

    The referee gave Sam a yellow card, awarding a freekick to Chelsea.

    "BOOOO¡­!" A loud chorus of boos resounded from the Chelsea fans again as they directed their hate at the Fulham superstar.

    Jumping to his feet, Sam extended a hand to help Cole Palmer up only for the Englishman to slap his hand aside, helping himself up.

    "¡­!" For a moment, Sam felt like a switch just sparked inside of him as he lost his head.

    That moment in this game almost caused a fight on the pitch as the referee had to give 2 more yellow cards before the players from both sides who got involved were separated and pacified.

    That near fight only increased the tension in this game. And in that tension was when Cole Palmer stood before the ball to take the freekick.

    Taking a deep breath, the Englishman took a look at goal and after the referee''s whistle, he went on an angled run, then¡­

    BAM!

    With his lethal left foot, he kicked the ball, curling it past the wall of Fulham players as it honed towards the top left corner like a missile.

    Bernd Leno dived after the ball but after saving his team so many times this game already, for the first time, this goalkeeper failed to be superman.

    The ball tore its way into the net.

    "¡­!" There was a brief silence of disbelief in Stamford Bridge, and then¡­

    "GOALLLLLLLLLL¡­!!!" Stamford Bridge erupted.

    "PALMERRRRRR!!!" The commentator roared.

    "What a goal! What a freekick! What a befitting way to score the only goal of the most exciting game of the season!"

    "Cold Palmer strikes again!"

    "This boy has got ice in his veins!"

    With sweat all over his face, Cole Palmer jogged towards the corner flag, doing his iconic shivering celebration as Stamford Bridge worshipped him.

    While Chelsea celebrated, Fulham was devastated.

    After playing such a great game for 78 minutes, matching Chelsea''s intensity at every turn, in the end, Cole Palmer''s brilliance did them in.

    They finally understood what their opponents felt when Sam created his moments of magic, it was just too unfair.

    But then¡­

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    The devil in a certain boy''s head was already turning rabid, slowly turning him into a devil incarnate on the pitch.

    There was still 12 minutes of normal time.

    To the devil incarnate at this moment, that was more than enough time!

 Chapter 213 [Bonus Chapter] The London Rumble [3]

    FWEEEE!The referee''s whistle sounded again to continue the game.

    In this game, Sam had been insulted, fouled, and challenged, but it was only after Cole Palmer''s incredible freekick goal did he truly feel desperate.

    Sam was not about to be upstaged!

    It was a rare selfish moment on his part.

    At this moment, Sam was not thinking about Fulham, nor about the team''s victory, all he cared about at this moment was his pride, he was not about to be upstaged by the Englishman!

    It was selfish but like they say, sometimes, it''s that little bit of selfishness and arrogance that separates legends from the mere elites.

    After Cole Palmer''s goal, Sam became the devil''s incarnate.

    After that goal, for the first time since last season, Sam felt his teammates truly lose hope in a game. Afterall, they''ve given far beyond 100% in this game, this was already their best football and to still lose with that? They lost hope.

    But Sam did not lose hope.

    The game continued. Cole Palmer continued playing at an extraterrestrial level, Moises Caicedo kept on keeping tabs on Sam, while Enzo Fernandez kept on stretching Fulham''s defense with his passing range.

    At some point, the Ecuadorian International was tasked to mark Sam, limiting the influence of the Nigerian International in Fulham''s attack.

    Coach Marco Silva already made multiple changes, switching almost his full starting offense but yet, it was not bearing fruit.

    80 minutes, no goal¡­

    82 minutes, no goal¡­

    85 minutes, no goal¡­

    It seemed like Fulham was about to suffer its second defeat of the season, but then in the 87th minute, it happened.

    It was a Chelsea corner kick.

    After the ball was floated into the box, Sam helped his team defend, rising highest as he cleared the ball out only for a scramble to start just outside the box.

    After the chaotic scramble, as Sam charged out of his box, the ball was sent in his direction and immediately, he leaped high, taming the ball with his chest.

    Bam!

    Sam felt an opposition player slam into his back, having jumped after him to vie for the ball.

    He lost his balance in mid-air but quickly spreading his arms like a bird floating in the sky, he was able to barely stabilize himself as he landed.

    As soon as Sam landed was when he learned that the player that jumped after him was Moises Caicedo, his bodyguard during the second half of this game.

    Like him, this guy was already in the zone state.

    His tackling skills were sharp and at an ultra-instinct level, his battle with Sam this game was legendary, having been torched a few times and having stopped him a few times in his tracks too.

    But this time, Sam refused to be stopped.

    As Moises Caicedo threatened, Sam held the ball, patient, teasing and luring the Ecuadorian International in and as soon as Caicedo bought it, sticking his leg out, Sam erupted like a Phoenix.

    Bam! Bam!

    Moving with lightning-fast speed, Sam kicked the ball twice in rapid succession, deleting this player with a silky la croqueta.

    Moises Caicedo slipped, falling to his butt but instantly, almost as if he bounced off the ground, the Ecuadorian International sprang back to his feet and went on the chase.

    Sam already exploded away with speed, abusing his pace but Moises Caicedo was no weakling either when it came to a speed war.

    Moises Caicedo chased Sam all the way from the Fulham 18-yard box, crossing the half-way line, and going deep into Chelsea''s half.

    "BOOOOO¡­!!!" Sam endured a chorus of loud boos from the Chelsea fans, but to him, they all felt like background noise.

    His brain easily abstracted it all out, focusing on only what was before him, his ball, the pitch, and his opponents.

    Running with the ball was slower than running without it, this was why Moises Caicedo eventually overtook Sam just before they got to the Chelsea 18-yard box, forcing Sam to slow down as he scanned around for options.

    To Sam''s dismay, there was no help, he was the fastest Fulham player since Adama Traore was not on the pitch.

    There was no support for him and unless he wanted the rest of the Chelsea players to recover, he had to go at it alone.

    That was all that Sam needed to know.

    His eyes briefly clashed with Moises Caicedo''s, and sparks of electricity seemed to explode between the both of them.

    Whoosh!

    Caicedo stuck out his leg again but reacting faster, Sam dragged the ball backward and as Caicedo pushed forward, Sam did this player dirty.

    Ping! Pang!

    His leg moved in a blur, hitting the ball rapidly with the same leg twice as he deleted the Ecuadorian International a second time within just a few seconds with a skill move, this time the elastico.

    Moises Caicedo staggered unsteadily, losing his balance as Sam charged past him into the 18-yard box finally, clashing with Chelsea''s last man in defense, Adarabioyo.

    Fully acknowledging his former teammates'' threat, Adarabioyo paid full attention to Sam''s movement, marking him perfectly till Caicedo reacted again, recovering for the second time despite being torched.

    Moises Caicedo was a beast this game.

    As the Ecuadorian International charged in this time, Sam flicked the ball to his right, about to set himself up and finally, Caicedo made a mistake.

    Being torched twice in such convincing fashion definitely already got to his nerves and this time, unwilling to let Sam squirm away, he stuck his leg out recklessly. He did not catch the ball, instead catching the player.

    Wrapping his legs around Sam''s ankle, this Chelsea player collapsed with Sam in tow as Sam fell down in an awkward angle.

    "Woah! What a nasty fall!" The commentator exclaimed.

    "Is it just me or did Sam''s ankle seemed to twist there?"

    "Hope it''s not serious, but what will the referee make of this?"

    FWEEEE!

    "He''s done it now!" The commentator screamed. "Red card to Moises Caicedo, penalty kick to Fulham!"

    Immediately after, Sam stood up to his feet, bumping fists with his teammates that finally arrived at the 18-yard box.

    Moises Caicedo didn''t stay in the pitch for long, trudging off with his head down to a loud round of applause from the Chelsea fans.

    The fans didn''t seem to care that he just got a reckless red card and forced Chelsea into a penalty situation.

    While Caicedo walked off, Muniz walked towards Sam with the ball and whispered to him, handing the ball over to him. "Take it".

    This time, Sam did not stand on ceremony. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Placing the ball down, he waited for the referee''s whistle to sound even as the home fans drowned him in the loudest tirade of boos.

    FWEEEE!

    Calmly, Sam ran towards the ball and then¡­

    BAM!

    Sam hit this ball with power with his right foot towards the top left corner. Robert Sanchez dived the right way, but still, he stood no chance.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!" The commentator screamed.

    "What a game! Oh freaking gods¡­, what a game this has been!"

    "Cole Palmer scored the first goal, Sam got the equalizer, what a game!"

    For the first time this game, Sam finally managed to briefly silence Stamford Bridge as the home fans glared at him in resentment and resignation.

    Charging towards the corner flag, Sam pointed at his head in celebration but as the adrenaline started dying, that was when he felt it, a sharp pang of pain.

    Suddenly screaming, Sam collapsed to the pitch, clutching his ankle.

    "OH! What is this? An emergency, Sam is down!"

    "He''s clutching his ankle; I did say it looked like he twisted his ankle!"

    Sam could not even hear the commentator anymore as he was in a whole world of pain, he felt like he would die. The medical staff rushed into the pitch as Sam was stretchered off the pitch in tears.

    Again, Stamford Bridge was silenced as this happened.

    With Sam out of the game, the fire in the game died. A few more minutes later, the game finally ended 1-1, a draw.

    It was an unforgettable game.

 Chapter 214 [Bonus Chapter] Extent of injury

    (Premier league:)(Matchday 18 of 38:)

    (Man City 3-0 Everton)

    (Date: 26th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Newcastle 1-1 Aston Villa)

    (Date: 26th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Nottm Forest 2-2 Tottenham)

    (Date: 26th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Bournemouth 1-0 Crystal Palace)

    (Date: 26th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Chelsea 1-1 Fulham)

    (Date: 26th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Southampton 0-2 West Ham)

    (Date: 26th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Wolves 1-3 Man United)

    (Date: 26th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Liverpool 2-0 Leicester City)

    (Date: 26th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Brighton 3-2 Brentford)

    (Date: 27th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Arsenal 4-1 Ipswich Town)

    (Date: 27th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. Fulham GP: 18/ W:14/ D:3/ L:1/ Pts: 46)

    (2. Liverpool GP: 17/ W:12/ D:2/ L:2/ Pts: 42)

    (3. Chelsea GP: 18/ W:11/ D:5/ L:2/ Pts: 38)

    (4. Arsenal GP: 18/ W:10/ D:6/ L:2/ Pts: 36)

    (5. Nottm Forest GP: 18/ W:8/ D:6/ L:4/ Pts: 30)

    (6. Brighton GP: 18/ W:8/ D:6/ L:4/ Pts: 30)

    (7. Man City GP: 18/ W:8/ D:5/ L:5/ Pts: 29)

    (8. Newcastle GP: 18/ W:7/ D:6/ L:5/ Pts: 27)

    (9. Aston Villa GP: 18/ W:7/ D:5/ L:7/ Pts: 26)

    (10. Bournemouth GP: 18/ W:8/ D:4/ L:6/ Pts: 28)

    (11. Brentford GP: 18/ W:7/ D:3/ L:8/ Pts: 24)

    (12. Man United GP: 18/ W:7/ D:4/ L:7/ Pts: 25)

    (13. Tottenham GP: 18/ W:7/ D:2/ L:9/ Pts: 23)

    (14. West Ham GP: 18/ W:6/ D:4/ L:8/ Pts: 22)

    (15. Crystal Palace GP: 18/ W:3/ D:7/ L:8/ Pts: 16)

    (16. Leicester GP: 18/ W:3/ D:6/ L:9/ Pts: 15)

    (17.Everton GP: 17/ W:3/ D:5/ L:9/ Pts: 14)

    (18. Ipswich Town GP: 18/ W:2/ D:6/ L:10/ Pts: 12)

    (19. Wolves GP: 18/ W:1/ D:4/ L:13/ Pts: 7)

    (20. Southampton GP: 18/ W:1/ D:1/ L:16/ Pts: 4)

    After 18 matchdays of the 2024/2025 premier league season, this was how the premier league table looked like.

    There were a few highlights of matchday 18. Despite the fact that it was done against an inferior opponent, Manchester City finally rose above their rut, returning to winning ways with a convincing 3-0 win over Everton.

    Manchester United''s win over Wolves was another highlight, especially to the fans in the red part of Manchester, and then was Southampton''s plight.

    Southampton was setting a record that no premier league team wanted. In 18 matchdays, incredibly, they''ve amassed only 4 points out of 18 games!

    With only 1 win and 1 draw, and then 16 losses, they were truly on a generational losing form.

    Despite all these results, the main highlight of matchday 18 was still the exciting clash between Chelsea and Fulham in Stamford Bridge that was dubbed the best game of the season.

    Despite the exciting nature of that game though, very little focus was placed on the game itself as the main focus was directed towards a player that got injured during the match, Samuel Moses.

    After another scintillating performance by the Nigerian International, Sam won another man of the match award, this time in Stamford Bridge but the price that he paid for his performance was a horrible injury.

    Sam was stretchered off the pitch in tears!

    Fulham fans across the world felt horrible, gripped by anxiety as they feared for the worst to their star player.

    They could only wait agonizingly, awaiting the prognosis of the Fulham medical team after Sam was taken to the hospital.

    Fulham fans were not the only ones who felt the impact of Sam''s injury though, the ripple of this injury was felt across the premier league.

    This season, Sam truly announced his name to the world with his scintillating performances, consistently terrorizing the best sides of the premier league.

    These days, premier league clubs approached Fulham with special plans to contain Sam, this was how high his importance already rose to rival clubs.

    And now, with his sudden injury, its ripples were felt. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Some felt sympathy, and though they all expressed it, some premier league rivals secretly felt joy as one of their biggest rivals just lost their best player.

    To them, if Sam''s injury was as severe as Rodri''s, ruling him out for the rest of the season would be the best-case scenario.

    Popular news outlets and TVs carried the news around England and beyond.

    [Twitter:]

    [Goal.com: ''Zinedine Sam is out''- Fulham''s talisman and no. 11, Samuel Moses succumbs to injury in the epic clash against Chelsea in Stamford Bridge. The initial prognosis is still being made by the doctors in Fulham.]

    ¡­

    [Twitter:]

    [Yahoo Sports: The epic premier league between Chelsea and Fulham at Stamford Bridge ends in an exciting 1-1 draw, with both teams sharing the spoils, but the entertainment value of the game was marred by the injury to Fulham''s talismanic superstar, Samuel Moses.]

    ¡­

    [Twitter:]

    [Sportskeeda: ''Sam is out!''- Samuel Moses, Fulham''s attacking midfielder succumbs to another ankle injury, something that has worried him in his short career. Is this something for Fulham to worry about?]

    ¡­

    [YouTube:]

    [CHELSEA 1-1 FULHAM- Matchday 18- Premier league 24/25; full highlights.]

    ¡­

    [Twitter:]

    [FOX Sports: Cole Palmer scores for Chelsea while Samuel Moses scores for Fulham being before injured as Chelsea draws Fulham in Stamford Bridge.]

    ¡­

    [England National TV:]

    [Breaking News: Fulham''s superstar, Samuel Moses sustains an injury during the top of the table clash against Chelsea in Stamford Bridge. Initial diagnosis indicates that it''s an ankle injury, the extent of the injury and for how long he will be on the sidelines for to recover is yet to be determined.]

    A worried Mrs. Moses tried all means to reach her son, calling Sam''s phone till it became hot until Emile Smith Rowe answered the call, telling the Nigerian mother that his son was fine but was undergoing tests.

    In less than an hour after Sam was taken to the hospital, Emile Smith Rowe and Ian also arrived at the hospital to stay with him.

    It was almost as if the whole world turned upside down due to his injury.

    It was not until Ian spoke with Kayla that she finally calmed down, but she still took the next flight to England already.

    While all this happened and the doctors kept on doing their tests, Sam sighed because even before their test results arrived, he already knew everything about his current status through his system.

    ~----~

    [You have sustained an injury!]

    [Injury Type: High ankle sprain!]

    [Severity: High]

    [Injury Description: Click to expand!]

    ¡­

    [Treatment: Surgery by an Orthopedic Surgeon!]

    [Approximate recovery time: 4 months]

    ~----~

    Sam felt his world go dark.

 Chapter 215 [Bonus Chapter] Disaster

    When the diagnosis from the medical professionals working for Fulham finally arrived, Emile Smith Rowe and Ian felt their whole world crashing down.The mere sight of surgery was all they needed for their mood to come crashing down to the abyss.

    When Coach Marco Silva got the report, this coach also felt like his whole world came crashing down. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In the end, this coach chuckled mirthfully. "Life, always the big bastard".

    "Just when I''m having the best season of my life, you have to hit me with this, a severe injury to my best player".

    "What a life".

    When the news was eventually released on Fulham''s official social media handles, the footballing landscape of the English premier league experienced an upheaval as the name ''Samuel Moses'' started trending again.

    Even while he was injured, Sam was trending.

    The main talk of football fans in England revolved around Sam, his performances this season, and then his unfortunate injury.

    Despite the fact that they sympathized with him, the main focus quickly switched from Sam as it transferred to Fulham.

    How would Fulham cope without their talisman?

    The prognosis of Sam''s injury showed that he would be out for approximately 4 months, and that was on the basis that his ankle showed no complications after the surgery and even that was not guaranteed.

    If complications arose in his recovery process, Fulham may lose Sam for up to 6 months which may as well be the rest of the season.

    Fulham was in a crisis!

    This was the verdict of neutral premier league fans who evaluated the situation. Afterall, Sam was the cornerstone of Fulham''s remarkable rise this season, sitting at the top of the premier league table.

    Even someone with zero knowledge of football could tell Sam''s influence in this Fulham team after watching their game only once.

    This was why fans predicted Fulham''s fall after Sam''s injury.

    The whole Fulham team was playing at a level higher than last season, but Sam was still the cornerstone that brought the X factor, pushing them over the line in tough games. Without him, Fulham would struggle to win games.

    It was with his presence that his teammates played at such an elite level, making them seem better than they actually were.

    Without Sam, the prediction was that the true Fulham would be exposed.

    If neutral fans could see this, the Fulham squad itself and their coach who spent every single training session with him could see even more.

    Coach Marco Silva knew that his club was now facing a crisis.

    Sam''s injury was a disaster that left him panicking. But in the end, there was nothing he could do. This coach simply decided to visit his star player in the hospital.

    "Hey buddy, how are you feeling?"

    Sam chuckled. "I feel better than before".

    At this moment, his ankle was suspended at a specific angle where he no longer felt the sharp pang of pain attributed to his injury.

    Coach Marco Silva could not help but look at his star player''s bandaged ankle, he patted him by the knee. "Don''t worry Sam, you''ll be fine".

    Hearing that from his coach, Sam could not help but feel bad as he thought of the team. "How are the guys?"

    "They''re good". Marco Silva forced a smile.

    He patted Sam again. "When is your surgery scheduled for?"

    "I''ll have it in 2 days".

    "Good," he patted Sam on the knee again, grinning. "You focus on recovering from your injury, leave the rest to us".

    Coach Marco Silva patted his chest. "We''ll take it from here".

    Sam did not sense any confidence from his coach''s voice, but he did sense conviction, an unshakable determination to give his best.

    Sam was satisfied with that.

    He smiled. "I''ll be cheering you guys on from here".

    After leaving a get well soon flower at his bed side, Coach Marco Silva finally left. That night, Kayla arrived in England.

    She stayed with him at the hospital, allowing Ian and Emile Smith Rowe to leave and finally get some rest. Alone with his girlfriend was when Sam finally allowed himself to vent, letting his tears flow as he let out all his frustration.

    ''This same ankle again!'' Sam was frustrated.

    Kayla hugged him, letting him vent so he could feel better and a few minutes later, he did feel better.

    An injury was the last thing that Sam wanted when his career was going so swimmingly, but sometimes, things go out of your control and life just happens.

    When he collapsed on the pitch, Sam felt like his world was going to end but now, after venting, he felt better.

    Kayla staying at his side gave him strength.

    ''This injury is not the end of the world!''

    ''It''s not like I''ll be injured forever, I''ll eventually recover, all I need is time. Besides, we''re still top of the table''.

    ''Who knows? Maybe they can really take it from where I stopped''. Instead of focusing on the negative, Sam tried to focus on the positive.

    Feeling better now, he finally dialed his mother''s number.

    He refused to speak to her since, this was because of his fear that his mom would lose it once she heard the dejection in his voice.

    But now, feeling a bit better, he finally called her on a video call.

    Trust Mrs. Moses, she was all over him as soon as the call connected.

    "Sam! Finally," she heaved a huge sigh of relief, making a prayer sign to God. "How are you feeling? How''s your leg?"

    "That bastard! How dare he injure my son?!"

    "I''ll kill him!"

    "Does he know the God that I serve? He wanted to kill you but my God didn''t let it, thank God you were only injured".

    Sam chuckled exasperatedly. "Yeah, yeah".

    "How are you feeling?"

    "I''m better," Sam said before switching the camera, focusing on his leg.

    "Jesus!" He heard his mom exclaim loudly. "My son¡­!" She lamented.

    In the end, Sam''s mom became a motivational speaker, telling him how this was not the end of the world and how it was just a hurdle in his career.

    Sam was suspicious. ''Dad definitely told her what to say!''

    In the end, his mom ended it with a long prayer session, wishing him quick recovery. That night, Kayla stayed with him at the hospital.

    ¡­

    The next morning, Sam was surprised as the whole Fulham squad came to the hospital to visit him with flowers.

    Sam never knew how important he was till that morning.

    "¡­" He was speechless.

    He felt overwhelmed, he felt important and it warmed his heart.

    In the end, engaging in light banter with his teammates even as they mocked his injury, looking down on him for being weak, Sam was surprised to discover that they still found a reason to laugh even in the disaster.

    And that¡­ filled him with hope.

    Hope for life without him in the Fulham team.

 Chapter 216 Life without the Zidane from Nigeria

    Life without Sam¡­ was hard.The Fulham players learned this in the next few days in training as they got prepared to take it up from where Sam dropped them at.

    They were determined to salvage the situation and prove to Sam that the team could function even without him, but it was hard.

    Only when he was not around did they fully grasp what Sam brought to the team. Not even his ability on the pitch, but his energy, his mamba spirit.

    When Sam was around, the Fulham players felt endless energy to perform simply because of Sam''s energy and the joy that he attributed to training.

    Around him, they derived joy from training and giving their all.

    Around him, they derived pleasure from pushing themselves to the limit, preparing as best as they could for games and performing the same way in games, but with the Nigerian Zidane gone this suddenly became a job again.

    It was no longer as enjoyable, rather, training returned to what it was before, a job that they had to attend to due to their contract as professional football players.

    The Fulham players knew that this thinking was negative and harmful, they knew that it was bad but it was easier than said to just change it.

    They were struggling to cope already without Sam.

    (Premier league:)

    (Fulham ¨C Bournemouth)

    (Date: 29th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (EFL Cup Quarter final:)

    (Crystal Palace ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 2nd January, 2025)

    Fulham''s next 2 games were important games, 1 in the premier league and the other in the EFL Cup.

    Fulham was still in the running for the 3 competitions that they played in this season, the premier league, the EFL Cup, and the FA Cup.

    After narrowly clawing their way through the third round by beating Preston, they welcomed Arsenal at home in a blockbuster encounter on October 30th.

    In that game, Sam was an unused sub as even without his help, Raul Jimenez took the game by the scruff of the neck, scoring a hattrick after being subbed on in the second half to doom Arsenal to a 3-1 defeat.

    After that game, they progressed to the quarter finals. The quarter final clash of the EFL Cup was supposed to take place this month but due to extreme weather conditions, the game was postponed to 2nd of January.

    On the wake of Sam''s injury, these 2 games were the priority that the Fulham squad focused on, determined to get good results from.

    Despite the situation, Coach Marco Silva tried his best to salvage it, pushing his team to train to the best of their ability in preparation for it.

    While this happened, Sam also faced his own problems in the hospital.

    ¡­

    After 2 days, Sam finally had his ankle surgery but before that, he spent some time with his system to determine certain things.

    First things first, Sam had no intentions of staying on the sidelines for 4 months, he would rather die!

    And luckily for him, unlike any other professional football player in the world, he actually had an alternative.

    This was why he sought it before the surgery.

    ~----~

    [Daily system quest; Mentality Monster has been suspended until you are fit to run again!]

    [WARNING: The quest was only suspended, not waived, which means you will run the laps that you''re skipping now plus the ones in the future when you''re finally fit to run again!]

    ¡­

    Sam almost choked on the tea that Kayla served him when he saw this notification but managing to hold himself on time and muttering a curse, he finally navigated to the part of his system that he wanted.

    Some time ago, after he hit the milestone of 1 year since he started completing his daily system quest, his system gave him crazy rewards.

    One of the rewards was the high-grade vitality elixir that actually managed to improve his pace, and the other was the high-grade physical conditioning elixir.

    Though he already consumed the high-grade vitality elixir, he kept the other, saving it for scenarios exactly like what he currently found himself in.

    And now, he wanted to know the effects it would have on his recovery time if he ingested the high-grade physical conditioning elixir after his surgery.

    ¡­

    [You have accessed your Inventory:]

    [Inventory Slot: High-grade physical conditioning elixir]

    >High-grade physical conditioning elixir: This is a miraculous elixir that is capable of completely eliminating fatigue, making post-match recovery instantaneous. It also accelerates recovery time from injuries<

    ¡­

    [If ingested after having your surgery and it was successful, the recovery time from your injury will be reduced by 3/4th]

    [Projected injury recovery time: 1 month]

    ~----~

    That was all that Sam needed to see to go through with it.

    In 2 days when he finally had the surgery, he entered the theater with confidence, totally relaxed as he was put to sleep, enabling the surgeons to do their work and they did it perfectly.

    Throughout, Kayla was a nerve wreck as she watched her boyfriend''s leg being dissected and worked on by these surgeons from outside.

    In the end though, it was a successful surgery.

    The surgeons recommended for Sam to spend 5 days recuperating in the hospital before being discharged and Sam did just that like an obedient patient.

    During this time though, on the night after his surgery when Kayla already slept at his bedside and the CCTV camera could not see him, Sam finally did it, ingesting the high-grade physical conditioning elixir.

    Immediately after he ingested it, Sam regretted not waiting for a better time to take it as he almost screamed in pain.

    Unlike when he ingested the high-grade vitality elixir and he felt a hot burning sensation course through his body, this time it was raw physical pain as he felt like holy hands were massaging his body, not just his body but his bones too!

    Because he was injured, it was painful and it was even more painful when this massage finally concentrated on his leg.

    It took all of his willpower for Sam not to scream and wake up Kayla.

    At the end of it all, he was left sweating profusely and eventually, his system lit up with a new notification.

    Staring at the notification, Sam grinned.

    ~----~

    [You have ingested a high-grade physical conditioning elixir!]

    [Your physical constitution has¡­]

    ~----~ S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 217 Matchday 19; against Bournemouth

    ~----~[You have ingested a high-grade physical conditioning elixir!]

    [Your physical constitution has improved!] Continue reading on empire

    [Your bone structure and constitution has improved!]

    [Your physicality attribute has increased by +3!]

    [Your injury recovery time has been reduced!]

    [Recovery time: 1 month]

    [Full recovery date: 27th January, 2025]

    ¡­

    [Player Attributes:]

    Player Attributes:

    *Pace: 81

    *Shot: 85

    *Pass: 80

    *Dribbling: 78

    *Defending: 38

    *Physicality: 79

    *Stamina: 84

    Overall Rating: 83

    ~----~

    Not only did his injury recovery time lessen considerably, but his physicality attribute experienced an upgrade to boot!

    Staring at the notifications on his system screen, Sam could not help but grin happily. It truly felt nice to have a system.

    The effects of the high-grade physical conditioning elixir were so thorough that he felt like he had been recuperating for months already.

    All the niggling pain, the uncomfortable feeling in his ankle after the surgery, all of it was gone like it was never there.

    Sam was convinced that his system already accelerated his recovery process to the level where he could start walking immediately but of course, he would not walk now, that would attract too much attention.

    He would play the part and recuperate normally in the hospital.

    ¡­

    While Sam recuperated at the hospital, his teammates prepared for their next game which was a premier league home clash against Bournemouth.

    After the game against Chelsea on the 26th, the Fulham players had only 3 days of rest before their clash against Bournemouth. A day after Sam''s surgery, it was finally D-day when his teammates were put to the test.

    Craven Cottage was filled to the brim with tens of thousands of fans, and the home fans did a surprising gesture as giant banners of Sam in Fulham''s white and black jersey were paraded in the stadium stands. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    {Samuel Moses}

    {No. 11}

    {Get well soon champ, we miss you!}

    The biggest banner of all had Sam''s image, his name, his jersey number, and then that write-up.

    Watching the game from the hospital on the hospital TV, Sam could not help but smile as he felt a warm feeling in his heart.

    After that fanfare did the attention finally turn to the game.

    Like expected, both teams approached this game with their strongest lineup.

    Occupying 10th position in the league, Bournemouth were in a positive run of form and with Fulham''s talisman out, this team came to Craven Cottage with high hopes of getting something back home.

    For Fulham, Raul Jimenez started as the striker while behind him was the trio of Alex Iwobi, Emile Smith Rowe, and Adama Traore.

    Further behind them was the duo of Lukic and Andreas Pereira, while the 4-man defense comprised of Robinson, Diop, Calvin Bassey, and Tete while Bernd Leno naturally started in between the posts.

    For Bournemouth, starting in the same 4-2-3-1 formation as Fulham, Evanilson started up top as the striker while behind him was the dynamic trio of Semenyo, Kluivert, and Ouattara.

    Behind them was the midfield duo of Christie and Cook, while their 4-man defense comprised of Smith, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, and Kerkez.

    Kepa Arrizabalaga, the ex-Chelsea goalkeeper was their no. 1 who started in between the posts as the last man in defense to thwart Fulham attacks.

    Under the loud noise being made by the Fulham fans to support their team, the referee''s whistle finally went off, giving the signal to start the game.

    FWEEEE!

    Bournemouth started kickoff but from the first whistle of this game, Fulham came charging out with energy like Sharks that smelled blood.

    Their high-energy press forced Bournemouth to play backwards, all the way to their goalkeeper and that ended up being a mistake because as soon as the defender passed back, Raul Jimenez engaged in a sprint.

    While Kepa waited for the ball to get to him, the Fulham striker ate yards of space, chasing after the ball and by the time it got to him, the goalkeeper was already panicking as he tried to clear it in a fluster.

    As soon as he hit the ball, Jimenez jumped, placing his leg on the path of the ball as it hit his leg.

    Bam!

    The ball rebounded, straight into the Bournemouth net.

    "GOALLLL¡­!!!" Craven Cottage erupted.

    In just the 1st minute of this game, their team actually managed to score already, putting themselves on the lead.

    In the hospital, Sam pumped a fist at the air in celebration.

    The mood in Craven Cottage improved immediately as the home fans started singing songs, it was clear that their team was cruising to victory this game.

    That first goal set the tempo for Fulham''s domination. Even with Sam not on the pitch, the impact was hardly felt as the Fulham players desperate to prove themselves used Bournemouth as the experimental board for their conviction.

    Bournemouth was run ragged in the first half, the only blemish to Fulham''s play being that they could not get the second goal.

    When second half eventually started, the Fulham domination continued and 15 minutes after the restart, in the 60th minute, Fulham finally got their second goal of the game as Adama Traore scored an incredible solo goal after a simple pass from Emile Smith Rowe to set him up.

    By the 60th minute, Fulham was already cruising to victory, it was easier than the home fans and even Coach Marco Silva expected.

    Bournemouth barely threatened as Fulham continued dominating, until the 86th minute when Bernd Leno was stunned.

    It was a blind cross into the box from Ouattara, the Bournemouth winger. Nobody expected Evanilson, the Bournemouth striker to successfully squeeze past Fulham''s 2 center backs, poking the ball past Leno and into the net.

    "¡­!" Craven Cottage was stunned, nobody saw Bournemouth scoring a goal due to how they dominated this game since the first minute.

    But it was just one goal, they were still leading.

    That goal was a fluke, no way was Bournemouth going to score another goal but then, 2 minutes of additional time after fulltime, Bournemouth had a corner kick and that was where scenes from a nightmare happened in Craven Cottage.

    As soon as the corner kick was floated in, Zabarnyi, the Bournemouth center back rose highest in the Fulham box, planting a powerful header towards goal that beat Bernd Leno.

    "¡­!" Watching the ball in the back of their net, the Fulham players and fans felt like they were dreaming as they watched, baffled.

    The away fan section erupted for the first time this game.

    An ecstatic Zabarnyi jumped, pumping his fists excitedly as he screamed at the top of his lungs. That shocker was a wake-up call for Fulham.

    The remaining minutes of additional time could be described in a simple sentence; Fulham attacks, Bournemouth defends.

    The Bournemouth coach made changes, flooding the pitch with defensive players as they defended with their lives in the last few minutes.

    Raid after raid of Fulham attacks were launched, led by Emile Smith Rowe and Muniz who was already introduced into the game at some point but a rugged Bournemouth defense was able to hold the fort.

    FWEEEE!

    When the final whistle sounded, the Fulham players could not believe it.

    They actually drew the game!

 Chapter 218 Tough time; traveling for an EFL Cup game

    Sam''s demeanor was moody after the game, something that Kayla was not used to seeing and it was safe to say that the English woman was worried.That evening, Sam finally experienced and understood what Fulham fans felt when he and his teammates fail to clinch the victory, surrendering leads to draw or even lose the game.

    Before, he always saw it from a first person POV on the pitch where he was giving his all, fighting to clinch the victory.

    Since making the switch from Enyimba FC to Fulham FC, losing no longer became as regular for the West London club but still, Fulham lost games.

    On the pitch, after losing, Sam felt devastated every single time but it was a feeling that he could always shrug and move on from quickly simply because he was exhausted after giving his all on the pitch, and also because Coach Marco Silva urged them to forget about the result, focusing on their next game.

    But as a fan, there was no coach to massage their hurt egos and sooth their heartbroken hearts, they had to face the heartbreak alone.

    And today, Sam finally experienced it first-hand.

    As an avid FC Barcelona fan, Sam knew this feeling which was most prominent in his life in the 2018/2019 season when Liverpool did that unforgettable comeback against Barca in the champions league semifinals.

    It was the same feeling when a prime Bayern Munich side led by a prime Lewandowski thrashed FC Barcelona 8-2. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In those nights, Sam could not sleep, he felt like he would die.

    ''Damn!'' He sighed. ''It''s not easy to be a football fan''.

    In the end, he could not bear to see Kayla so worried while not understanding exactly what happened to him. She failed to make the connection that it was the result of today''s game that was affecting him.

    Heck, it was not even a loss but after seeing his club go 2 goals ahead of their opponents so convincingly, to suddenly lose it all in such fashion was so heartbreaking to Sam.

    In the end, he let it out, telling his girlfriend exactly what was wrong with him and for a moment, Kayla was stunned and amused.

    "Wow¡­, I never could have thought". She chuckled.

    Sam pouted. "Are you mocking me?"

    "No, I mean, no," she laughed, covering her mouth.

    Sam scowled. "Never mind".

    "No, come on," she went closer but seeing Sam resist her approach, she feigned crying. "Come on babe, I''ll cry".

    In the end, Sam allowed his girlfriend to comfort him. In that moment, he thought. ''It feels so good to have a girlfriend''.

    But then he had another thought. ''What of those Fulham fans who don''t have girlfriends?'' His eyes widened. ''How do they deal with the pain?''

    He suddenly felt devastated again.

    ¡­

    After the game, the mood in the Fulham dressing room felt like a funeral as the players rued their missed chances and how they threw the game away so easily to their opponents despite dominating throughout.

    In the end, the experienced Coach Marco Silva motivated his team. "Don''t worry, it''s just a draw, not a loss".

    "Instead of wallowing in sorrow like this, use it as motivation towards our next game. You must not make the same mistake!" His voice rose up a crescendo.

    "You must not make the same mistake, got me?"

    "Yes coach".

    With that, they left.

    ¡­

    The worst part of football was that the scheduling didn''t give a damn about your feelings, or your current mental state.

    After that damning draw against Bournemouth at home despite dominating the game, all the Fulham players were mentally affected but football didn''t give a damn, they still had another game to play in just 3 games.

    And so, the Fulham players were forced to pick themselves up and return to training, preparing for their next game in the EFL Cup.

    (EFL Cup Quarter final:)

    (Crystal Palace ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 2nd January, 2025)

    Having won the EFL Cup last season, it was another opportunity for them to extend history in this club and win it for a second successive year since they were already in the quarter finals.

    In the build-up to the game, the Fulham squad felt optimistic about their chances, so much that after such a grueling run of games, Coach Marco Silva decided to rotate his team for the EFL Cup game.

    After such a run of games, fatigue was already affecting most of his players, the Fulham coach had no choice but to make the decision.

    Like that, time moved and in no time, it was D-day.

    The final Fulham starting XI was already finalized.

    Muniz started in attack but behind him was another crop of faces entirely as Harry Wilson, Pereira, and Adama Traore started behind him. Fulham''s midfield and defense experienced changes, including the goalkeeper position for this game.

    It was a different look Fulham in South Norwood as Crystal Palace welcomed them in their Selhurst Park Stadium.

    Unlike Fulham who took the risk of making changes, Crystal Palace kept their strongest lineup for this quarter final game.

    Starting in their usual 3-4-2-1 formation, Juan Philippe Mateta led the line as the striker and behind him was the duo of Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr.

    Further behind them comprised the midfield quadruple of Mitchell, Lerma, Hughes, and Kporha. The 3-man defense comprised of March Guehi, Lacroix, and the ex-Chelsea defender, Trevor Chalobah.

    Dean Henderson started in between the posts for Crystal Palace.

    The home fans in Selhurst Park did their best to create a hostile environment for the visitors as their loud noise rose through the roof.

    It was a tough time for Fulham as they had to scale through games without their talisman in Sam, but this team was determined to rise to the occasion.

    After letting up against Bournemouth already, they had no intentions of doing it a second time, this was why all the Fulham players retained their focus despite the hostile environment that was created by the Crystal Palace fans.

    And then, the referee''s whistle finally went off, signaling the start of the game.

    FWEEEE! Discover more content at empire

 Chapter 219 EFL Cup clash

    In Selhurst Park, Fulham and Crystal Palace clashed.As soon as the referee''s whistle went off, Fulham kicked off the game.

    From the beginning, a team full of Fulham youngsters surged, determined to prove their ability as they took the game to Crystal Palace.

    They wanted to score an early goal.

    During the early proceedings of this game, Fulham was the one holding the advantage over their opponents as despite playing at home, Crystal Palace were forced to defend against them.

    For almost 3 minutes after the start of this game, Fulham retained possession, pinging passes around with Andreas Pereira at its core.

    They got themselves into a few dangerous positions, Muniz coming closest as his low-driven shot beat the Crystal Palace goalkeeper only to hit the post and rebound back into the Crystal Palace 6-yard box.

    Before Muniz could pounce, Lacroix did, clearing the ball up field.

    Bam!

    While almost the full Crystal Palace players went back to defend against Fulham''s relentless attack, a certain player stayed up top and now as soon as the ball was cleared up field, he reacted.

    As soon as Mateta reacted, Diop did the same thing as he tried to keep the imposing striker in check but the massive Mateta beat him for strength, shoving him aside with his shoulder as he tried to control the ball.

    Bam!

    But it was a miss-control, Mateta''s touch was too heavy as the ball hit his leg and accelerated past him towards Fulham''s 18-yard box.

    The imposing striker pursued, but another Fulham player also reacted.

    When the ball was cleared up field, Bernd Leno could only hope on his defender to stop the rampaging Mateta but when he could not, he already expected the worst¡­ till that poor touch.

    "¡­!" This goalkeeper immediately felt like an electricity charge was just passed through his brain, and his body reacted instinctively.

    He charged out of his area, chasing after the ball to clear it the sweeper goalkeeper style.

    For a few moments, time seemed to freeze in Selhurst Park as 2 players chased after the same ball from opposite sides, but¡­, Mateta was faster.

    The imposing striker had more distance to cover to the ball, and the fact that the ball was moving away from him made him disadvantaged but still, his long legs rapidly ate yards of space like they were not there.

    Thud! Thud!

    The home fans watched with bated breaths.

    "And ohhhh! He''s done it, Mateta arrives first!"

    Knowing that he would lose the racing contest, Bernd Leno made his body big, sliding forward but the intelligent striker predicted his actions.

    With a delicate flick, Mateta raised the ball above and past the sprawling Bernd Leno as he also jumped past him.

    With that, the last Fulham player was eliminated.

    Mateta had a free goal to himself!

    Not playing with his food, Mateta hit it one time as the ball rolled into the net without resistance, and then Selhurst Park exploded.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!"

    This striker jogged towards the corner flag, jumped and pumped a fist in the air in celebration as he rode the energy of the home fans.

    In just the 4th minute of this game, Fulham started trailing.

    When the referee''s whistle sounded again to continue play, both sides finally settled into the game, locking it up completely.

    Defensive excellence was the watchword for this game as both defenses stayed on top of their game under pressure, excellently thwarting the offensive players, leaving them toothless.

    At first, Fulham tried to chase the equalizer until they could no longer chase.

    In the end, this was a heavily rotated team compared to Crystal Palace''s strong lineup. The experience and ability of the Crystal Palace players started kicking in as the game wore on, granting them dominion over the game.

    During the late stages of the first half, they dominated, threatening to score again and again as Fulham were forced to desperately defend their goal.

    The first half eventually ended 1-0 with Crystal Palace leading.

    During half-time, a dissatisfied Coach Marco Silva gave his players an absolute verbal dressing down before sending them back to the pitch without changes. He hoped for his words to kickstart a fire inside them. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    At first, it seemed to work after the second half started as Fulham erupted, taking the game to the Crystal Palace half to exert their authority.

    This only stayed for like 10 minutes though, after, exhaustion kicked in again as Crystal Palace regained their domination.

    The home fans were absolutely enjoying what they were seeing as their extremely loud noise slowly buoyed their team to victory.

    In the 70th minute with nothing changing, Coach Marco Silva was finally fed up as he pulled the plug in the game.

    He used all 3 of his subs, introducing Alex Iwobi, Emile Smith Rowe, and Calvin Bassey to add some fire and backbone to his team.

    As soon as all 3 players entered the game in the 70th minute, the game visibly changed as Fulham became much more threatening. With Diop''s original partner in crime back, the defense was also much more solid.

    They took their time to settle into the game before beginning to wrestle for authority over the game, and then they succeeded.

    BAM!

    Alex Iwobi came closest, unleashing a thunderous outside the box shot in the 76th minute that hit the post.

    In the 78th minute, after a mazy dribble, cutting through Crystal Palace players, Emile Smith Rowe squeezed a short in that beat Dean Henderson only for Crystal Palace to be saved by a stupendous Marc Guehi goal line clearance.

    The Englishman grabbed his head, screaming in frustration.

    The God of luck seemed to have abandoned Fulham today as they kept trying with no results to show, and in the 85th minute, they were punished again.

    Having been substituted into the game at some point, Eddie Nketiah, the ex-Arsenal forward finally sent a dagger through Fulham fans around the world as he scored a solo goal in the 85th minute to seal this game.

    Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire

    At a certain hospital, a certain patient truly felt like his heart stopped beating.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!" Selhurst Park erupted again.

    The Fulham squad dissolved into chaos as they started arguing between themselves on the pitch, pointing fingers.

    When the chaos eventually stopped and the referee''s whistle sounded again, the fire in Fulham died.

    They played the rest of the game meekly, surrendering to their opponents.

    When the final whistle was blown by the referee, Crystal Palace won 2-0, progressing to the semifinal of the EFL Cup.

    Palace caused a major upset. Despite Sam''s absence, a lot of fans still expected the reigning EFL Cup champions to progress further in the competition.

    Fulham truly had fallen.

 Chapter 220 Crisis in Fulham?

    (Premier league:)(Matchday 19 of 38:)

    (Leicester City 1-1 Man City)

    (Date: 29th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Everton 1-2 Nottm Forest)

    (Date: 29th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Crystal Palace 2-0 Southampton)

    (Date: 29th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Tottenham 3-1 Wolves)

    (Date: 29th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Fulham 2-2 Bournemouth)

    (Date: 29th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (West Ham 2-4 Liverpool)

    (Date: 29th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Ipswich Town 1-1 Chelsea)

    (Date: 30th December, 2024)

    ¡­ sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (Aston Villa 2-1 Brighton)

    (Date: 30th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Man United 0-3 Newcastle)

    (Date: 30th December, 2024)

    ¡­

    (Brentford 0-0 Arsenal)

    (Date: 1st, January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. Fulham GP: 19/ W:14/ D:4/ L:1/ Pts: 47)

    (2. Liverpool GP: 18/ W:13/ D:2/ L:2/ Pts: 45)

    (3. Chelsea GP: 19/ W:11/ D:6/ L:2/ Pts: 39)

    (4. Arsenal GP: 19/ W:10/ D:7/ L:2/ Pts: 37)

    (5. Nottm Forest GP: 19/ W:9/ D:6/ L:4/ Pts: 33)

    (6. Brighton GP: 19/ W:8/ D:6/ L:5/ Pts: 30)

    (7. Man City GP: 19/ W:8/ D:6/ L:5/ Pts: 30)

    (8. Newcastle GP: 19/ W:8/ D:6/ L:5/ Pts: 30)

    (9. Aston Villa GP: 19/ W:8/ D:5/ L:7/ Pts: 29)

    (10. Bournemouth GP: 19/ W:8/ D:5/ L:6/ Pts: 29)

    (11. Tottenham GP: 19/ W:8/ D:2/ L:9/ Pts: 26)

    (12. Brentford GP: 19/ W:7/ D:4/ L:8/ Pts: 25)

    (13. Man United GP: 19/ W:7/ D:4/ L:8/ Pts: 25)

    (14. West Ham GP: 19/ W:6/ D:4/ L:9/ Pts: 22)

    (15. Crystal Palace GP: 19/ W:4/ D:7/ L:8/ Pts: 19)

    (16. Leicester GP: 19/ W:3/ D:7/ L:9/ Pts: 16)

    (17. Everton GP: 18/ W:3/ D:5/ L:10/ Pts: 14)

    (18. Ipswich Town GP: 19/ W:2/ D:7/ L:10/ Pts: 13)

    (19. Wolves GP: 19/ W:1/ D:4/ L:14/ Pts: 7)

    (20. Southampton GP: 19/ W:1/ D:1/ L:17/ Pts: 4)

    ¡­

    (EFL Cup:)

    (Quarter final:)

    (Crystal Palace 2-0 Fulham)

    (2nd January, 2025)

    "Happy new year Max"

    "The premier league finally passed its halfway point. In the drama generated by the results of this matchday, what are your thoughts about matchday 19 of the English premier league?

    Hearing that question, the pundit of the popular sports show smiled wryly. "If I should use only a few words, I''d say the highlights of the Matchday are Man City''s crisis, Fulham''s crisis, and Liverpool''s opportunity".

    "Despite their win last time out in the premier league, the champions are back to bad habits again this season as they drew against Leicester in away ground".

    "Man City is definitely in a crisis and if things are to change for the club, they have to look for alternatives in the January transfer window".

    "They''re still feeling the impact of losing Rodri".

    "I''ve been saying it for a long time but with this, I hope people finally agrees with me that Rodri deserved the balon d''or. Just look at how Manchester City plays without him, they''re like a predator who lost its spine".

    "They still have all those world-class players, but without that spine to act as the support and keep them steady, they look so vulnerable".

    "They''re really down in confidence right now".

    "Just look at how Leicester, a lowly Leicester ran them down today, it''s crazy honestly. And last week, should I go back to that Aston Villa game?"

    "It''s a wonder that they actually managed to escape from that game with a point, Aston Villa were just better on every aspect of the game. The champions were dominated, outplayed, and outfought on every side".

    "Morgan Rogers especially, their former academy player was a thorn on their side throughout. You just had to see him gliding through Manchester City so freely".

    "With Rodri in that team, that would be impossible". This pundit shook his head.

    "As for Fulham, they''re definitely in a crisis!"

    "That''s 2 games without Sam translating to 2 straight losses!"

    "I quantify that Bournemouth game as a loss too, because they were in such a good winning position before the collapse".

    "The game against Bournemouth was more of a defensive collapse at the death, but the EFL Cup game against Crystal Palace is a clear sign of how spineless Fulham can be without the black mamba on the pitch".

    The host chuckled. "Max, you''re using the term spine a lot today".

    "Because that''s what it is!" Charles said, exasperated. "Without Sam today, they were more or less toothless to create anything of note in attack". He shook his head again.

    "I just wonder if they can actually improve, or if it''ll just continue like this, or if they''ll even get worse?"

    "Honestly, the projected 4 months of Sam''s recovery is a lot of time".

    Talking about Sam, this pundit''s face became a bit dejected. "For such a young player, long term injuries are not what you''d hope on even your enemy".

    "After recovering, most of them suffer from a dip in confidence and it affects their gameplay a lot".

    "I know Sam will recover but still, I can''t help this anxious feeling".

    The show''s host chuckled again. "Max, if I didn''t know you before now, I''d believe you''re actually a Fulham fan. Are you that big of a Sam believer?"

    "Yes," Max laughed. "Call me Chief Priest Max, I''m the leader of the Sam supremacy church!"

    Charles laughed. "So, Max, what is your prediction on how the premier league title momentum would go on from here?"

    Max shook his head again. "I see Fulham dropping a lot in Sam''s absence. Since Liverpool have a game in hand, hypothetically, we can say they''re now level on points at the top of the premier league table".

    "Besides, Chelsea and Arsenal are hot on their necks. Unless a miracle happens, in 4 months, I don''t even see Fulham still in the top 4 spot, that''s how dire of a crisis they''re currently in".

    "A brutal analysis like usual," the host chuckled. "The Max I know is back".

    ¡­

    While the premier league footballing landscape reacted to the results of matchday 19 including Fulham being eliminated out of the EFL Cup, a certain dejected player was finally discharged from the hospital.

    It took more than 5 days but Sam was finally discharged.

    As his girlfriend drove him home, Sam could not help a big frown creeping up his face simply due to the notification that was currently hovering before his vision.

    ***

    [Season Quest 3: EFL Cup]

    [Mission 1: Win the EFL Cup with Fulham FC!]

    [You have failed this system mission!]

    ***

    ''Dammit!''

 Chapter 221 A rant

    Sam felt a deep yearning to return to the pitch as soon as possible.Watching his teammates play in the last 2 games, he became filled with a deep sense of impatience. Like the others, he could also recognize that his team was in a crisis and his absence was what caused it.

    He could not wait to get back on the pitch!

    "Hey, are you ok?" Kayla inclined her head to look at him.

    "Ah, I''m fine". Sam replied absentmindedly.

    Hearing that reply from him, this girl sighed exasperatedly and suddenly, she hit the brakes, stunning Sam as he looked at her.

    "What?"

    "What''s what?" She stared at him. "I know, your team is losing, it''s affecting you but don''t you think this is getting too much?"

    "Sam, I love you and I love your career, I respect it. I do watch football too; do you really think being such a nerve wreck is how you''ll help your teammates?"

    Sam frowned, just looking at her.

    "Have you forgotten what your coach told you so quickly? He told you to leave it to them, is this your way of leaving it to them?"

    "For the past few days, you''re not even eating well!" Tears welled in Kayla''s eyes. "Is this how you repay your teammates for their trust?"

    "Yes, they lost but they''re giving their all out there. You think they don''t also want to turn the situation around and win?"

    "You were not like this before, is it always about you?"

    "¡­" Sam was speechless.

    "They trusted you to focus on recovering from your injury so you can come back and help them, while they expect you to trust them to do their best in your absence but from the look of things, you don''t even trust them, do you?"

    Silence.

    Again, Sam was speechless.

    "If you don''t eat well and take care of yourself, how do you expect your body to heal properly so you''ll return to the pitch at the quickest time?"

    "Besides, don''t you even care about me? You being like this is affecting me, sometimes I can''t even think straight!"

    "It''s almost like you''re depressed every minute".

    At this point, Sam finally realized, he was being too hard on himself and not just on himself but he was being too hard on his girlfriend too.

    Click!

    Unstrapping his seatbelt, with a grimace, Sam leaned closer and hugged his girlfriend on the driver''s seat tightly. Kayla didn''t resist it.

    After breaking away from the hug, Sam forced a baby expression on his face. "I''ve been foolish babe; will you forgive me?" He did puppy eyes.

    Kayla just glared at him, unimpressed.

    Sam sighed. "I''m sorry for being so self-centered. I didn''t think about how my teammates felt at all, and most importantly, I didn''t think about you. I recognize my mistake now, from the bottom of my heart, I''m sorry".

    Silence; still no response.

    Suddenly thinking of something, Sam smiled. "You remember your suggestion the other time?" He grinned.

    Kayla raised an eyebrow.

    "That I should follow you to Netherlands so you''ll take care of me and nurse me back to health properly, and maybe even follow you to school at times to socialize and meet new people?" He smiled. "I''m in for it now, let''s go!"

    Now, Kayla was moved. She looked at him, trying to hide her excitement. "Really?"

    "Yes, let''s go to Netherlands!"

    And that confirmed it.

    The next day, after informing his coach, with his one leg, Sam left England with his girlfriend as he followed her to Netherlands.

    He would be spending the rest of his recovery time in Netherlands.

    She was right, instead of wasting time worrying about the form of his teammates, he should respect their will and desire to turn the situation of the club around while focusing on recovering from his own injury.

    ¡­

    (Premier league:)

    (Matchday 20 of 38:)

    (Tottenham ¨C Newcastle)

    (Date: 4th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Bournemouth ¨C Everton)

    (Date: 4th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Aston Villa ¨C Leicester City)

    (Date: 4th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Crystal Palace ¨C Chelsea)

    (Date: 4th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Southampton ¨C Brentford)

    (Date: 4th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Man City ¨C West Ham)

    (Date: 4th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Brighton ¨C Arsenal)

    (Date: 4th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Fulham ¨C Ipswich Town)

    (Date: 5th January, 2025)

    ¡­ S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (Liverpool ¨C Man United)

    (Date: 5th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Wolves ¨C Nottm Forest)

    (Date: 6th January, 2025)

    Fulham''s next engagement was in the premier league against Ipswich Town, the newly promoted premier league club.

    It was already new year for some time already, but only after the EFL Cup elimination did the new year start for the Fulham players.

    At first, they were totally devastated by the loss, taking a big blow to their confidence from it but then Coach Marco Silva did a good job in helping his players to forget about the trauma of that game.

    The coach was not the only one who came in handy though, a player who was currently in injury also came in handy.

    Sam simply dropped a message in the Fulham team''s WhatsApp group chat and that was enough to perform the magic.

    {You''ve got it!}

    That simple message did wonders, making this team forget about past traumas as they looked ahead towards their next game in the premier league.

    While Sam had one of the most enjoyable periods of his life in Netherlands with his girlfriend, his teammates worked their asses off in training, giving their all in preparation for their next league clash.

    Engrossed in training, the passage of time became a mirage and in no time, D-day was here.

    They welcomed Ipswich Town in their home stadium, Craven Cottage.

    After the last 2 disappointing results, the Fulham fans were still devastated but again, they showed their nature as fans. No matter the situation of the club, these guys were ready to support it through thick and thin.

    The home supporters came in droves, flooding Craven Cottage in the tens of thousands as they supported their team.

    Even before the game started, the atmosphere in this stadium in West London already intimidated the visitors.

    The Fulham players felt their hearts blaze like a fire.

    They were motivated to create something positive from today''s game.

 Chapter 222 Lovers day out in Netherlands

    "Have you heard? That guy is Kayla''s boyfriend"."Really? The footballer guy? The one that''s playing for a big club in England?"

    "Yeah, that''s him, you can search for him online. His name is Samuel Moses".

    "Hmmm, ok".

    {Samuel Moses- No. 11}

    {Nigerian professional footballer}

    {Professional Football Club: Fulham FC}

    {Overview:}

    {Age: 19 years}

    {Current Season Stats: All competitions}

    Games Played: 21

    Goals: 18

    Assists: 16

    {Last Match: Chelsea 1-1 Fulham}

    {Date: 26th December, 2024}

    {S. Moses stats: 88 mins, 4 shots, 1 goal, 0 assists}

    {Samuel Moses is a young Nigerian professional football player who plays as an attacking midfielder for Premier league club Fulham and the Nigeria national team. Sam started his career in Enyimba FC, making 54 appearances and scoring 41 goals. Wikipedia=}

    "Wow, it''s really him!"

    Well, it was safe to say that today, Kayla fully experienced the privileges of being the girlfriend of a big celebrity.

    The English premier league was the most broadcasted and publicized football league in the world. In Netherlands, the Eredivisie was more popular but still, as one of the shining stars of the new premier league season, Sam was known.

    For some time, rumors swirled around Kayla''s university that one of their girls was dating a famous football player, and now it was confirmed because today, Sam insisted on following his girlfriend to school.

    At first, Kayla vehemently refused.

    It was not until he showed her that his legs were already strong enough to just walk did she accept, but nonetheless, Kayla was stunned by it.

    What cursed speed of recovery was this? S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    They arrived in Netherlands 2 days ago. During their first day, both of them stayed indoors as they enjoyed quality lover''s time.

    But today, when Kayla informed him that she had a lecture to attend at the university, Sam insisted on following her to school and here they were.

    Well, it was not just her schoolmates that gossiped her and her boyfriend, Kayla also gossiped them to her boyfriend.

    "See that one?"

    "Don''t point at him, he''ll know we''re talking about him". Sam felt like covering his face in embarrassment as he chuckled.

    Kayla smirked. "Well, he''s that guy that asked me out that I told you about".

    Hearing that, Sam''s face quickly turned sharp as he looked at the guy again. "Hmmm," he nodded slowly, his face turning serious. "I understand now, you can point at him some more".

    "No way!" Kayla laughed.

    Kayla had 2 lectures to attend in the university that day, one was scheduled for morning and the other was for evening.

    During the morning class, he sat alongside his girlfriend in the lecture hall even as he kept on being subjected to fiery gazes from all around.

    "He''s so handsome!" He thought he heard a girl shriek excitedly.

    Even the male lecturer had an irked expression on his face due to how distracted his students seemed, Sam felt a bid bad for him.

    But then, he was stunned when at the end of the class, this lecturer was the first person to walk up to him with a calm expression on his face before slipping a jersey into his hand.

    He chuckled. "Mr. Sam, an autograph please, my son is a big fan of yours".

    "¡­" Sam was stunned and speechless.

    In the end, he chuckled. "Of course, lecturer". He signed an autograph for the excited lecturer and took a picture with him.

    With their lecturer showing the first example, the students became emboldened as after the class, they swarmed Sam like the celebrity he was, demanding pictures left and right.

    Some girls even secretly tried to separate him from his girlfriend but sensitive enough, Sam was firm and he did not let it.

    In the end, it took some security interference before he was finally able to leave the university premises with his girlfriend.

    "Hmph!" Kayla snorted. "Shameless girls".

    Sam chuckled.

    "What''s funny?" She snapped.

    "Nothing, nothing". He raised his hands in surrender, smiling.

    After the morning class, Kayla took him to a restaurant where they had a nice local Netherlands meal and then later in the afternoon, she took him along for a modeling business appointment that she had.

    News of Sam walking around in Netherlands with a girl already got to England long ago, and in the afternoon, he received a series of phone calls.

    One was from his coach, one was from Emile Smith Rowe, another from Ian, while 5 staggering missed calls were from his doctor.

    When he finally called back, they all expressed the same concern, was his leg strong enough to walk already?

    His doctor displayed the greatest concern, the middle-aged man only calmed down when Sam reassured him that he felt no discomfort and also promised him that he would be extra careful.

    Later in the evening, they finally returned back to the university for Kayla''s last class of the day and this time, Sam was not idle in her class.

    While Kayla focused on attending her lectures, blocking his ears with an apple air pod, Sam tuned in to DSTV where he watched the ongoing premier league game.

    (Premier league:)

    (Matchday 20 of 38:)

    (Fulham ¨C Ipswich Town)

    (Date: 5th January, 2025)

    The game already started.

    Just like expected, amid the boisterous atmosphere in Craven Cottage, both teams started with their strongest lineups.

    For Fulham, Raul Jimenez started up top while behind him was the trio of Alex Iwobi, Emile Smith Rowe, and Adama Traore.

    Further behind them was the midfield duo of Lukic and Andreas Pereira. The 4-man defense comprised of Tete, Bassey, Diop, and Antonee Robinson who was recently being labelled as the best left back currently in the premier league.

    FWEEEE!

    After the referee''s whistle, Ipswich Town started kickoff but the newly promoted premier league club were not allowed to take control over this game as with Alex Iwobi, Jimenez, and Emile Smith Rowe leading it, Fulham slowly took control over the game.

    During the early proceedings, Fulham dominated.

    They came close to scoring a few times, only the defiant performance of the Ipswich Town goalkeeper kept them afloat for now.

    While he watched on his phone, Sam was all smiles till in the 28th minute, he felt like he was suddenly drenched in cold water.

    After a lengthy period of relentless Fulham attacks, Ipswich Town finally won back the ball and went on a counterattack. Their first tangible attack of the game, their first shot on target and it resulted in a freaking goal!

    In the 28th minute, against the run of play, Ipswich Town went ahead.

    "¡­" Sam felt devastated again.

 Chapter 223 A fans POV

    ''Come on guys, you can do it!''Sam felt devastated but only for a moment.

    Kayla''s words before he decided to follow her to Netherlands impacted him a lot. Instead of lamenting the fact that his teammates were now trailing behind, Sam simply decided to have faith and believe in them.

    So just like any other Fulham supporter, he went in behind them, cheering them in his mind as the game continued.

    If Sam was maybe not in a lecture hall at this moment, he would be screaming at the top of his lungs already in support of his teammates.

    After that stunner goal from Ipswich Town, Fulham became flustered a bit but only for a short time. That goal only made them angrier to get a result.

    Their attacking raids became more urgent and aggressive as Ipswich Town was forced to pack the bus in their 18-yard box, defending with their lives.

    In the end, such cowardly play paid off for the visitors in the first half as the game ended with Fulham trailing 0-1.

    Sam did not think about the current scoreline much though, still fully behind his team as he cheered them on in his mind.

    ''Come on guys!''

    When second half started, Fulham''s domination continued but it was not as thorough as Ipswich Town had more opportunities on the break to go on a counterattack, threatening to make it 2 nil.

    In those moments, Sam felt like his heart would leap right out of his throat but he held his nerve, watching and hoping as he clenched his fists tightly.

    Noticing her boyfriend''s antics, Kayla could not help but look at him weirdly, then at his phone. Seeing who was playing, she finally understood, she let him be.

    Kayla''s class was supposed to be a 2 hours long class, more than enough time for Sam to fully watch the game.

    The second half was nervier than the first, testing Sam''s patience and pushing his nerves to the limit but then, Fulham''s relentless attacks finally paid off as they managed to find a way.

    It was Alex Iwobi who broke the deadlock for Fulham.

    After a long-lobbed pass from Lukic, Alex Iwobi ran in behind the Ipswich Town defense, calmly controlling the ball and taking it in his strides and then with his second shot, he whipped a powerful shot towards goal.

    It was rifled towards the goalkeeper''s new post but not expecting it, the goalkeeper was caught off-guard as the ball snuck in.

    "GOALLL¡­!" Craven Cottage exploded.

    Sam squirmed where he sat close to his girlfriend, pumping a fist excitedly.

    If he was not in a lecture hall, he would have screamed for joy.

    In the 70th minute, the scoreline was finally level, 1-1.

    ''Come on guys, 1 more goal!'' He kept on cheering them on.

    When the game continued, Fulham rode the momentum from their goal, attacking the Ipswich Town 18-yard box even more as the visitors decided to forget about attack, focusing only on defending.

    Their anti-football style did frustrate Fulham, Sam felt the most frustrated but still, fortune favors the bold.

    In the 1st minute of additional time after 90 minutes, Emile Smith Rowe got a pass from Pereira and went on a mazy dribbling run and then setting himself up, this midfielder scored a goal of the season contender.

    It was a powerful driven shot from outside the box, leaving the Ipswich Town goalkeeper no chance as Fulham finally went on the lead for the first time this game.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" Craven Cottage exploded again.

    Feeling his body shivering in excitement, Sam could not hold it in anymore as he jumped in this lecture hall and pumped a fist excitedly. "Yes! Come on!"

    "¡­"

    Over a hundred eyes turned to look at him, including the lecturer''s as Sam finally realized what just happened.

    Read new adventures at empire

    His girlfriend pinched him by the leg. "Sit down!" She growled.

    Chuckling slightly and muttering a sorry, Sam finally sat back down but even that awkward moment was not enough to curb his joy.

    That joy of his that disappeared for the past 2 days returned.

    Fulham won the game and Pereira got the man of the match award after his impressive display from the base of midfield.

    Fulham was back to winning ways.

    Later that same day at night, the blockbuster game of this matchday was played as Liverpool welcomed Manchester United at Anfield.

    Renowned as a stadium where Manchester United dreams were killed, tonight was no different as the Merseysiders humiliated their rivals from Manchester, thumping Man United 5-1 at the end of one of the most exciting games of this premier league season.

    Having brought Ruben Amorim from Sporting CP to replace Erik Ten Haag as their head coach, Man United fans expected a swift turnaround in results but from recent results, the memes and trolling from rival fans would only continue.

    Man United were in one of their worst periods since the club''s inception.

    That night, cuddling with his girlfriend in her bed, Sam slept peacefully and happily. Today could not have gone any better for him.

    ¡­

    The next day, after Wolves took on Notthingham Forest in another premier league encounter, all the matchday 20 clashes finally came to an end with results.

    (Premier league:)

    (Matchday 20 of 38:)

    (Tottenham 2-1 Newcastle)

    (Date: 4th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Bournemouth 1-0 Everton)

    (Date: 4th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Aston Villa 3-0 Leicester City)

    (Date: 4th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Crystal Palace 1-4 Chelsea)

    (Date: 4th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Southampton 2-0 Brentford)

    (Date: 4th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Man City 2-1 West Ham)

    (Date: 4th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Brighton 0-3 Arsenal)

    (Date: 4th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Fulham 2-1 Ipswich Town)

    (Date: 5th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Liverpool 5-1 Man United)

    (Date: 5th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Wolves 1-1 Nottm Forest)

    (Date: 6th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. Fulham GP: 20/ W:15/ D:4/ L:1/ Pts: 50)

    (2. Liverpool GP: 19/ W:14/ D:2/ L:2/ Pts: 48)

    (3. Chelsea GP: 20/ W:12/ D:6/ L:2/ Pts: 42)

    (4. Arsenal GP: 20/ W:11/ D:7/ L:2/ Pts: 40)

    (5. Nottm Forest GP: 20/ W:9/ D:7/ L:4/ Pts: 34)

    (6. Brighton GP: 20/ W:8/ D:6/ L:6/ Pts: 30)

    (7. Man City GP: 20/ W:9/ D:6/ L:5/ Pts: 33)

    (8. Newcastle GP: 20/ W:8/ D:6/ L:6/ Pts: 30)

    (9. Aston Villa GP: 20/ W:9/ D:5/ L:7/ Pts: 32)

    (10. Bournemouth GP: 20/ W:9/ D:5/ L:6/ Pts: 32)

    (11. Tottenham GP: 20/ W:9/ D:2/ L:9/ Pts: 29)

    (12. Brentford GP: 20/ W:7/ D:4/ L:9/ Pts: 25)

    (13. Man United GP: 20/ W:7/ D:4/ L:9/ Pts: 25)

    (14. West Ham GP: 20/ W:6/ D:4/ L:10/ Pts: 22)

    (15. Crystal Palace GP: 20/ W:4/ D:7/ L:9/ Pts: 19)

    (16. Leicester GP: 20/ W:3/ D:7/ L:10/ Pts: 16) S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (17. Everton GP: 19/ W:3/ D:5/ L:11/ Pts: 14)

    (18. Ipswich Town GP: 20/ W:2/ D:7/ L:11/ Pts: 13)

    (19. Wolves GP: 20/ W:1/ D:5/ L:14/ Pts: 8)

    (20. Southampton GP: 20/ W:2/ D:1/ L:17/ Pts: 7)

 Chapter 224 Festive period

    After 20 matchdays of the English premier league, more than halfway through the season already, incredibly, Fulham still led the line at the top of the premier league table rankings.After the game against Ipswich Town, Fulham supporters regained their voice after their previous run of 2 games without a win.

    They were having a truly terrific season.

    Due to the tight schedule of football leagues, professional football players barely had time for themselves for festivities and even if they did, it was always limited. Despite this, the reality was that this was still a festive period.

    It was still just early January and people were still enjoying the Christmas and New Year spirit.

    Having played 4 games between 26th December and today, 6th January, the Fulham players barely had any meaningful time for themselves but coincidentally, Sam no longer suffered this with his teammates because of his injury.

    His injury made him sad, but at the same time it gave Sam some-much needed time to catch up with his life outside football.

    Because of the fact that he was in a rehabilitation period from his injury, he got the luxury of fully engaging in the festive period though it was already late.

    To Sam though, it was not too late, it was still a rare opportunity to enjoy himself with his girlfriend and that was what he did.

    The next day after Fulham''s win against Ipswich Town, still in a happy mood from his team winning, Sam finally decided to participate in the festivities.

    Taking Kayla''s car, on the 6th of January, 2025, they had another amazing lovers'' day out in Netherlands as they went shopping.

    Feeling generous due to his good mood, Sam splurged money, buying a lot of things for himself and his girlfriend.

    He didn''t stop at that as he bought souvenirs that he would give to his best friend, Ian on getting back to England; he also bought for Emile Smith Rowe too.

    And finally, he did not forget to shop for his family too. From when he was younger, there were a few things that his parents always fantasized about but left it at just fantasy simply because they didn''t have the means to get them.

    But now, Sam decided to meet this old dream of theirs.

    For his mom especially, he bought some expensive jewelries, those she always raved about when watching Indian drama series on Zee World back then.

    Also, Sam decided to shop on behalf of his girlfriend''s parents.

    Yes, Kayla Banks'' parents lived here in Netherlands.

    Enjoy more content from empire

    Sam had heard a lot about Kayla''s parents and vice versa but today, after speaking with his girlfriend about it, in a good mood, he finally decided that he was ready to meet them.

    After the shopping session, they drove to an African food restaurant where they enjoyed themselves, and then they finally drove to Mr. Banks'' home.

    Kayla''s parents were just like she told him about. Both were English citizens but her father was black, it explained her love for the black culture.

    Kayla looked just like her mom. Looking at the older woman, Sam was stunned at the uncanny resemblance. ''Damn! They''re cut from the same tree!''

    And then, the middle-aged man initiated a conversation, smiling. "Sam, I hear that you''re from Africa, how''s Africa these days?"

    Feeling the familiar energy in that question, Sam stared at this middle-aged man with wide eyes. "Sir, you''ve been to Africa?"

    Mr. Banks chuckled. "I grew up in South Africa".

    "Wow!" Now, everything made sense, but why did Kayla not tell him this? He briefly glared at his girlfriend who chuckled on seeing his reaction.

    Sam met Mr. Banks for the first time today but in no time, the both of them gelled as they discussed a lot of topics, ranging from Africa and its economy, to Nigeria, to South Africa, and then football.

    Walking to the balcony where they overlooked the world below, they conversed in a familiar manner.

    Mr. Banks was also a big football fan. Actually, he was a Liverpool fan meaning that this season, his club was Sam''s biggest rival.

    "Sam, I don''t want Fulham to win the league but if you must do it, can you promise me something?"

    Sam scratched the back of his head. "Umm, sir, I can''t promise without knowing what you''ll ask".

    This middle-aged man hesitated, he coughed, and then he suddenly faced Sam. "Sam, sign for Liverpool next season!"

    "¡­"

    Sam was speechless, he coughed. "Umm, that¡­"

    "Please". He pleaded shamelessly.

    Sam was tongue-tied.

    Right at that moment, the door to the balcony was flung open as someone stormed in. "Dad¡­!" Kayla complained. "This is why I didn''t want you to meet him, I knew you''d be like this!"

    "Sam, let''s go".

    Mr. Banks looked at her. "Women¡­," he scoffed. "What do you know?"

    Sam chuckled. "I''m sorry Mr. Banks," he looked at him. "I would have agreed just to please you if I didn''t have a dream to play in a specific club".

    Hearing that, Mr. Banks snorted. "The Real Madrid dream, right? That broken club will definitely sign you at the first opportunity if you offer yourself up".

    Sam grinned. "Actually, my dream is to play for their rival".

    Mr. Banks'' eyes widened. "You mean FC Barcelona?"

    Sam nodded. "Yeah, I''m the biggest Barca fan in the world!" He boasted.

    "I''ll lead FC Barcelona back to the top of the footballing world, I promise!"

    Mr. Banks was stunned, clearly, he did not expect that from Sam. In the end, he chuckled. "Goodluck then Sam, I''ll follow your career closer from now".

    Sam and Kayla spent the most of the day at her parents'' home as Sam used the rare opportunity to bond with her parents.

    At the end of it all, they finally returned to Kayla''s apartment were taking his iPhone out, Sam dialed a number.

    (Outgoing video call to Best Mom¡­)

    Click!

    As soon as a familiar face appeared on the screen, she glared at him but once she noticed the other face beside Sam, her face lit up.

    "Kayla my daughter!" Mrs. Moses'' mood improved immediately. "How are you doing? Thanks for taking care of my son in my absence".

    And just like that, the 2 women monopolized Sam''s phone.

    ''I was the one who called!'' Sam cried. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 225 A crunch FA cup game- against Watford

    After the game against Ipswich Town on 5th January, Fulham''s next engagement was an FA Cup game against Watford in 4 days.(FA Cup 3rd round:)

    (Fulham ¨C Watford)

    (Date: 9th January, 2025)

    Despite the fact that Watford was an English club that competed in the Championship, the 2nd tier of English football, the FA Cup game was still a game that Sam attributed a lot of importance to due to various reasons.

    The first and most important reason was the simple fact that after crashing out of the EFL Cup for the season already, he didn''t want his club to crash out of another cup competition in his absence.

    It was a knockout game and in knockout games, things don''t always go as planned. An inspired performance from a single opposition player could spoil all the plans that Fulham approached the tournament with.

    Having entered the flow state a few times himself already, Sam knew how powerful of a weapon it could be in enemy hand.

    And that was the thing about cup games, a single player entering the flow state was all it needed to knock another team out of the tournament for good.

    It was not like a league game where clubs could afford to stumble once and rectify their mistake in the next league game.

    In knockout tournament games, it was win or lose.

    Win and stay in the tournament, lose and crash out.

    The buildup to this important game in their impressive season so far was grueling for the Fulham players. The fact that they already crashed out of one cup competition in Sam''s absence already was still haunting them.

    This was why they were determined not to crash out of another one. Read latest chapters at empire

    This was why despite the fact that it was an FA Cup game and that it was against Watford, Coach Marco Silva started the game with a strong lineup.

    He didn''t just want his team to win, he wanted them to put out a statement display to show that they were still in the game even in Sam''s absence.

    Raul Jimenez was benched, allowing Muniz to start as the striker. Behind him was a dynamic trio of Harry Wilson, Emile Smith Rowe, and Adama Traore. Further behind them was the midfield duo of Lukic and Berge.

    The 4-man defense comprised of the usual quadruple of Antonee Robinson, Diop, Bassey, and Tete. Castagne was still out injured. And of course, Bernd Leno started in between the posts this game.

    Only few rotations were made by the Fulham coach.

    As for Watford, starting in a 4-1-4-1 formation, Bayo started as their striker while behind him comprised the 4-man offense of Vata, Chakvatadze, Sissoko, and Bash. Behind the 4-man offensive players was Dwomoh in midfield as the anchor.

    Behind the anchor was a 4-man defense comprising Larouci, Pollock, Porteous, and Ngakia, while Backmann started as the man in between the posts.

    That night, Fulham fans gave the Watford players a reception to never forget as their loud noise blasted through the roof of Craven Cottage.

    Even before the game started, the Watford players were already intimidated.

    FWEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, from the very first minute of this game, Fulham took the game to their opponents.

    Fulham started kickoff and as soon as the first kick of the ball was played, the rapid Adama Traore charged down the field.

    Before the Watford players could react¡­

    Bam!

    Emile Smith Rowe played a perfect lobbed pass over their full defense for the rapid Traore to catch up to in no time, taking it in his strides.

    "Oh! What is this? An early goal?"

    The Watford goalkeeper charged out but keeping his cool, Adama Traore rounded the goalkeeper before poking the ball into an empty net.

    In just the 1st minute of this game, Fulham went ahead.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" Craven Cottage erupted.

    In a certain apartment in Netherlands, Sam also screamed for joy, making his girlfriend throw glances at him even as she idly ate popcorns.

    That goal set the tempo for the rest of this game.

    Fulham totally dominated Watford. They barely put up any resistance in the first half as the West London club ran them ragged with Smith Rowe pulling the strings from attacking midfield.

    After setting up Adama Traore once already, Emile Smith Rowe orchestrated another moment of magic, playing Muniz in behind with an outrageous defense-splitting pass.

    The lethal striker did not miss his mark, rifling the ball past the goalkeeper and into the net as Fulham scored its 2nd goal in the 22nd minute.

    Just 3 minutes later, Adama Traore went on a powerful rampaging run with the ball, obliterating defenders with his pace before setting Muniz up again for the striker to rifle into the net on a powerful volley.

    "Damn! Watford are being ripped apart!"

    "What a run from Traore! What flawless shooting technique from Fulham too, they''re in their groove!"

    In the end, Sam''s worst fears did not come true.

    In the 25th minute of this game, Fulham was already 3-0 ahead and in the 40th minute, Muniz finally completed his hattrick after another bombing run and exquisite pass from Adama Traore down the right-hand side of the pitch.

    40 minutes, 4-0¡­

    It was over for Watford.

    During halftime, Coach Marco Silva pulled the plug, replacing majority of the starting players and refreshing his team with fresh legs, resting his stars.

    This gave Watford a chance in the 2nd half as they scored a consolation goal in the 60th minute but then in the 71st minute, Calvin Bassey powered in another goal from a corner kick routine, making it 5-1 to Fulham.

    By the end of 90 minutes, all the Watford players looked defeated.

    The ecstatic Fulham fans sang songs at the top of their lungs and then, inexplicably, a familiar chant took over Craven Cottage.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    The reason for the fans'' chant was not clear but watching this game from home, Sam felt a warm feeling fill his heart.

    "They''re back!" He punched a fist in celebration.

    Kayla looked at him. "I told you to be patient, didn''t I?" S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Yes, you did my love, that''s why I love you!" Grinning, he drowned her in smooches.

 Chapter 226 A hectic schedule without Sam [1]

    (Premier league:)(West Ham ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 14th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Leicester City ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 18th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Fulham ¨C Man United)

    (Date: 26th January, 2025)

    After the impressive win against Watford in the FA Cup, Fulham had 4 days of rest to prepare for their next game which was a premier league game.

    After the FA Cup game, Fulham finally ran into their first hectic schedule since they lost their talismanic attacking midfielder.

    Their next 3 games were important games that would potentially decide the outcome of their season.

    Their first 2 encounters against West Ham and Leicester City were away games in tough away stadiums. No football club loved losing in front of their home fans, they would surely make things hard for Fulham.

    In Sam''s absence, the other Fulham stars would have to show up to win and of course, their hardest of the 3 premier league encounters was the 2nd clash against Manchester United for the premier league season.

    This game was important because it was Fulham''s last game for January 2025, and more importantly because it was against Manchester United.

    Despite the recent dominance of Manchester City in the premier league, ask OG premier league fans and they would tell you that Manchester United are yet to be dethroned as the historical Kings of England.

    Their history was still the best and most storied.

    The memories created by ancient legends like George Best, more recent ones like Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Roonie, Robin Van Persie, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Edwin Van Der Sarr, all of it would not be forgotten so easily.

    Besides, this season, Manchester United was a wildcard.

    They win when you expect them to lose and when you do expect them to win, they''ll go on and break your heart, losing in humiliating fashion.

    In simple terms, they were unpredictable this season.

    Despite their current form, it was still a team of elite professional football players in Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, Andre Onana, Lisandro Martinez and the likes. It was going to be Fulham''s hardest game streak of the new year so far.

    Personally, for Sam who was still in Netherlands with his girlfriend, the next run of games was especially important to him.

    This was because after 26th January, the day when his team would take on Manchester United at home, the next day would be the day of his full recovery from his injury and when he would shock his teammates.

    Till today, not even his girlfriend knew that he would recover in one month despite the fact that she was excited by how fast he was recovering.

    Sam was ready to shock everybody, not just his girlfriend, his friends, his teammates and his coach, but also Fulham rivals.

    A lot of people were secretly happy that he was injured, praying for their downfall, he could not wait to see the look on their faces on his return.

    ''Thinking of my return,'' he rubbed his chin. ''I think I should find a way to make it special and memorable''.

    ''Something like¡­, maybe a new celebration that is exclusive to me?''

    Thinking of that, he remembered a certain Marvel superhero and then he grinned. "As you can see, I am not dead".

    ¡­

    Time moved fast for the Fulham players.

    While they were engulfed in training, preparing for their next game, time moved like it was being chased and in no time, it was already 4 days.

    The Fulham squad traveled to West Ham United''s London Stadium.

    Like usual, both teams started with their strongest lineups.

    For Fulham, Raul Jimenez led the line with the trio of Harry Wilson, Pereira, and Emile Smith Rowe behind him. Further behind them was the midfield duo of Lukic and Berge who started this game.

    The 4-man defense comprised of Antonee Robinson, Diop, Bassey and Tete with Bernd Leno starting in between the posts in their regular 4-2-3-1 formation.

    As for West Ham, they started in a 4-1-4-1 formation with Fabianski in between the posts and a 4-man defensive quadruple comprising of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, the ex-Man United defender, Mavropanos, Kilman, and Emerson Royal who once plied his trade for FC Barcelona.

    The sole man in midfield was Alvarez, while the 4-man offensive unit ahead of him comprised of Jarred Bowen, Lucas Paqueta, Soucek, and Mohamed Kudus.

    Nikolas Fullkrug, the tall and imposing German striker was the sole man upfront for West Ham starting as their striker.

    This was a formidable lineup and once the referee''s whistle sounded, West Ham rode the momentum created by the home fans to play a wonder game.

    This was Fulham in its current full power but during the first few minutes of this game, West Ham ran the Fulham defensive units ragged.

    Mohamed Kudus especially was in imperious form as bolstered by his defense shutting out the Fulham attackers, this winger took the game by the scruff of the neck, consistently turning Tete inside out.

    Their domination continued for over 40 minutes without a goal and during the late stages of the first half, as the pressure that they mounted on Fulham reduced, that was when their striker scored a wonder goal.

    Mohamed Kudus created it.

    After receiving the ball in the left-hand side, this winger wriggled past Tete again, wrong-footed Calvin Bassey before slipping a lobbed pass for the laser-focused German striker to hit on a powerful volley towards goal.

    Bernd Leno reacted, his right hand touching the ball but the power behind the shot was just too much as it squirmed past him and into the net.

    The London Stadium erupted as ecstatic West Ham supporters rejoiced.

    The first half ended with West Ham leading 1-0.

    When second half started, the Fulham players probably having taken a dose of motivation words from their coach started the game powerfully as they took the action to their opponents but it only lasted a short while before the West Ham domination continued.

    Without Sam on the pitch, Fulham just seemed to lose that extra factor that would enable them compete at the very elite level.

    They kept on trying but in the 60th minute of this game, the German striker pounced again, powering a header past Bernd Leno from a cross.

    In 60 minutes, 2-0 to West Ham.

    The away fan section deflated but, on the pitch, the Fulham players kept on trying their best and giving their all.

    Late in the game, Fulham got a consolation goal for their troubles as Antonee Robinson, the Fulham left back scored a wonder goal from midfield.

    The goal didn''t change much though, Fulham lost the game 2-1.

    S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 227 A hectic schedule without Sam [2]

    "Max, what do you think is wrong with Fulham?""Nothing Charles, like I told you before, there''s a Samuel Moses-sized hole in their starting XI, that is the only thing that is wrong with them".

    "I mean, come on, do you really think West Ham would have been able to pass Fulham ragged the way they did today if Sam was on the pitch?"

    "Let''s just forget about his offensive capabilities for a moment. Just do a switch and let''s analyze his work rate on the pitch".

    "There''s a statistic that''s going around recently in a premier league twitter page. This season, no attack has gone through Sam''s area of the pitch and resulted in a goal".

    "Do you know what that means?"

    "Sam is so good in locking his area of the pitch that the opponents are never successful in creating any meaningful attack from there".

    "That reliable figure, Fulham missed it today".

    "Forget about the other areas of the pitch, if that Sam area was locked today, the others would have raised their game from his performance alone".

    "Sam''s ability is more than just personal ability; he has this charisma on the pitch to effortlessly raise the overall level of his teammates".

    "To me, the guy is captain-material already despite his young age".

    "It''s just unfortunate that he''s injured".

    "Next season, I can''t wait to see the big club that he''ll play for. I''m telling you; the footballing world is not ready for the heights that Sam will hit when playing for a big European club".

    Just like expected, most of the talk after matchday 21 of the English premier league revolved around Fulham and Samuel Moses as after 21 matchdays, they finally let up and fell to second place, allowing Liverpool to top the league.

    To a lot of people who watched, this was the normal status quo, Fulham were back to default settings.

    Their prediction was that in no time, Fulham would be out of the top 4 of the English premier league table entirely.

    The Fulham players were under a lot of pressure to perform, most especially after how they were totally outplayed by West Ham.

    ¡­

    (Premier league:)

    (Leicester City ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 18th January, 2025)

    3 days of rest after traveling to West Ham, the Fulham squad finally made another trip, this time to Leicester City.

    After West Ham finally broke the voodoo, taking points off Fulham finally after their record-breaking run of form since the beginning of the season, Leicester City approached this game with high hopes of doing the same.

    Just like expected, both premier league teams started with their strongest lineups as Leicester City started with its favored 4-2-3-1 formation just like Fulham.

    With Jamie Vardy starting up top as the sole striker, the trio of Mavididi, El Khannouss, and Jordan Ayew started behind him. Further behind them was the duo of Skipp and Soumare.

    Their 4-man defense comprised of Justin, Coady, Vestergaard, and Kristiansen while Ward started in between the posts for them.

    For Fulham, compared to the lineup that they used against West Ham, the only change Coach Marco Silva made was the fact that Adama Traore started ahead of Harry Wilson today.

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, giving the signal to kickstart the game, Leicester City kicked off the game and they started with a bang.

    Riding the energy of their fans, during the first few minutes of this game, they proved extremely threatening even as the Fulham players tried their best to stabilize the game, their defense working on overtime.

    Before the game could be stabilized though, a certain Leicester City legend who goes by the name of Jamie Vardy imprinted his name on this game.

    "Jamie VARDYYY¡­!" The commentator screamed. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What a goal, a twist and turn, then slalom goal!"

    "What a moment from the premier league legend!"

    In just the 4th minute of the game, Jamie Vardy broke the deadlock, giving his team the lead as charging towards the corner flag, this striker slid on his knees in celebration as the home fans sang praises of their legend.

    That goal definitely dampened Fulham hearts, but they were not done yet.

    "Come on guys!" Emile Smith Rowe clapped his hands.

    In recent weeks, the Englishman discovered that he developed a bad habit due to being around Sam and playing with him week in week out.

    He discovered that he now developed a deep hatred for losing and not giving his all till the last moment.

    The loss against West Ham heavily impacted him mentally and after going home and reflecting about it, only one question lingered in his mind.

    What would Sam had done?

    That was why this game as soon as his team went behind again, Smith Rowe decided against staying idle as he played captain today.

    And sometimes, that extra nudge was just what his teammates needed.

    After that goal, Leicester City thought they would be cruising towards a memorable victory to turn their season around but they could not have been more wrong as Fulham turned the game on its head.

    Just 6 minutes after Jamie Vardy''s goal, Emile Smith Rowe went on a mazy run into the Fulham 18-yard box, skipping through players like they were not there.

    Before he was dispossessed, he snuck the ball into the bottom right corner.

    "GOALLL¡­!" The away fan section erupted immediately.

    The Englishman jumped, pumping his fists excitedly as he celebrated. "Come on!"

    He was drowned with boos but he didn''t care.

    That goal turned the momentum of this game around a complete 360%.

    Fulham gained control of this game as they seemed to gain their mojo back. They started dominating this game, led by Smith Rowe''s impressive form today.

    And then it was him again in the 18th minute as dribbling into the box, he forced the Leicester defenders to trip him.

    FWEEEE!

    "Ohhhh! A penalty, Leicester City have lost their head!"

    "What a response from Fulham after their drab loss against West Ham, Emile Smith Rowe in particular looks to be enjoying himself".

    Raul Jimenez took the penalty and though the goalkeeper dived the right way, his shot was towards the corner as it snuggled inside the post still.

    In less than 20 minutes after going behind, the game was turned on its head as Fulham equalized and were now leading.

    Leicester City tried to regain control of this game but they could not as in the 33rd minute, Emile Smith Rowe scored a wonder goal, curling a shot from outside the box into the top right corner of the net.

    1-3 to Fulham in the 33rd minute, Leicester City was cooked.

    The first half ended 1-3.

    Second half was much more boring than the first as Fulham defended their lead. The game eventually ended 1-3 to Fulham.

    Even if it was just for a moment, they relished it.

    They were back to winning ways.

 Chapter 228 Clash against an aging Leviathan; London vs Manchester [1]

    (Premier league results:)(Matchday 22 of 38:)

    (Newcastle 2-1 Bournemouth)

    (Date: 18th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (West Ham 1-1 Crystal Palace)

    (Date: 18th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Brentford 1-3 Liverpool)

    (Date: 18th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Leicester City 1-3 Fulham)

    (Date: 18th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Arsenal 3-0 Aston Villa)

    (Date: 18th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Nottm 0-0 Southampton)

    (Date: 19th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Everton 3-4 Tottenham)

    (Date: 19th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Man United 0-2 Brighton)

    (Date: 19th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Ipswich Town 1-2 Man City)

    (Date: 19th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Chelsea 3-2 Wolves)

    (Date: 20th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. Liverpool GP: 21/ W:16/ D:2/ L:2/ Pts: 54)

    (2. Fulham GP: 22/ W:16/ D:4/ L:2/ Pts: 53)

    (3. Chelsea GP: 22/ W:14/ D:6/ L:2/ Pts: 48)

    (4. Arsenal GP: 22/ W:13/ D:7/ L:2/ Pts: 46)

    (5. Man City GP: 22/ W:10/ D:6/ L:6/ Pts: 36)

    (6. Aston Villa GP: 22/ W:10/ D:5/ L:8/ Pts: 35)

    (7. Nottm Forest GP: 22/ W:9/ D:8/ L:5/ Pts: 35)

    (8. Brighton GP: 22/ W:9/ D:7/ L:6/ Pts: 34)

    (9. Newcastle GP: 22/ W:9/ D:7/ L:6/ Pts: 34)

    (10. Bournemouth GP: 22/ W:9/ D:5/ L:8/ Pts: 32)

    (11. Tottenham GP: 22/ W:10/ D:2/ L:10/ Pts: 32)

    (12. Brentford GP: 22/ W:8/ D:4/ L:10/ Pts: 28)

    (13. Man United GP: 22/ W:8/ D:4/ L:10/ Pts: 28)

    (14. West Ham GP: 22/ W:7/ D:5/ L:10/ Pts: 25)

    (15. Crystal Palace GP: 22/ W:4/ D:9/ L:9/ Pts: 21)

    (16. Leicester GP: 22/ W:3/ D:8/ L:11/ Pts: 17)

    (17. Everton GP: 21/ W:3/ D:5/ L:13/ Pts: 14)

    (18. Ipswich Town GP: 22/ W:2/ D:8/ L:12/ Pts: 14)

    (19. Wolves GP: 22/ W:1/ D:6/ L:15/ Pts: 9)

    (20. Southampton GP: 22/ W:2/ D:2/ L:18/ Pts: 8)

    After 22 matchdays of the English premier league, this was how the premier league table looked like.

    Despite the predictions all around, it was not a full-blown crisis yet in Fulham.

    Yes, they lost their game against West Ham. Yes, it was 3 important points lost. Yes, Liverpool was now top of the table with a game in hand but at the same time, Fulham was still 2nd in the premier league table.

    They were still within touching distance of the summit of the premier league table and to the Fulham fans, this meant everything.

    After the game against Leicester City away from home, the Fulham players got a triumphant welcome back to Fulham as their fans celebrated their victory exuberantly like they already won a trophy.

    Despite the celebrations though, the Fulham players did not let it get to their head, this was because they knew that there was a bigger challenge ahead.

    Yes, it was a home game.

    Yes, last time out they were able to beat the Red Devils in their home turf in Old Trafford but in that game, a certain Samuel Moses was on the pitch.

    The Fulham players did not relish the knowledge that they would be clashing against the Kings of Manchester without their talismanic attacking midfielder, but they were not delusional.

    They were elite professional football players; they knew not to complain in adversity but to work with what they had. With this mentality, they trained hard, approaching the game with optimism.

    Like that, the days moved like the rolling pages of a book and in no time, it was already time for matchday 23 of the English premier league.

    The first games of the matchday were played on 25th but Fulham''s clash against Manchester United was left for last on 26th January.

    (Premier league:)

    (Matchday 23 of 38:)

    (Brighton 2-0 Everton)

    (Date: 25th January, 2025)

    ¡­ sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (Liverpool 2-0 Ipswich Town)

    (Date: 25th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Southampton 1-0 Newcastle)

    (Date: 25th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Wolves 0-4 Arsenal)

    (Date: 25th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Bournemouth 1-3 Nottm Forest)

    (Date: 25th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Man City 1-3 Chelsea)

    (Date: 25th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Tottenham 2-1 Leicester City)

    (Date: 26th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Crystal Palace 0-1 Brentford)

    (Date: 26th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham)

    (Date: 26th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Fulham ¨C Man United)

    (Date: 26th January, 2025)

    With another impressive Liverpool win against Ipswich Town, all of a sudden in the build up to the Manchester game, the pressure was on Fulham as the Merseysiders now led by 4 points with a game in hand.

    If they didn''t want to be left behind by a rampant Liverpool, Fulham needed to get a result against Manchester United.

    The Fulham players approached the game with this mindset.

    But they were not the only ones who approached this game with the mindset to win, the Manchester United players did the same thing.

    Unlike Fulham''s impressive season so far, Manchester United was having an absolute disaster of a season. Having amassed only 28 points in 22 games, they were in mid-table 13th position in the league.

    A lot of the Manchester United star players were currently under fire, including the new coach, Ruben Amorim. They were desperate to get a good result.

    All of this added even more spice to this game.

    In the build-up to the game, the media dubbed it the clash of the new Dogs vs the aging Leviathan, a battle of London vs Manchester.

    When the Man United players entered Craven Cottage, they were welcomed by the hostile atmosphere that was created by the home supporters.

    It was incredibly toxic but that was football.

    The Fulham fans were ready to do anything to help their team win.

    And like expected, both teams started with their strongest lineups.

    Fulham started with a similar lineup that they used to demolish Leicester City, the only difference being that Castagne finally returned to the starting XI as the right back of the team after minor injury issues.

    As for Manchester United, it was still a much more fearsome and star-studded lineup of players on paper.

    Starting in a 3-4-2-1 formation, Andre Onana, the Cameroonian started in between the posts while the 3-man defense in front of him comprised the trio of Mazraoui, Harry Maguire, and Lisandro Martinez.

    The 4-man midfield comprised of Diogo Dalot and Tyrell Malacia playing as high inverted fullbacks, then Manuel Ugarte, and Kobbie Mainoo, the young prodigy.

    The attack comprised of Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes, and Joshua Zirkzee who started as the striker.

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, the clash between heavyweights of London vs Manchester started.

 Chapter 229 Clash against an aging Leviathan; London vs Manchester [2]

    Bam!"Ohhh! And the ball rebounds off the crossbar!"

    "Zirkzee would be left ruing his luck there, the header was perfectly executed to the top corner, only the post deprived him of the goal there".

    "And what a strong start from Manchester United!"

    In the 18th minute of the game, after a few minutes of sustained pressure, Joshua Zirkzee got on the end of a Bruno Fernandes cross as the striker rose above all the Fulham defenders and planted a firm header at goal only to be thwarted by the goal post.

    Ruffling his hair, this player cursed.

    But the game was already continuing without him as Calvin Bassey pounced, clearing the game up field.

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded from the first minute, buoyed by the loud noise that was being made by the home supporters, Fulham played with venom and purpose as they aimed to get the early lead.

    But for some reason, they could not sustain this pressure as it lasted for only 5 minutes before Manchester United took the game by the scruff of the neck.

    For the next 15 minutes or so, Manchester United dominated as they tried their best to score, their closest being Joshua Zirkzee''s header.

    In the end, despite their efforts, the game was still level 0-0.

    After the 20th minute though, Fulham settled down again as riding the energy from the loud noise around Craven Cottage, they slowly settled down into this game until it was no longer one-sided.

    This game became even and once it did, it became pound for pound.

    Bruno Fernandes vs Lukic, Emile Smith Rowe vs Manuel Ugarte; all across the pitch, exciting matchups dominated the game as the players of both teams gave their all to give their team the edge in this game.

    In the 33rd minute of this game, Amad Diallo came closest to opening the deadlock as after a long pass from Kobbie Mainoo, the young forward bravely drove forward with the ball before unleashing a venomous shot at goal that stung Bernd Leno''s gloves.

    The Fulham goalkeeper saved a sure goal only due to his quick reflexes even as Craven Cottage exploded with cheers for their goalkeeper.

    Immediately after making the save, Bernd Leno took the ball and quickly launched it forward for a quick counterattack.

    Alex Iwobi took it in his strides, sprayed it to the other side of the pitch to Emile Smith Rowe who set Raul Jimenez up one-on-one with Andre Onana.

    Somewhere in Netherlands, at that moment, Sam jumped up to his feet, about to scream in celebration but he only ended up cursing. "F*ck!"

    "What a save from Andre Onana!" The commentator raved.

    "What a game this is turning out to be! Both goalkeepers are in elite form!"

    Despite the many chances that dominated this first half, the game ended 0-0 but it was during 2nd half that the level of play in this game truly shot up to a stratospheric level, showcasing the determination of both teams to win.

    It was pound for pound football, extremely physical and rough, mixed with a few glimpses of individual brilliance.

    And in the 54th minute of this game, Antonee Robinson showed his talent again as after an inverted driving run from left back, this left back unleashed an absolute piledriver of a shot that tore its way into the bottom right corner of the post.

    Andre Onana stood no chance.

    "ROBINSONNNNN¡­!" The commentator screamed.

    "What a goal, what a moment!" Read exclusive content at empire

    "He really is rising up for his team in recent weeks!"

    "They call him the best left back in the league now and oh boy, is Robinson living up to the challenge!"

    "What an absolute rocket!"

    Craven Cottage exploded after that goal. Even after the celebrations, the ecstatic home supporters kept on singing at the top of their voices.

    The same thing for a certain Samuel Moses in Netherlands; Antonee Robinson''s goal turned Sam''s mood straight from 12 to 100!

    After that goal, Fulham finally regained control over this game as they kept on taking the action to Manchester United''s 18-yard box.

    Man United kept on trying to turn the tides to no avail.

    In the 70th minute, Ruben Amorim finally said f*ck it and pulled the plug, making a couple changes to his team as Marcus Rashford was introduced into the game and his substitutions paid dividends almost immediately.

    2 minutes after coming on, consequence of a failed Fulham corner kick routine, the rapid English forward got on the end of the cleared ball.

    Taking the ball in his strides, Rashford kicked it long before absolutely obliterating Castagne in a race battle.

    Bernd Leno charged out to clear the ball but Rashford was faster still, arriving earlier as the Englishman chipped the ball above the goalkeeper.

    Due to the fact that he didn''t add too much power to it, the ball rolled slowly towards goal even as Diop charged back to clear it. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In that moment, time seemed to freeze in Craven Cottage¡­

    "¡­!"

    Will it or will it not?

    Diop barely arrived on time but when he cleared the ball, his balance was already too awkward as he ended up rifling it into his own net instead.

    "F*ck!" The center back cursed angrily.

    It was recorded as a goal to Marcus Rashford still.

    72 minutes, 1-1¡­, out of the blue!

    In a moment, the game turned on its head but Fulham responded immediately, pushing more players forward to snatch the lead again.

    Their risk paid off as after being kept quiet for most of this game, Raul Jimenez burst to life, executing a sublime touch and control after an Alex Iwobi pass to get past his man before rifling the ball into the net.

    "RAUL JIMENEZZZZ¡­!" The commentator screamed.

    "What a game, a thriller!"

    "Fulham are not about to give up 3 points at home!"

    "Fulham are back on top again in the 78th minute, what a game!"

    But then again, somehow, Manchester United came back and again, it was the rapid English forward.

    This time, receiving the ball in the left side of the pitch, Marcus Rashford went on a short run past Castagne again, and then he cut in before curling a shot past a sprawled Bernd Leno.

    "My God¡­! Rashford is feeling it today!"

    "This is prime Rashford in display! What a shot, what a goal!"

    Even the Englishman could not believe how good he was playing today.

    In the 86th minute of this game, it was back level, 2-2¡­

    In the final minutes of the game, it was pound for pound as relentlessly, both teams pursued the winner without caring much about the risk.

    It was a 50-50 situation and in recent seasons, Fulham fans were used to crossing over the line in situations like this.

    Surely, today would be no different right?

    But they forgot something, there was no Zinedine Sam on the pitch.

    In the 2nd minute of additional time, it was the rapid Englishman again, Marcus Rashford as after receiving a pass from Bruno Fernandes, in a show of how synced and lost he was in the zone state, this forward set himself up before unleashing an absolute rocket of a shot from 30 yards out!

    Whoosh!

    The ball flew like a rocket, drilling through the air with venomous momentum¡­

    Time seemed to freeze...

    Craven Cottage watched in silence, and then¡­

    "GOALLLLLLLL¡­!" The commentator screamed.

    "MARCUS RASHFORD!"

    "MARCUS RASHFORD!!!"

    "MARCUS RASHFORD¡­!!!"

    "What a statement display!"

    "A hattrick to show Man United fans that he''s still got it!"

    "They''re clamoring for the club to sell him, and this is his reply, a vintage Marcus Rashford performance!"

    And that, brethren, was how Fulham lost a game that they seemingly had in the bag already.

    It was an exciting game, but torturous from the Fulham perspective.

    ¡­

    In a certain apartment in the Netherlands¡­

    "¡­"

 Chapter 230 Hes... BACK!!!

    In a certain apartment in the Netherlands¡­"GOALLLLLLLL¡­!" The commentator screamed.

    "MARCUS RASHFORD!"

    "MARCUS RASHFORD!!!"

    "MARCUS RASHFORD¡­!!!"

    "What a statement display!"

    "A hattrick to show Man United fans that he''s still got it!"

    "They''re clamoring for the club to sell him, and this is his reply, a vintage Marcus Rashford performance!"

    There was silence in this apartment, only the voice of the commentator could be heard but even that stopped as calmly, Sam muted the television.

    With the television muted, silence reigned in this apartment.

    "¡­!" Kayla could feel the tension rising.

    For most of this game, Kayla watched this game from the side, idly eating her popcorns even as she pressed her iPhone. When her boyfriend reacted to the game, he would idly look at him before focusing back on her phone.

    She could tell that the game was a rollercoaster though she didn''t watch it, this was because of the highs and lows of Sam''s emotions as he watched the game.

    At some point, she thought. ''Don''t go and get a BP from watching football!''

    But now, even she was tongue-tied as soon as the game came to an end as she could tell that the atmosphere in this living room already changed.

    She fidgeted with her box of popcorns, looking at the floor, then at the ceiling before finally gathering the courage to peek at her boyfriend.

    The TV was muted but at this moment, Sam still had his eyes fixated on the screen, watching as emotions cascaded on the pitch.

    He watched as Marcus Rashford received his match ball and the man of the match award, and he also watched his devastated teammates.

    When the camera switched to show Alex Iwobi and Emile Smith Rowe''s dejected faces, Sam''s face twitched a bit but overall, he was still very calm.

    And then, with the last result of matchday 23 of the English premier league ready, the premier league table was updated again. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (Premier league:)

    (Matchday 23 of 38:)

    (Fulham 2-3 Man United)

    (Date: 26th January, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. Liverpool GP: 22/ W:17/ D:2/ L:2/ Pts: 57)

    (2. Fulham GP: 23/ W:16/ D:4/ L:3/ Pts: 53)

    (3. Chelsea GP: 23/ W:15/ D:6/ L:2/ Pts: 51)

    (4. Arsenal GP: 23/ W:14/ D:7/ L:2/ Pts: 49)

    (5. Nottm Forest GP: 23/ W:10/ D:8/ L:5/ Pts: 38)

    (6. Brighton GP: 23/ W:10/ D:7/ L:6/ Pts: 37)

    (7. Man City GP: 23/ W:10/ D:6/ L:7/ Pts: 36)

    (8. Aston Villa GP: 23/ W:10/ D:6/ L:8/ Pts: 36)

    (9. Tottenham GP: 23/ W:11/ D:2/ L:10/ Pts: 35)

    (10. Newcastle GP: 23/ W:9/ D:7/ L:7/ Pts: 34)

    (11. Bournemouth GP: 23/ W:9/ D:5/ L:9/ Pts: 32) Find more to read at empire

    (12. Brentford GP: 23/ W:9/ D:4/ L:10/ Pts: 31)

    (13. Man United GP: 23/ W:9/ D:4/ L:10/ Pts: 31)

    (14. West Ham GP: 23/ W:7/ D:6/ L:10/ Pts: 26)

    (15. Crystal Palace GP: 23/ W:4/ D:9/ L:10/ Pts: 21)

    (16. Leicester GP: 23/ W:3/ D:8/ L:12/ Pts: 17)

    (17. Everton GP: 22/ W:3/ D:5/ L:14/ Pts: 14)

    (18. Ipswich Town GP: 23/ W:2/ D:8/ L:13/ Pts: 14)

    (19. Southampton GP: 23/ W:3/ D:2/ L:18/ Pts: 11)

    (20. Wolves GP: 23/ W:1/ D:6/ L:16/ Pts: 9)

    It was official, Fulham now trailed 4 points behind the English premier league table toppers, Liverpool.

    And not just that, they were feeling the pressure from behind them. With just 2 points now separating them, Chelsea was now hot on their heels.

    As Sam silently stared at the new English premier league table rankings, his girlfriend secretly stared at him and when he turned to look at her, startled, she almost choked on the popcorn.

    "Ah, babe, hey," she chuckled. "How are you doing?"

    Sam just looked at her, he forced a smile. "I''m sleeping early today".

    Standing up, he started going to the room.

    "Hey, you''ve not eaten!" Kayla called. "Won''t you eat?"

    "No need, I''m full".

    As soon as Sam was out of his girlfriend''s sight, his hands clenched into fists even as veins popped all over his body.

    A fire lit up in his eyes and then, a familiar chant started in his mind.

    ''Win!''

    Before Sam got to the bedroom, he already managed to kill all the adrenaline and fury currently flowing through him as he forced himself to sleep.

    Tomorrow¡­ was going to be a big day for him.

    ¡­

    The next day, Sam woke up very early, around after 5 in the morning.

    ~----~

    [Congratulations! The effects of ingesting the high-grade physical conditioning elixir have been completed!]

    [You have completed your injury recovery time!]

    [You have successfully recovered from an ankle injury!]

    ¡­

    [Sam, welcome to a new day!]

    [You have unlocked a new Daily System Quest- Get back in shape!]

    [You have unlocked today''s daily quest goals!]

    [Task 1: 250 push-ups]

    ¡­

    [Task 2: 250 squats]

    ¡­

    [Task 3: 250 sit-ups]

    ¡­

    [Task 4: Run 25 kilometers]

    ¡­

    [WARNING: If the daily quest is not completed, penalties will be given accordingly.]

    [Remark: You''re furious? Good, channel that fury into training!]

    ~----~

    Staring at the series of notifications that were displayed by his system, Sam could not help himself as a grin crept up his face.

    For the past 1 month, he felt like a superhero that was deprived of his powers while his allies suffered but now, he finally recovered his powers.

    It was too early; he didn''t want to jog out of the apartment by this time or Kayla would panic when she eventually wakes up. But Sam was not ready to stay idle after waking up.

    And so, he decided to start his work out right there at home.

    ''Even if I can''t jog effectively here, I can still engage the push-ups, squats, and sit-ups''. His eyes gleamed. ''There''s no time to waste''.

    Right there in the bedroom, while his girlfriend still slept, Sam started working out.

    Hours later, when Kayla woke up, seeing him all drenched in sweat, she was shocked and alarmed. "Sam! Are you ok?"

    Hearing her voice, he grinned. "Oh yeah I''m ok, far ok than I''ve been since the past 1 month".

    Hearing that, she heaved a sigh of relief but once the panic left her mind was when her logical brain came to fore. "Wait¡­, you''re working out? Are you out of your mind?!"

    "What of your injury?

    Sam kept on grinning. "My injury?" He shrugged. "That''s a thing of the past, I''m healed now".

    "See ya later, I''m going out to jog".

    In his gym clothes, Sam jogged out of this apartment in Netherlands. Of course, he did well to wear a hoodie to cover his face and try to hide his identity.

    It didn''t mean much though.

    As soon as he came out, unknown to Sam, a paparazzi brought out his camera as he took pictures of him including a video.

    A few minutes later, while Sam jogged in Netherlands, unknown to him, a storm already started on social media due to a post from an anonymous source.

    It was a post on Twitter.

    {Twitter:}

    {Username: @Stalker007}

    (Surprise surprise mother*ckers!)

    (Image=)

    (Video=)

    (He''s¡­ BACK!!!)

 Chapter 231 Trending

    "Have you watched the video?""What video?"

    "About Samuel Moses".

    "Sam? Is he not injured?"

    "Yes you doofus! But that video says otherwise, watch it".

    Skeptical, the boy wearing a Fulham home jersey took the phone from his girlfriend and looked at the pictures first.

    Despite the fact that he tried hard to hide his identity, even wearing a hoodie and a hood, this avid Fulham fan recognized him immediately. "It''s Sam!"

    More curious now, he clicked on the video. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It was not just a normal video; it was a video edit.

    As soon as the video started, the first thought that this boy had was. ''The soundtrack is so nice''.

    The video started with Fulham''s first game of the premier league season, when a certain Zinedine Sam took the game by the scruff of the neck, scoring a double in Old Trafford to sink the Manchester Old Dog.

    From there, it transitioned smoothly from one scene to another, showing Sam''s most iconic and memorable moments of this premier league season.

    And then, it also showed when he got injured.

    After his injury, the graphics of the video dampened immediately, becoming black and gray, emphasizing the tragedy of the situation even as the soundtrack sharply reduced its volume.

    It continued for about a second or so, and then¡­, it exploded.

    Discover exclusive tales on empire

    The soundtrack came back with full force, blasting with deep bass as a new video was shone, that of the same person in black training clothes, a hoodie, and a hood jogging through a tiled street.

    The editing, the graphics, the person, and the soundtrack already made this edit iconic but then it was the voice that screamed in the background that gave the boy watching it chills.

    "He''s¡­ BACK!!!"

    The boy felt goosepimples as his hair stood on end.

    And as soon as the video edit came to an end, this boy jumped for joy, hugging his girlfriend excitedly. "That''s Sam! I swear that''s Sam!"

    "Hahahaha, the gods have answered our prayers!"

    "He''s back!"

    "I don''t know how but he''s back!"

    All across Fulham, every person who paid remote attention to Fulham FC were having one of the best days of their lives due to a simple video edit.

    The joy spreading among them was pure and infectious and it was caused by just one-man jogging, Samuel Moses.

    Due to that video edit, Sam started trending.

    Besides, it just coincided with the Man United defeat too much. After losing at home, the Fulham fans were dejected, the arrival of that video could not have been more timely as it ignited their passion all over again.

    To them, the King was back!

    ¡­

    Sam was trending, but it brought some alarming calls with it.

    As soon as he completed his daily system quest for the first time in a month, returning back to his apartment filled with sweat and with a big smile on his face was when Kayla showed him the video already trending.

    As soon as he saw the video, stunned, Sam looked outside, recognizing where it was taken. "I didn''t even know!"

    Kayla chuckled but then she looked at his leg. "Can you tell me exactly what is going on now".

    She was happy for him but at the same time worried. For the past 1 month, she saw firsthand how fast he was recovering from his ankle injury but at the same time, she could not forget the doctor''s warning back at the hospital.

    This was why she wanted to confirm.

    And just as she asked, Sam''s phone started ringing.

    (Incoming call from Coach Marco Silva¡­)

    He barely picked his phone when 2 new notifications superimposed with the first one.

    (Incoming call from Smith Rowe¡­)

    (Incoming call from Fulham Doctor¡­)

    Sam was stunned and exasperated. "Really?"

    Kayla chuckled. "Really".

    Well, he had no choice but to pick his coach''s phone call first.

    Coach Marco Silva tried to keep his voice subdued but it was a pathetic effort, his excitement could be heard through the phone. "Sam, will you tell me what''s going on now? Explain that video".

    Sam chuckled. "There''s nothing to explain, I''ve recovered".

    There was silence for a few seconds. "What do you mean you''ve recovered?"

    "Exactly what it sounds like, I''ve fully recovered from my ankle injury".

    Coach Marco Silva cleared his throat. "Please if it''s convenient with you, I want you to join the next flight to England".

    "We need to run some tests with our Doctor, I''m currently on my way to the hospital. I hope to meet you there let''s confirm everything".

    "Woah!" Sam was surprised. "So fast?"

    "Haha," his coach laughed. "All is fair in football and war".

    Sam chuckled.

    In the end, after cutting the call, he also spoke with his friend and the Fulham Doctor who already scheduled a session with him.

    He didn''t make any promises though, he wanted to speak with his girlfriend first. But after he cut the call, as soon as he turned to look at Kayla''s face, he already saw his answer in her eyes.

    Kayla scoffed. "What is that reaction for?"

    "You think it''s been easy for me watching you switch on and off between depression and fake joy for a whole month?"

    "My worst fear has been how you''ll endure that for 4 months. If you''re really recovered, I need to confirm it too, I''ll be the happiest woman in the world!"

    Sam chuckled and leaned closer, kissing her on the forehead. "You''re the best!"

    ¡­

    About an hour later, Sam and Kayla got on the next flight to England. A few hours later, they arrived and went straight to the hospital.

    In the hospital, not only was Coach Marco Silva there, Ian, Emile Smith Rowe, Alex Iwobi, and even Cairney, Fulham''s captain was there.

    Sam was amazed. ''They''ve really missed me, huh?''

    When the tests were being run, all of them waited outside with bated breaths, anxiously pacing up and down and when the results eventually came out, they could not breathe.

    According to the Doctor. "It''s a miracle!"

    "I''ve never seen anyone recover so fast from such a cruciate ankle injury".

    A miracle? All of them now believed in miracles, that''s what they''ve been praying for since Sam got injured.

    It was confirmed, Sam¡­ was back!

 Chapter 232 The positive vibes are back

    (Premier league:)(Matchday 24 of 38:)

    (Nottm Forest ¨C Brighton)

    (Date: 1st February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Newcastle ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 1st February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Everton ¨C Leicester City)

    (Date: 1st February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Ipswich Town ¨C Southampton)

    (Date: 1st February, 2025) Continue your journey on empire

    ¡­

    (Bournemouth ¨C Liverpool)

    (Date: 1st February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Wolves ¨C Aston Villa)

    (Date: 1st February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Man United ¨C Crystal Palace)

    (Date: 2nd February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Brentford ¨C Tottenham)

    (Date: 2nd February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Arsenal ¨C Man City)

    (Date: 2nd February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Chelsea ¨C West Ham)

    (Date: 3rd February, 2025)

    "Max, it''s another exciting matchday of the English premier league, what do you think is the trending news of this new matchday and which do you think is going to be the most exciting matchup?"

    Max, the premier league pundit smiled at the show host. "From a historical point of view, Arsenal vs Man City is the highlight game of matchday 24".

    "The champions have been a shadow of their former self in recent months. They''ve been struggling all season".

    "And the fact remains that the game will be played at the Emirates Stadium".

    "In past seasons, Arsenal never really had much luck against Manchester City when they clash. Mikel Arteta even had to tweak his coaching style, adapting a bit of the dark arts just to get a result against Pep Guardiola''s team".

    "I still remember that particular game during their title run-in 2 seasons ago when Kevin De Bruyne singlehanded tore Arsenal apart, scoring 2 goals".

    "Besides, this fixture did not lack drama this season either as earlier in the season, it was this same fixture that produced Erling Haaland''s infamous ''stay humble eh'' that was directed at Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal coach". The pundit chuckled.

    "Since then, Man City have been a shadow of their former selves. Some say its karma but the fact remains that their squad comprises of veteran players that have won a lot of trophies in the game".

    "You can''t really brutally criticize a club with talents at the level of Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, and Bernardo Silva in their ranks, most especially after their success in recent years".

    "Another thing though, we''re used to other football clubs having an off season but for Man City and maybe Real Madrid too, we automatically view these 2 football clubs as above every other club".

    "That is why we''re being extra critical of Man City this season. I still feel that it''s the lag and fatigue of their incredible success in recent seasons finally settling in".

    "I believe that next season, the Pep Guardiola juggernaut will be off again".

    "Who knows? Maybe we won''t even have to wait that long, maybe they''ll just go ahead to create an upset against Arsenal".

    "Or there''s always the scenario of Arsenal simply blowing them out of the way". Max chuckled in a good-natured manner. "Either way it goes, it will be an extremely exciting clash to neutral fans, this is why I rate it as the most anticipated and exciting game of matchday 24".

    "And of course, a lot of people these days want to watch Liverpool play. The Egyptian King is putting together a season even greater than his legendary debut season for Liverpool, seeing him in action is a treat to fans".

    "The odds are on them to extend their lead at the summit of the premier league table".

    "And of course Fulham". Saying to this point, Max grinned. "There have been a lot of rumors swirling around in Fulham these days".

    Hearing that, Charles laughed. "Do you think they''re just rumors? Didn''t you watch the video?"

    "I did but that''s it, just a video".

    "We''re in an era of revolutionary A.I and bots. I won''t be surprised if that video was photoshopped and created in a lab, technology is capable of just about anything these days".

    "Besides, neither Sam in any of his social media platforms nor Fulham have released any official news about the rumors". S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Some feel that they''re just using it to create hype around their team again to distract from their recent run of less than impressive results, they believe that Fulham were the ones who created the video".

    "There''s so many Sam conspiracy theories flying about these days". Max chuckled again.

    "So, what do you think Max?" Charles looked at the pundit.

    Hearing that, the premier league pundit rubbed his chin. "What I think? I don''t really think anything, I just want Sam to recover as fast as possible".

    "From the beginning, I''ve never shied from it. All I needed was to watch the young Nigerian prodigy in action a few times and I''m his number 1 fan". He laughed.

    "Despite all of that, in the end, no matter how much I want to believe it, the truth is that it is impossible to recover from such a cruciate ankle injury so fast".

    "It''s just like Rodri''s injury, hoping that because Man City is going through such a rough patch of form, the Spaniard suddenly recovers from his ACL injury to help the team".

    "Yeah, Man City fans do wish though but it''ll always remain that, just wishes".

    "I think that''s the same situation with Sam".

    "All of you seem to forget but Sam actually had a surgery!" His voice rose up a crescendo for emphasis as he said this. "Do you all think it''s normal to recover from a surgery in just a month?"

    "In the end, yeah," he nodded. "Though I hate to admit it, I have a stronger belief that they''re just rumors created by Fulham fans to comfort themselves.

    "We still have 3 more months before we''ll see Sam on the pitch again".

    "As for their fixture itself, Newcastle United against Fulham is going to be an absolutely exciting matchup.

    "Newcastle United is currently having somewhat of a mixed season, but of course, they''ll relish the opportunity to take points off a weakened Fulham at home. So yeah, my money is on Newcastle winning the game".

    Hearing that, Charles chuckled. "Max, Sam won''t like that".

    The pundit shook his head. "Sorry buddy, if you don''t like that, you better work hard to return to the pitch as soon as possible".

    Chuckling again, Charles, the host paid attention to the camera one last time. "And that, fans, is our take before we delve into the action of matchday 24".

    "Stay tuned and don''t miss an inch of the action!"

    ¡­

    These days, the media and a lot of attention was on Fulham.

    Some of the veteran players in Fulham missed the days when they were just side characters in the premier league. These days, they were one of the protagonists that fans and paparazzi stalked, wanting to get information from.

    And in recent days, it was always one question. "Is it true that Sam is back from his injury?"

    "Where is he?"

    "Why has he not made an appearance in public yet?"

    "Will he play in the game against Newcastle United?"

    From just pestering, all the stalking and questioning quickly grew annoying but the Fulham players learned to cope with it.

    The reason why all of them kept quiet was simple. Coach Marco Silva had no intentions of announcing the sudden recovery of his star player to the world, he wanted to use Sam''s return as a hidden trump card in the Newcastle game.

    Though the Newcastle United coach was more inclined to believe that it was just propaganda by Fulham, he won''t stop worrying about the hidden threat of a returning Sam. All in all, it was part of Coach Marco Silva''s psychological warfare in the buildup to the game.

    After the run of results in recent weeks, this coach was ready to use any means to get his team back to consistent winning ways.

    While the outside world was left in the dark, speculating and asking questions, the same thing could not be said about the Fulham players though.

    Fulham training was now behind closed-doors in preparation for the Newcastle United game and that was where they re-bonded with their superstar teammate, Samuel Moses.

    Sam was just returning from injury and he just started closed-door training with them, it was clear that he was not in perfect football shape yet.

    He was lacking a bit of sharpness but it didn''t really show much, this was because with Sam''s return, the positive vibes returned to training.

    Even when he was not fully fit, Sam still loved training.

    And with his return, his teammates loved training again.

    Noticing this change, Coach Marco Silva truly felt blessed. "I think I may have used all my luck in another life to get to coach a player like Sam". He muttered, overwhelmed by emotions.

    Just like that, taking it one day at a time, the suddenly more positive Fulham team trained as they prepared for their next game.

    And just like that, in no time, D-day was here.

    It was February 1st¡­

    Just like expected, both teams started with their strongest lineups, approaching this game with the intention to claim all 3 points as the battle for this season final table placement grew hotter.

    And when Fulham''s squad for the game was dropped by Coach Marco Silva 30 minutes into the game, the premier league was shocked.

    Samuel Moses¡­ was part of the squad lineup!

 Chapter 233 A pivotal game; against Newcastle United

    (Premier league:)(Matchday 24 of 38:)

    (Newcastle vs Fulham)

    (Date: 1st February, 2025)

    Fulham''s squad for this game caused a stir in the footballing world.

    After just a month since the horror Chelsea game where Sam sustained an ankle injury, he was back in the Fulham squad!

    Of course, he did not make it to the starting XI straight away but still, the mere sight of his name in the Fulham squad that was traveling to Newcastle sent ripples of shock through the football world.

    ''What?!''

    ''Was Sam really recovered?''

    ''How?!''

    ''How could he recover from such a serious ankle injury in just a month?''

    Not just premier league football fans, most importantly, the Newcastle United coach was extremely perplexed by the squad of their opponents for this game but he quickly embraced the cruel reality, time was not waiting for him.

    It was too late to change formations.

    So, the Newcastle United coach simply focused on helping his players implement his gameplan as best as they could after they entered the pitch.

    Fulham''s starting XI was still the same as the one they''ve been using since. Raul Jimenez started as the striker, while behind him was the trio of Alex Iwobi, Emile Smith Rowe, and Adama Traore.

    In midfield was the midfield duo of Lukic and Pereira, while the 4-man defense comprised of Antonee Robinson, Diop, Calvin Bassey, and Castagne.

    And of course, Bernd Leno started in between the posts.

    For Newcastle United, they started with their regular 4-3-3 formation. Martin Dubravka started in between the posts while their 4-man defense comprised of Trippier, Schar, Danny Burn, and Hall.

    Their midfield trio comprised Bruno Guimaraes, Tonali, and Joelinton while their offensive trio comprised Murphy, Aleksandr Isak, and Anthony Gordon.

    It was a deadly Newcastle side.

    The atmosphere in St. James'' Park, Newcastle United''s home stadium was electric as the home supporters made a lot of noise.

    But even in this noise, a certain chant could be heard prominently from the away stands as soon as the camera focused on a certain player in the Fulham bench.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    The noise rose from the away stands like a war chant, incredulously contending with the noise that was being made by the home supporters.

    The commentator chuckled. "What an atmosphere in St. James'' Park".

    "Fulham''s traveling fans are having a field day". He laughed. "But you can''t blame them, even I, the commentator is flabbergasted".

    "Sam is back! Can you believe that?"

    "I''m not a Doctor but even I know when a medical report sounds serious. We all expected the young Nigerian to be out for at least 4 months".

    "Recovering in just 1 month?" The commentator sighed exaggeratedly. "T-that''s just bonkers man!"

    "This adds an extra layer of excitement to this game". S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Will we get to see Sam play today?"

    "Well, we can only watch and see".

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, Fulham kicked off the game under the roar of the home supporters surrounding this stadium.

    Sam''s addition to the Fulham squad already added an extra layer of tension to this game, and it made the home supporters even more hostile to the visiting team as they suddenly felt nervous.

    Their nervousness translated into more hostility for the opposition team.

    "BOOO!"

    "BOOO¡­!"

    As soon as Fulham kicked off the game, the home supporters drowned them in an ocean of boos, trying their best to get into their head.

    It worked as Fulham soon lost possession.

    And from there on, the battle in St. James'' Park started. During the first few minutes of this game, it was an even game as both teams played conservatively, remaining defensively disciplined.

    During the build-up to this game, both teams approached this game offensively with the only intention of winning and getting away with all 3 points.

    But Sam''s presence in this stadium already rattled nerves, changing the narrative. His presence acted as a catalyst.

    His catalytic presence made the Newcastle team more defensive-minded, suddenly too nervous to push too many men forward in attack as they didn''t want their opponents to get the first goal.

    As for the Fulham team? With Sam''s presence making this stadium so hostile, they also retreated into themselves like a turtle, defending.

    For 30 minutes, there was barely any significant action as both sides played conservatively, till a moment of magic from a certain winger.

    After a scramble for the ball in the middle of the pitch that Lukic won, the midfielder sprayed a pass to the left where Alex Iwobi lurked.

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    Taking the ball in his strides, the Nigerian international beat his man with skill before playing a trivela pass into space with the outside of his boot.

    "Ohhhh¡­! What a pass!"

    That killer pass from Alex Iwobi obliterated the whole Newcastle United defense, setting up a rapid Raul Jimenez one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

    Noting the threat, Martin Dubravka, Newcastle United''s goalkeeper charged out, putting pressure on the striker but with cool composure, Jimenez hit the ball, sending it in between the legs of the onrushing goalkeeper and into the net.

    "GOALLLL¡­!!!" The away fan section in St. James'' Park exploded.

    Charging towards the corner flag, Raul Jimenez kissed the Fulham badge before turning and pointing at his jersey number in celebration even as the hostile Newcastle United fans drowned him in boos.

    In the 33rd minute of this game, Jimenez scored, giving Fulham the lead in away ground in a tough and hostile atmosphere.

    From that moment on, the momentum finally tilted, going full Fulham.

    For the next few minutes, Fulham dominated this game, torturing the Newcastle United backline as Emile Smith Rowe finally started letting his presence known, spraying passes left and right.

    2 more chances were created for Raul Jimenez only for Newcastle United to be saved by their impressive goalkeeper within a time frame of just 7 minutes.

    But then, in the 40th minute of this game, it all changed.

    After a desperate clearance from the box by Calvin Bassey after a Newcastle United clearance, the ball floated outside the box to where Bruno Guimaraes, the Newcastle midfielder lurked.

    Bam!

    With a delicate touch outside the box, this midfielder tamed the ball and then with another touch to set himself up, he launched his leg backward to gather momentum and power, then¡­

    POW!

    The sound as Guimareas'' leg hit the ball reverberated like a gunshot.

    It was a knuckle shot!

    The ball rose above the heads of Fulham players who tried to put their body on the line to block the shot, rising high into the air and just as Bernd Leno just watched it rising above his net, the ball seemed to pause¡­, and then it dipped.

    "¡­!" The Fulham goalkeeper was alarmed but it was already too late.

    The ball found its way into the net.

    "¡­!" St. James Park was briefly silenced, and then¡­

    "GOALLL¡­!!!" The home fans found their voice.

    In the 40th minute of this game, Bruno Guimareas brought the home side level, adding even more drama value to this game.

 Chapter 234 A Bruno Guimaraes show

    "What¡­ a goal!!!" The commentator raved."And Bruno Guimaraes, the stalwart Brazilian midfielder shows up for Newcastle again, and what a way to do it, stylish and brutal!"

    "That goal is straight out of the top drawer!"

    As the commentator raved, Bruno Guimaraes, the Brazilian midfielder who just stunned Fulham was already charging towards the corner flag even as with the home fans already on their feet, they paid attention to him excitedly.

    On getting to the corner flag, this midfielder slid on his knees and when he got back up, he pumped his fists excitedly.

    "Come on!" He roared.

    The fans roared with him even as his teammates swarmed him.

    And just like that, this game was back to square 1 where it started.

    40 minutes, 1-1¡­

    The Fulham players were stunned by that goal, it came out of nowhere but they were not done yet. The scoreline was still level.

    FWEEE!

    After the referee''s whistle sounded to continue play, the game continued but the players could not help but notice something immediately.

    Something was different about this game, and it was a Bruno Guimaraes-sized change.

    After that goal, this midfielder already entered the zone state and within those final 5 minutes of this first half, this midfielder tortured Fulham.

    In terms of work rate, he seemed to become a horse as he ran everywhere, chasing the ball down and perfectly winning it as for the last few minutes of this game, he heavily dominated the Fulham midfielders.

    He ran Emile Smith Rowe and the others ragged but that was not his greatest trait during this 5 minutes, rather, it was his passing.

    After that goal, whatever Bruno Guimaraes touched seemed to become gold. His first touch, his dribbling, his tackling, everything increased to an elite level.

    Within the last 5 minutes after he scored the equalizing goal, he set up the Newcastle attackers up 3 different times with clear goal-scoring opportunities!

    The first one was the most ingenious, fooling the whole Fulham defense as he slipped a Messi-class pass in for Aleksandr Isak, the Newcastle striker to run into. This striker''s loose touch enabled Bernd Leno to quickly close the distance, pulling off a sensational save.

    The second time, he fed it to Anthony Gordon as the rapid winger cooked Castagne for pace, charging into the 18-yard box and unleashing a powerful shot only for his shot to rattle off the crossbar and out for a goal kick.

    The young English winger grabbed his head, not believing that he just missed such a clear opportunity to score and put his team ahead.

    Guimaraes'' level in the final minutes of this game was imperious as he thoroughly tormented the Fulham players, making them look like amateurs.

    He was truly playing on a god-level at this moment.

    And then in the 45th minute, he created his last chance of the first half as raising a perfectly weighted pass above the Fulham defense, he set Aleksandr Isak once again one-on-one with Bernd Leno.

    Leno was being overworked in the final minutes of this half.

    Just as Bernd Leno was about to charge out even as Calvin Bassey rapidly tried to close the distance to the striker, instead of controlling the ball like Leno expected, Isak simply tracked the ball with his eyes and then¡­

    BAM!

    His right boot hit the ball with power as he executed a perfect shooting technique, catching Leno off-guard.

    It was a perfectly hit shot towards the bottom right corner of the net, and it finally beat Leno, sneaking in.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" St. James'' Park clamored again in ecstasy.

    As the striker whirled off away in celebration, pointing at the incredible Bruno Guimaraes excitedly, the Fulham players were left standing, baffled, wondering where it all went on in this game.

    They were winning before!

    The first half came to an end with Fulham losing 2-1 to Newcastle United.

    During half-time, Coach Marco Silva had a heated time with his players though he knew that it was an opposition players'' brilliance that did his team in.

    Still, they were professional players, he expected more from them.

    When second half started, Fulham approached this game with more fire and zeal but to their despair, they soon discovered that Bruno Guimaraes'' voodoo was yet to expire as this midfielder created another moment of magic.

    This time, he started it, and ended it.

    After winning the ball back in midfield, Bruno Guimaraes sprayed it to the left again where Anthony Gordon lurked.

    Castagne quickly closed the winger down but electric like usual, utilizing his rapid feet and trickery, Gordon nutmegged the Fulham right back, exploding off with his pace and leaving him in the dust.

    As he charged in, he looked into the box and observed his options, then he floated a cross into the box targeting Aleksandr Isak.

    Isak jumped, but Calvin Bassey also jumped as these 2 players engaged in a tussle in the air for the box.

    Bassey was more physical, and knowing that he would win the duel, hearing someone call his name from behind, instead of trying to head the ball towards goal and score, Isak instead used his taller frame to barely hit the ball backward.

    As the ball floated backward, time seemed to freeze¡­ Stay tuned with empire

    Thud!

    Familiar black and white sprayed hair appeared, a focused fire burning in the depths of the owner''s eyes as the Brazilian raised his right leg, lashing into the floating ball on a volley as he unleashed a powerful shot towards goal.

    BAM! sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "¡­"

    Bernd Leno was rooted to the spot.

    One moment, he saw the ball ahead of him and the next, the ball was already inside his net.

    "BRUNO GUIMARAES¡­!!!" The commentator roared.

    "What a goal from the Brazilian midfielder!"

    "Today is the Bruno Guimaraes show!"

    "2 goals and 1 assist, the Brazilian is in imperious form today! 3-1 to Newcastle United now, surely with that he''s won his team the game!"

    In the 68th minute of this game, Bruno Guimaraes got a brace.

    And immediately after, a familiar player stood up from the Fulham bench, removing the bib and jogging along the touchline as he warmed up.

    "¡­!" For a brief moment, there was silence in the stunned away stands and then¡­

    BOOM!

    Ecstatic Fulham fans exploded in cheer joy.

    At this moment, they were losing, trialing 2 goals behind their opponents in the 68th minute but the sight of Sam warming up meant the whole world to them.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    Familiar chants broke out in St. James'' Park again.

    "Wow¡­, can you believe this?"

    "Sam is really warming up, he''s about to be introduced into the game!"

    "But, at this point, is there anything even he can do?"

    "The game seems unsalvageable at this point".

    The commentator''s partner quickly interjected. "Nothing is set in stone, this is football. Besides, he''s called Zinedine Sam for a reason".

    "You''re right, but he''s just coming off of an injury, he won''t be as sharp as he was before immediately".

    "We can only watch and see".

    In the 72nd minute of this game, Sam was finally introduced into this game amid loud cheers from the away stand to play the last 18 minutes of this game.

    Could he add another album to the Zinedine Sam collection?

 Chapter 235 The King... is back!

    Sam replaced Adama Traore in the Fulham lineup.Thud! Thud!

    As he jogged into the pitch, there was a light-hearted smile on his face but inside his head was a completely different scenario.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    The mamba spirit was already rearing its head.

    These days, he didn''t even need to do anything special to channel it, the desire to win was already ingrained into him. It was part and parcel of him.

    It was just 1 month that he spent in the sideline but to Sam, it felt like a lifetime ago since he entered a football pitch to play a professional football game.

    Watching his team drop points from winning positions, most recently the loss against Manchester United left him incredibly frustrated.

    He could not wait to get back on the pitch and do what he does best.

    And now that he finally got the opportunity, all the hormones inside his body worked in tandem, triggering such dopamine in his head and igniting such strong adrenaline in his veins that made him feel like a warrior stepping into a battlefield.

    He felt like an ice mutant stepping into coals of fire, the contrasting temperature triggering an explosive reaction inside of him.

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded to continue this game, Sam erupted, doing what he never got tired of doing, chasing after the ball!

    He abused his stamina, showing that despite the fact that he had been out for a month, his stamina was not too affected.

    Besides, he didn''t start this game from the beginning. He had just 18 minutes to play which gave him just enough time to cause havoc while not tiring himself out in the process.

    Noting his threat despite the fact that he was recovering from an injury, the in-form Bruno Guimaraes took it on himself to partially man-mark this player as soon as he got on the pitch.

    The Newcastle United coach did the liberty of giving this instruction to his star player, giving Bruno Guimaraes an unenviable task but the Brazilian didn''t complain, embracing his new rule with gusto.

    When out of possession, Sam ran around for the ball and when he did get it, he was not allowed to do anything tangible with it as Guimaraes shadowed him.

    In the few minutes that Sam spent in this game, incredulously, Bruno Guimaraes was his shadow, keeping him in check.

    For 10 minutes after Sam entered this game, he could not do anything of note as the Brazilian isolated and kept him out of the bigger picture of this game.

    He was completely anonymous and in no time, all the excitement from his return to the pitch faded away.

    Sam felt frustrated but he did not let it show.

    As he ran around the pitch and with every touch of the ball that he had, he knew his body best, he could tell that he was not in his best state physically.

    His instincts were not just firing at that level that it was used to.

    It frustrated the hell out of him but Sam did not let it show on his face. Showing an unnatural kind of composure and calm, he kept on chasing after the ball diligently, trying to do his best.

    In the end, Newcastle United still dominated, coming close to tripling their lead a few times through a still rampant Aleksandr Isak.

    By the 85th minute, the score remained unchanged and Fulham did not show any convincing signs of intending to get back into the game.

    Fulham already seemed to have folded in this game, admitting defeat as they succumbed to another corner kick.

    After the corner kick was taken, Bruno Guimaraes rose highest, planting a firm header towards goal as this midfielder forced another impressive save from Bernd Leno, just about keeping his team in the game.

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    Diop quickly cleared the ball up field as Emile Smith Rowe got to it first, taking it in his strides even as he got a player to beat.

    Unwilling to take the risk of beating the defender one-on-one, Smith Rowe teased the ball up the field, evading a direct path towards goal due to being wary of Danny Burn''s ability.

    This way, he gave his teammates time to catch up with him to provide support.

    Muniz who was already substituted into the game at some point arrived in the box, including Alex Iwobi but Smith Rowe refrained from crossing the ball in to them, it was too predictable.

    Instead, he bid his time, waiting for a certain player''s late run and once he arrived, he floated a pass in.

    Having had a pretty bad game by his standards this evening, Smith Rowe finally managed to play a perfect pass into Sam''s path.

    The reason why Smile Rowe didn''t pass to the others was because it was a bit more predictable, but the true reason was simply because he trusted Sam more.

    The Englishman was used to Sam scoring clutch goals.

    Bruno Guimaraes still somehow marked Sam as the ball floated in despite him almost just scoring at the other end of the pitch but defiant, Sam pushed ahead, outmuscling the Brazilian and throwing himself at the ball.

    And then, executing a diving header, he hit the ball towards goal.

    Bam!

    ¡­time seemed to freeze around St. James'' Park as Martin Dubravka dived, sprawling his hands towards the ball.

    ¡­his hand did touch it, but it still snuck in. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" The away stands in St. James'' Park exploded in cheers.

    In the 86th minute, Fulham reduced Newcastle''s lead by 1.

    The commentator was speechless as for about a second or so, he could not say a word. "Wow!" He eventually said.

    "Just when you thought finally, the Nigerian beast was put on a leash".

    "What a way to announce his return, but Fulham are still losing".

    The commentator made that comment a bit too early because after scoring, Sam did not even care about celebrating as he charged into the net, picked the ball and ran all the way back to the half-way line.

    He was eager to continue the game.

    FWEEE!

    When Newcastle kicked off the game again, Sam chased after the ball.

    That goal¡­, it ignited something inside of Sam, a familiar feeling that he always chased during every game.

    The zone, he was back in it.

    As soon as the game restarted, Sam continued chasing after the ball but this time, there was a subtle smirk in his lips and a familiar fire burning in his eyes.

    And then, 3 minutes later in the 89th minute of this game, it happened.

    Bam!

    After receiving a pass just outside the Newcastle 18-yard box, a loose touch made the ball escape from Sam as Bruno Guimaraes who was side by side him pounced, about to clear the ball but the Brazilian could not clear the ball perfectly.

    This was because having expected that tackle from him, Sam shoved him with his shoulder in another physicality contest.

    Suddenly off-balance, the Brazilian mistimed his clearance as instead of the ball flying away, it only flew up slightly above Sam.

    "¡­!"

    Sam stared at the ball levitating above his head.

    Again, time seemed to freeze in St. James'' Park.

    Guimaraes staggered, Sam stood, multiple players, both opposition players and his teammates swarmed the Newcastle 18-yard box.

    There were multiple pass options but having tried passing since to no avail, Sam decided to go for it again.

    ''It''s now or never!''

    Danny Burn was already charging out to close him down as the defender noted the threat first, but he was a bit just too late.

    Before the defender could close him down, as Guimaraes staggered, falling down, Sam jumped and then in an incredible show of his acrobatic ability, he twisted his body in mid-air, his right leg rising to become level with his head as he executed an incredible scissor kick at goal.

    BAM!

    "¡­!" Martin Dubravka was rooted to the spot, stunned as the ball nestled into the top left corner of the net.

    Even before the fans could react, the commentator already reacted.

    "ZINEDINE SAM¡­!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM¡­!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM¡­!!!"

    "My God! What a goal!"

    "The King¡­ is back!"

 Chapter 236 Return of the Black Mamba

    BAM!"¡­!" Martin Dubravka was rooted to the spot, stunned as the ball nestled into the top left corner of the net.

    St. James'' Park was stunned.

    Even before the fans could react, the commentator already reacted.

    "ZINEDINE SAM¡­!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM¡­!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM¡­!!!"

    "My God! What a goal!"

    "The King¡­ is back!"

    "Reporters, you''re looking for the perfect script, there you have it! The return of the Black Mamba!" S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What a way for Sam to announce his return from injury!"

    "All he needed was 18 minutes!"

    "18 minutes to show what Fulham have missed for a month, 18 minutes to show the talent that is packed inside this athletic body and brain!"

    "Sam is the real OG! He''s the protagonist and every one of us are just side characters in his story!"

    "What a script! What a moment to be alive!"

    While the commentator raved about his goal, Sam was already unleashed.

    Since entering this game, he had not said a word as he tried to regain that feeling that made him one of the stand-out players and top performer of the 2024/2025 premier league season.

    With Bruno Guimaraes man-marking him, Sam found that regaining his mojo was harder than ever but he didn''t give up which was his trademark.

    By not giving up, staying believing, he was able to keep his focus till the last 4 minutes of the fulltime when he did his miracle.

    The first time when he scored, reducing Newcastle United''s lead to just 1 goal, Sam did not celebrate because his club was still losing.

    But now that he scored a brace, bringing this game level against all odds in away ground, he no longer held himself back. He became unrestrained.

    As the commentator raved about his goal, with eyes dilated in ecstasy finally, Sam removed his Fulham away jersey, waving it like a mad man as he charged towards the corner flag with his teammates swarming after him.

    As soon as he got to the corner flag, he flung his jersey towards the fans as showcasing his 6-packs towards the onlooking fans, he screamed in joy.

    "I''m back!" His voice was shrill and filled with ecstasy.

    An anonymous Newcastle United fan was the lucky one who got his jersey.

    The crazy thing at this moment was the fact that despite the fact that Sam was celebrating so passionately before them, strangely, there was no boos blasting from the corners of this stadium.

    At this moment, in an incredible display of respect, the Newcastle United fans kept their still, content with appreciating greatness.

    St. James'' Park was tamed.

    The commentator laughed. "What aura!"

    "Sam truly is the protagonist! Man is so good the hostile fans can''t even bring themselves to boo him, pride is the only reason why Sam is not receiving a standing ovation at this moment!"

    "And just like that, Fulham are back in the title race!"

    "But it''s a draw!" The commentator''s partner commented.

    "It doesn''t matter that it''s a draw," the commentator laughed. "That goal rescued more than just a point for Fulham, it also rescued their confidence".

    "Sam''s 2 goals today are a warning to the rest of the premier league".

    "A warning that the Black Mamba is back!"

    "Liverpool should get ready for a battle to the end!"

    About a minute later of crazy celebrations, as the celebrations died down, the referee who lurked at a corner since finally performed his voodoo magic, brandishing a yellow card to Sam for removing his jersey.

    "¡­" Sam was dumbfounded but he did not pay too much attention to it.

    After the referee''s whistle sounded to continue play, he added just 2 minutes of extra time to the game but by then, all the ammunition in this game was already exhausted as both teams settled for protecting the scoreline.

    After 90 plus 2 additional minutes of incredible football, this thriller game finally came to an end 3-3 as both clubs shared the spoils, 1 point a piece.

    After an impressive performance for 90 minutes that culminated with his 2 goals and 1 assist, despite the fact that his team didn''t win the game and despite Sam''s late heroics, Bruno Guimaraes still won the man of the match award.

    ¡­

    In the post-match interview, after the reporter congratulated the Brazilian midfielder on his impressive display today, he finally asked a question. "What is your opinion on Samuel Moses?"

    Hearing that question, the Brazilian scratched the back of his head. "Well, if I''m to describe Sam with one sentence this season, then he''s the break-out star".

    The Brazilian smiled. "Last season, he led Fulham to the EFL Cup title but this season is when he truly showed his level of talent to the rest of the league".

    "From what I hear, he''s also a great professional despite his young age. Like the others, I believe that Sam is destined for the top, it''s just a matter of time".

    "Well, a lot of people agree with you Bruno". The female reporter smiled.

    "Thanks for having me, do have a nice day".

    "You too".

    With that, the Brazilian left to join his teammates in the dressing room.

    ¡­

    It was right inside the Fulham team bus that the celebrations started as Marco Silva''s men celebrated Sam''s return to the pitch finally.

    Most of them still could not believe their fortune.

    They thought Sam was out for 4 months, to suddenly know that this was time slashed by 3/4th, they could not have been happier.

    Having Sam was back, he brought the good vibes with him.

    After the games today, the next day, more premier league games were played and then eventually on 3rd February, the last game of matchday 24 of the English premier league between Chelsea and West Ham was finally played.

    The fixture results were revealed and with it, the premier league table was updated.

    (Premier league:)

    (Matchday 24 of 38:)

    (Nottm Forest 1-0 Brighton)

    (Date: 1st February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Newcastle 3-3 Fulham)

    (Date: 1st February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Everton 2-1 Leicester City)

    (Date: 1st February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Ipswich Town 3-1 Southampton)

    (Date: 1st February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Bournemouth 2-4 Liverpool)

    (Date: 1st February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Wolves 0-2 Aston Villa)

    (Date: 1st February, 2025) Discover stories with empire

    ¡­

    (Man United 0-2 Crystal Palace)

    (Date: 2nd February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Brentford 1-1 Tottenham)

    (Date: 2nd February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Arsenal 3-1 Man City)

    (Date: 2nd February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Chelsea 4-0 West Ham)

    (Date: 3rd February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. Liverpool GP: 23/ W:18/ D:2/ L:2/ Pts: 60)

    (2. Chelsea GP: 24/ W:16/ D:6/ L:2/ Pts: 54)

    (3. Fulham GP: 24/ W:16/ D:5/ L:3/ Pts: 54)

    (4. Arsenal GP: 24/ W:15/ D:7/ L:2/ Pts: 52)

    (5. Nottm Forest GP: 24/ W:11/ D:8/ L:5/ Pts: 41)

    (6. Brighton GP: 24/ W:10/ D:7/ L:7/ Pts: 37)

    (7. Man City GP: 24/ W:10/ D:6/ L:8/ Pts: 36)

    (8. Aston Villa GP: 24/ W:11/ D:6/ L:8/ Pts: 39)

    (9. Tottenham GP: 24/ W:11/ D:3/ L:10/ Pts: 36)

    (10. Newcastle GP: 24/ W:9/ D:8/ L:7/ Pts: 35)

    (11. Bournemouth GP: 24/ W:9/ D:5/ L:10/ Pts: 32)

    (12. Brentford GP: 24/ W:9/ D:5/ L:10/ Pts: 32)

    (13. Man United GP: 24/ W:9/ D:4/ L:11/ Pts: 31)

    (14. West Ham GP: 24/ W:7/ D:6/ L:11/ Pts: 26)

    (15. Crystal Palace GP: 24/ W:5/ D:9/ L:10/ Pts: 24)

    (16. Leicester GP: 24/ W:3/ D:8/ L:13/ Pts: 17)

    (17. Everton GP: 23/ W:4/ D:5/ L:14/ Pts: 17)

    (18. Ipswich Town GP: 24/ W:3/ D:8/ L:13/ Pts: 17)

    (19. Southampton GP: 24/ W:3/ D:2/ L:19/ Pts: 11)

    (20. Wolves GP: 24/ W:1/ D:6/ L:17/ Pts: 9)

    ***

    [NOTE: Phew..., last chapter of the year. Read author''s note.]

 Chapter 237 FA Cup 4th round; against Portsmouth

    After Fulham''s crunch encounter against Newcastle United in St. James'' Park, their next game in the premier league was in 14 days, a home encounter against Nottingham Forest in Craven Cottage.But before then, Fulham had another game, an FA Cup game.

    Back in 9th January, Fulham took on Watford in the 3rd round of the English FA Cup, whooping the visitors 5-1 and sending them home out of the competition.

    And now, they were about to continue their FA Cup title bid.

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    Having lost in their EFL Cup title defense already and now trailing behind Liverpool in the title race, Fulham were determined to go all the way in the FA Cup, creating another history in their club and winning the trophy.

    This was why immediately after the draw against Newcastle United in away ground, the Fulham players went hard in training again, giving their all in preparations for their next clash.

    They were determined to return back to winning ways.

    (FA Cup 4th round:)

    (Portsmouth ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 10th February, 2025)

    On a cold evening in the Portsmouth suburb of Milton, the home supporters of Portsmouth FC welcomed players from the London side of England for a crunch FA Cup game in their stadium.

    For this game, Fulham were the overwhelming favorites but Coach Marco Silva did not take any unnecessary risk as he started with a strong lineup still.

    Despite Sam''s incredible performance from the bench in the Newcastle United game, Coach Marco Silva was able to resist the temptation of starting his superstar player from the get-go.

    Yes, Sam was fit now, but the coach still wanted to be careful with him, easing him back to full fitness.

    This coach decided to lean on his experience than on his sentimentality this time. In the world of football, there are multiple examples of superstar players succumbing back to injury after being rushed back into games by their coaches.

    This was the reason why Coach Marco Silva took it slow with Sam.

    In Sam''s absence, Fulham started in their regular 4-2-3-1 formation. Bernd Leno naturally started in between the posts and the 4-man defense covering him was the same, the only exception being Calvin Bassey who was replaced by Tete.

    Coach Marco Silva decided to rest the Nigerian International for this game.

    In midfield, Lukic and Berge started while up front, Harry Wilson, Andreas Pereira, Adama Traore, and Muniz started as the striker.

    Prominent names like Alex Iwobi and Emile Smith Rowe were rested for this game but still, Fulham soon proved that this was enough to cause havoc.

    For Portsmouth, starting in a similar 4-2-3-1 formation, Bishop started in attack while the 3-man attack behind him comprised of Silvera, Lane, and Ritchie.

    Sitting in midfield was the midfield duo of Dozzel and Moxon. The 4-man defense comprised Ogilvie, Towler, Pack, and Devlin while their starting goalkeeper was Schmid, their no. 1.

    It was Portsmouth''s strongest starting XI but it didn''t matter much before the face of a rampant Fulham side.

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded to start this game, Fulham pressed, determined to teach the championship side a footballing lesson.

    During the first few minutes of this game, Portsmouth tried their best to hold their nerves, playing compactly like a team as they defended and attacked together but then, a moment of individual brilliance opened up this game.

    Andreas Pereira started it from attacking midfield, spraying a neat pass to Muniz, the Fulham striker who showed his impressive strength, holding up to the ball long enough for Pereira to arrive as the striker set up the attacking midfielder.

    Before any of the defenders could stop him, Pereira''s right leg already launched like a missile, sending the ball on a straight collision course towards goal.

    Bam!

    Hitting the crossbar, the ball rattled into the net.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" The away stands erupted in ecstasy.

    Andreas Pereira celebrated, charging towards the corner flag as he kissed the Fulham jersey excitedly.

    In the 21st minute, he gave Fulham the lead 0-1.

    8 minutes later, in the 29th minute, it was Andreas Pereira again and this time, he threaded a defense-splitting pass to Harry Wilson in the left who quickly beat his man before curling a shot into the bottom left corner, beating the Portsmouth goalkeeper at his near post. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In 30 minutes, Portsmouth was already being torn apart.

    After that, Fulham seemed to reduce their intensity, giving the Portsmouth-based club a moment of respite to string together passes and create an attack.

    Portsmouth grew into the game, soon proving dangerous as they threatened but all they did was knock. The Fulham defense never gave them an opportunity to open the door, keeping it firmly locked and out of reach.

    Portsmouth''s inability to score soon proved costly as Andreas Pereira completed a classic first half performance with another goal.

    This time, he was in the right place at the right time to tap in the ball from an Adama Traore cross across the face of goal after a crazy solo run.

    In the 43rd minute of this game, Pereira got his brace.

    The first half ended 0-3 to Fulham.

    In the second half, Coach Marco Silva finally pulled the plug, making even more changes in his team as he gave a few fringe players opportunities to play.

    Despite Fulham''s fringe players being introduced, the game remained tight as Portsmouth stayed incapable of scoring.

    And then in the 75th minute, Sam was introduced again to another round of applause from the away stands.

    This game, since Fulham was already winning so comfortably, Sam''s role as instructed by his coach was different.

    With Sam entering the pitch, Fulham changed to a 4-3-3 formation in attack as Sam was tasked to play as a central midfielder.

    And today, Sam showed his versatile talent, pulling the strings from midfield like a prime Xavi Hernandez as he showed another aspect of his game.

    Sam failed to get a goal or an assist as the game remained 0-3 but his domination was evident with his 100% pass accuracy, 3 goal-scoring opportunities created, and having won 100% of his duels.

    It was another vintage performance from Sam.

    And just like that, Fulham cruised to the 5th round of the FA Cup with Andreas Pereira winning the man of the match award.

    ¡­

    A few days after Fulham''s FA Cup game, another premier league result came out that attracted attentions around Fulham FC.

    This result was especially important to them because it was related to their biggest rivals this season, Liverpool FC.

    After a long time of being suspended, Everton and Liverpool finally played their suspended premier league game.

 Chapter 238 Steep competition; warming up for a title charge

    (Premier league:) sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.(Matchday 15:)

    (Everton 2-3 Liverpool) Experience new stories on empire

    (Date: 12th February, 2025)

    Despite the secret prayers of Fulham fans around the world, Liverpool didn''t fumble against Everton. The scoreline didn''t do justice to the game itself as Liverpool totally outplayed Everton despite it being a Liverpool away game.

    Everton''s 2 goals were late goals, one being a lucky Alisson Becker own goal.

    Despite the scare, Liverpool was able to clinch another win in their premier league title bid as the Egyptian King led them to glory once again.

    This season, the Liverpool talisman, Mohamed Salah was simply electric as he was having a ballon d''or worthy season already.

    In the end, with that result, the premier league table was updated again in the build-up to matchday 25 of the English premier league.

    (Updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. Liverpool GP: 24/ W:19/ D:2/ L:2/ Pts: 63)

    (2. Chelsea GP: 24/ W:16/ D:6/ L:2/ Pts: 54)

    (3. Fulham GP: 24/ W:16/ D:5/ L:3/ Pts: 54)

    (4. Arsenal GP: 24/ W:15/ D:7/ L:2/ Pts: 52)

    (5. Nottm Forest GP: 24/ W:11/ D:8/ L:5/ Pts: 41)

    (6. Brighton GP: 24/ W:10/ D:7/ L:7/ Pts: 37)

    (7. Man City GP: 24/ W:10/ D:6/ L:8/ Pts: 36)

    (8. Aston Villa GP: 24/ W:11/ D:6/ L:8/ Pts: 39)

    (9. Tottenham GP: 24/ W:11/ D:3/ L:10/ Pts: 36)

    (10. Newcastle GP: 24/ W:9/ D:8/ L:7/ Pts: 35)

    (11. Bournemouth GP: 24/ W:9/ D:5/ L:10/ Pts: 32)

    (12. Brentford GP: 24/ W:9/ D:5/ L:10/ Pts: 32)

    (13. Man United GP: 24/ W:9/ D:4/ L:11/ Pts: 31)

    (14. West Ham GP: 24/ W:7/ D:6/ L:11/ Pts: 26)

    (15. Crystal Palace GP: 24/ W:5/ D:9/ L:10/ Pts: 24)

    (16. Leicester GP: 24/ W:3/ D:8/ L:13/ Pts: 17)

    (17. Everton GP: 24/ W:4/ D:5/ L:15/ Pts: 17)

    (18. Ipswich Town GP: 24/ W:3/ D:8/ L:13/ Pts: 17)

    (19. Southampton GP: 24/ W:3/ D:2/ L:19/ Pts: 11)

    (20. Wolves GP: 24/ W:1/ D:6/ L:17/ Pts: 9)

    And just like that, Liverpool led with 9 points at the top of the English premier league table!

    To a lot of premier league fans, the title race was already a foregone conclusion. The 2024/2025 premier league title was Liverpool''s, it would require a miracle of Luciferic proportions to topple the Merseysiders at the top.

    In all honestly, the sight of the updated premier league table standings did not present a good reading to any football fan of the Fulham persuasion.

    After all their hard work since the beginning of the season, to suddenly trail from the top by 9 whooping points left them a bit depressed.

    Sam also felt a big depressed.

    Afterall, all it took was 1 month of him being away for this to happen, the foundation he built with his teammates for months to almost be ruined completely.

    But despite the current ruin, it was not over yet, there was still time, and games. This was the hope that kept Sam going.

    They say that so long there is life, there is hope but, in this context, to Sam. "So long there are games remaining, there is hope".

    "Besides, we''re yet to play our return game against Liverpool".

    Thinking of that game, Sam felt his blood boiling as adrenaline surged through him. But in the end, he calmed down, focusing on the moment.

    At this moment, if it was not clear to bystanders before, now it was clear that Fulham and Liverpool were the primary protagonists of this season''s title charge.

    Sam did not want to get ahead of himself which made him calm down and focus on Fulham''s next game. ''Let''s take it one game at a time''. He thought.

    ''Wayum wayum bi jegedi''.

    Alongside his teammates, Sam was already warming up for a premier league title charge that no one saw coming. He was charged up for it.

    After the end of the FA Cup fixtures and the 4th round participants were concluded, the focus went back to matchday 25 of the English premier league.

    (Premier league:)

    (Matchday 25 of 38:)

    (Brighton ¨C Chelsea)

    (Date: 14th February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Leicester City ¨C Arsenal)

    (Date: 15th February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (West Ham ¨C Brentford)

    (Date: 15th February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Southampton ¨C Bournemouth)

    (Date: 15th February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Aston Villa ¨C Ipswich Town)

    (Date: 15th February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Man City ¨C Newcastle)

    (Date: 15th February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Fulham ¨C Nottm Forest)

    (Date: 15th February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Crystal Palace ¨C Everton)

    (Date: 15th February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Liverpool ¨C Wolves)

    (Date: 16th February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Tottenham ¨C Man United)

    (Date: 16th February, 2025)

    The premier league was ready to cook another exciting matchup of games.

    ¡­

    In the build-up to the game, Sam kept it simple having returned to his basics already as he kept on doing more every day in his daily system quest to make up for the 1 month that he missed due to his injury.

    He already resumed his jogging date with Emile Smith Rowe.

    These days, Sam put even more effort than ever in training sessions and of course, to balance it out, he spent the rest of his time with his girlfriend and family.

    In recent days, he finally resumed the video calling habit that his mom once enforced when he first came to England.

    That way, he finally sent the gifts that he bought for his parents from Netherlands to them in Nigeria.

    Once Mrs. Moses got her gifts, this Nigerian mother got so emotional that she broke down in tears. It would have been so wholesome if Sam was not made to kneel down the next moment as his mother drowned him in heartfelt prayers.

    It was not until his knees became sore that the prayers finally ended.

    Sam sighed as he stood up. ''Mom never changes''.

    The rest of his time, he spent it with his girlfriend even as he kept tab on Ian''s school life and his relationship with his sister.

    Like this, time moved swiftly like the rolling pages of a book and in no time, it was already D-day.

    The games scheduled for 14th February in matchday 25 were already played and finally, it was Fulham''s time.

    They welcomed Nottingham Forest in Craven Cottage.

    ***

    [Read author''s note!]

 Chapter 239 Matchday 25; against Nottingham Forest

    The build-up to this game was not as tense as most neutral fans expected.As the Nottingham Forest players stepped foot into Craven Cottage, expecting a hostile reception from the home supporters, to their surprise, the atmosphere in this stadium was more light-hearted than they expected.

    The atmosphere in Craven Cottage was surprisingly harmonious.

    This was because of the presence of 1 specific player who was finally back to the Fulham lineup, Samuel Moses.

    Most football fans become toxic and hostile when they sense that their team are the underdogs in any given match. In recent weeks, Fulham fans became extremely hostile at home but now, it lessened.

    This was because with Sam''s presence back in the Fulham starting XI, the home supporters were suddenly confident in their team returning to winning ways.

    Their confidence was so nonchalant that it just seemed illogical.

    The Fulham players didn''t care about that though. They would ride on this confident wave that was already started by their fans.

    Like expected, both teams started with their strongest lineups.

    With both starting in their regular 4-2-3-1 formation, for Fulham, Bernd Leno naturally started in between the posts with the quadruple of Antonee Robinson, Diop, Calvin Bassey, and Castagne ahead of him.

    The 2-man midfield comprised of Lukic and Adreas Pereira, while the 3-man offense further upfront comprised of Alex Iwobi, Sam, and Emile Smith Rowe.

    Raul Jimenez returned to the starting XI as the striker.

    For Nottingham Forest, utilizing the same formation as Fulham, Wood started as the striker while the 4-man offense behind him comprised of Sosa, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Anthony Elanga, the former Manchester United winger.

    The midfield duo was Anderson and Dominguez, while the 4-man defense comprised Williams, Morato, Milenkovic, and the Nigerian international, Ola Aina.

    Sels started in between the posts for the visitors.

    Even before the first whistle of this game sounded by the referee, it was already clear that Fulham had a psychological advantage over their opponents this game and it became prominent after the whistle.

    FWEEE!

    From the first whistle, Fulham dominated this game.

    Buoyed by the loud noise that was being made by their fans after the game started, the Fulham players pressed their opponents with impunity, coming close to scoring the first goal multiple time in the first few minutes.

    Nottingham Forest''s impressive 4-man defense was the only reason why a goal was yet to recorded this game, but that defensive record did not stand the test of time forever.

    In the 38th minute, Fulham''s relentless pressure finally tore the game apart and it came from an unexpected Fulham player.

    With Nottingham Forest defending so deep, it was hard for the Fulham attackers to penetrate through them and so Lukic tried something wild.

    Receiving the ball outside the box, the Nottingham Forest players refrained from pressing him simply because they didn''t rate his threat from outside the box. This midfielder made them regret their decision.

    BAM!

    Setting himself up, Lukic launched a long-range pile driver that travelled with ferocious speed, tearing into the left side of the net.

    Sels, Nottingham Forest''s goalkeeper was rooted to the spot.

    "GOALLLL¡­!!!" Craven Cottage exploded to life after that goal. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    That goal definitely rattled nerves as Nottingham Forest''s defending after that became a bit looser. For the next few minutes that followed, Fulham came close to doubling their lead in the first half without any tangible result till a corner kick in the 46th minute of this game.

    Emile Smith Rowe floated a perfect corner kick in, paving the way as Calvin Bassey rose highest in the Nottingham Forest box, powering a header towards goal.

    The ball was goal bound, but then¡­

    Clang!

    "Ohhhh! What quick reflexes by Sels!"

    The Nottingham Forest pulled off a crazy reactionary save, pushing the ball as it clanged against his right post, rebounding back into the box.

    Before the goalkeeper could pick himself off from the ground after such an impressive save, to his despair, and Eagle-eyed Raul Jimenez already pounced, arriving first to poke the ball into his net.

    He was bundled down in the process by an overzealous Morato challenge but with the ball already inside the enemy net, Raul Jimenez stood up, ignoring his pain as he charged to the corner flag to celebrate the goal.

    The atmosphere around Craven Cottage was electric as they celebrated the goal. The fans were having the best time of their life in recent weeks.

    The first half came to an end with Fulham leading 2-0 at home.

    During half-time though, Raul Jimenez was replaced. Apparently, Morato''s challenge left him in more pain than initially expected.

    Muniz represented Jimenez and this striker''s threat in the Nottingham Forest 18-yard box was no less different.

    In the 57th minute of this game, Sam finally joined the party as he raised a perfect lobbed pass over the Nottingham Forest defense, setting up Muniz to score from a header.

    In the 60th minute, Emile Smith Rowe crossed another ball into the 18-yard box, this time setting up Alex Iwobi who scored Fulham''s 4th goal of this game.

    3 of Fulham''s 4 goals today were scored from headers.

    After the 4th goal in the 60th minute, Coach Marco Silva finally pulled the plug, resting a few of his more important players, including Sam and giving others the opportunity to shine.

    In the 82nd minute, Nottingham Forest eventually scored through an Anthony Elanga solo goal, but it ended up being only a consolation goal.

    The game ended 4-1 in Fulham''s favor.

    And just like that, they bagged 3 more points even as Emile Smith Rowe won the man of the match award for this game.

    A few hours later, matchday 25 of the premier league finally came to an end.

    (Premier league:)

    (Matchday 25 of 38:)

    (Brighton 2-0 Chelsea)

    (Date: 14th February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Leicester City 1-3 Arsenal)

    (Date: 15th February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (West Ham 3-2 Brentford)

    (Date: 15th February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Southampton 0-0 Bournemouth)

    (Date: 15th February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Aston Villa 2-1 Ipswich Town)

    (Date: 15th February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Man City 1-0 Newcastle)

    (Date: 15th February, 2025)

    ¡­ Read latest stories on empire

    (Fulham 4-1 Nottm Forest)

    (Date: 15th February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Crystal Palace 2-0 Everton)

    (Date: 15th February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Liverpool 3-0 Wolves)

    (Date: 16th February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Tottenham 2-2 Man United)

    (Date: 16th February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. Liverpool GP: 25/ W:20/ D:2/ L:2/ Pts: 66)

    (2. Fulham GP: 25/ W:17/ D:5/ L:3/ Pts: 57)

    (3. Arsenal GP: 25/ W:16/ D:7/ L:2/ Pts: 55)

    (4. Chelsea GP: 25/ W:16/ D:6/ L:3/ Pts: 54)

    (5. Aston Villa GP: 25/ W:12/ D:6/ L:8/ Pts: 42)

    (6. Nottm Forest GP: 25/ W:11/ D:8/ L:6/ Pts: 41)

    (7. Brighton GP: 25/ W:11/ D:7/ L:7/ Pts: 40)

    (8. Man City GP: 25/ W:11/ D:6/ L:8/ Pts: 39)

    (9. Tottenham GP: 25/ W:11/ D:4/ L:10/ Pts: 37)

    (10. Newcastle GP: 25/ W:9/ D:8/ L:8/ Pts: 35)

    (11. Bournemouth GP: 25/ W:9/ D:6/ L:10/ Pts: 33)

    (12. Brentford GP: 25/ W:9/ D:5/ L:11/ Pts: 32)

    (13. Man United GP: 25/ W:9/ D:5/ L:11/ Pts: 32)

    (14. West Ham GP: 25/ W:8/ D:6/ L:11/ Pts: 29)

    (15. Crystal Palace GP: 25/ W:6/ D:9/ L:10/ Pts: 27)

    (16. Leicester GP: 25/ W:3/ D:8/ L:14/ Pts: 17)

    (17. Everton GP: 25/ W:4/ D:5/ L:16/ Pts: 17)

    (18. Ipswich Town GP: 25/ W:3/ D:8/ L:14/ Pts: 17)

    (19. Southampton GP: 25/ W:3/ D:3/ L:19/ Pts: 12)

    (20. Wolves GP: 25/ W:1/ D:6/ L:18/ Pts: 9)

 Chapter 240 Winning streak [1]

    The highlights of Matchday 25 of the English premier league were clear.First was Chelsea''s shock defeat to Brighton. Having climbed all the way to 2nd position in the league already, eclipsing Fulham, a lot of people predicted Chelsea to push Liverpool all the way till the end of the season.

    Nobody expected them to fumble and lose their 2nd position easily.

    Another highlight was Fulham''s dominant display against Nottingham Forest. This season, Nottingham Forest was in impressive form as even despite the defeat, they still occupied 6th position in the premier league table.

    This was why the manner in which Fulham dismantled them was so unnerving to neutral onlookers. It was a statement win from Fulham.

    They looked a scary proposition to any side currently.

    Matchday 25 was not the end of the world though. After the matchday, time moved like usual, shortening the timeframe to future matchups.

    The premier league race was already ramping up in its second half.

    But thankfully for Fulham, after the Nottingham Forest game, they had a run of 3 premier league games that was favorable to them on paper.

    (Premier league:)

    (Fulham ¨C Crystal Palace)

    (Date: 22nd February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Wolves ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 25th February, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Brighton ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 8th March, 2025)

    In between the 3 premier league games, on 2nd March, Fulham had another game, their FA Cup fifth round game.

    (FA Cup fifth round:)

    (Fulham ¨C Aston Villa)

    (Date: 2nd March, 2025)

    Fo the 4 games that Fulham had during this time; the FA Cup game was poised to be the most difficult simply because Aston Villa looked the better team on paper compared to the 3 others.

    And also because it was a cup game.

    Losing meant crashing out of the competition, Fulham could not afford to lose against Aston Villa.

    For the next few days, locked in for the new year already, the Fulham players trained hard as they prepared for their first of the 4 fixtures.

    On 22nd February, they finally welcomed Crystal Palace to Fulham. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    For this game, due to the fact that he was just recovering from the niggling injury he suffered against Nottingham Forest, Muniz started as the striker ahead of Raul Jimenez.

    The rest of the team was the same one that faced Nottingham Forest last time out. And of course, Crystal Palace also started with their best lineup.

    Starting in their 3-4-2-1 formation, Dean Henderson started in between the posts while the defensive trio ahead of him comprised of Trevor Chalobah, Lacroix, and Richards.

    The 4-man midfield comprised of Munoz, Hughes, Lerma, and Mitchell. As for the 3-man offense, Ismaila Sarr and Eberechi Eze started in the wings slightly behind Juan Mateta who started as the striker.

    The atmosphere for this game was electric and after the referee''s whistle sounded, the dynamo of energy gathered in this game triggered.

    Stay tuned with empire

    Despite playing in away ground, during the first few minutes of this game after kickoff, Crystal Palace dominated possession, pressuring Fulham as they were forced to defend.

    And then, incredulously, the visitors got the first goal.

    It came from the electric midfielder, Lerma leaping above every Fulham player as he powered a header into the net, giving his team the lead in the 23rd minute of this game to change the narrative.

    That goal only riled up the Fulham fans, making them make louder noise.

    Riding the energy of the home supporters, it took some time but Fulham finally started pressuring their opponents as they regained authority over the game.

    Despite everything, Fulham failed to get an equalizing goal in the first half.

    During half-time, Coach Marco Silva did not hold back as he attacked some of his places, criticizing their stupid moments in the first half that resulted in the Crystal Palace goal. He urged his players to play better in the second half.

    FWEEEE!

    Just 5 minutes into the second half, Calvin Bassey ended up being the unlikely goal scorer as he powered a header into the net.

    It was an end-to-end game between both teams.

    After that goal, the situation on the pitch opened up as both teams played their hearts out. The Fulham offense struggled to tick this game till the dying minutes when an electric Antonee Robinson, the Fulham fullback came to the rescue.

    After a marauding run with the ball from left back, this fullback scored a rocket goal, powering his shot towards the top right corner as it beat Dean Henderson to finally give his team the lead.

    "GOALLLL¡­!!!" The home supporters in Craven Cottage heaved a collective sigh of relief as they roared at the top of their lungs in ecstasy.

    That goal won Fulham the game.

    The focus of the media after the game though was not on Fulham winning, but on how much they struggled against Crystal Palace.

    Cairney, Fulham''s captain volunteered for the post-match interview and like expected, he faced a few difficult questions.

    "Captain, a lot of people believe that your team won by a fluke today. Besides, Sam was a shadow of himself today on the pitch, what do you think is wrong?"

    The Fulham captain was calm as he faced the reporters. "Football is not as easy as talking like you all think".

    "Sam is just recovering from an injury, of course he needs a few games to get back to his best".

    "Sam is still an amazing player still; all he need is time to get back to his best".

    "As for those who think our winning was a fluke," this captain smirked. "My word to them is, if winning by a fluke is so easy, why didn''t their team win?"

    "Just know that we''re going on a winning streak!"

    With that, this captain walked out of the interview like a Chad.

    Fulham won but the spotlight on them was a negative one as the media paid attention to their struggles instead. But used to this already, the Fulham players knew not to pay too much attention to it as they focused on their next game.

    ¡­

    By shutting the noise out, time moved fast to the Fulham players and in no time, it was D-day again.

    On 25th January, Fulham traveled to Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton.

 Chapter 241 Winning streak [2]

    Compared to the game against Crystal Palace, Fulham faced Wolves in their home stadium. It was supposed to be a difficult game, a lot of neutral viewers even predicted Fulham to lose after their display against Crystal Palace.But to the disappointment of a lot of people, in Molineux Stadium, just like Captain Cairney promised during his last post-match interview, Fulham entered a winning streak and in convincing fashion.

    All the criticism seemingly didn''t get to them as they put out a statement display in away ground.

    From the first minute of this game, Fulham started on the front foot.

    An Alex Iwobi brilliance opened up the game as he set up Antonee Robinson who was going on an overlapping run down the left flank.

    After beating his man with pace, the left back raised his head, analyzed the situation before cutting a clever ball back to the Nigerian International.

    Abusing his physicality after that clever pass, Alex Iwobi bulldozed his way into the Wolves 18-yard box before scoring from a low-driven shot.

    The first goal of this game entered in the 15th minute.

    10 minutes later, in the 25th minute, buoyed by the loud noise being made by the home supporters, Wolves finally created something of note and it resulted in a goal as their striker, Hwang completed the silky team move.

    But that was the only moment of note from Wolves before Fulham took the game by the scruff of the neck again.

    In the 39th minute, Alex Iwobi got his brace, scoring a volley from an Emile Smith Rowe pass.

    The first half ended with Fulham leading 1-2.

    In the 63rd minute of the second half, Sam finally left his imprint on the game after an impressive attacking display so far as his defense-splitting pass set up Muniz one-on-one with the Wolves goalkeeper who did not miss his mark, chipping the ball above him to score a cheeky goal.

    The game ended 1-3 to Fulham after a convincing display.

    Alex Iwobi won the man of the match award.

    ¡­

    After the Wolves game, Fulham''s next game was the FA Cup clash against Aston Villa, a home game.

    The result against Wolves in away ground left the Fulham camp in a happy mood, and this mood quickly translated in their preparations for their next game. Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire

    The mood in training was so good that the Fulham players felt optimistic for their next game and most importantly, Coach Marco Silva finally realized something.

    In his next interview, the Fulham coach faced the camera with a big smile on his face as he responded to a question. "I have no idea if we''ll win, I''m no prophet, but I believe that we''ll win".

    "Why?"

    The coach grinned. "Because Sam is back to full health".

    They asked other questions but refraining from answering, the coach trudged off into Craven Cottage as his team made their final preparations for the game.

    With both teams eager to win this game, not caring that it was still the 5th round of the cup due to the knockout nature of the tournament, they started with their strongest lineups.

    Both teams started with their regular 4-2-3-1 formation.

    With the likes of Dibu Martinez, Morgan Rogers, and Ollie Watkins all starting for Aston Villa, they were a strong side but, in this game, Fulham put out another statement display to the rest of the premier league.

    They didn''t just win against Aston Villa, they thoroughly dissected them, tearing them apart limb for limb like a Lion does to its prey.

    In front of their home fans, Fulham thoroughly dominated Aston Villa.

    Despite going up against one of the best goalkeepers currently in the premier league, Fulham managed to put 4 goals in Dibu Martinez''s net and it was all because of one player who was finally back to his very first.

    After his ankle injury, despite the fact that he was playing well in games still, Sam still felt that there was something missing from his complete recovery.

    That game sharpness was not yet there.

    But a few days ago in training, he felt that it finally returned and, in this game, he was the spear that led Fulham''s charge.

    In just the 6th minute of this game, Sam opened the deadlock, scoring his first goal in how many games through an absolute rocket shot from outside the box.

    6 minutes, 1-0 to Fulham¡­

    "GOALLLL¡­!!!" The atmosphere in Craven Cottage was electric.

    After that goal, Sam went on to put out a playmaking masterclass as in the 18th minute, he played a crazy trivela pass with the outside of his boot, setting up Muniz perfectly to poke the ball into the net past Dibu Martinez.

    In the 30 minute of this game, Fulham supporters bore witness to a prime Sam again as like a ghost, he waved through Aston Villa players like they were not there with arrogant impunity.

    Inside the 18-yard box, Carlos, the Aston Villa rapidly closed him down only for this center back to be left eating dust as Sam executed his trademark dribble, the elastico.

    "Uhhh!" The commentator exclaimed, laughing. "That was diabolical from Sam! Damn! He''s feeling it today!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Sam had the chance to score it himself after cutting through the Aston Villa defense like a hot knife through butter, but he rather squared it across goal for Muniz to poke into an empty net, scoring his braze.

    With that, Sam went to 1 goal and 2 assists this game.

    But still not satisfied, in the 36th minute, Sam went on another mazy dribble, cutting through Aston Villa players with ruthless efficiency.

    Utilizing his perfect dribbling technique, physicality, and vision, he set up Emile Smith Rowe this time as the Englishman rifled the ball into the net.

    "GOALLLL¡­!!!" The home supporters roared.

    They were receiving a treat.

    With that, Sam got a hattrick of assists!

    Coach Marco Silva was right, Sam was back to his best and trust the home supporters, they paid tribute to the return of the African Zidane.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    The Sam chants blasted out again around Craven Cottage.

    In the second half, Fulham reduced their attacking intensity but still, they controlled this game from beginning to end and they excelled through the S factor that truly struck in the 2nd half.

    Bam! Bam!

    Tiki taka¡­

    Pass, receive, pass, receive¡­, the S factor tore Aston Villa apart.

    By the end of the game, the home supporters were filled with so much dopamine that they kept on singing at the top of their lungs.

    Fulham extended their winning streak to 3 games.

    They were in terrifying form.

 Chapter 242 Winning streak [3]

    Crystal Palace destroyed¡­Wolves defeated¡­

    Aston Villa swept under the rug¡­

    Finally, it was Brighton''s turn to be put under the wrath of Fulham''s sword.

    In the premier league, Brighton was enjoying a positive run of form but for this premier league fixture, Fulham were the heavy favorites after their 3-game winning streak with impressive wins against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace.

    Brighton was out to cause an upset, while Fulham were determined to maintain their streak. It was a clash of ideologies and footballing wills.

    With the likes of Adingra, Enciso, and Pedro all starting for Brighton, they were a dangerous side but Fulham did not buckle under the pressure.

    In the American Express Stadium in Brighton, it was a high-octane game of attacking football from both sides as they strived to get the lead first.

    Defensive masterclasses from both teams kept the 2 teams'' offense at bay even as they kept on attacking but in tight games like this, that was when individual brilliance and excellence gets to shine.

    In the 42nd minute of this game, the African Zidane shone.

    It was a moment of explosive brilliance as Fulham''s S factor shone.

    After winning the ball back in midfield, Sam quickly sprayed a pass to the right where Emile Smith Rowe lurked.

    The English winger beat his man before floating a ball back towards him in the box. Rising into the air in the Brighton 18-yard box, Sam controlled this ball with his chest and as soon as he landed, his right leg swung with power.

    Before a defender could close him down, he unleashed a ferocious shot at goal that left the Brighton goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

    POW!

    All the goalkeeper saw was a blur. In just a moment, the ball was already in the back of the net as the away stands in this stadium erupted.

    "And the African Zidane strikes again!" The commentator raved even as the Fulham traveling supporters clamored in joy. "Damn! What a player!"

    "He''s definitely back to his best now!"

    "After his injury, his performances were noticeably affected despite the fact that he was still highly effective as a midfielder for Fulham but now? Now, this is the vintage attacking Sam that we''re used to seeing!"

    "This is Zinedine Sam in his full glory!"

    Charging towards the corner flag, Sam slid on his knees in celebration, pointing towards his head to highlight his mentality as he was drowned in an ocean of boos by the Brighton fans. Objects were even thrown at him.

    He didn''t mind though, smiling at them.

    For the rest of this game, including the second half, Fulham and Brighton strived to score another goal but it never materialized.

    Sam''s sole goal became the deciding factor in this game.

    Fulham racked up another win, extending their streak to 4 wins in 4 games. And with it, matchday 28 of the English premier league was completed.

    (Premier league:)

    (Matchday 28 of 38:)

    (Nottm Forest 2-2 Man City)

    (Date: 8th March, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Man United 2-1 Arsenal)

    (Date: 8th March, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Tottenham 3-1 Bournemouth)

    (Date: 8th March, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Wolves 0-0 Everton)

    (Date: 8th March, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Liverpool 1-0 Southampton)

    (Date: 8th March, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Chelsea 2-1 Leicester City)

    (Date: 8th Match, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Brentford 3-3 Aston Villa)

    (Date: 8th March, 2025)

    ¡­

    (West Ham 1-2 Newcastle)

    (Date: 8th March, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Crystal Palace 2-0 Ipswich Town)

    (Date: 8th March, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Brighton 0-1 Fulham)

    (Date: 8th March, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. Liverpool GP: 28/ W:22/ D:1/ L:2/ Pts: 73)

    (2. Fulham GP: 28/ W:20/ D:5/ L:3/ Pts: 66)

    (3. Arsenal GP: 28/ W:18/ D:7/ L:3/ Pts: 61)

    (4. Chelsea GP: 28/ W:18/ D:7/ L:3/ Pts: 61)

    (5. Tottenham GP: 28/ W:14/ D:4/ L:10/ Pts: 46)

    (6. Aston Villa GP: 28/ W:12/ D:9/ L:8/ Pts: 45)

    (7. Nottm Forest GP: 28/ W:12/ D:9/ L:7/ Pts: 45)

    (8. Brighton GP: 28/ W:12/ D:7/ L:9/ Pts: 43)

    (9. Man City GP: 28/ W:11/ D:8/ L:9/ Pts: 41)

    (10. Newcastle GP: 28/ W:10/ D:8/ L:10/ Pts: 38)

    (11. Man United GP: 28/ W:11/ D:5/ L:12/ Pts: 38)

    (12. Bournemouth GP: 28/ W:10/ D:7/ L:11/ Pts: 37)

    (13. Brentford GP: 28/ W:10/ D:7/ L:11/ Pts: 37)

    (14. Crystal Palace GP: 28/ W:7/ D:10/ L:11/ Pts: 31)

    (15. West Ham GP: 28/ W:8/ D:6/ L:14/ Pts: 29)

    (16. Leicester GP: 28/ W:4/ D:9/ L:15/ Pts: 21)

    (17. Everton GP: 28/ W:5/ D:6/ L:17/ Pts: 21)

    (18. Ipswich Town GP: 28/ W:3/ D:8/ L:17/ Pts: 17)

    (19. Southampton GP: 28/ W:3/ D:3/ L:22/ Pts: 12)

    (20. Wolves GP: 28/ W:1/ D:8/ L:19/ Pts: 11)

    After 28 matchdays of the 2024/2025 premier league season, this was how the premier league table looked like.

    Liverpool was still leading but Fulham''s distance to the top was now reduced to 7 points. This was still a sizeable margin, but it was better than before and that was all that mattered to the Fulham players.

    In the past 3 matchdays of the premier league season, Fulham was the only premier league club to get maximum 9 points.

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    Compared to them, Liverpool''s premier league fixtures were against Man City, Newcastle United, and Southampton.

    Their first game against Manchester City was when they stumbled.

    Despite the fact that the reigning premier league champions were having a horror season in terms of their regular standards, against their bitter rivals, Man City picked up their form as they played an amazing game against Liverpool.

    They managed to take 2 points off the current premier league table leaders, helping Fulham with a huge favor.

    Despite this though, Fulham still had a lot to do if their aspirations of getting back to the top of the premier league was to be actualized.

    And the first step to this aspiration was their next 3 fixtures, 3 extremely challenging fixtures. Coach Marco Silva compared his team''s next 3 fixtures with Liverpool''s next 3 fixtures.

    (Fulham fixtures:)

    (Premier league:)

    (Fulham ¨C Tottenham)

    (Date: 15th March, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Arsenal ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 1st April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Fulham ¨C Liverpool)

    (Date: 5th April, 2025)

    ***

    (Liverpool fixtures:)

    (Premier league:)

    (Aston Villa ¨C Liverpool)

    (Date: 15th March, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Liverpool ¨C Everton) S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (Date: 2nd April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Fulham ¨C Liverpool)

    (Date: 5th April, 2025)

 Chapter 243 Fixture of death

    Coach Marco Silva called it the fixture of death.Compared to Liverpool''s next 3 fixtures in the English premier league, Fulham''s next 3 fixtures was much crazier.

    Aston Villa was a big team in the premier league these days, but still, the likes of Aston Villa and Everton could not compare to the likes of Tottenham and Arsenal.

    And to cap it all off, their last fixture of the 3 would be the top of the table clash between the 2 main rivals for this season''s premier league title.

    It still felt crazy to a lot of premier league fans that Fulham was competing for the title even at this point of this season, but it was reality.

    Fulham vs Liverpool was surely going to be a blockbuster encounter but before that game, Fulham had to survive the challenge presented by Tottenham and Arsenal. It was definitely their most daunting run of the season.

    Playing against Tottenham was going to be tough, but mix Arsenal into the scenario and you''ve got a fixture of death.

    Add Liverpool to round up the trio of games and it was a fixture of oblivion.

    When the Fulham players realized it in their next training session after the Brighton games, they felt tense but again, it was a certain player who did the job of defusing the tension again.

    Sam chuckled. "Light weight baby". He said.

    The others looked at him with weird gazes, he only grinned. "What''s Tottenham and Arsenal that we can''t beat?" He boasted shamelessly.

    "You know, during my first ever game against Manchester City, then I was even still playing in Nigeria, but I scored a hattrick!" He patted his chest.

    "Cast your cares on me guys, we''ll win!"

    They stared at him, and then they all burst laughing. "Shameless bastard!" Emile Smith Rowe cursed as the others laughed their asses out.

    Well, Sam''s boasting did it, making his teammates laugh and forget the grueling task ahead of them.

    Indeed, what was Tottenham and Arsenal that they''ve not played before?

    They would simply take it one game at a time while trying to ignore the pressure that the media and fans would definitely mount on them.

    With this mentality, the Fulham players were able to break down the fixture of death into small tasks, focusing on the first one, Tottenham.

    After the game against Brighton, they had 6 days of preparation for the Tottenham game and in these 6 days, the Fulham players gave above 100% in training even as Coach Marco Silva also worked overtime, analyzing their opponents. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Despite their current position in the premier league table, Tottenham was still a difficult proposition to any team in the premier league, encapsulated by how they beat Manchester City for the second time this season.

    The London club''s current style mirrored the style of their coach, Ange Postecoglou who had a philosophy of attacking football.

    If you looked at the premier league table, Tottenham was a misfit in the premier league mid-table simply because of goal difference.

    Most clubs in mid-table had a goal difference of minus and at most, in the single digits but Tottenham''s goal difference was in the double figures.

    Their philosophy was outscoring you to death. In most games, Tottenham concede but they always try to outscore their opponents.

    Sometimes, it works but most times, this rigid attacking philosophy was the reason why Tottenham found it incredibly hard to see out games, leading to avoidable draws and defeats in the league.

    Despite this, they were still a formidable side to play against.

    In the build-up to the game, Coach Marco Silva studied their opponents thoroughly, trying his best to enter the head of the opposition goalkeeper.

    And after his studying, he finally arrived at the perfect way to beat Tottenham at their own game.

    ¡­

    Another London derby was coming, and Fulham was prepared.

    In no time, it was 15th March already as Ange Postecoglou''s troops finally made the trip to Craven Cottage in West London.

    Right there on the road, the North Londoners got the reception of passionate Fulham fans, initiating them in the energy of this derby game.

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    The players and coach were not the only ones who recognized the importance of the next 3 fixtures for Fulham''s prospects this season.

    This was why even as the players gave their all in training, outside, the fans gave their all to get in behind their team, giving them maximum support in the build-up to their team''s next 3 fixtures.

    They gave the Tottenham squad an adequately hostile welcome.

    The lineups for the game were already released and like expected, both teams started with their strongest lineups.

    Tottenham started with an improvised 4-2-3-1 formation, with Forster standing in between the posts while the 4-man defense ahead of him comprised Porro, Dragusin, Gray, and Udogie.

    The midfield duo comprised of Bissouma and Bentacur while the 3-man offensive trio ahead comprised of Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski, and Heung Min Son, the Korean winger.

    Dominic Solanke started as Tottenham''s sole striker.

    As for Fulham, Coach Marco Silva improvised for this game, starting with a 4-5-1 formation where he heavily loaded his midfield with players.

    Raul Jimenez was the sole striker up front, while the 5-man midfield behind him comprised of Emile Smith Rowe, Sam, Lukic, Alex Iwobi, and Antonee Robinson who was pushed upward this game, starting as a left midfielder.

    The 4-man defense comprised of Castagne, Diop, Andersen, and Calvin Bassey who was pushed to left back for this game.

    Naturally, Bernd Leno started in between the posts.

    As the players went into the pitch, lining up, the noise that was being made by the home supporters rose to a crescendo, flying through the roof.

    BOOM!

    It was hard to focus amid all the noise.

    The Tottenham players were heavily affected as they tried to ignore it. For the Fulham players though, knowing that their fans were firmly behind them, they felt like an extra 13th player was lining up with them on the pitch.

    They were extremely motivated for this game and when the referee''s whistle finally sounded, the game started with a bang.

    FWEEEE!

 Chapter 244 Just 1 counter!

    FWEEE!The atmosphere in Craven Cottage was electric.

    It served as the perfect foil, fueling the energy currently charging through this football pitch as 2 different football teams clashed in a must-win game.

    Just as Fulham wanted to win the game to keep their title race alive, Tottenham Hotspur also wanted to win the game to keep their aspirations for securing a European spot for next season alive.

    Football was just like that. Towards the end of the season, every one of the 20 clubs in the English premier league have something they''re fighting for.

    To those at the top of the premier league table, they fight to keep their title hopes alive, fighting to win the premier league trophy.

    As for those in mid-table, they fought to secure European qualification. The prize money for playing in European competitions was worth the fight.

    As for those at the bottom of the English premier league, theirs was even more crazy since they fought against relegation.

    This was why the latter parts of every premier league season was always the most exciting, and this sentiment was perfectly highlighted by the London derby between Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur.

    Amid the loud noise being made by the home supporters, the players on the pitch put on a show, playing an incredible end to end game.

    It was a game of extremely high-octane energy.

    Despite the fact that they were the ones playing away from home, just like Coach Marco Silva expected, Tottenham Hotspur came roaring out like a Dragon as they took the game to Fulham.

    This game, the Korean winger representing Tottenham was absolutely electric as he repeatedly turned Castagne inside out.

    The Tottenham striker, Dominic Solanke also posed a big threat as he kept on testing Bernd Leno with his teasing shots, but the Fulham goalkeeper rose to the challenge every single time, for now.

    During the first few minutes of this game, it felt like Fulham was just defending, barely holding on to life but this was Coach Marco Silva''s tactic today. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Knowing the stakes attached to this game, and 100% sure that Tottenham would definitely attack, Marco Silva''s strategy for this game was to first kill the attacking momentum of their opponents. This was why his players defended.

    Even Sam dropped deep, defending during the first few minutes of this game and after a dozen minutes or so, the Tottenham attacking juice started dying.

    Immediately, like Sharks that smelled blood, Fulham finally erupted.

    Starting with explosive counterattacks, Fulham hit Tottenham hard as Antonee Robinson''s pace caused a lot of problems down the left flank as the left back turned midfielder created a lot of trouble.

    From counterattacks, Fulham finally settled into this game as Tottenham''s intensity reduced, the home side taking the game to them.

    That was when the true end to end affair started.

    And in tight games like this, a certain player tended to thrive, Samuel Moses.

    Sam was not the only one who thrived though. His teammates kept up with him today, playing at an elite level and finally, the S factor started ticking.

    Bam! Bam!

    Playing short, accurate passes in triangular patterns, Sam and Emile Smith Rowe repeatedly cut through the Tottenham defense like a hot knife through butter, occasionally using other teammates to set themselves up.

    In the next 20 minutes, Sam and Smith Rowe created 5 chances between themselves, forcing the Tottenham goalkeeper, Forster into making 5 crazy saves.

    The goalkeeper''s gloves must be burning.

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    The 2 goalkeepers were at an elite level this game but it was while Fulham dominated after the initial Tottenham intensity, pressing the North Londoners that Tottenham''s captain finally created a moment of individual brilliance, adding another highlight to the H.M Son collection.

    It started with another rampant Fulham attack led by Alex Iwobi this time.

    From the left, the midfielder sprayed a pass across midfield to the right where Emile Smith Rowe lurked, who quickly set up Sam.

    Sam feinted a shot, leaving Bentacur to slide past him to no man''s land and then feinting another shot, he threaded a pass to Raul Jimenez, but then¡­

    Bam!

    Gray, Tottenham''s center back slid in as soon as Sam hit the ball as the defender intelligently intercepted the ball before it could get to Raul Jimenez.

    "¡­!" In that moment, time seemed to freeze.

    Jimenez was close by, Gray was on the floor, who would get to the loose ball first?

    The Fulham striker pounced but the floored defender was even faster, recklessly diving in with his head, head-butting the field in the process as the top of his left eye ruptured, bleeding and swelling but then, he managed to clear the ball to the left¡­, where Heung Min Son lurked.

    Due to Fulham''s oppressive attacking raids since, the Korean winger was forced to fall back and defend and now, he got the ball all the way in his half.

    Time froze around Craven Cottage.

    What would he do with the ball?

    Only one thing rang in Son''s mind though. ''Counterattack!''

    In that moment, this winger instantly entered the zone state as time around him slowed down, the pitch suddenly contracting in his vision even as everything seemed to become 10 times clearer to him.

    This winger noticed Emile Smith Rowe already charging towards him, closing the distance, and then¡­

    Bam!

    Hitting the ball long along the left-hand side of the pitch, Heung Min Son exploded in a sprint, rushing past Smith Rowe before he could react.

    The counterattack already started!

    And Heung Min Son was ready to do it alone because no one was up field to support him, not even Solanke, Tottenham''s striker as they all fell back to defend.

    Thud! Thud!

    As this winger''s legs ate yards of space down the pitch towards the Fulham half, he looked, noticing 2 more opposition players ahead of him.

    As soon as he bolted past Emile Smith Rowe, Lukic, Fulham''s defensive midfielder reacted, shadowing him from the middle of the pitch.

    Lukic was calm and composed, tracking back while shadowing Heung Min Son till he saw the Korean winger take a heavy touch of the ball, then¡­

    Whoosh!

    Lukic decisively slid in to win the ball.

    "¡­!" Son''s eyes narrowed as soon as Lukic moved.

    This midfielder went in for an accurate sliding challenge only for Son''s leg to be faster than him, arriving first as he flicked the ball, raising it above Lukic, and then he jumped!

    "¡­!"

    Time seemed to freeze as Son jumped above the sliding Lukic.

    "Son is flying!"

    "He''s blitzed Emile Smith Rowe already, and now Lukic, what a run! Can he go all the way?!"

    Just like that, the Korean winger eliminated his 2nd obstacle, leaving only Diop who stayed as Fulham''s last man in defense.

    Fearlessly, the Korean winger now charging through the middle of the pitch having cut in from the left already went on a straight collision course towards Diop but once the distance between them was close enough, Son staggered.

    As soon as the winger staggered, Diop also staggered with him, losing balance; it was just a rapid feint from the Korean winger.

    With Diop losing balance¡­

    Bam!

    Son hit the ball long again, using Diop''s momentum against him to rush past Fulham''s last man in defense but due to hitting the ball long, sensing weakness, Bernd Leno aggressively charged out of his post.

    But again, Heung Min Son was just that much faster.

    Arriving before the ball first, the Korean winger raised the ball high, lobbing it over the goalkeeper as it nestled into the net.

    "¡­"

    "¡­"

    "¡­..!"

    Craven Cottage was silenced.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" The away stands erupted.

 Chapter 245 Aura vs aura!

    "GOALLLLL¡­!"As the away supporters roared at the top of their lungs, Heung Min Son charged towards the corner flag, flashing a charming smile at the camera even as he nodded repeatedly in celebration.

    The away supporters roared his name at the top of their lungs.

    And just like that, Tottenham led in this game in the 37th minute.

    While the Tottenham players celebrated, a certain player in the opposition side already became restless, the voices in his head already rearing their competitive heads again.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    Of course, Sam was not about to take such brilliance lying down.

    Even as the commentator kept on waxing lyrical about the Korean winger''s incredible solo run and goal, Sam was already plotting on how to steal the limelight from him and when the game eventually restarted, he did just that.

    FWEEEE!

    After the referee''s whistle sounded, the signal to continue the game, Tottenham played with more courage, bolstered by the incredible goal that was scored by their captain.

    For a moment, they regained dominion over this game but it was only for a brief moment because 5 minutes later, in the 42nd minute of this game, Sam struck.

    Having just won the ball back, Lukic cleared it up field and there, Sam jumped, contesting with Bissouma for the ball.

    The ball was hit with too much power. It was too high, out of the reach of the heads of the 2 contesting footballers, so Sam improvised in mid-air. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Acrobatically raising his right leg up and above his head, he executed an impeccable touch in mid-air, killing all of the ball''s momentum in one touch.

    Bam!

    Hearing the sound alone, Bissouma guessed what Sam did already and knowing how much his coach warned him about the Nigerian''s threat, as soon as he landed, the Tottenham midfielder aggressively pressed to win back the ball.

    That¡­ was a mistake.

    With a perfect la croqueta, Sam sent the Tottenham midfielder to no man''s land but not willing to give up, Bissouma went as far as dragging Sam''s jersey to slow him down as he quickly recovered, but this only invited more suffering.

    This was because as soon as he noticed his opponent dragging his jersey, Sam slowed down, allowing him to catch up and then¡­

    Bzzz!

    Bissouma was made to see stars as with an even more perfect elastico dribble, Sam sent the ball in between the legs of this midfielder, nutmegging him.

    "Ugh!" Groaning, the midfielder fought the desire to just give up after that and turned to pursue and brethren, that gave him front-row view of what followed.

    Immediately after rinsing Bissouma the 2nd time with his perfect elastico, Sam looked ahead, noting that no more Tottenham player was close to him.

    He was still some ways from the Tottenham 18-yard box but to Sam, this was just about enough because setting himself up, he launched his leg backward, gathered momentum, swung and hit the ball with power.

    POW!

    There were a lot of players in the Tottenham 18-yard box, blocking the Tottenham goalkeeper''s view.

    The goalkeeper was still squinting, looking for who had the ball among the sea of players when he saw something flash past him.

    Whoosh!

    When he looked back, the ball was already inside his net!

    "¡­!"

    "GOALLLLL¡­!" The Fulham supporters regained their voices.

    "My goodness! What a game this is turning out to be!"

    "2 absolutely crazy goals!"

    "And Sam just responded for Fulham!"

    "It just had to be him!"

    "Haha, this is an aura for aura moment! Sam is saying, Son, if you can score that, then I can score this! But what a game!"

    Sam did not celebrate, simply walking towards the post and focusing on the Fulham supporters as he waved his arms, riling them up.

    The Fulham supporters responded, roaring at the top of their lungs.

    The noise in Craven Cottage rose through the roof.

    In the 42nd minute of this game, it was 1-1.

    The first half came to an end with both teams on level terms.

    When second half started, it was even more explosive from both teams as they went for the win. And truly, it was an aura for aura moment.

    Heung Min Son raised his game to the next level for Tottenham and it was the Fulham fullback, Castagne who bore the brunt of his wrath as the Korean winger repeatedly turned him inside out, beating him for pace as easily as eating rice. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

    But it was aura for aura.

    Just as Son violated Castagne, Sam was absolutely destroying Bissouma through the middle as the Tottenham midfielder''s jersey was already thoroughly stained, testament to how many times he had been forced to rub his body on the ground by the rampant Fulham attacking midfielder.

    Despite the brilliance from both star players and the support from their teammates, the 2nd goal refused to come.

    The closer the game got to 90 minutes; the more tension gathered.

    Exhaustion was already settling in even as both coaches made a few changes, yet the players kept on giving their all.

    This was a game of clashing philosophies, will, and desires.

    And then, in the 87th minute of this game, the deciding moment arrived.

    This time, it was Alex Iwobi who created it as after exchanging a series of one-two passes with Antonee Robinson, the Nigerian International threw a cross into the Tottenham 18-yard box, starting a scramble.

    Due to how tight this game was since, even the forwards were forced to defend and as this ball was crossed in, even Heung Min Son was defending.

    But still, none of them had quite the same mastery of space as the Space Interpreter himself.

    Having inherited Thomas Muller''s legendary title, Sam shone with it in this pivotal moment.

    As the ball floated in, Bissouma originally marked him but due to the tension of watching the ball float dangerously into his box, for just a fraction of a second, the Tottenham midfielder lost track of his man and that was all that Sam needed.

    Like a ghost, he went into this midfielder''s blind spot, simultaneously synchronizing it with the best spot in the 18-yard box for him to hit the ball.

    And as the ball floated in, he jumped, twisting his body in mid-air as he executed a perfect scissor kick shot.

    BAM!

    Forster dived, desperate to keep the ball out but Sam just did enough to send the ball past him with power and into the net.

    The net shook, then¡­

    "GOALLLLLL¡­!!!" Craven Cottage exploded.

    Sam''s teammates swarmed him, jumping all over him even as the commentator raved about his brilliance and yet, Sam did not bother to celebrate.

    That goal¡­ was the deciding moment of this game.

    In the battle of aura vs aura, Sam won against Heung Min Son.

    The game ended with another Fulham victory though it was incredibly tight, and Sam won another man of the match award.

 Chapter 246 Game 1 of 3; a win

    "Sam, thanks for having me today. Your incredible performance today helped Fulham to its 5th consecutive win in all competitions, how do you feel?"Sam grinned at the female reporter. "Of course, I feel great, we won!"

    The reporter smiled. "Today, a lot of people feel that it was a personal battle between you and Heung Min Son. How do you feel about the Korean''s performance today on the pitch?"

    Hearing that, Sam shook his head. "I won''t lie, even I was scared of him today". He chuckled. "That goal? That was just bonkers man".

    "Heung Min Son is a player that I respect a lot, and today, he proved why with his performance. He is a player that I''ve followed and loved for a long time". Sam smiled. "The first time I saw him play was during the 2018 World Cup".

    "And to be sincere, my respect for Mr. Son started all the way from then even before he became a Tottenham player. He is a quality, quality player, one of the best in the premier league in recent years".

    "Honestly, I believe we won due to a stroke of luck". Sam laughed.

    "The highlights say otherwise," the reporter chuckled. "An absolute rocket shot and an acrobatic one, I differ to say but I believe it''s more due to your skill".

    "I won''t argue with you". Sam laughed.

    "Before I forget," the reporter grinned. "Sam, there''s a lot of talk online about your physicality. That mid-air touch and control before your first goal, that was honestly out of this world!" The reporter raved.

    "Your fans want to know, how did you do it?"

    Hearing that question, Sam chuckled again, scratching the back of his head. "Honestly, even I can''t exactly tell, it was all in the moment. But if anyone is to take credit, then I''ll have to give it to my mom and dad". He grinned.

    "They gave me my incredible genetics!"

    The reporter laughed. "If that''s right, then thank you Mr. and Mrs. Moses for giving us the privilege to witness a footballing phenom like your son".

    Sam laughed.

    "Also, scrolling through reactions online, we couldn''t help but notice a thread online. Football fans believe that you''re morphing into a Federico Valverde type of player already with these banger goals every few games".

    Sam laughed. "Valverde is a world-class football player playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world; it is an honor to be remotely compared with him".

    The reporter asked a few more questions and then, she asked an eye-catchy one. "Sam, today, we could not help but notice that despite scoring those 2 incredible goals, you refused to celebrate".

    "You''ve never been shy of celebrating your goals before, what happened today?"

    Hearing that question, as if he expected it, Sam smiled. "It''s not a secret actually". He grinned. "While I was injured, watching my team struggle, honestly that was one of the hardest periods of my life this season".

    "So, I decided that when I make my return, I''ll return with a trademark celebration".

    "So?"

    "Don''t be impatient," Sam chuckled. "Do the calms".

    "What I''m doing now is simply building the tension. When the time is right, I''ll debut my new celebration".

    "Can you give us a hint?"

    Sam laughed, politely declining with his silence.

    And with that, the post-match interview finally came to an end, closing the curtain to an unforgettable matchday for Fulham supporters.

    They all felt on top of the world after the derby win against Tottenham.

    On social media, the name Sam was already trending again.

    ¡­

    (Fulham fixtures:)

    (Premier league:)

    (Fulham 2-1 Tottenham)

    (Date: 15th March, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Arsenal ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 1st April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Fulham ¨C Liverpool)

    (Date: 5th April, 2025)

    While to the rest of the English premier league, it was the end of matchday 29, to Fulham supporters, it was the end of just game 1 of 3.

    And just as they followed their team, they also followed their archrivals for this season, the high-flying Liverpool led by the Egyptian King, Mohamed Salah.

    Like expected, Liverpool won their game against Aston Villa convincingly despite the fact that they played their opponents in away ground.

    (Liverpool fixtures:)

    (Premier league:)

    (Aston Villa 1-3 Liverpool)

    (Date: 15th March, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Liverpool ¨C Everton)

    (Date: 2nd April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Fulham ¨C Liverpool)

    (Date: 5th April, 2025)

    For both archrivals, it was a win in their first game of 3 deadly fixtures.

    And with the end of matchday 29 of the English premier league, the premier league table was updated again, reflecting the current situation of the league.

    (Updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. Liverpool GP: 29/ W:23/ D:1/ L:2/ Pts: 76)

    (2. Fulham GP: 29/ W:21/ D:5/ L:3/ Pts: 69)

    (3. Arsenal GP: 29/ W:18/ D:8/ L:3/ Pts: 62)

    (4. Chelsea GP: 29/ W:18/ D:8/ L:3/ Pts: 62)

    (5. Nottm Forest GP: 29/ W:13/ D:9/ L:7/ Pts: 48) S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (6. Tottenham GP: 29/ W:14/ D:4/ L:11/ Pts: 46)

    (7. Aston Villa GP: 29/ W:12/ D:9/ L:9/ Pts: 45)

    (8. Man City GP: 29/ W:12/ D:8/ L:9/ Pts: 44)

    (9. Brighton GP: 29/ W:12/ D:7/ L:10/ Pts: 43)

    (10. Bournemouth GP: 29/ W:11/ D:7/ L:11/ Pts: 40)

    (11. Newcastle GP: 29/ W:10/ D:9/ L:10/ Pts: 39)

    (12. Man United GP: 29/ W:11/ D:5/ L:13/ Pts: 38) Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire

    (13. Brentford GP: 29/ W:10/ D:7/ L:12/ Pts: 37)

    (14. Crystal Palace GP: 29/ W:7/ D:11/ L:11/ Pts: 32)

    (15. West Ham GP: 29/ W:8/ D:7/ L:14/ Pts: 30)

    (16. Leicester GP: 29/ W:5/ D:9/ L:15/ Pts: 24)

    (17. Everton GP: 29/ W:5/ D:7/ L:17/ Pts: 22)

    (18. Ipswich Town GP: 29/ W:3/ D:8/ L:18/ Pts: 17)

    (19. Wolves GP: 29/ W:2/ D:8/ L:19/ Pts: 14)

    (20. Southampton GP: 29/ W:3/ D:3/ L:23/ Pts: 12)

    Matchday 29 of the premier league brought a lot of drama with it.

    Of course, more focus was on Liverpool and Fulham''s games but still, blockbuster games like the clash between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates which ended in a 1-1 draw also stole the headlines.

    Another news that was now familiar to a lot of premier league fans was Manchester United losing again, and then of course, Wolves'' win against Southampton that finally took them above their relegation zone partners from 20th to 19th position in the league table.

    It was a matchday filled with a lot of excitement and drama.

 Chapter 247 A trip to Emirates Stadium

    After the Tottenham game on 15th March, Fulham were supposed to have an FA Cup quarterfinal date against Coventry in away ground on 29th but due to the magnitude of their next premier league game against Arsenal, the FA Cup game was postponed.And so, the Fulham players had 15 full days to prepare for their next premier league games in one of the most challenging encounters of their season.

    Playing against Arsenal was no easy endeavour in the premier league, even more so when this clash was taking place in the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal''s iconic home stadium.

    If the Tottenham game was a test of nerves to know how tough they were for Fulham, the game against Arsenal was a test of fire.

    It was like purifying gold through fire.

    This time, Arsenal was the fire. At the moment, they were just a dirty metal suspected to be gold. Through the fire tempering, they would be forced to reveal their true colors, either as pretenders or genuine contenders for the premier league.

    Trust the Fulham players, their preparations for their next game felt like a preparation for war rather than just a premier league game.

    To them, it was do or die, win by all means or don''t play at all.

    This was how much it meant to them. And with the black mamba himself training with them every day, all the Fulham players gave about 150% of their full potential in training every single time.

    Their training was so intense that when 1st of April finally came, the Fulham players didn''t feel like professional football players at all.

    Rather, they felt like Netero in the Hunter X Hunter universe after spending a month to recover his nen abilities to its peak.

    They felt invincible.

    Just like the Tottenham game, it was another derby game between another North London football club.

    When the Fulham bus arrived in Holloway, North London, trust the Arsenal supporters, they created a sufficiently hostile welcome for the visitors.

    And today, again, the Fulham players followed Sam''s lead, plugging their ears with headphones and blocking out the noise as they came out of their team bus, trudging down into Emirates Stadium like they owned the place.

    Most times in football, the first step to winning a game starts from the psychological aspect and this was proven, mostly by Real Madrid.

    The Spanish capital club were well-known as the Kings of the UEFA Champions league due to their seemingly God-like results in the competition, sometimes literally clawing themselves from the jaws of defeat.

    When it comes to mental power in football, their incredible semi-final comeback and win against Manchester City in the champions league comes to mind. They were an absolute powerhouse, and much of their notoriety was attributed to their mentality.

    Even FC Barcelona''s iconic remontada comeback win against Paris Saint Germain back in 2016 was only possible because they believed.

    This was why entering this stadium, the Fulham players believed.

    They ignored all the hostility, clearing their minds like a pool of still water, entering this stadium like Kings.

    Minutes later when both teams lined up in the tunnel, the tension was palpable between both sides. This was not just any derby clash; this was a top of the table derby clash that may heavily affect who wins the premier league title at the end of the season.

    Like expected, both teams started with their strongest lineups.

    Starting in their regular 4-3-3 formation, Arsenal''s star-studded squad started with an electric attacking trio of 2 Brazilians, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, and the English star boy, Bukayo Saka.

    Their midfield trio was an equally strong one comprising Thomas Partey, Declan Rice, and Martin Odegaard.

    Further behind them was the defensive quadruple of Ricardo Calafiori, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jurien Timber, led by the stalwart William Saliba. Starting in between the posts for Arsenal was their regular no. 1, David Raya.

    It was a fearsome lineup to face for any team in the premier league.

    But Fulham approached this game with 0 fear. Starting in their regular 4-2-3-1 formation, Raul Jimenez started in attack while behind him was the attacking trio of Alex Iwobi, Sam, and Emile Smith Rowe.

    Further behind them was the duo of Lukic and Andreas Pereira, while their defensive quadruple comprised Antonee Robinson, Diop, Calvin Bassey, and Castagne. Bernd Leno naturally started in between the posts.

    This was a game to die for.

    As soon as the players stepped into the pitch, it happened¡­ Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire

    BOOM!

    The noise being made by the home supporters in red and white exploded, hitting a crescendo as their noise rose through the roof.

    Emirates Stadium almost seemed to be shaking from all the noise.

    No matter how stalwart their minds was, faced with such an atmosphere, the Fulham players felt their hearts falter a bit but they were not given time to panic because the referee''s whistle sounded the next moment.

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded and as Arsenal kicked off the game, then¡­

    Thud!

    Sam led the press from midfield, pursuing the ball aggressively.

    "And here we are in the Emirates Stadium, bearing witness to one of the most decisive matches in the 2024/2025 premier league season".

    "It''s Arsenal vs Fulham".

    "Both teams are in good form, both teams are in 2nd and 3rd position respectively in the league. Both teams are separated by 7 points and most importantly, both teams are at the heart of this season''s title race". S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "If Arsenal win, they go within touching distance of 2nd position while also closing the distance to high-flying Liverpool".

    "If Fulham win, Arsenal''s title race would be more or less over as Fulham strengthen their bid for its first ever premier league title".

    "Yes, Fulham has never won a premier league title, nor have they ever won a major trophy in England".

    "Under the lead of the Nigerian Zidane, they''ve made a lot of exploits this season, but can they go all the way? Can Samuel Moses create history, pushing Fulham to win its very first major trophy in England?"

    "And not just here, they''re also in the running for the FA Cup too, 2 major trophies in England".

    "Today is the deciding day".

    "History beckons, but Fulham have a formidable adversary to overcome today. They have Arsenal to overcome in front of their home supporters".

    "Can they do it?"

    "We can only watch and see how it turns out".

    "And Martin Odegaard gets the ball¡­!"

    A thrilling game in the premier league that would soon graduate to an unforgettable status started in Emirates Stadium.

 Chapter 248 Battle in Emirates Stadium; the S partnership strikes again!

    Hours before the game, a popular YouTube star who made social media content on football arrived in Holloway, North London in England for the epic premier league clash between Arsenal and Fulham.This YouTube star was extremely popular with tens of millions of subscribers.

    An hour after he arrived, going to Emirates Stadium, he did a live video where he asked fans coming to the stadium a specific question about the game.

    "Who do you think will win? Fulham or Arsenal?"

    And well, he got replies, a lot of them.

    "Sorry blud, Fulham are getting nothing from here today".

    "You think so? What of Sam?"

    The Arsenal fan grinned. "Who is Sam? Where is Sam?" He looked around sarcastically, but then he faced the camera. "There''s nobody in the premier league that can pass through our Saliba, and Sam is among them".

    "Today, he''ll know the difference between our defense and other defenses".

    That was just one out of many replies.

    "Hey, who do you think will win the game? Fulham or Arsenal?"

    "Arsenal for the win man". The male fan laughed, hugging his girlfriend. "Fulham are good this season but they don''t have the depth and experience to win against a team like Arsenal, the pressure of the title race is already getting to them".

    "To win against the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, and even Man City this season, you need much more than temporary form".

    "You actually need experience, and that, I must say Fulham don''t have".

    "Even their talisman, Sam, the boy is still just a teenager".

    "My prediction is that Sam will have his worst game of the season today".

    This YouTube star got a lot of answers like this and when the referee''s whistle eventually sounded hours later inside Emirates Stadium to kick off the game, he was also in the stands, paying attention to the proceedings.

    It was time to see if the football fans that he asked were right.

    ¡­

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded¡­

    Thud!

    ¡­Sam started chasing after the ball.

    And not just him, all the Fulham players reacted aggressively as soon as Arsenal kicked off the game, chasing after the ball with intensity.

    Coach Marco Silva''s strategy for this game was a polar opposite of his approach to Tottenham during the early proceedings.

    Unlike when he told his team to defend during the early proceedings of the game against Tottenham Hotspur, Marco Silva did not dare make the same decision here knowing the caliber of attackers that Arsenal had at their disposal.

    With the likes of Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus, and Bukayo Saka in the lineup, all technical players that excelled in tight-space dribbling, the last thing he wanted was to defend deep against them.

    This was why Marco Silva''s approach to this game during the early proceedings was an aggressive prime Liverpoolesque gen-gen press!

    Thud! Thud!

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    The Fulham players flooded all over the pitch, pressuring the Arsenal players and forcing them to go back.

    And once that happened, Raul Jimenez, Fulham''s striker took it from there as he sprinted, rapidly closing the Arsenal goalkeeper down and forcing David Raya to quickly hit the ball upward.

    Back in midfield, Lukic rose highest, beating Declan Rice in the aerial battle as the Fulham midfielder won back the ball.

    That moment was when the game in Emirates Stadium became complicated.

    As soon as Fulham won back possession, the ball quickly found its way to Sam and together alongside Emile Smith Rowe, these 2 friends started creating their magic on the pitch as their telepathic chemistry shone.

    The Fulham S factor took over this game.

    But Sam and Emile Smith Rowe were not allowed to enjoy themselves with impunity though, not with the likes of Declan Rice and Thomas Partey sharing the midfield spot with them.

    After the first 10 minutes, this game became an end-to-end affair.

    Arsenal''s technical brilliance shone in intervals as Martin Odegaard posed a threat with his vision and neat passes every time that he got the ball in midfield.

    On the right side of the pitch, Bukayo Saka, the England International also caused a lot of problems with his silky dribbling and occasional crosses into the box that caused the Fulham defense that never ceased to cause chaos.

    Just like Sam and Smith combined for Fulham to devastating effect, the Saka and Odegaard combo was even deadlier in this game.

    To fight off their strengths, Fulham responded by playing high intensity physical football as they roughed up the Arsenal players.

    Boos erupted from the home supporters occasionally but it only riled the Fulham players up even more, till the moment their challenges started turning reckless as the referee began handing over cards.

    By the 30th minute of this game, nothing tangible was created yet until 2 moments of individual brilliance turned this game on its head.

    Bam! Bam!

    In the 33rd minute of this game, exchanging one-two passes between them, Sam and Emile Smith Rowe penetrated into the Arsenal defense like a hot knife through butter.

    After receiving the final pass, just as Sam was about to turn and take a shot, he noticed a wall suddenly obstruct him.

    This wall¡­ was William Saliba.

    The Frenchman was the one reason why despite Fulham''s press since they''ve not scored a goal yet. But this time, Sam did not force it, instead, he improvised.

    With William Saliba sticking close to him, bullying him with his superior physicality, instead of fighting it, Sam juggled the ball up and then¡­

    Bam!

    A juggle and a mid-air pass.

    Everything happened so fast it almost felt like Sam was operating in a different time space where he played the game at a much faster speed.

    Sam''s mid-air pass was so accurate that it flashed past the side of William Saliba''s face and when the Frenchman looked, realizing what just happened, his eyes widened. ''No!''

    It was too late though.

    Having read Sam''s intentions perfectly, like a specter, Emile Smith Rowe ghosted into the position in the Arsenal 18-yard box where the ball appeared towards the right side of the post.

    All this winger had to do was hit the ball with the heel of his boots and it was directed straight into the box.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!" The away stands in Emirates Stadium erupted, screaming at the top of their lungs as the home supporters were stunned.

    "What a goal!" The commentator raved. "Perfect chemistry these 2! And ladies and gentlemen, behold the Sam and Smith factor!"

    "They''ve done it again!"

    "Surely, they''re not going to win in the Emirates, right?!"

    Just 4 minutes later, in the 37th minute of this game, after conceding a corner kick, Alex Iwobi floated the ball from the right into the box.

    As a scramble started, somehow, Calvin Bassey did it, outwitting everybody as he ghosted into an unmarked spot and leaped high into the air, planting a powerful header towards goal.

    "And ohhh¡­! Alisson with the save!"

    "But the rebound is still alive¡­, and oh! Goallllll¡­!"

    Raul Jimenez pounced on the rebounded ball with cat-like instincts, poking it into the net before the nearest Arsenal defender could tackle him.

    "¡­"

    "¡­"

    "¡­..!"

    Emirates Stadium was as silent as a graveyard, the only noise being the one that came from the away stands as ecstatic Fulham fans roared at the top of their lungs.

    "My God! What are we witnessing right now?"

    "Arsenal have collapsed in their own home!"

    "Fulham is winning in the Emirates Stadium by 2 unanswered goals!"

    "Crazy! Absolutely crazy! No one saw this coming, not even Devil scripted this, this is just out of this world!"

    "Fulham are on top of the world at this moment!" S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Can they actually do it?"

    "Can they go all the way and win the game?"

 Chapter 249 A moment of individual brilliance, electric Bukayo Saka!

    (Premier league:)(Arsenal 0-2 Fulham)

    (Half-time:)

    Incredulously, the first half of this game came to an end with Fulham still leading the home side by 2 goals.

    When the players went to the tunnel to rest, the rest of the world was thrown into a frenzy. Fulham were actually doing it!

    This season, there was the perfect term to describe Fulham, the underdogs.

    Earlier in the season, that was how fans still predicted.

    Premier league fans predicted that they would lose against Arsenal, they would lose against Manchester City, they don''t have what it takes to retain their spot at the top of the English premier league table but fast forward to now, Fulham were still within touching distance of the top.

    Somehow, Fulham managed to prove all their doubters wrong and against all odds, they were still standing.

    Somehow, they managed to get results against the biggest sides in the premier league this season and were still standing strong.

    And somehow, in the 2nd half of the season now, they managed to win against Tottenham Hotspur last time out despite all the pressure on them.

    And now, somehow, they were winning against Arsenal!

    This was unbelievable, this was crazy, this season was borderline madness!

    Manchester City was not in the title race any longer, and Fulham was actually in the title race! Was there a crazier premier league season than that?

    While the outside world went ga ga over the first half result of this game, in the dressing room, Coach Marco Silva addressed his players.

    This coach did not hold back, applauding his players as a proud smile lined his lips. "Congratulations guys, you all did well out there on the pitch". sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Your pressing was aggressive and consistent; you obeyed my instructions and never gave them too much time on the ball. For that, kudos to you guys". He smiled brightly even as his players also smiled back at him.

    "During the second half, they''ll want to increase the pressure even more. Their rationale will be that with more pressure, we won''t be able to keep up, we''ll falter and make mistakes".

    Coach Marco Silva''s eyes flashed, his face becoming serious. "That is exactly what I want to avoid".

    "Don''t fall into their rhythm, stay consistent in our own rhythm".

    "When they''re with the ball, press, never let up!"

    "When you''re with the ball, attack immediately! Always keep them on tenterhooks, got it?"

    "Yes boss!"

    "Good, relax your brains a bit and get ready to return to the pitch".

    When the players eventually returned to the pitch, just like Coach Marco Silva predicted, all the Arsenal players felt like they received a shot of glucose and adrenaline as it showed in their mannerisms.

    Arsenal''s approach to this game changed.

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded this time, Fulham''s suffering truly began as Arsenal took the game to them.

    And trust the home supporters, they were firmly behind their team despite the fact that they were now losing by 2 goals.

    BOOM!

    Their voices rose through the roof of this stadium, creating sonic tsunamis of noise that affected the Fulham players but sheer determination was what kept the visitors going, playing their game.

    Still, the Arsenal players tried everything in their repertoires.

    From corner kicks, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, the 2 imposing Arsenal center backs tried to create something but Calvin Bassey and Diop were always at the ready, aggressively fighting the aerial battle with them and winning.

    Those corner kicks also led to 2 dangerous Fulham counterattacks.

    This 2nd half was even more explosive than the first as both teams played their hearts out. The Arsenal players were getting frustrated, nothing seemed to be working until something magical happened from the right side of the pitch.

    Having did his best to keep up with the English International for most of the game, a tired Antonee Robinson finally let up and that was all Saka needed.

    Receiving a long pass from Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka executed a perfect touch to bring the ball under control.

    As soon as he controlled the ball, Antonee Robinson charged in only for the winger''s quick feet to move in a blur, nutmegging him.

    And just like that, Robinson was eliminated.

    "Ugh!" Groaning tiredly, Robinson could not turn around to pursue immediately and that was the deciding moment.

    Drifting with the ball infield, Bukayo Saka ran into more opposition.

    He first ran into Lukic but slowing down slightly to draw the midfielder in, Saka used a perfect la croqueta to delete the Fulham midfielder.

    Just outside the 18-yard box, the winger looked up at the Fulham goal, raising his leg to unleash a powerful shot at goal but he was not allowed to shoot as Diop came sliding in aggressively.

    Saka stopped his shot at the last moment, turning it into a feint as in a show of skill, he trapped the ball, letting Diop slide helplessly past him.

    With that, Diop was deleted but Calvin Bassey arrived soon after.

    As soon as the Nigerian International arrived, Bukayo Saka staggered and as Bassey staggered with him, panicking, with a drop of his shoulder, the winger exploded past the center back and then, he finally hit the ball with his lethal left foot.

    Bam!

    It was not one of those powerful piledriver shots, rather it was a perfect precision curled shot towards the top left corner of the Fulham net.

    Bernd Leno reacted, jumping on a full-stretch dive but it was not enough as curling beyond his reach, the ball curled back and into the net.

    For a brief moment in the Emirates Stadium, there was a moment of disbelieving silence, and then¡­

    "GOALLLLLLL¡­!!!" Arsenal fans erupted, spreading chaos as some even jumped beyond the barrier and into the pitch, celebrating with the players!

    It almost felt like they''ve won the game.

    That goal¡­ had long been coming.

    All the pressure since, all the pent-up emotions, they were all let out by that absolutely brilliant goal from the English winger.

    Saka chants started around this stadium and in that moment, they could feel it, the switch in momentum.

    Momentum was now on Arsenal''s side.

    Bukayo Saka scored a goal to half Fulham''s lead in the 73rd minute of this game, did they have what it takes to draw this game?

    "Now, Fulham are on tenterhooks, what a goal!"

    "This game is even more interesting now!" Find more adventures on My Virtual Library Empire

    "What can Arsenal do?"

 Chapter 250 Imperious Fulham

    72 minutes, 1-2¡­The pressure in this stadium became palpable, hitting a crescendo.

    The Arsenal fans sang at the top of their lungs. And this time, their voices seemed especially more piercing to the Fulham players simply because the atmosphere in this stadium already changed.

    The aura of indomitability around Fulham since was now crumbling and trust Arsenal, they took advantage of it.

    The commentator asked what Arsenal could do, well, they were about to show it.

    BOOM!

    Like a lineup of angry Hippos who were just woken from a deep slumber, they went on an angry rampage around the pitch, putting Fulham to the chopping board and literally dissecting them apart with scintillating football.

    In the build-up to the goal that changed the momentum, as soon as Bukayo Saka received the decisive pass from Declan Rice, the star boy entered the zone state and now, Antonee Robinson suffered the brunt of a Saka who was in the flow.

    BZZZ!

    Like a wizard of football, the silky English winger went on mazy dribbles, turning Robinson inside out as the left back was made to look like an amateur.

    Every cross into the box, every dribble, every shot that he took left the Fulham defense quaking in its boots even as it ignited the stadium, making the home supporters sing his name at the top of their lungs.

    And with Bukayo Saka being unlocked, his level seeped into the rest of the Arsenal team, mostly the midfielders.

    Just 5 minutes after Saka''s goal, Thomas Partey unleashed an absolute thunderbolt from midfield towards the top right corner of the post.

    The powerful shot stung Bernd Leno''s gloves, making the goalkeeper''s hands hurt as he had to be attended to by medical staff before he could continue.

    Of the Arsenal players who stepped up, apart from Saka, another stand-out name was Martin Odegaard.

    The Norwegian midfield maestro soon became unlocked like Saka, entering the flow as every touch of the ball that he had seemed to turn into gold.

    Every touch, every subtle shift of the ball, every turn, everything he did was crazy effective as he shuffled and cut through Fulham players like they were not there and with his vision, he played those penetrative through passes.

    "¡­!" On the touchline, a certain coach was close to getting a heart attack.

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    Coach Marco Silva shook where he stood as he watched Arsenal go on a riot, tearing his team apart limb by limb.

    The only thing keeping this coach sane was the fact that despite the Arsenal pressure, his players remained steadfast, unwilling to give up.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    The monster whispering in Sam''s head already reared its head again.

    Abusing his stamina, Sam locked his area of the pitch, intercepting 80% of balls that went through his side of the pitch till Arsenal decided to abandon his area of the pitch completely, forcing him to move out of position.

    The late stages of this game were incredibly tense and full of drama.

    It was not all Arsenal though. At certain intervals, Fulham won the ball back, triggering lethal counterattacks but the Arsenal defense was also high-flying.

    In the 88th minute of the game, during another counterattack, Emile Smith Rowe clashed with the powerful Frenchman, William Saliba as he was bundled out of the way, left to bleed as he suffered a fractured nose.

    Smith Rowe collapsed on the pitch in pain, grasping his nose.

    After a yellow card was handed to William Saliba by the referee, to Fulham''s dismay, Smith Rowe could not continue as Coach Marco Silva made another change this game, taking Smith Rowe off and introducing Adama Traore.

    As the substitution was made, the Arsenal fans kept roaring at the top of their lungs. They could feel that a goal was coming.

    "What an atmosphere in the Emirates". The commentator said. "Chills man, I don''t envy any of those Fulham players currently on the pitch".

    "The pressure is palpable in the stadium".

    Fulham played its freekick but nothing of note came out of it, the Arsenal fans responded by roaring loudly again.

    And in no time, it was fulltime.

    The referee added 4 minutes of additional time.

    To the Fulham players, those 4 minutes felt like a lifetime as Arsenal literally camped in their half, pressuring them to death.

    The game was extremely intense and straightforward, Fulham defending for dear life while Arsenal laid siege to them.

    Bam! Bam!

    Shots kept on being unleashed by the Arsenal attackers like giveaways, but then, in the 3rd minute of additional time, Sam won back possession!

    "¡­!" As soon as his leg touched the ball, intercepting it, Sam felt like a bolt of electricity just went through his brain.

    Whoosh!

    Declan Rice charged in to win the ball but flicking this ball high, it rose above the English midfielder, landing on his other side as Sam already slipped past him.

    Sam went past Declan Rice only to meet 2 more obstacles. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    On one side there was Mikel Merino who was already introduced into this game at some point and at another side, there was Ricardo Calafiori blocking his pathway from both sides.

    There was no clear path to pass, Sam was blocked but not hesitating even for a moment, Sam drove forward with the ball.

    As the 2 players pressed, he did his thing.

    Bam! Bam!

    Sam''s legs hit the ball twice at such a rapid speed, exchanging it between themselves in a zig zag shape as he cut through both players with an incredibly executed la croqueta.

    In that moment, Martin Odegaard who stayed back since rushed in to clear the ball but Sam was faster as he dug into his reserves of stamina.

    Thud!

    With one long stretch of his left leg, he poked the ball past Odegaard''s reach and into space as recovering from the stretch, he erupted in pursuit of the ball!

    "And Sam has it!"

    "He''s with the ball! He''s broken past the initial press, he only has 2 Arsenal players to beat, is this the counter to kill the game?!"

    "Can he do it?!"

    Sam did not miss a single step, rushing along the left side of the pitch with the ball but just as he cut in and William Saliba started charging towards him, he hit the ball with the outside of his right boot.

    Bam!

    Sam executed an immaculate trivela pass to the right!

    Immediately after Sam started his run down the left side of the pitch, the fastest player on this pitch, Adama Traore also exploded from the right.

    This player ate yards of space with such imperious authority like they were not there and when Sam played this incredible trivela pass, cutting open Arsenal''s last line of defense, Adama Traore was there at the receiving end.

    This pass was perfectly weighted, arriving just at his front.

    Adama Traore could not miss it even if he wanted, not that he wanted to.

    As the ball floated in, due to David Raya already charging towards him, Adama Traore did not even bother to control the ball. Afterall, it was already passed to him in the perfect spot to shoot.

    Simply swinging his right leg back, using the momentum from his run, this winger unleashed a powerful volleyed shot towards goal.

    BAM!

    The ball flew past David Raya like a rocket, and into the empty net.

    "GOALLLLLL¡­!!!" The away stands that had been silent for the past few minutes erupted again, jumping and screaming at the top of their lungs.

    "GOALLLLLLLLL!!!" The commentator screamed.

    "What a goal!"

    "Vintage Fulham!"

    "Imperious Fulham!"

    "Arsenal is Fulham''s latest victim! The West London club has now extended their winning streak to 6 wins in 6 games, what a run!"

    "What a pass, what a finish!"

    "A Zinedine Sam masterclass!"

    Fulham won the game 1-3.

 Chapter 251 What next?

    "Congratulations Sam! You managed to do it again!" The excited female reporter welcomed Sam as soon as he arrived for the post-match interview."And that''s a 7th straight win for Arsenal!" She raved. "Even I never expected what I saw today, and it was all you Sam". She smiled. "First take my respect and second, how do you feel after today''s win in the Emirates Stadium?"

    Hearing that question, Sam smiled wryly as he wiped off his sweat even as he kept on breathing heavily. "I won''t even lie, today''s game was hard," he chuckled. "Really really hard".

    "It was an unpredictable game," he wiped off his sweat again. "The scoreline does not reflect the correct situation on the pitch".

    "From beginning to end, we never got to rest because it always felt like Arsenal would equalize and take the lead any moment".

    "We were always on tenterhooks".

    "As for the home supporters?" Sam sighed, shaking his head. "They were incredible today man; my respect for Arsenal fans definitely grew after today. Their noise truly affected me and my teammates a lot today".

    "But what matters in the end is that we won," he grinned. "So, of course, I''m happy. In fact, I''ve never been happier".

    "Now, that''s 2/3 of our fixture of death played and won". He chuckled, animatedly pumping a fist in celebration as the reporter also laughed.

    "Honestly Sam, I won''t even lie, Fulham is now the talk of the town. Your performance against Arsenal today, that should do it, dissuading any other premier league fan that has been looking down on your team''s ability since".

    "You''ve shut a lot of doubters up with that goal and honestly, I''m now rooting for Fulham to win the premier league title".

    Sam laughed. "Thank you".

    "But first, you have to pass through game 3/3 in your fixture of death," this reporter smirked. "Sam, tell me about Fulham''s next game against Liverpool, I believe that will be the game that will decide who wins the premier league title".

    "What do you think? Do you think Fulham will win?"

    Hearing that question, Sam did not answer immediately as he took his time to organize his thoughts before answering.

    He grinned and gave a simple answer. "We''d win".

    ¡­

    {We''d win!}

    This term became the next trending topic on social media, alongside themes like Samuel Moses and Zinedine Sam after the Arsenal game.

    The whole of England simply could not stop talking about the game.

    It was clear to the whole world that on 1st of April, Arsenal''s top of the table clash against Fulham was the biggest highlight. It was a daunting challenge for the West London club, but they won with flying colors.

    And Sam was the star of the show after his man of the match display, chipping in with 2 incredible assists that changed the game.

    This season, he never ceased to come up clutch for his club.

    He was the talk of England and like expected, after the game, a particular popular premier league show talked about the game.

    "Max, your boy has done it again, helping Fulham to win and not against any club either, against Arsenal this time. What do you think?"

    Max, the premier league pundit grinned, taking his time before finally responding and just like expected, his response was extremely dramatic.

    Jumping up from his chair, this pundit pumped his fists excitedly. "And that''s why he''s the G.O.A.T!" He raved, roaring loudly.

    "Sam is the MVP of the 2024/2025 premier league season, take it from me!"

    "My God! Did you see that first assist? Ghosting William Saliba like he was not there, passing to someone that was behind him so perfectly, almost as if he got eyes on his back. My gosh!" This pundit seemed to almost want to cry. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "God! This is unfair, how can a teenager be this good?"

    "Heck! How can just one player be this good? It''s unfair to the others!"

    "And that last goal, did you see it? I mean, come on now Charles, have you seen anything more iconic than that this season?"

    "That break, that counterattack," this pundit seemed emotional. "All of it reminded me of a prime counter-attacking Real Madrid of the BBC era, Benzema, Bale, and Cristiano Ronaldo".

    "The only difference being that it was mostly just Sam. Dammit, the boy is just too good, freaking hell!"

    "And that trivela pass to end his mazy run, that was straight out of a movie script, nothing otherwise you''ll tell me that I''ll believe!"

    "That trivela pass was devilish, diabolical!"

    "Man, all that''s remaining to cement his greatness this season is for Sam to lead Fulham to a win over Liverpool and I believe nothing can stop him from winning the PFA Best Footballer of the Year award".

    Hearing that, the show''s host interjected. "Liverpool is Fulham''s last hurdle; do you believe they can win against them? Don''t get me wrong, I mean, Fulham are good but this season, Liverpool are simply high-flying".

    Max grinned. "That''s what will make it even crazier, because I believe somehow, anyhow, Sam will lead Fulham to win".

    "The boy is crazy this season!"

    ¡­

    Even as England and the rest of the world raved over the young Nigerian International, Samuel Moses, the rest games of matchday 30 of the English premier league were played, bringing the matchday to an end.

    And with it, the premier league table was updated again.

    (Premier league:)

    (Matchday 30 of 38:)

    (Wolves 1-1 West Ham)

    (Date: 1st April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Bournemouth 2-2 Ipswich Town)

    (Date: 1st April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Brighton 1-2 Aston Villa)

    (Date: 1st April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Nottm Forest 0-1 Man United)

    (Date: 1st April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Arsenal 1-3 Fulham)

    (Date: 1st April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Southampton 0-4 Crystal Palace)

    (Date: 2nd April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Chelsea 3-2 Tottenham)

    (Date: 2nd April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Newcastle 1-0 Brentford)

    (Date: 2nd April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Man City 3-0 Leicester City)

    (Date: 2nd April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Liverpool 2-0 Everton)

    (Date: 2nd April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. Liverpool GP: 30/ W:24/ D:1/ L:2/ Pts: 79)

    (2. Fulham GP: 30/ W:22/ D:5/ L:3/ Pts: 72)

    (3. Arsenal GP: 30/ W:18/ D:8/ L:4/ Pts: 62)

    (4. Chelsea GP: 30/ W:19/ D:8/ L:3/ Pts: 65)

    (5. Nottm Forest GP: 30/ W:13/ D:9/ L:8/ Pts: 48)

    (6. Tottenham GP: 30/ W:14/ D:4/ L:12/ Pts: 46)

    (7. Aston Villa GP: 30/ W:13/ D:9/ L:9/ Pts: 48)

    (8. Man City GP: 30/ W:13/ D:8/ L:9/ Pts: 47)

    (9. Brighton GP: 30/ W:12/ D:7/ L:11/ Pts: 43)

    (10. Bournemouth GP: 30/ W:11/ D:8/ L:11/ Pts: 41)

    (11. Newcastle GP: 30/ W:11/ D:9/ L:10/ Pts: 42) Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire

    (12. Man United GP: 30/ W:12/ D:5/ L:13/ Pts: 41)

    (13. Brentford GP: 30/ W:10/ D:7/ L:13/ Pts: 37)

    (14. Crystal Palace GP: 30/ W:8/ D:11/ L:11/ Pts: 35)

    (15. West Ham GP: 30/ W:8/ D:8/ L:14/ Pts: 31)

    (16. Leicester GP: 30/ W:5/ D:9/ L:16/ Pts: 24)

    (17. Everton GP: 30/ W:5/ D:7/ L:18/ Pts: 22)

    (18. Ipswich Town GP: 30/ W:3/ D:9/ L:18/ Pts: 18)

    (19. Wolves GP: 30/ W:2/ D:9/ L:19/ Pts: 15)

    (20. Southampton GP: 30/ W:3/ D:3/ L:24/ Pts: 12)

    Just like expected, Liverpool won too.

    For Fulham, what next?

    What next was welcoming the Merseysiders to Craven Cottage.

 Chapter 252 Clash of titans; Liverpool vs Fulham [1]

    Matchday 21 of the English premier league brought a lot of drama with it, but premier league fans could not help but look forward to matchday 22.The main reason why they were already looking towards the next matchday was simple, it was because of a specific premier league game.

    (Premier league:)

    (Matchday 31 of 38:)

    (Fulham ¨C Liverpool)

    (Date: 5th April, 2025)

    It was not just a premier league game, it was dubbed a clash of titans, a top of the table clash that would play a big role in deciding the 2024/2025 premier league champions.

    In a way, it was like playing a final.

    This was why the build up to this decisive game was absolutely electric, drama-filled, and filled with a lot of emotions.

    More tension was added to this game also due to history.

    Earlier in the season, back in 14th December 2024, Liverpool welcomed Fulham to Anfield for the first leg of this specific premier league fixture. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    On that night in Anfield, Sam made his name known to Liverpool fans, also announcing it to the rest of the English premier league.

    His iconic display haunted Liverpool for a long time as his stand-out performance pushed Fulham to win 2-4 incredulously against Liverpool at home.

    A lot of things have happened since that match but here they were again, on 5th of April, about to play the 2nd leg of this fixture.

    It was safe to say that just like the Fulham players were motivated to win the game, the Liverpool players were even more motivated to win.

    This was a clash of titans, a clash of 2 top tier football clubs with incredible winning mentalities this season.

    And to top it up, both teams were in form.

    Hours before the game, the lineup of both teams was released.

    Starting in their regular 4-2-3-1 formation, Raul Jimenez started up-top as the sole striker for Fulham while behind him was the familiar trio of Alex Iwobi, Sam, and Emile Smith Rowe.

    The Englishman may have suffered a fractured nose last time out against Arsenal, but wearing a bandage over his nose, he was prepped to start this game.

    Behind them was the midfield duo of Lukic and Andreas Pereira, while the 4-man defense comprised of Antonee Robinson, Diop, Calvin Bassey, and Castagne. Bernd Leno naturally started in between the posts.

    Just like Fulham, Liverpool started with their strongest starting XI for this clash in Craven Cottage.

    Starting in a 4-2-3-1 formation just like Fulham, Alisson Becker started in between the posts while the 4-man defense ahead of the goalkeeper comprised Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil Van Dijk, and Andrew Robertson.

    The midfield duo comprised of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister, while the 4-man offense up top comprised of Mohamed Salah on the right, Curtis Jones in attacking midfield, Cody Gakpo, and then Luis Diaz.

    It was a formidable team of elite footballers.

    When the Liverpool team bus arrived in West London, the prepared home supporters gave them a sufficiently hostile welcome.

    In this period of the season, emotions among fans were volatile and they no longer kept their hostility in check. This was the period of the season where the stakes of every football game were highest and emotions rose high.

    The Fulham fans abused the Liverpool players, trying to get into their heads even before the game started.

    When they eventually entered the stadium, the Liverpool players quickly learned that today was going to be grueling for them because the noise in this 30,000+ capacity stadium rose through the roof in extreme decibels.

    The home supporters sang, chanted, and roared at the top of their lungs.

    In this atmosphere, both teams finally went inside the pitch.

    "And here it is!"

    "The moment we''ve all been waiting for since Liverpool overtook Fulham at the top of the premier league table". Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire

    "Like they say, this is a clash of titans. Which of the 2 titans will emerge victorious today, Fulham or Liverpool?"

    "Fulham have the Nigerian Zidane, Sam while Liverpool have their Egyptian King, Mohamed Salah, which one will prevail today?"

    "No one knows, we can only watch and see the result".

    "Liverpool will be starting kick off, and the referee is about to blow his whistle".

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, a battle started in Craven Cottage.

    From their very first touch of the football, Liverpool showed that they meant business as Luis Diaz charged diagonally down the pitch at full speed only to receive an immaculate pass from Mac Alister that caught Fulham''s defense napping.

    "Woah¡­! What is this from Liverpool?"

    "Will it¡­?!"

    "¡­!" Craven Cottage froze.

    The Colombian International executed a perfect touch, taming the ball but reacting quickly, Bernd Leno already chased him down.

    Luis Diaz pushed the ball to the side, intending on rounding the Fulham goalkeeper but reading his intentions perfectly, Bernd Leno dove, punching the ball out for a corner with his fist.

    "Wow¡­, what an early scare from Liverpool!"

    And that set the tempo for the rest of this game.

    When Liverpool took their corner kick, the imposing Dutch defender, Virgil Van Dijk rose highest but his header just flashed past the Fulham post.

    "¡­!" Tensions in this stadium rose due to that initial play.

    But it was only just the prelude.

    When Fulham restarted play, just like Liverpool did, they took the game to their opponents, playing an incredibly aggressive game with the Merseysiders.

    Coach Marco Silva''s approach to this game was extremely straightforward.

    The current Liverpool may have evolved from the Jurgen Klopp days but they were still the masters of gen-gen pressing. Due to the stakes of this game, the Fulham coach expected Liverpool to play with high intensity.

    Instead of defending like he did against Tottenham in the early proceedings, Marco Silva rather told his team to match Liverpool aura for aura.

    This was because this was going to be a game of momentum and morale.

    The side that lost the psychological aspect first would be the one to lose the game. Defending would make his team seem weaker, and Liverpool may just ride that momentum to blow them out of the water.

    This was why Fulham attacked, just as Liverpool attacked.

    Bam! Bam! Bam!

    The fans in this stadium were put on the edge of their seats by the incredible attacking play by both teams.

    This was truly an elite game.

    For neutral fans, they were having far more than their money''s worth, it was a high-end game of attacking football.

    For Liverpool, led by Mohamed Salah, the Liverpool attack played with ruthless efficiency and urgency, searching for the early goal.

    As for Fulham, Sam already launched at least 3 outside the box shots already as Alisson''s gloves were left stinging from the power of his shots.

    The S partnership was also striking this game, but Liverpool''s intense gen-gen press killed the effectiveness, leaving Sam isolated most times.

    For dozens of minutes, the game continued at an elite level but still, there was no goal till the 38th minute.

    Despite the attackers of both sides showing up to this game, in the end, the goal came from an unlikely player in the pitch.

    After another Liverpool corner kick, the imposing Dutch international, Virgil Van Dijk finally broke the deadlock as rising up above everyone again, he planted a firm header towards goal that finally beat Bernd Leno.

    "¡­!" Craven Cottage was silenced, and then¡­

    "GOALLLLL¡­!" Liverpool fans roared in ecstasy.

 Chapter 253 Clash of titans; Fulham vs Liverpool [2]

    "VIRGIL VAN DIJK¡­!!!" The commentator screamed at the top of his lungs."When Liverpool needed a goal the most, their captain responded, what a captain fantastic moment!"

    "And with that, Liverpool are up ahead!"

    Virgil Van Dijk pumped a fist in celebration, inviting a chorus of boos from incited Fulham supporters even as the tension in this stadium increased even more, rising to a crescendo.

    That goal seemed to have ignited a dynamite in this game.

    FWEEEE!

    When second half started, the Fulham players resumed play and this time, they were even more aggressive in chasing the goal.

    Mohamed Salah was bundled down by Antonee Robinson, becoming the first yellow-carded player of this game. And before half-time, 2 other Fulham players got yellow cards for rash tackles as emotions started cascading in this game.

    During half-time, the coaches were expected to calm their players down but in the dressing room, Coach Marco Silva did the exact opposite.

    On this matchday, this coach decided to channel his inner Jose Mourinho.

    At this point, all that mattered was winning, this coach didn''t care how his team did it. If they did it dirty, he was fine with it, anyhow so long they won.

    When the Fulham players came out of the tunnel for the 2nd half, they didn''t feel like players at all, but rather gladiators ready to kill for glory!

    BOOM!

    Sensing their rabid energy, the fans erupted, going behind their team.

    The atmosphere was absolutely electric.

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded again, chaos started.

    Liverpool was dubbed the Kings of chaos but at this moment, Fulham no longer cared. They were ready to take their opponents to the trenches, duke it out the old way and fight to the death to get a result.

    The confrontation became physical, intense, and highly controversial but somehow, the referee still had control of this game.

    Despite Fulham''s high intensity, Liverpool never let up as they matched them energy for energy, Mohamed Salah even coming closest to score the second goal of this game as his effort hit the crossbar.

    The tension was at its highest.

    Fulham could feel themselves losing control of this game to a rampant Liverpool side who were unwilling to let an inch.

    50 minutes, no goal¡­

    60 minutes, no goal¡­

    70 minutes, no goal¡­

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    That voice already started since; Sam was already becoming desperate.

    Fulham''s full season rested on the outcome of this game and at this moment, they watched it slipping out of their grasp.

    But then in the 74th minute, it happened.

    Having just stopped another rampant Liverpool attack, Calvin Bassey rashly cleared the ball up field but in a stroke of luck, the ball floated towards the path of the pitch where Alex Iwobi lurked.

    Thud!

    Muniz who was already substituted into this game at some point reacted, sprinting after the winger as Alex Iwobi ran with the ball.

    It was a 2 on 1 scenario as Fulham suddenly caught Liverpool off-guard.

    Other Liverpool defenders retreated but they would not get back on time, leaving Ibrahima Konate isolated at the back with the 2 Fulham players rushing towards him.

    Just before they entered the 18-yard box, instead of dribbling, Alex Iwobi passed to Rodrigo Muniz and having expected it, Konate reacted immediately, closing the Fulham striker down.

    But before this defender could tackle the ball, in one touch, Muniz hit the ball back to Alex Iwobi, obliterating the Liverpool defender in the process as Konate tackled him to the ground but the ball was already gone.

    "¡­!"

    Tensed, Fulham fans rose up around the stadium in anticipation, watching and hoping as Alisson Becker charged out of his post, making himself big.

    Alex Iwobi did not try anything fancy, hitting the ball first time with the inside of his boot as he raised and curled it past Alisson Becker and then into the net. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡­for a moment, the home supporters failed to react and when they did, emotions cascaded in Craven Cottage.

    "GOALLLLLL¡­!!!" The fans blasted at the top of their lungs, roaring, hugging each other as they felt like they were finally vindicated.

    A few Fulham fans even broke down in tears of joy in the stands.

    "And they''ve done it!" The commentator screamed.

    "It took them 74 minutes but Fulham finally have that goal, that goal they''ve been desperately searching for! What a moment to score it!"

    "And Alex Iwobi is the hero this time!"

    "Now the scores are level, will Liverpool be ok with this?"

    "There''s still 16 minutes to the end of this, a lot of time, is there still more action to be seen in it?"

    Well, yes, there was still action, a whole lot of action.

    Alex Iwobi''s goal¡­ well, unlocked this game.

    Since, the tension, the pressure, it was getting to the players, subtly restricting their play but that Alex Iwobi goal acted as a catalyst.

    The catalyst that accelerated the chemical reaction of this game.

    The first player who got unlocked was Mohamed Salah.

    Just 2 minutes after Alex Iwobi''s goal, Alexis Mac Allister floated a ball to the right side of the pitch and as the ball floated in with the Egyptian tracking it with his focused eyes, that was when he entered the zone state!

    Salah felt electricity and adrenaline coursing through his body, energizing his body and pushing him into a state of ultra-instinct.

    Antonee Robinson, Fulham''s left back rapidly closed the distance to the winger but almost as if in ultra instinct, Salah reacted with his first touch.

    Bam!

    Instead of just controlling the ball, with his first touch, he pushed the ball forward, completely obliterating Robinson as he blitzed past him speedily.

    The Fulham left back was left grasping at shadows!

    Suddenly inside the box, Salah staggered, his quick feet dancing to a tune that only footballers with the flair trait could understand.

    Like a slippery eel, he cut the ball, weaving past Diop and with a drop of his shoulder, he made Calvin Bassey lose his balance, making the Nigerian International fall to his butt and that was when he did it.

    With needle accuracy, Salah set his sights to the far-left corner post before hitting the ball, sending it across the face of goal.

    Bernd Leno reacted, diving but the low-driven shot was just too accurate.

    Salah made it look easy; it didn''t seem like a shot at all, but rather it seemed like he passed the ball into the net!

    "GOALLLLL¡­!" The away stands erupted again.

    "My God! What am I bearing witness to?!"

    "The Egyptian King strikes!"

    "This game does have more drama in it after all!"

    Yes, and there was still more drama. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    Salah scored in the 76th minute after Alex Iwobi''s goal and then in the 80th minute, Sam struck!

 Chapter 254 Clash of titans; Fulham vs Liverpool [3]

    Sam struck, and in scintillating fashion.Liverpool was given just 4 minutes to celebrate their 2nd time leading in this game as the Nigerian Zidane took the game by the scruff of the neck.

    From the beginning of this game, Sam found it incredibly difficult to go on those mazy runs of his, cutting through players simply because the intensity of this game was so high and his opponents were playing at such an elite level.

    But in football, there was a level above the elite level.

    As soon as Salah scored, Sam also entered the zone state and in that state of flow, his level exceeded the elite level.

    Receiving the ball in his half, Sam went on a lumbering run, cutting through Liverpool players with impunity, shoving aside the ones he couldn''t dribble past as he singlehandedly penetrated into the Liverpool 18-yard box.

    Thud! Thud!

    His run sent trepidations through the Liverpool defense, forcing them to react to his movement and before they knew it, 4 players swarmed Sam inside the Liverpool 18-yard box.

    Virgin Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Ryan Gravenberch, and Andrew Robertson all surrounded him, a fatal mistake that Sam took advantage of.

    Sam was boxed in, but someone else was left unmarked in the box.

    Tick! Tock!

    Time moved¡­

    Everything seemed to happen in slow motion as soon as he was surrounded.

    Before the defenders could make a move to dispossess him of the ball, Sam executed a delicate touch, flicking the ball up and behind him, and then with the heel of his right boot he kicked it to the left.

    "Woah¡­!" Gasps of amazement erupted around this stadium.

    Fulham fans recognized that pass, it was extremely similar to the pass that he used to neutralize William Saliba and set up Emile Smith Rowe in the Arsenal game but this time, Sam set up someone else.

    "¡­!" Virgil Van Dijk was alarmed immediately.

    But before the Dutch defender could react, the ball already got to Muniz who was left unmarked in the 18-yard box due to the Liverpool defenders'' overzealous approach to dispossess the rampant Sam off the ball.

    Besides, it was a perfect pass, too sweet for Muniz to miss.

    Raising his right leg up, this player unleashed a volley.

    Bam!

    His boot kissed the ball perfectly, shooting it with devastating force and rifling it into the roof of the net as Alisson Becker was left rooted to one spot.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!!!" The commentator screamed.

    "2-2, Rodrigo Munizzzzz!!!"

    "And the game is level again!"

    "What a game!"

    Charging towards the corner flag, Muniz slid on his knees in celebration even as the Fulham fans rose to their feet, roaring in ecstasy.

    "Does this game still have more juice in it?"

    The commentator just had to go and jinx it.

    Liverpool was not done yet, nor was their Egyptian King.

    Fulham equalized this game a second time in the 80th minute of the game and from then on till the 90th minute, Fulham felt the full brunt of Liverpool''s offensive ability as they were pushed back to their own half.

    Mohamed Salah played like an Egyptian god reincarnated.

    Antonee Robinson was having a horrid time against the Egyptian as he dazzled, going at it a few times while at other times, setting up his teammates.

    In the 90th minute, in one last devastating attack at fulltime, he set up Alexis Mac Allister who unleashed a powerful volleyed shot from outside the box, completely beating Bernd Leno but just sliding past the Fulham goalpost.

    "F*ck!" Cursing, the Argentine International grabbed and ruffled his hair, not believing how close that was.

    The tension in this game was at an all-time high as all the Fulham players were forced to defend, including Sam and Muniz.

    3 minutes of additional time was added to this game.

    In the 2nd minute of additional time, the inevitable Mohamed Salah went on the attack again, dribbling, teasing, and weaving through defenders till the angle opened up for him and without hesitation, his left leg whipped a powerful shot.

    BAM!

    Just before Salah could whip that shot which was definitely goal-bound, he saw a familiar white and black jersey flash past him.

    Having read the Egyptian King''s threat as he weaved through his teammates, Sam burned through his stamina reserves and charged back, arriving just in time to jump and put his body on the line to block the shot.

    The ball hit him on the head, leaving him dizzy for a moment.

    But with a shake of his head, Sam''s clarity returned as his eyes shone with fire. ''One last counterattack!'' He thought.

    Antonee Robinson got to the loose ball first and not taking any risk due to the Liverpool jerseys all around him, the left back cleared the ball up field.

    As soon as he cleared the ball, 2 players erupted¡­

    Thud! Thud!

    From the right, Adama Traore who was already substituted into this game charged forward while on the left, Sam who just intercepted Mohamed Salah''s shot dug in again, chasing after the ball.

    The ball was not a free ball though, Conor Bradley who was already introduced to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold also chased after the ball.

    But¡­ Sam was faster.

    Thud! Thud!

    Sam could feel his lungs burning, leaving him breathless and dizzy but his legs never stopped moving, eating yards of space.

    Conor Bradley started ahead of him but Sam overtook this player in no time, chasing after the ball as Fulham fans stood up around the stadium. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    Familiar chants started around Craven Cottage.

    Beating the young Liverpool right back for pace and getting the ball first, Sam shrugged him off with his physicality as he recovered before cutting with the ball towards the Liverpool 18-yard box.

    There, he met Ibrahima Konate as the last man of defense again.

    And this time, Adama Traore was bombing down the right, almost there to support him again which made it a 2 vs 1 scenario.

    Again, the towering French center back was made to shadow 2 players.

    Raising his leg, Sam moved like he wanted to initiate a pass but when his leg hit the ball, instead of a pass, he executed an elastico dribble.

    BZZZZ!

    Ibrahima Konate already slid in to intercept the pass before he realized that it was a fake pass, Sam already left him scrambling in the box.

    Whoosh!

    Conor Bradley arrived the next moment, pressing Sam but slowing down, Sam nutmegged the young right back, making him fall on his butt as this left him one-on-one with Alisson.

    "Now, it''s just Sam and Alisson!"

    "Can he do it?"

    "Will he do it?!"

    Alisson Becker charged out aggressively but keeping his calm, Sam lobbed the ball above the goalkeeper and into the empty net.

    Even before the fans realized what just happened, Sam was already whirling off towards the corner flag with a look of pure joy and ecstasy on his face, his pupils dilated in ecstasy.

    When he arrived at the corner flag, Sam crossed his arms the Black Panther way, debuting his Wakanda Forever celebration.

    "Come on!!!" He screamed and the Fulham fans responded.

    "GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL¡­!!!"

    Craven Cottage went haywire! Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire

    A few seconds later, the referee''s whistle sounded, bringing this incredible game to an end.

    What¡­ a game!

 Chapter 255 Superstar status!

    "Wakanda Forever!!!"As soon as the regular premier league show started, jumping and crossing his arms like the iconic Marvel character played by the legendary Chadwick Boseman, Max, the premier league pundit screamed, imitating Sam''s celebration today.

    "Charles, no need to ask," this pundit said with exuberant energy. "You wanted a highlight game? Well, there you have it, your highlight game!"

    "Jesus, Sam was unbelievable today!"

    "What a game!"

    "What a f*cking game!"

    "What a freaking game!"

    "My God! The boy is just too good!" S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Heck! I think my expectations before now were too low, Sam has gone and exceeded my expectations again, this boy''s football seriously has no limits!"

    "Sam for the ballon d''or!!!" He screamed.

    Charles, the show''s host chuckled. "We''ve heard Max, can you calm down now, we have a show to¡­"

    "This is the show Charles!" Max roared. "This is the show!"

    "I mean, what else do you want?" He faced the cameras. "Come on viewers, are you not entertained?" He grinned.

    "Were you not entertained by that iconic performance today?"

    He turned to look at Charles again. "Come on man, don''t give me that look, did you see that pass to Muniz?!" This pundit grabbed his head in disbelief as the unforgettable moment played in his head again.

    "Before focusing on the skill involved in that sequence of play, let''s take a moment to analyze the emotions and stakes involved in that moment".

    "Just imagine the pressure that Sam would have definitely been under".

    "You are playing against a high-flying Liverpool side led by a crazy Mohamed Salah, you''re losing 1-2 at home, do you know the pressure involved in that?"

    "Now, imagine this, with all of that pressure, you were surrounded by the likes of Virgil Van Dijk, Andrew Robertson, Ibrahima Konate, and Ryan Gravenberch, I dare say that 90% of professional football players would freeze in that situation!"

    "I mean come on, most forwards in the premier league halt when they meet just Van Dijk''s imposing figure in defense".

    "Most dribblers don''t have the confidence to try dribbling past him, they''ll rather pass, that''s how intimidating that Dutch guy is".

    "Now imagine the situation I just described, not just Van Dijk, but 3 other Liverpool legends surrounding you, pressing you, locking out all angles for you to shoot and pass".

    Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire

    Max grabbed his head in disbelief again. "I was a footballer before Charles so I know what I''m saying, in that situation, Sam was like a frog stuck in a well".

    "Nowhere to escape to, he was locked, trapped, shackled and yet, my God, the Fulham mother*cker did it against all expectations!"

    "That flick to raise the ball up and behind him to open the angle for a pass, the creativity needed to think of that in such a pressure-filled situation is God-tier!"

    "And the skill to execute it? Gosh, that''s above world-class man, come on!"

    "And pulling off that pass to Muniz successfully, even if I was a Novelist, I would have never scripted something that mind-blowing!"

    "That deserves a gift, gosh, a Dragon, a Magic Castle, or even a Golden Gachapon!"

    "That was the deciding moment of that game, and not just that, the other moments in the dying stages. Damn, thinking of it is giving me so much dopamine!"

    "Salah was amazing, but Sam was just beyond amazing this game!"

    "Salah almost won it for Liverpool in the dying stages of additional time and guess what, who saved Fulham? It was the same Sam".

    "What I still don''t understand is how after blocking that shot, Sam still had the stamina to run the full length of the pitch to the other side to score the winning goal of the game".

    "Man, this boy is just too good".

    "His winning mentality reminds me of Cristiano Ronaldo, he never gives an inch until the last moment of the game, until he wins".

    "Sam is a winner!"

    This premier league show was not the only place where Sam''s scintillating performance was highlighted and given rave reviews.

    After the game against Liverpool, Sam established himself as a superstar in England, rising to the status level of top stars of the English top tier competition.

    Millions of fans watched the Fulham vs Liverpool game from all around the world, eager to see how it would play out since so much hype was generated before the game and after such a performance before countless eyes over the world, Sam solidified his status as a Fulham superstar.

    Besides, he finally debuted the celebration that he spoke of since.

    On all social media platforms, themes like #Zinedine Sam, #Samuel Moses, and #Wakanda Forever were trending like mad as the Sam hype train started.

    After the game, Craven Cottage was turned into the arena for a wild celebration as the tens of thousands of fans present in the stadium celebrated the landmark victory with their players.

    After such a grueling game, Sam felt like his legs were lead, he felt too tired to move and so his teammates carried him, parading him around the stadium.

    With just this performance, Sam immortalized himself in Craven Cottage.

    Coach Marco Silva also joined in on the celebrations as with tears all over his face, the emotional coach enjoyed the moment with his players and the fans.

    The world had never felt brighter to fans of the Fulham persuasion.

    On this day, all the stars in the sky seemed to align in their favor and they could not stop celebrating.

    After his incredible 2-goal display that doomed Liverpool to such a painful and damaging defeat, of course, Sam won the man of the match award.

    Before going for his post-game interview, Sam and his teammates finally relaxed after the high emotions of winning the game.

    Like in every football game, while there was always a winning side that celebrated at the end of the game, there was also the losing side.

    The Liverpool players felt devastated at the end of the game.

    Most of them collapsed on the pitch, too tired and devastated to move. After their celebrations, led by Cairney, the Fulham captain who finally entered the pitch, the Fulham players showed sportsmanship with their rivals, going to console them.

    At the end of it all, it was a sport, a game of football.

    At the end of the game, the only feeling that the players of both teams felt towards each other was respect.

    They swapped their jerseys as Mohamed Salah took the initiative to ask for Sam''s jersey after getting over the sinking feeling of defeat.

    ¡­

    In the post-game interview, before answering the reporter''s questions, Sam first did his new celebration again and grinned. "Wakanda Forever!"

    "Is that the celebration that you said you''ll show us?"

    "Yes," Sam chuckled. "I told you guys I''ll only debut it when the moment calls for it, and that goal, that goal definitely called for it". He grinned again.

    After answering a few more questions including addressing his current popularity after his iconic display today, the interview finally came to an end.

    With the end of the game, a few upheavals took place at the top of the English premier league table.

 Chapter 256 4 points

    (Premier league:)(Matchday 31 of 38:)

    (Aston Villa 1-2 Nottm Forest)

    (Date: 5th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Ipswich Town 0-0 Wolves)

    (Date: 5th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Leicester City 1-4 Newcastle)

    (Date: 5th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Tottenham 2-0 Southampton)

    (Date: 5th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Man United 1-3 Man City)

    (Date: 5th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Brentford 2-2 Chelsea)

    (Date: 5th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Crystal Palace 1-0 Brighton)

    (Date: 5th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Everton 0-2 Arsenal)

    (Date: 5th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Fulham 3-2 Liverpool)

    (Date: 5th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (West Ham 1-1 Bournemouth)

    (Date: 5th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. Liverpool GP: 31/ W:24/ D:1/ L:3/ Pts: 79)

    (2. Fulham GP: 31/ W:23/ D:5/ L:3/ Pts: 75)

    (3. Chelsea GP: 31/ W:19/ D:9/ L:3/ Pts: 66)

    (4. Arsenal GP: 31/ W:19/ D:8/ L:4/ Pts: 65)

    (5. Nottm Forest GP: 31/ W:14/ D:9/ L:8/ Pts: 51)

    (6. Man City GP: 31/ W:14/ D:8/ L:9/ Pts: 50)

    (7. Tottenham GP: 31/ W:15/ D:4/ L:12/ Pts: 49)

    (8. Aston Villa GP: 31/ W:13/ D:9/ L:10/ Pts: 48)

    (9. Newcastle GP: 31/ W:12/ D:9/ L:10/ Pts: 45)

    (10. Brighton GP: 31/ W:12/ D:7/ L:12/ Pts: 43)

    (11. Bournemouth GP: 31/ W:11/ D:9/ L:11/ Pts: 42)

    (12. Man United GP: 31/ W:12/ D:5/ L:14/ Pts: 41)

    (13. Brentford GP: 31/ W:10/ D:8/ L:13/ Pts: 38)

    (14. Crystal Palace GP: 31/ W:9/ D:11/ L:11/ Pts: 38)

    (15. West Ham GP: 31/ W:8/ D:9/ L:14/ Pts: 32)

    (16. Leicester GP: 31/ W:5/ D:9/ L:17/ Pts: 24)

    (17. Everton GP: 31/ W:5/ D:7/ L:19/ Pts: 22)

    (18. Ipswich Town GP: 31/ W:3/ D:10/ L:18/ Pts: 19)

    (19. Wolves GP: 31/ W:2/ D:10/ L:19/ Pts: 16)

    (20. Southampton GP: 31/ W:3/ D:3/ L:25/ Pts: 12)

    4 points¡­, that was the only difference separating Fulham from the top spot of the English premier league after matchday 31.

    There was still 7 matchdays of the 2024/2025 premier league season remaining, a lot of time and matchdays for Fulham to play catch up.

    Like a few analysts in the premier league said at the end of matchday 31 on the outcome of the blockbuster encounter between Fulham and Liverpool, it was not about the 3 points, rather, it was more on the psychological damage.

    Before today, Liverpool and Fulham had both been high-flying in the premier league, seemingly invincible sides.

    But with yesterday''s result, Liverpool''s aura of invincibility was broken.

    Other premier league clubs would see it as a sign of weakness, while Fulham''s imperious aura would only grow more prominent.

    At the highest levels of professional football, the mental aspect was just as involved in winning as the physical aspect.

    The pressure was now on Liverpool to bounce back from defeat.

    It now depended on the mental resilience of the Liverpool players to see if they could rise from adversity and continue their bid for a first premier league title in years, breaking Man City''s dominance at the top.

    It was also up to Fulham. If Fulham added to their advantage, winning their next games in the premier league, it would affect the table toppers even more, making them more likely to stumble and make a mistake.

    By now, it was already clear that the premier league title race this season was between only Liverpool and Fulham.

    They were the only sides still in contention.

    After the game against Liverpool, a lot of the regular starting Fulham players were all exhausted as their fatigue extended to the next few days.

    Those 90 minutes against Liverpool felt like 200 minutes!

    Only Sam managed to recover quickly with the help of his physical conditioning elixirs, but the rest of the Fulham team was still lethargic.

    And this was one of the many ruthless realities of professional football because the schedule would not wait for you nor understand that you were fatigued, the schedule would keep on counting.

    After the blockbuster encounter in Craven Cottage, Fulham''s next premier league encounter was an away clash against Bournemouth.

    But before that game, they had an FA Cup quarter final game to play.

    (FA Cup:)

    (Coventry ¨C Fulham) Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (Date: 8th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Premier league:)

    (Bournemouth ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 12th April, 2025)

    ¡­the cruel reality of professional football.

    After the Liverpool game, the Fulham players still suffered from fatigue but scheduling gave no damn about their plight because they had just 2 days of rest before their away FA cup game against Coventry.

    And in another 4 days was their premier league game.

    These 2 fixtures after the Liverpool game truly tested Coach Marco Silva''s management skills, this coach was pushed to the limit but he improvised.

    Time moved fast and it was soon D-day.

    On the 8th of April, Marco Silva took a big risk, heavily rotating his team for the FA Cup game against Coventry as he rested all his big stars, including Sam. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

    Like expected, seeing this as an opportunity, Coventry played the game of their lives against Fulham on their home ground.

    Playing with their regular 5-3-2 formation, the home side frustrated the Fulham players, running them ragged for most of the game.

    In the 2nd half, they finally broke the deadlock, scoring the goal to go ahead in the 61st minute of the game.

    On the touchline, Coach Marco Silva became touchy but this coach remained firm, not making changes till the 75th minute of this game where he was forced to introduce his star player again.

    Marco Silva was unwilling, he didn''t want to overwork Sam again and expose him to another injury but with the current situation, he had no choice.

    His decision paid off though as just 6 minutes after entering the pitch, Sam powered a header into the net, finally breaking the Fulham drought this game.

    The game remained tight even with him on the pitch as the Coventry players played the game of their lives.

    With the score 1-1 by fulltime, they were forced to go to extra time.

    The score remained level in the first half of extra time but in the second half, Sam pulled another moment of magic from his box of tricks, scoring from a freekick in the 114th minute to win Fulham the game.

    Another day, just another Sam man of the match winning display.

 Chapter 257 Faith

    With the win over Coventry, Fulham did the incredible, booking a semifinal spot in the 2024/2025 FA Cup.Since the other quarter final games were already played about a week ago, Fulham was able to see their next opponents in the FA Cup almost immediately.

    (FA Cup:)

    (Semifinal:)

    (Man United ¨C Tottenham)

    (Date: 26th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Newcastle ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 26th April, 2025)

    After 6 rounds of the FA Cup, in all of England, these were the 4 clubs remaining in the competition this season.

    Despite Manchester United''s horrible run of form in the premier league under their new manager, Ruben Amorim, in the FA Cup, they upheld their reputation as the reigning champions of the cup as they were the favorites.

    In the semifinals, they were the favorites to progress to the final of the FA Cup over Tottenham Hotspur despite the North London club being in form too.

    Fulham was competing in 2 fronts this season and it was safe to say that it was taking a toll on the players and their manager, but they relished the challenge.

    Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire

    After another electric display in the FA Cup, helping his team progress at Coventry''s expense, just like in the Liverpool game, Sam was also exhausted.

    Getting back to his home in Fulham, the first thing that he did was to call his girlfriend after enjoying a cold bath to relax.

    "Hey big man, how are you doing?"

    Sam chuckled. "I''m good, what of you?"

    "I''m great!"

    Sam could hear how excited his girlfriend sounded on the phone as she continued. "I know you needed to be focused as you told me the importance of the last 4 games for your club but I can''t hide it this time, I''m impressed!"

    Kayla did not hold back on her praise. "You managed to show up in 3 important games for Fulham where your team needed you the most, congrats love".

    But then she complained. "I want to keep on congratulating you but you''ve only made my work even more hectic".

    "Huh?" Sam was confused.

    "What do you mean by huh?" Kayla pouted. "Of course, it''s my job as your social media handler. The activity in all your social media accounts exploded after that Liverpool game, your followers and subscribers are skyrocketing again".

    "But I like it though! It means you''re growing in your career".

    "So, will you guys win the premier league now?"

    Sam palmed his face on hearing that question. "As if it was that easy," he chuckled. "Winning the premier league is even harder than other leagues among the top 5 European leagues in the world, it''s not that easy".

    "Liverpool are still leading at the top of the premier league table".

    "Our win definitely demoralized them, breaking their momentum, all we can do is hope that it affects them psychologically for an extended period of time".

    "Right now, they''re still leading us with 4 points".

    "All we need from them is to drop points in 2 different games, a loss and a draw is enough, we''re ahead when it comes to goal difference".

    "What''s goal difference?"

    "It''s the difference in the number of goals scored and conceded by a team. This season, we have been really imperious when we win". Sam grinned, but then he sighed. "And it''s not just about Liverpool dropping points too".

    Sam looked at his ceiling, silently clenching his left hand into a fist. "While they drop points, we need to make sure that we also take all available points".

    "That''s the only way that we stand a chance of winning the premier league this season". Saying this, a smile could not help creeping into his face. "It''s crazy that we''re talking about Fulham and a premier league trophy side by side".

    "If we can really do this, we''ll become immortals in Fulham".

    "You can do it!" Kayla motivated.

    Sam smiled. "By the way, if we''re able to stay perfect from now to the end of the season, we can do one more than just winning the premier league title".

    "If we win the FA Cup too, that''d be a historic double".

    Sam grinned. "If we can do that, that would undoubtedly be the greatest season in Fulham''s history".

    This time, Kayla hesitated. "Can you guys do it?"

    Sam chuckled. "Nothing is set in stone; that''s the nature of football and what makes it exciting. We can only do our best".

    "Goodluck then".

    Sam rolled on his bed. "Enough with the me talk, let''s talk about you, how are you doing? How''s school?"

    With that, the conversation topic switched to his girlfriend and like he expected, Kayla had a lot of gist to tell him about.

    That night, they spoke for almost 2 hours before the call came to an end.

    Sam was dead beat tired but before sleeping, he dialed a number on his phone that he rarely spoke with these days.

    {Outgoing call to My Superman¡­}

    His superman¡­ was his dad.

    Click!

    As soon as the call connected, there was silence for a few seconds before Mr. Moses spoke. "Hey son, how are you doing?"

    "Hanging on". Sam replied.

    Hearing that, Mr. Moses already knew what his son was feeling and this man already knew the best way to tackle it.

    He chuckled. "The pressure is getting to you right?"

    Sam sighed. "Yeah".

    "We achieved our goal, we won all 3 games, we won against Liverpool but instead of the pressure reducing like I expected, it only increased".

    "In that game against Coventry, I struggled more than I expected".

    "It''s a bit overwhelming dad¡­, I feel like a moving train that''s moving so fast there''s no checkpoint for me to slow down, stop, and reset".

    He sighed again, staying silent for a few seconds and then he added. "I just want to win dad, I really want to win, and the scare of losing is wearing me out".

    "Then don''t think of it".

    "Huh?"

    Mr. Moses chuckled again, expertly trivializing the situation. "You''re only scared because you think about it".

    "You already have a gift that no other footballer in the world have," Mr. Moses hesitated. "I know it adds to the pressure of wanting to prove yourself, but Sam, what else do you want to prove?"

    "You''ve done it all already, know that and believe it".

    "Don''t think of the future, focus on the now, the next game, that should be your only focus".

    "Keep on doing what you''ve been doing before, approach every game like it''s your last and I promise you with your ability and your teammates helping, you''ll win every game".

    "I''m rooting for you Sam!" Mr. Moses smiled behind his phone back in Nigeria. "You can do it!"

    "And know, when it gets overwhelming, I''m always here to listen".

    "Never hesitate to put a call, even if it''s in the midnight, I''ll pick".

    Hearing that reassurance from his dad, Sam felt at peace as his smile returned to his face. "Thank you dad". He muttered. "I love you".

    "I love you too son".

    "Help me extend my greetings to mom".

    "I will".

    "Goodnight". S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The phone call finally came to an end.

    That night, after speaking with his girlfriend and his dad, Sam slept peacefully like a baby. He had a dream of lifting the premier league trophy and the FA Cup.

    The next day, Sam woke up with a big smile on his face.

    "It''s going to be a great day!"

 Chapter 258 Head-to-head battle [1]

    (Premier league:)(Matchday 32 of 38:)

    (Bournemouth ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 12th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Liverpool ¨C West Ham)

    (Date: 12th April, 2025)

    The days moved fast and in no time, it was D-day for matchday 32 of the English premier league already.

    There are 10 matches in each premier league matchday but this time, most of the attention, mostly from those of the Fulham and Liverpool persuasion was on only 2 matches as 2 different fanbases followed each other like creepy stalkers.

    Liverpool played its game against West Ham first.

    Like expected, after the loss against Fulham in away ground, the morale of the Liverpool players was hit hard but, in the end, they were elite footballers.

    They topped the premier league table for a reason, they all had elite mentalities and in the game against West Ham in Anfield, the Liverpool players proved their mettle, showing exactly what they were made of.

    Like expected, both teams started with their strongest lineups.

    After Liverpool''s fumble against Fulham in the top of the table clash last time out, West Ham came to Anfield with a lingering hope of also clawing out a result.

    When the game started, at first, it seemed like West Ham''s objective would be achieved as they took the lead in the 35th minute through a Lucas Paqueta header that left Anfield stunned.

    "¡­!"

    The home supporters clearly did not see that coming.

    That goal definitely riled up the home supporters as the noise in Anfield rose to a crescendo. The fans in red showed their displeasure to their team while at the same time going fully behind them in support.

    And from then on, it was all Liverpool.

    Trent Alexander-Arnold after a difficult time out last time against Fulham finally decided to redeem himself today as he raised his level in this game, being the first to enter the zone state.

    From the 40th minute, he became unplayable, spraying pin-point accurate passes that cut the West Ham defense open like a hot knife through butter.

    And then after the 45th minute, in the 2nd minute of additional time, the English fullback did it, whipping a trademark shot into the box out of the reach of all the West Ham defenders as Luis Diaz ran into the perfect spot, heading it past Areola, the West Ham goalkeeper and into the net.

    You had to see the response in Anfield.

    "GOALLLL¡­!!!" The fans screamed at the top of their lungs.

    The first half came to an end with the game level 1-1.

    In half-time, Arne Slot definitely told his players something to lift their spirits because they came out for the 2nd half with venom.

    Just 4 minutes into the 2nd half, the Egyptian King struck. Running into an unreal trivela pass from the electric Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah beat his man, charging into the box before shooting into the bottom right corner, beating the goalkeeper with lethal accuracy.

    Anfield responded with roars of ecstasy.

    In the 49th minute, Liverpool finally went ahead and they didn''t stop after that, the rampant Liverpool players only put on the gas more after that.

    3 minutes later, in the 52nd minute, another Trent Alexander-Arnold pass to cut the West Ham defense open and another moment of brilliance from the inevitable Egyptian King again doomed West Ham to defeat.

    After receiving the pass, Mohamed Salah was left one-on-one with Areola, the West Ham goalkeeper and he did not miss his mark, rounding the goalkeeper and scoring the 3rd Liverpool goal that sent Anfield roaring again in ecstasy.

    The game came to an end with a well-deserved Liverpool win.

    Liverpool went over the line, and then came Fulham''s turn.

    ¡­

    After resting most of his players in the Coventry FA Cup game, Coach Marco Silva got the privilege of starting this game with his strongest lineup again.

    Despite the fact that they were playing Bournemouth in away ground, from the very first minute of this game, Fulham showed their intent to win.

    And this time, it was a Raul Jimenez masterclass.

    In the 8th minute of this game, the Fulham striker got the first goal after receiving a pass from Emile Smith Rowe as twisting and turning in the Bournemouth 18-yard box, he threaded an accurate shot past Travers, the Bournemouth goalkeeper.

    In the 15th minute, the striker got his 2nd goal and this time it was Sam-created as after winning the ball in midfield, the Nigerian international played an incredible trivela pass that cut the Bournemouth defense open like a hot knife through butter.

    Exploding with speed and leaving the Bournemouth defenders in the dust, the striker took the ball in his strides and scored an incredible goal.

    His first touch to control the ball perfectly, and his second touch to lift the ball above the goalkeeper, running after it and his third touch to poke it into the net.

    "GOALLLL¡­!!!" The away stands in this stadium erupted in joy again.

    In the 33rd minute, Raul Jimenez completed his 10/10 display with another goal, making it a hattrick as this time, Alex Iwobi was the one to set him up.

    The Nigerian International played a lobbed pass across the face of goal and reacting first, the striker who was feeling it today jumped, scoring from an incredible diving header that left Travers scrambling helplessly for the ball.

    After that goal, all the Bournemouth momentum deflated.

    A few minutes into the second half, Coach Marco Silva made changes, taking Sam off first to rest him and Fulham cruised to a comfortable victory after.

    Raul Jimenez produced all the goals, giving his team a comfortable 0-3 win.

    The first round of Liverpool and Fulham''s head-to-head battle resulted in a draw as both teams won their games.

    And with that, matchday 32 of the English premier league came to an end.

    (Matchday 32 of 38:)

    (Southampton 1-1 Aston Villa)

    (Date: 12th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Nottm Forest 2-0 Everton)

    (Date: 12th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Arsenal 1-0 Brentford)

    (Date: 12th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Chelsea 2-0 Ipswich Town)

    (Date: 12th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Wolves 2-1 Tottenham)

    (Date: 12th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Newcastle 1-1 Man United)

    (Date: 12th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Liverpool 3-1 West Ham)

    (Date: 12th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Man City 4-1 Crystal Palace)

    (Date: 12th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Bournemouth 0-3 Fulham)

    (Date: 12th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Brighton 1-1 Leicester City)

    (Date: 12th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. Liverpool GP: 32/ W:25/ D:1/ L:3/ Pts: 82)

    (2. Fulham GP: 32/ W:24/ D:5/ L:3/ Pts: 78)

    (3. Chelsea GP: 32/ W:20/ D:9/ L:3/ Pts: 69)

    (4. Arsenal GP: 32/ W:20/ D:8/ L:4/ Pts: 68)

    (5. Nottm Forest GP: 32/ W:15/ D:9/ L:8/ Pts: 54)

    (6. Man City GP: 32/ W:15/ D:8/ L:9/ Pts: 53)

    (7. Tottenham GP: 32/ W:15/ D:4/ L:13/ Pts: 49)

    (8. Aston Villa GP: 32/ W:13/ D:10/ L:10/ Pts: 49)

    (9. Newcastle GP: 32/ W:12/ D:10/ L:10/ Pts: 46)

    (10. Brighton GP: 32/ W:12/ D:8/ L:12/ Pts: 44)

    (11. Bournemouth GP: 32/ W:11/ D:9/ L:12/ Pts: 42) Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire

    (12. Man United GP: 32/ W:12/ D:6/ L:14/ Pts: 42)

    (13. Brentford GP: 32/ W:10/ D:8/ L:14/ Pts: 38)

    (14. Crystal Palace GP: 32/ W:9/ D:11/ L:12/ Pts: 38)

    (15. West Ham GP: 32/ W:8/ D:9/ L:15/ Pts: 32) sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (16. Leicester GP: 32/ W:5/ D:10/ L:17/ Pts: 25)

    (17. Everton GP: 32/ W:5/ D:7/ L:20/ Pts: 22)

    (18. Ipswich Town GP: 32/ W:3/ D:10/ L:19/ Pts: 19)

    (19. Wolves GP: 32/ W:3/ D:10/ L:19/ Pts: 19)

    (20. Southampton GP: 32/ W:3/ D:4/ L:25/ Pts: 13)

 Chapter 259 Head-to-head battle [2]

    (Premier league:)(Matchday 33 of 38:)

    (Leicester ¨C Liverpool)

    (Date: 19th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Fulham ¨C Chelsea)

    (Date: 19th April, 2025)

    Premier league football matched onward to matchday 33 even as Liverpool and Fulham''s head-to-head battle at the top of the premier league table continued.

    And on this matchday, Fulham faced a mighty challenge.

    They said Fulham was in the title race, right? Well, once again, they met a challenge to prove their credentials against another formidable premier league team that was close to the top of the table in Chelsea.

    Having rose back to 3rd position in the league table, this was a formidable team that was still in form, Fulham''s first real challenge in the head-to-head battle against Liverpool.

    Before Fulham got to prove their credentials in the top of the table clash, Liverpool played their game against Leicester City first.

    It was an away game for Liverpool but the Liverpool players entered this game with 0 doubts and once the game started, they proved their credentials which was the basis for their confidence.

    Leicester City started with a strong lineup against Liverpool, but still, they didn''t have what it took at the highest level against the Merseysiders at home.

    Liverpool played a comfortable game from beginning to the end, winning 0-2 courtesy of goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold and the Argentine midfielder, Alexis Mac Allister.

    With Liverpool winning their game, the pressure was on Fulham to win theirs and keep the pressure at the top.

    This game was extremely pivotal to the West London club. If they lost, they would have officially lost the premier league title race against Liverpool.

    When the time came, the Fulham players gave their neighbors from across town a sufficiently hostile welcome to Craven Cottage.

    Like expected, both teams started with their strongest lineups.

    Fulham made no changes to their previous lineup. As for Chelsea, they started with a formidable lineup in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation.

    Renato Sanchez started in between the posts for the Blues, while their quadruple defense comprised Marc Cucurella in left back, Levi Colwill and Acheampong in center defense, and Malo Gusto in right back.

    The midfield duo comprised of Moses Caicedo and the world-cup winning Argentine midfielder, Enzo Fernandez.

    The 4-man attack up front comprised of Jadon Sancho, Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, and Nicolas Jackson who started as the striker.

    FWEEEE!

    From the first whistle, despite the hostile atmosphere that was created by the home supporters, Chelsea showed their mettle this game, playing with aggressive genius as they took the game to Fulham.

    Fulham were playing at an elite level, motivated to win but Chelsea matched their energy, playing an exciting end to end game with the home side.

    With the likes of Jadon Sancho, Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandex, and even Nicolas Jackson today who showed up for the Blues, they played exciting attacking football as they utilized all the weapons in their arsenal.

    Marc Cucurella was also electric as his tricky overlapping runs aided Jadon Sancho''s case in attack, repeatedly leaving Castagne confounded in right back.

    The Fulham right back was being violated by his opponents.

    Even as Chelsea dominated in attack when they had the ball, Fulham also dominated in the same way, just in a different pattern and style.

    Whenever the ball got to Sam in midfield, the whole Chelsea team was left tracking back in trepidation, dreading the threat posed by him.

    And in this game, Moses Caicedo was tasked to man-mark Sam, limiting his effect this game. But still, the Chelsea team felt trepidations anytime that the ball got to him because he already proved countless times that he could create anything from nothing.

    Last time out, Liverpool relaxed, thinking they already boxed him in when he created an easy goal out of nowhere for Muniz to score.

    Despite being man-marked, Sam fought with gusto, relishing the challenge posed by the stalwart Moses Caicedo. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And with Emile Smith Rowe repeatedly drifting close to him to help him out, the S factor shone in this game, leading to some exciting string of plays that left the fans in the stands rising to their feet and gasping in awe.

    Despite the attacking play this game, somehow, the defense of both teams held as they played an extremely tight game.

    Cole Palmer came closest, hitting the post twice in the first half alone.

    And against all odds, the first half came to an end with the game level 0-0.

    In half-time, Coach Marco Silva had a little talk with his players.

    "It''s the moment of truth guys".

    "It''s now or never".

    "We won''t have this fixture again this season. We either do it and grab glory out there, or we bow out in defeat".

    "If we draw this game, that is bowing out in defeat against Liverpool".

    "I believe we can do it".

    "Let''s go out there and do it".

    The Fulham coach didn''t roar aggressively at his players, trying to rile them up, he simply said those few words in a calm tone, resonating with them.

    He was right, it was now or never.

    This was their time to chase glory or lose it. The Fulham players entered the 2nd half of this game with this mentality and with it, they dominated.

    Chelsea still fought valiantly but Fulham was the clear superior side in the second half as they all fought like a team, utilizing all the weapon in their repertoires to try breaking down this tough Chelsea side.

    50 minutes, 0-0¡­

    60 minutes, 0-0¡­

    70 minutes, 0-0¡­

    80 minutes, 0-0¡­

    85 minutes, 0-0¡­

    And then it happened in the 88th minute of the game.

    After running all day-long already to no avail, Antonee Robinson dug in again, going on an overlapping run down the left side of the pitch as he tapped into his stamina reserves, pushing himself to the limit.

    Combining with Alex Iwobi down the left side, exchanging one-two passes, he penetrated into the Chelsea 18-yard box and that was where panicking, Levi Colwill, the Chelsea center back made a blunder, taking him down in the box.

    FWEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle sounded as he instantly pointed to the spot.

    It was a penalty to Fulham!

    At some point, Muniz already replaced Raul Jimenez in this game and in this tense moment of truth, the striker stepped up to take the penalty kick.

    Despite Renato Sanchez''s antics, Muniz stayed calm, playing a cool Panenka penalty kick straight down the middle as the Chelsea goalkeeper dived to the right side, missing the ball entirely.

    "GOALLLLLLLLLLL¡­!!!" Craven Cottage erupted.

    Charging to the corner flag, Rodrigo Muniz slid on his knees, celebrating his goal exuberantly even as his teammates swarmed him, prompting the commentator to wax lyrical about the sheer importance of that goal to Fulham''s season even as the Chelsea players deflated.

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    The Chelsea defenders collapsed on the pitch, exhausted.

    In the end, that goal was the difference between victory and defeat, Fulham won 1-0 against Chelsea at home, grabbing an all-important 3 points.

    The head-to-head battle against Liverpool was still on!

 Chapter 260 Head-to-head battle [3]

    The highlight of matchday 33 of the English premier league was of course Fulham''s blockbuster encounter with Chelsea in Craven Cottage, and the repercussions that it had in the premier league title race against Liverpool.Fulham and Liverpool were still neck and neck at the top of the premier league table, it was an exciting head-to-head battle.

    Fulham''s home game against Chelsea was not the only highlight though, blockbuster encounters between Aston Villa and Newcastle, including Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest also brought a lot of drama and excitement to the matchday.

    And eventually, matchday 33 of the premier league came to an end.

    (Premier league results:)

    (Matchday 33 of 38:)

    (Aston Villa 3-3 Newcastle)

    (Date: 19th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Ipswich Town 1-3 Arsenal)

    (Date: 19th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Brentford 2-1 Brighton)

    (Date: 19th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Leicester 0-2 Liverpool)

    (Date: 19th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (West Ham 1-0 Southampton)

    (Date: 19th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Everton 1-2 Man City)

    (Date: 19th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Tottenham 1-1 Nottm Forest)

    (Date: 19th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Crystal Palace 1-0 Bournemouth)

    (Date: 19th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Man United 1-2 Wolves)

    (Date: 19th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Fulham 1-0 Chelsea)

    (Date: 19th April, 2025)

    (Updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. Liverpool GP: 33/ W:26/ D:1/ L:3/ Pts: 85)

    (2. Fulham GP: 33/ W:25/ D:5/ L:3/ Pts: 81)

    (3. Arsenal GP: 33/ W:21/ D:8/ L:4/ Pts: 71)

    (4. Chelsea GP: 33/ W:20/ D:9/ L:4/ Pts: 69)

    (5. Man City GP: 33/ W:16/ D:8/ L:9/ Pts: 56)

    (6. Nottm Forest GP: 33/ W:15/ D:10/ L:8/ Pts: 55)

    (7. Tottenham GP: 33/ W:15/ D:5/ L:13/ Pts: 50)

    (8. Aston Villa GP: 33/ W:13/ D:11/ L:10/ Pts: 50)

    (9. Newcastle GP: 33/ W:12/ D:11/ L:10/ Pts: 47)

    (10. Brighton GP: 33/ W:12/ D:8/ L:13/ Pts: 44)

    (11. Bournemouth GP: 33/ W:11/ D:9/ L:13/ Pts: 42)

    (12. Man United GP: 33/ W:12/ D:6/ L:15/ Pts: 42)

    (13. Brentford GP: 33/ W:11/ D:8/ L:14/ Pts: 41)

    (14. Crystal Palace GP: 33/ W:10/ D:11/ L:12/ Pts: 41)

    (15. West Ham GP: 33/ W:9/ D:9/ L:15/ Pts: 35)

    (16. Leicester GP: 33/ W:5/ D:10/ L:18/ Pts: 25)

    (17. Everton GP: 33/ W:5/ D:7/ L:21/ Pts: 22)

    (18. Wolves GP: 33/ W:4/ D:10/ L:19/ Pts: 22)

    (19. Ipswich Town GP: 33/ W:3/ D:10/ L:20/ Pts: 19)

    (20. Southampton GP: 33/ W:3/ D:4/ L:26/ Pts: 13)

    The atmosphere within the Fulham squad after the impressive win against Chelsea was absolutely electric. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Again, Coach Marco Silva celebrated the victory exuberantly with his players even as they prepared for their next premier league fixtures.

    After the game against Chelsea though, Fulham''s next fixture was complicated since 2 games fell on the same day.

    Their next game in the premier league is against Southampton in away ground but it was scheduled for 26th April, the same day for the blockbuster FA Cup semifinal encounter between them and Newcastle.

    And since this time, the FA Cup semifinal took precedence, the premier league game against Southampton was postponed.

    In the next few days, Coach Marco Silva multitasked. Even as he prepared his players for the blockbuster FA Cup semifinal encounter against Newcastle in St. James'' Park, he also paid attention to Liverpool''s fixtures.

    In recent weeks, the Fulham coach was becoming obsessed with Liverpool.

    While he finalized his tactic to be used in St. James'' Park, he could not help but pay attention to their last 5 league fixtures of the premier league campaign, comparing them against Liverpool''s.

    (Premier league- Fulham fixtures:)

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    (Matchday 34 of 38:)

    (Southampton ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 26th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Matchday 35 of 38:)

    (Aston Villa ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 3rd May, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Matchday 36 of 38:)

    (Fulham ¨C Everton)

    (Date: 10th May, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Matchday 37 of 38:)

    (Brentford ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 18th May, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Matchday 38 of 38:)

    (Fulham ¨C Man City)

    (Date: 25th May, 2025)

    ***

    (Premier league- Liverpool fixtures:)

    (Matchday 34 of 38:)

    (Liverpool ¨C Tottenham)

    (Date: 26th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Matchday 35 of 38:)

    (Chelsea ¨C Liverpool)

    (Date: 3rd May, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Matchday 36 of 38:)

    (Liverpool ¨C Arsenal)

    (Date: 10th May, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Matchday 37 of 38:)

    (Brighton ¨C Liverpool)

    (Date: 18th May, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Matchday 38 of 38:)

    (Liverpool ¨C Crystal Palace)

    As soon as Coach Marco Silva was done drafting the fixture comparison between his team and their archrivals this season competing for the premier league trophy, a smile could not help but outline his face.

    "We have a chance!" This coach clenched his fists, excited.

    Compared to their archrivals this season, Fulham had a more forgivable fixture against the likes of Southampton, Aston Villa, Everton, and Brentford, their toughest game of the last 5 being the eventual blockbuster clash against Man City to close off the 2024/2025 premier league season.

    The likes of Aston Villa and Brentford were obviously going to put up a challenge as the battle for spots in the premier league ramps up but the Fulham coach had higher hopes of getting a result against them.

    Even against Man City, Coach Marco Silva could see his team beating them comfortably despite the fact that the reigning champions were already regaining their form in recent weeks.

    Compared to them though, Liverpool''s final 5 fixtures were fixtures of death.

    Their matchday 34 and matchday 35 alone were against 2 troublesome clubs in North London, Tottenham and Chelsea.

    Liverpool may be the more in-form team compared to the other 2, but football was football, it could not be predicted.

    Winning against both clubs was not going to be easy since they were among the top 6 clubs of the English premier league and from there on, it did not get any better for the Merseysiders.

    Of their last 3 premier league games of the season, they had blockbuster encounters against Arsenal in Anfield and a clash against Brighton in away ground, games that were likely going to give them a headache.

    And besides, one important factor that Coach Marco Silva added to his calculations was the fact that Liverpool was still competing in the top competition of club football, the UEFA champions league.

    They were one of the favorites to claim the trophy this season buoyed by Salah''s consistent performances, and it served as a distraction to them.

    All these reasons gave Coach Marco Silva confidence.

    ''We can still do it," he thought. ''We can create history!''

 Chapter 261 Head-to-head battle [4]

    26th April, 2025¡­The atmosphere in St. James'' Park was electric.

    The stakes were at its highest in the oldest club competition in the world, a spot in the final of the English FA Cup.

    When the Fulham players entered the pitch to incredibly loud noise by the Newcastle home supporters, they felt like they were fighting against the whole world. It almost seemed as if the whole stadium was against them, except the tiny noise coming from the away stands.

    "Fulham!" "Fulham!"

    The away supporters who traveled for this blockbuster game made their presence known in this stadium, singing songs at the top of their lungs.

    The atmosphere was tense, the pressure was palpable and under the perfect ambience of a cool evening, the referee''s whistle sounded to kickstart the FA Cup semifinal game.

    FWEEEE!

    Newcastle United kicked off the game.

    Like expected, both teams started with their strongest lineups for this game, making it poised for an incredible game of football.

    From the first minute of kickoff, it was clear that this game was going to be a tight game and the players ensured that it stayed that way.

    Buoyed by the loud noise being made by their home fans, the Newcastle players played the game of their life, running themselves to the ground and trying every trick in the box known to them but Fulham simply refused to give up.

    As a team, the visitors attacked and defended as one.

    Newcastle dominated most of the game but Fulham never lost sight of their coach''s tactic once as the players kept on executing the game plan.

    By half-time, after running themselves to the ground with no tangible result for it, the game still being 0-0, the Newcastle players were already feeling tired.

    During half-time, Coach Marco Silva said only 2 sentences to his players.

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    "Moments like this don''t come twice".

    "You have to seize it".

    That was all his players needed and just like he planned, in the 2nd half when the Fulham players came out, they came out with fire burning in their veins.

    FWEEEE!

    Boom!

    The referee''s whistle barely started when Fulham showcased their intent to play with an entirely different energy in the second half of this game.

    With their aggressive pressing and attacking style, the second half turned into a game of high-octane football.

    They had their chances; Newcastle also had their chances but it was one moment of brilliance that turned this game on its head close to fulltime.

    After almost 90 minutes of playing such a tight and amazing game, the Newcastle players collapsed in agony as their net finally rippled.

    Most of the players on the pitch were already tired by then, but Sam was yet to be tired as abusing his stamina in the 87th minute of the game, after winning the ball back, he went on a mazy run through the Newcastle defense.

    Once he was in their 18-yard box, he showcased his physicality, drawing enough defenders to himself and opening up space to thread a pass through for the unmarked Emile Smith Rowe.

    The S factor struck again!

    BAM!

    Smith Rowe''s shot found its way to the back of the net, beating the Newcastle goalkeeper as this massive stadium was silenced.

    "GOALLLL¡­!!!" Only the away stands erupted in joy.

    Charging towards the corner flag, Emile Smith Rowe celebrated like a mad man even as at some point, tears started streaming down this winger''s eyes.

    The Englishman''s emotions cascaded.

    Why not? He was having the season of his life!

    Earlier in the season, his career seemed to be coming to an end as he became totally ostracized in Arsenal. It was clear that the Arsenal coach, Mikel Arteta didn''t have him in his plans and there was nothing more heartbreaking than that.

    He reluctantly came to Fulham to revive his career without much hope.

    When he was forced to make the decision, he never thought that would be what would change his life and career for good.

    Coming to Fulham, meeting Sam, becoming good friends with him, and getting to play together on the pitch week in, week out, that was the best thing that happened to him in years.

    All of that culminated in this moment, him scoring the decisive goal in the FA Cup semifinal, assisted by his friend.

    Hugging Sam, Smith Rowe cried, feeling on top of the world. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What a moment!"

    "You can clearly see how much it means to the Englishman". The commentator said, leaving the stadium silenced.

    The Newcastle supporters could not even bring themselves to boo them.

    In the end, after 90 minutes of incredible football, Fulham won 1-0, booking a place for themselves in the final of the FA Cup.

    After the end of the game, even as the Fulham players celebrated, the first thing that they did was ask around for the result of their archrival''s game.

    Well, they were shocked, and excited.

    On their matchday 34 encounter of the English premier league, Liverpool finally stumbled in the head-to-head battle, dropping points against Tottenham.

    It was a miracle that Liverpool managed to snatch 1 point from the game.

    Within just 20 unbelievable minutes, Tottenham raced to a 0-2 lead against Liverpool in Anfield!

    The footballing world was left reeling in shock, they could not believe it.

    The first half ended 0-2 in Tottenham''s favor.

    But in the 2nd half, the Merseysiders came roaring back with unstoppable momentum, proving their title-charging credentials as they ran Tottenham ragged, equalizing the game before the 70th minute.

    But then, all the juice died as no other goal was scored.

    Liverpool did an incredible comeback, but it was not a perfect one as drawing the game 2-2, they dropped 2 important points in the title race against Fulham.

    To the Fulham players and their supporters, there was no better news in the world. They celebrated Liverpool''s loss like a Fulham win.

    The hate was real, but it was all just football competition.

    Booking a spot in the final of the FA Cup and Liverpool dropping points all in the same day, the day could not have gone better for fans of the Fulham persuasion.

    And now, all their attention was on their own premier league matchday 34 encounter against Southampton.

 Chapter 262 Head-to-head battle [5]

    The FA Cup semifinal game against Newcastle United was a big moment for Sam as with it, he fulfilled one of his big goals of taking Fulham to its very first major tournament final in England.It was a big moment for the club and its fans.

    The reaction of the Fulham fans online showed how much it meant to them. Their reaction did not end online, it also extended to the streets of Fulham.

    That night across the streets of Fulham, Fulham supporters in their white and black jerseys swept across the city, celebrating their qualification to the final of the FA Cup with voracious energy.

    That night, Sam found it hard to sleep early.

    ''We did it!'' The thought could not just leave his head.

    When he made the decision to play for Fulham, Sam had high hopes for himself but not even him scripted this. His career in Fulham went far smoother than he ever expected, of course, it was all because of his hard work.

    Only he knew how hard he worked to get to where he was.

    The system played a part, but his mentality was the number 1 reason for Fulham''s current fortune in the league and the FA Cup.

    In recent weeks after recovering from his injury, week in, week out as he played in games, Sam could not help the feeling that he was changing.

    It was as if his body was growing again and after the semifinal game against Newcastle, this feeling became even more prominent.

    It was while Sam was in his apartment, listening to the loud noise being made by the ecstatic Fulham fans in the streets that he confirmed it. Or better still, his system confirmed it for him.

    He did grow though in this premise; it was his ability that grew.

    After a while of his attributes being stable, they finally increased again.

    ~----~

    [As a result of recent high-stakes games that you were involved in, pushing you to your limits, real-time game experience accumulation was at work and you have gained a corresponding upgrade in your abilities!]

    [Your physicality attribute has increased by +2!]

    [Your pace attribute has increased by +1!]

    [Your defending attribute has increased by +2!]

    [Your stamina attribute has increased by +2]

    [Congratulations! Your overall system rating has increased to 84!]

    ¡­

    [Player Attributes:]

    Player Attributes:

    *Pace: 82

    *Shot: 85

    *Pass: 80

    *Dribbling: 78

    *Defending: 40

    *Physicality: 81

    *Stamina: 86

    Overall Rating: 84

    ~----~

    Sam was not surprised when he saw the system notification.

    He had noticed it for some time already, the subtle changes in his physical ability during training sessions, during when he completed his daily system quests, and even during his sessions in the gym.

    Approaching the ripe football age of 20, Sam''s physicality was finally developing fully, turning him into the complete specimen and it reflected in his ability on the pitch.

    Staring at the upgrades, Sam grinned. ''It''s long been coming''. He thought.

    Since he was finding it hard to sleep that night and since he already spoke with his girlfriend, he decided to check his system status again since it''s been a while he last checked it.

    After checking his system status, once again admiring how far he had come since he signed his first contract with Enyimba FC, Sam finally focused on the updated premier league table.

    Since the FA Cup game was already played, while the fans had the luxury of drowning in the celebrations of securing a place in the final, the Fulham players themselves could not as they had other games to focus on.

    Their immediate one was their premier league clash against Southampton to complete matchday 34 of the premier league campaign.

    But despite the fact that they were yet to play their game against Southampton since it was postponed, the premier league table was updated already as the other clubs except Newcastle played their games.

    Sam paid attention to the fixture results and the table.

    (Premier league:)

    (Matchday 34 of 38:)

    (Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace) Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire

    (Date: 26th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Nottm Forest 2-2 Brentford)

    (Date: 26th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Chelsea 2-0 Everton)

    (Date: 26th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Wolves 1-0 Leicester City)

    (Date: 26th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Liverpool 2-2 Tottenham)

    (Date: 26th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Newcastle - Ipswich Town)

    (Postponed)

    (New Date: 29th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Brighton 3-1 West Ham)

    (Date: 26th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Bournemouth 0-2 Man United)

    (Date: 26th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Southampton ¨C Fulham)

    (Postponed)

    (New Date: 29th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Man City 3-2 Aston Villa)

    (Date: 26th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. Liverpool GP: 34/ W:26/ D:2/ L:3/ Pts: 86)

    (2. Fulham GP: 33/ W:25/ D:5/ L:3/ Pts: 81)

    (3. Arsenal GP: 34/ W:22/ D:8/ L:4/ Pts: 74)

    (4. Chelsea GP: 34/ W:21/ D:9/ L:4/ Pts: 72)

    (5. Man City GP: 34/ W:17/ D:8/ L:9/ Pts: 59)

    (6. Nottm Forest GP: 34/ W:15/ D:11/ L:8/ Pts: 56)

    (7. Tottenham GP: 34/ W:15/ D:6/ L:13/ Pts: 51)

    (8. Aston Villa GP: 34/ W:13/ D:11/ L:11/ Pts: 50)

    (9. Newcastle GP: 33/ W:12/ D:11/ L:10/ Pts: 47)

    (10. Brighton GP: 34/ W:13/ D:8/ L:13/ Pts: 47) S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (11. Man United GP: 34/ W:13/ D:6/ L:15/ Pts: 45)

    (12. Bournemouth GP: 34/ W:11/ D:9/ L:14/ Pts: 42)

    (13. Brentford GP: 34/ W:11/ D:9/ L:14/ Pts: 42)

    (14. Crystal Palace GP: 34/ W:10/ D:11/ L:13/ Pts: 41)

    (15. West Ham GP: 34/ W:9/ D:9/ L:16/ Pts: 35)

    (16. Leicester GP: 34/ W:5/ D:10/ L:19/ Pts: 25)

    (17. Wolves GP: 34/ W:5/ D:10/ L:19/ Pts: 25)

    (18. Everton GP: 34/ W:5/ D:7/ L:22/ Pts: 22)

    (19. Ipswich Town GP: 33/ W:3/ D:10/ L:20/ Pts: 19)

    (20. Southampton GP: 33/ W:3/ D:4/ L:26/ Pts: 13)

    The highlights of matchday 34 of the English premier league were obviously the thrilling 2-2 draw between Liverpool and Tottenham, and then the 4-1 drubbing that Arsenal ditched to Crystal Palace.

    There were other exciting matches of the matchday but these 2 were heads and shoulders above the others in terms of entertainment value.

    That night, Sam idly surfed online, watching highlights of the 2 games and then finally, with his brain relaxed, he finally slept.

    Sam had a strange dream.

    He dreamt that Kayla became a professional football player and in a crazy twist of fate, the rules of football were changed, allowing men and women to play in the same league which enabled him to play with his girlfriend.

    In the morning, when Sam woke up, he was baffled. "What the hell!"

 Chapter 263 Head-to-head battle [6]

    29th April, 2025¡­The Fulham players had just 2 days of rest to recover from their FA Cup semifinal game against Newcastle and prepare for their premier league clash against Southampton in St. Mary''s Stadium.

    That evening, just as the Fulham squad took a trip to Southampton, the Newcastle squad also welcomed Ipswich Town in their St. James'' Park.

    And then, in another cool evening in different parts of Fulham, the referee''s whistle sounded, signaling the start of 2 football games.

    Southampton vs Fulham was a one-way ticket, premier league fans already knew the outcome of the game from the beginning and 90 minutes later, the outcome did not deviate from expectations.

    For this game, Coach Marco Silva had the privilege of resting a few of his star players after the grueling game in St. James Park but still, Fulham went all out, blowing away the team trailing at the bottom of the premier league table.

    Sam played only 45 minutes of this game but that was enough time for him to ditch out enough damage, grabbing 2 goals and an assist.

    Raul Jimenez grabbed the 3rd goal for Fulham, while Alex Iwobi completed the job with an acrobatic finish in the 2nd half to complete a comfortable routine 0-4 win for Fulham as they secured all 3 points.

    The game didn''t deviate from expectations, making it just so-so to premier league fans but the other game that was played that evening in the premier league brought a lot of drama and excitement with it.

    Seemingly in an anger fit after losing agonizingly last time out to Fulham in the FA Cup, an aggressive Newcastle squad tore Ipswich Town to shreds at home, recording a crazy 7-1 victory against the visitors.

    Alexander Isak won the man of the match award after his impressive 4-goal display as his offensive play was just too much for the visitors to handle.

    All 4 of his goals came in the first half, dooming Ipswich Town to a humiliating defeat early on.

    The first one came as early as the 7th minute as the tall and lanky striker took the ball from an Anthony Gordon lateral pass, showing his quick feet as he teased and dazzled in the box, confusing the Ipswich Town defenders before sneaking a shot into the bottom right corner, beating the goalkeeper.

    His second goal came just 6 minutes later in the 13th minute as lashing into an Anthony Gordon cross, he whipped a powerful volleyed shot inside the net with his left foot. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire

    His third goal was another incredible volley that came in the 18th minute.

    This time, the lobbed pass came from Joelinton, the Newcastle midfielder and the in-form striker improvised, shifting away from his marker, jumping and throwing himself at the ball as he executed an incredible scissor kick.

    The Ipswich Town goalkeeper was left rooted to one spot, left ball-watching as the ball was rifled into his net.

    By then, the home supporters in St. James'' Park were already screaming their striker''s name at the top of their lungs even as they sang praises of him.

    The 4th goal took longer before it materialized but in the 41st minute of the game, Alexander Isak rounded up a crazy first half performance, jumping above everyone else in the box to lash into a corner kick, powering a header into the net.

    4 goals in 41 minutes!

    By then, this striker felt like a god of football.

    Charging towards the corner flag, he slid on his knees in celebration, slapping his chest repeatedly as his passion for the game was displayed in its full glory.

    In the second half, Isak''s influence waned as a player was tasked to man-mark him but not done yet, Newcastle ditched damage through other players. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In the 60th minute, the English winger, Anthony Gordon got his name on the scoresheet after a dizzying solo run from midfield, setting St. James'' Park off again.

    In the 66th minute, Tonali, the Newcastle midfielder made it 6 nil as he launched a powerful long-range shot into the top left corner, beating the Ipswich Town goalkeeper who was having a horrible game.

    And then, in the 78th minute, the substitute, Almiron rubbed salt to Ipswich Town injuries, scoring from a header to make it 7-0.

    Ipswich Town scored late in additional time but it was just a consolation, Newcastle still registered a crazy win at home.

    After their loss last time out against Fulham right here at home, the Newcastle fans felt vindicated as they were all left happy after the game.

    And with that, the premier league table was updated again.

    (Premier league:)

    (Matchday 34 of 38:)

    (Newcastle 7-1 Ipswich Town)

    (Date: 29th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Southampton 0-4 Fulham)

    (Date: 29th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Updated premier league table standings:)

    (2. Fulham GP: 34/ W:26/ D:5/ L:3/ Pts: 84)

    ¡­

    (9. Newcastle GP: 34/ W:13/ D:11/ L:10/ Pts: 50)

    ¡­

    "Max, what do you think about matchday 34 of the English premier league?"

    Hearing that question from the show''s host, Max, the premier league pundit chuckled. "Like before, the highlight is Fulham".

    "Not Newcastle?"

    Max chuckled again. "Not the game itself, but the milestone. With that victory against Southampton, Fulham are now within 2 points of the top of the premier league and not just that, it''s their total points".

    "Fulham have been crazy this season man, that''s 84 points. Before the end of the season, they''ll surely get at least 90 points".

    "I mean, come on, do you know what that means?"

    "No matter what happens on final matchday, even if they end up losing the premier league title to Liverpool, Fulham have achieved a feat that''s worth respecting. They played an unbelievable campaign!"

    "And yes, Newcastle''s thrashing of Ipswich Town is a highlight too, Alexander Isak especially. That guy was angry today". He laughed.

    "But to me, none of these are the true highlights, the true highlight of football in this period is tomorrow''s game," Max grinned. "Tomorrow''s UEFA champions league semifinal clash".

    "Ah, yes!" Charles grinned at the camera also. "Tomorrow is the much-anticipated semifinal fixture of the champions league!"

    "After an incredible season, Liverpool made it to the semifinal of Europe''s elite club competition and tomorrow, they''ll be playing the first leg of a blockbuster encounter against FC Barcelona!"

 Chapter 264 UEFA champions league clash; FC Barcelona vs Liverpool! [1]

    (UEFA Champions League:)(Semifinal fixtures:)

    (Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern Munich) S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (Date: 29th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (FC Barcelona ¨C Liverpool)

    (Date: 30th April, 2025)

    After 3 rounds of incredible football where the best clubs in Europe came together to play against each other in a contest for supremacy, these were the 4 clubs that remained in the competition.

    2 giants of Spanish football, a German footballing giant, and an English footballing giant, these were the 4 clubs to make it to the semifinal of the new UEFA champions league since the format was implemented.

    All 4 clubs were elite clubs who dominated their various domestic leagues.

    FC Barcelona and Real Madrid were still neck and neck at the top of the La Liga league table which was the name for the Spanish football league, FC Barcelona currently having the edge over their archrivals by just 2 points.

    In Germany, a familiar monopoly was back as after Bayer Leverkusen''s legendary unbeaten run last season in the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich were back at the top of German football.

    And then Liverpool, the leaders in the English premier league.

    Find more adventures on My Virtual Library Empire

    After having the most impressive season of the 4 clubs still remaining in the competition so far, still leading the pile in their domestic league too, Liverpool was now ready to test their mettle again against some of the best club sides in the world.

    Having fought neck to neck at this competition last back in 2019, the historic season where Liverpool blew FC Barcelona''s 3 goal lead away, winning in stunning fashion in Anfield, there was bad blood now between these 2 clubs.

    And when the fixture was confirmed that they would be playing each other in the same competition, in the same stage where their bad blood was created, it was safe to say that it became a war.

    On social media, it became a war of Barca vs Liverpool fans.

    The players did not shy away from the controversy either as eager to win, the players of both sides kept on trash talking using the media as a medium.

    The build-up to this blockbuster game was absolutely electric as the tension between Liverpool and FC Barcelona hit a crescendo.

    All of that tension led to this moment, on 30th of April, 2025.

    Having played against Bayern Munich yesterday already, masterminding a 2-1 win in their home stadium, the Estadio Bernabeu, the Spanish giants, Real Madrid were one leg into the final of the UEFA champions league already.

    Since their archrivals already got a result against German opposition, the pressure was on FC Barcelona to also get a result against their English opposition in their home stadium, the Spotify Camp Nou.

    When the Liverpool players made the trip to Barcelona, they were exposed to the hostile welcome of the FC Barcelona supporters.

    The fans didn''t become violent though. They knew their limits that the most they could do was make noise and insult them, causing violence would only affect their team in the long run due to rules that were in place.

    This was why they refrained from violence.

    But still, they did their best to rattle the Liverpool players even as like gladiators, they walked into the den of the Lion called FC Barcelona.

    Like expected, both teams started with their strongest lineups.

    The prediction online was that Liverpool''s results in the premier league dropped in recent weeks mainly because of this game.

    They were desperate to win.

    On the Liverpool side, starting in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Diogo Jota started as the striker while the 3-man offense behind him comprised Cody Gakpo from the left, Curtis Jones, and Mohamed Salah.

    In midfield lined up the 2 stalwarts, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch while the 4-man defensive quadruple comprised Andrew Robertson, Virgil Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, and Trent Alexander-Arnold in right back.

    Alisson Becker started in between the posts for the visitors.

    As for the home side, FC Barcelona also started in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Inaki Pena starting in between the posts and a 4-man defensive unit of Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, and Alejandro Bandle starting ahead of him.

    The 2-man midfield comprised of Marc Casado, the academy player and Pedri. Ahead of them was the 4-man attacking unit of Lamine Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski in attack.

    This was a clash between 2 star-studded lineups.

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, the battle started in Spotify Camp Nou and like expected, Liverpool did not defend.

    Having prepared all season for this moment, despite the fact that they were in powerful enemy territory, the Liverpool team did not cower.

    Rather, they stood up to their opponents, ready to meet them pound for pound and from the first minute, a certain player set a marker.

    The Egyptian King did not give a damn about the fact that he was in such hostile enemy territory and in such an iconic stadium to booth, the Liverpool winger put on his showboating boots on.

    The game was even for large stretches in the first half as 2 powerful and star-studded teams slugged it out, and in a game this tight, flashes of individual brilliance shone through from the star players.

    For FC Barcelona, Pedri and Lamine Yamal, including Raphinha were electric as they confounded Liverpool with their impressive plays.

    Lamine Yamal especially was like a thorn in the England club''s side as he turned the veteran Liverpool left back inside out, repeatedly roasting him this game.

    For Liverpool on the right and in midfield, Mohamed Salah and Alexis Mac Allister were also having a crazy game but still, a goal failed to materialize.

    The 2 defenses and their goalkeepers were playing at an elite level.

    Despite the impressive offensive plays from both teams under the loud noise being made by the Catalonian fans, the deadlock failed to be broken by either team as they went to half-time with the scoreline still 0-0.

    Both teams played an amazing game in the first half.

    During half-time, the coaches of both teams seemed to have used all their speech talking powers and ability on their players as they started the 2nd half with a different energy.

    As soon as they entered the pitch, it detonated.

    BOOM!

    The tempo of this game increased!

 Chapter 265 UEFA champions league clash; FC Barcelona vs Liverpool! [2]

    BOOM!The tempo of the game and for the spectators, the excitement value of this game increased exponentially, hitting a crescendo.

    Liverpool pressed; FC Barcelona pressed¡­

    Liverpool attacked; FC Barcelona attacked¡­

    The game was incredibly end to end as the players of both sides played at an elite level, constantly doing something that made the fans'' jaws drop in astonishment even as they felt their hearts beating rapidly in trepidation.

    The tension was too much!

    It felt like either side could score at any moment and true to that, a goal finally entered 12 minutes after 2nd half started and it was a Liverpool goal.

    No one saw it coming.

    Having played an amazing game already, constantly torturing the FC Barcelona backline with his crazy crosses, Trent Alexander-Arnold, the Liverpool right back finally decided to take matters into his own hands.

    After receiving a back pass from Salah in the FC Barcelona side of the pitch, the right back went on an inverted run through the middle.

    Weaving through 2 players, he set himself up before unleashing an absolute rocket of a shot from outside the box.

    He unleashed the shot after spotting Inaki Pena, the FC Barcelona goalkeeper slightly off his lines.

    BAM!

    As soon as the ball was hit, the FC Barcelona goalkeeper charged back towards his goal but it was already too late as the perfect ball nestled into the top right corner of the net, leaving him no chance.

    "GOALLL¡­!" The away stands in this stadium erupted.

    Celebrating with exuberant energy, Trent Alexander-Arnold charged towards the corner flag, sliding on his knees in celebration.

    That goal¡­ traumatized the FC Barcelona supporters.

    In recent years, Barcelona was having such a crazy rut in the UEFA Champions league that even making the round of 16 was like a task too big for them.

    When Xavi eventually broke the cycle in the 2023/2024 season, taking FC Barcelona to the round of 16, they ended up losing a first-leg 1 goal advantage despite the 2nd leg being played in their stadium.

    Incredibly, they lost to Paris Saint Germain after Ronald Araujo, the star FC Barcelona defender was sent off for a red card tackle.

    This season, when Hansi Flick''s FC Barcelona made it''s debut earlier in the season, thrashing the likes of Real Madrid 0-4 at the Santiago Bernabeu and Bayern Munich 4-1, the good vibes in the club returned.

    But as the season progressed, the lack of depth of the team was exposed as the positive results started dropping.

    But as the season approached its end, Hansi Flick''s FC Barcelona engine picked up again from where it stopped earlier in the season.

    They beat everyone in their path, tearing tyrannical trials through the round of 16 to their first champions league semifinal in 6 years!

    But now, all of it seemed to be crumbling again just like how it happened last time out back in 2019 against the same opponents.

    They seemed to be faltering again.

    But no, this was a different FC Barcelona and they were not satisfied with cowering before their formidable opponents again.

    This was the time for them to have their revenge!

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded again after Liverpool''s goal in the 57th minute of this game, FC Barcelona''s intensity changed.

    Their intensity became god-tier!

    And trust a certain player, it was Raphinha, the Brazilian''s incredible energy that led as an example as he ran Liverpool ragged by sheer effort.

    With Raphinha leading the charge, the other FC Barcelona players soon raised their level, matching his mojo to tear Liverpool apart.

    Liverpool was still playing an amazing game as they didn''t let up but Barcelona''s intensity just got too high, and then it paid off.

    Raphinha started it, going on a powerful run down the left-hand side, turning Trent Alexander-Arnold inside out before charging into the box only to meet a formidable road block in the form of Virgil Van Dijk.

    The imposing Dutchman awkwardly cleared the ball before the Brazilian could pose a danger with it, but the awkward clearance ended up falling to the right where a certain 17-year-old Lamine Yamal lurked.

    Andrew Robertson quickly closed the teenager down but with a drop of the shoulder, and then a kick of the ball, the Liverpool legend was nutmegged.

    Andrew Robertson staggered even as Yamal already charged past him.

    In that moment, the teenager seemed to turn into prime Neymar, weaving through Liverpool players like they were not there with incredible flair and just as Virgil Van Dijk was about to clash with him, Yamal intelligently flicked the ball.

    The teenager flicked the ball into unmarked space where Barca''s striker lurked like an assassin in the shadows, waiting for a chance to strike.

    As soon as the ball was flicked in his direction, Robert Lewandowski''s eyes shone with fire even as he pounced.

    Bam!

    Hitting the ball on a volley, his powerful shot was rifled into the net, beating Alisson Becker and giving him very little chance.

    "GOALLLL¡­!!!" The Catalan fans roared to life again, screaming and rejoicing at the top of their lungs even as Gavi charged into the net, picking the ball and charging back towards the half-way line to quickly continue the game.

    Lewandowski simply pumped a fist to the fans in celebration and then, they continued the game.

    In the 73rd minute of the game, a moment of individual brilliance from Lamine Yamal and a lethal striker''s hit from Lewandowski leveled the game.

    But then, 5 minutes later, Lamine Yamal did it again.

    Receiving the ball in the right in the 78th minute of this game, the 17-year-old teenager once again turned Andrew Robertson inside out on the right wing, leading him one way and turning the other, leaving the Liverpool legend on the floor!

    Before Andrew Robertson could recover, Lamine Yamal had all the time in the world already as he set himself up before unleashing a perfect cross into the box with his lethal left foot.

    That cross¡­ sparked a brawl in the Liverpool 18-yard box.

    All the tall and physical players scrambled and brawled for the ball but in the end all of them canceled each other out, allowing the ball to float past them.

    But it didn''t float away harmlessly.

    With all the big players focusing on themselves, restricting each other, it was Gavi, the small but fiery FC Barcelona player who ghosted into space, erupting at the last moment with a diving header.

    Even Alisson did not see Gavi until his head already hit the ball.

    Bam!

    The Liverpool players only reacted when their net already rippled. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "F*ck!" Van Dijk cursed angrily.

    There was silence for a second in this stadium in Spain, but then¡­

    "GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL¡­!!!" The ecstatic Catalonian fans erupted, singing, screaming, and rejoicing at the top of their voice.

    Charging towards the corner flag, Gavi slid on his knees in celebration even as the home supporters roared his name at the top of their lungs.

    Standing up, the midfielder pointed at Lamine Yamal, attributing the glory to where the goal originated from and acknowledging it, the fans also started roaring Yamal''s name at the top of their lungs.

    Back in Fulham, watching this moment, Sam felt goosebumps.

    The first leg of the blockbuster UEFA champions league semifinal came to an end with FC Barcelona taking a minor 2-1 lead to Anfield.

 Chapter 266 Finale of the 2024/2025 football season [1]

    (UEFA Champions League:)(Semifinal fixtures:)

    (Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern Munich)

    (Date: 29th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (FC Barcelona 2-1 Liverpool)

    (Date: 30th April, 2025)

    The results of the first leg of the UEFA champions league semifinals left football fans of the Spanish persuasion extremely joyous, and Sam was part of the football fans who felt on top of the world.

    Watching the club that he supported demolish Liverpool in the UEFA champions league and watching Lamine Yamal dazzle, there was no better feeling than it.

    ''I can''t wait to play alongside Yamal!'' He clenched his fists, thinking.

    Sam did not let his emotions linger too much on the result of the first leg though, this was because he knew that there was a second leg before the semifinal clash would be settled and also because he also had his own games to play.

    Removing the UEFA champions league semifinals from his mind, alongside his teammates, Sam focused as they prepared for their matchday 35 encounter of the premier league.

    With only 2 points separating them from the top of the premier league table, the pressure was on them, they could not afford to make a mistake.

    And in no time, it was D-day.

    On that same day, 3rd of May, even as Fulham clashed against Aston Villa in Villa Park, Liverpool also clashed against Chelsea in Stamford Bridge, 2 tough away games for the 2 teams competing at the top of the premier league table.

    Having dropped points in their last game already, the pressure was on Liverpool to win and Chelsea was out to make it extremely hard for them.

    The Fulham players would only know the result of their rival''s game though after the end of their own game and so they focused on their game.

    It was a tough game in Villa Park, Aston Villa''s home stadium.

    Despite it being a tough game, Fulham proved their superiority, fighting to a hard-earned 1-2 victory over Aston Villa.

    In this game, Sam got neither a goal nor assist but his impact was felt throughout as he helped weather Aston Villa''s terrifying offense, leading his team to victory and winning another man of the match award.

    Across the other side of England in London, Chelsea did it!

    After the end of their game, the Fulham players didn''t celebrate until they heard the crazy news that Chelsea made Liverpool drop points again.

    "Yessss¡­!" They celebrated like mad men.

    After an incredibly tough and exciting game, Chelsea fought Liverpool to a draw courtesy of 2 genius goals from Cole Palmer.

    And with it, the premier league table was updated again.

    (Updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. Liverpool GP: 35/ W:26/ D:3/ L:3/ Pts: 87)

    (2. Fulham GP: 35/ W:27/ D:5/ L:3/ Pts: 87)

    (3. Arsenal GP: 35/ W:23/ D:8/ L:4/ Pts: 77)

    (4. Chelsea GP: 35/ W:21/ D:10/ L:4/ Pts: 73)

    (5. Man City GP: 35/ W:18/ D:8/ L:9/ Pts: 62)

    (6. Nottm Forest GP: 35/ W:15/ D:11/ L:9/ Pts: 56)

    (7. Tottenham GP: 35/ W:16/ D:6/ L:13/ Pts: 54)

    (8. Aston Villa GP: 35/ W:13/ D:11/ L:12/ Pts: 50)

    (9. Newcastle GP: 35/ W:13/ D:12/ L:10/ Pts: 51)

    (10. Brighton GP: 35/ W:13/ D:9/ L:13/ Pts: 48)

    (11. Man United GP: 35/ W:14/ D:6/ L:15/ Pts: 48)

    (12. Bournemouth GP: 35/ W:11/ D:9/ L:15/ Pts: 42)

    (13. Brentford GP: 35/ W:11/ D:9/ L:15/ Pts: 42)

    (14. Crystal Palace GP: 35/ W:11/ D:11/ L:13/ Pts: 44)

    (15. West Ham GP: 35/ W:9/ D:9/ L:17/ Pts: 35)

    (16. Leicester GP: 35/ W:5/ D:11/ L:19/ Pts: 26)

    (17. Wolves GP: 35/ W:5/ D:10/ L:20/ Pts: 25)

    (18. Everton GP: 35/ W:5/ D:7/ L:23/ Pts: 22)

    (19. Ipswich Town GP: 35/ W:4/ D:10/ L:21/ Pts: 22)

    (20. Southampton GP: 35/ W:3/ D:5/ L:27/ Pts: 14)

    After 35 matchdays of the English premier league, Fulham finally did it again, climbing back to within touching distance of the premier league title.

    This time, they were on level terms with Liverpool, only separated by goal difference. The situation was now back in their control.

    Since their goal difference was not too big, to win the premier league trophy, they simply needed to outscore Liverpool in the last 3 games of the premier league and close the goal difference gap.

    To the Fulham players, this was an achievable goal.

    After the end of matchday 35, acknowledging how much they''ve climbed already, Coach Marco Silva organized another mini celebration with his players as they feasted, building more cohesiveness in his team in the process. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    They set their eyes on matchday 36 of the premier league to continue their impressive winning run, but even as they set their eyes on that game, they also eyed another game that was outside the bounds of the premier league, a cup game.

    After 7 rounds of the English FA Cup were played, only 2 clubs remained in the competition having qualified to the final already.

    The 2 clubs were Fulham and Manchester United.

    Despite the mixed season that Manchester United had in the league, in the FA Cup, they still played like genuine challengers.

    (FA Cup:)

    (Semifinal:)

    (Man United 2-0 Tottenham)

    (Date: 26th April, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Newcastle 0-1 Fulham)

    (Date: 26th April, 2025)

    ***

    (Final:)

    (Manchester United ¨C Fulham)

    (Date: 17th May, 2025)

    The final was to be played in May 17th which was still a long time for now to the Fulham players, giving them all the time in the world to focus on their next premier league game and adequately prepare for it.

    In matchday 36 of the English premier league, Fulham were to take on Everton, another premier league team that they were confident in dispatching.

    (Premier league:)

    (Matchday 36 of 38:)

    (Fulham ¨C Everton)

    (Date: 10th May, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Liverpool ¨C Arsenal)

    (Date: 10th May, 2025)

    On the 10th, while Fulham would clash against Everton in their home stadium in Craven Cottage, Liverpool would play another grueling game against Arsenal in Anfield shortly after their blockbuster game in Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.

    The past few weeks was just not kind to the Liverpool players.

    This feeling was encapsulated even more by the fact that even before the Arsenal game, Liverpool played their return leg of the UEFA champions league semifinal against FC Barcelona in Anfield.

 Chapter 267 Finale of the 2024/2025 football season [2]

    (UEFA Champions League:)(Semifinal fixtures- leg 2/2:)

    (Bayern Munich 3-1 Real Madrid)

    (Aggregate: 3-2)

    (Date: 6th May, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Liverpool ¨C FC Barcelona)

    (Aggregate: 1-2)

    (Date: 7th May, 2025)

    6th and 7th of May 2025, iconic days in which more history was added to the long chronicles of the UEFA champions league¡­

    The whole football world was shocked.

    A day earlier, Bayern Munich created the shock of the decade in the UEFA champions league, blowing Real Madrid out of the competition where they were the most notorious despite the Madrid club being the heavy favorites in the build-up to the game.

    The French superstar, Kylian Mbappe scored the lone goal for the visitors in the Allianz Arena but Jamal Musiala''s man of the match winning display that enabled him chip in with 2 goals and an assist, setting up Harry Kane turned the game on its head in favor of the Germans.

    A major upset was recorded in the UEFA champions league the previous day and on 7th of May, more hearts were broken by the results.

    Coming to Anfield with a 1 goal lead, once again, history repeated itself as FC Barcelona were doomed to a 2-0 loss in Anfield, knocking them out of Europe''s top tier competition for good.

    Old traumas for FC Barcelona fans across the world were reopened as with it, they were knocked out of the competition in familiar fashion by the same opposition with a narrow 2-3 aggregate loss.

    After the first leg of the semifinal battles in Spain, Spanish clubs seemed to be flying, about to play the first UEFA champions league final El classico but in the second leg, everything came down crumbling like a house built on a weak foundation.

    The world of football was left stunned by the result.

    And just like that, Liverpool made it to another champions league final in the Mohamed Salah era, perhaps the last of the Egyptian King.

    The atmosphere in Liverpool after the game was one of jubilation.

    This positive vibe in Liverpool spilled over to the players, infusing them with much-needed confidence that they carried into their next game in the premier league as the D-day for matchday 36 finally came.

    Liverpool welcomed Arsenal in Anfield on 10th May and just like was predicted, the game was extremely hard for the Merseysiders.

    For 90 minutes, they dueled in an even battle against the Gunners in Anfield until in additional time, the chaotic Darwin Nunez proved the difference maker, scoring an absolute thunderbolt shot in the 90th plus 4 minute.

    The moment was created by the Liverpool right back, Trent Alexander-Arnold who floated an accurate shot into the box for the Uruguayan striker to lash on to.

    Throwing himself up after the high ball, Darwin Nunez scored with an incredible overhead kick, bringing the game to an end.

    Liverpool won 1-0 over their North London rivals.

    You had to see the atmosphere in Anfield¡­, it was electric as the Liverpool fans carried Arne Slot, their coach, parading him round the stadium while the fans sang his name at the top of their lungs.

    They created a memorable moment in Anfield.

    To their disappointment though, their archrivals this season for the premier league title didn''t let up either as Fulham recorded another win.

    Fulham literally tore Everton apart, winning 5-2 courtesy of an Emile Smith Rowe hattrick, and a Sam goal and assist.

    Emile Smith Rowe won the man of the match award for the game and with it, the premier league table was updated again.

    (Updated premier league table rankings:)

    Liverpool GP: 36/ W:28/ D:6/ L:3/ Pts: 90) Fulham GP: 36/ W:28/ D:6/ L:3/ Pts: 90)

    With the victories in matchday 36 of the premier league, Liverpool and Fulham managed to hit the incredible 90-point milestone for a season.

    Both football clubs were having legendary seasons in the premier league.

    The only question was, who would win the title eventually at the end?

    The race was tight and pulsating.

    ¡­

    With matchday 36 of the premier league out of the way, both archrivals focused on their matchday 37 encounters and in no time, it was D-day again.

    For this matchday, while Brentford welcomed Fulham in the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford, Brighton did the same in the other side of England, welcoming Liverpool in their American Express Stadium.

    Both games were exciting games in the premier league, and the online viewership flew through the roof as the premier league race hit a crescendo.

    It was tough away games for both Fulham and Liverpool but their mentality showed as they pushed through by sheer willpower.

    Against Brighton, in a tough away stadium, the Merseysiders relied on their Egyptian King again who showed when Liverpool needed him the most as his sole goal was the difference maker, dragging Liverpool over the line to help them win 0-1 against the home side.

    They secured 3 more important points.

    For Fulham, it was a familiar story as Sam took the game by the scruff of the neck after Fulham went behind earlier in the first half.

    In the 2nd half, he turned the gears on, playing an unforgettable game in the Gtech Community Stadium as he scored another hattrick for the season.

    With that, Sam''s tally for the season climbed up to a ridiculous figure of 36 goals in just 40 games played this season. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He was having a terrific season.

    And with it, Fulham also secured 3 more points, keeping the pressure on Liverpool as the premier league title race extended all the way to the last matchday for the season, matchday 38.

    (Updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. Liverpool GP: 37/ W:29/ D:6/ L:3/ Pts: 93)

    (2. Fulham GP: 37/ W:29/ D:6/ L:3/ Pts: 93)

    (3. Arsenal GP: 37/ W:24/ D:8/ L:5/ Pts: 80)

    (4. Chelsea GP: 37/ W:22/ D:11/ L:4/ Pts: 77)

    (5. Man City GP: 35/ W:18/ D:8/ L:9/ Pts: 62)

    (6. Nottm Forest GP: 37/ W:16/ D:12/ L:9/ Pts: 60)

    (7. Tottenham GP: 37/ W:17/ D:6/ L:14/ Pts: 57)

    (8. Aston Villa GP: 37/ W:15/ D:11/ L:12/ Pts: 56)

    (9. Newcastle GP: 37/ W:13/ D:12/ L:12/ Pts: 51)

    (10. Brighton GP: 37/ W:14/ D:9/ L:14/ Pts: 51)

    (11. Man United GP: 37/ W:15/ D:7/ L:15/ Pts: 52)

    (12. Bournemouth GP: 37/ W:11/ D:9/ L:16/ Pts: 42)

    (13. Brentford GP: 37/ W:12/ D:9/ L:16/ Pts: 45)

    (14. Crystal Palace GP: 37/ W:12/ D:11/ L:14/ Pts: 47)

    (15. West Ham GP: 37/ W:9/ D:9/ L:19/ Pts: 35)

    (16. Leicester GP: 37/ W:5/ D:12/ L:20/ Pts: 27)

    (17. Wolves GP: 37/ W:5/ D:10/ L:21/ Pts: 25)

    (18. Everton GP: 37/ W:6/ D:7/ L:24/ Pts: 25)

    (19. Ipswich Town GP: 37/ W:4/ D:10/ L:22/ Pts: 22)

    (20. Southampton GP: 37/ W:3/ D:5/ L:29/ Pts: 14)

    Matchday 38 approached and the 2024/2025 premier league champion was yet to be determined.

 Chapter 268 The grand finale; matchday 38 [1]

    (Premier league:)(Matchday 38 of 38:)

    (Fulham ¨C Man City)

    (Date: 25th May, 2025)

    (Time: 16:00)

    ¡­

    (Liverpool ¨C Crystal Palace)

    (Date: 25th May, 2025)

    (Time: 16:00)

    It was matchday 38, the final matchday of the season.

    It was the grand finale of the 2024/2025 premier league season.

    On the last matchday of the season, all 10 games in the matchday are played simultaneously at the same time so that the premier league champion could be decided at the same time after all the games were played.

    That afternoon in Fulham, Craven Cottage was filled to the brim with tens of thousands of fans.

    Tens of thousands of home supporters who were hoping, praying, and pleading for their club to create a miracle. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The atmosphere in the Fulham dressing room was solemn.

    The players could not talk, neither could their coach, the gravity of the moment was already getting to them.

    They were this close to winning a historic premier league title.

    But amid the tension inside the dressing room, a certain player covered his ears with his earpiece, listening to a certain musical classic.

    ''Look, if you had one shot or one opportunity¡­''

    ''To seize everything you ever wanted in one moment¡­''

    ''Would you capture it or just let it slip?''

    ''Yo''.

    ''His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy¡­''

    ''There''s vomit on his sweater already, mom''s spaghetti¡­''

    ''He''s nervous, but on the surface, he looks calm and ready¡­''

    ''To drop bombs, but he keeps on forgetting¡­''

    ''What he wrote down, the whole crowd goes so loud¡­''

    ''He opens his mouth, but the words won''t come out¡­''

    ''He''s chokin'', how? Everybody''s jokin'' now¡­''

    ''The clock''s run out, time''s up, over, blaow¡­''

    ''Snap back to reality, ope, there goes gravity¡­''

    While the rest of this team were feeling the jitters, various thoughts going through their heads, Sam nodded his head, flowing with the rhythm of the song and once the chorus started, he joined, muttering under his breath.

    ''You better lose yourself in the music¡­''

    ''The moment, you own it, you better never let it go¡­''

    ''You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow¡­''

    ''This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, you¡­''

    ''You better lose yourself in the music¡­''

    As Sam mumbled with Eminem''s words, he could feel calmness returning to him, permeating his bones and making him focused.

    Lose Yourself, it was a song his dad once recommended to him when he faced a tough period in his football career. This was why on this pivotal day in his Fulham career, as the pressure got to him, Sam decided to listen to this song.

    It helped calm his nerves.

    And finally, it was time.

    Before they left to the tunnel, Coach Marco Silva stood up, looking at his players with a complicated look in his eyes.

    In the end he smiled. "We can do it," he laughed. "Let''s go make history!"

    As soon as the players came out of the tunnel¡­

    BOOM!

    Craven Cottage erupted as tens of thousands of home supporters cheered their players on, making their blood burn hot like a furnace.

    The commentator started. "It''s the moment we''ve all been waiting for, the final day of the season, the penultimate matchday, matchday 38".

    "What an amazing season it has been".

    "Fulham have pushed Liverpool all the way to this moment, this final matchday, can they actually do it and win the premier league trophy?"

    "It''s going to require a miracle".

    "Right now, both teams are level on points but Liverpool has the advantage of leading with 4 goals when it comes to goal difference".

    "This means, if Fulham are to lift the premier league title today, Liverpool either have to lose against Crystal Palace while they win against City which is honestly crazy, or they hope to score as much as 5 or 6 goals against the reigning champions which is even crazier".

    "Man City have been inconsistent for most of the season but in recent months, they look more like their old selves".

    "Fulham honestly need a miracle today to lift that trophy".

    "Well, we watch it for the drama, let''s see how it unfolds".

    FWEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle sounded the next moment to kick-start the game.

    Like expected, both teams started with their strongest lineup for this game and as soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, a war started on the pitch.

    Man City may not have much to be fighting for at this moment since they were already out of the top four, but still, they had no intentions of losing to Fulham and so they played their game.

    The game was tight.

    Despite the fact that Fulham were the ones playing at home and the fact that they needed the win more, it was the Manchester City players who played with more intent to score as they took the game to them.

    At some point in this game, the Fulham players started being run ragged and after relentless pressure, the game finally opened up in the 36th minute.

    It didn''t open up in Fulham''s favor though.

    After keeping up the pressure since, Manchester City finally got a reward for their effort as after a mazy run, cutting through multiple Fulham players who kept on making clumsy mistakes, Phil Foden managed to squirm a shot past Bernd Leno''s grasp into the net.

    "GOALLLL¡­!!!" The away fans in this stadium erupted as the traveling Man City fans celebrated at the top of their voice.

    "What is going on?" The commentator raved. "Fulham look nothing like their usual selves, they look rattled".

    "Wow¡­, what a goal from Phil Foden!"

    Charging towards the corner flag, Phil Foden slid on his knees in celebration even as the Fulham players felt all energy drain out of their body.

    That goal left this team slightly demoralized.

    They were the ones looking for goals, not just one goal but multiple goals, to concede on top of that was just... brutal.

    For most of this first half, Fulham did not play like itself at all as they kept on making mistakes but then, just before half-time, Ruben Dias made a mistake which Raul Jimenez pounced on, scoring a lucky goal to draw Fulham back level.

    FWEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle finally sounded, indicating that the first half was over.

    Fulham may be drawing the game, but the players walked into the dressing room with ugly looks on their faces.

    The players'' mood was ruined even more when they got news.

    (Premier league:)

    (Half-time:)

    (Liverpool 1-0 Crystal Palace)

    They truly needed a miracle. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 269 The grand finale; matchday 38 [2]

    "Liverpool lead 1-nil in Anfield while Fulham are barely hanging on in Craven Cottage, surely this is the end of the premier league title race this season"."The West London club fought a good fight".

    "They pushed Liverpool all the way to the end, but alas, they just had to play against Manchester City in their final matchday of the season".

    "They didn''t lack for effort, what they lacked for was luck".

    While the commentator kept on talking on the pitch, making the mood of the home supporters even more foul, there was a solemn silence in the Fulham dressing room as they reflected on themselves after their first half performance.

    Coach Marco Silva gave his players 1 or 2 minutes for their atrocious performance in the first half to sink in, and then he started his speech.

    "Is this how you guys want it?" He placed his hands on his hips akimbo. "After all the effort we put in from matchday 1, after staying in the fight for so long, this is how you want us to end the season?"

    He chuckled, shaking his head. "Pathetic". He muttered.

    Hearing that term, Sam shuddered, instinctively clenching his fists but he could not say a word as he kept his head down, wondering what went wrong.

    Yes, he played ''Lose Yourself by Eminem'', yes he already did his best to be calm but he just couldn''t stop the pressure from getting to him.

    As soon as he stepped into the pitch, it came and overwhelmed him

    ''So this is the pressure of a premier league title race''. He thought, amazed even as he looked at his trembling hands.

    At this moment, Sam felt even more respect for the legendary group of Manchester City players who''ve competed and won the last 4 straight premier league titles in England.

    But his coach was not done yet.

    "Is this the extent to your ambitions? 2nd place?" Coach Marco Silva shook his head disappointedly.

    "The 300, the battle of Thermopylae, the Spartans are war maniacs but you think they wanted to be stuck in such a losing battle?" He chuckled mirthfully.

    "They were forced by the situation, their backs were pushed against the wall and they didn''t want to lose, so they fought. They fought, and fought, and fought again, repeatedly, relentlessly till they pushed their enemies against the wall".

    "You think it''s already over?" He looked round at them. "You think we can''t score 4, 5, 6 goals and catch up to Liverpool this second half?"

    "Why? Because they''re Man City?" He chuckled, shaking his head again. "The moment you begin to think that, you''ve lost already".

    "What is there to not overcome?"

    "Unlike the Spartans, you''re not outnumbered!" He slammed his fist for emphasis. "It''s a game of 11 vs 11, it''s a fair matchup and you think you can''t blow them away with impunity?"

    "Come on guys!" Coach Marco Silva''s face twisted in rage. "Is this the mentality of the players that I trained? Is this the limit of your ambitions?"

    "F*ck weakness, wake up!" He growled.

    Sam was shocked, this was his first time hearing his coach say a swear word.

    "Look at me," he pointed at his chest, tapping it aggressively. "We still have 45 minutes in this game, more time enough time to turn it all around!"

    "Let''s go out there and create history!"

    "Let''s go and create our own luck!"

    "Let''s go there and immortalize our names in history!" sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You better not give up on me, you better not, not after coming this far, not after raising my hopes up".

    "Come on!"

    In that moment, all the Fulham players felt strange, it was like a fire was lit up in their heart and left unattended to.

    Now, this fire burned, blazing into a firestorm!

    When the Fulham players walked down the tunnel for the second half, their opponents could not help but feel that something was different about them.

    It was almost like they had a halo around them.

    A halo¡­ of fiery zeal and passion.

    FWEEEE!

    When the referee''s whistle sounded, the game changed immediately.

    BOOM!

    Like rabid dogs, the Fulham team went all-out attack!

    Sam led his team, abusing his stamina and running like a guard dog.

    At first, Manchester City were caught off-guard, struggling to cope with the sudden intensity but then they adapted, playing and defending like a team for 10 minutes till a moment of individual brilliance tore the game open.

    After receiving a cross from Castagne in the Man City 18-yard box, Sam killed its momentum with his chest and as he landed, his right leg swung.

    ¡­knuckle ball shot!

    POW!

    Ederson only saw an afterimage!

    The next moment, his net already rippled even as Craven Cottage exploded in ecstasy in the 55th minute of this game.

    55 minutes, 2-1 to Fulham¡­

    Game on!

    Manchester City tried to get back into the game but after that goal, Sam decided to be defiant as he was unleashed.

    Just 4 minutes later after he scored, channeling his inner Lionel Messi, Sam went on a solo run all the way from the half-way line, dribbling through multiple players and eventually the Man City goalkeeper too as he scored in the 59th minute.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!!!" Craven Cottage was electric.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    The Sam chants already started blasting out.

    Sam was already in the zone state.

    59 minutes, 3-1¡­

    5 minutes later, in the 64th minute, Sam cut the Man City defense open like a hot knife through butter with an unreal pass, setting Raul Jimenez to score his 2nd goal and Fulham''s 4th goal of this game.

    64 minutes, 4-1¡­

    2 minutes later, Calvin Bassey rose highest, planting a powerful header past Ederson to score Fulham''s 5th goal of the game.

    66 minutes, 5-1¡­

    Fulham''s game was unrecognizable from how they played in the first half; they were like an entirely different team.

    But then, not willing to roll over so easily, Man City scored again courtesy of an absolute thunderbolt shot from Kevin De Bryune in the 69th minute of the game, dousing the Fulham energy and momentum.

    5-2, but just as the Fulham players almost started collapsing on the pitch in tiredness, the referee''s whistle sounded.

    VAR judged that there was a foul in the build-up to the goal!

    "YEAHHHH¡­!!!" The home supporters roared at the top of their lungs, even God seemed to be favoring them today.

    In that moment, all the tired Fulham players felt their exhaustion disappearing with the wind, this was a chance!

    "My God, what a moment this is!"

    "Fulham have switched it on since the start of the 2nd half, and even lady luck is favoring them now. Can they actually do it?"

    "Can they create history?"

    "The score is still 5-1 in Fulham''s favor, massively boosting their goal difference value but Liverpool have not stayed idle, they''ve scored again".

    "Now, Liverpool leads the race by 2 goals".

    "Can Fulham somehow score 2 more goals in this game against the reigning champions to make it level with Liverpool''s goal difference?"

    "Can the script really be that perfect? I doubt".

    FWEEEE!

    The game continued, and it was end to end.

    Feeling humiliated already, Man City attacked the home side, going on attack after attack as they aimed to reduce their deficit but Fulham''s defense stayed like a stalwart, protecting the defense like it was their own life.

    Calvin Bassey already went as far as getting injured in his clash against the powerful Erling Haaland, but the Nigerian International did not leave the pitch.

    As soon as his eye was bandaged, he continued the game!

    This was a game of sweat and blood!

    The game continued but just like Fulham, Man City''s defense also became extremely tight as the last 2 goals to meet Liverpool were not materializing.

    70 minutes, no goal¡­

    75 minutes, no goal¡­

    80 minutes, no goal¡­

    85 minutes, no goal¡­

    But then in the 88th minute, after a scramble in the Man City box, Sam rushed after the loose ball like a hurricane.

    He received a dangerous off-ball tackle from Nathan Ake that deserved a penalty but refusing to be stopped and pinning his hopes on a penalty that may or may not be awarded, Sam ignored the pain on his legs and rushed forward, and then, he jumped.

    Kyle Walker jumped; Sam also jumped and, in the end, both players ended up hitting their heads against each other but Sam just did more.

    Even as he felt concussed from the collision, Sam stayed stubborn, refusing to give up, putting just enough in his diving header to hit the ball, sending it past Ederson.

    He collapsed to the pitch, bleeding from his head, feeling dizzy but the ball managed to sneak into the Man City net a 6th time and that was all that mattered.

    Ignoring the pain, the bleeding and how dizzy he felt, Sam jumped to his feet with dilated pupils, veins popping all over his body as he pumped a fist excitedly in joy. "COME ON¡­!!!" He roared, riling up the Fulham supporters even more.

    "What a game!"

    "Jesus! I can''t believe what I''m seeing, what a way to end a premier league season, Fulham are now leading 6-1!"

    "They need just one more goal; can they get it?!"

    "But Sam''s head, can he continue this game?"

    The medical staff asked Sam the same question but the young Nigerian simply told them to bandage his head and leave him be.

    Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire

    Sam continued playing this game!

    Fulham continued chasing the last goal as they forced Manchester City to defend deep. The pressure in the final few minutes was extremely oppressive, but in the end, Man City did it, they kept the Fulham offense at bay.

    FWEEEEE!

    The final whistle sounded¡­, Fulham failed to score.

    The Fulham players were devastated.

    Thud!

    Sam collapsed on his knees even as some of his teammates directly collapsed to the pitch, totally exhausted and even more devastated.

    But then, they heard the commentator scream.

    "OH MY GOD!!!"

    "OH MY GOD¡­!!!"

    "CRYSTAL PALACE JUST SCORED IN THE LAST MINUTE OF THE GAME IN ANFIELD!"

    "THE GAME HAS ENDED; LIVERPOOL AND FULHAM ARE LEVEL ON POINTS!"

 Chapter 270 Premier league champions?

    ''Crystal Palace scored¡­?''This was Sam''s last thought before all hell broke loose in Craven Cottage.

    ¡­

    Matchday 38 of the English premier league came to an end¡­

    (Premier league:)

    (Matchday 38 of 38:)

    (Bournemouth 1-1 Leicester City)

    (Date: 25th May, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Fulham 6-1 Man City)

    (Date: 25th May, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Wolves 2-0 Brentford)

    (Date: 25th May, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Nottm Forest 1-0 Chelsea)

    (Date: 25th May, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Man United 2-1 Aston Vila)

    (Date: 25th May, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Southampton 1-4 Arsenal)

    (Date: 25th May, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Newcastle 3-0 Everton)

    (Date: 25th May, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Liverpool 2-1 Crystal Palace)

    (Date: 25th May, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Ipswich Town 2-1 West Ham)

    (Date: 25th May, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Tottenham 5-2 Brighton)

    (Date: 25th May, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Updated premier league table standings:)

    (1. Fulham GP: 38/ W:30/ D:6/ L:2/ Pts: 96)

    (2. Liverpool GP: 38/ W:30/ D:6/ L:2/ Pts: 96)

    (3. Arsenal GP: 38/ W:25/ D:8/ L:5/ Pts: 83)

    (4. Chelsea GP: 38/ W:22/ D:11/ L:5/ Pts: 77)

    (5. Nottm Forest GP: 38/ W:17/ D:12/ L:9/ Pts: 63)

    (6. Man City GP: 38/ W:18/ D:8/ L:10/ Pts: 62) Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire

    (7. Tottenham GP: 38/ W:18/ D:6/ L:14/ Pts: 60)

    (8. Aston Villa GP: 38/ W:15/ D:11/ L:13/ Pts: 56)

    (9. Man United GP: 38/ W:16/ D:7/ L:15/ Pts: 55)

    (10. Newcastle GP: 38/ W:14/ D:12/ L:12/ Pts: 54)

    (11. Brighton GP: 38/ W:14/ D:9/ L:15/ Pts: 51)

    (12. Crystal Palace GP: 38/ W:12/ D:11/ L:15/ Pts: 47)

    (13. Brentford GP: 38/ W:12/ D:9/ L:17/ Pts: 45)

    (14. Bournemouth GP: 38/ W:11/ D:10/ L:16/ Pts: 43)

    (15. West Ham GP: 38/ W:9/ D:9/ L:20/ Pts: 35)

    (16. Leicester GP: 38/ W:5/ D:13/ L:20/ Pts: 28)

    (17. Wolves GP: 38/ W:6/ D:10/ L:21/ Pts: 28)

    (18. Everton GP: 38/ W:6/ D:7/ L:25/ Pts: 25)

    (19. Ipswich Town GP: 38/ W:5/ D:10/ L:22/ Pts: 25)

    (20. Southampton GP: 38/ W:3/ D:5/ L:30/ Pts: 14)

    ¡­

    ''Crystal Palace scored¡­?''

    This was the last thought that Sam had before all hell broke loose in Craven Cottage, instantly turning this stadium into a stadium-sized night club!

    "OH MY GOD!!!"

    "OH MY GOD¡­!!!" The commentator screamed at the top of his lungs, screaming so shrilly that you would think someone died.

    "CRYSTAL PALACE JUST SCORED IN THE LAST MINUTE OF THE GAME IN ANFIELD!"

    "THE GAME HAS ENDED; LIVERPOOL AND FULHAM ARE LEVEL ON POINTS!"

    "FULHAM ARE THE PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!"

    Fulham are premier league champions¡­, what is the math behind it?

    At 6-1, thrashing Manchester City in Craven Cottage while Liverpool was leading 2-0 against Crystal Palace in Anfield, Fulham were still losing since the goal difference was still in Liverpool''s favor by just one goal.

    But in the last minute, Crystal Palace scored. It was just a consolation goal in that match but in the grand scheme of things, that goal changed everything.

    That goal killed Liverpool''s advantage in terms of goal difference, making Liverpool and Fulham to be level on not just points but goal difference too but that was not why Fulham became champions.

    In the premier league, the criteria to win the league title was total amount of points amassed in a premier league campaign.

    If the champion could not be decided by that, the next criteria was goal difference and if the champion still could not be decided by that, the next criteria was the head-to-head record between the 2 competing sides. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This season, Fulham''s head-to-head record against Liverpool was one-sided, Fulham won both games against Liverpool.

    And that¡­ was the difference in the title race.

    Fulham won; Fulham was the 2024/2025 premier league champion.

    "FULHAM ARE THE PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!"

    As soon as Sam heard those words from the commentator, he could not contain his emotions as he instantly collapsed to his knees in tears.

    In that moment, he experienced a rollercoaster of emotions.

    One moment, he and his teammates just lost it, narrowly losing to Liverpool in the premier league title race but in the next, Crystal Palace actually managed to bail them out of trouble.

    ''I did it,'' he thought. ''No, we did it''.

    In that moment, Sam''s teammates swarmed him, surrounding him and celebrating excitedly even as Craven Cottage exploded.

    BOOM!

    Ecstatic Fulham fans roared at the top of their lungs, a lot of fans collapsing in a fit of tears while some even passed out immediately out of sheer excitement!

    The atmosphere in this stadium was electric and joyful.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    Across this massive stadium, a familiar chant started as tens of thousands of Fulham supporters sang the name of their superstar player at the top of their lungs, giving him one last acknowledgement for a legendary premier league season.

    Even as his name was chanted by the fans, the Fulham players on the pitch responded, lifting Sam up above their heads as they paraded him round the pitch.

    Coach Marco Silva already charged into the pitch to celebrate alongside his players long ago, this coach also could not control his emotions as he cried.

    He could not believe it, they actually did it!

    As soon as Sam was brought down by his teammates, this excited coach hugged his star player, kissing him on the forehead excitedly.

    "Thank you Sam, thank you, thank you". He kept on muttering.

    It was while the celebrations continued that the players'' family were finally allowed into the pitch, and that was where Sam was shocked.

    To his shock, Kayla, Ian, and Sophia appeared on the pitch but their appearance was not the most shocking. What shocked him most was the appearance of Mr. and Mrs. Moses, his parents.

    "How¡­?"

    Mr. Moses grinned. "Congratulations son". This man hugged his son excitedly. "You did it, I''m so proud of you".

    Mrs. Moses didn''t exactly know the gravitas of this moment but the cascading emotions around already got to her, she was also crying.

    Spending this moment with his family, there was no feeling like it in the world.

    Sam felt on top of the world.

    A few minutes later, Fulham''s name was finally engraved in the premier league title even as Cairney, the Fulham captain carried the title the next moment.

    Going to the part of the pitch that was already prepared for them, the Fulham players grouped together before lifting the trophy.

    "Yeahhhhh¡­!!!" They celebrated excitedly.

    On that night, Fulham became premier league champions.

 Chapter 271 FA Cup final; against Manchester United

    ~----~[You have completed a Season System Quest!]

    [Congratulations! You have completed Season Quest 1!]

    [You have completed mission 1: Win the English Premier League with Fulham FC!]

    [You have been rewarded with +4 increase to 2 random football abilities!]

    [Your Pace attribute has increased by +4!]

    [Your Dribbling attribute has increased by +4!]

    ¡­

    [You have been rewarded with +10,000 Skill Points!]

    ¡­

    [You have been rewarded with a bonus reward: X Factor pill ¡Á2]

    >X Factor pill: In football, the X factor is a variable in a given football game or situation that can have the most significant impact on the outcome of the game. When this pill is ingested, you become that variable, massively enhancing your team''s chances of winning a game<

    ¡­

    [You have completed mission 2: Become the top assist provider of the English premier league!]

    [You have been rewarded with a +5 increase to your passing attribute!]

    [You have received a random passing skill!]

    [Skill randomizing¡­, please wait¡­]

    [You have received a passing skill: Mesut Ozil Bounce Pass]

    ***

    [Congratulations! You have completed Season Quest 4!]

    [You have completed mission 1: Secure a top 4 finish for Fulham FC, guaranteeing Champions League football for your club in the next season!]

    [You have been rewarded with a +5 increase to your physicality and defending attributes!]

    ***

    [Season Quest 5: Completed]

    ***

    [Season Quest 3: Failed]

    ***

    [Season Quest 2: Pending]

    ***

    [Congratulations! Your overall system rating has increased to 87!]

    [Player Attributes:]

    *Pace: 86

    *Shot: 85

    *Pass: 85

    *Dribbling: 82

    *Defending: 40

    *Physicality: 81

    *Stamina: 86

    Overall Rating: 87

    ~----~

    In one day, Sam''s attributes increased explosively, taking his overall rating to a staggering figure of 87.

    ''Damn!'' This was his only reaction on seeing that figure.

    The season was yet to end for Fulham unlike most other clubs in the premier league, but still, it was a legendary season already.

    Sam and all his teammates were already immortalized in Fulham, recognized as legends of Fulham football club after creating history, bringing the club''s very first major trophy.

    The fact that it was the premier league title made it even more special.

    The past few days, everyday felt like Christmas to Fulham supporters.

    The more he grew, the harder it was to improve his attributes, Sam already learned this after playing so many games this season for Fulham.

    This was why he felt so much more different after his attributes experienced such an explosive growth. ''Damn! I doubt even the system expected me to complete so many season system quests''.

    ''If it did, it would have never made the rewards so lucrative''.

    This was also another highlight of the incredible feat that Sam achieved with Fulham this season.

    Originally in the premier league, Fulham was a renowned mid-table team, they were never synonymous with winning trophies not to talk of winning the premier league trophy.

    To win it in his second season with the club emphasized the difficulty of what Sam just did, he made the impossible possible with Fulham.

    The footballing world was still reeling from the brilliance of the little Nigerian, but for Sam, the season was not over yet.

    The FA Cup final was originally scheduled for 17th May but due to the premier league schedule, it was postponed to after matchday 38 of the premier league.

    Almost a week later after playing Man City in the last matchday of the premier league, on the last day of May, Fulham lined up on the pitch again against the other Manchester club in a blockbuster FA Cup final matchup.

    (FA Cup:)

    (Final:)

    (Manchester United ¨C Fulham) S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (Date: 31st May, 2025)

    For the last time this season, this legendary Fulham side lined up on the pitch against a vastly improved Manchester United side under the tutelage of Ruben Amorim in a blockbuster FA Cup clash.

    On that night, Fulham fans witnessed another Sam masterclass.

    Both teams started with their strongest lineups and like expected, Ruben Amorim had a special plan to shackle the Fulham superstar.

    Manuel Ugarte, the Manchester United midfielder was tasked with being Sam''s shadow for this game, man-marking him to restrict his impact on the game.

    Manuel Ugarte did an amazing job, reducing Sam''s impact in the advanced parts of the field but in response, Sam simply decided to do more without the ball as he abused the Manchester United midfielder with his stamina.

    By half-time, Manuel Ugarte did a good job as the scoreline was still 0-0 but by then, the midfielder was already out of breath as Sam pushed him to his limits.

    In second half, the floodgates finally opened.

    Manuel Ugarte dug in, restricting Sam''s impact offensively but still, Sam did enough of the little bits to let his teammates shine.

    In the 71st minute of this tight game in Wembley Stadium, Emile Smith Rowe finally did it, floating a pass for Alex Iwobi to neatly sweep into the Manchester United net as Wembley Stadium erupted, fans of the Fulham persuasion roaring at the top of their lungs.

    In this game, the Manchester United players could not help but feel that Sam was even better and faster.

    It was almost like he was not yet used to his body''s new capabilities which helped Manuel Ugarte in barely keeping up with him.

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    7 minutes after Alex Iwobi''s goal, in the 78th minute of the game, Bruno Fernandes struck for Manchester United, an absolute rocket from midfield.

    POW!

    And just like that, Manchester United were level again.

    Fulham dragged it to after fulltime before winning it late in additional time as Rodrigo Muniz became the hero, pouncing onto an Emile Smith Rowe cross and heading home past Andre Onana to make Fulham FA Cup champions for the first time in their history.

    Emile Smith Rowe won the man of the match award for this game after his impressive 2-assist display.

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the final whistle sounded, the Fulham players felt vindicated, giving in to their emotions again as they cried, hugging each other excitedly.

    When their families entered the pitch to celebrate with them, they felt that this was the best year of their life.

    Lifting the premier league title last week and the FA Cup this week, was there a period of life better than this?

    They were living the dream.

    And with that, Fulham did the unthinkable, winning the double of the premier league and FA Cup trophies of the 2024/2025 season.

    It was a record-breaking season.

    It was a legendary season and at its heart was Samuel Moses.

 Chapter 272 Perfection mastery level

    ~----~[You have completed a Season System Quest!]

    [Congratulations! You have completed Season Quest 2!]

    [You have completed mission 1: Win the English FA Cup with Fulham FC!]

    [You have been rewarded with +2 increase to 2 random football abilities!]

    [Your Dribbling attribute has increased by +2!]

    [Your Shooting attribute has increased by +2!]

    ¡­

    [You have completed mission 2: Win the best player award in the English FA Cup!]

    [You have been rewarded with a random reward!]

    [Reward randomizing¡­, please wait¡­]

    [You have received a Skill Upgrade Card!]

    [Grade: Perfection!]

    [Choose the specific skill that you want to use this card on:]

    ~----~

    For Fulham, the football season officially came to an end.

    At the end of the FA Cup game against Manchester United in Wembley Stadium, after the wild celebrations by the Fulham players, the fans, and their families, time finally came for the award ceremony.

    Just like other major football tournaments in the world, the FA Cup also had individual awards.

    There was the Golden Boot award whose iteration for the 2024/2025 FA Cup season was won by Mohamed Salah, bolstered by his incredible 5-goal haul in earlier rounds of the competition.

    Mohamed Salah won the golden boot for scoring the most goals in the tournament while Bernd Leno won the Golden Glove award as the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

    As for the Golden Ball award that was given to the best player of the tournament, it naturally went to Sam after his talismanic performances that led Fulham to the final of the FA Cup, eventually winning it.

    It was the first major individual award of Sam''s career.

    After the game, the celebrations didn''t end in Craven Cottage as like the fans, Sam returned to his apartment alongside his family, extending the celebrations.

    That night, he had the temptation of drinking himself to stupor but knowing just how weak he was with alcohol, he was able to refrain from the stupidity.

    But at the end, with friends like Smith Rowe, Ian, Kayla and his family around, it was a memorable moment for Sam.

    That night, in his room, his girlfriend consolidated the memory for him as he had an intimate moment with Kayla to never forget.

    By the end of it all, Sam sighed contentedly. ''I love my life''. He thought.

    From there, they went to the bathroom where they took their bath together before retreating back to the bedroom where Kayla quickly slept.

    With his girlfriend sleeping soundly in his arms, Sam finally had the time to focus on his system notifications and this was when he saw all of this.

    Once again, his attributes increased but he didn''t pay attention to that, rather he paid attention to the reward for being the best player of the tournament.

    ''A skill upgrade card?!''

    If Kayla was not sleeping so soundly in his arms, resting on his chest, Sam swore he would have jumped up to scream in joy.

    This was his first time receiving a skill upgrade card from his system but instinctively, he already knew what this card could do.

    And looking at the text next to it ''Perfection'', he felt hyped.

    ''Finally!'' He thought excitedly. ''I''m about to take one of my skills to the mastery level of perfection!''

    Earlier in his career after he just got the Ultimate Football System, the system informed him that football skills are ranked according to mastery and that they were divided into basic, intermediate, advanced, and perfection masteries.

    Since then, Sam already grew a lot, even having multiple advanced skills now but he was yet to have a football skill at the perfection mastery.

    But with this skill upgrade card, this reality was about to change.

    Before making his decision though, he navigated through his system interface, focusing on all his active skills.

    ***

    [Active skills:]

    [Basic mastery level: Body feint; step overs; roulette; knuckle shot; overhead kick; rainbow flick; trivela shot, basic penalty technique, basic freekick technique]

    [Intermediate mastery level: Elastico; Cruyff turn; La croqueta; Body feint; Power header]

    [Advanced mastery level: Spatial awareness; Power shot]

    ¡­

    [Legendary Inheritance: Elastico]

    [Legendary Inheritance: Spatial Awareness]

    [Legendary Inheritance: Power Shot]

    ***

    One look at his active skills and his subconscious immediately pointed to 2 skills, his only 2 skills at the advanced mastery level, his spatial awareness and power shot skills.

    The choice felt rational and right but Sam did not make the decision immediately, rather he took his time, thinking out of the box.

    ''I need to be careful''.

    ''Afterall, I don''t know if I''ll ever have an opportunity like this again, I need to make it count''.

    And when he thought hard about it, the reason that dissuaded him from the 2 obvious choices was because of the suspicion that the skill upgrade card could be used on any skill to improve it to the perfection level, even skills that were previously at the basic level.

    ''If it''s this way, using it on a skill that''s already at the advanced mastery level is a waste''.

    ''Besides, I have legendary inheritances on both my spatial awareness and power shot skills. No matter how long it takes, so long I keep on training, someday, I''ll get them to the perfection mastery level and even eclipse it''.

    That was all the analysis he needed to make his decision.

    And after carefully glancing through his other skills, he asked himself a question, a question that he got after building his experience on the highest tier of football this season.

    ''In those games when nothing I do work, what skill can help me instantly turn defeat into a draw or victory?''

    As soon as he asked the question, he got only one answer. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ***

    [Perfection Grade Skill Upgrade Card has been used!]

    [Your skill, Basic Freekick Technique has been upgraded to the Perfection mastery level!]

    ¡­

    >Perfect Freekick Technique<

    ***

    After making his choice that night, satisfied, he hugged his sleeping girlfriend tighter to his body before checking his full system status again after so long.

    ~----~

    [Player status!]

    Host: Samuel Moses

    Current Career Status: Reigning Premier League champion, Reigning FA Cup champion, Reigning FA Cup Golden Ball winner

    Talent Rating: S

    Player Position: Attacking Midfield

    Player Attributes:

    *Pace: 86

    *Shot: 87

    *Pass: 85

    *Dribbling: 84

    *Defending: 40

    *Physicality: 81

    *Stamina: 86

    Overall Rating: 87

    ¡­

    [Owned Football Skills:]

    [Passive skill: Stalwart]

    >You have proven your credentials as a reliable stalwart with well-rounded attributes in the middle of the pitch. You can score, you can assist, you can dribble, and you can press; you are the complete package<

    >+10% to all 4 packages when on the pitch<

    >All 4 packages refer to your shooting attribute, your passing attribute, your dribbling attribute, and your stamina attribute<

    [Active skills:]

    [Basic mastery level: Step overs; roulette; knuckle shot; overhead kick; rainbow flick; trivela shot, basic penalty technique, scissor kick]

    [Intermediate mastery level: Elastico; Cruyff turn; La croqueta; Body feint; Power header]

    [Advanced mastery level: Spatial awareness; Power shot]

    [Perfect mastery level: Freekick Technique]

    ¡­

    [Legendary Inheritance: Elastico]

    [Legendary Inheritance: Spatial Awareness]

    [Legendary Inheritance: Power Shot]

    ¡­

    [Ability cards:]

    >Shoot it like Lewy<

    [Card uses remaining: 2]

    >Thread it like KDB<

    [Card uses remaining: 2]

    >Bend it like Beckham<

    [Card uses remaining: 2]

    ¡­

    [Trophies won:]

    >NPFL title ¡Á1<

    >CAF Champions League trophy ¡Á1<

    >EFL Cup title ¡Á1<

    >Premier League title ¡Á1< Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire

    >FA Cup title ¡Á1<

    ¡­

    [Title: Space Interpreter!]

    [Title: Legs of Steel!]

    [System Remark: An elite young talent playing in one of the best leagues in the world!]

    ~----~

    ''Finally! My talent rating is at S rank!'' Sam felt excited on seeing that figure, he felt nostalgic as he remembered when he just started his career, when he played for Enyimba FC back in Nigeria.

    Compared to when he just started, his growth was staggering.

    ''I''ve come a long way''. He thought, feeling melancholic.

 Chapter 273 Wild celebrations

    3 days later, in a press conference¡­"Thank you for respecting our invitation and coming Sam".

    "It''s an honor to be here". Sam smiled at the reporter.

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    What Fulham did this season; it was nothing short of legendary.

    Despite the fact that days already passed since the FA Cup game, the celebrations still continued at full swing as excited Fulham fans simply could not forget their unreal fortune this season.

    Sam already turned into a cult hero in the city of Fulham, he was literally worshipped in the town as his celebrity status rose even higher. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He truly was a superstar now.

    On the wake of a massively successful season for Fulham, a record-breaking one in their history, a news platform that covered the premier league organized a press conference and Sam was invited to take part in it.

    The purpose of the press conference was to delve more into his story and his life, to know the Nigerian who changed the fortune of Fulham as a city and a club.

    "Sam, I already did my research before now and you know what?" The male reporter grinned. "I found some interesting data about you".

    "I couldn''t help but notice that despite the fact that you''re still just 19 years old, you''ve won 5 official trophies already which is crazy, 4 of them being major trophies that are recognized in the world".

    Sam chuckled. "Really? I didn''t really count". He awkwardly scratched the back of his head, making the reporter chuckle.

    "I won''t even try to fathom how the brain of geniuses like you work," the reporter laughed. "Anyways, in case you forgot, in the past 3 seasons of your small career, you''ve won the NPFL title, the CAF champions league trophy, the EFL Cup title, the premier league title, and then the FA Cup title".

    "At such a young age, winning so much already just underlines how talented you are," the reporter looked at him. "Sam, can you tell us which of these trophy wins was more important and exciting to you?"

    "That''s a difficult question," Sam smiled. "In terms of importance, obviously, I''ll say the premier league title win this season".

    "Fulham have never won a premier league trophy before now, so helping the club win a title of such importance, it''s a thing of great pride to me and my teammates so that''s obviously my answer".

    "When it comes to the most exciting of them though," he rubbed his chin, smiling.

    "That''s difficult, right?"

    Sam laughed. "Yeah, it''s really difficult".

    "I mean, the FA Cup and premier league race this season was tough. Even on the last matchday, I thought we lost till Crystal Palace handed us a lifeline," he wiped away imaginary sweat from his forehead sarcastically. "I can''t thank them enough".

    The reporter laughed. "About that, Liverpool are still launching a complaint to the premier league that Man City let you guys score so many goals against them".

    Sam shrugged. "If they don''t believe we won fairly, that''s on them, they should keep on lodging complaints".

    "I and my teammates do know we gave our all to win and it''s only fair that we won, undermining our win is not nice but it''s what it is". He smiled.

    "So?"

    "Huh?"

    The reporter smiled. "You''re yet to answer my question".

    "Ah, ok," Sam rubbed his chin in thought before answering. "If I was to say it objectively, my most exciting trophy win has to be the CAF champions league win".

    "I mean come on, I''m used to being the underdog but in that tournament, we were below underdogs, we were massive underdogs!" He laughed.

    "Man, winning against the likes of Al Ahly in penalties to progress to the final, and then the win against Wydad AC, those are moments that I won''t forget in my life even till my death bed".

    "You think?"

    "Yeah, I do think so". Sam laughed. "That tournament has a special place in my heart, I can say it helped in molding me into the player I am today".

    The reporter smiled. "Talking about the player you are, Sam, we want to know more about you. Can you tell us your story?"

    "Your struggles, how you started, and how you made it to this level".

    Sam smiled, a reminiscing look coming over his face. "It''s a long story¡­"

    Sam took his time in the interview, telling his story to the reporter and the viewers who learned a lot about him that day.

    His story was indeed long, and eventful, almost fantastical even.

    That interview made Sam''s reputation in the football world rise even more, making a lot more football fans to know about him.

    Afterall, football fans loved to hear the story of an underdog who fought fate and overcame challenges before rising to prominence.

    Even after the interview, for Fulham fans, the celebrations for their legendary season were not yet over, rather it was just starting.

    The executives at the club didn''t want to have a forgettable celebration as they planned an open bus parade around the city of Fulham, parading their 2 trophies before their fans.

    The next day after Sam''s interview, Wednesday, 4th of June, Fulham fans took to the streets as the open bus parade started.

    Tens of thousands of Fulham fans flooded the streets.

    Amid loud music and a boisterous atmosphere, the fans got the privilege of having a great time alongside their players as they wildly celebrated their trophy wins of the past season.

    At the end of Sam''s interview, the reporter asked him a sensitive question about his future since big clubs were already circling round for his signature.

    Manchester City did not hide their interest in Sam, and they were just one of the numerous big clubs now gunning for Sam''s signature after his record-breaking 2nd season with Fulham.

    The reporter asked him about it and Sam''s reply had one theme at the center of it, the theme of FC Barcelona.

    He did not hide his love for the Spanish club, bringing some controversies in Fulham but the fans did not pay attention to it as their love for him eclipsed anything that could strain their relationship.

    That day, they celebrated wildly through the streets of Fulham.

    After the open bus parade, the celebrations extended to deep in the night as Coach Marco Silva took his players to a night club to continue the celebrations.

    It truly was a memorable day for the players.

    ¡­

    2 days after the open bus parade in Fulham, the world of football consolidated again to watch the greatest game of elite club football, the UEFA champions league final.

    The final was to be played between 2 Giants of football, Liverpool of England and Bayern Munich of Germany.

    The venue was Wembley Stadium in England.

 Chapter 274 UEFA champions league final; Liverpool vs Bayern Munich [1]

    (UEFA Champions League:)(Final:)

    (Liverpool ¨C Bayern Munich)

    (Date: 7th June, 2025)

    Due to the hectic schedule of the domestic leagues, the date for the UEFA champions league final was postponed from 31st May to 7th June.

    It was already D-day.

    ¡­

    Wembley Stadium, England¡­

    It was the UEFA champions league final.

    That night, the mood in London was one of excitement and anticipation.

    It almost felt like Christmas and it was not just in England, this same feeling was experienced by literally every football fan across the world.

    Hours before the game started at night, the stadium was already filled to the brim with fans in red and white.

    Both clubs wore their iconic red as their home jerseys but due to rules of the tournament, the German club, Bayern Munich became the one to relent as they came to the final with their white 3rd kit.

    It was a clash of white and red in the stadium.

    The atmosphere was boisterous. Liverpool fans were excited as they were labelled as the favorites in this epic final matchup.

    They may have suffered the heartbreak of the premier league title since Fulham clinched it out of their grasp at the last moment after a record-breaking campaign, but if their team could win this trophy, their hurt egos would be soothed.

    It was as if they already forgot the premier league pain as they came in numbers, going behind their team in full support.

    Banners of the Egyptian King, Mohamed Salah filled the stadium already as the Liverpool fans showed their passion, love, and support for their club.

    An hour before the game, the official lineup of both clubs was released.

    Liverpool started with the same 4-2-3-1 formation that they''ve been using for most of this season, just a different one from the regular one since certain Liverpool players who were held back by injury already made their return to the pitch.

    Luis Diaz started as the striker ahead of the Uruguayan, Darwin Nunez while behind him was the attacking trio of Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai and the Egyptian King, Mohamed Salah.

    Behind them was the midfield duo of Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch, while their quadruple defensive set-up comprised of all Liverpool legends in Andrew Robertson, Virgil Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

    Alisson Becker naturally started in between the posts.

    It was a formidable line-up from the English club, but their German counterparts had a lineup that matched theirs in star power and renown.

    Bayern Munich started in a similar 4-2-3-1 formation with the English national team captain, Harry Kane started as the striker spearheading the attack.

    Behind Harry Kane was the attacking trio of Micheal Olise, Jamal Musiala, and Kingsley Coman while the midfield duo comprised Joshua Kimmich and Pavlovic.

    Their 4-man defense comprised of Alphonso Davies, Eric Dier, Dayot Upamecano, and Guerreiro while the ageless German legend, Manuel Neuer started in between the posts as Munich''s no. 1.

    As soon as the players of both teams entered the pitch, the noise in Wembley stadium hit a crescendo, rising through the roof like a wary cry.

    BOOM!

    The tension was palpable as players of both sides coped with it the best way they could, and then the referee''s whistle finally sounded to kickstart the game.

    FWEEEE!

    That whistle¡­ was a whistle for war.

    The game started even as 2 strong teams slugged it out in a battle for supremacy in the iconic Wembley Stadium.

    Liverpool and Bayern Munich were evenly matched in the early proceedings of this game, the game was tight and like expected in a game this tight, once the superstar players settled in, their genius started showing.

    For Bayern Munich, the focal point of their attack, the young German attacking midfielder, Jamal Musiala showcased his talent as he dazzled in attack.

    Whenever the ball got to him, Bayern Munich''s attack went ga-ga!

    With him leading the offense with his dazzling penetrative dribbles, sending the Liverpool defense backpedaling in panic, Bayern Munich felt alive.

    With him leading the attack behind Harry Kane, he let all the Bayern Munich attackers flourish around him, constantly torturing the Liverpool defense.

    The only reason why they were yet to score was because of a certain Dutchman, Virgil Van Dijk.

    Having had an amazing campaign so far already, Virgil Van Dijk carried this form to the final of the UEFA champions league, bossing the game in tyrannical fashion as the rest of his defense were forced to rise to his level.

    Bayern Munich gained their mojo first through Jamal Musiala''s brilliance but Liverpool''s attack was not idle in the most important game of their whole season.

    Trust a certain Egyptian King, he was not going to stay idle.

    Liverpool''s attack struggled to click at first but singlehandedly, Liverpool turned the situation around after turning Alphonso Davies inside out a few times already as the Bayern Munich left back was made to suffer.

    With Salah regaining his form first, the rest of the offense followed as Luis Diaz started having an amazing game up-front.

    From the 30th minute of this game, from a tight game where few chances were created, it transitioned into an intense end to end game.

    Liverpool attacked; Bayern Munich defended¡­

    Bayern Munich attacked; Liverpool defended¡­

    It was a clash of absolute heavyweights of football!

    To neutral fans not affiliated to either club, they were having the treat of their lives as both clubs played exciting and incredibly intense football.

    Despite the high level of this game and the exciting offensive plays, a goal seemed elusive until the 39th minute of this game when a moment of individual brilliance tore the stalemate apart.

    Jamal Musiala became the first to enter the zone state!

    In the 39th minute of the game, the young German channeled his inner Lionel Messi, scoring a Puskas award-worthy goal.

    After Joshua Kimmich helped Alphonso Davies, double-teaming Mohamed Salah to steal the ball, he quickly sprayed it to the midfield where Jamal Musiala lurked and that was where it started from.

    Bam!

    As soon as the young German''s leg touched the ball, electricity seemed to surge through his body.

    What followed was pure magic.

    Dominik Szoboszlai was closest to him but as soon as this player pressed, like a slippery eel, Jamal Musiala literally levitated on the ball, rotating as he executed a silky-smooth roulette to ditch the Liverpool midfielder in no man''s land.

    1 destroyed¡­

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    Whoosh!

    Trent Alexander-Arnold who went on an overlapping run before recovered, going on a sliding tackle but flicking the ball up, the German midfielder jumped over him, making this stadium erupt with gasps of awe.

    2 destroyed¡­

    As soon as he jumped above Trent''s sliding tackle, Jamal Musiala kicked the ball up field before charging after it.

    He quickly met a road block in the form of the imposing Dutchman who stood at the heart of Liverpool''s defense but undeterred, the young German continued his run as he obliterated Virgil Van Dijk with a drop of the shoulder and exploding off with speed in the other direction.

    The Dutchman recovered though, putting the pressure on him.

    Jamal Musiala slowed down as he used the opportunity to show his silky dribbling skills in their full glory.

    Tap! Tap! Tap!

    It didn''t feel like football, rather, it felt like this winger was tap dancing!

    His legs moved back and forth at a dizzying speed, stepping over the ball, dragging it back and forth, dazzling with it till the imposing Dutch defender felt dizzy.

    As soon as Virgil Van Dijk stuck out his leg¡­

    Bam!

    Jamal Musiala kicked the ball in-between his legs!

    "WOAHHHHH¡­!" Gasps erupted around this stadium.

    In that moment, Jamal Musiala set himself up one-on-one with Alisson Becker, the Liverpool goalkeeper and as he charged out, keeping his goal, he slotted the ball towards the bottom right corner of the goal.

    The net rippled!

    "GOALLLLLLLLLL¡­!!!" Wembley Stadium erupted.

    ***

    [NOTE: The Puskas award is the individual award that is given to a player for scoring the most beautiful and incredible goal in a football season.]

 Chapter 275 UEFA champions league final; Liverpool vs Bayern Munich [2]

    "GOALLLLL¡­!!!" Wembley Stadium erupted."My GOD! What a goal!" The commentator raved.

    "What a solo goal!"

    "What a solo run!"

    "Jamal MUSIALLLLAAAA!"

    "The boy is insane, come on, what a run, what a moment!"

    "And just like that, the direction of this game has been overturned, Bayern Munich are now leading in Wembley Stadium!"

    Even as Wembley Stadium erupted, having clattered into Alisson Becker after scoring past him, Jamal Musiala ignored his pain, jumping to his feet as he charged towards the corner flag in celebration.

    As soon as he arrived at the corner flag, he spread his arms, embracing the energy of the ecstatic Bayern Munich fans as he did his friend''s celebration.

    He did the Jude Bellingham celebration.

    "Musiala!" "Musiala!" "Musiala!"

    The Bayern Munich fans roared his name at the top of their lungs.

    ¡­

    At a certain apartment in England, a certain Nigerian could not help eating his popcorns faster as he watched Jamal Musiala celebrate on the TV.

    Sam felt his heart racing as he watched the German youngster celebrate.

    "What?" His girlfriend turned to look at him, having noticed his sudden change in mood though she knew it was related to the ongoing game.

    Hearing that question, Sam grinned, turning to look at his girlfriend. "Have I told you that the first game I ever watched was a UEFA champions league final game?"

    Kayla ate her popcorns. "No".

    Sam chuckled. "My dad took me to a viewing center to watch the game. Then, I was very small, I think 6 or 7".

    "On that night, I watched my club, FC Barcelona take on Manchester United in the UEFA champions league final and win, creating a memory that I don''t think I can ever forget".

    He smiled. "The UEFA champions league means more to me than other football tournaments. You see, it has a special place in my heart".

    Kayla ate another round of popcorns, nodding. "Ok?"

    "You won''t understand". Sam chuckled as he paid attention to the TV again. "I can''t wait to lace my boots in the UEFA champions league!" He clenched his fist even as his heart kept racing.

    ¡­

    FWEEE!

    The referee''s whistle sounded again for the game to continue.

    Jamal Musiala''s goal turned this game on its head, making Liverpool who was still relatively calm for most of this game suddenly feel tense.

    Urgency soon found its way into Liverpool''s offensive play.

    Afterall, this tournament already traumatized Liverpool in certain ways, mostly the UEFA champions league final itself.

    In the past few years, apart from their iconic 2019 UEFA champions league win under their iconic coach, Jurgen Klopp over Tottenham, Liverpool has made the champions league final 2 more times under the same coach but both times, the outcome ended in a heartbreak for the Merseysiders.

    Though both defeats came against the same club, the inevitable Real Madrid, it still left a trauma in them already.

    This was why in this final, when Liverpool started trailing behind their rivals in this final, wounds that were created from old traumas became opened.

    Fear of losing again struck.

    For the rest of this half, urgency was visibly detected in Liverpool''s play as they pressed Bayern Munich but the German giants remained defensively disciplined, cleverly shutting off any threatening Liverpool attack.

    In the end, the first half ended 0-1 with Bayern Munich leading.

    During half-time in the Liverpool dressing room, the atmosphere was tense and silent as Arne Slot approached the situation cleverly.

    Instead of trying to make his players more hot-blooded, pushing them to the edge with motivational quotes, he instead tried to calm their nerves.

    Like a psychologist, he entered his players'' heads, reminding them about the importance of today''s game while not putting more pressure on them.

    His strategy worked.

    When the time for half-time finally ended, as the Liverpool players came back to the pitch, it was clear that they were calmer.

    Thar urgency and desperation in the final minutes of the first half were nowhere to be found, having disappeared already.

    FWEEEE!

    When the referee''s whistle sounded, it was like the game was starting all over again as calmly, both teams approached the game with a conservative approach.

    Trying not to make any mistake, they gave themselves time to adapt to the game again and once they did, they finally raised the intensity.

    BOOM!

    This time, the intensity was even higher than that of the first half.

    And it was not just Liverpool either, Bayern Munich also wanted to score a 2nd goal to secure the game, making both teams resume their attacking play.

    Liverpool kept on trying but nothing happened still, they were being frustrated by Bayern Munich''s stalwart defense.

    50 minutes, no goal¡­

    60 minutes, no goal¡­

    70 minutes, no goal¡­

    No longer able to keep his cool, Arne Slot finally decided to ditch his composure, making changes as he finally made changes, the most glaring one being the fact that he introduced Darwin Nunez to take his striker spot in the team. Experience new stories with My Virtual Library Empire

    He removed Cody Gakpo, moving Luis Diaz back to his left winger spot and that change was the game-changer.

    Liverpool''s attack changed immediately.

    It no longer felt like Arne Slot football at all, rather, it felt like Jurgen Klopp football again as Liverpool embraced their old ways of gen-gen pressing.

    The Liverpool players ran all over the pitch like a swarm of ants that knew no retreat, only knowing to fulfill the order of their Queen even if fulfilling it meant death. They played like rabid beasts ravaging all over the pitch.

    Liverpool embraced chaos again.

    And in the chaos, while Bayern Munich cowered, they thrived. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    4 minutes after this change, Liverpool finally got a tangible result and it came from the substitute in Darwin Nunez.

    Having became an agent of chaos already, the Uruguayan striker became the catalyst, creating the moment that led to Liverpool''s goal in this game.

    And the one who scored it?

    It was a familiar name.

    After being frustrated for most of this game, Liverpool''s Egyptian King finally made himself known, striking when Liverpool needed it the most.

    Salah struck!

 Chapter 276 An agent of chaos? No..., the master of chaos!

    In the 70th minute of this most important game in a club''s season, feeling his team losing grasp of the game, Liverpool''s coach, Arne Slot decided to take a big gamble with his substitutions.This coach decided to abandon control and embrace chaos.

    It was just like a legendary writer once said. If you''re experiencing a writer''s block and getting stuck in the storytelling, make a meteor fall into your world in the next chapter, turning everything upside down.

    In essence, embracing chaos.

    Liverpool embraced chaos.

    In the 70th minute, Arne Slot took off Cody Gakpo and introduced the erratic Uruguayan striker, Darwin Nunez, taking Luis Diaz back to his favored left-wing berth. And that change became the game-changer.

    Immediately after Darwin Nunez entered the pitch, the energetic Uruguayan became an agent of chaos on this field.

    With Luis Diaz upfront previously, Liverpool played more towards control, keeping their intensity steady and their offensive build-up balanced but with Darwin Nunez upfront, all of this changed.

    Darwin Nunez was an agent of confusion.

    As soon as he entered the pitch, he ran everywhere across the forward lines, becoming the focal point of the Liverpool press as he pressed the Bayern Munich defense energetically like a monster, starting the press from upfield.

    That sudden change seemed to rattle Bayern Munich.

    Vincent Kompany, the young Bayern Munich coach encouraged his team to build-up their game from the back, starting the passing from either their prolific goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer or the 2 center backs.

    Originally, this tactic was a tried and trusted method but with Darwin Nunez suddenly pressing so energetically, it became a risk.

    This did not make Bayern Munich change its playstyle though, after all, it was a professional football team. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This decision¡­ was a mistake.

    It came back to bite them in the butt.

    For the first few minutes after the changes were made, Bayern Munich continued playing their game even as they adapted to the sudden Liverpool intensity but in football, just 1 mistake was needed to change a game.

    And that change came in the 74th minute of this game.

    Liverpool''s aggressive press forced the Germans to keep on playing side and back passes, and one of those passes was a mistake.

    Joshua Kimmich overhit the pass, sending it just behind Dayot Upamecano.

    "¡­!"

    Trepidations went through Wembley Stadium immediately.

    "It''s an overhit pass, and Darwin Nunez is nearby!"

    "Upamecano is already recovering but is he fast enough?!"

    Thud!

    "Oof¡­!"

    As soon as the pass was overhit, in that moment, Darwin Nunez seemed to become a prime Benzema, sensing the opportunism in this moment and the Uruguayan did not miss his moment.

    As soon as the ball moved, as if on ultra instinct, his legs also moved as he instantly accelerated from 0 to 100 in a single second!

    Thud! Thud! Thud!

    Darwin Nunez chased Dayot Upamecano down like he would chase a thief!

    And this was not any mere thief, this was a deadly thief, a thief that was out to steal a first UEFA champions league title from his trophy cabinet.

    Darwin Nunez would not allow it!

    The race was close due to Dayot Upamecano''s head start as they both arrived at the ball but before the Bayern Munich center back could do anything tangible, Darwin Nunez crashed into him with his body and then, outstretching his legs, he hit the ball¡­

    Bam!

    Nunez overhit the ball.

    "¡­!"

    The 40-year-old Bayern Munich legend and goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer reacted immediately after the Liverpool striker overhit the ball, chasing it but again, Darwin Nunez''s raw speed proved the difference maker.

    Thud!

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    Darwin Nunez ate yards of space like they were not there!

    He arrived before Manuel Neuer, pushing the ball past him again towards the goal kick but before the ball could roll away and be wasted, his speed made him recover again and without looking, Darwin Nunez played a pass into the box.

    "¡­!"

    In that moment, time in Wembley Stadium seemed to freeze.

    A few things happened at once.

    Manuel Neuer was charging back towards his post, Dayot Upamecano and Eric Dier were recovering, Alphonso Davies already recovered, arriving close to the ball already as it rolled towards a Mohamed Salah that was unmarked in the box!

    Bam!

    Salah''s first touch and instantly, the Egyptian King entered the zone state.

    He was unleashed!

    Alphonso Davies touched Salah''s shoulders, tactically shoving him to make him lose balance and lose the ball but in response, Salah slowed down.

    The rapid Bayern Munich left back went ahead of him in the process but it was a bait, as Davies pressed, Salah obliterated.

    With a drop of the shoulder from Salah, the Bayern Munich left back staggered and with a rapid chop of the ball with his left foot, Salah sent Alphonso Davies to no man''s land, sending him one way and erupting the other way.

    Alphonso Davies destroyed¡­

    Manuel Neuer was yet to arrive at his post, an opportunity!

    Salah raised his lethal left foot to shoot at the empty goal but just as he did¡­

    Whoosh!

    ¡­Eric Dier went on a powerful sliding tackle!

    The Bayern Munich center back went on a powerful sliding tackle, but the ball that he expected didn''t come, it was a fake shot!

    ''Eh¡­?''

    Having slid already, the defender could not pick himself back up immediately but he had a partner who finally arrived in Dayot Upamecano.

    The powerful Bayern Munich defender rushed in to clatter into Mohamed Salah but cleverly, the Egyptian King dodged the defender''s reckless charge, pushing the ball in between his legs in the process.

    Dayot Upamecano obliterated¡­

    By now, tens of thousands of Liverpool fans in this stadium already stood up to see how this crazy moment would end.

    The 2 defenders could only watch in despair as Salah closed in on their goal with the ball, they put all their hopes on the towering figure of Manuel Neuer, the Bayern Munich legend who manned the posts, but not today¡­

    BZZZ!

    Manuel Neuer was made to see stars by the defiant Liverpool legend.

    Like lightning, Salah''s legs moved at a rapid speed as he executed the la croqueta, cutting through Bayern Munich''s last man in defense as Manuel Neuer fell helplessly to his butt.

    The goalkeeper and his defense got front-row view as the Egyptian King ran unopposed towards the empty net.

    Salah could as well run with the ball into the net but filled with adrenaline, he raised his left leg and unleashed a powerful shot into the empty net!

    POW!

    The ball surged into the net with power, and then¡­

    "GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL¡­!!!"

    Wembley Stadium erupted, Liverpool erupted, a whole fanbase erupted!

 Chapter 277 A Mohammed Salah masterclass in the UEFA champions league final!

    ''I''ve lost the premier league title already¡­''''I''m yet to win a trophy this season¡­''

    ''I won''t lose the UEFA champions league too!''

    These were the thoughts going through the head of the Egyptian King after he received that opportunistic pass from Darwin Nunez, and it became the motivation that pushed him to create that moment of magic.

    In the 74th minute of this game, Liverpool''s Egyptian King scored, bringing this game level when Liverpool needed it the most.

    "GOALLLLLLLLLLLL¡­!!!" The commentator screamed.

    "SALAHHHHHH!"

    "SALAHHHHHH¡­!!!" S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "The Egyptian King has struck!"

    "The Pharoah of Liverpool has struck!"

    "My God, Darwin Nunez is the agent of chaos that Liverpool needed to turn this game around but Salah? Freaking hell, he is the master of chaos!"

    "He thrives in chaos!"

    "He''s proved it again that he can do it again and again!"

    "At first, we called it the Mane, Firmino, and Salah, masters of chaos but in recent seasons, it''s the Mohamed Salah show!"

    "It''s the Pharoah''s show!"

    "The Pharoah is the King in Egypt, now Liverpool''s King, what better game for a King to show what he''s capable of than the final game of the season?!"

    While the commentator raved about him, Salah charged towards the corner flag amid the thunderous roars of the Liverpool fans to celebrate.

    As soon as he arrived at the corner flag, he spread his arms in celebration, taking in the adoration of the Liverpool fans.

    And then, with pupils dilated in sheer anger and defiant adrenaline, he pumped his fists aggressively. "Come on!!!" He screamed.

    "Salah!" "Salah!" "Salah!"

    From the Musiala chants at first by the Bayern Munich fans, the Salah chants soon started in Wembley Stadium and that moment was the turning point.

    After that goal, everything changed.

    After that goal, Mohamed Salah changed.

    FWEEEE!

    The game restarted but there was a lingering feeling that the game already escaped out of Bayern Munich''s grasp, and what followed next proved it.

    Mohamed Salah was unleashed after that goal.

    74 minutes, 1-1, but he was not satisfied.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    Sam was not the only professional football player that had a chant for victory in his head. In truth, all the best players in the world had one.

    When the going gets tough, when they needed it the most, they call on it and it was what helps them exceed their limits, creating vintage performances at the highest stage that forever remain engraved in history.

    Kylian Mbappe''s performance in the late stages of the FIFA World Cup final back in 2022 was a great example and in this moment, Salah channeled the same energy to take this important game by the scruff of the neck.

    Alphonso Davies bore the full brunt of an unleashed Salah.

    Bzzz! Bzzz!

    The Canadian left back was tortured by the Egyptian King for the next few minutes, turned inside out as Salah played at an extraterrestrial level.

    He was not the only one though.

    His goal woke the whole Liverpool team up, dousing them with endless energy and on the left side of the pitch, Luis Diaz also went ga-ga in attack, dazzling and torturing Guerreiro, the Bayern Munich right back with his lethal dribbles.

    While all this happened, Darwin Nunez continued doing what he did best, he continued being an agent of chaos and confusion.

    And in that chaos, Liverpool thrived.

    Bayern Munich was not idle, they had no intentions of rolling over to their opponents as with Jamal Musiala still balling at an elite level, they also threatened occasionally but Liverpool''s defense was also already unlocked in this game.

    Virgil Van Dijk became the other Liverpool player to enter the zone state.

    Like an indomitable Tiger, he protected the Liverpool defense, turning into a prime Paulo Maldini as he snuffed off any dangerous attack before it could build momentum.

    For the final minutes of this game, the towering Dutchman was imperious at the back, protecting his team long enough for the attack to strike!

    And they did in the 86th minute of the game.

    Salah received an absolutely unreal pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold down the left-hand side, leaving Alphonso Davies chasing shadows again but just as the rapid left back was to recover, Salah played a pass¡­

    ¡­a pass that was even more unreal than Arnold''s pass.

    He received Arnold''s pass with one touch of his right foot, shifted the ball into his superior left foot, and then, he hit it with the outside of his boot.

    Bam!

    Salah obliterated the Bayern Munich defense with an unreal trivela pass, sending the ball long enough into the path of a rampaging Darwin Nunez.

    But the Liverpool striker was double-teamed by Dayot Upamecano and Eric Dier, limiting his influence.

    Nunez was just the distraction though; Salah''s true target was Luis Diaz.

    With all the focus on Nunez, restricting him, the ball rolled ahead of him further to the left where an unmarked Luis Diaz rushed into.

    "Wow! Luis Diaz is unmarked!"

    "Can he do it?"

    "Manuel Neuer is charging out!"

    The mere sight of the towering Bayern Munich goalkeeper charging towards you was intimidating, but keeping his cool, the Colombian took one touch of the ball to set himself up and then¡­

    Bam!

    He rifled it into the bottom left corner with his right foot.

    "GOALLLLLLLLLLL¡­!!!" Wembley Stadium erupted again.

    And just like that, Liverpool completed their comeback as they led this game. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    But a certain Egyptian King was not satisfied yet.

    As Bayern Munich recklessly sent players up field, searching for the equalizer, Liverpool was once again pressured but keeping their cool they defended as a team till the 89th minute when the German club was caught out of possession.

    It was the imperious Van Dijk who won the ball again, pushing it towards Alexis Mac Allister who already replaced Dominik Szoboszlai in this game at some point as without looking, the Argentine midfielder hit the ball long up field towards the left where a certain Egyptian King lurked.

    Salah took the ball in his strides, turned Eric Dier inside out, leaving him on his butt before charging towards goal.

    As Manuel Neuer charged out again, he cleverly played a lobbed shot, raising it above the Bayern Munich goalkeeper and into the net.

    "My good freaking Jesus!"

    "Salah has done it again!"

    "He''s scored again!"

    "That''s 2 goals and an assist!"

    "It''s a Mohamed Salah show! Liverpool have won it late!"

    Wembley Stadium erupted as Liverpool fans celebrated wildly, feeling like they would go crazy out of sheer joy and euphoria.

    It truly was a Mohamed Salah masterclass.

    Bayern Munich tried but they could do nothing tangible. In the end, the UEFA champions league final came to an end with a Liverpool win.

    Liverpool won 3-1 over their rivals in Wembley Stadium.

 Chapter 278 A legendary individual season

    "What a moment for Liverpool!""What a game!"

    "A model champions league final!" The commentator raved. "Exciting from start to end, what a game!"

    "From the beginning to the end, there was no boring point, an end-to-end game of elite attacking football!"

    "What a spectacle it was!"

    "Both clubs played their hearts out on the pitch!"

    "All over the pitch, we had exciting matchups all over. Jamal Musiala vs Virgil Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah vs Alphonso Davies, Darwin Nunez vs Dayot Upamecano, what an exciting spectacle it was!"

    "Having had a terrific season for club and country in the 2024/2025 season so far, winning the Bundesliga title already as Harry Kane finally broke his trophy curse, Jamal Musiala was once again a menace in the final, terrorizing Liverpool''s defense repeatedly!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "The boy is in a class of his own. It''s a pity that he had to play against the team led by a player that''s arguably had the best season in all of Europe".

    "Of course, I''m talking of the Egyptian King".

    "This season will be remembered as a Mohamed Salah legendary season!"

    "Yes, there''s Sam and his Fulham in the premier league who created history, clinching the premier league title from Liverpool at the last moment but that should take nothing from Salah''s performances this season".

    "Individually in the premier league, he had the most prolific season of his career in terms of both goals and assists".

    "With 35 staggering goals alone in the English premier league, he comfortably won the golden boot award while at the same time coming extremely close to matching Erling Haaland''s goal record of 36 goals in the premier league across just 1 season".

    "The only thing separating him from that legendary Man City season where Haaland made his appearance known to England is just one goal".

    "You just have to know how terrific of a season it is when you produced numbers that are competing with a prime Erling Haaland''s numbers".

    "He lost out to Sam in the assist race by only 2 assists!"

    "Considering how much of a creative freak that boy is, Salah was amazing!"

    "Honestly, if not for the interjection of Fulham, Salah''s season is among the all-time great professional football seasons out there".

    "But still, it was a legendary season!"

    "I mean, come on, 47 goals and 28 assists in all competitions, making a total 75 goal contributions, that''s just crazy numbers!"

    "The greatest numbers of Salah''s career!"

    "That''s Messi and Ronaldo numbers!"

    "That should tell you how crazy of a season it was for the Egyptian King, football fans of the Liverpool persuasion witnessed greatness this season!"

    "Winning the UEFA champions league trophy alone is enough to make it a legendary season, and it cannot help but feel like a farewell to Anfield from the incredible Egyptian King despite the fact that he signed a contract extension". Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire

    "It is a shame that he failed to win another premier league title in the end after such a legendary 96-point season in the English premier league".

    "Surely, he is the front-runner for this season''s ballon d''or award now!"

    Even as the commentator raved, the celebrations already started on the pitch as the Liverpool players gave in to their emotions, celebrating wildly.

    Mohamed Salah especially broke down in tears of joy as his family joined him on the pitch. Today''s win was a culmination of previous unfulfilled ambitions, extreme hard work, and dedication that all resulted in this beautiful moment.

    He felt grateful for being graced to experience a moment like this for the second time in his career after experiencing it only once when Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane were still his strike partners.

    Considering how changed a side this Liverpool was compared to that Liverpool side; his first UEFA champions league win seemed like it happened ages ago and it was what made his emotions cascade.

    But in football, the universal rule of victor and loser always applies and on this important day, Bayern Munich were the losers.

    Even as the Liverpool players rejoiced, celebrating their historic 7th champions league title, the Bayern Munich players experienced a cascade of emotions too but unlike Liverpool''s, their emotions lingered on the sad side.

    A young Jamal Musiala especially could not control his emotions as the German attacking midfielder gave in, collapsing in a fit of tears.

    More senior players of the Bayern Munich attacking squad had to meet him, consoling him even as they tried to mask their pain.

    Harry Kane, the veteran England striker had another UEFA champions league heartbreak after facing his first with Tottenham Hotspurs back in 2019 against a vastly different Liverpool side.

    ''Always Liverpool¡­,'' this striker could not help but think.

    But he took the defeat calmer than most of his teammates.

    After all the celebrations, time finally came for the award ceremony. After a legendary Champions league season, Mohamed Salah won a duo of individual awards, going home with the golden ball award for the best player of the tournament and also the man of the match award for the final itself.

    Liverpool did not have a clean sweep of individual awards though.

    Despite losing out in the end, after his crazy goals earlier in the tournament, including a hattrick in the quarterfinals of the champions league, Harry Kane took home the golden boot award for the most goals scored by a single player in the tournament.

    Manuel Neuer also took home the golden glove award after a final legendary run in the champions league despite the fact that the veteran Bayern Munich goalkeeper was now 40!

    Apart from his performance in the final against Liverpool, in earlier games, most prominently in the blockbuster semifinal clash against the previous reigning champions, Real Madrid, Manuel Neuer put out masterpiece displays in both games that helped them knock Real Madrid out of the competition.

    Alisson Becker was good, but Manuel Neuer was just slightly better in this specific UEFA champions league tournament.

    After the game though, during an interview where he faced the camera, the Bayern Munich no. 1 goalkeeper finally announced bombshell news.

    "This is my last game in football".

    "I''m retiring".

 Chapter 279 End of the 2024/2025 season

    The 2024/2025 football season finally came to an end.After an exciting campaign across the top 5 European leagues, the season finally came to an end, finalizing the winners of each domestic league and the winner of the elite European competitions.

    (English Premier League:)

    (Winner: Fulham FC)

    ¡­

    (Spanish La liga:)

    (Winner: FC Barcelona)

    ¡­

    (Italian Seria A:) S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (Winner: Atalanta)

    ¡­

    (German Bundesliga:)

    (Winner: Bayern Munich)

    ¡­

    (French Ligue 1:)

    (Winner: PSG)

    ¡­

    (UEFA Champions League:)

    (Winner: Liverpool FC)

    For all the major 5 European leagues in the world, 3 of the winners were regular faces while 2 of them were underdogs that rose up, stealing the trophy right from under the nose of the supposed favorites.

    Paris Saint Germain of France were regular winners of the French Ligue 1 title, so much that certain football fans referred to their league as a farmers'' league so PSG winning the Ligue 1 title again was no surprise.

    The same thing applied to the German Bundesliga. The big news was not Bayern Munich winning the trophy, the big news after the win was Harry Kane finally breaking his trophy curse.

    Despite having a prolific career that spanned over 10 years already, this was the English captain''s first time winning a trophy.

    It was crazy but it was reality.

    In the German league, it seemed like things were finally back to default settings after Bayer Leverkusen''s legendary unbeaten run last season, clinching the title from Bayern Munich to extend the duration of Harry Kane''s curse.

    The Spanish La Liga was no different. FC Barcelona or Real Madrid winning the La Liga title was not a new occurrence but more of a regular one, Athletico Madrid winning it either would not feel too odd.

    Afterall, the first 2 were the 2 big giants of Spanish football while Athletico Madrid was a close runner for 3rd position.

    The shocks this season though were provided in the English premier league that was rated 1 among the top 5 European leagues, and then the Italian Serie A.

    What Napoli did, led by Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen 2 seasons earlier to clinching the Italian league title was widely accepted by football fans as occurrences that happen once in decades.

    Afterall, it was the first Scudetto win of the Italian club for decades after their legendary run under the legendary Diego Maradona.

    That league victory cemented Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen''s statuses as legendary figures in Naples, exploding them to the world stage.

    After that season though, the Italian league returned to default settings as it was Inter Milian, AC Milan, and Juventus challenging for the trophy again.

    Nobody expected that just one year later, another such legendary underdog run like that of Napoli 2 seasons earlier would happen again.

    This time, it was Atalanta and this time, it was led by Ademola Lookman, the reigning CAF player of the year winner.

    The Nigerian International was electric all season, chipping in with iconic performances to drag his team from the throes of defeat to victory regularly even as the rest of the Atalanta team also stepped up in crucial moments.

    Their coach did the rest, providing them the perfect foundation to flourish as they ended up winning the Scudetto, creating a crazy underdog story.

    Atalanta''s Scudetto victory was a crazy underdog story, but it still paled in comparison to what happened this season in the English premier league.

    This season, the world of football was taken by storm as the impossible happened, ending a crazy season with Fulham winning the premier league trophy!

    Only regular watchers of the English premier league would know how shocking and impossible this feat was.

    Before the season started, Fulham''s A.I-predicted chances of winning the premier league title was literally 0!

    That was how low of a chance they had of winning the league title.

    Their chances was not just low, it was literally non-existent!

    In a league featuring the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur all in the same league, it was literally impossible for underdog stories to be created.

    It was the toughest football league in the world for a reason. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire

    When Leicester happened back in 2016, a lot of football fans attributed Leicester''s underdog story to the fact that most of the heavy hitters of the premier league all had an off-season in that specific season.

    But even this argument was not valid with Fulham this season.

    Afterall, Liverpool recorded a crazy 96-point season! And yet, Fulham still won the premier league trophy.

    This was beyond crazy, this was bamboozling.

    Of course, with Fulham''s victory, the main man at the center of it all was pushed to prominence as Sam''s superstar status in England rose even higher.

    Not just in Fulham anymore, across the cities of England, he became a big celebrity as a lot of football fans now knew about him.

    Of course, with such popularity came new endorsement deals as Sam entered negotiations with a few big companies.

    While all of this happened and the football world slowly processed the fact that a football campaign was over, to the professional football players, they embraced the rare holiday period.

    Big professional football players all around the world posted pictures of them winding down with their families and friends after such a grueling season.

    Some went on holiday trips; anything that could help relieve stress.

    And Sam was no different. Unlike most of the others who went on luxurious trips though, as soon as the season came to an end, alongside his girlfriend, Sam took a flight to Nigeria to meet his family.

    Unlike before, his status was even bigger now.

    In the airport, he was swarmed by a mob of football fans as the manager of the airport had to come out just to escort him, unknown to Sam that the man was also a fan till he later secretly requested an autograph.

    "¡­"

    Sam was speechless. ''Damn! I really am big now''.

    Once he managed to extricate himself out of the crowd after doing his best to attend to them a bit, he finally entered the car that was prepared for him alongside his girlfriend as they rode off.

    Driving through the familiar Abuja Road, Sam looked outside through the window, sighing. ''It feels like ages ago since I''ve been here''. He thought.

 Chapter 280 Home, sweet home [1]

    Abuja, Nigeria¡­In a big supermarket at the heart of the Nigerian capital city, a mature middle-aged woman dressed in elaborate native attire that highlighted her Southern Nigerian origin, most likely Delta State surfed through the goods on display.

    She had a happy smile on her face as she moved.

    As this customer surfed through the supermarket, hovering around the spices section for making native Nigerian soups, one of the cashiers could not help paying attention to her repeatedly.

    "Do you know her?" One of the guy''s colleagues asked.

    For some reason, this cashier suddenly seemed excited. "I think," he nodded but then he changed his words. "No, I do know her".

    When the middle-aged woman finally went to the cashier, pushing her shopping cart forward for her goods to be calculated, the cashier put on his best smile on his face even as he calculated her goods.

    After he was done calculating, he inputted it on the computer even as the mature middle-aged woman handed her debit card over to pay for the goods.

    The transaction was completed swiftly. After handing her debit card to her and telling her the customary thank you for patronizing, this cashier hesitated before asking. "Madam, please you''re Samuel''s mom, right?"

    Hearing that, the middle-aged woman beamed. "You know my son?"

    The cashier''s smile widened. "Of course!" He answered exuberantly. "Who doesn''t know Sam?" He laughed. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''Oh my God! It''s really her!'' This cashier felt like he was going crazy inside.

    Mrs. Moses smiled with a proud look on her face. "He''s coming to visit today," she beamed. "He recently won¡­, what was it called again? The premiership in England¡­"

    "The English premier league!" The cashier corrected respectfully, carefully shifting on his chair even as Mrs. Moses smiled.

    "Ah! Yes, the premier league". She laughed. "Since he''s coming back, I decided to make his best food to celebrate his win," she grinned. "He loves Banga soup and hot fufu a lot".

    "Ahh!" This cashier was stunned.

    ''The almighty Sam? Eating fufu?!!!''

    In that moment, the indomitable and inviolable image of Sam that this cashier had in his head diminished a bit but, in the end, he accepted it. ''That just shows that he''s human and a normal Nigerian like me, right?''

    In that moment, no longer hesitating, this cashier asked. "Ma''am, please can I have a picture with you?"

    Seeing the look on the cashier''s face, Mrs. Moses could not bring herself to reject his request. Besides, she was absolutely loving this.

    Click! Click!

    After a few clicks of the camera, while the cashier was feeling fly and excited, Mrs. Moses suddenly made a random suggestion.

    "Why don''t you come over to my place today? Have dinner with us".

    "¡­!"

    This cashier stared, too stunned to believe what he just heard and, in the end, he asked for clarification. "Please ma''am, were you talking to me?"

    "Of course, Sam loves to share a meal". Mrs. Moses grinned.

    In that moment, this cashier felt like crying. ''Dreams do come true afterall!''

    ''I feel blessed!''

    The cashier didn''t wait, directly going to his manager to use his only leave of absence for the month as he decided to go with Mrs. Moses.

    As they left, thinking of something random, this avid football fan and cashier looked at Mrs. Moses again. "Ma''am, please don''t let Sam be like other professional football players, please convince him to represent Nigeria".

    "Huh?"

    "The world cup is coming up again next year and Nigeria is yet to even secure qualification. At this rate, we''ll fail to qualify for a 2nd straight world cup".

    "With Sam though, I believe that we can do it".

    "Please convince him to play for Nigeria".

    Mrs. Moses looked at the boy, slightly confused but in the end, she nodded. "Of course, Sam is going to play for Nigeria".

    "I mean, who else was he going to play for?"

    Hearing that confident tone, this cashier heaved a sigh of relief but at the same time, he felt sweat gather in his head. ''This woman¡­,'' he chuckled nervously. ''She sounds even more fearsome than Sam is on a football pitch!''

    ¡­

    "Do you remember that hotel?"

    When the plane flew through the skies of Abuja, recognizing a certain landmark building at the heart of the city, Sam smiled as he pointed through the window of the aeroplane, showing his girlfriend.

    Kayla failed to recognize it at first but once she did, she blushed.

    Few months earlier, after Sam made his debut for Nigeria, fulfilling one of his ultimate dreams which ended up concluding in a sour note, in an effort to console him, Kayla went to great lengths.

    That night, things escalated inside the hotel room where they booked and, on that night, Sam ceased to be a virgin.

    Not just Sam, she too.

    Reminded of that night, she blushed fiercely before lightly punching him by the arm and looking away. "Ahem," she cleared her throat. "I don''t recognize it".

    Sam laughed. "The sound of a terrible liar".

    "Get lost!" She punched him harder this time.

    They both laughed, fully embracing the feeling of coming home already as the plane finally touched down in the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

    There, Sam''s whole family was already waiting for him; his dad, his mom, and Kayla who already returned to Nigeria months ago. But apart from his family, Sam was surprised to see someone else.

    "¡­"

    Seeing the questioning look on his face, Mrs. Moses chuckled. "He''s a fan that I met today while going to get ingredients from the supermarket".

    "I invited him over to have dinner with us".

    "Ok," Sam nodded, smiling as he turned to face the young man. "Nice to meet you, I''m Sam".

    "I k-know, I know your name," he stammered, taking Sam''s handshake and as soon as he did, he felt like electricity was coursing through his body.

    ''It''s Sam!''

    ''The real Sam! Oh my GOD¡­!''

    That night, during dinner, the cashier experienced the best day of his life as he ate with Sam and his family.

    Of course, he asked for permission before recording a bit of how it went.

    Sam didn''t even need to do anything but still, he made this fan''s day as the cashier went home feeling inspired and on top of the world.

    "I ate with Sam!" He kept on muttering as he finally left the mansion.

 Chapter 281 Home, sweet home [2]

    ''Home, sweet home¡­'' Sam could not help but think as midnight approached.Visiting home with his girlfriend after the end of such a grueling football season was just like he expected it to be, it was relaxing.

    Away from the football pitch, away from rivals, from the boisterous energy of home fans and the hostile energy of away fans, away from all of this and at home with his family at last, Sam felt at peace.

    As soon as the random cashier that his mom invited over for dinner left, Sam had a nice time with his family.

    Together, the whole family watched an old movie, a classic in Madagascar, the old 2005 cartoon movie as they had a great time together.

    After the movie, while the rest of the family, his mom, his girlfriend, and his sister stayed in the big sitting room, engaging in a gist among themselves, Sam left with his dad to the balcony where they had a man to man talk.

    On top the balcony, Sam spoke with his dad about a lot of different topics, ranging from life in general to politics, to cryptocurrency, and then his career.

    Talking of his career, Mr. Moses did not hold back as he spoke glowingly of Sam''s premier league career so far.

    When he helped his son as his agent sign the contract with Fulham, Mr. Moses expected great things from him but even he didn''t expect this.

    Sam''s performances with Fulham blew away all his expectations, he adapted to the English premier league like a fish to water.

    Despite the fact that this middle-aged man recognized his son''s effort and sheer hard work in making all of it happen, still, it was clear that Sam''s career trajectory was not taking the normal route that professional football players take.

    It was clear that even when compared to the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, even the recent Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, his career achievements were still an anomaly.

    Afterall, he was still just 19!

    Mr. Moses took a deep breath, looking down the balcony as he allowed the breeze caress his face. "That thing," he sighed and looked at his son. "The system, you don''t yet know its origins?"

    Hearing that question, Sam froze a bit.

    In the end, looking at his dad, with a sigh he shook his head. "I still don''t know its origin, I just got it after the 2022 FIFA World Cup final". Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Mr. Moses sighed, looking into the distance. "I love you son".

    "I love you a lot and I can''t help but worry," he pushed his arms into his pant pockets. "Life experience has taught me that nothing comes for free and it makes me wonder, why did the system come?"

    "What is its origin?"

    "And most importantly," he sighed. "Why did it choose you?"

    In truth, Sam had thought of these same questions a lot of times in the past but he never tried to look too deep simply because his system was too mysterious.

    Its origins, its powers, they were too mysterious and he was scared of losing the system due to probing too much so he stopped it, ignoring its anomalous existence. But now, with his dad bringing the matter up, he could no longer ignore it. He had no choice but to face the bitter truth.

    "Dad, to be honest, I''ve asked myself these same questions countless times in the past but every single time, I never get a conclusive answer in my head".

    "Did I get the system because I''m better than others out there?"

    "Is it because I have more potential?" Sam shrugged. "I doubt, my potential rating when I just got the system was very low".

    "Is it that I''m the strongest mentally? I doubt too". Saying that, Sam looked into the distance. "I don''t know the exact reason but if I''m to guess, I''ll say I got the system because I met certain parameters that were needed to get the system".

    "I think one of them definitely has to be my mentality," Sam grinned. "I truly want to become the best, and I''ll sacrifice anything to achieve my goal!"

    "As for the other parameters, I don''t yet know but one of these years, something tells me that I''ll find out the reason why the system chose me".

    He looked at his dad. "I''ll find out the reason why I got the system".

    "Are you sure?"

    Sam shook his head. "It''s just a hunch".

    Mr. Moses sighed. "I trust you then".

    The father and son duo stood silent for a few minutes, just taking in the breeze when suddenly thinking of something, Mr. Moses smiled. "About your contract situation¡­"

    Immediately after the end of the 2024/2025 football season and Fulham were confirmed as the English premier league title winners, lots of football clubs around Europe lined up for Sam''s signature.

    Clubs from all top 5 European leagues gave him contract offers.

    Of them all though, Mr. Moses narrowed the options to 3 interesting offers. "Your most lucrative contract offer among all the clubs asking for your signature is from Paris Saint Germain, they want to get you by any means possible".

    "They''re offering a base salary of 500,000 Euros per week, and that is without bonuses, not to talk of the astronomical signing bonus".

    Seeing the disinterested look on his son''s face, Mr. Moses chuckled. "Another enticing offer comes from Manchester City. They''re offering you an outstanding base salary of 370,000 Euros per week, offering you a contract only below Erling Haaland''s, Kevin De Bruyne, and Rodi''s in the Man City squad".

    He looked at his son again. "To me, the most interesting offer though is from Real Madrid. They''re offering you a salary of 300,000 Euros per week".

    Real Madrid was Mr. Moses'' hated club, but the truth was undisputed that the Spanish capital club was the biggest club in the world.

    When Real Madrid approaches a player, most never find the balls to refuse their contract offer, this was why he pitched the idea to his son.

    He wanted to see how staunch his son was.

    As soon as he was done speaking, Sam smirked and then he looked at his dad. "I think you forgot what I said earlier on," he chuckled.

    "Barca or nothing".

 Chapter 282 Home, sweet home [3]

    "Barca or nothing, huh?" Mr. Moses looked into the distance, admiring the beautiful nightlife of Nigeria in Maitama.As soon as Sam said that, he yawned and excused himself, going to sleep after a long and relaxing day. Sam loved sleeping, few things could disturb his precious sleeping time and his girlfriend already understood that.

    With his son gone, Mr. Moses stood on the balcony, looking out even as a gentle smile caressed his lips.

    He thought. ''Gavi, Pedri, Pau Cubarsi, Lamine Yamal¡­, very soon Sam,'' his smile widened. ''I wonder what the future holds for FC Barcelona''.

    Sitting down on the balcony, he opened a bottle of alcoholic wine, helping himself to it as he reminisced about how much his life changed in such little time.

    ''Life really can be a rollercoaster''.

    ¡­

    While Sam retreated to sleep and his dad remained on the balcony, indulging himself, the 3 women were still engaged in conversation.

    The conversation was gradually turning mischievous.

    "Come on, tell me," Mrs. Moses said in a cajoling manner as she stared at Kayla. "What are the both of you still waiting for? Where is my grandson?"

    "W-w-what¡­?" Kayla''s face turned a bright shade of red even as she tried to sneak away immediately.

    "Come on, don''t run, tell me. I promise I won''t tell anyone, who will I even tell? I have no close friends to tell such things to".

    Kayla was blushing so fiercely that she could not say a word.

    Sophia was no different as she blushed, occasionally muttering a curse under her breath. "Mother has started!" She grumbled.

    In the end, despite how embarrassed she felt at this moment, Mrs. Moses was able to make Kayla feel comfortable enough to start talking.

    "I don''t think we''re ready for marriage yet".

    "Really? Why not?"

    "I mean, we''re still very young, Sam is just 19!"

    "19 is just?" Mrs. Moses looked suspiciously at the girl. "19 is only small when other aspects that constitute a marriage are not yet in order".

    "But you guys? You guys are more than ready already. Psychologically, you should be ready and there''s no problem in terms of finance, so why not?"

    Kayla chuckled awkwardly. "Mom, training children is not something that should be rushed so eagerly, it''s a delicate subject".

    Mrs. Moses sighed. "I understand where you''re coming from but still¡­," she made puppy eyes. "I want to carry my grandson!" She nagged.

    In the end, she relented. "Tell me what you want personally".

    Kayla thought for a few seconds before answering. "Above all else, I want stability before deciding to give birth and raise a child".

    Mrs. Moses'' eyes widened. "You''re telling me you''re not stable? Tell me, is Sam not treating you right? That bastard, I''ll kill him right now!"

    "Mom!" Kayla complained, rubbing her temples. "It''s not that".

    "Not that?" She seemed confused. "Then what?"

    "Right now, Sam''s football career is still in a period of meteoric rise and his status and popularity keeps on increasing. It''s something that we''re not used to yet, and it''s taking some getting used to".

    "Besides, I''ve heard him talk, he''s an avid FC Barcelona fan," she smiled knowingly. "I think he won''t stay in Fulham much longer".

    "If I''m not wrong, Sam may go to Spain soon".

    "To do what?"

    "¡­" Kayla looked at the middle-aged woman, thoroughly speechless.

    In the end, staying patient, she explained. "FC Barcelona is a football club in Spain, one of the biggest clubs in the world. If Sam is to play for them, he won''t stay in England anymore, he''ll have to migrate to Spain and start staying there".

    "Ohhhh!" Mrs. Moses nodded as she finally understood, but then she frowned. "That''s so stressful".

    "I know, right?"

    "Why don''t he just stay in Fulham then?"

    "¡­"

    Kayla felt like crying. ''Because Fulham is not a big club!''

    In the end, she continued explaining. "Before settling to raise children, I want my career and Sam''s careers to be stable first".

    "I want to at least have completed my school first while Sam''s career is stable in Spain. That way, we''ll be able to build a harmonious and stable environment to raise a kid, your grandkid". S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Mrs. Moses grinned excitedly. "Yes, you''re right," she rubbed her chin in thought, already thinking of something else. "His name shall be Jason!"

    "Huh? Why?"

    "I''ve always wanted to name my son Jason, but I only got Sam".

    Kayla laughed but then she added. "We don''t even know if it''s going to be a boy, anything can happen".

    "It''s going to be a boy!" Mrs. Moses added confidently.

    An hour later, while the men were already long asleep with even Sophia asleep already, the 2 others stayed awake as they kept on conversing in the sitting room till it was midnight.

    Mrs. Moses introduced Kayla to a bad habit of hers that night, too tired to stand up when they were done, they ended up sleeping on the sofa in the sitting room.

    Sam woke up at night to find both of them sleeping peacefully.

    He palmed his face. "Dammit!"

    Returning to his room, he came back with warm blankets, covering them before sleeping on the sofa with them.

    Sam didn''t sleep immediately though. Picking up his phone, he went to WhatsApp as he started a conversation with 2 of his friends. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire

    He chatted till it was late before sleeping again.

    ¡­

    Ding! Dong!

    The next morning, the whole Moses'' household woke up late.

    They were woken up by the loud ringing sound of the house alarm. Rubbing her sleep eyes, when Sophia walked up to check the CCTV camera to see who was at the door, her eyes widened into saucers.

    "¡­!"

    Throwing the cup that she held to the side, she bolted to the sitting room''s door and quickly opened it as 2 familiar faces appeared before her.

    "Hey babe!" Ian grinned.

    "Ian!" She screamed, jumping into his arms.

    Beside Ian was a familiar face, an Englishman, Emile Smith Rowe came to Nigeria for the first time in his life.

    ¡­

    An hour later, in the dining room¡­

    "This right here is called Owo soup, and this is called starch," Sam grinned as he demonstrated to his English friend.

    Emile Smith Rowe looked at him, trying hard to hide his disgust. "You eat this?"

    "Of course!" Sam grinned, not at all annoyed by the look on his friend''s face. "It''s highly nutritious food!"

    "I know it looks somehow but just trust me and test it, thank me later". He smiled.

    Though Emile Smith Rowe wanted to simply run out of this dining room at this moment, out of his trust for Sam, he decided to try the weird-looking food.

    "Not like that," Sam corrected patiently. "You don''t just pick it, you cut it as if you''re cutting a wood. Like this," he demonstrated.

    Cutting a wrap of starch, he dipped it into the soup and swallowed, making Emile Smith Rowe grimace a bit at the sight.

    In the end though, closing his eyes, he did it.

    Gulp!

    As soon as the food went down his throat, he shuddered, fighting his instinct to throw up what he just ingested.

    Silently, he waited, allowing his tongue to taste.

    A second passed, and then Smith Rowe opened his eyes. His eyes widened as the sensation of the food that just passed through his throat registered in his brain, triggering a wave of dopamine in him.

    "Wow!" He exclaimed, looking at Sam. "It''s¡­," he hesitated. "It''s delicious!"

    "I know, right?" Sam laughed. "Now, eat the fish with it and be bamboozled".

    Emile Smith Rowe did just that, picking from the giant Catfish on his plate and devouring it and from there, the Englishman never looked back.

    Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!

    Emile Smith Rowe ate so much, causing Sam to sweat on his forehead as he worried that if his friend stayed any longer in Nigeria eating like this, he would grow overweight before the holiday came to an end.

    At the end of it all, Emile Smith Rowe finished the food, rubbing his stomach contentedly as he flashed a smile at Mrs. Moses.

    "Ma''am, the food was splendid".

    Mrs. Moses grinned. "An Englishman praised my food".

    She maintained a polite smile on her face but smugly, she could not help but turn her face to look at her husband. "Your wife is the best!"

    "Yes, yes," Mr. Moses nodded, not wanting to ignite trouble.

    Watching from the side, Sam laughed.

    He quickly noticed though that Emile Smith Rowe was struggling to move after eating such heavy food, he chuckled. "You remind me of when I was small, sometimes I can''t even move from where I sat after eating too much".

    Emile Smith Rowe looked at him pitifully, almost at the point of tears.

    But then Sam chuckled again, suddenly thinking of something. "Do you want to play a game?"

    "What game?"

    Sam grinned. "When I was younger, I used to play football on local fields just like Brazilians play on the streets".

    "There are local fields here in Abuja too".

    Hearing that, Smith Rowe''s eyes gleamed.

    The atmosphere in this dining room quickly changed as eating fish, Ian stared at the 2 others guys, flabbergasted as he already realized their intentions. ''Don''t tell me¡­!''

    Kayla opened her mouth to interject. "Definitely no, he just got here!"

    Sam laughed and jumped up. "Let''s go play ball!"

    Emile Smith Rowe followed him.

    "Dad! Tell him¡­!" Kayla desperately looked to Mr. Moses to help.

    Mr. Moses chuckled. "You can separate the player from football, but you can''t separate the football from the player".

    "It''s something innate".

    "Let them enjoy themselves, it''s holiday period for them".

 Chapter 283 Street football

    Yes, it was Abuja.Yes, it was the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria but still, it was not every day that you get to meet global superstars.

    That evening in Abuja, in one of the local football fields at the Airport Road, the local football players welcomed 2 esteemed guests.

    When the luxurious-looking car first pulled up at the side of the local field, it already attracted a lot of attention but the attention hit a crescendo when a white man came out of the passenger seat of the chair.

    This Whiteman was not anonymous, his face was easily recognizable. Afterall, this was a gathering of local football players.

    "Is that not¡­?" The avid local football players recognized Emile Smith Rowe almost immediately as their eyes widened into saucers.

    ''Am I dreaming?''

    At first, the local players could not believe who they were seeing but once they did, they all had the same thought. Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire

    ''Emile Smith Rowe is in Nigeria?!''

    ''If he is here, who brought him here?''

    It didn''t take a clever man to make the connection. Which Fulham player was close to Emile Smith Rowe and had a connection to Nigeria?

    Their eyes widened even more. "Sam!"

    The next moment, as soon as the driver''s door opened and Sam stepped out, the players were already screaming his name but they respected him as they did not swarm in his direction, only admiring him from a distance.

    Instead of the full field of players swarming him, rather, their local coach was the one who walked up to Sam instead.

    The coach was all smiles as he approached. "Good evening sir".

    Sam smiled. "You''re the coach here, right?"

    The middle-aged coach nodded.

    Sam looked around at the local pitch, at the players playing. "Are you guys playing any important tournament?"

    "No sir, this is just normal weekend football".

    Hearing that, Sam smiled. "Then can you indulge us please?" He chuckled. "I and my friend here want to play football".

    "With pleasure". This middle-aged coach said respectfully.

    "But first," he grinned. "Can I take a picture with you?"

    Sam chuckled. "Is that the requirement to play here?"

    The middle-aged coach chuckled mischievously. "Kinda".

    A few minutes later, Sam and Emile Smith Rowe geared up as they entered the pitch alongside the players.

    It was unfair to the players of the other side but Sam and Emile Smith Rowe decided to play together for the first round of this game that lasted 10 minutes each half. This was local football¡­

    ¡­this was street football.

    FWEEE!

    The coach''s whistle sounded to kickstart the game, and boy did it start.

    Bam!

    An exciting game started in this local stadium in Abuja.

    Shortly after the game started, certain videos and pictures started circulating on social media, causing a storm online.

    ***

    (Sam in our local football pitch! Image attached=)

    (Sam and Emile Smith Rowe are in Abuja! And they''re both playing football with my brother! OMG, I still can''t believe it! Video attached=)

    (Holy chicken! This is gods among men, Sam and Emile Smith Rowe?! Drop location, I''m coming right away!)

    ¡­

    (Comments:)

    (Drop location!)

    (Location pls¡­)

    (Please, the location¡­)

    (Please drop location!)

    (100k for the first person to drop the location!)

    (Done! Location: Angwan Gboko community field!)

    ***

    A frenzy started in Abuja.

    All over the federal capital territory, avid football fans who followed the premier league, those who had watched Sam and Emile Smith Rowe play, watching the S factor this season rushed to the local field where the 2 superstars played.

    The first half of the game lasted only 10 minutes but by the end of 10 minutes, this local field was already bloated with a horde of spectators.

    With excited looks on their faces and with countless cameras pointed at the field, they recorded the proceedings on the pitch as Sam and Emile Smith Rowe loosened up, enjoying street football.

    Bam! Bam!

    Even on the streets, the S factor struck!

    The team on the receiving end of Sam and Smith Rowe''s onslaught felt like crying as they were repeatedly cut open like a hot knife through butter.

    The strategy of Sam and Smith Rowe''s team became very easy as soon as both superstar footballers entered their team. The strategy was once you win the ball back, pass to either of the 2 superstars, they would do the rest.

    And boy was this strategy scarily effective.

    Bam!

    Anytime that Sam received a pass, gasps of awe and chuckles erupted from the spectators as he dazzled with it.

    Every chop of the ball that he took elicited reactions.

    Every body feint, and the occasional roulettes, they elicited cheers and when he finally did the iconic elastico dribble, sending players to dreamland, they started chanting his name.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    Even on the streets of Nigeria, the Sam chant was being sang.

    By the end of 10 minutes, 8 goals were already chipped past the opposition team as they only managed 1 goal in the same time.

    5 of the goals were singlehandedly scored by Sam while Emile Smith Rowe scored 2 more, the original striker of the local team scored the 8th goal.

    To the spectators, they were having a treat.

    Half-time lasted 5 minutes and when they returned to the pitch, the onslaught continued as Sam scored 4 more goals, making it a hattrick of hattricks!

    Even Smith Rowe slapped him by the back of the head after he scored the 9th goal. "Calm down you freak, you want to demoralize them from playing football?"

    Sam chuckled and rubbed the back of his head grievingly. "But I''m enjoying myself".

    "At the expense of others?" Smith Rowe glared at him. "We''ll play again and this time, I''ll play for the other team".

    They did just that.

    The first game ended with an incredible scoreline of 13-2, and in the next game, Sam and Smith Rowe played in opposing teams.

    This was where the real drama arose from.

    With both superstar players in opposing sides, the game became much more competitive as Emile Smith Rowe was forced to do more in this game.

    The game became exciting!

    To most of the spectators, this was the most exciting game that they''ve watched live as Sam and Emile Smith Rowe dazzled, bringing premier league football to the streets of Nigeria.

    In the end, unlike the first game, the scoreline for this game was more normal as it ended 5-4 with Sam''s team winning again.

    Sam scored a hattrick while Emile Smith Rowe assisted all 4 goals that were scored by his side, the spectators got a treat that they won''t forget quickly.

    At the end of the game, Sam was finally swarmed by fans demanding autographs and signatures as he and Smith Rowe were forced to work.

    After that, they finally drove back home.

    Driving on the road, Sam opened the car windows, allowing breeze in even as he brought a hand outside, enjoying the scenery of Abuja.

    "It''s sooo good to just relax". He grinned. "I love this". S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Emile Smith Rowe looked at him, smiling. "Me too".

 Chapter 284 Birth of a dream

    (Congratulations! Your YouTube channel ''MagicalSam'' has been created successfully!)(You can now start posting content to build and engage your audience!)

    They say there are certain experiences in life that changes people''s life.

    They are right.

    For Gregory, all it took was one dinner. One dinner with Mrs. Moses, Sam and his family for the cashier to become inspired.

    Gregory was an avid football fan. He had a BSc certificate in computer science from the university but due to the economic state of the country, he had no choice but to work as a cashier in a supermarket to make ends meet.

    At times, it was really hard but he was surviving.

    Gregory had tried different means to turn his financial life around. When he was still in the university, he started a business that lasted only 2 months, and at some point, he even entered forex trading.

    All of it resulted in losses that demoralized him. For a long time, the only thing that gave Gregory joy was watching football.

    Every other thing seemed to only give him pain and disappointment, even his love life. Football was one thing that made him feel alive.

    He was an avid FC Barcelona fan.

    When he first heard the news of the young Nigerian midfielder who secured a contract with Fulham, he didn''t pay attention to it, thinking Sam was just one of those players who got lucky with a European club.

    This was what he thought until he was forced to watch a Fulham game due to all the noise that was surrounding the young boy called a prodigy.

    The 26-year-old cashier watched Fulham''s game against Manchester City earlier in the season and in that game, his heart was bought.

    Gregory became Sam''s number 1 fan!

    ''Gosh! The boy is good!''

    ''He''s a monster, a freaking monster!''

    ''Damn!''

    From that day, he began endorsing Sam, telling all his friends, including his colleagues about the young Nigerian footballer who originated from Delta State.

    He already did his research, digging into Sam''s history and origin after watching just one of his games and being impressed by it.

    The more he learned about Sam''s life, the more impressed he was.

    Sam was not one of those rich kids who got to where he was due to his connections like he expected, rather, Sam was a Delta-bred through and through who rose from the ruins of the streets in Delta.

    From the streets of Abraka, Delta State, Sam rose without the help of a football academy, climbing to the peak of Nigerian football before eventually securing the ultimate leap to the premier league.

    Again, against all expectations in the premier league, Sam exceeded all limits that people automatically set for him, breaking countless records in England.

    Sam singlehandedly dragged Fulham to the premier league title!

    What other achievement was bigger than that?

    Watching Fulham in the last matchday of the season against Manchester City as they did the incredible, putting so many goals beyond the previous reigning champions of England, in that moment, Gregory felt that anything was possible.

    After that game, he became inspired, igniting a dream in him.

    He didn''t want to be a cashier all his life. Even as he failed to secure a good job in the city, he still worked hard, brainstorming on what to do with his life.

    At some point in his life, he even entered novel-writing which still ended up flopping. But for some time, he had the idea of opening a YouTube channel.

    The only reason why he was yet to open the YouTube channel was because of the simple fact that he was now scared of failure. After failing so many times, he developed a phobia for even starting.

    Afterall, what were the chances that he would not just fail again?

    This hesitation led to him procrastinating for a long time, until today, until the dinner that he had with Samuel Moses and his family.

    That dinner so close to his hero changed the orientation of this 26-year-old.

    ''Dammit! I''m wasting my life!''

    ''If Sam can do it, I can do it too!''

    While Sam was somewhere playing street football with Emile Smith Rowe, locked inside his room, Gregory accessed a video that he already made but was too scared to post since.

    At first, Gregory had other intentions for his YouTube channel to focus generally on football but after that dinner, he tweaked his intentions, changing his mind to make his YouTube channel focus fully on making Sam contents.

    Looking at the video, he sighed. ''It''s now or never''.

    Gregory no longer hesitated. As soon as he created the YouTube channel, he clicked it, uploading his first video.

    (Congratulations! You have posted your first video in your YouTube channel ''MagicalSam'')

    (Samuel Moses- Volume 1: Rising from the streets of Abraka!)

    "So help me God". He mumbled. Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire

    ¡­

    (Samuel Moses- Volume 1: Rising from the streets of Abraka!)

    The video was a story.

    It was perfectly edited to create an engaging story, highlighting various highs and lows of Sam''s career from his struggles in the streets of Abraka, to fighting in Enyimba for place, to solidifying his status in England with Fulham.

    With a perfect soundtrack that had 3 different themes, the first one hinting at desperation and survival, the struggle of Sam in the early phases of his career was perfectly highlighted till he got his first contract with Enyimba.

    Even his game with Black Hearts FC was talked about.

    After he got his first contract, playing for Enyimba, the soundtrack changed its cadence, smoothly transiting to jungle survival soundtrack.

    The catchy beat and lyrics perfectly captured the emotions of Sam''s struggle in Enyimba under Coach Yemi Daniels, fighting for his place in the team and eventually solidifying it, eventually leading Enyimba to glory.

    And in the 3rd phase of the video, the Fulham part, the soundtrack smoothly transited again, this time to a high-octane beat filled with energy.

    The energetic beats highlighted Sam''s feeling and status of a superstar now, simulating the feeling of being on top of the world.

    In simple words, it was perfecto, a perfect video.

    Coincidentally, this video came out in a time when the term ''Samuel Moses'' was trending again.

    After uploading the video, Gregory slept.

    He woke up to a shock as soon as he checked his laptop.

    Ding! Ding!

    (Congratulations! Your YouTube channel ''MagicalSam'' has received 50 subscribers!)

    (Congratulations! Your YouTube channel ''MagicalSam'' has received 812 subscribers!)

    (Congratulations! Your YouTube channel ''MagicalSam'' has received 3,120 subscribers!)

    (Congratulations! Your video ''Samuel Moses- Volume 1: Rising from the streets of Abraka'' has attained the Hot tag!)

    "¡­"

    "¡­"

    "¡­..!"

    Gregory''s eyes widened. "What the hell!" S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 285 Celebrity endorsement

    Gregory woke up to the greatest shock of his life.Ding! Ding!

    (Congratulations! Your YouTube channel ''MagicalSam'' has received 50 subscribers!)

    (Congratulations! Your YouTube channel ''MagicalSam'' has received 812 subscribers!)

    (Congratulations! Your YouTube channel ''MagicalSam'' has received 3,120 subscribers!)

    (Congratulations! Your video ''Samuel Moses- Volume 1: Rising from the streets of Abraka'' has attained the Hot tag!)

    "¡­"

    "¡­"

    "¡­..!"

    Gregory¡­ was simply flabbergasted.

    For someone who had grown used to being on the wrong receiving end of life, who like a metal placed in an anvil kept on being hit with no care given to how long he could remain strong before breaking, to suddenly experience such a fortune, Gregory was just speechless.

    ''Is this really happening?''

    Gregory could not believe what he was seeing. His eyes widened, confusion swirling in their depths.

    So many questions were on his mind as he stared blankly at his laptop. ''How?''

    ''When?''

    ''What happened?''

    ''Oh my Gosh! How did this happen?!''

    Despite the many rational questions that were in his head, in the end, all of it culminated into a simple exclamation. "What the hell!"

    ¡­

    People''s lives can change at any moment. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In Gregory''s case, one video was all it took to change his life.

    He poured his heart and soul into making the video as he was mesmerized by the individual named Samuel Moses, but that was not the main reason why the video blew up, shooting him to prominence.

    Afterall, there were many other YouTube editors like him who were really good but were underrated, leaving their work to rot in obscurity.

    That great divide between obscurity and popularity, most times, a catalyst was needed to bridge the great divide and Gregory got that catalyst early.

    The real reason why the video blew up was because of Sam.

    As soon as Gregory uploaded the video, an hour later, in the evening when Sam and Emile Smith Rowe finally returned to his family mansion in Abuja, Maitama after enjoying themselves and playing street football, his girlfriend showed something to him.

    Sam almost expected Kayla to berate him for going against her wishes and going to play football on the street, or a nagging display even, but he didn''t get any of that on arriving home. Rather, Kayla simply sat him down, gave him food to eat and showed him a YouTube video to watch.

    The video''s title?

    >Samuel Moses- Volume 1: Rising from the streets of Abraka<

    "A video about me?" Sam was surprised. "Who created it, you?"

    Sam looked at his girlfriend only to see her shake her head. "You remember the cashier that mom brought back from the supermarket where she went shopping?"

    Sam nodded. "It''s him?"

    "Yes, he created the video. After watching it, I could not help but feel that you should watch it too. Afterall, despite being your social media handler, there are still things I feel you should have real input on still".

    Sam nodded again and then he took the iPhone, he mumbled under his breath. "I never knew he was a content creator".

    "He just started".

    "Huh?"

    "This is his first video".

    "Really?" At that moment was when Sam noticed the name of the YouTube channel. "MagicalSam?"

    "Wait, he created the channel, dedicating it all to me and my career?" His eyes widened in disbelief.

    Kayla chuckled. "He''s clearly not your normal football fan, he''s a ''you'' fan". She said with emphasis.

    Suddenly interested, Sam clicked on the video and watched it.

    Eminem said ''Lose Yourself!'', ''Seize your moment!'', well, Gregory definitely seized his moment because the video that he created was a masterpiece.

    He poured all of his passion, experience, and skills into making the video.

    Watching it, Sam did not feel like he was watching an edited video at all, everything was so accurate that he felt like he was re-watching his life all over again from a third person''s POV.

    From the mighty highs to the crazy lows, Gregory missed nothing, including everything in the video and that hit Sam''s deepest spots.

    By the time he finished watching the video, he could barely hold in his emotions. "The guy is good". He commented seriously.

    And then, he looked at his girlfriend, smiling. "Let''s endorse him!" He suddenly proposed.

    This¡­ was the catalyst that Gregory needed to blow.

    Endorsing Gregory was exactly what Kayla wanted and was the reason why she showed her boyfriend the video in the first place. Once she got Sam''s approval, she went ahead, reposting the link to Gregory''s YouTube video in all of Sam''s social media handles.

    And that became the trigger for the frenzy that followed.

    What greater catalyst to popularity than being mentioned by one of the most popular professional football players of the English premier league?

    Within just minutes after Kayla posted the link in Sam''s social media handles, Gregory''s video started trending and the more people watched it, the more people realized how much of a masterpiece it was as it gave them a better POV of Sam''s career.

    Watching it felt like experiencing Sam''s career. Gregory was able to perfectly execute the story-telling technique of show, don''t tell.

    It was literally perfection.

    A lot of people appreciated it.

    And from there came the comments, the appreciation messages, the recommendations, the continuous reposts, the gifts and request for a Patreon, the sending of links, and then eventually the rapid surge in subscriber count.

    By morning, Gregory''s subscriber counts in YouTube already rose over 50,000 subscribers!

    Despite such a crazy surge, it didn''t stop there even as it kept on rising rapidly.

    Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire

    And this was just the initial wave.

    Kayla already contacted Gregory after receiving Sam''s approval. From henceforth, any new video that he created on Sam''s career, Kayla would personally endorse it, promoting it on his behalf.

    "¡­"

    "¡­"

    "¡­..!"

    That morning, Gregory felt like he was dreaming.

    "Damn!" He muttered, too emotional to control himself as tears flowed down his eyes. "Dreams really do come true".

    "My life¡­ has changed".

    ***

    [I''m still bogged down by school work since this is my final year session. I''m yet to edit the last 2 chapters, I''ll edit them and today''s 2 with time.]

    [I''ve edited them now.]

 Chapter 286 A trip back to roots

    In just one night, Gregory''s life turned around.While to Gregory, his whole life turned upside down for good, to Sam, it was just another day in his life as he woke up to meet a new day.

    Yesterday, after the exciting street football that he and Emile Smith Rowe engaged on in the streets of Abuja, he felt alive.

    After letting off some steam, he felt revitalized again.

    That morning, waking up, the first thing that Sam did was to wake his best friend up even as both of them quickly left the mansion with their headsets on, jogging through the streets of Maitama.

    In just about 40 minutes or so later.

    ~----~

    [You have completed System Daily Quest: Mentality Monster!]

    [You have been rewarded with a low-grade physical conditioning elixir!]

    ~----~

    Sweating profusely but not yet completely out of breath, Sam paid attention to the timer. "We''ve become really better at doing this, huh?" He chuckled.

    "Yeah," Smith Rowe muttered amid deep breaths. "I think this should be one of our fastest times in completing our daily quest, right?"

    "Yeah," Sam nodded. "It''s approximately 40 minutes".

    "Back then, we take mostly an hour and above to complete it, to think we''ve improved so much in such a short time".

    Emile Smith Rowe chuckled. "You improved the most".

    Already done with their daily system quests, Sam and his friend didn''t see a reason to jog back home as they strolled through the streets of Maitama.

    As they strolled, they discussed different topics.

    Of course, Sam orchestrated the conversation as the anchor, mostly teasing Emile Smith Rowe as he asked when he would finally get to see his girlfriend.

    To that, Smith Rowe could only laugh and blush, but in the end he promised Sam that it was only a matter of time before he meets her.

    "Damn! You''re even promising me, are you secretly dating already or you have a girl in your sights?"

    "No, damn, no, stop it!" He complained. Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire

    Sam chuckled. "You can be so cute sometimes," he grinned. "Few people would believe that Emile Smith Rowe, the English premier league star is such a dunce when it comes to women".

    Smith Rowe looked at him defiantly. "I''d love to see the cheeks with which you will say that when you finally meet her".

    Sam''s eyes widened. "I said it! I caught you," he laughed, pointing at his English friend. "There''s someone, right?"

    Smith Rowe was stunned; he confirmed it himself.

    Gritting his teeth, this Englishman grumbled. "You bastard, you baited me".

    Sam chuckled, escaping before Smith Rowe could pounce on him.

    In the end, after Sam managed to appease him, the focus of their talk finally deviated from other topics to football.

    "So, what is your plan for next season?" Emile Smith Rowe looked up at the tall and dark Nigeria professional football player.

    Hearing that question, Sam rubbed his chin even as he continued walking.

    He thought over his answer before answering. "I don''t know how much you know about my childhood but honestly, I''ve always had a dream from when I was 6". Saying this, a smile crept up Sam''s face.

    "I''ve been an FC Barcelona fan since I was 6, right after I watched the blockbuster UEFA champions league final clash between FC Barcelona and Man United back in 2011".

    "Since then, I''ve never looked back".

    He sighed. "I know, it''s just 1 and half seasons so far since I came to Fulham but in that time, I feel that I''ve achieved enough already".

    He looked at Emile Smith Rowe. "My plan for next season is based on only one thing, if FC Barcelona will come to knock or not".

    "I have no intentions of going to any other football club".

    "If Barca knocks, I''m definitely leaving".

    "And if they don''t, I''ll stay put in Fulham, another season to create another legendary miracle is not a challenge that''s too big". He grinned.

    "So, what of you, what''s your plan for next season?"

    Smith Rowe took even more time in silence than Sam before answering, he chuckled. "I never imagined myself saying this," he looked at Sam. "But I intend to stay put in Fulham FC".

    Hearing that, even Sam was surprised as he looked at him, waiting for an explanation and Smith Rowe did not keep him waiting.

    Smith Rowe sighed. "I''m an Arsenal academy graduate; I literally lived all my life in the academy and the Emirates Stadium".

    "You never played for an academy so I''m not sure if you can relate but being kicked out of Arsenal," Smith Rowe took a deep breath. "That was the hardest period of my life by a large margin".

    "Nothing comes close".

    "At some point, I felt that I would die. I even gave up on football entirely but then, Fulham came knocking".

    "I won''t lie to you," he chuckled, looking at Sam. "When Fulham approached at first, I was disgusted. To me, it was a small mid-table team".

    "I felt that my talent deserved playing in a top team of the English premier league, not a mid-table team in Fulham".

    "It was a pill that was incredibly hard for me to swallow," he sighed again. "But bless the day that I decided to swallow that pill". He smiled.

    "I accepted Fulham''s contract offer, and then my life changed".

    "Playing with the likes of Iwobi, Jimenez, you, Adama Traore," he laughed. "I never expected to create the best memories of my career in a Fulham shirt".

    "That is why I''ve decided". Emile Smith Rowe looked into the distance, a fire burning in his eyes. "I''ll dedicate the best years of my career to Fulham!"

    ''Are you sure?'' Sam wanted to ask this but he stopped himself as he noticed the look in his friend''s eyes, Smith Rowe already made his decision and he was ready to stand by it. Sam respected it.

    Smith Rowe looked at Sam, grinning. "I want to be a Fulham legend!"

    ¡­

    The next day, after completing their daily quest again, having brought the suggestion yesterday, Sam finally embarked on a trip back to his roots.

    Alongside Ian, Smith Rowe, his sister, and his girlfriend, they went on a trip back to Delta State, Abraka where his journey started.

    His roots.

    Compared to the last time that Sam came to Abraka, he was even bigger now.

    He received a triumphant welcome in the city alongside Emile Smith Rowe. He took his English friend on a tour around the town where he grew up.

    For this trip, prepared, Mr. Moses already hired military personnel who acted as his son''s guards, protecting him and his friends through their stay in Abraka. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Sam took Emile Smith Rowe and his girlfriend to different memorable places of his life in Abraka, revisiting old memories that he thought he already forgot.

    It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience for him.

    By the end of it all, they met Coach James, Sam''s very first coach whose Black Hearts'' team were to play an impromptu game to celebrate the return of their legend since they still believed that Sam came out of their team.

    Sam, Ian, his sister, his girlfriend, and Emile Smith Rowe watched from the stands as 2 different teams played an exciting game in the Delta State university field, trying their best to impress the 2 superstars.

    Sam was the one who provided the prize reward for the game.

    The winning team was to win 5 million naira while the losing team would receive a compensation price of 2 million naira.

    The top goal scorer would receive 1 million naira and if they were multiple, each of them would receive a million naira each.

    The top assist provider would receive 800,000 naira, and the best player of the game and tournament would take home 1.5 million naira.

    By the end of the game, Delta State University Abraka felt alive.

    Sam also felt alive.

    ''Home, sweet home¡­,'' he thought.

 Chapter 287 Reminiscing the past

    (Daily 9ja News:)(Samuel Moses back to his roots!: The English football superstar, Samuel Moses went on a trip back to his roots in Abraka, Delta State in one of his memorable stops during the holiday period. Images and videos are attached=)

    ¡­

    (The Sun Newspaper:)

    (Samuel Moses, the next Jay Jay Okocha?: The story of the premier league superstar is one filled with ups and downs, near-giving up moments and in all its complicated facets hide the resilience of Sam. He never gave up, read this article to learn the full story of Sam''s career=)

    ¡­

    (The Daily Guide:)

    (Philanthropism in Abraka, Delta State: Samuel Moses goes back to his roots, organizing a charity football game to empower other teenagers like him who grew up in the streets of Abraka, aspiring to become professional football players like him. Details of the 1-game tournament are attached below=)

    ¡­

    Like expected, the next day, just as each of Sam''s actions since coming to Nigeria on his holiday were creating a storm, his visit to Abraka and subsequently organizing a charity game with Coach James also triggered a storm.

    After the game, Sam, Emile Smith Rowe, Coach James, and Ian who later arrived in Abraka, joining them went to a restaurant to eat.

    At the restaurant, they had a sumptuous meal, discussing different topics ranging from football to education even as Coach James was eager to speak, highlighting how much Sam''s life changed in such a long time.

    "He may not look like it," Sam chuckled, looking at Emile Smith Rowe. "But he is my very first coach".

    "Stop flattering me". Coach James blushed. "I can barely qualify as a coach".

    Sam shook his head. "I''m serious, that Christmas game that you organized back then literally changed my life".

    "Without it," he relaxed on his chair, looking around at the other people in this restaurant. "Maybe my life would have never changed. Maybe, I would still be in an obscure corner of Abraka, reading and trying hard to secure admission into the university". He chuckled.

    "On any other day, I would have never got the opportunity to play before a coach of Yemi Daniels'' credentials at that point of my life".

    "I just needed an opportunity to blossom and show my talent to the world, and Coach James gave me that opportunity".

    "I won''t lie, that Christmas game that you organized changed my life".

    Coach James smiled. "That''s enough praise for a guy like me; I feel like anymore praise would made my pride swell up". He joked, chuckling as the others laughed.

    Coach James paid attention to Emile Smith Rowe. It took some time but he was finally getting comfortable before the Englishman.

    He chuckled. "Don''t pay attention to him, Sam carried me as a coach. I didn''t even do anything that game, all I did was put him in the game and singlehandedly, he turned the game around, helping my team win".

    "You''re not the only one then," Smith Rowe laughed. "He still does that today, even in a league as big as the premier league".

    "Stop it!" Sam poked Smith Rowe''s arm, making him laugh.

    At that moment, Ian spoke. "Talking of securing admission into a university," this scholar looked at his best friend. "Sam, you no longer want to go to school? At some point, you were really interested in getting a university certificate".

    Hearing that, Sam looked at his best friend and chuckled. "That was then".

    "Now, I''m pursuing my dream already".

    He relaxed on his chair again. "Don''t get me wrong, getting a university certificate is important but at this point of my career, I just want to focus and improve it to build a lasting legacy in football".

    Sam sighed, looking at the ceiling of this restaurant as his gaze became distant. "Ian¡­," he hesitated. "I want to be great".

    He sighed, smiling. "I''ve always wanted to be great".

    "I never had a chance to do it but now, I got my chance through what I love the most in the world, playing football".

    "So¡­," he looked at Ian again. "I''ll seize my moment".

    "20 years from now, I want to retire from football knowing that I was able to Lose Myself in the moment and seize glory with my 2 hands". He raised his hands, looking at them. "I truly want to be great".

    "Damn, I can definitely hear Game of Thrones'' soundtrack playing in the background," Coach James joked. "But I believe you can do it Sam".

    "You can build a legacy in football and in the Nigerian national team".

    "Just know that no matter what happens, you have people who''ve got your back in the highs and the lows".

    "I''ll forever be your number 1 Abraka supporter!" He boasted shamelessly, making the others laugh.

    After that, they ate some more, fully enjoying their sumptuous meal before standing to leave. As they left, Sam typed Coach James'' phone number on his Guaranty Trust Bank account, correlating it with the coach''s bank account number.

    He sent Coach James 10 million naira on the spot.

    Ding!

    When his phone pinged him and he looked at it, Coach James could not believe his eyes as they widened as wide as a funnel.

    He thanked Sam profusely who accepted it.

    After that, Sam requested of the local coach to help take Smith Rowe around the town and visit some places.

    While Coach James readily agreed to do that, Sam finally had some much-needed alone time with his best friend as together, they strolled through the streets of Abraka.

    "Just like old times, huh?" Ian chuckled.

    "Yeah," Sam nodded. "Just like old times".

    They took their time, walking from one spot to another even as they went through the memory lane, reminiscing about the past.

    They continued till they arrived at a building that held a lot of memories for both of them, Abraka Secondary School, the school where they both went to and completed their secondary school course.

    "Nothing changed". Ian muttered.

    Sam nodded, smiling. "Do you still remember that day?"

    Ian looked at him. "What day?"

    "The day when scouts from FC Barcelona came to Abraka to organize trials that to meet up, I had no choice but to sneak out of school before closure".

    Sam chuckled, looking at his best friend. "That day, you had to cover for me before later meeting up with me at the DELSU field where the trials took place".

    "I never told you then but thank you man". He patted his best friend''s back.

    "In an ocean of unfamiliar faces, the mere sight of you among the sea of spectators gave me strength; strength to keep on going, strength to continue pursuing my dreams despite the daunting challenge ahead of me".

    "That day, I put in a crazy performance to help my team win and you were the strength, the backbone that anchored me to keep me going".

    Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire

    "I truly appreciate all of it man".

    "Stop being embarrassing," Ian chuckled. "You''d do the same for me, right?"

    "Definitely". Sam said without hesitation.

    They stood, looking at the old school, and then Ian muttered. "If that day didn''t end in such a tragedy, maybe you''d be playing for FC Barcelona already".

    Sam chuckled. "If that day didn''t end in such a tragedy, I wouldn''t have learned from adversity. Maybe I''d be some arrogant player whose ego is too high to even do the basics of playing elite professional football".

    "It sounds crazy, it makes me seem like a masochist but Ian, I won''t lie to you, I''m glad I faced all those challenges in life".

    He smiled. "They¡­ kind of built me".

    "They made me strong to better confront life".

    "Without them, I''m not sure I''d have the same mentality that I currently have, it was a big moment in my learning curve of life".

    Sam sighed, looking ahead. "Life¡­, it can be such a rollercoaster at times".

    "Agreed". Ian added.

    And so, the 2 friends stood, looking at their old school in silence. After what felt like 2 minutes later, Sam broke the silence.

    "Ian".

    "Yes".

    "Umm¡­, about my system¡­"

    "It''s fine," Ian said before Sam could complete his sentence as he turned to face his best friend, smiling at him. "I know what you want to say, just know that your secret remains between me, you, and your dad". He chuckled.

    "You already confirmed it; you''d do the same for me so why won''t I do it?"

    "You keep being you," he smiled. "Fulfill your potential, become great".

    "Afterall, the system choose you for a reason".

    "If you were not worthy, I don''t believe it would have chosen you".

    Sam was tongue-tied, he didn''t know what to say anymore so he simply smiled and hugged his best friend tightly. "I love you man".

    Ian flinched. "That¡­ sounds so gay".

    Sam chuckled, shoving him. "You mother*cker!"

    That evening, together, the 2 best friends finally left to Ian''s original home in Abraka where his parents still stayed.

    Sam had a nice time with his best friend''s family.

    And after taking permission from Ian ahead of time, Sam sent his best friend''s family a large sum of money and completed the deed by buying them a house in Abuja, Maitama close to his parents'' mansion.

    The emotional couple could not control themselves as they let their tears flow, it was a humbling sight to behold.

    Despite expecting this already and having braced himself for it, Ian was still emotional as he hugged his best friend excitedly after.

    "Thank you Sam". S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Thank you for everything".

    And then he grinned. "Don''t worry, very soon I''ll graduate and become a capable Doctor, the best in the world".

    "I''ll make sure you have access to the best medical attention when you''re injured, I''ll make you the fittest football player in the world!"

    Sam laughed. "I can''t wait".

 Chapter 288 Transfer news

    1 week later¡­Sam and Emile Smith Rowe were still in Nigeria, and again, they made the news in Nigeria but it was not because of something that they did to enjoy their holiday, rather it was because of their career.

    (Breaking News:)

    (Emile Smith Rowe signs a contract extension with Fulham FC!)

    (=Fulham have managed to come to an agreement with the English winger, coming to a 7-year contract agreement with him. Emile Smith Rowe is set to become a true legend of Fulham if he maintains his level.)

    ¡­

    (Breaking News:)

    (A summer of transfer speculation finally comes to an end!)

    (FC Barcelona signs a 5-year contract with Sam worth millions of Euros!)

    (Sam receives the no. 11 jersey!)

    After the end of the 2024/2025 season, a chaotic period in the transfer market arrived but none of the news was as big as the one generated by Fulham.

    After the legendary season that Fulham created in the 2025/2025 campaign, a lot of people expected the Fulham squad to be dissolved as big clubs would definitely come on a raid, looking to buy their star players. Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire

    The big clubs did come, but not all of them left.

    Of them all, the most shocking one was Emile Smith Rowe''s contract extension with the West London club.

    It was no news that Emile Smith Rowe never wanted to make the switch to West London. The boy was Arsenal-bred through and through but since he was not in Mikel Arteta''s plan, he was ruthlessly forced to leave.

    Smith Rowe never wanted to go to Fulham but in his first season at the club, his fortune turned around completely as he won his first premier league trophy.

    A premier league trophy!

    Even for the Arsenal squad that he once played for, staying at the periphery of the team, this was a trophy that still eluded them.

    As strong as that Arsenal squad was, the best they could do in the past few years was playing runner-ups to an imperious Manchester City side, a machine created by the coaching genius, Pep Guardiola.

    In the one season that Manchester City finally faltered, falling off their ridiculous standards, Arsenal just had to fumble in that same season, losing the title race to Fulham of all clubs.

    This was why winning the premier league with Fulham was so special to Emile Smith Rowe. They say sometimes, a disappointment can be a blessing in disguise.

    His move to Fulham was a perfect example of that.

    These memories, they stay for a lifetime.

    And to preserve them and build even more memories, stacking them on top the existing memories, this was why Emile Smith Rowe decided to sign a 7-year contract extension with Fulham, tying the best years of his career to the club.

    His peak years would be spent playing for Fulham.

    Sam was the biggest of those that decided to stay put at Fulham FC, while Sam was the biggest of those that decided to leave the West London club after their legendary 2024/2025 campaign.

    After years of professing his love for the Catalan giants, and months of speculation, it was finalized, Sam signed for FC Barcelona.

    That morning, social media went ga-ga as football fans discussed with the main trending topics being ''Samuel Moses'' and ''Emile Smith Rowe''.

    Smith Rowe got a salary raise in Fulham but compared to what he was earning, Sam got far more in Fulham as he got an initial weekly salary of 275,000 Euros in FC Barcelona with a clause in his contract to raise his salary if his performances matched the price tag.

    After Sam''s first season in Fulham, due to his performances, he got a salary raise but even at that, his weekly salary at Fulham was approximately 50,000 Euros.

    Just like that, Sam''s weekly salary more than quadrupled!

    But this was not what created the most frenzy on social media, what created the greatest frenzy was the signing money that FC Barcelona forked out for the Nigerian attacking midfielder as they were thoroughly convinced of his talent.

    FC Barcelona priced Sam away from Fulham for a ridiculous amount of 80 million Euros!

    After the end of the 2024/2025 season, on the wake of leading Fulham to an unprecedented double of the English premier league and the English FA Cup, Sam''s transfermarkt value rose exponentially again.

    From 60 million Euros, his transfermarkt value doubled to 120 million Euros.

    This was how much he was valued.

    But due to his love for the Catalan club, Sam imposed his authority as soon as FC Barcelona came knocking, helping his dream club save an upward of 40 million Euros as they managed to secure his signature.

    The caveat in that though was, where did FC Barcelona get the money? S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Afterall, the fact of FC Barcelona being broke and deep in dept was no longer news in the footballing world.

    It was a reality that had followed the Catalan club for the past half a decade, forcing them to focus on and rely more on their academy players even as the incredible La Masia academy kept on producing first-team worthy talents.

    A lot of football fans attacked FC Barcelona after they secured Sam''s signature, accusing them of signing the Nigerian attacker through dubious means, demanding an investigation to be made by the Spanish football authorities.

    In the end, when FC Barcelona eventually released a statement after Sam''s signature was secured, all the doubters were temporarily silenced.

    Joan Laporta, the FC Barcelona President was under a lot of pressure as he led a bankrupt club who was still striving to remain at the top of European football.

    The FC Barcelona fanbase did no care that their club was bankrupt, they were the demanding type that wanted trophies nonetheless.

    This was why the President was under a lot of pressure.

    In the previous season, more controversy was created due to his inability at some point to register the likes of Dani Olmo and Pau Viktor after securing their signatures earlier but somehow, the shrewd President did it.

    Due to this and a lot of other reasons, FC Barcelona fans refused to get their hopes high in the prospects of securing Sam''s signature until it happened.

    It was a Joan Laporta masterstroke.

    And just like that, Sam was no longer a Fulham player.

    Sam was now an FC Barcelona player.

    ''Finally!''

    That night, he drank and merried with family and friends.

 Chapter 289 PFA Awards ceremony

    It was a rare holiday period for professional football players, the perfect time to rest, relax, and recover from the stress of a grueling 38-matchday football campaign.The season was scheduled to start again on 16th August, 2025.

    Time moved fast¡­

    While the outside world kept on running, Emile Smith Rowe spent over a month in Nigeria with his friend and his family before finally returning to England to start preparations for the new season.

    Sam stayed for 2 more weeks in Nigeria before finally making the trip to Spain, Barcelona with his dad who also dubbed as his agent.

    With his dad accompanying him, Sam quickly completed his medicals with the Catalan club and on his birthday, August 6th, FC Barcelona finally presented their newest star to their fans in a packed Spotify Camp Nou stadium.

    By now, every FC Barcelona fan already learned about their new signing, Sam.

    To most of them, Sam was a literal superhero.

    Watching his highlights on YouTube never failed to fascinate them, the boy was just too good. And anytime that they heard of and discussed his achievements, they always had goosebumps, Samuel Moses was that good.

    And he was not just good, he had the Black Mamba mentality.

    The boy was a winner!

    Long before the unveiling, they were all already hyped, anticipating the day when Samuel Moses would finally be presented to the Spotify Camp Nou stadium.

    After a long period of renovation, the real Spotify Camp Nou was finally back.

    Sam''s unveiling before the fans was done in the real Spotify Camp Now.

    With a capacity of 105,000 now, it further solidified its status as the biggest stadium in all of Europe. And Sam''s unveiling was done in a packed Spotify Camp Nou stadium.

    After doing the customary ball juggling, displaying his perfect control and mastery of the ball to the cheers of the fans, Sam finally addressed them.

    He was all smiles. "Por favor perdona mi ingles". He grinned as he spoke the Spanish that he managed to learn in his little time, begging the fans to excuse his English for the time being.

    "My Spanish is not too strong yet, but I promise to learn soon". He laughed.

    His smile widened as he faced the fans. "This moment, facing you guys, everything, it''s a moment that I''ve lived in my dreams countless times before now".

    "To finally live it in reality, its literally the best moment of my life!"

    He touched his jersey, grabbing the FC Barcelona badge. "I vow to give my life for this club!" He grinned again.

    "I''ll give my all to strive towards our collective goals!"

    "We shall hit the height of glory again!"

    In that moment, with a big smile on his face, Sam finally said it. "Visca Barca!"

    "Visca Catalunya!"

    BOOM!

    The 105k+ fans in the Spotify Camp Nou erupted, bringing the Sam chants to this iconic stadium even as they sang his name at the top of their lungs.

    Just like that, Sam was introduced to Spain.

    But before playing his first game on an FC Barcelona jersey, Sam went on a trip back to England to attend an important ceremony in English football, the 52nd edition of the Professional Footballers'' Association (PFA) that was held at the Manchester Opera House in England.

    Sam attended the PFA Awards'' Ceremony alongside other iconic names of English football, it was the annual award ceremony of the English premier league.

    After Fulham''s iconic 2024/2025 season, a lot of their players, old and new came for the award ceremony as they proudly represented the West London club.

    In the ceremony, Sam got to reunite with his old teammates.

    In the big gala ceremony that had a lot of importance in England, Sam enjoyed himself in the high-end atmosphere as the awards started being handed out to the deserving players.

    (PFA Players'' Young Player of the Year (Male): Amad Diallo)

    ¡­

    (PFA Players'' Player of the Year (Male): Samuel Moses)

    Despite the fact that Manchester United concluded the season in lukewarm fashion, it took nothing away from Amad Diallo''s clutch performances for the Red Devils through the season as it secured him his first PFA award.

    Amad Diallo climbed the podium with a big smile on his face to claim the award, it was the recipient of the main award though that turned heads.

    A lot of people present today already knew who won the award but still, when his name was called, there was a deathly silence before a loud round of applause as Sam rose up to collect the individual award.

    Taking the award, he could not control his emotions as they cascaded.

    He chuckled, smiling amid tears.

    In the end, he said only a single sentence. "It''s an honor".

    With that, despite spending only 1 and half seasons in the English premier league, Sam managed to engrave his name in English footballing folklore with this win. He was a premier league legend.

    A lot of the big players present congratulated him on his win, including his teammates, and then his ex-coach.

    Sam hugged his coach. "I''ll miss you coach".

    Coach Marco Silva snapped. "If you truly missed me, you''d have stayed put!"

    "But coach¡­"

    Seeing how flustered he was, Coach Marco Silva chuckled. "Just joking".

    Sam laughed. "Phew¡­, you almost got me there".

    And then, the team of the year was also announced.

    (PFA Team of the Year:)

    (Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker)

    (Defender: Antonee Robinson)

    (Defender: William Saliba)

    (Defender: Virgil Van Dijk)

    (Defender: Trent Alexander-Arnold)

    (Midfielder: Samuel Moses)

    (Midfielder: Emile Smith Rowe)

    (Midfielder: Alexis Mac Alister)

    (Forward: Alex Iwobi)

    (Forward: Mohamed Salah) S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (Forward: Raul Jimenez)

    5 Fulham players made the list!

    Bernd Leno missed the list by just a tiny fragment due to Alisson Becker''s clutch comeback performances towards the end of the season.

    Despite Bernd Leno''s exclusion, this was another record-breaking moment in the history of the West London club. Fulham fans were going through the best period of their club''s history.

    With that, the PFA award ceremony in England finally came to an end.

    Apart from the PFA award, the other awards of the English premier league were already announced earlier as soon as the season came to an end.

    ***

    (Premier league player of the season: Samuel Moses)

    (Premier league young player of the season: Amad Diallo)

    (Premier league save of the season: Emiliano Martinez)

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    (Premier league playmaker of the season: Samuel Moses)

    (Premier league manager of the season: Marco Silva)

    (Premier league golden glove: Alisson Becker)

    (Premier league golden boot: Mohamed Salah)

    ***

    While Sam scooped most of the individual awards in the English premier league from Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian King literally did a clean sweep of the champions league awards, cementing his legendary season.

    The 2024/2025 season was an unforgettable one.

 Chapter 290 Barcelona

    The PFA Awards ceremony was just one segment of Sam''s life, a closed segment of his life that was tied to England.Attending the PFA Awards ceremony was him saying goodbye to the English premier league, its fans, including his old teammates and old rivals.

    Sam spent just 1 and half seasons in the English premier league but to a lot of premier league fans, it felt like he was playing in the league for 7 years already.

    His impact in just 1 and half season was more than the impact that most premier league legends achieve in a decade!

    This was how highly rated Sam was in England.

    But Sam already put all of that behind him.

    After 3 seasons since he became a professional football player, at the age of 20, he finally made the switch to his dream club. A club playing in the elite competition of Europe, the UEFA champions league.

    This club was FC Barcelona.

    Sam''s life and career was about to experience a crazy change but he was ready for it. At the very least, he was determined to face any challenge and obstacle that creeps up with an unyielding defiance.

    After the PFA Awards, he bid farewell to England as he returned to Spain, finally settling into the mansion that he bought in the city of Barcelona.

    ¡­

    Barcelona, the vibrant capital of Catalonia in Northeastern Spain¡­

    The city of Barcelona was unlike Fulham where Sam had spent the last year and half of his life. Barcelona is a city where history, culture, and modernity blend seamlessly, far more than Fulham was.

    Situated along the Mediterranean coast, it boasts a unique character defined by its architectural wonders, artistic heritage, and lively atmosphere.

    When Sam first arrived in Barcelona, the first thing he did was something that he always wanted to do, he went on a tour around the historic city.

    Barcelona is framed by the Serra de Collserola Mountain range to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the east, offering a picturesque mix of urban and natural landscapes.

    The city enjoys a Mediterranean climate with mild winters, hot summers, and abundant sunshine year-round.

    Barcelona is renowned for its architectural brilliance, particularly the works of Antoni Gaudi, the Catalan architect and designer known as the greatest exponent of Catalan Modernism.

    Sam left nothing untouched, he toured everything.

    The city''s skyline is adorned with the legendary architect''s masterpieces such as the La Sagrada Familia, an iconic basilica that remains under construction, showcasing intricate, otherworldly designs.

    There is the Park Guell, a whimsical park filled with colorful mosaics, organic shapes, and panoramic views of the city.

    And then the Casa Batllo and Casa Mila, stunning modernist buildings on Passeig de Gracia. Also the Gothic Quarter with its narrow medieval streets, Roman walls, and historic churches which reflects Barcelona''s ancient past.

    Born and bred in Nigeria, used to the African culture and architecture already, Sam''s eyes were exposed to a treat different from the one he experienced at first on arriving in London.

    The culture and lifestyle in Barcelona were also an exuberant one. The city was well-known as a cultural powerhouse, famous for its art, music, and cuisine.

    Museums like the Picasso Museum and the Joan Miro Foundation, and venues like the Palau de la Musica Catalana, all of them presented an eye feast for Sam even as he could not visit everywhere that he wanted to visit.

    As for its cuisines, the city offers a culinary feast from traditional tapas to avant-garde dishes. Local specialties include pa amb tomaquet, calcots, and seafood paella.

    The dump of new information was overwhelming for Sam at some point.

    ''I feel like a baby again''. He thought.

    Coming to Barcelona presented such a drastically different world view and culture from what he was used to that he felt like a child learning everything anew.

    ''I wonder how mom will react to all these food''. He thought, and then he grimaced as he could already imagine her reaction.

    "That woman!" He chuckled.

    "I wonder if they have an African restaurant where I can eat around here".

    Sam continued his tour.

    Barcelona also had a vibrant urban life. The ancient city pulsed with energy, from bustling markets like La Boqueria to the nightlife in neighborhoods like El Raval and Gracia. Its blend of cosmopolitan flair and deep-rooted traditions mesmerized Sam, it was an unforgettable experience for him the first time.

    Despite all these myriad aspects that makes the city unique, a perfect tourist location, in the end, Barcelona was synonymous with one thing, sports.

    More precisely, Barcelona is synonymous with football, home to FC Barcelona and the iconic Spotify Camp Nou stadium.

    Most people don''t know about Barcelona but they know about FC Barcelona.

    That was how popular the city''s main football club was. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire

    The Spotify Camp Nou¡­

    Located in the Les Corts district of Barcelona, the Spotify Camp Nou is the largest stadium in all of Europe and an architectural symbol of football culture.

    It was a stadium that was well-known by most football fans across the world.

    And of course, it was a stadium that Sam was extremely familiar with despite the fact that he only visited it for the first time after signing for FC Barcelona.

    For Catalans in the city of Barcelona, the Spotify Camp Nou goes beyond just football; the stadium is a symbol of Catalan identity and pride, often hosting significant cultural and political events.

    The stadium was a giant structure of architectural excellence.

    Its iconic bowl-like structure ensures excellent visibility from all seats. And after the renovation that was completed just a few months ago, the stadium now had a retractable roof, integrating cutting-edge technology in its design.

    During his unveiling a week earlier, Sam visited the stadium facilities, most memorably the Barca Museum that showcased the club''s illustrious history.

    There, he got to admire all the trophies that FC Barcelona had won in its history.

    Unlike Fulham, FC Barcelona''s trophy cabinet was star-studded.

    Ranging from multiple champions league trophies to countless La Liga titles, it created a rich and impactful display to any tourist but none of the trophies in display impacted Sam as much as those of a certain type.

    He was most impacted by the Ballon D''or trophies in display.

    The Ballon D''or award trophy¡­, it was the most recognized and respected individual award in the world of football.

    There were 7 Ballon D''or trophies in the FC Barcelona Museum, and all of them were won by a certain FC Barcelona legend.

    ''Lionel Messi''. Sam lingered, looking at the trophies with longing.

    14 years ago, as a 6-year-old, Sam watched the iconic FC Barcelona team anchored by the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez, and Andres Iniesta take to the pitch in Wembley Stadium, demolishing a frightening Manchester United side.

    To think that he would be standing in this stadium now, looking at the trophies of that FC Barcelona side, admiring their achievements so closely.

    ''I''m living the dream!'' Sam thought, feeling emotional.

    He focused on the Ballon D''or trophies again.

    Last season, after what he managed to achieve with Fulham, a lot of avid Fulham fans endorsed him for the Ballon D''or award but Sam was realistic. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yes, he had a record-breaking season.

    Yes, he won trophies but the fact remains that he didn''t play in the elite competition of European clubs, the UEFA champions league which always plays a big role in who wins the Ballon D''or award every year.

    ''I can always go again this season''. He clenched his fist, feeling pumped.

    He turned to follow his guide, continuing the tour round the stadium even as he thought. ''I''ll carve my own legacy in this club!''

    Apart from the Barca Museum, he visited other facilities of the stadium like the VIP lounges, the restaurants, merchandise stores where he signed autographs for excited FC Barcelona fans.

    And then, he entered one of the state-of-the-art locker rooms where locker rooms of legendary FC Barcelona players were archived.

    There, he saw the locker rooms of FC Barcelona legends like Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Neymar Jnr, Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandex, Andres Iniesta, Jordi Alba, Dani Alves, Sergio Busquests and others.

    It was a locker room filled with lockers of legendary football players.

    ''I wonder if my own locker will be here someday''.

    By the end of the tour, Sam felt fulfilled like a man who achieved everything in life. He felt immense satisfaction.

    The 2025/2026 La Liga season in Spain already started and FC Barcelona already played their first game of the season, taking on Celta Vigo in an away game where they totally demolished the home side 5-1.

    Sam didn''t play that game.

    But after the PFA Awards in England, after touring Barcelona and retreating to his mansion in the city, Sam slept early with satisfaction.

    He slept early so he could wake up early the next day.

    ¡­

    Ding! Ding!

    Sam''s alarm woke him the next day in Barcelona.

    Waking up, he brought his age-old tradition to Barcelona, quickly brushing his teeth, wearing his work-out clothes and jogging out of his mansion and through the streets of Barcelona.

    He completed his mentality monster daily system quest.

    As soon as he was done, Sam took his bath, getting ready on time as he drove to his first training session in the Spotify Camp Nou.

    He arrived 35 minutes before time, he was the 2nd player to arrive.

    A player arrived before him, the Polish striker, Robert Lewandowski.

    "Hola". Lewandowski waved at him.

 Chapter 291 First training session at the Spotify Camp Nou [1]

    "Hola". Lewandowski waved at him.Sam froze.

    ''Damn! It''s really him!''

    ''It''s the real Robert Lewandowski!''

    You could not really blame Sam.

    Yes, he had played in one of the biggest leagues in the world in the English premier league.

    Yes, he had played against powerful opposition but despite all of that, it was always from a third person POV. Never had Sam shared a dressing room with any of the legendary players that he met in the English premier league.

    But now, it was different.

    He now shared a dressing room with Robert Lewandowski!

    The Polish striker was one of those players that Sam grew up idolizing. He was no striker, but still, who wouldn''t love Lewangoalski?

    He still remembered the 2019 to 2021 football seasons where Robert Lewandowski hit his peak while plying his trade for the German giants, Bayern Munich, hitting multiple 50-goal seasons.

    Like a lot of other football fans, Sam was still bummed by the fact that France football refuses to hand the Polish striker his Ballon D''or trophy till now.

    In the rankings of most football fans, the Polish striker is one of the best strikers of the previous generation of the 21st century.

    Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema, and Luis Suarez are widely recognized as the best strikers of the 21st century and even among the 3, Lewandowski was not the last as he stood his ground even against the likes of those 2.

    He was a true legend of football, an all-time great.

    At the ripe age of 35 now, he was approaching the tail end of his career but clearly, his physique did not reflect his age.

    Lewandowski was in the process of changing his clothes when Sam walked into the pitch, enabling him to see the perfect physique of the Polish footballer.

    He was like a hit-man in movies, the perfect shape, perfect abs.

    ''Damn! He''s really a zero-fat football player!''

    Zero-fat football players are those dubbed by the football world to have such an intense work-out regime and diet that they don''t have any excess fat in their bodies. King of them was Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese G.O.A.T.

    Apart from Cristiano Ronaldo though, memorable mentions were Mohamed Salah of Liverpool, and then Robert Lewandowski of Barcelona.

    Looking at this player''s physique, only one thought dominated Sam''s mind. ''I can learn a thing or two from him!''

    "Hola!" He finally waved back as he smiled.

    He had a lot of things that he wanted to talk about with this legendary striker, maybe request an autograph too and a picture but first, they had a major problem which was their language barrier.

    Sam could only speak English and his native language fluently, while Robert Lewandowski could only speak fluent Polish and Spanish.

    "Llegas temprano". Lewandowski smiled.

    "¡­"

    It took a moment for the Polish striker to realize the language barrier. Chuckling, he scratched the back of his head before pointing to his wrist watch.

    Sam quickly caught on to what he meant. "Oh!"

    Lewandowski''s smile widened. "Todavia hay tiempo antes de que vengan los demas, entrenemos un poco".

    Again, Sam was confused but Lewandowski''s gestures made him understand. The Polish striker wanted to train with him before the others arrived.

    Of course, Sam obliged.

    Who would turn down the chance to train with Robert Lewandowski?

    As he quickly changed and entered the pitch, his curiosity got the better of him, making him use his snooping tool on the Polish legend.

    What Sam saw left him flabbergasted.

    ''Damn! He''s a monster!''

    ''He''s old but he''s an old monster!''

    Lewandowski''s status was just like he expected of such a legendary football player. Most of his skills clearly depreciated already, but his ability was still at an elite level of a ruthless striker.

    With that, he quickly entered the pitch and joined the Polish striker.

    They did different training drills together, from agility drills to passing drills, to combination drills. And just like that, Sam built a relationship with the first of his new teammates, a veteran of the sport in Robert Lewandowski.

    As they trained, the Spotify Camp Nou slowly started being populated with more familiar faces as the rest of his teammates arrived.

    Lamine Yamal arrived with Pedri, quickly joining them on the pitch.

    Later on, Gavi, Alejandro Balde, Eric Garcia, Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, and the rest of the FC Barcelona squad reported to training.

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    All of them recognized him as they greeted him in their various ways. Afterall, his signing was one that kind of broke the bank in the club. Besides, they''ve all heard of what he did in the English premier league.

    In the midst of all these legendary and talented football players, Sam felt the pressure, the pressure of playing for a big club.

    He felt like his ability was being gauged by his teammates.

    He didn''t falter due to it though; he also gauged their abilities.

    He grinned. ''This competitive spirit, I''m loving it. So this is how it feels like to play for a big club, hehe!''

    Soon enough, Hansi Flick, the FC Barcelona head coach walked into the pitch with his assistant as he addressed his players.

    The first thing that the coach did was to introduce the new player to his old players, forcing all of them to introduce themselves to Sam after Sam was made to introduce himself first.

    After that, training under Hansi Flick finally started.

    Having watched a lot of FC Barcelona football last season, Sam was a big fan of Hansi Flick ball. Despite the fact that the Catalan club ended up falling to an imperious Liverpool led by the Egyptian King in the semifinals of the champions league, they still had an amazing season.

    Sam could not wait to impress his coach.

    Before they started playing with a football, they were led to the gym first where they worked out, improving their physicalities. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Just like the rumors said, Hansi Flick was an advocate for intense training.

    Afterall, his playstyle was that of high intensity throughout, a playstyle that perfectly suited Sam''s exuberant energy on the pitch.

    Sam was Hansi Flick''s dream signing for the new season.

    Having watched the Nigerian attacking midfielder perform only once, the German coach fell in love with Sam.

    Besides, he didn''t just pass the eye test, Sam was the full package.

    He had the statistics to back up his ability.

 Chapter 292 First training session at the Spotify Camp Nou [2]

    ***[Name: Samuel Moses]

    [Age: 20]

    [Club: FC Barcelona]

    [Preferred Position: Attacking Midfield]

    [Statistics:]

    ¡­

    [Enyimba FC:]

    Goals: 41

    Assists: 31

    Games: 54

    ¡­

    [Fulham FC:]

    Goals: 55

    Assists: 43

    Games: 63

    ¡­

    [FC Barcelona:]

    [nil=]

    ¡­

    [Total Games Played: 117]

    [Total Goals Scored: 96]

    [Total Assists Provided: 74]

    [Total Combined Goals + Assists: 170]

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    ¡­

    [Trophies won:]

    >NPFL title ¡Á1<

    >CAF Champions League trophy ¡Á1<

    >EFL Cup title ¡Á1<

    >Premier League title ¡Á1<

    >FA Cup title ¡Á1<

    ***

    In all of Europe, Sam''s numbers were some of the best and most ridiculous.

    It presented an interesting read.

    Until just this month on the 6th, he was a 19-year-old and despite being that young, he already outputted total-career numbers of certain professional football players already.

    His 96 goals in 117 games averaged an incredible ratio of 0.82 goals per game.

    Add in his 74 assists to the equation and the numbers became absolutely ridiculous, averaging 1.45 goal contributions a game!

    Sam''s numbers were just borderline crazy.

    Even the best forwards in all of Europe struggle to produce numbers like this, this was the caliber of player that FC Barcelona managed to snap up during the transfer window. They were the envy of other top clubs.

    And with it, FC Barcelona was able to complete a star-studded lineup that was tipped to go all the way this season.

    After reaching the semifinals of the UEFA champions league last time out, maybe Sam was the last piece of the puzzle that would finally help FC Barcelona to break their champions league trophy drought in recent years.

    With the likes of Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Pedri all in the same squad with Sam, FC Barcelona was a fearsome side once again.

    And during today''s training session, it showed.

    Bam! Bam!

    Fluent, silky-smooth football was played on the pitch by the players.

    After their session in the gym, Hansi Flick led his players to the pitch before letting them loose as they showcased their brilliance on the training pitch.

    ''Damn!''

    ''Damn!''

    ''Damn! These guys are good!''

    In Fulham, Sam got the privilege of playing with players that were better than those he teamed up with in Enyimba FC but in this training session, Sam no longer felt like a lone maverick anymore.

    He was now in a team of players of even more elite players than what he played and trained daily with at Craven Cottage.

    Lamine Yamal''s electric dribbling ability that reminded of a prime Neymar Jnr, Pedri''s first touch and sheer class in possession, Gavi''s relentless energy that matched Sam''s, even eclipsing it, Lewandowski''s lethal shooting skills, and Raphinha''s relentless brilliance, all of it mesmerized Sam.

    FC Barcelona didn''t just have attack and midfield though. Against the defensive players, despite the fact that this was just a training session, Sam was constantly pushed to his limits.

    Up against the likes of Jules Kounde, Inigo Martinez, Ronald Araujo and Pau Cubarsi, Sam was forced to toil hard before getting any results.

    Sprawled on the ground, he gorged down a bottle of water even as his eyes shone with a fiery competitive spirit. "I love this!" He muttered.

    "Hola!" A sweaty Lewandowski walked up to him again, using his gestures to ask what Sam thought about the training session.

    "Intense," Sam replied immediately, grinning. "Very intense!" With his gestures, he also made sure that Lewandowski also understood what he meant.

    At that moment, Lamine Yamal also walked up to him, grinning. "Hola Sam!" The young Spanish winger waved.

    "You''re really good". He complimented in Spanish.

    "You too!" Sam praised in a heartfelt manner. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Back in Fulham, Sam was always the focal point of attention, the out and out best player of the squad but here, he felt like just 1 part of a powerful machine again. There were crouching Tigers and hidden Dragons everywhere.

    This reality induced a yearning to improve again in him.

    His competitive spirit was burning like a furnace. ''I''m loving this!''

    By the end of the training session, the rest of the squad already accepted him. From this 1 training session, it was clear that he was the real deal, he was not just all talk and no action.

    ''Under talk and over deliver''. Sam thought, intending to surprise his teammates with what he could do in their next training session.

    Just as they approved him after their first training session together, he also approved them.

    This was a squad brimming with talent and potential.

    That evening, on getting home, laying down on his bed, Sam could not help but think of his career and its potential trajectory here in FC Barcelona.

    ''This is an elite squad under Hansi Flick''.

    ''I wonder how much my career can improve in this time; I wonder if my trophy cabinet can swell again come season end''. He rolled on his bed, grinning even as he clenched his fists excitedly.

    Before retreating to sleep, he called his girlfriend who was already back in Netherlands, narrating how his day went to her and how exciting training was.

    Kayla could hear the excitement in her boyfriend''s tone.

    Kayla also narrated her own day to her boyfriend, the ups and downs, including how a new student annoyed her in school, shamelessly professing his lover to her.

    "Give me his number!" Sam demanded jokingly.

    Kayla laughed and agreed. "You better insult his 10 generations!"

    "I will".

    They both laughed.

    In the end, before cutting the call, she asked him an important question. "When will you finally make your debut for FC Barcelona?"

    Sam hesitated a bit before answering. "This is unlike when I signed for Fulham when I was just a prospect from Nigeria".

    "I have an established career already and after my performance in training today. If I was Hansi Flick, I''ll make my debut in the next game".

    "Who will you guys be playing against?"

    "¡­"

    "You don''t know?"

    Sam chuckled awkwardly. "Come on babe, you can''t really blame me. I''m just coming to FC Barcelona, I''m even yet to see the schedule for the new season".

    "Anyways, goodnight, I love you".

    "I love you too".

    Before sleeping, Sam called his mom.

    "Holo son!" His mom''s energetic voice sounded through the iPhone.

    "¡­"

    At first, Sam was confused but when he understood what she meant, he palmed his face. "Mom¡­! It''s hola. God¡­, you''re learning Spanish?"

    His mom chuckled. "How was my Spanish?"

    "It''s horrible!"

    "Hmph! You unfilial son, I''ll cut that tongue of yours off!"

    Sam chuckled.

    He discussed different topics with his mom that night, including when she''ll finally get to visit him in Spain before ending the call.

    That night, Sam slept with a big smile on his face.

    ¡­

    The next moment, Sam woke up only to see a notification on his phone.

    Ding!

    (NEW! Unread message from Coach Hansi Flick¡­)

 Chapter 293 La Liga matchday 2

    Ding!(NEW! Unread message from Coach Hansi Flick!)

    As soon as Sam opened his iPhone, he clicked on the message and it opened, revealing its content.

    It was the La Liga fixture schedule for matchday 2 of the Spanish league.

    (La Liga:) S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (Matchday 2 of 38:)

    (Real Betis ¨C Leganes)

    (Date: 23rd August, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Mallorca ¨C Villareal)

    (Date: 24th August, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Elche ¨C Alaves)

    (Date: 24th August, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Sevilla ¨C Getafe)

    (Date: 24th August, 2025)

    ¡­

    Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire

    (Real Soceidad ¨C Real Madrid)

    (Date: 24th August, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Celta Vigo ¨C Almeria)

    (Date: 25th August, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Girona ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 25th August, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Levante ¨C Athletic Club)

    (Date: 25th August, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Athletico Madrid ¨C Valencia)

    (Date: 25th August, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Rayo Vallecano ¨C Osasuna)

    (Date: 25th August, 2025)

    Just like the English premier league, the Spanish La Liga employed the same league system of 20 teams competing in a 38-matchday season for the league title.

    Last season, FC Barcelona had the last laugh, eclipsing challenges from both Athletico Madrid and Real Madrid to win the title. And this season again, they''ve started their season in strong form having won against Celta Vigo in matchday 1.

    Last season, while Barcelona won the title, Real Madrid came 2nd, Atletico Madrid came 3rd, while Athletic Bilbao came 4th, completing the top 4 teams that were to compete in the UEFA champions league.

    Villareal and Real Sociedad completed the top 6, making the Europa league and Europa conference leagues respectfully.

    While the battle at the top for European places was exciting, the battle below to avoid relegation was also exciting.

    And after a grueling 38-matchday season, despite trying their best, 3 clubs who plied their trade in the Spanish top flight last season were forced into relegation.

    The 3 unlucky clubs are Las Palmas, Espanyol, and Real Valladolid who all finished at the bottom of the 2024/2025 La Liga table.

    In their place for this new season, the top 3 clubs of La Liga 2, Elche, Almeria, and Levante made the promotion to the top flight league of Spain.

    "It''s Girona huh?" Sam muttered as he stood up from his bed.

    Girona was not exactly a powerhouse of the Spanish La Liga, but they were not to be scoffed at either. Afterall, just 2 seasons ago, they pushed both Real Madrid and FC Barcelona all the way in the title race.

    Knowing his club''s next opponents in the league gave Sam some perspective on what he needed to do.

    He didn''t think too much about it though. Waking up that morning, he quickly washed his face and brushed his teeth before hitting the streets of Barcelona again.

    Thinking of something while he jogged, Sam suddenly picked up his phone.

    He searched for his name on his contact list and messaged him on WhatsApp.

    (Outgoing message to Lamine Yamal¡­)

    A few days ago, he was added to the FC Barcelona WhatsApp group where he got the contact details of his superstar teammates.

    At first, Sam wanted to contact Robert Lewandowski but realizing how far the Polish striker''s mansion was from his own and also the age restraints, Sam restrained himself, choosing to chat up Lamine Yamal instead.

    His reason for chatting was simple, he wanted to make a friend in the FC Barcelona squad just like he did in Fulham with Emile Smith Rowe.

    Austin''s advise still stuck with him till today.

    He knew that to perform at his best, he needed to have a good relationship with his teammates and for that, he needed to start from somewhere.

    He wanted to have a jogging partner here in Barcelona.

    It didn''t take too long for Lamine Yamal to reply to his message.

    (I''m in, but it can''t be today.)

    (I''m occupied with something else. What do you think about tomorrow? If its ok with you, let''s start then.)

    Seeing the reply, Sam grinned and quickly sent his reply.

    (Tomorrow is fine with me.)

    That morning, as soon as he completed his daily system quest, Sam quickly reported for training again and this time, he truly dazzled in training, showcasing his ability on a football pitch.

    He was still new but his status in the team was already rising, buoyed by the close rapport that he was already building with Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski, 2 big figures in the FC Barcelona squad.

    For the next few days, Sam kept on giving his best having established a schedule here in Barcelona already.

    Just like in Fulham, his schedule in Barcelona was simple; wake up, complete daily quest, go for team training, come back, train alone, sleep, call girlfriend, sleep, then rinse and repeat.

    His life may seem boring but Sam loved his life like this.

    That way, he was able to give narrowed focus on his career, focusing all his attention on improving his footballing skills.

    It had been working for him for the past 3 seasons of his career and he had no intentions of backsliding now due to finally becoming big.

    Sam was a big superstar now, but he didn''t let it get to his head, he kept on training and grinding like an upcoming player.

    His teammates noticed this every day in training, his coach also noticed it.

    Their respect for him increased with every training session, he had an elite mentality that was made for the very top.

    This was why a few days later when Hansi Flick, FC Barcelona''s head coach finally released his starting XI for the FC Barcelona game, Sam''s name was included.

    It was his debut game but the German coach trusted hm enough to push him into the deep end, starting him from the onset in his first game for the Catalan club.

    Was it a clever decision or a rash one?

    No one knew, the true answer would only be discovered by the end of the game when the outcome of the game was finalized.

    Sam didn''t care about what others thought about him though.

    He was not new to this, he just had to seize his moment.

    Having fought for places in Enyimba FC and then Fulham already, Sam had no intentions of wasting this opportunity that was granted to him.

    He was ready to ''Lose Himself''!

 Chapter 294 Debut game; against Girona [1]

    (ESPN News:)(Samuel Moses makes his debut for FC Barcelona! What will the young Nigerian bring to La Liga? Can he bring his form from the premier league here?)

    ¡­

    (SuperSport:)

    (The Nigerian Zidane in Spain! Image=)

    (Samuel Moses finally makes his much-anticipated debut in the La Liga game against Girona. The original Zidane was made in the Santiago Bernabeu, can a new Zidane grace Spain to rule in the Spotify Camp Nou? We''ll know in a few hours:)

    ¡­

    (La Liga:)

    (Girona ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 25th August, 2025)

    The publicity around Sam''s debut in the Spanish La Liga was explosive. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Not just ESPN and Supersport, a whole lot of prominent news channels, including TV shows carried on the hype, fanning the flames that billowed in the wake of his FC Barcelona debut in Girona.

    Barcelona didn''t hold back either as they also fanned the flames. In the official club image edit in the build-up to the game, Sam''s picture was the poster-image for the fixture, showcasing FC Barcelona''s intent to push him to the forefront.

    All of this hype put a lot of pressure on Sam''s shoulders in the buildup to the game. But by now, Sam was more or less used to pressure already.

    From the suburbs of Nigeria and Africa, playing in the big CAF champions league stages, to the elite stadiums in England playing in the premier league, to even the FIFA Club World Cup against one of the most frightening Manchester City sides ever, Sam had faced pressure and still performed.

    This was why he approached this game with a cool mind.

    To him, it was just another game, another game where the fans expected him to perform. Another game where he also expected himself to perform.

    In the build-up to the game, at first, Robert Lewandowski showed concern for Sam, fearing that the pressure would weigh him down but despite all the pressure, Sam''s intense focus and laser-focused training regime shocked the striker.

    One look in Sam''s eyes and the Polish striker knew. ''This guy¡­, he''s not feeling the pressure''.

    ''Or more precisely, he''s taking the pressure as fuel''.

    Just like that, D-day arrived.

    25th August, 2025¡­

    In a cold evening in Girona, the 2 La Liga teams entered the pitch.

    For this game, Sam didn''t have to travel far with the FC Barcelona squad. Afterall, it was a game played here in Catalonia. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire

    Girona were FC Barcelona''s neighbors here in Catalonia, it was a derby game and this added even more venom to Sam''s debut game.

    Both teams approached this game with their strongest lineups.

    The home side, Girona started in their regular 4-2-3-1 formation, starting with a 4-man defensive lineup of Blind, Lopez, Juanpe, and Martinez even as their goalpost was protected by their stalwart goalkeeper, Gazzaniga.

    The 2-man midfield ahead of the defense comprised of Martin and Herrera, while the 4-man attack ahead comprised Gil, Donny Van de Beek, Asprilla, and Groeneveld who started as the striker for this team.

    It was a powerful lineup, but Barcelona''s was stronger.

    Starting in a similar 4-2-3-1 formation, Barcelona''s stalwart quadruple defense comprised of Alejandro Balde in left back, Pau Cubarsi and Ronald Araujo in central defense, and then Jules Kounde in right back.

    Inaki Pena started in between the posts as Ter Stegen was still recovering from his injury.

    The 2-man midfield duo ahead of the defense comprised Pedri and Marc Casado, while the attack comprised of Raphinha in left wing, Sam in attacking midfield, Lamine Yamal as the right winger, and Lewandowski starting as the striker.

    It was a fearsome lineup of superstars.

    FWEEE!

    The game started.

    Immediately after the referee''s whistle sounded to kickstart the game, FC Barcelona kicked off the game and instantly, it was clear that they were the superior side as Girona were forced to defend.

    For the first few minutes of this game, FC Barcelona hoarded possession, pressuring their opponents as they were forced to defend.

    This was despite the fact that they were playing in away ground.

    Despite the loud boos by the home supporters, FC Barcelona played superior composed and controlled football, pushing the opposition to the edge.

    On all sides of the pitch, FC Barcelona was stacked.

    At the base of midfield, Pedri played as the controller while Marc Casado fulfilled his role in this team as the destroyer.

    When in possession, Pedri''s flair and touch enabled him to wriggle through the aggressive Girona press like a fish through water, effortlessly weaving his way out of trouble like a Weaver born of a Divine Lineage in the world of Nightmares.

    And in those few times that Girona won back possession, they were unable to do anything tangible with it simply because Barca''s defense was a rock.

    Going through the middle was hard as they ran into the destroyer in Marc Casado. The young Spaniard was not scared of getting his hands dirty as he wrestled with the opposition, jumping into tackles with gusto to win back the ball.

    His style was still rash and unrefined but it was effective nonetheless.

    Jules Kounde in the right was like a sledgehammer, abusing his incredible physicality to shut out Girona''s left winger completely even as in possession, he occasionally bombed down the right side of the pitch to support Lamine Yamal.

    On the left, his compatriot, Alejandro Balde was even more imperious in attack. The young Spaniard played like a predator with wings.

    His silky dribbling cut the Girona press open again and again.

    The whole Barca team was playing at an elite level, the attack was not excluded. On the left, Raphina''s energy was running Girona to the ground while on the right, Lamine Yamal turned his man inside out like neatly made pounded yam.

    As for Barca''s striker, Robert Lewandowski, the goal poacher was always at alert, doing his bit in the build-up play even as he waited for his one chance to pounce and score the first goal like a predator stalking prey.

    With the whole Barca team playing so well, Sam followed their rhythm, playing a tidy game also.

    But in a game with his teammates playing so well, he could do just slightly more than the bare minimum, he never got the opportunity to shine.

    It was not a bad thing though; FC Barcelona was still dominating.

    Girona tried their best to limit Barca''s chances in this game despite their dominance, using a low block to frustrate the reigning champions but in the end, quality shines through.

    "GOALLLL¡­!!!" The away fans roared in ecstasy.

    In the 31st minute of this game, the deadlock was broken.

    The Polish hitman, Robert Lewandowski struck!

 Chapter 295 Debut game; against Girona [2]

    31 minutes, 0-1¡­The hitman was Robert Lewandowski, but the provider was a certain Spaniard, the youngest in the FC Barcelona squad, Lamine Yamal.

    Like a wizard brandishing his wand, after receiving a pass from Pedri from midfield, from the right, Lamine Yamal went on an unstoppable mazy run.

    With a drop of his shoulder, he beat his man before charging inside. More defenders closed him down but with a few body feints, tidy ball shifts, and a la croqueta, he opened up enough space to chip the ball over to a lurking Robert Lewandowski who aligned his positioning with his run.

    The Polish striker''s positioning was inch-perfect, he was in the right place at the right time to volley a first-time shot in.

    BAM!

    The goalkeeper was rooted to one spot, unable to react to the shot.

    It was when Lewandowski was already whirling off in celebration that he reacted, turning and angrily kicking the ball back into his own net.

    "What a vintage FC Barcelona goal!" The commentator raved.

    "Started by Pedri, created by Lamine Yamal, finished by Robert Lewandowski! What a perfect sequence, just as it should be!"

    "Lamine Yamal¡­, the boy is a wonder of nature!"

    Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire

    After that goal, onlookers expected Girona to finally give up on their conservative approach, coming out to open the game up and chase after the equalizer but wary of Barcelona''s ability still, Girona remained in their shell.

    For the rest of the first half, Barca kept on improving even as Sam finally started growing into the game, showing his creativity but still, a 2nd goal failed to materialize as the first half ended 0-1 in Barca''s favor.

    During half-time, Hansi Flick told his players a few words and quickly summed it up. "Let''s go claim victory!" He declared in Spanish.

    FWEEE!

    2nd half started and the FC Barcelona domination continued.

    Girona continued defending.

    ''Weird''.

    ''Weird¡­, this is so weird''.

    As the game continued, Sam could not help but think this.

    All his career, all the way from Enyimba, Sam was used to playing for the underdog team. He was so used to being an underdog that he developed a habit of drawing his energy to create miracles from being underestimated.

    When his team''s chances were written off, that''s when Sam shines.

    When his team was underestimated, that is when Zinedine Sam bares his fangs and sink it into enemy flesh with ruthless efficiency.

    This was why he felt so weird playing this game. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Sam was so comfortable.

    His team was almost never under pressure in this game. Barca dominated possession, created the most chances and as the attacking midfielder of this team, he rarely had an opportunity to track back and defend since there was really no need for it.

    This was why Sam felt weird. ''I''m not used to this''.

    He struggled to motivate himself to do more in this game.

    Even the commentator echoed the thoughts of a lot of spectators today. "Sam has not exactly hit the heights that we expected of him in this game".

    "He''s not having a bad game by any means, but¡­, that spark, that energy that premier league fans are used to seeing, this is not it".

    "It''s almost as if he''s lacking the spark today".

    "Well, that is to be expected, he''s still in his adaptation period. I guess even Sam has to go through an adaptation period".

    Sam struggled to play at that extraterrestrial level this game but FC Barcelona dominated still. In the 56th minute of this game, Barca scored again.

    This time, it was the electric Pedri again as after wriggling through challenges in midfield, he played an unreal through pass for Raphina to run into as abusing his speed, the Brazilian winger quickly ran ahead of the defenders.

    Taking the ball in his strides, he took aim before unleashing a powerful shot, rifling the ball into the roof of the net to make it 0-2 to FC Barcelona.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" The fans celebrated excitedly.

    Just 2 minutes later, in the 58th minute, the game was finally put to bed as Lewandowski struck again, this time rising high to latch into a perfect Alejandro Balde cross, heading the ball past the Girona goalkeeper and into the net.

    With that goal, the outcome of this game became final.

    Girona also lost all momentum.

    In the 75th minute, Hansi Flick made changes, taking off Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski out of the game as he introduced Ferran Torres and Fermin Lopez to add more energy to the game.

    The outcome was that FC Barcelona continued dominating in this game.

    In the 82nd minute, Hansi Flick finally pulled the plug, removing Sam from the game even as Gavi entered in his stead.

    Just 3 minutes after Gavi replaced Sam, Pedri looped a perfect ball above the Girona defense as the energetic Gavi ran into it, taking one touch to raise the ball beyond the goalkeeper''s grasp before rifling it into an empty net.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!" Noise erupted again from the away stands as the traveling FC Barcelona fans screamed at the top of their lungs in celebration.

    85 minutes, 0-4¡­

    For the remaining minutes of this game, Pedri and Gavi were by a mile the best players in this pitch as they tormented Girona''s defense.

    The 2 wonderkids kept on creating chances but due to profligacy in front of goal, FC Barcelona was unable to score another goal.

    From the bench, Sam watched the reminder of this game.

    "¡­"

    His head was blank.

    What was he thinking about? He didn''t know.

    As a midfielder, he didn''t have a bad game by any means as he created his fair share of chances. He had a solid game by all standards but still¡­, was this the level that he wanted to play at in this club?

    Sam could not answer his own questions as he kept watching till the end of this game.

    FC Barcelona won the game convincingly 0-4.

    Pedri won the man of the match award for this game due to how he controlled the game, and also due to his 2 unreal assists.

    Sam got a good 7.4 rating by the end of the game, but at the end, there was a question mark in his head.

    "¡­?"

    Was this his level?

 Chapter 296 Need to adapt

    At the end of the game, Hansi Flick approached his new signing, patting him by the head. "Good job Sam, you played good".''Did I really?''

    Sam smiled at his coach but in his head, he could not help but ask that.

    ¡­

    (La Liga fixtures:)

    (Matchday 2 of 38:)

    (Real Betis 2-0 Leganes)

    (Date: 23rd August, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Mallorca 1-2 Villareal)

    (Date: 24th August, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Elche 3-2 Alaves)

    (Date: 24th August, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Sevilla 1-0 Getafe)

    (Date: 24th August, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Real Soceidad 0-2 Real Madrid)

    (Date: 24th August, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Celta Vigo 3-1 Almeria)

    (Date: 25th August, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Girona 0-4 Barcelona)

    (Date: 25th August, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Levante 2-3 Athletic Club)

    (Date: 25th August, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Athletico Madrid 3-0 Valencia)

    (Date: 25th August, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Rayo Vallecano 3-1 Osasuna)

    (Date: 25th August, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Updated La Liga table:)

    (1. Athletico Madrid GP: 2/ W:2/ D:0/ L:0/ Pts: 6)

    (2. Barcelona: GP: 2/ W:2/ D:0/ L:0/ Pts: 6)

    (3. Real Madrid GP: 2/ W:2/ D:0/ L:0/ Pts: 6)

    (4. Athletic Club GP: 2/ W:2/ D:0/ L:0/ Pts: 6)

    (5. Real Betis GP: 2/ W:2/ D:0/ L:0/ Pts: 6)

    (6. Sevilla GP: 2/ W:2/ D:0/ L:0/ Pts: 6)

    (7. Villareal GP: 2/ W:1/ D:1/ L:0/ Pts: 4)

    (8. Mallorca GP: 2/ W:1/ D:1/ L:0/ Pts: 4)

    (9. Girona GP: 2/ W:1/ D:1/ L:0/ Pts: 4)

    (10. Celta Vigo GP: 2/ W:1/ D:1/ L:11/ Pts: 4)

    (11. Getafe GP: 2/ W:0/ D:1/ L:1/ Pts: 4)

    (12. Elche GP: 2/ W:1/ D:0/ L:1/ Pts: 4)

    (13. Rayo Vallecano GP: 2/ W:1/ D:0/ L:0/ Pts: 3)

    (14. Real Sociedad GP: 2/ W:0/ D:1/ L:1/ Pts: 1)

    (15. Almeria GP: 2/ W:0/ D:1/ L:1/ Pts: 1)

    (16. Valencia GP: 2/ W:0/ D:1/ L:1/ Pts: 1)

    (17. Osasuna GP: 2/ W:0/ D:0/ L:2/ Pts: 0)

    (18. Leganes GP: 2/ W:0/ D:0/ L:2/ Pts: 0)

    (19. Alaves GP: 2/ W:0/ D:0/ L:2/ Pts: 0)

    (20. Levante GP: 2/ W:0/ D:0/ L:2/ Pts: 0)

    After 2 matchdays of the Spanish La Liga, FC Barcelona occupied second spot in the Spanish top flight table even as they shared points with 5 other clubs.

    After the end of the game in Girona, on his way home, the Ultimate Football System finally lit up with a notification, notifying Sam of new system quests but he didn''t pay attention to them immediately.

    He didn''t pay attention to his system notifications immediately because he had other things in his mind.

    Till he got home, Sam was distracted.

    Even as he got home, he was still distracted, prompting him to decide to make a local dish. On the kitchen, while cooking, he cut his finger by mistake with a knife.

    "Ouch!"

    The stinging pain stimulated Sam, bringing him back to reality as he quickly rushed off to apply first-aid treatment to it.

    In the end, pain was what made him calm down.

    After switching off the gas, sitting in his room, Sam started thinking and finally, he deduced where the distraction was coming from.

    ''Dissatisfaction''.

    Yes, FC Barcelona won the game.

    Yes, they dominated from beginning to end and Sam should be happy but, in the end, he was left disappointed by his own performance.

    He didn''t have a bad game, he contributed evenly to the game in both offense and defense but used to doing more already in every single game, Sam felt weird.

    He was so used to pushing himself to the limits, hitting extraterrestrial levels of yearning to win and inducing miracles that to play a normal again after so long, it unnerved him, making him unable to focus and perform at his best.

    As soon as Sam deduced the problem, he chuckled. "I don''t even know if I should cry or laugh". He mocked himself.

    "Who knew I''d also have a problem like this someday?"

    In that moment, Sam finally understood a certain professional football player that he looked up to. The legendary Portuguese, Cristiano Ronaldo.

    Back when he plied his trade for Real Madrid, Ronaldo was renowned for having a big ego. Rival fans often had a point to critic and degrade him and that point was his unchanging selfishness.

    Cristiano Ronaldo was selfish to a fault.

    He wanted the ball all the time, he wanted to be the main man, he wanted to be the one to take the shots, he wanted to be the one to score the goals.

    Sam was not thinking like that, but now, he understood how Ronaldo felt in those games where Real Madrid win and his name is not on the scoresheet.

    "So, it''s like this". He chuckled, feeling truly bitter.

    "To think that someday I''ll also get to have Cristiano Ronaldo problems," he laughed. "I''ve really come a long way".

    There are steps to problem solving. The first step was identifying and acknowledging the problem, and the next main step was dissecting it down to find a solution.

    As soon as Sam identified the problem, he acknowledged it and then he dissected it down for a solution and it didn''t take him long to arrive at one.

    Actually, it was the only solution that Sam could think of.

    "Haha, I need to adapt". He stood up, his eyes burning with a fiery zeal.

    "I''ve gotten so used to playing as the underdog that playing for the superior side and still performing, winning by a landslide feels so alien to me now".

    "It''s almost like a warrior who''s gotten so used to hunting predators that were far stronger than him that he lost the ability to fight weaker prey".

    Sam''s eyes turned sharp. "But I won''t be that warrior!"

    "Neither will I be Cristiano Ronaldo!"

    "I am Samuel Moses and I shall find my own way, I shall forge my own path!" S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    For a long time, Sam had always heard of professional football players having to adapt to their new clubs. From the perspective of a fan, he never truly understood till now when he was forced to go through his own period of adaptation.

    Sam did not shirk away from the challenge though, rather, he embraced it with gusto. Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire

    "I shall adapt¡­, and then I shall become a legend of this club!"

    That night, having solved his mental problems already, he finally removed his iPhone from flight mode, speaking with his girlfriend before sleeping.

    Sam slept with his blood boiling in reaction to his new challenge.

 Chapter 297 Making new friends

    "Hola Sam!"Sam grinned, looking at the young teenager. "Hola Lamine!"

    "Estas¡­ listo para¡­ sugar?" He asked the young winger if he was ready to break a sweat, chuckling and hoping that he didn''t just say rubbish after spending the past 30 minutes of his morning to learn it.

    The young Spaniard, Lamine Yamal chuckled. "Lo pronunciaste mal, estas listo para sudar?"

    "Haha," Sam laughed, scratching the back of his head.

    "This Spanish thing¡­, I hope I learn it fast enough". He grinned.

    At that moment was when he noticed that someone else came with Lamine Yamal. After informing the young Spaniard of his desire to find a jogging partner in the FC Barcelona squad, Lamine Yamal agreed to be his jogging partner.

    Due to being occupied with other things for the past few days, Lamine Yamal could not keep up with his promise but after the game against Girona where they got to know each other more on the competitive stage, Lamine Yamal finally decided to honor the invite.

    He drove down to Sam''s apartment in Barcelona early in the morning.

    But he didn''t come alone, another FC Barcelona player followed him.

    As soon as Sam saw him, his eyes widened in surprise. "Hola Gavi!" He greeted, pleasantly surprised even as his smile widened.

    "Hola Sam!" The slightly short but energetic midfielder grinned.

    Sam didn''t even need any explanation to know what was happening here.

    Clearly, Lamine Yamal told Gavi of Sam''s proposal and interested in it, Gavi tagged along. Sam had heard long ago that Gavi was a training freak just like his energy was relentless on the pitch. Today, he confirmed it.

    The 3 FC Barcelona youngsters did not linger much longer as quickly wearing his jogging boots, Sam joined them and together, they jogged through the streets of Barcelona, exercising their cardio.

    From the first day that Sam became a professional football player, there was one attribute of his body that he was always proud of, his stamina.

    With time as his career grew, his stamina also grew.

    But before Gavi''s relentless energy, to Sam''s shock, he discovered that Gavi''s stamina was even higher than his which prompted him to look at the midfielder''s stats through his system snooping tool.

    ~----~

    [You have made use of Snooping Tool!]

    [Player Name: Pablo Gavi]

    >Description: A combative and technically gifted midfielder Pablo Martin Paez Gavira, better known as ''Gavi''. Was born in the town Los Palacious y Villafranca near Seville<

    [Player Position: Midfielder]

    *Pace: 85

    *Shot: 82

    *Pass: 84

    *Dribbling: 84

    *Defending: 51

    *Physicality: 78

    *Stamina: 88

    Overall Rating: 85

    [Player Title: Solid Player]

    ¡­

    Gavi''s stamina was more than Sam''s by 2!

    Even among all the players that Sam had used his snooping tool on, Gavi was on the higher spectrum among all of them in terms of stamina. No wonder the midfielder''s energy was so relentless and constant always on the pitch.

    Apart from his stamina though, most of his other attributes were weaker than Sam''s, Sam was a better player than Gavi already.

    The sight of it left him breathless.

    ''To think I''m this good already¡­, I almost can''t believe it''.

    ''Just 2 years ago, I was still playing in Nigeria''.

    Sam sighed. At this moment, all he felt was gratitude for how smoothly his football career progressed since he made his debut in professional football. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After using his snooping tool on Gavi already, out of curiosity, he extended it, also using it on Lamine Yamal and the result was a bit surprising to him.

    ¡­

    [You have made use of Snooping Tool!]

    [Player Name: Lamine Yamal]

    >Description: Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana is a Spanish professional football player who plays as a winger for La Liga club Barcelona and the Spain national team<

    [Player Position: Winger]

    *Pace: 79

    *Shot: 81

    *Pass: 85

    *Dribbling: 88

    *Defending: 33

    *Physicality: 76

    *Stamina: 81

    Overall Rating: 83

    [Player Title: Flair Player]

    ~----~

    Sam didn''t expect Lamine Yamal''s overall rating to be 83.

    Yes, the boy was still just 18 years old but what he did on the pitch spoke about his lethal ability with the ball.

    But in hindsight, it was expected. What Lamine Yamal had in abundance was natural talent and footballing intelligence, in the end, most of his physical attributes were yet to peak so 83 was a fair overall rating.

    Sam expected that in 2 to 3 seasons, Lamine Yamal would peak, skyrocketing his overall rating to 87, 88, or maybe even 90!

    That was how high Lamine Yamal''s potential was.

    Besides, at such a young age, he already had the flair title.

    Of Sam''s myriad opponents that he played against in the English premier league, one of the few prominent players he played against with the flair title was Cole Palmer.

    For Yamal to already attain the title spoke of the boy''s talent.

    Sam enjoyed his work-out that morning.

    Since by the time they were done, it was already getting a bit late, Lamine Yamal and Gavi just took the opportunity to crash at his apartment and change before driving to training alongside him that morning.

    It was weird but that was how boys were.

    All they needed was that common element which in this case was football. They''ve seen each other play, they respected each other''s ability, and now working out together was all it took to take their relationship to the next level.

    Today was just the precedent.

    In the next few days, the 3 of them became much closer even as they continued their training together. Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire

    In this time, Sam kept on improving his chemistry with the team in training even as he tried his best to adapt his game.

    His greatest hurdle of adaptation at this point was not his football ability, but rather it was a mental hurdle.

    To get his mojo back, Sam needed to fight that mental hurdle.

    He didn''t know if he succeeded yet but he knew that he was making progress and just like this, a few days passed.

    In no time, it was D-day again, time for a new matchday.

    In matchday 3 of the Spanish La Liga, Sam was finally scheduled to play his first home game in the Spotify Camp Nou before the FC Barcelona fans as Barca took on Sevilla in a blockbuster encounter.

    Sam made the starting XI.

    Hours before the game though, he finally accessed his system, checking his new season system quests.

 Chapter 298 New season; new season system quests

    ~----~[Congratulations! You have played your first game of the new 2025/2026 premier league season for FC Barcelona; you are now eligible for the season system quest!]

    [You have unlocked Season System Quests!]

    [Your club, FC Barcelona is eligible to compete in 4 fronts; the Spanish La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the UEFA Champions League, and the Supercopa de Espana!]

    [Season Quest 1: Spanish La Liga]

    [Mission 1: Win the Spanish La Liga title with FC Barcelona!]

    [Mission Reward: +2 increase to 2 random football attributes!]

    ¡­

    [Mission 2: Win the Pichichi Award!]

    [Mission Reward: A random shooting football skill!]

    [NOTE: The Pichichi Award is the award given to the player who scores the most goals in a single La Liga campaign.]

    ***

    [Season Quest 2: Copa del Rey]

    [Mission 1: Win the Copa del Rey title with FC Barcelona!]

    [Mission Reward: +1 increase to a random football attribute!]

    ¡­

    [Mission 2: Win the best player award of the Copa del Rey!]

    [Mission Reward: Random skill points!]

    ***

    [Season Quest 3: UEFA Champions League]

    [Mission 1: Win the UEFA Champions League trophy with FC Barcelona!]

    [Mission Reward: +2 increase to 3 random football skills!]

    ¡­

    [Mission 2: Win the UEFA Champions League Golden Boot award!]

    [Mission Reward: A random skill from the King of the UEFA Champions League; Cristiano Ronaldo!]

    ¡­

    [Mission 3: Win the best player award of the UEFA Champions League!]

    [Mission Reward: Random skill points and a random bonus reward!]

    ***

    [Season Quest 4: Supercopa de Espana]

    [Mission 1: Win the Supercopa de Espana trophy with FC Barcelona!]

    [Mission Reward: Random skill points and a random bonus reward!]

    ***

    [Season Quest 5: Individual Excellence]

    [Mission 1: Win the Ballon d''or award!]

    [Mission Reward: random]

    ¡­

    [Mission 2: Win the European Golden Boot Award!]

    [Mission Reward: random]

    ¡­

    [Mission 3: Win the IFFHS Best Playmaker Award!]

    [Mission Reward: random]

    ¡­

    [Mission 4: Win the FIFA Best Men''s Player of the Year Award!]

    [Mission Reward: random]

    ***

    [System Remark: You''re aspiring to become a Football God, nothing beneath excellence is acceptable! No height is too high for you to scale, push beyond your limits and make impossible nothing!]

    ~----~

    "¡­!"

    After looking through the new season system quests that his system prepared for him, Sam clenched his fists tightly, his eyes blazing with fire.

    He didn''t look at the system quests since because of the kind of mental state that he was in after discovering his struggles with adaptation for playing for an elite club like FC Barcelona.

    It was not just about the team, after all, the players made the team.

    Sam''s teammates were so good that it required something special to shine in a team of so many superstars.

    It was just like the problem that Kylian Mbappe faced in his fresh days playing for Real Madrid as he came to a Madrid club that already had a prominent young figure at the helm in Vinicius Junior.

    In a star-studded attack with the likes of Vinicius, Rodrygo, Bellingham, and even the likes of wonderkids like Arda Guler and Endrick, Kylian Mbappe struggled at first to hit the meteoric heights that fans were used to seeing in his career.

    But all he needed was time and even Kylian Mbappe found his mojo.

    Sam refrained from viewing the season system quests since for a reason. In the build-up to this game, when he looked at it now, it became extra motivation for him to perform out there on the pitch. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire

    ''It''s now or never!'' He thought, eyes gleaming with intense energy.

    ''Let''s go and create history!''

    FWEEEE!

    Sam walked into the pitch with his teammates amid loud cheers from the home supporters in the bright blue and red colors of FC Barcelona.

    ''I''m really here now''. Sam felt surreal.

    He basked in the energy that was being created by the home supporters. The feeling of playing for FC Barcelona, in the Spotify Camp Nou, to him there was no feeling quite like it in the world.

    Like expected, both teams approached this game with their strongest starting XI even as Sevilla came with hopes to get a result from the reigning champion''s home stadium.

    Sevilla started in a 4-3-3 formation with Nyland starting as their goalkeeper.

    Ahead of the goalkeeper was a quadruple of players consisting Sanches in right back, Bade, Gudelj, and Carmona. Ahead of the defense stood the midfield trio of Sow, Sambi Lokonga, and Saul.

    As for Sevilla''s attack, it was anchored by the trio of Lukebakio in right wing, Fernandez, and Vargas.

    FC Barcelona matched Sevilla''s energy with a strong lineup also, a similar one to their previous game, the only difference being that Gavi started ahead of Marc Casado, playing alongside Pedri in midfield. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, an exciting end-to-end game started in the Spotify Camp Nou.

    Again, this was a game that FC Barcelona dominated.

    This Sevilla was a strong one as they posed some troubles to the home side but not enough to cause significant threat as Barcelona remained the superior side.

    For 45 minutes, they tortured the visitors'' defense line, Raphina, Lamine Yamal, and Sam repeatedly tearing them apart with their sheer individual quality.

    In this game, it was clear that Sam''s play was different.

    He was more involved in the game.

    In the build-up, in the goal threat, he was everywhere this first half.

    His silky touch, his combinations with the attacking trio by his side and ahead of him, and the occasional long-range shot, he made the Sevilla defense quake today under the onslaught of his imperious aura.

    It seemed like Zinedine Sam was back but in the end, a stalwart Sevilla defense held firm, holding Barca''s relentless attacks off for 45 minutes.

    Incredibly, despite how much Barca dominated this game and they created chances, they were unable to break down Sevilla''s defense in the first half.

    The first half came to an end with matters still level, 0-0.

    But when second half eventually started, FC Barcelona quickly showed their intent as people who were on a mission.

    6 minutes after the second half started, Barca scored.

 Chapter 299 Defiant will of the Catalan Giants

    Sevilla came to Spotify Camp Nou to cause an upset.They came to defy the Catalan giants, but FC Barcelona was a club with a defiant will, especially this version of the club under Hansi Flick.

    Raphina''s form from last season clearly extended into this new season as the energetic Brazilian became the one to open the game up.

    Taking a defense-splitting pass from Pedri, Raphina bombed towards the Sevilla goal with the ball but meeting opposition, he slowed down, weaving through challenges with his quick feet and strength as he pushed the ball towards the goal line, cleverly protecting it so he would not be dispossessed.

    That way, Raphina was able to drag the attention of 3 Sevilla players onto himself and just as the ball seemed like it would go out for a goal kick, he hit it¡­

    Bam!

    Like a specter, the ball squirmed through the block of multiple Sevilla players, ghosting into the box even as an alert Robert Lewandowski pounced.

    "¡­!"

    The Sevilla defenders were at alert but the Polish marksman''s reactions were faster, pouncing as he stuck his left leg out, hitting the ball with the heel of his boot even as he pushed it into the net.

    Sevilla''s goalkeeper reacted, diving but the ball just squirmed past his grasp.

    "GOALLLL¡­!" Spotify Camp Nou erupted.

    Charging towards the corner flag, Robert Lewandowski crossed both of his arms together, doing his iconic celebration even as the fans also celebrated.

    In the 51st minute of this game, Barca finally went ahead.

    FWEEE!

    The referee''s whistle sounded to continue the game and trust Barca, they rode on the momentum that was provided by that goal.

    And like that, just 4 minutes later, the 2nd goal entered.

    And this time, Sam was at the center of it.

    After tracking back to win the ball, Sam regained possession and all the way from deep in his half, he went on a rampaging run.

    Abusing his physicality and technical brilliance, Sam slalomed through the middle of the pitch, skipping through one challenge after the other even as fans in this stadium rose to their feet, their eyes wide in anticipation.

    From 30 yards out, Sam had free rein in front of him as the Sevilla players miscalculated his solo run but instead of shooting, Sam passed the ball.

    Again, his play confused the Sevilla players who tried to predict him.

    A few Sevilla players already dove in his path, trying to block his shot only to discover that it was a shot as the ball rolled through the ground with speed, cutting the Sevilla defense open like a hot knife through butter.

    Bam!

    Raphina got the ball in a position where he had only Sevilla''s goalkeeper remaining to beat.

    "¡­!"

    Time seemed to freeze, then¡­

    Thud!

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    The huge goalkeeper charged out aggressively, making himself big.

    Raphina had no time to think but he was composed. Everyone expected him to shoot but instead of shooting, having noticed another blue and red jersey to his right, Raphina pushed the ball to his right with the outside of his boot, away from the sprawling lunge of the Sevilla goalkeeper.

    Lurking on the right was a certain Polish striker, Robert Lewandowski.

    Bam!

    One touch to calm the ball, then¡­

    BAM!

    Another to rifle it into the net with venom!

    "GOALLLLL¡­!!!" The Spotify Camp Nou erupted for the 2nd time in just 5 minutes as the home supporters roared at the top of their lungs in celebration.

    Sam didn''t get the assist for the goal, but his imprint was all over that goal.

    For the next few minutes, FC Barcelona went on a riot, terrorizing the Sevilla defense even as Sam made his presence known in this game.

    He created 2 more deadly chances, 1 for Lewandowski and another for Lamine Yamal as the goalkeeper made incredible saves.

    In the 66th minute, he decided to go at it alone again but luck seemed to be teasing him today as Sam''s lethal shot ended up hitting the bar and ricocheting off for a goal kick. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "F*ck!" Sam grabbed his head, not believing his missed chance.

    At this point of the game, Sevilla was just holding on for dear life but then, piling on to Sevilla''s misery, Lamine Yamal turned the game on its head with a moment of individual brilliance.

    Robert Lewandowski set up the young Spaniard and as soon as Yamal''s leg touched the ball in the 70th minute on the right side of the pitch, he entered the zone state.

    Like a prime Neymar Jnr, he weaved through the Sevilla defense from the right, recreating an iconic moment of his relatively short career as drifting in and skipping past another challenge, he hit the ball with his left foot¡­

    Bam!

    Yamal didn''t hit the ball with too much power, rather, he wrapped the inside of his left boot around the ball, perfectly sending it on a deadly curving trajectory.

    Nyland, Sevilla''s goalkeeper reacted, desperately diving after the ball but like an automated missile, the ball moved, just curling past his grasp and into the net.

    "¡­!" For a few seconds, the Spotify Camp Nou could not react, then¡­

    BOOM!

    The iconic old stadium exploded!

    "Yamal!" "Yamal!" "Yamal!"

    Yamal chants started around this stadium even as the young Spanish winger ran towards the corner flag with a carefree smile on his face.

    On arriving at the corner flag, he emulated his idol Neymar, doing the Brazilian dance celebration.

    Sam and a few other FC Barcelona players joined him in dancing.

    Sam could not dance so it was awful to the eyes, but he danced still.

    Sam thoroughly enjoyed himself this game.

    In the 75th minute, he was subbed out of the game alongside other superstars in the squad, giving others the chance to shine.

    Barca saw the game out, winning 3-0 at home after a second half onslaught.

    In this game, Sam''s drought continued, he didn''t get a goal or an assist but his performance today was more like the Sam that FC Barcelona fans watched in highlights back in England.

    It was clear that he was still the same player and that he was drawing increasingly closer to regaining his form.

    Robert Lewandowski won the man of the match award for this game after his 2 goals and assist display.

    It was a vintage FC Barcelona performance.

    Sevilla wanted to cause an upset but they could not¡­, this was the defiant will of the Catalan giants.

 Chapter 300 A fine run of form

    (ESPN News:)(FC Barcelona in a rich run of form! 5-1, 4-0, and 3-0 convincing performances set them clear as the early favorites for the La Liga title! Has Sam finally recovered the form that made the Catalan Giants swoop in for his signature?)

    ¡­

    (Supersport:)

    (FC Barcelona; a fine run of form! A Robert Lewandowski brace, a Raphinha brace of assists, a Lamine Yamal goal, and a solid Sam display, is FC Barcelona the early title favorite of the La Liga title this season?)

    ¡­

    (TerminatorRono:)

    (Samuel Moses; 002! Hope this is not an Anthony-regen in FC Barcelona. That was how Anthony started in Manchester United, extending his streak to 007 and beyond in no time, is Sam going to do the same with FC Barcelona? For perspective, 007 means 0 goals and 0 assists in 7 games!)

    Like expected, after the game against Sevilla, a lot of publicity followed in its wake as FC Barcelona''s performance was dissected to the technical bits.

    After 1 game of adaptation, Sam had an above decent performance in his 2nd game for FC Barcelona but he was yet to get a goal contribution.

    Like expected, while most news channels focused on his positive performance and FC Barcelona''s overall form, others focused on criticizing him for his lack of goals and assists in the Spanish La Liga.

    Just like Kylian Mbappe was the biggest signing in Spain last season, this season, Sam was the biggest signing in Spain and that tag came with very high expectations.

    This was why the scrutiny was so high on him.

    Thankfully for Sam, he was not a social media freak which gave him some reprieve from the publicity and abuse that came with his performances in Spain.

    While the world spoke and wrote about him, on getting home after the game, happy, Sam spoke with his girlfriend.

    Kayla already saw the abuse and everything but knowing that Sam knew how to cope with it, she didn''t tell him, deciding to keep silent.

    That night, they spoke about a lot of things and when the last game of matchday 3 of the Spanish La Liga was played, Sam finally looked at the updated La Liga table, seeing where Barca now was in the table.

    (Updated La Liga table:)

    (1. Athletico Madrid GP: 3/ W:3/ D:0/ L:0/ Pts: 9)

    (2. Barcelona: GP: 3/ W:3/ D:0/ L:0/ Pts: 9)

    (3. Real Madrid GP: 3/ W:3/ D:0/ L:0/ Pts: 9)

    (4. Athletic Club GP: 3/ W:3/ D:0/ L:0/ Pts: 9)

    (5. Real Betis GP: 3/ W:3/ D:0/ L:0/ Pts: 9)

    (6. Elche GP: 3/ W:2/ D:0/ L:1/ Pts: 7)

    (7. Mallorca GP: 3/ W:2/ D:1/ L:0/ Pts: 7)

    (8. Sevilla GP: 3/ W:2/ D:0/ L:1/ Pts: 6)

    (9. Getafe GP: 3/ W:0/ D:2/ L:1/ Pts: 5)

    (10. Villareal GP: 3/ W:1/ D:2/ L:0/ Pts: 5)

    (11. Girona GP: 3/ W:1/ D:1/ L:1/ Pts: 4)

    (12. Celta Vigo GP: 3/ W:1/ D:1/ L:1/ Pts: 4)

    (13. Real Sociedad GP: 3/ W:1/ D:1/ L:1/ Pts: 4)

    (14. Levante GP: 3/ W:1/ D:0/ L:2/ Pts: 3)

    (15. Rayo Vallecano GP: 3/ W:1/ D:0/ L:2/ Pts: 3)

    (16. Almeria GP: 3/ W:0/ D:1/ L:2/ Pts: 1)

    (17. Valencia GP: 3/ W:0/ D:1/ L:2/ Pts: 1)

    (18. Osasuna GP: 3/ W:0/ D:0/ L:3/ Pts: 0)

    (19. Leganes GP: 3/ W:0/ D:0/ L:3/ Pts: 0)

    (20. Alaves GP: 3/ W:0/ D:0/ L:3/ Pts: 0)

    Barcelona was still locked in a tight-point race with 4 other clubs in the Spanish La Liga.

    That night, laying down on his bed, Sam thought about a lot of things, his thoughts lingering on the experience of his first home game in the Spotify Camp Nou. The feeling was one that he would never forget.

    Though it didn''t pan out exactly as he expected since he didn''t get a goal nor an assist, he still had an amazing game and he was slightly satisfied with that.

    ''I guess I got too used to scoring goals, huh?'' He smiled on his bed. ''I do forget sometimes that I''m not a striker, but rather a midfielder''.

    Before sleeping, he continued reflecting on his performance today. He wondered when it was finally going to click for him on the pitch.

    He could not wait for that moment.

    He was not desperate though, he was calm.

    "Wayum wayum bi jegedi". Sam muttered, recalling the conversation he had with his dad when offers first came from Europe after his FIFA Club World Cup game against Manchester City where he scored a hattrick and still lost.

    That happened a few years ago.

    After that game, so hyped, Sam expected offers to come from far and near for his signature but it didn''t pan out exactly as he expected.

    Instead of the big clubs, rather, it was the small clubs in Europe that lined up for his signature and it affected his confidence a bit till his dad spoke to him.

    That day, Mr. Moses told him this quote.

    Sam still remembered vividly.

    ''It''s another way for saying trust the process. Take it slow, one step at a time; it''s the little drops of water that creates a mighty ocean''. Sam remembered his dad smiling as he spoke to him. ''That''s what it means''.

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    ''Wayum wayum bi jegedi''. He repeated in his thoughts before sleeping.

    ¡­

    The next day, Sam woke up early like usual, even more motivated to go about his daily routine with gusto.

    Today, Lamine Yamal and Gavi came a little bit latter than expected and when they eventually arrived, he understood why. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Incredulously, the 2 Spaniards decided to increase the jogging circle without even informing him first.

    That morning, they came with Pedri!

    "¡­"

    Sam was speechless, just staring at them as they grinned mischievously. In the end, he chuckled. "Hola Pedri!"

    From a trio, it became a quadruple.

    The 4 of them jogged through the streets of Barcelona together.

    The next day, the 4 of them started trending on social media as recognizing them, an FC Barcelona fan took a video of them jogging despite the fact that they wore hoodies that covered their faces.

    The video trend for a positive reason though. Speculations of camaraderie between the 4 young FC Barcelona players grew online.

    To FC Barcelona fans, it was a good thing. They were excited.

    Jogging, working out, going for training, returning home, eating, sleeping, rinse and repeat; Sam continued like this for the next few days to a week and beyond.

    And in no time, it was matchday again.

    In matchday 4, FC Barcelona was to take on Real Sociedad in an away game.

 Chapter 301 Matchday 4; against Real Sociedad

    (La Liga:)(Real Sociedad ¨C Barcelona)

    The FC Barcelona squad traveled to San Sebastian, to the Estadio de Aneota, currently known as the Reale Arena for sponsorship purposes, Real Soceidad''s home stadium for their matchday 4 encounter.

    FC Barcelona started with a similar lineup like in the Sevilla game with minimal changes being made, the main one being Gerard Martin starting ahead of Alejandro Balde in left back.

    While FC Barcelona tweaked its formation, Real Sociedad did not take any chances as they started with their best lineup for this game.

    Unlike the Catalans, the San Sebastian club started with a 4-1-4-1 formation.

    Alex Remiro started in between the posts for the home side while ahead of him stood a quadruple of Aramburu, Zubeldia, Pacheco, and Munoz in defense.

    Standing as the sole pivot in this game was the maverick midfielder who was the envy and transfer target of a lot of big clubs in Europe, Martin Zubimendi.

    Ahead of him was the balanced attacking quadruple of Tite Kubo, Turrientes, Olasagasti, and Sergio Gomez. Ahead of them was Mikel Oyarzabal starting as the sole striker in this game. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    FWEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, a balanced game started in the Reale Arena as Real Sociedad surprisingly matched FC Barcelona''s intensity and play in the first half of this game.

    Clearly, the home side had a concrete game plan to win.

    To the surprise of onlookers, at some point, it was like the home players were running FC Barcelona ragged with their immense work rate.

    Barca did not falter though as they met their intensity pound for pound, staying compact and playing their own game.

    It was an end-to-end game throughout the first half.

    The FC Barcelona attack got to shine in this game again but among the quadruple of attacking players, one of them seemed to struggle this game.

    After playing 3 straight games consecutively since the new La Liga season started, Robert Lewandowski seemed on his way to having his first stinker of the season as his age finally seemed to show.

    Just like any great player, age was finally catching up with the Polish striker.

    His loose touches, his mis-controls, the uncharacteristic poor positioning, Lewandowski was off it this game and it affected the rest of the Barca attack.

    The remaining attackers toiled in his absence, trying to lift their game and lift him along but they were struggling.

    In the struggling was where Sam thrived.

    In a game this hard, Sam''s talent finally shone through as he dominated.

    When Real Sociedad got the ball and were about to go on their dangerous attacking raids, Sam was like a sledgehammer that consistently stopped the threat early before it could become too dangerous.

    In attack, he was also a menace as he consistently thread accurate passes through the tiny spaces and boxes that the Real Sociedad players left behind, unable to cover.

    Despite it, the goal failed to materialize.

    For the 2nd straight game, Barcelona failed to score in the first half and just before half-time, the Catalan visitors were stunned. Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire

    For just one moment, the Barcelona defense was caught napping and that was all Real Sociedad needed as rising above every other player, Mikel Oyarzabal planted a firm header from a cross into the bottom left corner.

    Inaki Pena dived but the ball just snuck past him and into the net.

    "GOALLLL¡­!!!" The Reale Arena erupted!

    Just like that, FC Barcelona trailed.

    The first half came to an end with Barcelona losing 1-0.

    ¡­

    During half-time, Hansi Flick had a very calm talk with his players, making a few tactical tweaks before sending them back into the pitch. Despite the tactical tweaks, the German coach did not make any substitution.

    As soon as the FC Barcelona players entered the pitch, it was clear that they came with a different energy, an energy of defiance.

    "BOOOO¡­!!!" The home fans quickly booed, hoping to kill their energy.

    FWEEE!

    It didn''t matter much though because as soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, FC Barcelona started a dance of Dragons.

    They raised the intensity immediately.

    Bam! Bam!

    Raphina, Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Sam, even Lewandowski, they all raised their level in this 2nd half as they started overwhelming Real Sociedad.

    But the home side was not caught off-guard.

    Having expected Barcelona''s increase in intensity in the 2nd half as they chased after the equalizer, the Real Sociedad coach cleverly changed his strategy, switching to all-out defense.

    Against the rampaging Catalans, as soon as their onslaught started, Real Sociedad parked the bus in front of their defense.

    The home fans didn''t react angrily to this decision by their coach though, rather, they applauded it as they cheered their team on.

    In this game, it was not just the Barca players vs Real Sociedad players; it was the Barca players vs Real Sociedad players vs the Real Sociedad fans.

    Despite this, undeterred, the relentless Barca onslaught of attacks continued.

    Barca attacked but a stalwart Real Sociedad defense gave them no easy path towards goal as they staunchly defended their goal.

    Sam tried to take outside the box shots but clearly wary of his threat, a player was tasked to close him down immediately he revealed his intent to take a shot.

    This was another factor in his adaptation.

    Having heard of his reputation in the premier league already, no club in Spain wanted to give him the spaces that he loved to wreak havoc. They''ve observed, studied, and dissected his game, creating measures to best thwart him.

    It was the same thing that Kylian Mbappe faced during his early weeks and months in Spain, Sam was facing the same treatment.

    And again, that was materializing in this game.

    Sam was playing at an elite level with his fellow attackers but against Real Sociedad''s low block, the goal failed to materialize.

    They were dominating in possession, chances created, shots taken, everything, but they were being frustrated because they were losing.

    50 minutes passed, no goal¡­

    60 minutes passed, no goal¡­

    70 minutes passed, still no goal¡­

    And that was when it happened, a tragedy.

    During another FC Barcelona attack raid, Pedri held on to the ball for far too long, enabling the opposing midfielder, Martin Zubimendi to steal the ball.

    "¡­!" Instantly, the whole Barca team went into panic mode.

    This was because of the player holding the ball.

    Bam!

    Their panic was warranted as despite Gavi quickly closing him down, Martin Zubimendi calmly rotated past the Spanish midfielder, spraying a deadly pass towards the right and cutting an overzealous Barca team open.

    Since most Barca players were up field, attacking and trying to score a goal to bring the game level, that one pass dissected the full Barca defense open like a hot knife through butter.

    Gerard Martin, Barca''s right back was caught out of position.

    But as soon as the ball was passed, the young defender panicked as he quickly engaged in a sprint, desperate to recover and make up for his mistake.

    Somehow, due to help from the shadow defending of other defenders, Gerard Martin''s speed won as he closed Tite Kubo down, restricting the winger to just outside the Barca 18-yard box even as other Barca players fell back.

    The threat was already diffused, no need for any reckless action but in a moment of madness, as soon as Tite Kubo entered the 18-yard box, losing his head, Gerard Martin dived in on a sliding tackle.

    The tackle was far from perfect as catching Kubo''s ankle, he brought the Real Sociedad winger down.

    FWEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle sounded immediately even as he awarded a penalty to Real Sociedad in the 71st minute while showing Gerard Martin a straight red card.

    The Barca players didn''t even try to appeal the red card, it was just too obvious. The young right back dejectedly trudged off the field.

    Barca trailed behind, and now, they got an even bigger disadvantage.

    Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up to take the penalty, his last action in this game before being taken off and he didn''t miss a step, sending Inaki Pena the wrong way as he cooly slotted into the bottom left corner.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!!!" The Reale Arena erupted again in ecstasy.

    And in that moment, all hell broke loose, Hansi Flick finally lost his composure.

    His team was losing 2-0!

    Having decided to be conservative since, the German coach finally decided to be ruthless. He took a drastic decision, making the bold decision of taking off Lewandowski as he introduced Fermin Lopez.

    It was not the substitution that was his craziest decision, rather, it was his tactical and formational change.

    Hansi Flick decided to play Sam as a striker!

    More precisely, a false 9.

 Chapter 302 Debut as a false 9

    72 minutes, 2-0¡­FC Barcelona was trailing by 2 goals in the Reale Arena.

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    BOOM!

    The energy of the home fans in this stadium was extremely exuberant even as they celebrated the fortunate circumstances of their team.

    Against a high-flying Barca side, to be leading 2-0 at home, this was a big cause of celebration and they did not hold back in their celebrations.

    And when Lewandowski trudged out of the field after being substituted, instead of booing like they''ve been doing for majority of this game, they rather cheered, applauding loudly around the stadium.

    They didn''t applaud out of respect; their applause was their way of taunting the Catalan giants for collapsing in their home stadium.

    These reactions made the atmosphere in this stadium even more hostile.

    After dominating for most of this game, 2 incredible counter-attacks was what did Barca in, making them trail by 2 goals.

    They were truly unfortunate this game, luck was not just on their side.

    Having tried their best for almost 80 minutes of this game, giving their all to attack and score a goal, despite dominating for the majority of the game, FC Barcelona finally collapsed in Real Sociedad''s home.

    From the reaction of the away supporters, it was clear that they already gave up in their team getting a reward from this game.

    In the touchline, Hansi Flick was also calm.

    Clearly, he already gave up in getting a result from this game but since he already gave up, why not switch things up?

    Why not try a strategy that he''s been thinking of for some time?

    Yes, Hansi Flick have been thinking up a new and extremely radical strategy since the very first day that he watched Sam train in an FC Barcelona jersey.

    Robert Lewandowski was a lethal striker, one of the best of his generation but like every great player, he was dancing to the tune of the omniscient influence of father time. Even he could not fight the depreciation that comes due to age.

    This was why wearing the lens of a radical scientist rather than that of just a coach, Hansi Flick observed his new signing in training.

    ''A tall 1.84 frame¡­, powerful in the air, a good header of the ball, a great mastery over his center of gravity, good at scoring goals, a literal perfect ball technique, and natural talent¡­''

    ''¡­what else is needed to create a natural striker?''

    ''He''s the perfect striker!''

    ''A perfect false 9!''

    FC Barcelona was broke! That was the reality of the Catalan club.

    They were still caught in a debt in the figures of billions of Euros, all they were doing at this point was trying to keep the club afloat.

    This was why Hansi Flick did not expect the club to buy any of the hot striker prospects in the market at the moment, and this was also what forced the German coach to become a scientist to seek another alternative for his aging striker.

    All his life, Sam had played as an attacking midfielder but even at the highest stage of football, it was not totally strange for an elite player to change his position.

    Even here in Barcelona, the Spanish fullback, Alejandro Balde once started in the Spanish club as a winger and not a defender.

    Xavi Hernandez, Hansi Flick''s predecessor was the coach who converted the young Spaniard into the proper left back that he was today.

    All this while though, it had only been an idea in the German coach''s head.

    He had never told his assistants, nor did he ever tell Sam but since this game already spiraled out of his control and his club''s inability to seize the game was largely due to Lewandowski''s lethargic play due to his age, Hansi Flick took the radical decision to switch things up.

    ''No risk, no reward!''

    With that mentality, the German Coach made the crazy change.

    He turned Sam into a false 9!

    After that decision by the German coach, all hell broke loose, even the commentators were confused.

    "What the hell is going on here?"

    "Am I seeing well? Is Sam going to play the reminder of this game as Barca''s striker? What a weird change!"

    "Did Hansi Flick hit his head or something?"

    "I think this decision is motivated by desperation more than anything," the commentator''s commentary partner chuckled. "Sam has played as an attacking midfielder all his life, despite his height, I don''t think he has the experience to play as a striker, even as a false 9".

    "If it was so easy to convert players to new positions for them to thrive, a lot more players would do it at the highest stage".

    "Will this decision pay dividends for the German coach? I doubt but we can only watch the result of Hansi Flick''s radical decision".

    That decision from the German coach was like dust, and fueled by the current embarrassing scoreline, it spread, ruffling feathers, creating chaos and turning the battlefield in Reale Arena muddled.

    The game changed¡­

    Having held their cool against the tight low block of the Real Sociedad defense for over 70 minutes, the Barca players finally started losing their nerves and their opponents were fanning the flames. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Having received instructions from their coach, even as the Real Sociedad fans kept on trying to enter the heads of the visiting Barcelona players, the Real Sociedad players on the pitch also started engaging in the dark arts.

    They employed annoying time-wasting tactics, playing dirty football, trying everything in their repertoire just to run the clock down.

    The Barca players could only be patient for so long.

    "Bastardo!" Gavi erupted first, cursing angrily.

    "Bastardo, callate!"

    FWEEE!

    The referee did not hesitate, brandishing a yellow card to the young Spanish midfielder immediately. Gavi was lucky to not receive a straight red card.

    For the moment, Hansi Flick''s tactic was not working.

    Playing in an unfamiliar position that he was not used to and never thought of playing in before, Sam felt like a fish out of water.

    He struggled to adapt, limiting his impact in this game even more.

    He constantly drifted back into midfield before remembering that he was supposed to play as a striker. And by the time he got back, the Real Sociedad low block already disrupted the Barca attack.

    ''F*ck!'' Like the rest of his teammates, Sam was frustrated.

    But he didn''t give up yet¡­

    ¡­in the midst of adversity, the Black Mamba in him reared its head.

    ''Win!''

    The demon in him slowly awakened.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    The voice roared in his head.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    Before Sam knew it, he entered the state of flow!

 Chapter 303 In the flow...

    In the face of adversity, man is presented with either of 2 options, evolve and win or fail to evolve and lose.Sam did not want to lose.

    He hated losing, he dreaded losing, and this was why his dark side awakened.

    ''Win!''

    The demon in him slowly awakened.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    The voice in his head roared.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    And before he knew it, he entered the state of flow!

    FC Barcelona splurged 80 million Euros to secure his signature from Fulham, this was despite the mounting economic problems of the club.

    This was despite the fact that the club was broke!

    ''Is this how I am going to repay their faith in me?''

    ''Is this how I am going to repay the President''s faith?''

    ''Is this how I am going to repay the faith of the fans?''

    ''NO!'' Sam was defiant.

    ''I have not started¡­''

    His eyes widened, drool gathering in his lips even as his eyes burned with fire!

    ''I''ve not started¡­''

    ''¡­I''m just starting!''

    Sam was already in the flow state due to his incredible yearning to help his team comeback and win this game.

    It was already past the 80th minute but Sam didn''t care, all he cared about was the fact that he was still in this game and that there was still a chance to win.

    The rest of the Barca attack was not clicking due to Real Sociedad''s dark arts and their valiant defensive display.

    As the striker of the team now, Sam was expected to wait for chances.

    But this would not work!

    If Sam decided to stay passive and wait for chances to be created for him, he was 100% sure that the game would end like this.

    ''I''m not satisfied!''

    He decided not to wait and hope for luck.

    Instead of waiting, he would go out there and get his own luck!

    BZZZ!

    Having won back the ball back from Lamine Yamal, the Real Sociedad players were passing in the back, looking to start another counterattack against Barca when Sam erupted, jumping into action.

    The sound of his feet hitting the field as he ran reverberated like the hooves of a mighty Horse engaged in a sprint.

    "¡­!"

    The Sociedad player with the ball heard his footsteps and panicked, but the player was not fast enough to react as Sam arrived the next moment.

    Bang!

    Abusing his physicality, Sam barged into this player with force shoulder to shoulder, outmuscling him and shoving him to the side!

    Thud!

    The Sociedad player collapsed helplessly to the pitch but immediately, he sat up, looking at the referee in silent protest.

    "Ref! Referee¡­!" He called but the referee paid him no heed, indicating with his actions that the ball was won back fairly.

    The other Real Sociedad players also wanted to protest but they were elite professional footballers. They knew that if the referee did not stop the play, they had no right to stop playing.

    But that moment of hesitation as they looked at the referee was all a certain midfielder turned striker needed¡­

    ''Chance!'' Sam''s pupils dilated in extreme focus.

    Thud!

    A Real Sociedad player closed him down but with the outside of his boot, he pushed the ball to his nearest teammate.

    Whoosh!

    Immediately after pushing the ball, like a ghost, Sam literally left afterimages behind as he rushed behind the player, charging behind the defense.

    Lamine Yamal read his intentions perfectly.

    "Stop him! Block the pass¡­!" The Real Sociedad captain roared in Spanish but Lamine Yamal already executed what he intended.

    As soon as the ball rolled towards him, he hit it with the inside of his boot, raising it above the Real Sociedad defense.

    Bam!

    Sam barely beat Real Sociedad''s offside line.

    As he ran, his eyes tracked the ball, following it with single-minded focus even as it levitated above the defense, coming towards him.

    Thud¡­

    The Real Sociedad goalkeeper reacted immediately, charging out¡­

    Bzzz!

    Sam''s brain geared into overdrive immediately even as his eyes flickered, alternating between the ball and the onrushing goalkeeper even as he ran.

    In that moment, lessons that Sam learned in secondary school that he already thought he forgot swirled in his head in this state of flow.

    Mathematical formulas and logics that were complicated to him before became so easy that Sam felt like a genius.

    In a fraction of a second, he calculated the distance between the ball, him, and the goalkeeper, including its movement speed, correlating it with his own movement speed and that of the Real Sociedad goalkeeper.

    ''He''ll get it first!'' He arrived at his mathematical answer.

    And so, Sam improvised¡­

    If things continued the way it was going, the goalkeeper would catch the ball before he could get to it and so, he improvised.

    Before the goalkeeper could get to the ball, he would intercept it!

    The first thought that came to Sam''s head was Maradona''s iconic Hand of God moment in the World Cup decades ago but it wouldn''t work. Afterall, this was the age of VAR where every single play was heavily scrutinized.

    His eyes gleamed¡­, the only way was breaking his limits.

    ''I need to jump!''

    ''I need to jump high!''

    ''I need to break my limits and jump so high that I''m able to intercept the ball in mid-air as it flies above me¡­, that''s the only way!''

    There was no time to waste.

    As soon as he thought of it, he did it.

    Thud!

    Kicking the ground, Sam jumped, propelling his tall frame into the air like a prime Lebron James about to perform an iconic dunk in a basketball court.

    In that moment, Sam exceeded all his previous jumping heights¡­, rising as high as 3 meters above the ground!

    ¡­high enough for his head to barely hit the ball, tipping it away from the grasp of the onrushing goalkeeper.

    Whoosh!

    The Real Sociedad goalkeeper rushed past, mis-catching the ball. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''This is it!''

    Thud!

    As soon as Sam landed back on the pitch, he felt the shock of inertia go through his legs like electricity, briefly freezing him but the Black Mamba in him reared its head again.

    ''Move¡­!''

    Sam commanded his body and it moved!

    He moved, sticking his right leg out and kicking the ball just as it was about to go out for a goal kick, directing it into the net.

    "¡­"

    "¡­"

    "¡­..!"

    A deafening silence befell the Reale Arena, but then¡­

    Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire

    BOOM!

    The away stands of this stadium erupted.

    "GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!" The FC Barcelona fans screamed at the top of their lungs like they just won the UEFA champions league final.

 Chapter 304 An electric Sam display in Reale Arena!

    The ball rolled inside the net."¡­"

    "¡­"

    "¡­..!"

    A deafening silence befell the Reale Arena, but then¡­

    BOOM!

    The away stands of this stadium erupted.

    "GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!" The FC Barcelona fans screamed at the top of their lungs like they just won the UEFA champions league final.

    Buoyed by the loud noise of celebration being made around this stadium, Sam sprang back up to his feet, his blood-red pupils filled with blood veins glaring at the Real Sociedad fans as he jumped, planting his feet firmly to the ground as he pumped his fists at them.

    The veins in his throat stretched, straining his guttural muscles, and then¡­

    "COME ON¡­!!!" He screamed at the top of his lungs.

    After that, quickly running into the net, Sam brought the ball out, taking it back to the halfway line to restart this game.

    It took a moment for the Real Sociedad players to finally react to what just happened, including the commentators as the commentators finally raved about the brilliant moment of magic that they just witnessed.

    "My God! What a moment of magic from the young Nigerian!"

    "Out of nowhere! No one saw it coming!"

    "Such defiant energy, damn, his demeanor on the pitch is really like the main character of a movie!"

    "Can he be the protagonist of today''s match?"

    "Let''s see¡­"

    FWEEEE!

    Real Sociedad restarted the game but it was clear immediately that despite the fact that FC Barcelona just scored a goal, they had no intentions of attacking still. Afterall, they were still leading.

    Real Sociedad was content with defending their lead.

    For the rest of the 90 minutes, the staunch home side frustrated the FC Barcelona players even more as they turned this game into a slugging affair.

    They took any tip that they could out of the Jose Mourinho playbook, dragging this game out and turning it into a contest of who was better at interrupting the play even as they annoyed the FC Barcelona players.

    Of course, all of this did not escape the notice of the referee either even as he started brandishing yellow cards left and right.

    Not just for the Real Sociedad players, but for the frustrated FC Barcelona players who could not hold their cool anymore, lashing out at the dark arts being employed by the Real Sociedad players.

    This game was not done, not close.

    There was more drama!

    FWEEE! S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In the 87th minute of the game, one of the Real Sociedad attackers finally got a red card for time wasting after receiving a second yellow from the referee.

    The Real Sociedad players heavily protested the decision, wasting even more time in the process but the player eventually walked off the pitch.

    That evened the game a bit but only for a few seconds¡­

    FWEEEE!

    In the 88th minute of this game, a certain player''s nerves finally spilled over as unable to control it, Gavi lashed out again, attracting his second yellow card of the game as he was also sent off.

    As soon as he saw red, Gavi lost it.

    "Bastardo!"

    He insulted everyone, including the referee, totally incensed.

    It was clear at this point that the referee already lost control of this game.

    In the aftermath of Gavi''s red card, losing his emotions negatively for the first time in his career, Sam also got involved in the skirmish that followed, resulting in him getting his first yellow card in Spain.

    His teammates'' emotions were getting to him.

    It continued like this till the 90th minute.

    Real Sociedad''s plan was working. In the end, after everything, they were still winning this game 2-1.

    The referee added 6 minutes of additional time to this game, 6 minutes of war and more drama.

    Bam! Bam!

    Both sides kept on doing their thing, Barca attacking with aggressive intent while Real Sociedad defended with their lives, wasting time and employing the dark arts without fail anytime that they succeeded in winning the ball back.

    In the 90th plus 5 minute, Barca''s overzealous approach to attack finally backfired as Real Sociedad finally got a juicy counterattacking opportunity.

    Whoosh!

    Like a rocket, after getting the ball, one of the Real Sociedad wingers erupted down the left wing, beating Jules Kounde for pace.

    In no time, this winger was left one-on-one with Inaki Pena.

    "¡­!" The hearts of countless FC Barcelona fans watching around the world stopped even as the winger finally raised his leg to take his shot.

    Bam!

    As soon as the ball was hit, Inaki Pena reacted, falling to the ground and making his body big and then, in a moment of luck, his trailing leg intercepted the ball¡­

    ¡­the ball ricocheted off Inaki Pena''s body!

    Ronald Araujo, the FC Barcelona defender arrived at the loose ball first and without hesitation, he cleared the ball high up field and in so doing, Real Sociedad was opened for the first time in 95 minutes!

    "¡­!"

    Originally, once the Real Sociedad winger broke off on the counterattack, everyone expected it to be the last act of this game.

    No one expected Inaki Pena to pull off such a life-changing save.

    While the counterattack started, a few Real Sociedad players charged up field, opening their compact low block up and when Ronald Araujo cleared the ball up field, they were exposed.

    One of the Real Sociedad defenders rushed forward, jumping to head the ball back but someone clashed with him.

    ¡­Samuel Moses!

    Bang!

    Sam jumped after the defender, squaring against him shoulder to shoulder and in a sheer moment of willpower, he overpowered the hefty center back.

    "Can you believe it?!"

    "Sam won the physicality battle! He has the ball!"

    "He managed to kill the ball''s momentum with his head!"

    "What control despite the collision!"

    Thud!

    As soon as Sam landed back on the pitch, electricity seemed to surge through his body as he swiftly turned around.

    With his head, he controlled the ball and turning around, he had only one opponent remaining in front of him¡­, Real Sociedad''s goalkeeper.

    From one end of the pitch to another, in just seconds!

    Sam was one-on-one with the goalkeeper!

    Real Sociedad''s goalkeeper charged out, making himself big but keeping his cool, Sam taught a certain winger a lesson in shooting.

    BAM!

    He rifled the ball past the goalkeeper, straight into the top right corner!

    The ball nestled into the net, and then¡­

    "GOALLLLL¡­!!!"

    All hell broke loose as the away stands in the Reale Arena erupted, the FC Barcelona away supporters roaring and celebrating at the top of their lungs.

    Immediately, Sam removed his jersey, charging towards the corner flag in ecstasy even as he slid on his knees in celebration, pumping his fists exuberantly.

    When he rose back to his feet, he showed his name and number at the back of his jersey to the Real Sociedad fans who forgot to boo him.

    {Samuel Moses}

    {No. 11}

    ¡­

    The commentators were lost for words. "What¡­ a game!"

    "This game should be known as the Sam game!"

    "What an electric display from the young Nigerian maverick in Reale Arena! What a performance!"

    "I-I''m just lost for words!"

 Chapter 305 El juego de Sam!

    {+6 additional minutes!}Scoreline at the 90th plus 4th minute, 2-1¡­

    After a moment of absolute chaos, individual brilliance, and sheer defiant willpower by FC Barcelona''s new superstar, the scoreline changed.

    Scoreline in the 90th plus 5th minute, 2-2¡­

    "¡­"

    "¡­"

    "¡­..!"

    The Reale Arena in San Sebastian, Spain was silenced.

    The home supporters were as silent as a church mouse, leaving the stage for the few away supporters who let loose, letting their voices heard in this large stadium as they roared and celebrated at the top of their lungs.

    FC Barcelona fans celebrated; Real Sociedad fans were mortified.

    ''What¡­ did we just witness?'' They thought, still not believing the sequence of events that happened in the last 10 minutes of this game.

    They were speechless, they were lost for words to say.

    Even the commentators were also lost for words to say but they were not paid to stay mortified and quiet, they were paid for their commentary and so they spoke, letting their rampaging emotions to overflow.

    "What¡­ a game!" They raved.

    "This game should be known as the Sam game!"

    "What an electric display from the young Nigerian maverick in Reale Arena! What a performance!"

    "I-I''m just lost for words!"

    "El juego de Sam!"

    "That is what is should be called, the Sam game!"

    While the rest of this stadium reacted, from the home fans to the away fans and the commentators, reacting in their own different ways, the players on the pitch also reacted as the Real Sociedad players collapsed to the pitch in tiredness.

    In those last few minutes, they gave their all, utilizing the best of the dark arts to keep FC Barcelona at bay, to think the Catalans still equalized.

    Besides, it was at such an agonizing time when victory was already within reach and was so close.

    If Barca scored at the 88th minute, they won''t feel this much pain. A 90th minute equalizer, even any other additional time equalizer wouldn''t pain so much, this one stung so much because it came in the 90th plus 5th minute, mere seconds away from the fulltime whistle!

    "¡­!" The Real Sociedad players could only gnash their teeth in regret and rue their luck, while also ruing the talent of that freakish midfielder turned striker.

    While the Real Sociedad players reeled in tiredness and regret, the remaining 9 FC Barcelona players on the pitch felt on top of the world.

    Sam led the charge.

    As soon as the ball entered the net and as the away fans started roaring at the top of their lungs, immediately, he removed his jersey, charging towards the corner flag in ecstasy even as he slid on his knees in celebration, pumping his fists exuberantly.

    When he did that, his teammates swarmed after him, jumping all around him excitedly as a number of them also slid after him in celebration.

    When he rose back to his feet, he showed his name and number at the back of his jersey to the Real Sociedad fans who forgot to boo him.

    As he did, Lamine Yamal jumped into Sam''s back, pumping his right fist excitedly in celebration and one of the cameramen did well to capture this iconic moment, recording it in the annals of history.

    The celebrations were wild and unrestrained by the FC Barcelona players.

    Having been tried, tested, and pushed to the brink by the hostile atmosphere that was created by the Real Sociedad fans and the dark arts employed by their players, to eventually equalize the game, few things in the world could equal how ecstatic they felt.

    They continued celebrating for over a minute but as the celebrations eventually died down, the referee trudged towards their corner with a poker look on his face before brandishing a yellow card towards a certain FC Barcelona player.

    "¡­!" Sam was mortified as he stared at the referee.

    This was when he remembered that he removed his jersey in celebration, too overwhelmed by the emotion of the moment to care. ''Oh sh*t!''

    It was too late though.

    By brandishing a second yellow card, added to the first yellow card that Sam got earlier when he got involved in the Gavi bust-up, it was upgraded and he earned the second red card of his career, the first of his club career.

    FWEEE!

    The referee blew his whistle, directing him out of the pitch.

    Sam shook his head but, in the end, chuckling with a big smile on his face, he took his time trudging out of the field.

    He walked extremely slowly.

    He was paying the Real Sociedad players in their own medicine. They''ve been time wasting for most of this game, Sam completed it for them.

    Frustrated, a few Real Sociedad players rushed up to him, trying to push him and make him walk faster but they couldn''t out of fear of retaliation by the referee.

    The referee could do nothing else to Sam, after all, he already received the biggest penalty that a referee could give, the red card.

    Seeing the look on the Real Sociedad players'' faces, Sam grinned. ''An eye for an eye¡­''

    ''¡­a tooth for a tooth!''

    As he walked, the FC Barcelona fans decided to spice this moment up even more as his actions excited them.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    The Sam chants erupted for the first time in Spain, in the Reale Arena.

    The cameramen captured every single moment, not missing any as they recorded this iconic walk in the annals of Spanish La Liga history.

    Walking towards the direction of the away stands, Sam casually threw his black away jersey towards the fans. A lucky FC Barcelona fan, a teenager caught it and immediately, a big smile blossomed on the teenager''s face.

    Seeing that smile, Sam grinned. ''I''m glad''.

    FWEEE!

    With him off the pitch, the referee''s whistle finally sounded to kickstart this game but after a few skirmishes and a few clearances of the ball, the referee''s whistle sounded again, finally bringing this game to an end. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Incredulously, despite trailing 2-0 for majority of this game, in the dying minutes, FC Barcelona managed to orchestrate a comeback, ending the game 2-2.

    Sam won the man of the match award, his first in Spain.

 Chapter 306 First post-match interview in Spain

    "El juego de Sam!" The beautiful female reporter brandished an enchanting smile at Sam as soon as the interview started. "The Sam game," she grinned. "That is what everyone is calling it!"Sam smiled back at her. "Really? That''s great".

    For his first post-match interview in Spain, the officials had mercy on him, sending an English-speaking reporter to take charge of it.

    "Sam, what a game you played today!"

    Sam only smiled, wiping away his sweat even as he breath heavily.

    "Starting the game as an attacking midfielder and ending it as a striker, how does it feel like? Was it premeditated?"

    Hearing that, Sam scratched the back of his head, his face an expression of confusion. "If I said I knew I would play as a striker today, then I would be Loki, the God of Mischief". He chuckled.

    "Honestly, I never knew the coach would take such a drastic decision".

    "I''ve never played as a striker in my whole life, none of my coaches have ever used me as a false 9, and I''ve never even thought of it before today".

    "What''s most crazy is that the coach never told me of it. When I heard his instructions, I had to double check to make sure that he didn''t make a mistake".

    "Wow!" The female reporter''s eyes widened. "You mean you didn''t even know about it? And yet, despite being caught off-guard like us, in an unfamiliar position, you still did what you did today on the pitch?"

    Her jaws dropped in shock; this was not acting; she was honestly flabbergasted. "You are a different specimen man!" She laughed.

    "Today really is El juego de Sam!"

    After regaining her composure did she finally continue. "Sam, you were able to score a brace today after an incredible all-round performance, your first goals in Spain since completing the move from Fulham, what are your thoughts about it?"

    Sam rubbed his chin, going over his words carefully before replying; he smiled. "I knew that part of the reason why the club bought me was for my goals".

    "I''m used to scoring goals and creating assists so I was not really panicked, I knew that eventually, the goals and assists would come".

    "All I needed was to go through a little period of adaptation".

    "I''m still finding my feet but yeah, I''m ready for the challenge".

    "Talking of your adaptation, after the 2 goals today, you still feel that you''re yet to find your feet? You''re still adapting?"

    Sam chuckled. "Scoring 2 goals does not mean I''ve completed my adaptation; it was all in the moment. I don''t know if you know but I''m more of a moments'' player, I create my moments and try to steal the show with them".

    "Today was a perfect example but no," he shook his head. "I feel that I still need a few games to perfectly gel with the team".

    "Besides, today, I created my moments from an unfamiliar position".

    "First, I''ll have to hear the thoughts of the coach from here on which position I''ll be playing in. It''ll help a lot in my adaptation".

    "Does that mean you''re open to the idea of playing as a striker?"

    "¡­"

    Sam took his time to answer this time, he laughed. "I can''t really tell yet, it''s all still so muddled to me," but then he grinned. "Playing as a striker was closer to the goal though, which meant more explosiveness for me".

    "I won''t lie," he chuckled. "I kind of enjoyed it".

    "That''s what I''m saying!" The reporter laughed.

    At that moment, she smiled again. "It''s your first man of the match award in Spain Sam, I wish you many more in the colors of FC Barcelona".

    "Thank you".

    "And thank you too for having us¡­," The reporter was interrupted just as she was about to complete her sentence.

    One of her assistants showed her an iPad.

    Smiling apologetically at Sam, she looked at the iPad and what she saw made her face change immediately.

    Sam noticed that change, he also noticed that the eyes with which the others in this interview stand looked at him changed too.

    ''What happened?'' He thought.

    Slightly excited but showing caution, the female reporter looked at Sam again, asking. "Sam, an unrelated question, but did you once have a girlfriend in Nigeria before making the switch to Europe?"

    "Huh?"

    ¡­

    About a minute later when Sam walked back to his team''s dressing room, he could not help but think back to the female reporter''s question.

    ''What a weird question''.

    ''A girlfriend in Nigeria?'' He scoffed. ''I was a miserable single mother*cker then, those materialistic money-driven ladies won''t settle for me!''

    Thinking, he walked into the dressing room.

    Sam could not help but notice¡­, the looks that his teammates gave to him was not what he expected after such a performance from him.

    ''Hmmm¡­, are we not supposed to be celebrating?''

    ¡­

    (ESPN News:)

    (El juego de Sam!)

    (Sam steals the show in matchday 4 of the Spanish La Liga! In a game when Barca needed their new talisman the most, the attacking midfielder showed up as a striker, saving Barca''s blushes and rescuing them a point in the Reale Arena!)

    (Click this link to watch highlights of Sam''s performance=)

    ¡­

    (Supersport News:)

    (Samuel Moses is a striker!) Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (2-2 as Samuel Moses runs riot in the final 10 minutes of the game in Reale Arena, rescuing a point for FC Barcelona and ending the game in a stalemate!)

    (Click to watch the best moments of Sam''s performance in the Reale Arena=)

    ¡­

    (Goal.com:)

    (Is Samuel Moses the rock upon which Barcelona must build their hopes for a Robert Lewandowski replacement? Can the young Nigerian midfielder transform into a lethal striker?)

    ¡­

    (Barca Blaugranes:)

    (A Sam masterpiece in Reale Arena!)

    (A 2-goal man of the match display in Reale Arena! Watch the best moments of our new superstar=)

    A lot of posts like this dominated social media immediately after the game in Reale Arena in San Sebastian but amid the mountain of congratulatory news, a certain news was building momentum, an extremely controversial one.

    (BBC News:)

    (Sam, the maverick footballer, or a notorious sexual assault?)

    (Videos and images attached=)

    A storm brewed online.

 Chapter 307 A scandal [1]

    The world of football was supposed to still be reeling from Sam''s iconic display in Reale Arena as a false 9, but instead of that, borrowing the momentum of his big name, another extremely controversial news took momentum.A storm brewed online¡­

    (BBC News:)

    (Sam, the maverick footballer, or a notorious sexual assault?)

    (Videos and images attached=)

    It was just 10 minutes after the conclusion of the Real Sociedad game that the videos and images were posted at first, and it was posted by a Nigerian Instagram account going by the username of Amaka Glimz.

    At first, it didn''t gather much momentum on the internet but after a stroke of coincidence where BBC reposted the Instagram videos and images, broadcasting it in their news did it blow up.

    It blew up, attracting a storm in its wake.

    At first, people refused to believe what they saw but trust online keyboard warriors, research was part of their job description.

    They helped in fanning the flames from the shadows.

    All it took was for the people who first saw the videos and images to do some research and they discovered that the so called Amaka girl''s claim was right, she did attend the same Secondary school with Samuel Moses.

    And automatically, that gave some credence to her claims; the video and image evidences that she posted gave her words even more credibility.

    In one of the videos, the beautiful Nigerian girl, Amaka Glimz claimed that she was Sam''s original girlfriend before he dumped her for Kayla.

    But that was not her reason for making the video, rather, in tears, she made the video as a warning to others and an accusation; the main point of her video was the true nature of Sam.

    What sent the internet aflame was her claims that Sam assaulted her physically and sexually during a public-school event.

    She was in tears while she made the video, adding an extra layer of emotion to the video, making it an easy trigger for the hot-blooded viewers.

    Apparently, during their final Secondary school year, their school organized a dinner party for the graduating students. Amaka claimed that during the dinner party, Sam assaulted her sexually before escaping.

    It was not just words; she backed it with a video.

    In the video, a younger version of her could be seen wearing a tight short black gown while Sam was dressed in a neat corporate attire. During the dinner party, it was clear that both of them were closer than normal.

    And then in one of the video frames, a younger Sam and Amaka could be seen walking out of the event hall as they went to the restroom together.

    Sam seemed drunk.

    The video was cut off there, but it was clear what it insinuated.

    And in another video, Amaka was recorded in tears even as a bruise was on her hand. Her words in alignment with the video suggested that Sam was the one who violated her physically; not just that, sexually too.

    Trust social media, a storm brewed immediately.

    BOOM!

    The scandal exploded like wildfire in a dry harmattan.

    {Comments:}

    >Chrollo-Lucifer: Is that really Sam? I find it hard to believe that he can do that kind of thing but who knows? I don''t know him personally; I only know his football. I''m so disappointed<

    >Just-a-fan: I can''t believe it''s Sam. I''ve followed his career for a long time, the boy is extremely talented and I have high hopes for his career but I never knew he was this kind of person. It''s disgusting, he should be arrested!<

    >Chirakrov-lily: Don''t jump into conclusion guys, this is just one part of the story from one side. Besides, they were teenagers then! Which one of you can claim to have lived a perfect teenage years?<

    >Freedom-fighter: Sam should be arrested!< S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    >Enlightened-holy-grail: In the end, talent amounts to nothing if you have a personality disorder. Sam is a threat to society; he should be arrested<

    >Save-as-john: Wow¡­, I just did my research and its true. Apparently, they both attended the same Secondary school back in Nigeria. It''s not confirmed if they really dated but it was clear that Sam loved the girl romantically then, to think he would do that just because she refused to date him. Despicable! Now, I hate Sam<

    >Freedom-fighter: Sam should be arrested!<

    >Blossom-rose: This is why I hate the idea of spoiled and overpaid teenagers just because they''re high-profile athletes. They should be held accountable for their actions, just because you''re a professional footballer does not mean you''re above the law. Sam should be arrested and prosecuted! It doesn''t matter that he plays for FC Barcelona, he should pay for his actions!<

    >Thieving-heaven-gifting-hell: It''s a pity honestly, and I really liked him. Too bad he''s just one of those guys, what a deplorable act<

    >Freedom-fighter: Sam should be arrested!<

    ¡­

    Sam didn''t even arrive back in Barcelona before he got the news.

    Right when he was still in the team bus with his teammates returning to Barcelona was when he received a call from Emile Smith Rowe. At first, he thought it was a call to congratulate him on his first goals in Spain till his friend told him to check social media.

    At first, Sam was baffled but hearing how urgent Smith Rowe''s tone was, he respected his friend''s wishes and checked social media.

    Right there in the FC Barcelona team bus, he froze¡­

    ''What¡­?!''

    His teammates stole glances at him but none of them spoke. Clearly, they also already heard about the situation.

    "¡­!"

    Sam was so shocked by what was happening that he couldn''t even think straight until he arrived in Barcelona with his teammates.

    But as soon as they arrived, they met more drama.

    Right there at the Spotify Camp Nou, a group of people already gathered with banners against Sam, rioting for him to hand himself over to the police.

    "Legal justice is universal!"

    "Say no to sexual assault!" They screamed in protest.

    The situation already blew out of proportions.

    As the players came out of the team bus, security guards had to be deployed just to protect Sam from the angry mob of people.

    A group of guards protected him, guiding him to where he parked his car in this massive stadium but on the way, they were stopped.

    A group of Spanish policemen intercepted them.

    Presenting an arrest warrant and showing it to Sam, they grabbed the FC Barcelona player. "Mr. Sam, please you have to follow us". They said in Spanish.

    "You''re being detained for questioning".

    "¡­!"

    Sam was so shocked that he did not even know how to react to the current situation, he was just confused and in a muddled state of mind. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire

    The stadium officials tried to intervene but the policemen were determined.

    That evening in Barcelona, Sam was arrested!

 Chapter 308 A scandal [2]

    (Goal.com:)(Samuel Moses arrested at the Spotify Camp Nou!)

    (The FC Barcelona talisman was intercepted right at the Spotify Camp Nou in Barcelona just hours after his game in San Sebastian against Real Sociedad. The situation is still unclear, we''re yet to hear from the police!)

    ¡­

    (FotMob:)

    (Samuel Moses; an antagonist or a protagonist?)

    (The young Nigerian midfielder have had a relatively quiet time since arriving in Spain, going 2 games without a goal and just as he broke the drought, he was arrested by the Spanish police! Is Sam guilty or innocent?)

    ¡­

    (BBC News:)

    (Prosecutors in Spain have opened an inquiry into a case of alleged rape which media have linked to Nigerian football player, Samuel Moses.)

    (Villanova Marco of the Spanish Prosecution Authority said an investigation into the alleged attack have taken place. And till conclusive evidence is found, Samuel Moses is to remain in police custody.)

    (The FC Barcelona player, one of football''s high-profile star''s case has been appealed by lawyers from the Catalan club but the police remain adamant to hold on to him until conclusive evidence is gotten from their investigations.)

    (This morning, September 1st, a day after he was arrested, Sam''s lawyer said her client is preparing to clear his name with a claim of defamation. Sam faced the media this morning and described the reports as "fake news".)

    (Stay tuned for more updates on this topic.)

    ¡­

    31st August, 2025, Sam was arrested in Barcelona¡­

    That same evening in Spain, FC Barcelona mobilized its rich legal resources as the club lawyers responded immediately, instantly reacting to the case and approaching the court to defend their player.

    Of course, legal matters most times could not be rectified so fast.

    The police remained adamant in holding custody of Sam till their investigation was done to get conclusive evidence, but the lawyers were able to negotiate favorable conditions for their star player.

    Sam was to be kept in the best environment possible till the end of the investigation and if necessary, till the end of the court hearing.

    Just like that, Sam''s life turned upside down.

    From celebrating his first 2 goals in the blue and red colors of FC Barcelona, Sam was suddenly faced with a case of rape and sexual assault.

    He was just barely recovering from his mental problems caused by his lack of goals and assists in the Spanish La Liga, and now this?

    Sam felt frustrated, but there was nothing he could do.

    1st September¡­

    That morning, he was finally let out by the police to face the media where he gave answers to a few questions.

    Sam had only one answer to all of the inquiries. "I''m being framed".

    "I''m being framed," he repeated. "I don''t know what she wants but I''m being framed".

    ¡­

    1st September¡­

    In the afternoon, Kayla arrived in Spain, Barcelona.

    After the appeal from the FC Barcelona lawyers and due to their influence, despite being detained, Kayla was allowed to go inside the building where her boyfriend was being held.

    As soon as she heard of the news, Kayla didn''t even think about it, she took the next flight to Barcelona.

    As soon as she arrived, she went straight to the building where he was being held by the police.

    As soon as she entered, finally meeting her boyfriend, the first thing that she noticed was the eyebags.

    She grimaced; clearly, Sam didn''t sleep well the previous night. This was despite playing such a grueling away game at San Sebastian. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Oh come here my love," she accelerated her steps, walking briskly till she hugged him.

    Sam never knew how much a hug could mean to him till this moment.

    He hugged her tightly, sniffing, taking in her scent hungrily, all of it was spiritual healing to the mental fractures in his mind.

    As soon as they broke out of the hug, Sam looked into his girlfriends'' eyes. "Kayla, please believe me, what happened¡­"

    "I believe you," she interrupted him, smiling.

    Sam was stunned. "Really?"

    "Yeah," she chuckled. "I took your virginity, so I''d know".

    "Ah," Sam scratched the back of his head, awkwardly looking around. "Yeah, that too¡­"

    In that moment, Sam could feel himself falling in love with Kayla all over again. Afterall, this was a sexual scandal.

    At first, he didn''t know how Kayla would react to it and that frustration was part of the reason why he could not sleep last night. Her reaction caught him off-guard, and left him even deeper in love.

    Sam never paid attention to social media before but due to what happened and his frustration, for the past night, he scrolled through social media and what he saw left him depressed.

    Back in Fulham, he''s experienced love, unconditional love from fans but the abuse he was receiving at the moment¡­, it broke him.

    Sam could not deal with it, until his girlfriend came.

    In her company, as if knowing exactly how he was feeling, Kayla was able to help her boyfriend recover himself a bit.

    And before he knew it, regaining his appetite, Sam ate and, in a few minutes, later, he slept.

    As soon as he slept, Kayla moved, meeting her boyfriend''s lawyer first.

    "Tell me the situation". She demanded.

    The lawyer nodded, knowing who she was as she explained the situation to her.

    Kayla frowned. "How will this affect his career?"

    "Until the police conclude their investigation, he won''t be allowed to leave which automatically means he won''t be able to train with his teammates nor will he be able to play for FC Barcelona".

    The lawyer shook her head. "His career is stagnant till he leaves this place".

    Kayla''s frown deepened but she nodded. "I understand, thank you".

    Once the lawyer left, she turned to look at the room door where her boyfriend slept. She sighed, and then she dialed a phone number. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire

    (Outgoing call to Big Bro Ian¡­)

    The phone rang for only a few seconds before Ian picked it up.

    "Where are you?" He asked first.

    "Barcelona".

    "Let''s meet up," Ian said. "I just arrived".

 Chapter 309 A scandal [3]

    Few hours earlier¡­Last night, at the building where Sam was held, he could not sleep as he paced around, worrying about a lot of things.

    Of course, he worried about his career but that was more or less a distant worry. His immediate worry was related to his system.

    ~----~

    [Active Daily Quest: Mentality Monster!]

    [Task 1: 100 push-ups]

    [Progress: 0/100 push-ups done]

    ¡­

    [Task 2: 100 squats]

    [Progress: 0/100 squats done]

    ¡­

    [Task 3: 100 sit-ups]

    [Progress: 0/100 sit-ups done]

    ¡­

    [Task 4: Run 10 kilometers]

    [Progress: 0/10 kilometers run]

    ¡­

    [WARNING: If the daily quest is not completed, penalties will be given accordingly.]

    [Remark: With great power comes great responsibilities.]

    ¡­

    [Time Remaining: 00:23]

    ~----~

    Sam was worried.

    Would his system still trigger the penalty for failing to complete the daily system quest?

    Did the system not understand his current situation?

    Agonizingly, Sam could only wait for his fate in 20+ minutes even as he was under the gaze of the guards who were assigned to watch over him.

    In the end, it was not like when he got injured for one month back in England when the system made an exception.

    This time, the system showed no mercy. Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire

    ~----~

    [Host has failed to meet the daily system quests on time!]

    [You have triggered penalty: Dehydration] Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Duration: 4 hours]

    ¡­

    The system didn''t just stop at giving the penalty though, in a rare moment of accountability, the system gave an adage to explain its decision.

    ¡­

    [In English Language, there is what they call mobility of Adverbials.]

    [Mobility of Adverbials refers to the ability of adverbs to function from different positions in the same sentence.]

    [E.g; "Fearfully" is an adverb.]

    [a. The boy kicked the ball fearfully.]

    [¡­take the adverb to the front.]

    [b. Fearfully, the boy kicked the ball.]

    [¡­now put the adverb in the middle.]

    [c. The boy fearfully kicked the ball.]

    [Take Home: At every position, the word remains functional and the sentence doesn''t lose meaning.]

    [Host Samuel Moses, you''re no longer a novice that needs to be pampered, you''re a veteran of the Ultimate Football System.]

    [From this point on in your career, be an adverbial!]

    [No matter the position life puts you, remain functional!]

    ~----~

    Sam was facing potentially the greatest crisis of his football career.

    But that explanation from his system opened his eyes, making him forget his current situation and to focus on the big picture.

    That was why that mid-night, while every other person was already asleep, dehydrated, Sam overworked the guards that were tasked to watch over him as he started working out that night.

    Ha! Ha!

    Panting heavily due to how dehydrated he was, Sam pushed on, doing sit ups, pushups, and squats even as his guards watched with incredulous expressions on their faces.

    ''He still has the will to train even in this situation?''

    After completing the other tasks, Sam finally faced the jogging. This room was not big enough for him to jog 10 kilometers, and so he substituted for it by jogging in one place.

    Thankfully, his system accepted it.

    By the time Sam jogged 10 kilometers, due to how dehydrated he was, his lungs were left burning like they were singed by fire.

    Sam was facing adversity but for some reason, he felt that he gained from it. ''My stamina¡­ seemed to have improved''.

    Completing the daily system quest while being extremely dehydrated seemed to push his body beyond normal. Even as his lungs burned, he still subtly felt that their capacity seemed to have increased.

    Even after completing the daily system quest, he still had to live through the 4 hours'' penalty of being dehydrated.

    It contributed to his lack of sleep and hence why Kayla saw him like that with big eyebags.

    After working out, as his body calmed down, he started worrying again but that hug with his girlfriend later in the day eased his heart.

    After eating, Sam slept like a baby.

    Kayla took charge.

    ¡­

    "Where are you?" Ian asked.

    "Barcelona". Kayla answered.

    "Let''s meet up," Ian said. "I just arrived".

    Kayla was not the only one who moved for Sam. As soon as the news blew up, while Kayla moved from the Netherlands, Ian also moved from England as he responded to his best friend''s adversity.

    Smith Rowe would have moved also if he didn''t have contract obligations with Fulham to fulfill.

    He tried calling Sam but his contact was unreachable for the moment.

    Kayla met up with Ian at the VIP floor of a restaurant right there in Barcelona, away from the spying eyes of others.

    There, she finally asked. "Do you know the girl?"

    "Amaka?"

    Kayla nodded.

    Ian sighed. "Yeah, I know her, we were secondary school classmates".

    "Good," Kayla nodded, satisfied.

    "Sam took this hard," she looked at Ian. "So I could not ask him. Tell me, who is this Amaka to him and what exactly happened that day?"

    Ian looked at Kayla, then he sighed again and leaned back on his chair. "I never thought I''d be the one to tell you about someone like her". He chuckled mirthfully.

    "Well, Amaka was Sam''s secondary school crush".

    Ian paid attention to Kayla''s facial expression. Not noticing any negative change, he cleared his throat and continued.

    "Nigerian girls¡­, most of them can be silly when it comes to love".

    "Sam was always attracted to Amaka, and she knew. During our second year in senior secondary school, Sam finally confessed his love to her but despite all that, she kept leading him on".

    "Behind, there were rumors of her publicly saying she cannot love a boy like Sam but before Sam''s face, she kept saying he meant the whole world to her. She kept on feeding him, teasing him, keeping him close but never dating him".

    "She led Sam on".

    "She would tell Sam to wait for her that she''s not ready to date yet, but go around flirting with other guys".

    Ian shook his head. "It was a dark period for my friend, Sam was a shadow of himself. He was dying slowly".

    "He told her multiple times but she kept leading him on, telling him to wait for her if he truly loved her".

    "That continued until our 3rd and last year in senior secondary school, also the year when the dinner party happened".

    Thinking of that night, Ian grimaced. "That night¡­, a part of Sam was murdered".

    "They never dated but like usual, Sam loved Amaka and wanted to be close to her during the dinner party".

    "You know Sam, he never drinks but that night¡­," Ian sighed.

    "Amaka was the one who proposed that he escort her to the restroom. There, she told him to go back and call another of our classmates, the most popular boy in class then, Bryan".

    "Being the innocent him, Sam called Bryan, led him to the restroom, left both of them in there and waited outside to have their conversation".

    "After waiting for some time, curious, he decided to go inside and peek," Ian''s face darkened. "There, the slut was having it with Bryan".

    "Before I got wind of what happened, Sam already got drunk".

    "I took him home that night".

    Ian sighed sadly. "That was one of the lowest moments I''ve ever seen Sam in," he clenched his fists angrily. "To think Amaka would dare use it against him now!"

    He looked at Kayla again. "After that night, Sam never spoke with her and Amaka never deemed it fit to apologize. After that night, he developed a hatred for women until he met you in England".

    Ian leaned on his chair. "That is what happened that night".

    Kayla nodded, clasping her arms together as her eyes flickered. "So, this is a blackmail, right?"

    "Definitely!" Ian nodded.

    The English girl smirked. "I already found an inconsistency in the video," her eyes gleamed. "The video only conveniently showed parts that can incriminate Sam".

    She looked at Ian. "But you said Sam went back to lead that Bryan there, why was that part not in the video?"

    "Why was the part where Sam waited outside the restroom not in the video?"

    Ian''s eyes widened. "This¡­"

    At that moment, Kayla''s iPhone rang with a new notification sound.

    Ding!

    Picking up her phone, she looked at it and then her eyes darkened.

    Amaka Glimz uploaded a new video.

 Chapter 310 A scandal [4]

    Click!In the video, a mature Nigerian girl with her hair tied in a ponytail faced the camera, sniffing.

    "Umm¡­, first of all, I want to thank all of you guys for the support so far since I decided to open up".

    "Living with this stigma for years, it has not been easy," she sniffed, wiping away her tears.

    "But I forgive Sam".

    "In the end, he is still my classmate. He loved me and couldn''t hold himself; I can''t blame him too much for that".

    "Besides, he''s making Nigerians proud and I''m happy for him. I wish him a successful football career, I just could not help my grievances, I just needed to voice them out to cleanse the knot in my heart".

    She sniffed some more, wiping her tears. "In the end we''re all Christians, the bible admonished us to forgive our neighbors who wrong us".

    She looked at the camera, a look of determination creeping into her eyes. "Sam, I''m ready to forgive you and let bygones be bygones".

    "All I want from you is compensation".

    "You ruined my life, dumped me because I''m poor and impoverished for an English girl. I don''t blame you, after all, she''s better than I am".

    "We can''t turn back time, the least you can do is compensate me so I can better cope with this stigma in my life".

    "If you''re ready, I''m ready to talk".

    She sniffed one last time. "And I''m ready to forgive you".

    The video finally came to an end.

    ¡­

    At the restaurant in Barcelona, Ian slammed his hands against the table, rising as he pointed angrily at the video. "This slut!" He growled.

    "Calm down big bro Ian". Kayla said in a calm voice.

    Surprised, Ian inclined his head to look at Kayla. "Sister-in-law, how are you taking this so calmly?"

    Kayla looked into his eyes and seeing the look in her eyes, Ian felt his heart briefly skip a beat. ''This woman¡­!''

    Kayla''s eyes gleamed with devious intention. "This is what she wanted all along huh? Money, compensation," she chuckled coldly. "That''s why she put my boyfriend through all of this".

    Kayla stood up the next moment, looking at Ian. "We''re done here. And from here on, I''ll need your help".

    "I''ll be launching my own personal investigation".

    "The jury will release an official date for the hearing here in Spain. Before that day, we have to have conclusive evidence for this case".

    She looked at Ian. "Do you understand?"

    Ian nodded, thinking. ''This girl¡­, she''s scary''.

    They finally left the restaurant.

    ¡­

    A lot of people watched the new video that was uploaded by Avatar Glimz, and it caused an even greater frenzy online as more people hated on Sam, calling for him to be prosecuted without mercy.

    The hate online was crazy.

    While all this happened, Mrs. Moses finally got through to her son. She also watched the video by Amaka.

    Mrs. Moses remembered her; she was her son''s classmate. While Sam was smaller, she also discovered her son''s attraction to the girl, this was why this woman did not act up at first, waiting to hear from him first.

    Mrs. Moses cleverly started the conversation, checking on her son''s wellbeing. "How are you doing?"

    "Hope you''re eating?"

    "Hope you''re not overthinking?"

    Once she did the customary check up on him, she finally started going deep, asking questions about Amaka.

    "Did you date her?"

    "Did you ever have sex with her?"

    "What happened that night?"

    Sam was not comfortable having conversations like this with his mom but considering the current situation, he no longer cared as he told her everything, not hiding everything.

    At the end of the call, Mrs. Moses asked calmly. "So, she''s doing all of this because you''re suddenly big and rich and she regrets not dating you?"

    "Yes mom, I don''t understand why¡­"

    "Say no more". The Nigerian mother said. "Mom will do her part".

    "Mom, wait, what do you want to do?"

    Click!

    Mrs. Moses disconnected the call without answering her son.

    That evening in Nigeria, a new storm was about to brew.

    That evening, Mrs. Moses calmly entered her bathroom, took her bath, came out, entered her room and tied her traditional wrapper.

    Mr. Moses was already out, trying to use his connections to see if his son''s case could be transferred to Nigeria to be handled here but Mrs. Moses was not a literate scholar like her husband.

    What she was though was a Nigerian woman, and mother. Though she could not fight with the law like her husband, she had her own means.

    After tying her wrapper, she called a few of her old friends in Abraka, Delta State, informing them of her plans.

    Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire

    That evening, she took a flight straight to Delta State on her wrapper!

    When she arrived, her old friends were already waiting for her and together, all dressed in the same traditional wrapper and attire, they marched to the home of a certain family in Abraka. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Amaka''s family, her parents'' home.

    Trust Mrs. Moses, she was not a gentle soul like her son and her husband was. Rather, she was a radical woman, a woman of action.

    As soon as they arrived at the compound, all hell broke loose.

    "Who is in this compound?!"

    "That slut of a daughter that you have, bring her out!"

    "Let she come and explain herself to this mother!"

    "My son is quiet but me, Sarah is not quiet!"

    "Amaka, COME OUT!!!"

    Mrs. Moses caused so much commotion that the girl''s parents came out, trying to calm her down but this woman refused to be calm.

    "Bring your daughter out to meet this mother!"

    "Bring that slut out!"

    She made so much noise and caused so much commotion, creating a scene that people who got to the scene started recording.

    That was exactly what this smart Nigerian woman wanted.

    She may not know much about the internet but this woman knew that the battle against her son was one fueled by social media.

    To fight back, she would use the same social media!

    While people recorded, Mrs. Moses created a scene, narrating the whole sequence of events of how her son wooed Amaka repeatedly in school and she refused his advances.

    Trust this woman, she twisted large parts of the story, using the elements of truth to paint a villainous image of Amaka as a Jezebel and a slut who did not love her son but only wanted his money now.

    She also narrated to that night, giving enough news to the public and social media to give an entirely new opinion to the story.

    To a lot of people, this woman''s actions were rash and unwarranted but its effectiveness could not be denied.

    As soon as the videos started entering online, the narrative changed.

    Who was right? Who was wrong?

    What if Mrs. Moses was right?

    What if Amaka was the one lying?

    Afterall, why wait for so many years till Sam secured a move to FC Barcelona and was raking in crazy amounts of money every week before deciding to reveal such a big secret?

    The narrative changed and Mrs. Moses was the cornerstone at the center of the change.

    This Nigerian mother was ready to give the slut bomber to bomber!

 Chapter 311 A scandal [5]

    The narrative changed.From just prosecute Sam, uncertainty began lingering into the hearts of those who followed the blockbuster news.

    What if Amaka was lying?

    What if she was after Sam''s money all along?

    What if she was just ruining the career of the promising young Nigerian footballer who was tipped to lead Nigeria to glory for the first time in the FIFA World Cup?

    That uncertainty was what broke the one-sided momentum.

    The massive hate that Sam was receiving online reduced as a direct result of the scene that Mrs. Moses caused in Amaka parents'' home.

    Clever now, those who followed the news decided to stay patient and calm, not jumping to conclusions as they decided to wait for conclusive evidence to be found by the court and investigating authorities first.

    There were those who still hated on Sam of course, clamoring for him to be prosecuted and punished but they were now in the minority.

    The situation suddenly turned into a deadlock.

    While all of that happened around the world where the news of Sam''s scandal spread, increasing his popularity even more, the person in question was still in confinement in Spain doing what he did best.

    Sam already made his decision.

    He would ignore the current storm that was around the life, including the fact that his football career was currently at a standstill due to all that was going on.

    Instead of worrying over something that he was not in control of, he would leave it to his loved ones and lawyers while he focused on his own training.

    After that speech from his system, Sam set himself a goal.

    ''I want to be even better than before when I return to the pitch!''

    ''My comeback will be one for the ages!''

    And in confinement, under the watch of the stone-cold guards who kept on being amazed by his work ethic, Sam worked and trained like a mad man.

    ~----~

    [You have completed Daily System Quest: Mentality Monster!]

    [You have been rewarded with a low-grade physical conditioning elixir!]

    ¡­

    [Your stamina attribute has increased by +2]

    Player Attributes:

    *Pace: 86

    *Shot: 87

    *Pass: 85

    *Dribbling: 84

    *Defending: 40

    *Physicality: 81

    *Stamina: 89

    Overall Rating: 87

    [Congratulations! You have gained a new football title: Black Mamba!]

    >Black Mamba: You have the will of the mamba! You don''t get dragged to earth by adversity, rather, you thrive in adversity!<

    [Special Effect: In difficult games, i.e big games, you have a higher tendency of showing up for your team to create a moment of magic and help them win!]

    ~----~

    In solitary confinement, Sam''s stamina was now just 1 point away from 90!

    He was training hard.

    ¡­

    2 more days passed, and then FC Barcelona played its next league game, it''s first without their new signing, Samuel Moses.

    The scandal was truly affecting Sam''s career.

    In a show of support for their teammate who was in police custody and confinement, for the home game at the Spotify Camp Nou for matchday 5 of the Spanish La Liga season, the FC Barcelona players wore coveralls spotting images of Sam and a support message. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (We stand with Sam!)

    This was the message of FC Barcelona.

    They believed in their player, and they would support him despite the negative impact that this scandal was having on the club as a brand.

    Unlike a certain club like Manchester United who failed to have the back of their player who went through a similar situation in Mason Greenwood, FC Barcelona took a different approach, not shying from supporting him despite the negative consequences that it may bring.

    It was not just the players and the club board who supported their player, the fans also showed solidarity towards their young player.

    The fans approached this game with massive banners embedded with Sam images and different supportive messages.

    Before the start of the game, they paraded these banners in the stadium.

    In that game, as if to motivate Sam, the FC Barcelona squad played at an elite and imperious form against their opponents in the Spotify camp nou.

    They shipped 7 goals past their opponents, winning 7-2 by fulltime.

    Lewandowski got a hattrick, Raphinha got 2 goals and 2 assists, while Lamine Yamal got 2 goals and 3 assists; an electric display from the FC Barcelona front trio.

    The midfield was also electric, having an almost perfect game.

    Gavi substituted for Sam perfectly at the attacking midfield spot. Behind him, Marc Casado and Pedri equally had solid games as both midfielders got an assist each. It was an all-round impressive display from FC Barcelona.

    From this game, it became clear that Lewandowski still had the quality, just the legs were no longer there.

    Give him the ball in a dangerous spot and the Polish striker still had the sight for goal, and the lethal instincts to score.

    But to do more, he no longer had the legs to do more.

    Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire

    For now, he was still barely a passable option for the Catalan giants but it was clear that they needed a replacement as soon as possible for the Polish striker.

    With that display at home, FC Barcelona bounced back to winning ways in a statement victory sent to the rest of the Spanish La Liga.

    ¡­

    1 day later, the Supreme Court of Spain finally released news.

    (BBC News:)

    (The Supreme Court of Spain have finally released an official word. The hearing for Samuel Moses'' case has been scheduled to take place on 15th of September at the Supreme Court building!)

    (Stay tuned for any further news on the case:)

    15th of September, that was 15 days after Sam''s last game for FC Barcelona on August 31st.

    In that time frame, he was guaranteed to miss at least 3 games.

    This was how much this whole fiesta affected his career but there was nothing he could do about it, and Sam already embraced his situation.

    Emboldened by the solid display of his teammates at home in the Spotify Camp Nou, Sam continued training in his confinement.

    At the same time, after settling things in Spain with the lawyers, Kayla and Ian finally took a flight to Nigeria.

 Chapter 312 A scandal [6]

    Abraka, Nigeria¡­In one of the biggest hotels in the city, Kayla was in a room with Ian as they discussed certain sensitive topics.

    "The rest of your classmates, are they still around?" She looked at Ian.

    "I think some of them should be abroad already, but majority of them are still in Nigeria. I''m sure".

    Kayla nodded. "Good, we''ll need them".

    "For?"

    "To act as witnesses".

    "Like you, they were there when what happened that night happened. No matter how little they know, they would have an idea about what actually happened".

    "Besides, that Bryan too, I want to involve him in this".

    Ian hesitated. "But¡­"

    "Don''t worry, I''m not just a spoilt English brat," Kayla chuckled as her eyes gleamed calculatedly. "I know how the world works, especially in third world countries like Nigeria. Money answereth a lot of things here".

    "Don''t worry, every single testifier would have an appropriate compensation for me to say the truth".

    "And be rest assured, it would not be traced back to me".

    "Besides, that Bryan," Kayla rubbed her chin. "With the right amount of money, I think even he would open his mouth to speak". She smirked.

    "¡­"

    Ian stared at Kayla, totally speechless. "Sister-in-law¡­, I never knew you were this scary".

    "I''m gentle when it calls for it, scary when it calls for it too".

    ¡­

    In Nigeria, Kayla became a Detective Conan, scouring through the streets of Abraka and authorities, investigating and searching for evidence.

    At some point, realizing that matters already blew out of proportion, panicking, Amaka began releasing a lot more videos on her IG handle more frequently.

    And in recent videos, she attacked Kayla, accusing the English woman of being a vixen, stealing her man and still being shameless enough to slander her for it. She dragged Sam and Kayla on social media, adding more flames to the already burning fire.

    At first, a lot of people paid attention to her posts but the more she posted, the more people lost interest.

    Afterall, she didn''t seem like a pained lover recovering from trauma anymore, rather, she seemed more like a desperate opportunist now.

    Having learned their lessons, the fans refused to jump to conclusions, watching the drama unfold from the shadows while they waited for 15th September. On that day, everything would be clarified in the court of law in Spain.

    While all these happened, FC Barcelona''s season continued.

    In Sam''s absence, amid 2 more La Liga games, the Catalan club finally kickstarted their champions league campaign for this 2025/2026 season.

    Imperiously, FC Barcelona dominated, winning the next 2 La Liga games that they played but in their champions league debut game for this new campaign was where they finally stumbled.

    They started against Benfica.

    Against the infamous club from Portugal, FC Barcelona faltered, Robert Lewandowski''s age once again laid bare against a solid and formidable opponent.

    Lamine Yamal dazzled this game, eventually winning the man of the match award after an electric dribbling display but in the end, the game ended in a goalless draw as Lewandowski''s struggles in front of goal proved costly to the Catalans.

    Raphinha had a good game but he was also shut out by the Portuguese team.

    Last season, FC Barcelona started their champions league campaign with a loss. This season again, they stumbled, starting the new campaign with a draw against Benfica; the Catalans seemed to have a thing against winning their first champions league games.

    After that game, Sam''s hearing at court was to commence in 3 days and a day after the Champions League game, he was visited by his friends.

    Led by Lamine Yamal, a group from the FC Barcelona squad comprising Yamal, Pedri, Gavi, and Alejandro Balde visited Sam in his confinement home.

    There, they spoke with him, trying to cheer him up even as they also cheered themselves up, quickly forgetting the disappointment of yesterday.

    "I can''t wait for you to get back to the pitch man," Lamine Yamal said in Spanish, smiling.

    "I can''t wait too". Sam replied back in Spanish.

    One advantage of staying in confinement was that after working out, Sam had all the time in the world to himself and since he had nothing better doing, he devoted his time to learning Spanish through the Duolingo app.

    Kayla also helped, hiring a local Spanish tutor to help in his studies. In just a few weeks, Sam''s Spanish already improved by a lot.

    "I wonder if you''ll continue playing as an attacking midfielder or a false 9," Gavi commented, scratching his chin in thought.

    Sam looked at him, laughing. "You ask that because you want to be the one playing in that attacking midfield spot, right?" Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Of course!" The young Spaniard said in Spanish, laughing.

    "Since you arrived, I don''t think the coach has ever played us both at the same time in a game. It''s always either you or me, that''s because this season the coach prefers playing us in the same position". Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire

    "Of course, I don''t like that, I want more playing time". He chuckled. "So if you get to play as a false 9, I get to play with you too!"

    "Yeah, I understand you," Sam said, smiling. "But I love playing as a midfielder".

    "You bastard," Gavi glared at him. "You can play anywhere on the pitch, play as a striker!"

    Pedri and Lamine Yamal laughed.

    After spending significant time with him, eating and cheering him up, the 3 young FC Barcelona players finally left him in his confinement building.

    Sam was all smiles after they left, he was glad that they visited.

    The amount of support that FC Barcelona rendered to him during this difficult period convinced Sam of his decision to choose to play for the Catalans.

    ''I can''t afford to get out of shape!''

    ''I need to keep on working!''

    ''I need to keep on improving!''

    He returned to training.

    Like this, time moved fast and in no time, 3 days already passed.

    The D-day¡­, was here.

    On 15th September, 2025, Sam was finally carried to the building of the Supreme Court of Spain for his court hearing.

 Chapter 313 The hearing [1]

    The D-day was here.

    Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire

    15th September, 2025, Sam''s hearing took place in the Supreme Court of Spain in the Spanish Capital City, Madrid.

    It was a big occasion.

    Afterall, it was a damaging scandal involving one of the recent big names of Spanish football, one of FC Barcelona''s superstar players.

    The media already fanned the flames for weeks, and now it all hit a crescendo, setting the stage for the showdown in the court.

    ¡­

    Having arrived in Spain already, hours before the court hearing, Amaka Glimz released one final video to her fans.

    The young Nigerian lady had a disbelieving look on her face. "I can''t believe it got to this level".

    "I honestly don''t know what Sam is thinking," she sighed, expressing great pain. "To think he would hurt me and not feel remorseful at all, to still push me to this extent, I fear there''s nothing more I can do".

    "The evidence is solid against him; there''s no way around it".

    "Alas I gave him a way out of this".

    She looked at the camera, a look of determination in her eyes. "Sam, if you''re watching this, know that I gave you a chance to resolve this amicably but you refused my goodwill".

    "I''m not at fault if this ends up affecting your football career".

    "I tried my best".

    "Now, let the law take its course".

    The video ended there.

    This video fanned the flames online that surrounded the hearing in Spain even more, causing a frenzy of discussion by fans online.

    Some supported Amaka, a few diehard fans supported Sam, while majority of the viewers stayed neutral, refusing to jump to a conclusion till the court hearing finally came to an end and the judge gave his verdict.

    The D-day was here, now came the time.

    The hours rolled fast and in no time, it was 10:00am in Madrid.

    ¡­

    Whoosh!

    Luxurious cars rolled to the occasion, stopping at the entrance to the Supreme Court of Spain as numerous esteemed individuals attended to the occasion where Sam''s fate was to be decided by the court.

    From high-profile lawyers to high-profile celebrities, there was no lack of esteemed faces today as majority of the world''s attention turned to this hearing.

    Among the high-profile faces were those from FC Barcelona.

    Pulling out in their luxurious cars for their teammate, Pedri and Gavi pulled to the occasion dressed in neat black suits.

    Lamine Yamal and Alejandro Balde also arrived in another luxurious car. Of all of them though, the most high profile was the arrival of the legendary Polish striker, Robert Lewandowski who graced the occasion.

    "I can''t believe it!"

    "All these people came out for Sam?!" People gossiped in the background.

    "Are they just being biased because he''s their teammate, or its because they believe that Sam is innocent?"

    Amid all the gossip, another luxurious car pulled up to the occasion, a GLE 53 AMG and from inside, one of the main characters of today pulled out.

    Almost 1 month without football¡­

    Almost 1 month of a damaging scandal, almost 1 month of being exposed to scary amount of online abuse, almost a month of being held in police custody¡­

    A lot of people expected Sam to be depressed by the whole situation. At the very least, they expected the toil from the abuse to show on his face and body but when Sam stepped out of the car, none of that showed.

    He didn''t look emaciated and malnourished at all.

    Rather, all that showed was undaunted confidence and unmatched charisma.

    Thud!

    He stepped down from the car.

    Sam''s black shoes gleamed like the smooth surface of obsidian glass as they touched the pavement, the perfect accentuate for his all-black attire.

    His black trunks, his long black cloak, and the dark shades that added an extra layer of seriousness to his demeanor today, all of it made Sam look like a secret CEO of some big ancient family.

    Click! Click!

    The cameras quickly started flashing, letting out clicking sounds as the alert cameramen took pictures of the famous footballer.

    No matter the outcome of the hearing today, these pictures were clearly going to sell for big prices as news company clamor to milk the impact of today.

    As soon as Sam came down, he walked, and then they followed.

    Following behind him was his personal lawyer, his girlfriend, Kayla, and his best friend, Ian. Together, they walked confidently into the court of law, into the maws of the judiciary.

    Mr. Moses pushed to attend this hearing in Spain but Sam was against it. He didn''t want his parents to be dragged into the heat of this scandal.

    About a minute later, another car pulled up and Amaka walked out. She was dressed in a neat blue gown. She walked in with her lawyer.

    Once they entered the court of law, the massive doors were slammed shut even as the hearing was scheduled to start.

    Inside the Supreme Court building was filled with lots of high-profile faces.

    3 minutes after the door were shut, the judge walked in.

    As soon as he sat down, he went through a few of his documents that were on his table before finally starting the hearing.

    After saying a few customary words, he commenced the main event.

    "Let the plaintiff present his case before the jury".

    In a court of law, there is a defendant and a plaintiff. The plaintiff is the party that brings the case against the defendant.

    In normal circumstances in a court of law, the plaintiff and their witnesses present evidence first.

    The outcome of the case depends on whether there is a jury or not. The judge decides the outcome of the case after listening to evidence from both sides.

    As soon as the judge demanded it, Amaka''s lawyer stood up, eloquently presenting the case before the judge.

    "The accused, Sam assaulted my client physically and sexually".

    Starting from that, this lawyer flexed his trained eloquence in front of the judge, presenting the case perfectly and putting Sam out as the villain before eventually supporting his claims with solid evidence, the videos and images. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Silence reigned in this court of law as soon as Amaka''s lawyer presented her case. Calmly, the judge acknowledged them before moving on.

    "Now, let the defendant defend his case".

    In the eyes of dozens of people inside this court room, Kayla Banks stood up.

 Chapter 314 The hearing [2]

    Kayla stood up.

    "¡­"

    The air in the Spanish courtroom was thick with tension.

    Mahogany benches lined the room, filled with spectators whispering among themselves. Nobody expected Kayla to stand up instead of Sam''s lawyer, they were all surprised and caught off-guard.

    The high, arched ceiling of this courtroom echoed every sound, amplifying the weight of the proceedings.

    Golden light streamed through the tall windows, illuminating dust motes swirling in the air even as Kayla took a deep breath.

    Her hands trembled slightly as she clutched the wooden railing, but her voice, though soft was steady. She wore a modest blue gown, the severity of its cut in stark contrast to the raw emotion flickering in her dark eyes.

    "Order!"

    The judge bellowed the next moment, bringing order back to the court even as he gestured for the prosecutor to continue.

    Before Kayla, the prosecutor, a stern woman in a crisp black robe arched a skeptical brow as she looked at the English woman. "Senorita Kayla," she said, her voice laced with doubt. "Are you telling this court that despite the testimonies, despite the evidence, you still believe in your boyfriend''s innocence?"

    A murmur rippled through the audience; this court hearing was taking an unexpected turn but Kayla stayed composed.

    Lifting her chin, she faced the prosecutor and smiled. "Yes," she said firmly. "I know my boyfriend. He would never and could never do what he is being accused of by the plaintiff".

    She slightly inclined her head to look at Amaka; her eyes gleamed with concealed malice. "There are inconsistencies in the accusations".

    "¡­!"

    Now, things were getting interesting as everyone perked up.

    Kayla faced the judge. "Her evidence; the videos, the images," she took a deep breath. "They were fabricated".

    The judge stared at the young Englishwoman. "Are you saying that all of this was fabricated? Our specialists checked and everything correlated. What evidence do you have that supports your claims?"

    "This". Kayla brought a USB device from her bag the next moment, showing it to the court.

    "Those videos were tampered with".

    Her eyes gleamed with determination. "Like your specialists confirmed, the video is not fake. It''s real, but their contents were slightly altered".

    "That video only shows part of what actually happened on that night".

    "This is the real video," she raised the USB device up. "Before I continue my defense, I want this video to be played".

    At the other stand in this courtroom, Amaka was fighting hard to keep her composure as she stared at the USB device in Kayla''s hand.

    No one knew her thoughts, but it was clear that she was no longer as relaxed as when this hearing first started.

    ''What?!''

    ''I thought the video editor did a perfect job!''

    ''And the original video should have been destroyed, so how?!''

    No one paid attention to her thoughts though as the real video started being played in a big screen in this courtroom.

    The real sequence that happened that night was finally played to the court.

    All the deleted parts were recovered and played.

    Kayla went to great lengths back in Nigeria to retrieve the original video but in this digital age, with enough money, a lot of things could be accomplished, including retrieving a video that was already deleted.

    All the elements that were cut out of the video, including Bryan entering the restroom, Sam waiting outside, then Sam leaving devastated after finding out the truth, to Bryan and Sarah eventually coming out together, everything showed.

    By the end of the video, Amaka was as pale as a ghost.

    Her lawyer had an ugly expression on her face as she stared at the screen; there was a deafening silence in this courtroom as the attendees stared.

    Riding the sudden momentum in her favor, Kayla opened her mouth again. "As you can see, this is the original video showing everything that transpired".

    "You can put the USB device through any originality test to confirm that it is not fabricated".

    And then, this English woman''s sharp eyes turned towards the plaintiff; she glared at Amaka. "Evidence don''t lie; this woman framed my boyfriend!"

    "Lies!"

    "In that night, Sam was the one who was violated, not her".

    "Not only did she reject his love, she used him to lure the boy she wanted, had sex with him like a slut in the restroom, and gave no attention to the grief she put him through as a result".

    Kayla''s eyes flashed with rage as she glared at her. "To think she would still have the guts to pursue this matter years later without any shame!"

    "Amaka, you''re the most shameless woman I''ve ever met in my life!"

    "You never remembered being violated when Sam struggled for years in the city of Abraka, Nigeria, not even when he played in Enyimba, not when he played for Fulham. But Sam now plays for Barcelona and bam! You suddenly remember being violated sexually," she smiled coldly. "Laughable".

    Kayla looked at the judge again. "Your honor, I also have another evidence to support my claims, one of the videos that Amaka made recently".

    "In that video, she claimed to be magnanimous, urging my boyfriend to compensate her financially so she could drop this case".

    "According to her, she said that because she doesn''t want to affect his career," she looked at Amaka disdainfully. "I can confidently tell you now that all that was just bullshit from her!"

    "With this new evidence, I hope we now know the truth".

    "From the beginning, all she wanted was my boyfriend''s money".

    "L-l-lies¡­!" Amaka stammered, too stunned to speak coherently. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kayla smirked. "Your honor, I hope that with this new evidence, you are now able to see this case from a new light".

    "Your honor, she''s lying!" Amaka burst into tears right there in the court. "They''re framing me, they are planning for my downfall!"

    "That video is fabricated!"

    "Order!" The judge bellowed the next moment, bringing order back to the court even as Amaka was forced to close her mouth. The judge gestured for one of the court officials to take the USB device.

    "Perform another fabrication test".

    "This hearing will be adjourned for now; we will be back in 15 minutes".

    ¡­

    From nowhere, a big twist revealed itself in the Sam case.

    Kayla''s testimony was as shocking as it was impactful. In the blink of an eye, Sam switched from defensive to attack mode, and he attacked through his girlfriend''s sharp words, evidence, and intellectual eloquence in front of the judge. Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

    15 minutes later, the court hearing continued.

    And finally, the judge gave her verdict.

    "The result of our I.T team showed that Kayla''s version of the video is the correct and original video".

    "¡­"

    Amaka already expected it but when she heard it from the judge directly, this woman''s eyes widened, tears welling in them.

    The judge''s eyes turned sharp.

    "I hereby proclaim Ms. Amaka guilty of defamation!"

    Bam!

    She slammed her gavel to indicate that her decision was final.

    She continued. "Defamation, including accusations of sexual or physical abuse falls under calumnia and injuria as defined in the Spanish Penal Code".

    "In Article 205-207 of the Penal Code, it states that if a person falsely accuses someone of a crime, knowing it is untrue, it is punishable by the law".

    "In Article 208-210 of the Penal Code, it also states that if the accusation damages the victim''s reputation, the fine may be increased".

    "In accordance with the law, Ms. Amaka, you have been sentenced to 4 years in prison and a fine of 18 months of your daily earnings being sent to Mr. Samuel Moses as compensation for damages".

    "The court is adjourned".

    Bam!

    Just like that, it was over.

 Chapter 315 Who is Samuel Moses?

    (BBC News:)

    (Who is Samuel Moses really?)

    (A big twist in the Sam scandal: It turns out that it was the girl who was after his mother in the first place, harassing Sam and defaming him.)

    (After a court hearing by the Supreme Court of Spain, Amaka Amagada has been subjected to 4 years in prison and a monetary fine of 18 months of her daily earnings which is to be paid to Sam as compensation for damages.)

    (Final verdict: Sam is not guilty!)

    ¡­

    (ESPN News:)

    (FC Barcelona midfielder, Samuel Moses has been proven not guilty!)

    (After a court hearing in the Supreme Court of Spain, Samuel Moses has been declared not guilty by the judge, absolving him of all charges. The plaintiff, Amaka is the one accused of defamation and sentenced by the Supreme Court.)

    (Videos and images of the event are attached=)

    ¡­

    (Supersport:)

    (Samuel Moses wins; FC Barcelona wins!)

    (Having pulled out all stops to mobilize their highly capable team of lawyers to help in the case, FC Barcelona''s gamble now pays dividends as Samuel Moses has been declared not guilty by the Supreme Court of Spain.}

    {FC Barcelona receives their midfielder back.) S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (Videos and images of the event are attached=)

    ¡­

    (Football Insider:)

    (Can Sam''s career still kick off in Spain?)

    (Due to the scandal, the young Nigerian midfielder''s life in Spain have gone through a truly bumpy start. Can the young Nigerian turn his situation around, turning adversity to blessing after being proven not guilty?)

    Just like expected, mere minutes after the end of the court hearing in Spain, prominent news platforms, mostly football news platforms became active as they spread the news like wildfire burning in harmattan.

    Hours before the hearing even started, they were all already prepared for this moment and none of them lagged behind.

    Across the world of football, there was a lot of speculations, what would become of Sam if he was proven guilty?

    Guess the football world will never know.

    Due to the sheer amount of publicity that surrounded the scandal and the number of esteemed individuals who came for the court hearing, outside the court building was already turned into a press conference hall by popular media organizations.

    They were eager to have interviews with the esteemed individuals who were present during the court hearing.

    The reporters did not hold back, going on a hunting spree as they trapped big names like Robert Lewandowski and Pedri, making them answer a question or 2 regarding the result of the court hearing and what they thought about it.

    Lewandowski''s reply was crisp.

    "I may not be too close to Sam but I know that he''s a good brother, I believed that he didn''t harass a girl and why I stood up for him".

    "The result of the court hearing just proves that I am right".

    "Sam is innocent".

    When it came to the trio of Pedri, Gavi, and Lamine Yamal, the 3 Spanish players echoed their sentiments in relation to the situation.

    Their answer was even simpler than the Polish striker''s.

    "Sam is disciplined".

    "He wants to become the best player in the world, I don''t believe he would sacrifice all of that because of a girl named Amaka".

    "This is why we believed in him".

    Who is Samuel Moses?

    To football fans, for every big player that they love, they could not help but have a similar question about them, who was that player?

    They may be fans, but some of them understood that they only knew the peripheral of that player''s life, they didn''t'' have access to the inside world of that player''s life till it was actively explained to them.

    Today, after the end of the court hearing, that question was gradually being answered as the answers of the esteemed guests opened the mystery door into Sam''s psyche, making them gradually understand how his brain worked.

    Other big names were forced to have an interview and of the big names, one of the reporters recognized one of them to be part of the elite guard force that was contracted to look over Sam during the period of his detainment.

    One of the reporters was lucky enough to snap up this insider, interviewing him. "Good sir, we learned that you were part of the elite guard force tasked to watch over Sam, what do you think about the outcome of the court hearing?"

    The guard looked at the reporter with a poker look on his face. "Hard evidence supported it so I have no scruples, Sam is not guilty".

    "Nothing beats hard evidence".

    "If anything, we are the ones in the wrong for detaining him unjustly".

    "Since I''m already here, I would just like to use this opportunity to ask for an apology," he looked at the camera. "We sincerely hope Mr. Samuel understands and find a place in his heart to forgive us".

    The female reporter smiled. "Mr., please one last question, who is Samuel Moses?"

    "Huh?" The guard stared at the reporter, confused.

    The reporter explained. "I mean Sam as a person. A lot of his fans are eager to know more about him, and since you stayed with him and guarded him for so long, we thought maybe you knew something about him that we don''t".

    Hearing that explanation, the guard finally understood as he smiled. "Sam¡­, let me say he''s an eccentric person".

    "What do you mean?"

    The guard chuckled. "I don''t know much about him yet but during the time of his detainment, I noticed something strange and peculiar".

    This guard smiled for the first time in this interview as he seemed to recall a specific memory. "Throughout his time in detainment, a day never passed that Mr. Samuel failed to train".

    "¡­!"

    The reporter''s eyes widened as wide as saucers as she stared at this man. "You mean while he was stuck in detainment, despite everything, the online abuse, that Sam till had the motivation to keep on training?"

    "Yeah". The guard chuckled.

    "Even in captivity?!"

    "Yeah," the guard confirmed again and left.

    Those words by the guard¡­, they stirred up a storm online.

    ¡­

    (Comments:)

    >George-of-the-jungle: Can you believe it? Sam is finally free! OMG, I can''t believe it, I''m so happy!<

    >A-tooth-for-a-tooth: Damn! That Amaka truly is a b*tch! To think that even when already in that kind of situation, she feigned crying<

    >Eh-wooo: Did you guys hear what that guard said? Even in captivity, even while a large portion of his fans turned against him, abusing him online, Sam still trained in confinement! Damn! I''m in love with Sam! Give him the ballon d''or already, the guy is Cristiano Ronaldo regen!<

    >Ah-chuuu: That guy above me, shut up, he''s Messi regen!<

    Social media was set ablaze.

    And not just in support for Sam. In the same way that the online abuse came when the scandal first came out, as soon as Amaka was confirmed guilty, the balls switched as with even more momentum, the Nigerian girl was drowned with online abuse from furious fans. Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    On every social media platform, they abused her, dragging her to the ends of the earth.

    One of the scariest things in the world was the fury of football fans.

    And on that day, Amaka got to experience it.

    ¡­

    About 20 minutes after the court hearing, outside the court building, Sam finally had the opportunity for the first time in weeks to face the spotlight.

    He had an interview.

 Chapter 316 Honest confessions

    Standing on the spotlight again, in the front of countless cameras and reporters, Sam felt melancholic, thinking of how fast situations can change.

    ''These same people were the ones clamoring for my head just a while ago''.

    ''To think they''re all now supporting me again''.

    ''I guess that''s life, you can never predict it''.

    Sam took a deep breath before speaking into the microphone.

    At first, they organized it like an interview but he took over. To him, this was not an interview at all, rather it was a place for him to have an honest confession after being slandered unjustly for almost a month!

    He took a deep breath. "Honestly, I can''t explain how I feel". He said in Spanish, flexing his new-found mastery of the language.

    "The past few weeks have been difficult for me, definitely the worst period of my football career".

    "I never expected an old classmate to slander me in such a manner".

    "Besides," he sighed. "I never expected what followed".

    He chuckled. "Supporters turning haters, familiars turning into strangers, this is the first time that I experienced something like this and I would be lying if I said it didn''t affect me".

    "But I guess that''s just part of life". S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Yin and yang, light and darkness, ups and downs, it''s just the natural circle of life and these past few weeks, I truly understood it".

    "My football career has been going so smoothly for years that I became slightly arrogant, thinking that I am the main character of the world, that everything would continue to go the way I wanted until what happened weeks ago".

    "What happened¡­, in a way, it helped me".

    "It grounded me in reality".

    He chuckled. "I may sound like a masochist but that''s how I truly feel".

    "Above all, despite the negativity and hate, I learned something important too," he smiled brightly. "That even in the worst storms, there are those that will always stick close to you, supporting you through the worst moments of your life".

    "For these people, I want to specially appreciate".

    "Mom, dad, Ian, Smith Rowe, the club," he smiled and then he inclined his head to look at Kayla. "The love of my life, Kayla, I''m grateful for everything".

    "Without all of your help and mental support, your lawyers, perhaps I wouldn''t be here today on this podium talking to the world".

    "Perhaps," he sighed again, his eyes becoming unfocused. "Perhaps, I would be rotting in a jail somewhere in Spain already".

    "But I''m not bitter, it was a necessary life lesson". He smiled.

    "For that, I am grateful".

    "I also want to use this avenue to thank those die-hard fans of mine. Even in this storm, I recognize the fact that you guys remained in the thick with me".

    With a solemn look on his face, he hit his chest. "I promise you that I will never forget this gesture of goodwill".

    "Your faith in me," he grinned. "I will repay it".

    "If the pain doesn''t kill me, it''ll only make me stronger!" His eyes gleamed with a fiery zeal.

    "A lot of people thought, what if Sam was found guilty? What will happen to his football career?" He grinned again. "I guess we''d never know".

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    "I want to put it out to you all now," he smirked. "Sam is here to stay!"

    "In FC Barcelona, I shall play and forge a legacy for myself!"

    "I shall become the best player in the world in Barcelona!"

    With that, Sam finally stepped down from the podium.

    Adjusting his dark shades, with his girlfriend, best friend, and lawyer following behind him, they trudged out of the Supreme Court with a confident swagger in their steps.

    Trust the cameramen.

    Click! Click!

    They diligently engraved this iconic moment in the annals of history.

    After such an explosive honest confession from Sam, surely, the media would have too many juicy news to write and give to the public.

    ¡­

    Having sacrificed a lot academically to stay in Spain and support his best friend, that morning after the end of the court hearing, Ian ate at a restaurant with Sam and Kayla before taking the next flight back to England.

    As an aspiring Doctor, he could not afford to neglect his learning, he had a lot of things that he needed to catch up on in this small time.

    With his best friend gone, including his personal lawyer, Sam had alone time with his girlfriend for the first time in what felt like forever.

    Staring at each other at the restaurant, they felt their bodies heating up.

    They could not wait to get home; their hormones were getting the better of them after being without each other for so long and going through such adversity together. They say love blossoms in adversity.

    In fantasy novels, lovers or friends become even closer after surviving a life and death encounter together.

    This may not qualify as a live and death situation, but it was definitely a situation that pushed both of them to the edge emotionally and mentally.

    Now, finally getting out of it, their emotions got the better of them.

    Too impatient to wait till they got home, as soon as they left the restaurant, climbing into the back seat of Sam''s brand-new Mercedez Benz GLE 53 AMG, the 2 lovers let their passion blossom as they went at it at the back seat of the car.

    Staring into each other''s eyes, all they saw was a gateway to the starry sky, a love encapsulating the essence of their love.

    In no time, the sound of clothes hastily being pulled apart reverberated as their lips intertwined in a passionate lovers'' kiss.

    That afternoon, Sam felt like his girlfriend was even more beautiful than ever before; her body was gentler and more supple than ever before, he could feel his love for her cascading.

    The air conditioner of this Mercedez Benz was high but the both of them could not help but feel hot still as they surrendered to their passion.

    In no time, bodies intertwined amid gasps and moans of pleasure as they engaged in the primordial ritual of consolidating love right there in the car.

    There was no barrier, nothing of the sort was allowed to exist, all that existed at this moment was their mutually shared love and their blossoming passion.

    Over a dozen minutes later¡­

    At the end of it all, filled with sweat, Sam leaned over his girlfriend, staring straight into her eyes with love-filled eyes.

    "I''ll always love you". He muttered with the most sincere smile that he could muster.

    "I love you more". Kayla giggled cutely.

 Chapter 317 Memory orb

    Thud! Thud!

    The sound of footsteps reverberated as 4 youths dressed in work-out clothes jogged through the streets of Barcelona.

    On the side of the streets, a few people stood, taking pictures and videos even as they ran along the road.

    The bystanders took pictures because these 4 youths were famous athletes of the city, professional football players of FC Barcelona.

    It was just yesterday that Sam''s court hearing was concluded at the Supreme Court of Spain, confirming that he was not guilty as he finally left his confinement but just a day later, today, he was already back in the streets jogging.

    Ecstatic FC Barcelona fans were impressed by his mentality.

    Sexual scandals, they were a stigma to anybody that was involved it them. They did not just damage the reputation of those that they affected, in some cases, it also affects their psyche.

    But despite all the trouble and mental trauma that came with the case, somehow, Sam was still in high spirits, eager to train.

    When pictures of him dropped online, once again, it created a storm that was fanned by FC Barcelona fans as they raved about their elite attacking midfielder.

    While all of that happened online, jogging towards the Spotify Camp Nou stadium, Sam did not care about the online storm as he engaged in a competition with his 3 partners, Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Gavi.

    Due to the support that these 3 gave to him during the course of this scandal, their friendship grew even more.

    And today, they decided that simply jogging was boring.

    They decided to turn it into a competition.

    During the last 50 meters before arriving at the Spotify Camp Nou, they would engage in a sprint to determine who would arrive first at the stadium.

    The winner would receive their respect, while the one who came last in the race would treat all of them to food that morning.

    They all agreed to the competition; the contest was on.

    ''80 meters¡­''

    ''70 meters¡­''

    ''60 meters¡­''

    ''50 meters!''

    Bam!

    Digging into his reserves despite the sweat that already filled his face and his ragged breathing, Sam erupted in a sprint.

    The 4 of them sprinted at the same time!

    When the race started, Gavi''s initial explosiveness gave him the edge over the others as he overtook the others, giving Pedri and Lamine Yamal an obvious distance immediately but someone stuck with him, Sam.

    Thud! Thud!

    Digging into his reserves, Sam accelerated! Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire

    Like a hurricane, his body moved, seemingly turning into a phantom of light as he quickly closed the distance.

    ''Damn!'' Noticing him side by side him, Gavi cursed, putting even more effort.

    And yet, Sam did not give an inch.

    During the final few meters, Sam''s long legs did it as he threw them like projectiles, eating yards of space like they were not there.

    Before arriving at the entrance to the Spotify Camp Nou, he did just enough to overtake Gavi, arriving first.

    "Dammit!" Gavi cursed in Spanish.

    "Hahahaha!" Sam burst into loud laughter on seeing his reaction even as Lamine Yamal and Pedri finally arrived.

    Pedri arrived last.

    Sam looked at them, especially at the silky Spanish midfielder. "I guess you''re treating us to breakfast today". He muttered in a taunting voice.

    Grumbling under his breath, Pedri led the way to the gym.

    As soon as they entered the gym, another FC Barcelona player rushed towards them, intercepting them.

    "¡­!"

    They were surprised to meet another player that early in the morning.

    It was Alejandro Balde. As the Spanish left back arrived, he glared at the 4 of them. "You bastards forgot to invite me again, I told you guys to call me".

    "Oh," Sam scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I forgot".

    "Forgot my ass!" Balde fumed. "You better not forget next time!"

    With that, the 5 youngsters entered the gym, working out and breaking a good sweat. By the time they were done, they felt energized and refreshed.

    At the same time, Sam''s system finally lit up with a new notification.

    ~----~

    [You have completed Daily System Quest: Mentality Monster!]

    [You have been rewarded with a low-grade physical conditioning elixir!]

    ¡­

    [Congratulations! You have completed a hidden system mission: Training Buddies!]

    [You managed to convince 4 other professional football players who play for your club to become your training buddies, joining you every morning to complete daily system quests with you!]

    [You have received a special reward: Memory Orb!]

    [NOTE: A memory orb is a special system reward. It is a memory card that can carry a random memory, mostly a memory of practicing and learning a skill, but it can also be the memory of a legendary footballer.]

    [Click to open Memory Orb and know memory type=]

    ~----~

    Sam did not click to open the memory orb immediately; this was because he was still in the Spotify Camp Nou with his training buddies.

    He was curious about the memory orb though. Afterall, this was the first time that he was receiving such a reward but he was patient.

    After bidding farewell to his teammates, setting another contest to see who would arrive home, take their bath, and return for the club morning training session at the earliest, Sam drove off on his new GLE 53 AMG.

    Kayla was still at his apartment.

    Arriving home, he discovered that his girlfriend was still sleeping.

    He tried not to disturb her, entering the bathroom to quickly take his bath. It was in the bathroom where he finally accessed the memory orb.

    He clicked on it.

    ~----~

    [You have clicked a memory orb¡­, please wait¡­]

    ¡­

    Kacha!

    The sound of something shattering reverberated as the round purple orb shattered into bright colorful lights.

    When the lights subsided, Sam saw a memory.

    In the memory, he saw a diminutive footballer that was easily recognizable by most footballers in the world.

    Sam squinted his eyes. ''Is that¡­?''

    ''Messi!'' He almost yelled at the top of his lungs as he stared at the image before him excitedly, wondering what he would gain from this sudden fortuitous encounter.

    But then, the memory suddenly accelerated towards Sam''s head.

    ''Crap¡­''

    This was the last thought that Sam had before the memory crashed into his head, knocking him out. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 318 The return of Sam

    Sam woke up feeling foggy and light-headed.

    Looking around, he quickly determined that he was still in his bathroom.

    "Babe!" He heard Kayla call loudly. "What are you doing? You''re still in the bathroom? You''ll get late for team training".

    "Ah, yes, team training". Rubbing his temples, Sam stood up.

    He looked around. ''What happened?''

    Not remembering much, he quickly took his bath, left the bathroom and kissed his girlfriend goodbye before quickly driving back to the Spotify Camp Nou.

    For the first time since signing for the Catalan club, he arrived late for training.

    Like promised, Pedri bought their breakfast that morning even as alongside the rest of their teammates, they started training under the tutelage of their coach.

    It was while they trained that Sam discovered something.

    ''This¡­''

    It was like memories were overlapping with his own memories.

    At first, he didn''t understand what was happening but as more memories overlapped, affecting him, he finally started remembering what happened.

    ''Right, I got a memory orb''.

    His eyes widened. ''And that memory orb had the memory of Lionel Messi!''

    His eyes widened even more as he finally remembered everything. ''The memory of Lionel Messi practicing his iconic body feint skill!''

    In the memory orb, Sam seemed to go through a time portal, overlapping himself with phantom memories of Lionel Messi, memories of when the legendary Argentine forward practiced his body feint skill and when he used it on the pitch.

    In those few minutes that he spent in the bathroom, Sam lived almost 2 decades of Lionel Messi''s career!

    Every single body feint that Messi did in training, every single body feint that he did in a professional game, he lived through it all.

    In that moment, as Sam remembered everything, his eyes widened because chemical processes started taking place inside his head.

    In that moment, his fundamental understanding of the body feint skill deepened to a level that he never imagined possible before.

    His memories, his instincts, all of them were honed.

    And then, his system finally lit up with a new notification.

    ~----~

    [Congratulations! You have inherited a memory orb of the legendary Argentine winger, Lionel Messi!]

    [Your mastery of the Body Feint skill has improved to the Advanced Mastery Level!]

    [Your Dribbling attribute has increased by +1]

    ***

    [Owned Football Skills:]

    [Passive skill: Stalwart]

    ¡­

    [Active skills:]

    [Basic mastery level: Step overs; roulette; knuckle shot; overhead kick; rainbow flick; trivela shot, basic penalty technique, scissor kick]

    [Intermediate mastery level: Elastico; Cruyff turn; La croqueta; Power header]

    [Advanced mastery level: Spatial awareness; Power shot; Body feint]

    [Perfect mastery level: Freekick Technique]

    ¡­

    [Legendary Inheritance: Elastico]

    [Legendary Inheritance: Spatial Awareness]

    [Legendary Inheritance: Power Shot]

    ¡­

    Player Attributes: S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    *Pace: 86

    *Shot: 87

    *Pass: 85

    *Dribbling: 85

    *Defending: 40

    *Physicality: 81

    *Stamina: 89

    Overall Rating: 87

    ~----~

    In the blink of an eye, from the intermediate level where it was before, Sam''s mastery of the Body feint skill increased to the advanced level.

    "¡­!"

    His eyes widened, not just because of the increase, but because of the potential that experiencing that memory orb gave to him.

    ''This¡­!'' He was amazed.

    Sam was amazed because at this moment, he felt and was convinced that the effects of the memory orb didn''t just end at the Advanced mastery level of the body feint skill.

    Afterall, experiencing almost 2 decades of Lionel Messi practicing and using the body feint skill was no joke.

    Heck, just 1 such experience with the legendary Lionel Messi was no joke.

    This was why at this moment; Sam was convinced that he already got a clear path towards taking the body feint skill to the perfection mastery level.

    His eyes gleamed with excitement. ''All I need is time and patience, and diligence too''.

    ''I already saw how the G.O.A.T does it''.

    ''All I need is to follow his guidelines, doing what he did, repeating his actions and routine till I master it the same way that he did''.

    Sam''s eyes burned with a fiery zeal.

    For the rest of the training session, Sam''s teammates noticed something.

    ''Why is he suddenly so obsessed with using the body feint skill?''

    With that, today''s training session came to an end.

    ¡­

    The next day, it was rinse and repeat as Sam repeated the same sequence of events throughout his day.

    From completing his daily system quest alongside his training buddies, to training with the team, then going back home to meet his girlfriend, meditating for some time, and then sleeping; he did only that.

    Like this, the days moved fast and in no time, it was another matchday of the Spanish La Liga campaign.

    Sam did not play FC Barcelona''s first game of the campaign since he was still relatively new to the club then, but he played FC Barcelona''s next game.

    From matchday 2 on, he played for 3 consecutive games for the Catalan club till the scandal brought his career to a sudden halt.

    With Sam out as a result of the scandal, FC Barcelona played another league game before finally kickstarting their UEFA champions league campaign in the next game against the Portugal giants, Benfica.

    After that, FC Barcelona played 2 more games, both being league games and now, it was matchday 8 of the Spanish La Liga campaign.

    FC Barcelona were still very much in the title race alongside Real Madrid at the top, having pulled away from Atletico Madrid already and finally, the Catalans regained the services of their electric midfielder in Sam. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire

    FC Barcelona''s next game was an away game against Osasuna.

    (La Liga:)

    (Osasuna ¨C FC Barcelona)

    In the build-up to the game, the question among fans of the Catalan persuasion was would Sam play in the game? And if he would, from what minute of the game would Hansi Flick introduce him after being out of action for a time already?

    But when the German coach finally dropped his starting XI for the away game against Osasuna, the FC Barcelona fanbase was stunned.

    In confinement, a lot of people expected Sam''s skills to become dulled but nothing of the sort happened.

    Rather, in confinement, training every day, Sam made sure that he remained sharp and physically fit.

    He was preparing for his return to the pitch.

    And after just a few days of training since the court hearing, he was able to convince the German coach, Hansi Flick that he was ready to start.

    Hansi Flick made the bold decision of starting Sam against Osasuna.

    Would this radical decision pay off?

 Chapter 319 Osasuna vs FC Barcelona [1]

    The atmosphere in the El Sadar Stadium in Pamplona, Navarre, Spain was electric as over 23,000 football fans gathered in this stadium, majority of them being part of the home supporters.

    Yes, a big scandal involved FC Barcelona recently, the scandal of Samuel Moses but that was just one tiny event in the Spanish La Liga.

    Yes, it was a big deal because the person affected was Samuel Moses, but that did not mean that the world stopped due to him.

    The world continued moving, the Spanish La Liga campaign continued.

    Among the Osasuna fanbase, there may be some fans who sympathized with Sam due to how much he suffered due to being unjustly defamed but all that sympathy disappeared as soon as the players lined up on the pitch.

    On the pitch in the El Sadar Stadium, to the fans, it was all business.

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    It was either of 2 sides claiming the victory today, Osasuna or FC Barcelona, there was no in between and was why the Osasuna fans didn''t give a damn about the fact that Sam was returning to the game after such a damaging scandal.

    Heck, they didn''t want him to perform in this game at all.

    They wanted Sam and his teammates to play awful this game, resulting in their team losing. After that, they could sympathize with him, but before that, all is fair in love and war. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Osasuna started with their strongest lineup.

    Starting in a 4-3-3 formation, Herrera stood in between the posts while ahead of him was a sturdy quadruple defense comprising Areso in right back, Boyomo and Catena in center defense, while Cruz started as the left back.

    In midfield stood the trio of Moncayola, Lucas Torro, and Oroz while ahead of him stood the offensive trio of Garcia, Barja, and the imposing striker, Budimir.

    It was a fairly formidable Osasuna lineup.

    As for FC Barcelona, they didn''t start with their theoretically strongest lineup as most predictions disagreed with Hansi Flick''s decision, staying adamant that Sam was not yet fit to start in a league game.

    Hansi Flick didn''t care about outside opinion though, he started the young 19-year-old midfielder nonetheless.

    FC Barcelona started in a familiar 4-2-3-1 formation. Wojciech Szczesny started in between the posts for the Blaugrana while ahead of him stood a formidable defense of Jules Kounde, Ronaldo Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, and Alejandro Balde.

    Ahead of the defense stood the midfield duo of Pedri and Marc Casado, while further ahead of them stood the infamous Barca attack.

    Robert Lewandowski led as the tip of the spear, the striker. At either of his flanks lined up Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, while behind the Polish striker returned a familiar face, Samuel Moses.

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, the game started even as the energy of the fans in this stadium rose through the roof.

    Like in similar situations in the Spanish La Liga when other top flight clubs take on the big 2 Spanish clubs, Real Madrid or FC Barcelona, despite starting in a 4-3-3 formation, Osasuna employed a defensive strategy against the Blaugrana.

    This well-drilled team played in a low block, attempting to weather the onslaught of Barca attacks that would surely come as they hoped to hit the Catalans hard on the counter.

    With the strong striker, Budimir upfront, their chances of getting a result from counterattacks was pretty high.

    This was the strategy that was employed by the Osasuna head coach.

    As for Hansi Flick''s strategy for this game, it was the normal one, he gave his team freedom to carve the opponents apart.

    And trust Barca, they started.

    Bam! Bam!

    For the first few minutes of this game, FC Barcelona played fluid attacking football as they dominated possession for large swathes of the first half.

    In front of their home supporters, Osasuna was forced to defend desperately and yet despite this display, the Osasuna fans loudly supported their team. This was because of the caliber of opponents they were playing against.

    In this game, a few FC Barcelona players dazzled and among them all, Lamine Yamal and a certain Sam was chief.

    From the middle of the pitch to the right-hand side, a deadly partnership blossomed in this game, a partnership between Lamine Yamal and Sam.

    Back in the English premier league, with Emile Smith Rowe playing in a similar position as the Spaniard, Sam formed a devastating partnership with Smith Rowe and now, due to his growing relationship with Yamal, he finally developed that lethal partnership with the 17-year-old Spaniard.

    Tiki! Taka!

    Bam! Bam!

    Sam and Lamine Yamal ran rings around the Osasuna defense, trying every weapon in their repertoire to pry their tight defense open.

    In the 33rd minute of the game, it finally happened.

    After receiving a pass from deep from Pedri, Sam executed an immaculate touch to bring it under control and instantly as the nearest Osasuna player pressed for the ball, Sam staggered and then with a clever Cruyff turn, he left the player for dead, re-arranging his position before playing a diagonal pass to the right.

    Lamine Yamal took the ball in his strides with his left foot, one touch, and then with his second touch, he unleashed a ridiculous trivela pass that cut through majority of the Osasuna defense like a hot knife through butter.

    Having dropped back to support the build-up and switch things up, Robert Lewandowski was not in the box to poach the ball, instead leaving Raphinha there.

    Raphinha jumped but the Brazilian could not beat the tall and imposing Osasuna center backs in the air as they beat him in the aerial battle, heading the ball away but it was not a perfect clearance.

    Due to Raphinha''s pressure, the ball was cleared half-heartedly, falling in the direction of the deadly Polish striker who was making a recovery run.

    "¡­!"

    As the ball floated towards him, the Polish striker''s eyes widened as his body became adrenaline-infused!

    Lewandowski was just outside the Osasuna 18-yard box.

    Instinctively, he swung his right foot back, about to unleash an absolutely venomous volleyed shot when one of the Osasuna players jumped in on a dangerous tackle, taking Lewandowski out in mid-air.

    It seemed like he actually aimed for the ball but missing it, he caught Lewandowski''s knee instead, bringing him down.

    "Arghhhh!" The Polish striker screamed out in pain, holding his knee.

    "Ref, red card!" Raphinha and a few other FC Barcelona players quickly rounded the referee, clamoring for a red card but the referee with an impassive expression on his face brought out a yellow card, brandishing it at the Osasuna player.

    The FC Barcelona players fumed but there was nothing that they could do.

    As for Lewandowski, he remained on the ground, grabbing his knee in pain till the FC Barcelona medical team entered the pitch to attend to him.

    About a minute later, the Polish striker finally stood up.

    He could continue the game.

    FWEEEE!

    The referee blew for a freekick for FC Barcelona just outside the box.

    Raphinha was the one who stood over the ball, about to take the freekick. After a short run, he unleashed a powerful shot that rounded the defensive block, going towards the top left corner only for it to be batted away by the Osasuna goalkeeper''s outstretched hand.

    "A loose ball!" The commentator screamed, and then¡­

    Thud!

    The Osasuna attackers reacted immediately, charging out of their 18-yard box as they smoothly transited from defense to attack.

    Bam!

    Boyomo, the Osasuna center back who got to the loose ball first played a lovely lobbed pass for Garcia, the right winger, taking out Alejandro Balde who was out of position in the process.

    Taking the ball in his strikes, Garcia exploded down the wing with speed.

    The counterattack¡­ was on!

    FC Barcelona players scrambled to retreat and defend but the Osasuna counterattack was just too fast. Garcia almost ran the full length of the pitch and just as Pau Cubarsi was to intercept him, he played a pass to the middle where a certain Budimir lurked.

    The imposing striker''s eyes gleamed as soon as the ball was passed.

    Slowing down, he used his first touch to bring the ball under control and then¡­

    WHOOP!

    He unleashed an absolutely thunderous shot, sending it into the top right corner and leaving Wojciech Szczesny no chance as the FC Barcelona goalkeeper was left ball-watching in an incredible moment.

    There was silence for a brief moment in this stadium, and then¡­

    BOOM!

    The home supporters erupted, screaming at the top of their lungs as against the run of play, Osasuna scored to go ahead in this game.

    "What a goal!" The commentators raved.

    "What a counterattack!"

    "Vintage Osasuna! Vintage Budimir!"

 Chapter 320 Osasuna vs FC Barcelona [2]

    1 chance, 1 shot, 1 goal¡­

    It was literally Osasuna''s first chance of the game.

    Their first shot of the night and their lethal striker, Budimir did not miss his moment, taking it with aplomb to sink Barcelona and give his team the lead.

    Charging towards the corner flag, Budimir slid on his knees in celebration even as the Osasuna fans roared at the top of their lungs, cheering loudly.

    That goal changed the nature of this game.

    FC Barcelona were stunned by it, after all, it was totally against the run of play but with that goal, the Catalans finally felt some urgency to score a goal.

    FWEEEE!

    When the referee''s whistle sounded to continue the game, FC Barcelona played like men on a mission, pressuring Osasuna even as the home side kept on defending against the Catalan onslaught.

    Unlike what most people expected, in this game, Sam seemed even more physically fit than before as he imposed himself on this game from attacking midfield.

    He created, won back the ball, and took those occasional shots.

    In the 43rd minute of this game, Sam came closest for FC Barcelona, unleashing a thunderous outside the box shot that flew like a missile, homing towards the top left corner of the post.

    But once again, Herrera, the Osasuna goalkeeper was on top of his game.

    Like a spring, the goalkeeper dived, stretching as incredulously, he seemed to fly through the air, his outstretched arm just barely pushing the ball, tipping it away from the net to hit the post before going out for a corner kick.

    "My goodness gracious!" The commentators were amazed.

    "Herrera, this guy¡­, he''s having a terrific game!"

    "What a save!"

    In the corner kick, Ronald Araujo rose highest, planting a firm header towards goal only for Herrera to calmly catch it.

    The goalkeeper was laying an audacious claim to the man of the match award for this game with his crazy saves.

    His team defended valiantly, but Herrera was the core of the piece that kept a rampant FC Barcelona at bay during the first half.

    During half-time, Hansi Flick faced his players.

    "What you guys gave out there on the pitch, it''s not enough!" He said in Spanish. "I want more from you guys!"

    "Come on!" He clapped aggressively.

    "If we want to retain our La Liga title, we can''t afford to falter now. Let''s go out there and let''s win this game!"

    Minutes later¡­

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    The players returned to the pitch and with the referee''s whistle giving the signal, the second half of this incredible game started.

    Hansi Flick made only a single change for the second half, taking off Marc Casado as he introduced Gavi, intending to make his team even more offensive in this 2nd half to break down the Osasuna low block.

    Again, just like the first half, FC Barcelona dominated, torturing the Osasuna players but the decisive goal of this game remained elusive.

    50 minutes, no goal¡­

    60 minutes, no goal¡­

    70 minutes, no goal¡­, and to add salt to injury, Osasuna came close to doubling their lead, the crossbar coming to the Polish goalkeeper''s rescue.

    80 minutes, no goal¡­, and that was when a certain player''s retrospection in this game started.

    ''I''m playing well, but is this the best that I can give?'' Sam''s eyes slowly changed as the game reached its dying stages.

    ''Is this how I want my return to the pitch to end?''

    ''A defeat?''

    His eyes gleamed. ''Unacceptable!''

    ''I can''t let it end like this; it must not end like this!''

    ''At the very least, it must be a win!''

    Sam''s eyes slowly changed, from a sentient human''s eyes into that of a feral predator whose sole purpose of existence was causing carnage and drinking blood.

    Just a few minutes after it started, Sam did it.

    Bam! Bam!

    Down the right side of the pitch, he played tiki taka passes with Lamine Yamal, another step in their improvisation to pry open the Osasuna defense.

    And all of a sudden, Sam erupted in a dash, making a byline back to the middle towards the Osasuna 18-yard box.

    Reading his run perfectly, Lamine Yamal played a lobbed pass towards him.

    Bam!

    Just as an Osasuna player was to steal the ball, Sam controlled it with his lap.

    2 Osasuna players followed him in his flanks while another one barred his path. Unfazed, Sam moved forward, calmly jogging the ball with his lap as he moved.

    "¡­!"

    The Osasuna players were confounded, caught in between 2 minds.

    How would they steal the ball without risking a foul?

    That moment of hesitation to think was the window of opportunity that Sam needed. Before they could react, after lobbing the pass to Sam and as all of the attention was on him, wary of his threat, no one noticed Lamine Yamal''s shadow run from the right in behind the Osasuna defense.

    After one last juggle of the ball with his lap, Sam hit it with his head, in-between the Osasuna players and towards Lamine Yamal''s path.

    The teenager Spaniard just about beat the offside line.

    Lamine Yamal took the ball in his stride, charged towards goal and as Herrera charged out again, keeping his composure, he played a perfect ground shot towards the near corner of the post that finally beat the Osasuna goalkeeper.

    "GOALLLLLL¡­!" The away stands erupted immediately.

    "YES!!!" Pumping his fists, Lamine Yamal celebrated excitedly in front of the goal but Sam already rushed into the net, picking the ball and charging out even as he gestured for Yamal to follow him.

    Yes, they just scored but they still needed another goal to win.

    In the 83rd minute of the game, FC Barcelona finally equalized.

    2 minutes later, they got the winner and again, it was Sam orchestrated.

    This time, receiving a diagonal pass from Gavi, with an immaculate body feint, Sam left his marker for dead, penetrating into the Osasuna 18-yard box.

    With his physicality and his close ball control, he evaded challenges, skipping through players with tight cuts, shifts of the ball, and lightning fast la croquetas.

    "Oh my God! Sam is unleashed!"

    "He goes through 1, 2, 3, 4, 5¡­, and he passes!"

    Sam dribbled through 5 players at a go!

    His dribble caused chaos in the Osasuna defense, once again the commotion leading to one of the Barcelona attackers being forgotten.

    Due to having scored a goal already, they paid more attention to Lamine Yamal, wary of their connection. They were also wary of Lewandowski''s goal threat as one of the center backs diligently kept him in check.

    But due to having a relatively average game today, the Osasuna defense forgot about the threat of a certain Brazilian who carried Barca through the majority of last season, Raphinha.

    This was what gave him the chance to ghost in behind the defense like Lamine Yamal did earlier, catalyzed by Sam causing such a commotion with his dribbling.

    Despite the commotion, Sam''s incredible spatial awareness enabled him to spot the Brazilian''s run.

    Bam!

    He threaded a needle pass behind the Osasuna defense, cutting Osasuna apart like they were not there.

    At this moment, Sam felt like a Grandmaster martial artist in an eastern fantasy universe who cut the heavens asunder with a mighty sword slash.

    That sword slash brought Osasuna to submission.

    Raphinha didn''t hesitate, the pass was just too juicy and perfectly weighted and so he hit it once on his first touch.

    Bam!

    Herrera reacted, flailing his arms but it was not enough as the ball squirmed past his grasp and into the net.

    "¡­"

    El Sadar Stadium was silenced.

    Only the roar of the FC Barcelona fans reverberated as Raphinha charged towards the corner flag to celebrate even as Sam charged after him, eventually jumping on his back in celebration.

    "Oh my goodness gracious!"

    "OH MY GOD!"

    "Zinedine Sam they called him, like Zidane he played!"

    "2 immaculate passes are all he needed to turn this game around!"

    "1 to even the odds, and the other to send a dagger through the hearts of Osasuna fans around the world!" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What a perfect playmaking performance!"

    "Samuel Moses¡­, is back!"

    FWEEE!

    The referee''s whistle soon sounded to continue the game but all the venom was already expended in this game, neither Barcelona nor Osasuna had more juice to create moments of magic and so, the game eventually came to an end.

    And just like that, FC Barcelona won.

    Sam won the man of the match award due to his 2-assists display in his first game since being confined in police custody.

    It was a statement performance.

 Chapter 321 Preparations for a first UEFA Champions League game

    "Congratulations Sam! You played an amazing game today on the pitch, helping your team win with your 2 incredible assists, how do you feel?"

    "I feel great!" Sam answered in a bubbly manner, wiping off his sweat as he could not contain his excitement.

    "I wanted to score but it doesn''t matter, I still contributed with 2 assists". He smiled. "Setting up Lamine Yamal to rescue a point already left me satisfied, to assist Raphinha too in such a manner to rescue all 3 points, there''s nothing better I could have asked for in my return game".

    "What a statement performance it was from you!"

    "A lot of people doubted Hansi Flick''s decision to push you straight into the deep end immediately after coming out of such a damaging scandal".

    "I won''t lie, even I was skeptical at first about your match fitness and readiness but after what you pulled off out there on the pitch, I must confess, Hansi Flick didn''t make the wrong decision".

    "The wrong decision would have been not playing you from the start".

    Sam chuckled. "I may still be very young but it''s already my 3rd year in professional football. By now, I am already used to people''s opinion".

    "No matter what you do in this life, people will always have their own opinion so trying to live by their standards and validation is pointless. I try not to think about other people''s opinion too much".

    "I only think about my opinion and those of my loved ones".

    "That way, I am able to focus more on what matters, football a good example". He smiled.

    The male reporter also smiled. "Sam, today on the pitch, we could not help but notice a certain connection between you and Lamine Yamal, is there anything that we don''t know about?"

    Sam chuckled. "Just say what you want to ask, stop beating around the bush. Not like I have any reason to hide it in the first place".

    "You must have seen the videos and pictures that trend online a few days ago. Yes, I''ve built a close friendship with Lamine Yamal these days".

    "Not just him, Pedri and Gavi too".

    "In a big club like FC Barcelona, I believe that maintaining good relationships between the squad members can keep the vibes positive which can reflect positively in our performances on the pitch".

    "Anyways, today is just the prelude," he grinned. "Get ready for more".

    "Really? Then I can''t wait". The reporter''s smile widened.

    He looked at his book before asking his next question. "Sam, in your almost 3-year career, you''ve played for Enyimba FC and Fulham FC, both clubs that do not compete in the UEFA Champions League before this season".

    "Due to your heroics last season in the premier league, Fulham are now in the UEFA champions league but even for you, this is your first time facing the prospects of competing in the elite tournament of club football".

    "FC Barcelona''s next game is a UEFA champions league home game against Brest of France, and it will be your first ever UEFA champions league game".

    "Sam, how do you feel about it?"

    Sam took a deep breath, going over his thoughts before answering; he laughed. "Honestly, I won''t lie, I''m giddy in joy".

    "Playing in the UEFA champions league¡­, it has always been one of the greatest dreams of my football career aspirations".

    "The first football game that I ever watched was a UEFA champions league game after all".

    "Really? Which one?"

    Sam grinned. "2011, Wembley Stadium, FC Barcelona vs Manchester United!"

    "Ouch!" The reporter laughed. "That brings memories man, fond memories for FC Barcelona fans and forgettable ones for fans of the Man United persuasion".

    "I had the privilege of watching that game live in Wembley Stadium".

    "Then do well to watch us live this season too," Sam grinned. "Because we''ll be playing the final of the UEFA champions league this season".

    "So bold," the reporter clicked his tongue. "I like it from young players like you, it makes our ageing bones burn with fire again".

    "How do you think you would perform in front of your home supporters for your first home game since your confinement".

    Sam took a deep breath. "I try not to overthink things too much, but I''m definitely going to give my all to create a memorable moment for the fans".

    "I promise them, no matter what happens, they will enjoy the game".

    With that, the interview finally came to an end. Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire

    Getting home, Sam learned that his girlfriend already made his favorite dish, Banga soup and starch. He was left salivating on getting home.

    Quickly devouring the food and kissing his girlfriend, he started his post-match recovery in preparations for his very first UEFA champions league game.

    Sam was hyper for his first UEFA champions league game.

    From the days of watching Iniesta, Xavi, Busquests, and Messi don the famous blue and red of FC Barcelona, to the days of Neymar, Suarez, and Messi, to think that it was already the days of Raphinha, Lewandowski, Yamal, and Sam.

    Sam was hyped for his club''s next game, too hyped to relax.

    All this abundant energy, he channeled it into what he knew how do to best, working out and playing football.

    From just jogging alongside his new friends in the city of Barcelona, they graduated to organizing personal training sessions between themselves outside the normal training sessions scheduled by their coach, Hansi Flick.

    Like this, the camaraderie and chemistry between the 5 FC Barcelona players improved crazily even as their fitness gained the sharpness of a qi-infused sword.

    Like this, the days moved fast and in no time, it was October 1st already. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It was D-day.

    ¡­

    (UEFA Champions League:)

    (Matchday 2 of 8:)

    (FC Barcelona ¨C Brest)

    (Date: 1st October, 2025)

    On the 1st of October, in the matchday 2 fixture of the newly revamped UEFA champions league format that was used to substitute the group stage, FC Barcelona welcomed the France-based club Brest to Barcelona.

    It was poised to be an exciting game.

 Chapter 322 Disaster

    The sun set in Barcelona, the prelude to the clash that was scheduled to take place at night in one of the recognized venues of the Catalan City.

    The atmosphere at the Spotify Camp Nou on a UEFA Champions League night is always electric, and tonight was no different.

    As the sun set over the city, the towering stands of the legendary stadium began to fill with a sea of Blaugrana-clad supporters, their voices merging into a low, expectant hum that rippled through the air.

    In the dressing room, the players sat, letting the electric energy seep into their bones, energizing them and one of the FC Barcelona players felt this energy even more as it infused his body like a super serum.

    Sam''s body was literally shaking, not out of fear, but out of excitement.

    As soon as the champions league anthem started playing, the entire stadium erupted, thousands of scarves held high as chants and cheers echoed off the concrete. Sam resonated with all of it.

    The feeling he was experiencing at this moment, he could not describe it.

    Euphoria, pure euphoria and nothing else.

    When the players finally came out of the tunnel, stepping into the pitch, they felt the energy of this stadium in a more raw form.

    The air was thick with the scent of fresh grass, sweat, and the distant aroma of Catalan street food from vendors outside.

    A UEFA champions league game in the Spotify Camp Nou, it was a cultural phenomenon as much as it was a football game.

    As the players lined up, ecstatic fans stomped their feet, their voices rising in unison as Barca''s stars shone like beacons on the field, the lights illuminating every blade of grass like a stage set for war.

    Like expected, both teams started with their strongest lineup for this UEFA champions league game.

    For the away side, Brest started in a 4-3-3 formation with Lopes as their goalkeeper while ahead of him stood the 4-man defense of Coco, Sow, Castelleto, and Coza.

    Ahead of them was the 3-man midfield of Lepenant, Chrivella, and Augusto while the attacking trio comprised Abline in right wing, Moses Simon, the Nigerian International as the left winger, while Mohamed as the striker.

    For the home side, FC Barcelona''s lineup was much more star-studded.

    Starting in their regular 4-2-3-1 formation, the 4-man defense comprised of Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, and Alejandro Balde in defense protecting the German, Andre Ter Stegen in between the posts.

    Last season, the German goalkeeper suffered an ACL injury that ruled him out of the season, pushing Inaki Pena to prominence and forcing the Catalan club to go for Wojciech Szczesny, convincing the Polish goalkeeper out of retirement.

    But after being out for almost a whole season, Andre Ter Stegen made his return some time ago and finally, he was fully match fit.

    He made his return to the pitch in this UEFA champions league game against Brest at the Spotify Camp Nou.

    Ahead of the Barcelona defense lined up Marc Casado and Pedri, while further ahead of them lined up the formidable 4-man offense.

    Robert Lewandowski started as the striker leading the line for the Blaugrana, while to his left and right were Raphinha and Lamine Yamal.

    Directly behind the Polish striker lurked the Nigerian phenom, Samuel Moses, the attacking midfielder whose form was taking Europe by surprise despite having just concluded such a damaging scandal.

    FWEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, the game started.

    For the first few minutes of this game, it was a tight and even game even as Brest played like a cohesive and well-gelled team.

    They attacked and defended perfectly like a team.

    The French side did more of defending this game but they didn''t come to Barcelona with intentions to play a cowardly game.

    They didn''t play in a low block, they defended more but they came out of their shell often to attack the Catalan club, keeping their defense on tenterhooks and scaring them from becoming too adventurous in attack.

    This dynamic set the stage for an exciting game at the Spotify Camp Nou.

    Despite Brest''s energy and cohesive teamplay though, in the end, they were playing against one of the strongest and most in-form clubs in Europe.

    Under Hansi Flick, FC Barcelona was deadly, especially in the big games and this game was no different as the tides soon turned around.

    The Catalan club amped the tempo!

    They soon started dominating, forcing the French club to defend deep as they started running them ragged with crazy offensive plays.

    And this energy excited the home supporters to no end.

    They roared their team on excitedly.

    During the match, every pass, every tackle, and every moment of brilliance was met with roars of approval or groans of frustration from the fans.

    Sam, Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Raphinha led the way in eliciting reactions from the fans as their electric plays turned the Brest players inside out.

    The famous "Mes que un club" motto which translated to "more than a club" in English is not just a slogan, it''s a feeling that pulses through the stands, especially when the home side pushed forward in attack.

    "Barca!" "Barca!" "Barca!"

    The rhythmic chant swelled to deafening levels.

    The atmosphere in this stadium rose to a fever pitch, hitting stratospheric levels and the performance of the FC Barcelona players on the pitch rose with it; Brest was being tortured.

    The stage was set, it would not take too long for FC Barcelona to open the deadlock in this game but when it seemed inevitable, something unexpected happened, stunning this stadium.

    Having received a sweet defense-splitting pass from Sam that set him up one-on-one with the goalkeeper finally, Robert Lewandowski was poised to score the first goal of this game only for him to run into an incident.

    Cozza, the Brest left back rushed back like a hurricane to defend, recklessly sliding in just as Lewandowski was about to shoot.

    He seemingly aimed for the ball but due to placing his right leg down to angle himself for the shot, Cozza clattered into his right let instead of the ball.

    BAM! Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire

    His speed, momentum, everything turned it into a dangerous situation as Lewandowski was swept off his feet, somersaulting in mid-air.

    When he landed, he collapsed awkwardly on his knee, and then¡­

    Snap!

    "ARGGHHHH¡­!!!!!!!!" The Polish striker immediately clutched his knee, screaming in agony, the same knee that was fouled in the last game.

    FWEEEE!

    The referee blew the whistle immediately as he noticed the severity of the situation, calling the attention of the medical staff who rushed into the pitch. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "¡­!"

    The FC Barcelona fans were mortified as they watched their striker being attended to, they were too stunned to react or speak.

    Just about a minute later, a stretcher was brought to the pitch and Robert Lewandowski was carried out of the pitch in tears.

    The Polish striker was injured and from his reaction, it was no minor injury either.

    It was a disaster.

    From the heavenly cloud 9 where they hovered and feasted before for 26 minutes of this game, FC Barcelona was brought crashing back down to earth.

    "Wow¡­, this does not look good". The commentators echoed the sentiment.

    "Robert Lewandowski in tears, that definitely does not look good for FC Barcelona. Now, how will Hansi Flick react to this situation?"

    "The bigger question should be, what will the referee do?"

    FWEEE!

    Calming down and blowing his whistle again, the referee finally penalized the Brest player, giving him only a yellow card which the FC Barcelona players protested to no avail.

    But to compensate Barcelona, they were awarded a penalty kick.

    Raphinha took the ball, he was to play the penalty kick in Robert Lewandowski''s absence.

 Chapter 323 Formational change; can I play as a false 9?

    Standing over the ball, the Brazilian oozed confidence.

    FWEEE!

    And immediately after the referee''s whistle sounded, without any fancy feints or tricks, he ran directly to the ball and hit it with power, sending it on a trajectory towards the bottom right corner.

    Thud!

    Lopes, the Brest goalkeeper dived the right way, almost arriving on time to tip the ball away but Raphinha''s shot contained speed and power and that became the facet that let it beat the goalkeeper.

    The ball nestled into the bottom right corner, and the net rippled.

    "GOALLLL¡­!"

    The FC Barcelona fans roared, celebrating the goal even as they already temporarily removed the unfortunate situation of the Polish striker from their minds.

    Charging towards the corner flag, Raphinha jumped high and pumped a fist in celebration, eliciting loud cheers from the home fans.

    In the 26th minute of this game, FC Barcelona finally broke the deadlock, scoring the first goal of the game but at the moment, they were with just 10 men on the pitch with Lewandowski''s enforced absence.

    Hansi Flick already made a change at the byline by the time that Raphinha was done celebrating his goal.

    The officials raised the substitution board, announcing the substitution.

    (No. 9- Out)

    (No. 6- In)

    With Robert Lewandowski out of the game, Hansi Flick did not bring in a makeshift striker like most people expected in Ferran Torres, rather, he brought in a midfielder, Pablo Gavi instead.

    Before Gavi entered the pitch, the German coach gave him instructions.

    Entering the pitch, the first thing that Gavi did was to jog towards Sam''s position before whispering a few words to him.

    Quickly, he left, focusing on his other teammates and telling them the instructions from their coach.

    Sam was stunned. ''Really?''

    Incredulously, Hansi Flick made the decision of playing Sam in the false 9 position again for the second time this season!

    Yes, during his first 2 games this season, he struggled to impact the team positively in attack as he failed to register a goal or an assist.

    Yes, his first attacking masterpiece in an FC Barcelona jersey came from when Sam was suddenly instructed to play as a false 9 by his coach, resulting in his 2-goal plundering display that robbed Real Sociedad of 2 important points.

    But despite that, Sam was still an attacking midfielder by profession.

    FC Barcelona bought him because of his crazy performances for Fulham from the attacking midfield position.

    Sam struggled at first to make an impact in Barcelona, but he already deduced that it was because he needed to adapt to playing for his new team. And he believed that with time, he would adapt. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire

    To think that his coach had other ideas for him.

    ''This¡­,'' Sam did not know what to think but in the end, trust his mentality, he ignored the negatives of this situation and decided to focus on the positives.

    ''If the coach says I should play as the striker, why now?''

    ''Afterall, that way, I''m closer to the goal''.

    Hansi Flick didn''t just make a single positional change in this game, the Catalan coach literally switched things up, changing the formation of his team.

    From the 4-2-3-1 formation where FC Barcelona started in, Hansi Flick changed his team''s shape into a 4-3-3 formation to accommodate a proper false 9, a formation that was extremely familiar to FC Barcelona fans.

    Afterall, this was the same formation that a prime Pep Guardiola-led Barcelona used predominantly in the season where the great Lionel Messi went on to smash all goalscoring records, scoring 91 goals in a single calendar year!

    In Pep Guardiola''s magic wand, it was effective but could the same be said about the German coach in Hansi Flick?

    Was Hansi Flick as tactically good as Pep Guardiola?

    Could Sam even hope to replicate half of what Lionel Messi did?

    No one knew the answer to these questions, the answers would slowly reveal themselves first as this game progressed.

    FWEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle sounded to continue the game and that was when like a Dragon that finally woke up from its slumber, Brest arose.

    It was no news that since the inception of Hansi Flick''s reign at FC Barcelona, his teams predominately played in a 4-2-3-1 formation utilizing their offside traps to catch opponents off-guard. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Hansi Flick experimenting in the Spanish La Liga would have been a different case, but this was the UEFA Champions League.

    A tournament filled with Crouching Tigers and Hidden Dragons.

    As soon as Hansi Flick made the formational change, the Brest coach sensed weakness. The FC Barcelona players were all talented and would adapt after some time but before that, they would struggle to play fluid football in the changed formation.

    Pouncing on this deduction, the Brest coach gave his players only a single order; attack!

    Bam!

    After just conceding a goal, Brest restarted the game from the half-way line and immediately, hordes of their players poured outward, attacking the Barcelona half as the Catalans were briefly caught off-guard.

    But alert, they all reacted, trying to track back and defend valiantly but Brest was like a Great White Shark who already set eyes on its prey.

    Nothing in this world could stop them from sinking their teeth on their prey.

    1 pass, 2 pass, 3 pass¡­

    After the initial pass to kickstart the game again, from the right to the left, 3 additional passes were all it took to cut FC Barcelona open like a hot knife through butter, setting the Nigerian International, Moses Simon up.

    He only had Jules Kounde to beat.

    A rapid stepover, a body feint and an explosion of speed and Jules Kounde was left chasing shadows as Moses Simon blitzed past him.

    Going past Kounde, he came one-on-one with the Barcelona goalkeeper and just as Ronaldo Araujo charged out, about to intercept him, he shot the ball.

    Bam!

    Hitting it perfectly with his right foot, he sent it across the face of goal, curling it towards the top right corner.

    FC Barcelona''s Polish goalkeeper dived but the ball just about curled past his grasp, nestling into the top right corner of the net.

    "GOALLLLLL!!!" The away stands erupted immediately as the Brest supporters jumped, screaming, and cheering at the top of their lungs.

    Moses Simon charged towards the corner flag, sliding on his knees in celebration even as FC Barcelona remained stunned.

    "My God! What a lightning-fast goal!"

    "26 minutes, Barcelona scores; 27 minutes, Brest equalizes!"

    "This Sam-striker strategy leaves Barcelona open after all, I doubt this formation is going to work".

    "Hansi Flick is playing with fire".

 Chapter 324 Yes I can!

    ''Can I play as a false 9?'' This was the only question ringing in Sam''s head as his national team compatriot energetically celebrated his goal.

    As soon as Sam asked that question though, he felt weird. ''No, that was phrased wrongly''. He shook his head. ''Is that even a question that I should be asking?''

    ''Instead of can I, I must!''

    His eyes started gleaming with fire again.

    Sometimes, it takes very little to set Sam''s competitive spirit ablaze and this time was no different.

    Heck, this was the UEFA Champions League!

    He was not about to smear the history of his first UEFA champions league game by putting a drab performance; this was the stage where he was supposed to shine brightest!

    ''F*ck false 9!'' His eyes gleamed. ''Even if I have to play as a center back, I''ll still shine in the UEFA Champions League!''

    FWEEE!

    As soon as the game restarted, it was clear that something changed.

    The way that Sam carried his body, the way that he moved, all of it changed as soon as the game started again.

    He was no longer just an attacking midfielder, neither was he just a striker, playing as a false 9 gave him the leverage of playing as both.

    That was another positive that Sam embraced.

    He consoled himself by believing that he was too good to just play as an attacking midfielder, maybe adding the work of a striker into the equation was the catalyst he needed to truly hit his peak.

    It took some time, a few minutes, but Sam grew into this game again.

    Brest were back to more of defending but Sam was their nemesis this time.

    Playing in a false 9 position, he constantly dropped back, taking the ball from deep and utilizing his dribbling attributes to torture the Brest defense, opening them up and creating space for his other teammates.

    His passing attributes was also another cause of pain for the Brest defenders.

    Doing it once was maybe a coincidence, but Sam did not just do it once, he did it twice, thrice, more than thrice; he did it consistently.

    "Damn! What a dribbling performance this is from Sam!"

    "I take my words back," The commentator laughed. "Just with this trait alone, I think he has what it takes to become a unique false 9".

    By the end of the first half, Sam ended up creating the most chances of the game even as he took 2 shots on target that the Brest goalkeeper caught.

    By half-time, FC Barcelona was still losing but there was a feeling that something already changed in this Barca attack.

    During halftime, Hansi Flick said very few words to his players.

    "We have the tools to win this game. To win, we just have to maximize the potential of what we have with us".

    "Do that and let''s win this game".

    FWEEE!

    The second half started.

    The 1st minute of second half passed¡­

    The 2nd minute passed¡­

    The 3rd minute passed¡­

    It was not until the 6th minute of the 2nd half, in the 51st minute that Sam touched the ball for the first time but immediately after his leg touched the ball, electricity seemed to course through his body.

    Bam!

    Hitting the ball once to Lamine Yamal, he evaded an off-ball challenge, charging into the Brest 18-yard box.

    As he ran, he heard the ball being kicked by Lamine Yamal and from the peripheral of his vision, he saw the ball float towards him.

    Tiki! Taka!

    One-two football! S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    For some reason, this sudden run unnerved the Brest defense, making them alert to the 2 young FC Barcelona players.

    As soon as Sam got the ball again, they pressed.

    Calmly, Sam controlled the ball with his first touch and with his second touch, he flicked it towards Lamine Yamal who got the ball again. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire

    As soon as Sam passed the ball again, he exploded forward with speed, flicking a Brest defender''s arm off who tried to hold him back.

    And then, Lamine Yamal hit the ball back to him.

    4 passes within the space of just a few seconds!

    And this time, Yamal''s pass poised the ball perfectly for Sam to hit.

    And not hesitating, his right leg swung with venom, hitting the ball and striking it towards the bottom right corner.

    POW!

    The Brest goalkeeper dived but he stood no chance.

    The ball literally tore its way into the net!

    "GOALLLLL¡­!!!"

    The home side exploded, roaring in ecstasy as their team scored to regain the lead in this UEFA Champions League game.

    And with that, Sam got his first UEFA Champions League goal.

    While the Spotify Camp Nou erupted, Lamine Yamal jumping on Sam''s back, he didn''t scream or jump to celebrate.

    Rather, trudging towards the FC Barcelona fans, he nodded at them, puffing his muscles even as they roared his name.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam"

    Well, they did well to chant his name because that was the prelude to a Sam masterpiece in the Spotify Camp Nou in his first UEFA champions league game.

    After that goal in the 51st minute, Sam and Lamine Yamal''s chemistry improved in this game, almost turning telepathic as with their combination plays, they tore Brest apart.

    But in the end, it was a Pedri pass that set him up again.

    The Spanish midfielder raised the ball above the defense, setting Sam up as he overtook the 2 center backs marking him, pouncing to poke the ball into the net.

    Just like that, he got his 2nd goal of this game as the home supporters roared.

    63rd minute, 3-1¡­

    When it seemed like it was all over, Sam struck again, this time in the 80th minute of this game as the Brest momentum already died.

    Receiving a diagonal pass from Gavi, Sam showed his composure, shifting and nudging the ball away from challenges till the angle opened up and then from there outside the 18-yard box, he did it.

    BAM!

    Power shot!

    Sam unleashed an absolutely thunderous shot from outside the box that left the Brest goalkeeper chasing ghosts.

    The goalkeeper dived but he never stood a chance.

    The ball rose, tearing its way imperiously into the top left corner of the Brest net, nailing the outcome of this game.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    The Sam chants echoed in the Spotify Camp Nou.

    This time, Sam celebrated as charging towards the corner flag, suddenly thinking of a mischievous idea, he jumped, executing an acrobatic backflip.

    He did it in celebration, eliciting even more cheers from the fans.

    4 minutes later, in the 84th minute of this game, Sam was substituted as Hansi Flick finally introduced Ferran Torres.

    In Sam''s first UEFA champions league game, he scored a hattrick.

    He not only claimed the match ball; he also won the man of the match award.

    To the FC Barcelona fans who were in attendance today, watching him in action, this was an unforgettable debut to the European stage for their young midfielder turned false 9.

 Chapter 325 An unforgettable debut

    (Name: Samuel Moses)

    (No. 40) Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire

    (Venue: Spotify Camp Nou)

    (Opponent: Brest)

    (Competition: UEFA Champions League)

    (Date: October 1st, 2025)

    (Game in numbers:)

    90% passing accuracy

    3 fouls won

    4 goal-scoring chances created

    3 of 4 aerial balls won successfully.

    3 goals

    (Rating: 9.4)

    (MOTM)

    Originally, FC Barcelona fans were supposed to be mourning the unfortunate injury that befell their starting striker in Robert Lewandowski, but the frenzy caused by Sam''s performance overshadowed Lewandowski''s injury.

    The game was simply that good, it was an unforgettable UEFA champions league debut for the young Nigerian.

    It was an almost perfect display.

    During the 26 minutes that Lewandowski was on the pitch, as an attacking midfielder, Sam had a good game but from just a good game, his game transformed into an unbelievable one after taking on the false 9 role.

    Today, as a false 9, he was FC Barcelona''s best player on the pitch and it was not even close as he put in an all-action display.

    He was not a goal poacher. Rather, he was a striker whose playmaking was at an elite level and could dribble efficiently.

    These traits alone already made him an envy of big clubs around Europe, but factor in his clinical goalscoring into the equation and Sam was even better than famous striker talents around the world.

    In FC Barcelona, Sam''s number was the no. 40, this was because bigger and more famous numbers of the Catalan club were already occupied by others.

    For the attacking and midfield players of the Catalan club, the no. 8 jersey was now occupied by Pedri while the no. 6 was occupied by Gavi, following in the footsteps of their idols, Xavi and Iniesta.

    Other iconic numbers of the club that were held by teammates included the no. 11 that was now held by Raphinha, the no. 19 that Lamine Yamal wore, Ferran Torres'' no. 7, and then Robert Lewandowski''s no. 9.

    Of course, none of those numbers was the biggest of the Catalan club.

    The biggest and most iconic jersey number of FC Barcelona that was donned by legendary players like Messi, Ronaldinho, Maradona and the likes was the iconic no. 10 jersey.

    With Ansu Fati gone from FC Barcelona, the no. 10 jersey became vacant again but Sam did not lay claim to the legendary number yet.

    Of course he coveted it, who wouldn''t? But he was patient.

    Sam didn''t just want to wear the mantle that once belonged to the great Lionel Messi with which he led FC Barcelona to such a glorious dynasty without deserving it. He wanted to earn the no. 10 jersey.

    That way, wearing it wouldn''t feel like a burden but rather like the final crowning moment to a new King in Barcelona.

    To every football fan who had the privilege of watching Sam in motion against Brest as a false 9, they gave the game a nickname, the unforgettable debut.

    This was Sam''s first footprints in the elite tier of club competition, the UEFA champions league and from what the fans saw, boy was he ready for more.

    With it, his UEFA champions league stats finally started counting.

    (UEFA Champions League:)

    (Games: 1)

    (Goals: 3)

    (Assists: 0)

    In just one game, Sam took his goalscoring tally in the UEFA champions league to 3 goals!

    And not just that, from the initial figure of 002, it was now 525, 5 goals and 2 assists in 5 games since signing for FC Barcelona. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    At some point this season, it seemed that FC Barcelona had made a mistake splurging 80m+ Euros to get his signing but Sam was finally proving his worth.

    He was shutting his critics up.

    At the end of the game, Sam fully set a storm online on social media.

    There were so many topics to discuss about the game; Hansi Flick''s tactical brilliance and willingness to take risk to experiment in such a big game, and then Sam''s sheer footballing brilliance.

    Lots of highlights were made about the game, mostly the first goal where his telepathic chemistry between Lamine Yamal truly shone.

    All of a sudden, everyone seemed to have forgotten that Sam was involved in such a damaging scandal, focusing on his football again.

    But then, later in the evening after getting home, meeting his girlfriend, and celebrating his performance today, news finally came from the FC Barcelona medical team concerning the Polish striker, Robert Lewandowski.

    It was serious.

    After scans by the medical team, they confirmed that Robert Lewandowski suffered from an ACL injury, also called an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

    The ACL is the tissue that connects the thighbone to the shinbone at the knee. The injury occurs when the anterior cruciate ligament is torn.

    Robert Lewandowski was ruled out for the rest of the season.

    "¡­!"

    And just like that, FC Barcelona fans were thrown into the deep end again, panicking about their fate.

    The striking position was one of those spots that FC Barcelona was lacking, not having depth for in their squad.

    Robert Lewandowski was the only tried and proven striker of the squad; to be ruled out for the rest of the season, it was definitely a crisis for the club.

    Sam may have played amazing today but it was just 1 game, and he had played in that position only 2 times, who knows if it was not just a 1-time thing?

    Concern and worry befell the FC Barcelona fanbase even as the fans showed their solidarity for the Polish striker, supporting him on social media.

    Amid it all, they still celebrated their win as it kept their UEFA champions league run this season perfect.

    While all that happened, Sam had a nice time with his girlfriend at home. To celebrate his performance today, Kayla made a sumptuous meal for him which Sam enjoyed with his all before consolidating it by getting intimate with his girlfriend.

    There were few feelings in the world like getting intimate with the girl you loved after making a big career achievement.

    Very late at night, before sleeping, Sam got a message from a familiar but unexpected contact.

    (NEW! Unread message from Eric Chelle¡­)

 Chapter 326 A nation in need of a hero

    (NEW! Unread message from Eric Chelle¡­)

    ''Eric Chelle¡­,'' Sam deliberated over the name for some time.

    It was not a name that he was unfamiliar with.

    Eric Chelle was the newly appointed head coach of the Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles, whose appointment was announced months ago.

    The former Mali boss already led the Super Eagles through a few games, including World Cup qualifier games back in September against Rwanda and South Africa that ended horribly despite them playing one of them at home.

    Against Rwanda, the Super Eagles could only settle for a draw at home while agonizingly, they lost against South Africa in away ground.

    In recent years, the Super Eagles were struggling to make an impact in the world stage as they rotated through several coaches.

    Despite making the final of the 2023 AFCON tournament (Africa Cup of Nations), the Nigerian national football team has been in a period of decline since then. This was despite the plethora of talent available to them.

    Their World Cup qualifying bid has been going contrary to expectations, compounded by the disappointing results against Rwanda and South Africa. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire

    Eric Chelle just got his job a few months ago and yet, it was already under threat simply because he would not keep it if Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

    The nation was in a state of unrest simply due to their national team failing to quality for the World Cup yet by this time.

    Upcoming World Cup qualifier games against Lesotho and Benin Republic in October were Nigeria''s last chances to sneak into the FIFA World Cup. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And to secure that spot, they had to win against both countries.

    Both were must-win games!

    Sam made his national team debut months ago but since his red card, the coach refused to call him up again for the national team.

    But since then, his status had changed significantly.

    He was no longer just a rising star of the English premier league. By actually doing it, dragging Fulham to the premier league title and FA Cup double, Sam entrenched his name in premier league folklore.

    He was a legend of the premier league and his skill was undenied.

    His move to FC Barcelona was the perfect acknowledgement of his ability, and after his display in the UEFA champions league, his fame was back.

    Since his red card, Sam didn''t pay too much attention to the Nigerian national football team but he still knew the outcome of their games and also knew that they were in a qualification crisis for the FIFA World Cup.

    This was why on seeing the name that was on the message title, he already guessed what this was about.

    He was right.

    The message from Eric Chelle was simple and straight to the point.

    After introducing himself, he didn''t beat around the bush, revealing his intentions for Sam to play in his team.

    The coach didn''t pull any punches, revealing how much he valued him and his ability. In the coach''s words, Nigeria was a nation in need of a hero.

    And he believed that Sam could be this hero.

    Well¡­, it had been a long time since Sam felt so flattered.

    ''This bastard!'' He rubbed his nose awkwardly. ''He must have been really good at rizzing up the girls in his teenage years!''

    He chuckled. "But this¡­," he thought.

    "I can''t refuse it".

    No matter his condition and the economic situation of his country, Sam was Nigerian through and through.

    As a young boy, he knew how much football meant to the country.

    Football was a way for netizens to forget the numerous problems plaguing the country. Taking football away from Nigerians in a way could be equated to taking away their source of joy.

    This was why Sam made his decision immediately.

    (World Cup Qualifiers- Group Stage:)

    (Matchday 9 of 10:)

    (Lesotho ¨C Nigeria)

    (Date: 6th October, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Matchday 10 of 10:)

    (Nigeria ¨C Benin)

    (Date: 13th October, 2025)

    Both games were scheduled for 6th and 13th of October respectively, dates that clashed with Sam''s own club commitments.

    After their UEFA champions league clash against Brest, FC Barcelona had Spanish La Liga clashes against Alaves and Sevilla respectively on the 6th and 20th of October.

    If Sam was to respond to the national call, he was going to miss at least 1 of the 2 games. Was the risk worth it?

    Most especially in a time when the Catalan club just lost their starting striker and were in need of his expertise.

    Despite what was at stake, Sam willingly took the risk.

    The next morning, Sam called Hansi Flick and spoke extensively with the German coach, explaining his reasoning for deciding to respond to the national call.

    In the end, though he was reluctant, Hansi Flick begrudgingly agreed to let him go but he was only allowed to miss 1 game, the game against Alaves on the 6th.

    The German coach didn''t care how Sam was going to do it but he gave his player an ultimatum, Sam was to be ready and prepped for the Sevilla game before 20th of October and Sam agreed to it.

    With his physical conditioning elixirs, in terms of dealing with fatigue and post-match stress, Sam could beat his chest that no other footballer in the world had it better than him.

    And with that, he rescheduled.

    That same day, he put a call to Eric Chelle, informing the coach of his decision to respond to his summons.

    Eric Chelle was ecstatic.

    Later in the evening, alongside his girlfriend, Sam finally embarked on a trip back to Nigeria.

    The news that Sam was to miss the FC Barcelona game against Alaves and instead responded to national team duty soon took the internet by storm.

    There were mixed responses to his decision but among the Nigerian fans, all of them were ecstatic, feeling that their coach finally made a sensible decision.

    In Europe, Sam was no longer a figure of obscurity.

    He was a big figure in the footballing world now, and the reaction of the Nigerian fans to his arrival was normal.

    Sam arrived in Nigeria with his girlfriend to big fanfare.

    Skipping most of the activities, he quickly found a way home to his mansion in Abuja. The next day, he met up with Eric Chelle as they spoke extensively, enabling Sam to know about his plans for the national team.

    Sam was more than satisfied with what he heard, he bought into Eric Chelle''s ideology for the Nigerian national team.

    With that, they got something to work with.

    From the 3rd of October, intense training for the game against Lesotho started as Sam once again integrated with the rest of the Nigerian squad.

    Unlike during his debut though, he was no longer a small figure.

    Standing shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, Sam no longer looked inferior, he was now on their level despite being just 19 years of age.

    It was actually crazy but it was reality.

    His national teammates also didn''t care about his age. They''ve watched his game, they knew what he could do with a ball at his feet and they respected him for it and so they took him like he was some veteran.

    Besides, Alex Iwobi was his advocate in the Nigerian team.

    Watching the Nigerian team train for the epic World Cup qualifying clash, one thing became clear. Eric Chelle took a bold decision, deciding to make Samuel Moses, a 19-year-old the core of his Nigerian team.

    It was an incredibly bold and risky decision; would it pay off?

    Nobody could tell.

    On the 5th of October though, alongside his national teammates, Sam took a flight to Lesotho for the game that could change Nigerian football history.

 Chapter 327 A must-win game; against Lesotho

    On the 5th of October, Sam arrived in Lesotho alongside his teammates and their coach.

    Staying disciplined, none of the players went outing as they stayed indoors in their hotel, meditating and placing themselves in the right state of mind in preparation for the decisive game against Lesotho.

    It was a must-win game.

    Lose and Nigeria would miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

    That was not a reality that any of them was willing to bear witness to, and so, they were going to do their all to make the opposite a reality.

    They must win the game!

    By all means.

    ¡­

    6th October, 2025¡­

    Time was a mirage; in no time, D-day was here.

    (World Cup Qualifiers- Group Stage:)

    (Matchday 9 of 10:)

    (Lesotho ¨C Nigeria)

    (Date: 6th October, 2025)

    The game was to be played at the Setsoto Stadium, a multipurpose stadium in Maseru, Lesotho that is currently the home ground of the Lesotho national football team. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire

    The evening at Setsoto Stadium in Lesotho was electric, charged with anticipation and the high stakes of a must-win World Cup qualifier for Nigeria.

    For Lesotho, they were nowhere close to making it to the World Cup but still, it was a World Cup qualifier and they wanted to win.

    But to the Nigerians, it was go hard or go home.

    Win and keep the qualification hopes alive, lose and lose it all.

    The stadium, nestled in the heart of Maseru was a cauldron of sound and color with fans draped in the blue of Likuena and the green of the Super Eagles, their voices merging into a chaotic symphony of chants, vuvezelas, and drumbeats.

    Above, the African night sky stretched wide, a deep indigo canvas speckled with stars as the floodlights bathed the pitch in harsh white brilliance.

    The crisp mountain air carried the scent of wet grass and dust, tinged with the faint aroma of grilled meat from vendors outside the stadium.

    The altitude, over 1,500 meters above sea level added a thinness to the air, a factor that could test even the fittest athletes.

    Standing on the pitch alongside his teammates on the pitch, Sam frowned, already telling that this was going to be an incredibly grueling affair.

    On the field, Nigeria''s players stood in a tight huddle, their faces set with the grim determination of a team that had no room for failure.

    The Super Eagles had traveled south knowing that anything less than victory would be disastrous for their World Cup hopes.

    Lesotho, underdog yet fearless on home soil, fed off the deafening roars of their supporters, their players moving with confidence, eager to defy the odds.

    Both teams started with their best lineup.

    For Nigeria, with the introduction of Sam in the lineup, Eric Chelle tweaked his team from a 3-4-3 formation to a 4-2-3-1 formation like the one employed in FC Barcelona to accommodate him in his favored attacking midfield position.

    In between the posts for the Super Eagles stood the imposing figure of Stanley Nwabalai, the Nigerian-born goalkeeper. While ahead of him stood a quadruple defensive set-up comprising Samuel Ajayi, William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, and the electric Ola Aina.

    Ahead of them in midfield was the duo of Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi, then further ahead was the power-offence quadruple.

    Victor Osimhen led the attack as the striker.

    To his right and left flanks respectively were Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman, the Brest and Atalanta wingers while behind him was the core of the new Nigerian team, Samuel Moses, the young FC Barcelona star.

    It was a formidable lineup up against those of Lesotho.

    For Lesotho who lined up in a typical 4-3-3 formation, Moerane started in between the posts as the goalkeeper while ahead of him was the quadruple of Malane, Makhele, Mokokoane, and Matlabe in defense.

    Ahead of the defense was the midfield trio of Lebokollane, Fothoane, and Toloane, and the attacking trio was formed by Mokhachane in right wing, Khutlang in left wing, and Makateng as the starting striker.

    Compared to the Nigerian team, this was an inferior side but in international football, mostly African football, quality alone didn''t cut it at times.

    Besides, this was Lesotho''s home grown.

    The Likuena were hell-bent on making things tough for the Super Eagles.

    And then¡­

    FWEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle sliced through the noise and in that instant, Setsoto Stadium came alive, becoming an arena of fate.

    Every touch of the ball, every tackle, every surge forward carried the weight of Nigerian expectations and Lesotho''s defiance.

    The match had begun, and the night in Maseru was set to be unforgettable.

    In the 13th minute of this game¡­

    POW!

    Sam unleashed his first long-range piledriver after an absolutely dominating performance so far as he stung the palms of the Lesotho goalkeeper.

    This was a game where he dominated.

    Starting his career from the streets of Abraka to the Enyimba International Stadium, Sam was used to the physical nature of African football.

    This was why unlike other overseas superstars who came to play for their home country, he was not overwhelmed by the physicality of the Lesotho players who clearly targeted him, rather he thrived.

    Sam was used to being the core of a Fulham team for 1 and half seasons in the English premier league, now he brought the same vibes to his national team.

    As the core of the Nigerian national team, Sam thrived.

    Everything went through him and he was not overwhelmed by it. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Every touch of the ball, every dribble, every single body feint, every tackle, and every shove, Sam was playing at an elite level this game as he led by example.

    His elite level in this game buoyed on his teammates and with time, they aligned with him, playing an amazing game in the Setsoto Stadium.

    Nigeria dominated against their opponents.

    But despite their dominance, a common theme that was prevalent in Nigerian squads of recent years reared its head again, the lack of goalscoring.

    They dominated, they had more of the ball, dribbled and dazzled, but they struggled to score against a stalwart Lesotho defense.

    The first half game to an end with a goalless draw.

 Chapter 328 A game of sweat and blood

    During half-time, facing his players, Eric Chelle paced up and down, rubbing his sweaty palms together as the pressure already got to him.

    Afterall, his job was on the line here.

    "Come on guys!" He clapped his hands. "We have to win!"

    "And to win, we have to score a goal". It was clear from the look on his face that he was desperate for his team to win today.

    "Come on guys, we can do it!"

    He said a few more words to motivate his players and after 10 minutes, they had no choice but to come out into the pitch and meet the Lesotho resistance again.

    This game was grueling, not just physically but mentally.

    Playing in away ground was not easy, and it was even more crazy when playing internationally as the will of a nation was packed into it.

    But then again, the Nigerian players were resilient, motivated by a singular purpose. ''We can''t afford to lose!''

    ''We can''t afford to lose oh!''

    In this second half, Sam did not just take on the identity of the core of this team, he took on the identity of a makeshift captain.

    "Come on guys!" He clapped his arms on the pitch, gesticulating at his teammates to do more. "We can do this!"

    "Just a little bit more and we''ll score!" Sam was desperate.

    That voice already started chanting in his head.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    Sam''s approach to this game was slowly morphing, changing.

    From just we must win, it became we must die to win!

    On this pitch, in the 2nd half, he was everywhere as he flexed his incredible stamina in this big game for his country again.

    Whoosh!

    He went on sliding tackles, winning back balls when Lesotho went on their dangerous counter-attacking breaks.

    And in possession, he was a menace.

    BZZZ!

    Like a prime Kaka, Sam weaved through the midfield with silky dribbling skills, cutting through players like they were not there, penetrating tight spaces with his incredible mastery and use of the la croqueta.

    He nutmegged players, leaving them on their butts and scrambling in the wake of his passage like some God of martial art.

    With his elastico dribble, he sent whoever dared face him head-on on a pilgrimage to the shadow realm. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Anytime that he got the ball close to the 18-yard box, the whole Lesotho defense was left scrambling backward in panic as they defended against him with desperation, intent on keeping the scoreline like this.

    Sam tried everything in his repertoire.

    Every few intervals, he made use of his Power Shot legendary inheritance, unleashing absolute piledriver shots that sent trepidations through this stadium.

    He was unlucky, he hit the bar 2 times already.

    As for those that didn''t hit the bar, the goalkeeper suffered as he already received medical attention after being stung by 2 of such Sam''s piledriver shots.

    As for the 3rd and most dangerous one, one of the Lesotho defenders sensing the danger bravely put his body on the line, diving and blocking the ball with his head. It was a brave but reckless act.

    BAM!

    The ball hit the defender''s head, and instantly, he was concussed!

    The players and fans almost panicked till when a few seconds later, the player came to, panting heavily.

    The Lesotho defenders viewed Sam with more wariness and fear after that crazy encounter. The defender didn''t leave the pitch though as with a bandage tied around his head, he bravely continued.

    They would do everything in their power to keep Nigeria and Sam quiet today.

    By now, it was clear that Sam was the out and out best player on this pitch but he was not the only one who was performing.

    Other Nigerian stars also rose up to the occasion.

    From the left and right, Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon dazzled with their silky dribbling skills, repeatedly penetrating into the Lesotho defense and causing chaos only to stumble at the last moment.

    The Lesotho defense was just too tight-knit.

    The Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen also had a solid game as with his physicality, he worried the Lesotho defense while also letting a few powerful shots loose as Sam sprayed through passes for him here and there.

    Yes, Sam did not just dominate with his dribbling and shooting this game. Afterall, he was a great passer of the ball too.

    With his elegant passing skills, he sent through passes that cut the Lesotho defense open like a hot knife through butter, setting up his teammates but yet, the Lesotho goalkeeper and his defense held firm.

    It was a wonder how the Nigerian team was yet to score a goal.

    BAM!

    Another Victor Osimhen shot, and the 3rd shot on target that hit the bar.

    "F*ck!" Victor Osimhen screamed and grabbed his head in frustration.

    "Damn!" Sam cursed behind him, biting his lips even as sweat dripped down his body, his jersey already drenched with sweat.

    ''These bastards¡­!''

    The more this game wore on, the more riled up he got as his competitive spirit to win this game by all means continued acting up.

    Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire

    Lesotho frustrated Nigerians worldwide.

    70 minutes, no goal¡­

    75 minutes, no goal¡­

    80 minutes, no goal¡­

    85 minutes, no goal¡­

    90 minutes, no goal¡­

    5 minutes of additional time was added by the referee.

    90 plus 1 minute, no goal¡­

    90 plus 2 minutes, no goal¡­

    90 plus 3 minutes, no goal¡­

    90 plus 4 minutes, no goal¡­

    And then, in the 90 plus 5 minutes, a miracle happened at the Setsoto Stadium in Lesotho.

    Whoosh!

    Sliding to break another Lesotho counterattack in the last minute even as tension rose high and nerves were stretched taut, before the loose ball could be intercepted by another Lesotho player, Sam rose back on his feet and pounced.

    Thud!

    He was like a Tiger going on a hunt.

    He arrived at the ball first, protecting it with his tall frame as he bashed shoulders against his opponent, shoving him aside.

    And then, Sam pushed forward.

    Lesotho sensed his threat even in the last minute and reacted.

    Whoosh!

    A Lesotho player slid in aggressively but flicking the ball up, Sam jumped after it, above the sliding player.

    After evading the first player, with a body feint, he sent the next Lesotho player to no man''s land, and then with a rainbow flick, he sent another Lesotho player to the shadow realm.

    BZZZ!

    One touch with his lap to control the descending ball, and another touch to flawlessly execute the elastico as Sam sent another Lesotho player to dreamland.

    And then as he entered the 18-yard box, as 2 Lesotho players charged towards him with obvious malicious intent, Sam flicked the ball to the right where a certain Moses Simon lurked.

    The Nigerian winger raised his leg to shoot and as Lesotho defenders desperately jumped in front of him to block, he cut the ball instead.

    It was a feint!

    "¡­!" Fans rose up around this stadium.

    With that cut, Moses Simon left 2 Lesotho defenders for dead and just as he got set to shoot again, he hit the ball.

    Bam!

    It was not a shot, rather, it was a pass.

    The ball floated high in the air, above defenders, above Victor Osimhen, to an empty space but as the ball floated past, a figure ghosted in.

    "Sam¡­!" The commentator roared. "How did he get there? So fast?!"

    With veins popping all over his neck and body, exerting 110% of his body''s potential, Sam went on a diving header.

    BAM!

    His head struck the ball perfectly just before it could sneak away, hitting it with all the power that he could generate as it homed towards the net.

    The Lesotho goalkeeper reacted, flailing his arms towards the ball but the ball did it, squirming past his grasp and into the net.

    "¡­"

    Silence, for a few seconds, and then¡­

    BOOM!

    Setsoto Stadium was set ablaze!

    "ZINEDINE SAM!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM¡­!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM¡­!!!" The commentators screamed.

    "The Nigerian Prince has done it, he has taken them from their ruins, keeping them in the running for a World Cup spot!"

    "Singlehandedly, he has saved a nation!"

    "They asked for a hero, he gave them a miracle!"

    "What a game!"

    "What a goal!"

    "What a boy!"

    "This is a game of sweat and blood!"

    "Love it, enjoy it, admire it!"

 Chapter 329 The Boy becomes a Man

    (Nigerian Daily:)

    (Samuel Moses- The boy becomes a Man:)

    (From the streets of Abraka, to the stadium in Abba, the little 17-year-old boy with a frame too tall and imposing for his age has matured, now carrying a nation on his shoulders at just 19. Have Nigeria produced a generational talent, finally?)

    ¡­

    (Daily Sun:)

    (A Sam header in the 90 plus 5-minute seals a narrow win for Nigeria!)

    (Click to watch the best moments of the game here=)

    ¡­

    (ESPN News:)

    (Samuel Moses, a ballon d''or contender?)

    (He''s been doing it for Fulham, now he does it for FC Barcelona, and today he''s done it for his country! Where has he not done it?)

    (Let''s break it down and analyze the numbers. With the goal today against Lesotho, Samuel Moses takes his tally for the season to 6 goals and 2 assists in 6 games, despite the interruption to his season due to the scandal.)

    (Forget the numbers, put him through the eye test and make your verdict. Is Samuel Moses an early contender for the Ballon d''or award?)

    Even as the ballon d''or award ceremony for the last season ramped up, the official date drawing closer every day, the race for the new ballon d''or award already started and Sam was among the early favorites already.

    Doing it for your club attracts a lot of attention and admiration, but doing it for your country? It attracts more than just attention, it attracts respect.

    Afterall, donning the colors of your national jersey and performing with it, to most professional football players, there was nothing more valiant than that.

    This was why Sam caused another online storm just after the one he caused in the champions league after his hattrick for FC Barcelona against Brest when he put out a masterpiece playing as a false 9.

    Of course, by the end of the Lesotho game, Sam was awarded with the man of the match award, warranting another post-match interview.

    "Good evening Sam, thanks for having me," the reporter smiled. "You''re clearly in terrific form. We''ve seen that in FC Barcelona but bringing that to the national team, you truly are one of a kind".

    "You may not know it yet but you''re now carrying the weight of a whole nation on your shoulders".

    "If you didn''t score that last minute goal, Nigeria would have been sent packing from the FIFA World Cup 2026 early".

    "But with that goal, Nigeria took a big first step towards qualification".

    "After your performance today, a lot of people online believe that you''ve finally matured from a boy to become a man, what do you think?"

    Sam chuckled. "I don''t know, I really don''t like giving opinions about myself". He smiled. "I leave that to the fans; I believe their judgement more".

    "About the game though," he sighed, wiping away his sweat. "I expected it to be tough but not this tough," he chuckled again. "Lesotho played an amazing game; they''ve earned the respect of all Nigerians across the world".

    "If not for a bit of luck on our part, we would have never won".

    Sam looked straight at the camera. "I want to use this avenue to tell all Nigerians that we will not give up!"

    "We''ve taken the first step; we''ll definitely take the last one!"

    "Next week, against Benin Republic, we''re going to win a second time to book a spot in the FIFA World Cup!"

    With that, the interview came to an end.

    ¡­

    When the Nigerian squad got back home to Nigeria, they got a triumphant welcome back but they did not let it get to their heads.

    Afterall, they still had one last hurdle to cross, the hurdle of Benin.

    They dared not be complacent as for the next few days, together in the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, the Nigerian squad trained intensely, preparing for their final FIFA World Cup qualifier game against Benin Republic. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After Sam''s heroics against Lesotho, the respect he commanded in the Nigerian dressing room increased even more.

    His teammates and his coach respected him.

    And where Sam was respected, his genius shows.

    In training, his level continued increasing in every single training session, growing to a truly terrifying level as Sam showed how prepared he was for Nigeria''s last game of the World Cup qualifiers.

    Mentally, he was a monster and now, physically, he was also at his peak.

    Train, train, and more training¡­

    This was Sam''s schedule for the next few days after the Lesotho game, he conditioned his body and mind to its possible peak state.

    Like this, time moved fast and in a short while, D-day was here.

    (Matchday 10 of 10:)

    (Nigeria ¨C Benin)

    (Date: 13th October, 2025)

    Unlike the Lesotho game, this time, it was a home game for the Nigerians.

    On the 12th of October, Nigeria welcomed the Benin Republic national team and the next day, on the 13th, they lined up in the Moshood Abiola national stadium for the final clash of World Cup qualifying.

    It was international football¡­, and it was matchday.

    The Moshood Abiola national stadium in Abuja became a cauldron of passion on this decisive matchday, the last of FIFA World Cup qualifying.

    Over 60,000 fans, draped in Nigeria''s iconic green and white flood the stands, their voices merging into a thunderous roar that shook the very foundations of this old stadium.

    "Owe owe owe owe¡­, owe¡­, owe¡­!" They sang with exuberant energy, eager to ride this last journey alongside their country.

    The reception for this game was bigger than expected.

    Afterall, a lot of football fans already gave up on Nigeria''s qualification chances but after the masterstroke that Eric Chelle pulled in convincing Sam to abandon his club duties and play for Nigeria, resulting in the Lesotho display, millions of football fans across the country were suddenly interested again.

    It was a nation reinfused with hope again.

    The air was thick with anticipation, a mix of nervous tension and unwavering belief. Drums pound rhythmically, trumpets blared, and vuvuzelas screamed into the night, creating a wall of sound that drowned out even the announcer''s voice.

    Waves of chanting and singing swept through the crowd, a relentless tide of national pride.

    On the pitch, the Super Eagles stood tall, soaking all the energy in, their eyes burning with determination.

    As for the Beninese players, though talented, they felt the weight of the atmosphere created by the Nigerians; the intimidation was real.

    And then¡­

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    FWEEE!

    The game started.

 Chapter 330 Leading a Nation to qualification

    Nigeria started with exactly the same formation that they played Lesotho with. As for Benin Republic, they also played with their best lineup. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Just like Lesotho, Benin Republic played in a 4-3-3 formation.

    Saturnin Allagbe was their goalkeeper for the evening, while ahead of the goalkeeper stood the quadruple defense of Ryan Adigo in left back, Olivier Verdon and Cedric Hountondji in center defense, and Tamimou Ouorou in right back.

    Ahead of the defensive quadruple was a midfield trio of Sessi D''Almeida, Mariano Ahouangbo who were both defensive midfielders, and Junior Olaitan.

    Further ahead of the midfield was the attacking trio comprised of Jodel Dossou as the right winger, Steve Mounie playing as the left winger, and Andreas Hountondji playing as the center forward.

    From Benin Republic''s deployment of 2 defensive midfielders for this game, it was clear that their strategy today was a defensive one.

    They wanted to soak the pressure and suffocate the Nigerians, just like Lesotho almost did a week ago.

    Just like Lesotho, they had nothing to play for.

    While to the Nigerians it was a must-win game, to them, it was just a game of bragging rights. Winning a World Cup qualifier game against Nigeria was a feat to brag about, and this was what they aimed for.

    It was a clash of survival vs ambition.

    FWEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, all hell broke loose as the 2 different convictions pushing the 2 national teams clashed.

    Survival vs ambition, qualification vs bragging rights, which would prevail?

    As soon as the game started, the roar of the Nigerian fans hit a crescendo, rising through the roof of this stadium as they cheered their team on.

    And on the pitch, the players in green responded.

    Nigeria quickly showed their dominance in this game, running the Benin Republic players ragged as they were forced to defend against the onslaught of their opponents.

    It quickly became evident that compared to the Lesotho game, this Nigerian team was even more cohesive and had much closer chemistry.

    Their passes were more seamless than ever before, their combinations effective and lethal as they repeatedly pried the Benin low block open.

    Benin Republic defended with their lives but against the attacking onslaught of their opponents, they were proving flimsy.

    In this game, one of the Benin Republic players was tasked to mark Sam but such a task¡­, it was only torture to the player in question.

    Sam could not be contained in this game. He was like an unstoppable hurricane, steering the engine called Nigeria with his tyrannical will.

    It didn''t take too long for the floodgates to open.

    As early as the 13th minute of this game, Sam laid his first imprint in this game with tyrannical skill and elegant bearing.

    Receiving a pass from Ola Aina all the way from the left, Sam controlled the ball with his chest and as his marker rushed in, calmly, Sam used his momentum against him, flicking the ball above him.

    As the ball floated above the player''s head, Sam evaded his run, leaving him to collapse to the ground as he charged forward with the ball.

    Before more Benin players could close him down, he spotted a run, and then¡­

    Bam!

    Hitting the ball with the outside of his weaker left boot, Sam unleashed an unreal trivela pass that rose up and curled beyond the reach of the Benin defenders, arriving just ahead of a certain player in green.

    Alex Iwobi''s late run was timed perfectly, and the pass, perfectly timed and weighted arrived just before he could cross the offside line.

    Staying onside, Alex Iwobi took one touch to control the ball and as the Benin goalkeeper charged out, he poked the ball past him and into the net.

    "GOALLLL¡­!!!" The Moshood Abiola stadium turned into a cauldron of noise.

    The ecstatic Nigerian fans celebrated the goal exuberantly, numerous fans tearing their clothes in the stands as they celebrated with mad passion.

    That goal¡­, was just the first in a totally convincing onslaught.

    In the 23rd minute, Ademola Lookman went haywire, finally bringing his Atalanta form to the national team.

    After receiving a pass from Alex Iwobi, the winger went on a mazy run, cutting through multiple players like they were not there as he flexed his silky dribbling skills, arriving inside the box before playing a clever cross.

    Bam!

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    As soon as the ball was played, Victor Osimhem escaped from his marker and rose high into the air, aiming for the ball.

    He got to it!

    Bam!

    Inclining his head, he directed the ball with his head towards the top right corner, away from the Benin goalkeeper''s range.

    The ball was hit and floated with pin-point accuracy, nestling in the top corner even as this stadium erupted again.

    In barely 25 minutes, Nigeria was already cleanly ahead in this game.

    This Nigerian squad was a shadow of its former self, unlike the Nigerian squad that struggled in every other game, unable to score goals.

    All that changed was the introduction of a 19-year-old.

    Not just any 19-year-old, but Samuel Moses.

    A 19-year-old with a nation on his shoulders, a 19-year-old leading a nation to qualification!

    For the rest of the first half, Benin defended valiantly, maintaining the scoreline as the first half ended with Nigeria winning 2-0.

    When second half started though, the onslaught continued.

    In the 58th minute of the game, Sam finally received the ball in a prime position, just outside the 18-yard box as Alex Iwobi set him up.

    "¡­!"

    That ball caught the Benin defense off-guard.

    "Close him down! Fast!"

    They roared but it was already too late as Sam closed the distance to the ball with urgency in his legs, and clarity in his eyes and thoughts.

    He knew exactly what he was doing, he knew exactly where he was aiming at, and then¡­

    Sam hit the ball with a Federico Valverdeish power and accuracy.

    It was an absolute rocket.

    POW!

    The Benin goalkeeper dived on instinct but he didn''t even see the ball.

    Like a phantom ghost, it rushed towards the goal unhindered before tearing its way into the net in the 45th plus 1 minute of this game.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    Ecstatic Nigerian fans broke out the Sam chant in this international game.

    Spreading his arms to acknowledge the adoration of the fans, Sam charged towards the corner flag before crossing his arms, doing his Black Panther celebration even as the fans roared excitedly.

    It was a terrific game, and it was not over yet.

    In the 74th minute, Nigeria won a freekick in a dangerous position.

 Chapter 331 A 10/10 performance

    FWEEE!

    The referee''s whistle blasted loudly, briefly cutting through the noise that drowned this stadium.

    Victor Osimhen, the Nigeran striker was the one who was tripped just outside the Benin Republic 18-yard box, winning the freekick in a dangerous position.

    In the Nigerian squad, for a long time now, they didn''t have a dangerous dead ball specialist which meant Sam had no significant challenge for the role.

    Besides, having scored freekicks a few times while playing for Fulham and in training already, the Nigerian head coach, Eric Chelle already passed on the freekick taking responsibility to the young prodigy.

    This was why as soon as Victor Osimhen won the penalty, he rose up, bumped fists with his nearest teammates before picking the ball and throwing it to Sam.

    Sam caught the ball, grinning at him.

    And then, placing the ball down on the position where the referee indicated, Sam got ready to take the freekick even as Benin Republic set up their wall.

    "It''s Sam standing over the ball," the commentators said. "Does he have more magic to pull in this game?"

    "He''s been absolutely electric today".

    "After leading Nigeria halfway through their qualification journey by his injury time heroics against Lesotho, he''s done it again today against Benin Republic, in front of home fans".

    "If they never knew him before, after this game, I''m pretty sure that no Nigerian would not know the name Samuel Moses".

    "Even the little kids on the streets, they''ll all know him after today".

    "1 goal and 1 assist, Sam has provided the world with another vintage Sam masterpiece performance and it''s not even just about the numbers".

    "My God, he was given the eye test and boy did he pass it with flying colors!"

    "The silky dribbling, the composure, the endless running, flexing his stamina, this boy is just made for the very top!"

    "FC Barcelona signed a quality, quality player".

    "When the Catalan club pulled out all stops to fork out 80 million Euros for his signature despite still being deep in dept, a lot of people thought they were crazy but after this game, I think I finally see what the Catalan club saw".

    "Sam is worth every single penny that Barca paid for him".

    "He is worth the hype".

    "Can he create another album in the Sam collection? Another unforgettable moment in the memories of Nigerian supporters worldwide".

    While the commentators raved on, all of it was already abstracted out of Sam''s head as the only thing that remained in his mind was himself, the ball, the wall of opposition players, the goalkeeper, and the net.

    Bzzz!

    He was already in that zone state where his brain was moving on overdrive again, filled with rampaging electrons, evident of his excited state.

    The only skill that Sam had at the Perfection mastery level was his freekick technique. When it came to taking freekicks, he was absolutely confident.

    It was just that he was yet to encounter a freekick in an FC Barcelona jersey.

    But now, he did, in a Nigerian jersey.

    FWEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded again, giving the go ahead, Sam took a deep breath before going on a practiced angled run. After a short run, bending his body, he swung his right leg and wrapped it around the ball, and¡­

    Bam!

    Sam hit the ball with perfect technique, sending it curling just beyond the reach of the wall of Benin Republic players, and straight towards the net.

    Reacting, the Benin Republic goalkeeper took a step and dived.

    The goalkeeper''s hand grazed the ball but the force was not enough to stop the momentum that carried the ball. The ball snuck through, into the top right corner and immediately, this stadium erupted again.

    BOOM!

    The fans in green and white erupted in ecstasy.

    "AND HE''S DONE IT!" The commentator screamed.

    "What a perfect freekick it was!"

    "Hit with optimum technique and confidence, executed with the swagger of a veteran, or should I say swagger of a prodigy?"

    "This boy¡­, he''s too good!"

    "He''s just too good, too good to be true!"

    While the commentators raved, while the fans roared in ecstasy, the person in question charged towards the corner flag in celebration.

    Sam slid on his knees even as the fans chanted his name again.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    His teammates slid after him in celebration.

    When he finally rose back up on the pitch, he did the Jude Bellingham celebration, spreading his arms and acknowledging the respect of the fans.

    This moment¡­ was iconic.

    Nigeria supporters would not forget it in a hurry.

    "What a bond he already has with the fans!" The commentators continued.

    "He''s just 19 but plays with the swagger and confidence of a 29-year-old, he''s far more mature than his age suggests".

    "Singlehandedly, he''s rescued the fate of a nation".

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    "He''s rescued the Giant of Africa!"

    "They prayed for miracles, God answered in the form of Samuel Moses".

    "With the way things are currently poised, Nigeria are on their way to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in U.S.A and Canada!"

    "What a turnaround!"

    "Just 1 match ago, it seemed like Nigeria was doomed to miss qualification and just one change, Samuel Moses, and the tides have changed".

    "This boy¡­, he is a changing star, he is Changing Star!"

    The referee''s whistle sounded to continue the game and Sam showed the home supporters that he still had much more to give even at 4-0, even after the 74th minute, even after the Benin Republic players already gave up.

    Sam showed that he still wanted more even after his teammates already relaxed, accepting that they''ve already won.

    Even as the level and intensity of this game reduced after 4-0, Sam remained the one constant that kept on being a thorn in Benin Republic''s side.

    He kept on torturing the living hells out of them with his silky dribbling skills.

    Not satisfied yet, in the 88th minute, Sam did it one more time, adding the final nail to the coffin as exchanging one-two passes with Moses Simon, he dribbled towards the right where he floated a dangerous cross into the box.

    Rising highest above every other player, the incredible Victor Osimhen got to the ball first, eager to get his name on the scoresheet.

    BAM!

    The striker directed a powerful header in.

    The goalkeeper stood no chance. He could only watch agonizingly as the ball floated past him and into the top left corner of his net.

    "GOALLLLLLL¡­!!!"

    The Moshood Abiola stadium erupted again.

    The Nigerian supporters were having the time of their lives.

    88 minutes, 5-0 to the Giant of Africa¡­

    Benin Republic were not just beaten, they were humiliated but to save some face for themselves, in injury time, they briefly came alive, playing an incredible team play that enabled them cut through the now complacent Nigerian defense.

    They managed to score a consolation goal past Stanley Nwabali, managing to reduce the humiliation.

    When the final whistle finally reverberated, the Benin Republic players collectively heaved sighs of relief.

    Every additional minute to the game was torture to them.

    After the final whistle, while wild celebrations by the Nigerian fans and players started right there on the pitch, the Benin Republic players went straight to their dressing rooms, eager to move away from the spotlight.

    It was too humiliating to stay in the spotlight after such a humbling loss.

    For the 2nd straight game for Nigeria, Sam won the man of the match award so of course, he attended the post-match interview again.

    "Sam, you''re a man of your words, you actually kept to your words and did it, leading Nigeria to the FIFA World Cup 2026".

    "Congratulations Sam, you are amazing!"

    Sam smiled bashfully. "Thanks, my teammates helped a lot. Alone, I would have never been able to do it and for that, I''m grateful to them".

    "You''re too humble," the reporter smiled. "By the way, Sam, after today''s performance, you''ve truly ramped your numbers for the season up".

    "Really?"

    "Yeah," the reporter nodded, smiling. "For the season, that takes your tally to 8 goals and 4 assists in just 7 games, 12 goal contributions!" The reporter raved.

    "You are on a whole other level Sam!"

    Sam chuckled, not knowing what to say.

    "Internationally, it also makes for impressive reading. After today''s game, your international stats are now 3 goals and 2 assists in 4 games".

    "If you keep this up, the thought of just what you may potentially achieve in the future as your career grows frightens the living hell out of me". The reporter chuckled.

    "I hope to live up to your billing". Sam smiled.

    "Another thing Sam," the reporter looked at him. "There''s a post that''s been garnering attention on social media".

    "It''s about your ex".

    Sam raised his eyebrows. "My ex?"

    "Yes, Amaka, your ex". The reporter carefully scrutinized his expression. "After winning the case against her in Spain, her life has been ruined".

    "Right now, she''s 21, a 4 years sentence means she''ll only come out when she''s already 25".

    "Her life becoming static for 4 years, don''t you think that''s too harsh?"

    "A fan group online are making appeals to you; they want you to speak up for her and help her get a pardon".

    "Why?" Sam suddenly asked.

    "Huh?"

    His eyes now sharp, Sam looked at the reporter. "If she wanted a pardon, she should not have tried to ruin my life in the first place".

    "I''m a good person, but I''m no Saint".

    "I help those who help me, and I screw those who try to screw me. She tried to screw me up first!" His voice raised up a crescendo.

    "Her life is hers, not my business, it no longer concerns me".

    "But¡­" S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Stop it!" Sam interrupted the reporter. "This should be the last time you ask me about this kind of thing".

    "Amaka has her life, Samuel Moses has his life".

    "There''s nothing in common between both of us, learn to maintain that distinction, got it?"

    With that, Sam trudged off.

    ¡­

    Later in the day, major platforms and football news channels around the world finally gave their rating of Sam''s performance today.

    It was a no-brainer, Sam put out a perfect 10/10 performance.

 Chapter 332 Origin [1]

    "Umm¡­, are you sure you want to follow me out today?"

    Kayla stayed down, tying her shoe laces. "What do you mean?"

    "I mean, you''ve never jogged alongside me before. Besides, I don''t ever recall seeing you jog, so why the sudden change in heart?"

    After tying her shoe laces, Kayla rose up, directing a suspicious gaze at her boyfriend as she leaned towards him intimidatingly.

    "¡­"

    Speechlessly, Sam swallowed. "What?!"

    "Are you hiding something from me?"

    "W-what¡­? Of course, no".

    "Do you have a side chick?"

    "Hah, ridiculous! You should know best".

    "Hehe," she chuckled. "So why are you shy to let me jog with you?"

    "Am I overweight?"

    "No".

    "Then let''s go jog!"

    Sam sighed exasperatedly, in the end, he let her follow him.

    ¡­

    Few minutes later¡­

    Thud! Thud! Thud!

    The boyfriend and girlfriend pair strained their lungs as Sam taught her how to control her breathing. Like this, they jogged through the streets of Maitama, Nigeria without stopping.

    In the end, Sam was left impressed.

    Despite this being the first time that he ever saw his girlfriend jog, Kayla did not complain once as she was able to keep up with him.

    In the end, he commended her. "Impressive!"

    Kayla grinned. "Now, let''s go to the gym. You go to the gym too, right?"

    Sam''s eyes widened. "You want to go to the gym too?"

    "Of course," she grinned smugly. "I''m following you everywhere today".

    A few minutes later, when they entered the gym in Maitama, Sam and his girlfriend''s entrance caused a frenzy in the state-of-the-art gym.

    Maitama was one of the biggest districts in Nigeria where the richest Nigerians and foreign delegates reside. But even here, due to Sam''s recent status, his mere entrance was able to turn this gym into a bubble of excitement.

    Both white and black men in the gym, none discriminated as they swarmed him, asking for pictures and autographs.

    ''Even here?'' Sam sighed.

    This was not his first time coming to this gym.

    After buying a mansion here in Maitama for his parents, he paid for the gym''s yearly registration, giving him free pass to the gym for 1 straight year.

    Anytime he visited Nigeria, this gym was where he completed his daily system quest and then, despite the fact that he was already famous, the people at the gym were no country bums so they only greeted him haphazardly.

    They never saw him as someone that was overly special.

    It was one of the reasons why Sam loved visiting the gym, coming here made him feel like a normal human again and not a celebrity.

    To think that even this would change.

    ''Story of my life''. He sighed again.

    Well, it was inevitable.

    After the last 2 Nigerian international games, and the superhero role that Sam played in lifting his dreary country from doom to the FIFA World Cup 2026, to Nigerians, he truly was a superhero now.

    His fame in the country hit an all-time high and now, even these guys in the gym wanted a piece of him.

    Not just the men, the women too.

    And this was the true reason why Kayla followed her boyfriend out.

    After the game against Benin Republic, as his social media handler, she knew exactly how much his fame increased in Nigeria, including how desperate Nigerian girls suddenly became to steal her boyfriend.

    This was why she followed him out today as a safeguard.

    Right there at the gym, the girls tried to flock over him, trying to rub their huge breasts all over him but one glare from Kayla and Sam regained his senses.

    Politely, he pushed them away, emphasizing the need to respect his privacy.

    Kayla nodded, satisfied. "Good boy".

    And like that, she also registered for the gym alongside her boyfriend as together, they went through the motions, working out.

    Dozens of minutes later, drenched in sweat, Kayla chugged down a bottle of water with a bright smile on her face. "Working out once in a while is not so bad".

    "I feel light".

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    Sam nodded. "That''s why I love working out".

    At that moment, his system finally lit up with a notification.

    ~----~

    [You have completed Daily System Quest: Mentality Monster!]

    [You have received a low-grade physical conditioning elixir!]

    ¡­

    But to Sam''s surprise, the notification did not stop at that.

    More notifications followed with content that surprised him.

    ¡­

    [Congratulations! You have completed a hidden system mission: I am ready!]

    [You have met the requirements to receive the inheritance, ''Origin'']

    [Click the heart-shaped orb to learn the ''Origin'' of the system!]

    ~----~

    "¡­"

    "¡­"

    "¡­..!"

    Sam''s eyes grew so wide that they almost seemed like saucers. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Hey, are you ok?" Kayla asked in concern on noticing his strange reaction.

    "Me? Oh, I''m ok". Sam lied.

    After they were done at the gym, they left but not after the gym instructor secretly asked for an autograph and a picture which Sam obliged.

    Without a doubt, this guy was going to use that picture as publicity for his gym. The caption will be something like; this is a gym that even the great Samuel Moses comes to work out, what are you waiting for?

    You want to be like Samuel Moses? Register now!

    Sam cringed at the idea but he chuckled and quickly forgot about it.

    He and his girlfriend strolled back home, enjoying the morning breeze and conversing about different topics as they used the opportunity to bond.

    Despite their conversations though, Kayla could not help but notice something about her boyfriend. The casual person would not notice but having spent so much time with him already, she knew.

    "Is something on your mind?"

    "No, of course not".

    She sighed, shaking her head. "Every time that you lie, you rush to say something. You just rushed to say this". She looked at him.

    "Ah¡­"

    "It''s fine if you don''t want to tell me," she waved her hand dismissively. "You have your own considerations and I respect it".

    "Anyways," she suddenly looked at him with cute puppy eyes, making Sam flinch back in surprise.

    "What? I don''t like those eyes".

    Kayla chuckled. "Come on babe, it''s nothing, I just want you to piggy ride me".

    "¡­" Sam stared speechlessly at his girlfriend.

    "What? Are you saying you can''t piggy ride your girlfriend?"

    "¡­"

    "Babe please! My legs are tired and wobbly".

    "Hahahaha!" Sam burst out laughing the next moment, making Kayla punch him playfully in grievance.

    In the end, he obliged after mocking her some more.

    Picking her up effortlessly and letting her mount his back, Sam started jogging again, this time with his girlfriend.

    "Wow, you really are strong!" She exclaimed.

    "Are you just knowing?" He chuckled.

    With Kayla on his back, jogging, they no longer spoke as she didn''t want him to run out of breath. Sam finally used this opportunity to start thinking.

    ''The origin of the system?''

    ''Was that message for real or was it a glitch?''

    For the longest time now, Sam had worried about the origin of his system. And he was not the only one who worried, his father was also worried, concerned that rising so fast with the help of the system had side effects.

    At the moment, both of them, father and son were looking for ways to explain the existence of the system.

    Sam never expected that the system would decide to reveal its origin to him one day, he could not wait.

    He could not wait to access the secrets and origin of the system!

    Increasing his pace, he quickly jogged home and took his bath alongside his girlfriend. As soon as they ate and returned back to the bedroom, Kayla fell asleep on his lap immediately, giving him some much-needed privacy.

    With his girlfriend sleeping soundly in his lap, Sam finally focused on his system.

    At this moment, opening the system, he saw a green heart-shaped orb hovering before him in place of the interface.

    After taking a deep breath, Sam clicked on the heart-shaped orb, and then¡­

    BZZZ!

    His consciousness left his body.

    ¡­

    Blink!

    Sam''s consciousness woke up inside an unfamiliar world.

    At this moment, he seemed to be hovering in the air like a ghost, looking down on what seemed like an office room set in the Victorian era.

    This office was a masterful blend of chaos and genius, more of a workshop-laboratory than a traditional office.

    The space was dimly lit, illuminated by oil lamps and sunlight filtering through a small window, casting flickering shadows on the stone walls.

    The air carried the scent of parchment, ink, oil, and metallic tangs from what seemed like engineering experiments.

    At the center, a large wooden worktable was cluttered with sketches, anatomical drawings, and architectural plans. Stacks of parchment filled with mirror-written notes were scattered among open books on mathematics, engineering, and philosophy.

    A quill and inkwell sat nearby, next to a small glass vials of pigments.

    Against one wall, wooden shelves overflowed with reference texts and hand-bound notebooks, their pages brimming with notes on flight, hydraulics, and anatomy.

    Another corner housed anatomical models, a partially dissected cadaver under a cloth!

    Sam shuddered. ''Where is this?''

    ''Where am I?''

    ''Who is that?!''

    He finally looked at the middle-aged man who was seated, reading one of the books with the illumination of the oil lamps.

    In that moment, a familiar interface appeared before Sam.

    ~----~

    *Leonardo da Vinci (1452 ¨C 1519)

    *Peak Period: 1480s ¨C 1519 (40 years)

    *Genius Areas: Art, engineering, anatomy, invention

    [Identity: First carrier of the system¡­]

    ~----~

 Chapter 333 Origin [2]

    ~----~

    *Leonardo da Vinci (1452 ¨C 1519)

    *Peak Period: 1480s ¨C 1519 (40 years)

    *Genius Areas: Art, engineering, anatomy, invention

    [Identity: First carrier of the system; First progenitor]

    ~----~

    "¡­!"

    Sam''s eyes widened.

    ''This¡­, this¡­, is this the real Leonardo da Vinci?'' He looked at the man that was in this memory. ''That Leonardo da Vinci?!''

    ''Holy sh*t, what am I doing here?''

    ''How did I get here?!''

    In that moment, Sam heard a voice reverberate in his head.

    "Leonardo da Vinci was a true Renaissance man who excelled in many fields, including painting, science, and innovation".

    "He is best known for his paintings, but his work as a scientist and inventor is also world-renowned".

    "In the field of painting, Da Vinci is famous for his works, including Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, and Virgin of the Rocks. His work is known for its innovative techniques, detailed knowledge of anatomy, and use of colors".

    "In the field of science, Da Vinci''s scientific work includes dissecting many bodies to study human anatomy".

    "He was one of the first to identity how the heart pumps. His notebooks contain scientific diagrams that predict future inventions like the parachute, helicopter, and military tank".

    "In the field of invention, Da Vinci''s inventions include designs for architectural projects, such as a 32-mile waterway linking Milan and Lake Como".

    "While most famous for his paintings such as the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, Leonardo is also renowned in the fields of civil engineering, chemistry, geology, geometry, hydrodynamics, mathematics, mechanical engineering, optics, physics, pyrotechnics, and zoology".

    "In essence, Leonardo Da Vinci was a genius, a genius who was far ahead of his era".

    BZZZ!

    Sam''s consciousness moved again.

    ¡­

    Blink!

    Sam opened his eyes to see himself in another room.

    It was similar to the first one he saw Leonardo Da Vinci in, clearly set in the Victorian era too though there seemed to be some developments from earlier, likely hinting to the fact that this was an era after Da Vinci''s era.

    Inside a dimly lit chamber illuminated by candlelight and sunlight filtering through small leaded-glass windows, a man stood, looking through a brass telescope that was propped near the window, pointing toward the heavens.

    Glass beakers, pewter weights, and pendulums were scattered around, evidence of motion and gravity experiments.

    ''This guy is definitely related to physics!''

    ''So¡­, who is it?''

    In that moment, his system lit up with new notifications.

    ~----~

    *Isaac Newton (1643 ¨C 1727)

    *Peak Period: 1665 ¨C 1727 (60 years)

    *Genius Areas: Physics, mathematics, astronomy

    [Identity: Carrier of the system]

    ~----~

    ''This guy¡­, this is Isaac Newton?! Damn!''

    The familiar voice spoke again. "Isaac Newton is primarily recognized for his work in the field of physics, most notably for his development of the laws of motion and the theory of universal gravitation".

    "His primary scientific interest was understanding the behavior of matter and force".

    "While primarily known for physics, Newton also made significant contributions to the field of mathematics, particularly in the development of calculus".

    "He also conducted important research in optics, including experiments on the nature of light".

    "Just like Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton was a genius who was ahead of his age".

    BZZZ!

    Sam''s consciousness hopped again.

    ¡­

    Blink!

    Sam opened his eyes, having entered the memory of another genius.

    >Michael Faraday (1791 ¨C 1867)<

    *Peak Period: 1820s ¨C 1860 (40 years)

    *Genius Areas: Electromagnetism, chemistry

    [Identity: Carrier of the system]

    Bzzz!

    Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire

    His consciousness hopped again to the next.

    ¡­

    Blink!

    Sam entered another memory.

    And this time, the memory hit closer to home.

    Starting in the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sam lived the memory of one of the biggest football legends ever in the G.O.A.T conversation.

    Edson Arantes do Nascimento, popularly known as Pele, Sam lived the memory of the Brazilian football king.

    >Pele (1940 ¨C 2022)<

    *Peak Period: 1958 ¨C 1974 (16 years)

    *Genius Areas: Football- Goalscoring, dribbling, playmaking

    [Identity: Carrier of a fragment of the system]

    Bzzz!

    Sam hopped through memories again.

    ¡­

    Blink!

    This time, when he opened his eyes, he felt the blood rush of battle.

    Sam was in a boxing ring, alongside the owner of the memory, floating and watching as this legend ran circles around his opponent.

    Float like a Butterfly¡­

    ¡­sting like a Bee.

    >Muhammad Ali (1942 ¨C 2016)<

    *Peak Period: 1964 ¨C 1978 (14 years)

    *Genius Areas: Speed, footwork, mind games

    [Identity: Carrier of a fragment of the system]

    Bzzz!

    Sam hopped through memories again.

    ¡­

    Blink!

    Another memory¡­

    ¡­

    Blink!

    Another memory¡­

    ¡­

    Blink!

    Another memory¡­

    Sam hopped through the memories of countless legends in history.

    After Muhammad Ali, he hopped into the memory of Usain Bolt, the Jamaican who was widely recognized as the King of the track and field whose purple reign lasted from 2008 to 2017.

    After Usain Bolt, he invaded the memory of LeBron James, the NBA superstar who is widely recognized as one of the G.O.A.Ts of basketball whose peak lasted all the way from 2003 till present.

    After LeBron''s memory, he invaded into the memory of the King of Formula 1 racing, the inevitable Lewis Hamilton whose peak lasted all the way from 2007 till date, still going strong.

    After Hamilton''s memory, Noah invaded into the memory of the King of Chess, Magnus Carlsen whose peak lasted from 2009 to present.

    He ended the memory hop going through the memories of the King of hip hop, Michael Jackson.

    Through every hop, that voice did not disappoint, listing the biggest achievements of every single one of these geniuses and legends to Sam including one recurring theme that they all shared, persistence.

    Most of them were born with heaven defying talents, but their careers were not defined by their talents, rather, it was their perseverance that defined it.

    Thomas Edison was recorded to have failed 99 times before finally succeeding in creating the filament bulb.

    That was the key to success, persistence, defiance in the face of failure.

    After Michaeal Jackson''s memory, Noah stopped hopping through memories. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Instead, suddenly stuck in a white void, he heard the familiar voice explain everything that he just experienced.

    "The system, what is it?"

    "Where did it come from?"

    "Who created it?"

    "I know that for the longest time, these are your questions but to get the answers that you seek, you first need to know the concept of eternity".

    "What is the concept of eternity?"

    "It has no end".

    "Life after death, it''s a concept humans still don''t understand".

    "The concept of eternity is the idea of time that never ends, or of being everlasting. It can also refer to the state after death, but do humans truly know what happen after death?"

    "¡­"

    "Humans constantly evolve, and their growth is bolstered by the forces and laws of nature".

    "The theory of evolution is based on natural selection, which is also known as survival of the fittest".

    "Those who are weak get left behind".

    "Those who are strong get opportunities to become even stronger".

    "This is the theory that is behind the system".

    "The system is a tangible manifestation of the forces and laws of nature governing humanity, pushing them on the path of evolution".

    "Back in 1452, a genius was born, Leonardo da Vinci, the first carrier of the system. System hosts are trail blazers of their era, whatever era it is".

    "The system has certain criteria to choosing its host each generation, and the main goal is to push humanity to evolution, to usher in a new era in the history of humanity".

    "No unworthy host ever gets the system, or keeps it for long. Afterall, it is the tangible manifestation of the natural law of survival of the fittest".

    "Leonardo da Vinci inheriting the system pushed humanity forward in the fields of painting, engineering, and invention".

    "Michael Faraday inheriting the system pushed humanity forward again in the fields of electromagnetism and chemistry".

    "The same thing for Isaac Newton in his field".

    "During Pele''s era, he didn''t inherit the full system, rather only sharing its fragments alongside others of his era".

    "Pele, Muhammad Ali, they shared the fragments of the system in their era".

    "Both revolutionized their sports, taking it to the global stage".

    "Pele made people fall in love with football, while Muhammad Ali did the same with boxing".

    "¡­the chain of evolution".

    "Fast-forward to now and geniuses like Usain Bolt, Lebron James, Lewis Hamilton, and Magnus Carlsen are the recent carriers of the fragments of the system".

    "In this era, Michael Jackson was the one to inherit the real system but his untimely death affected the evolution chain".

    "For decades, the system could not materialize until you came along".

    "In terms of mentality, talent, sheer willpower and determination, you fulfilled all the requirements to become a host of the system and so it choose you, catalyzed and attracted by your strong emotions on December 22nd, 2022".

    "You are the nexus of the new era, the evolution core".

    "Over the centuries, hosts of the system have proven that humans can move humanity forward through different ways, sports being one of them".

    "In your era, even without the help of the system, 2 in your profession have been doing your work on your behalf".

    Sam''s eyes widened. ''Messi and Ronaldo!''

    "Their time is up, and here you are".

    "Your time is now".

    "Carry on the legacy of your predecessors, learn from their mistakes and don''t lose the system".

    "If you failed a mission with a penalty of losing the system, it''s no bluff, you will LOSE THE SYSTEM!"

    Sam shuddered.

    "Be the evolution nexus of this century!"

    "¡­"

    "¡­"

    "¡­..!"

    For a long time after the system stopped speaking, Sam could not move.

    He was so shocked by all that he learned that he just stared absentmindedly, up to the moment when he started hearing echoing voices.

    ''Sam...''

    ''Sam¡­''

    "Sam¡­!"

    "Sam!"

    Sam jolted awake.

 Chapter 334 A new identity

    Sam was jolted awake.

    Kayla stared at her boyfriend on the bed, a worried frown on her face. "Are you ok? You''ve been staring into space for a while like a ghost".

    "Erm, really?" He finally inclined his head to look at her.

    Looking at her, the first thing that Noah noticed was the golden rays of the morning sun that were now peeking through the contours of the curtain into the room.

    His eyes widened. "It''s already morning?"

    Kayla chuckled. "Ok, tell me the truth, are you drunk?"

    "Me? Drunk?" Sam scoffed. "I don''t even drink alcohol".

    "I know," Kayla sighed. "Then why are you acting drunk?"

    About a minute or 2 later, after Sam found a convenient excuse to distract his girlfriend''s attention, Kayla finally left to make some food.

    With Kayla gone, Sam could finally put his thoughts in order.

    ''What exactly was that?''

    Despite the fact that this was not the first time that the system literally bent rules of reality for his sake, still, Sam could not help being spooked by the experience that he just had.

    Afterall, back when he still just played for Enyimba, the system literally influenced the CAF champions league organizers and Nigerian FA to tweak the rules to enable his club participate in the competition.

    All that was to facilitate his goal.

    And when he got the memory orb that contained all the memories of Lionel Messi practicing his body feint skill, Noah''s guess was that the orb was definitely not technology-driven.

    The idea of some technological device that could enable you live through the memories of another human so thoroughly frightened Sam.

    In the end, he concluded that it was some mysterious power.

    But now, after the experience that he just had, Sam finally arrived at his conclusion. ''So, the system is really some force of nature''.

    Sitting on his bed, Sam felt melancholic. ''Do you mean out of over 7 billion people in the world, I was the one who was chosen to inherit this?''

    ''Wait, am I really special?''

    Yes, Sam knew that from a young age, he was stubborn and persistent.

    If his mom didn''t guilt trip he and his dad, he would have never stopped playing football despite how much football broke his heart.

    That was how persistent he could be.

    To think that stubbornness of his was what made him special, special enough to inherit a force of nature like the system.

    ''Some things finally make sense''. He sighed.

    ''Even in movies, there are certain people, either the protagonists or villains who inherit the will of the heavens to drive their era forward''.

    ''They are the nexus of growth of their world''.

    "To think I will become the nexus of my era," Sam smiled bashfully. "I''m flattered". He muttered, not sure what better way to react to it.

    Not everyone had the spirit to wake up every single day and go about your day, completing a daily quest like some robot.

    Not everyone had the spirit of defiance like Sam did.

    Sam''s guess was that these traits were what the system looked for, and not just talent. In terms of talent, countless others were ahead of him.

    By making all these realizations, Sam got a new identity.

    His new identity was that of a trailblazer.

    He was to wear the mantle of change and become a star that would drive this era into an unprecedented level of success.

    It was just like Messi and Ronaldo.

    Due to their sustained excellence and dominance for such a long time, they did the job in his stead, inspiring a whole generation of footballers and people.

    They made most young boys want to train hard and become wingers just like them, and even outside of football, they inspired people.

    A lot of people tell their success stories and mention Cristiano Ronaldo, that his unrelenting work rate and defiant determination was what kept them pushing and striving in their lowest and darkest moments.

    Thinking of Messi and Ronaldo, Sam sighed. "To think they both did it even without a fragment of the system".

    "They truly are mavericks".

    Sam stood up, walking to the window as he looked down at the sprawling city of Abuja before him. "I guess, a new era is dawning". He muttered.

    A few minutes later, Kayla finally arrived with breakfast.

    After brushing his teeth and eating to his fill, Sam left to meet his dad.

    His father already showed concerns about the origin of the system and now that he finally got the answer, he wanted his dad to know.

    Meeting his father, Sam did not hide anything from him as he told him everything.

    In the end, Mr. Moses chuckled. "I always knew that my son was destined for great things, to think that even nature agrees with me". He grinned.

    "You have my blessings son," he patted Sam on the shoulder. "Keep on doing what you do best, take on the world and become the trailblazer that you were meant to be".

    "Create your legend".

    Sam smiled before hugging his father. "Thank you dad¡­, for everything".

    That morning, after eating general breakfast with his family, Sam finally left with his girlfriend, taking the next trip to Spain.

    On air, Sam reflected about what his dad told him.

    While they discussed, Sam asked. "Dad, should I tell Ian about the origin of the system too?"

    "Yes, you have to".

    "He may have not said it to you yet but he''s worried about you too, about the origin of the system. I believe he''s searching for precedents in England even as he''s focused on his medical studies".

    Mr. Moses smiled. "Sam, you have a good friend, don''t let go of him".

    "Keep him close". The middle-aged man sighed. "Son, sometimes in our worst moments, close friends are the only ones who keep us believing in life".

    Hours later, after arriving at Spain, Sam put a call to his bestfriend.

    Click!

    The call was answered.

    "Hmm, calling me today, to what do I owe this honor?"

    "Get lost!" Sam laughed. "Hey buddy, how are you doing?"

    "I''m good Sam, I just feel like going crazy due to how much I''m learning. Sometimes, I feel that my brain would soon give way and burnout".

    Sam chuckled. "It''s part of life".

    Ian sighed. "You''re right. If it was easy, everybody would be a doctor, so will you tell me why you called me now?"

    "Come on, can''t I just call my best friend?"

    Ian scoffed. "A busy bastard like you, nah man, try harder to fool me".

    Sam chuckled. "Ok, you''re right but in truth, I''m missing you man. I want to tell you something and I can''t tell you through the phone".

    "If you can, visit me in Spain sometime. I''ll tell you when you come".

    Ian groaned. "Can''t you just tell me now?"

    "No".

    "Come on!"

    "No".

    Ian gave up. "Fine then, hope it''s important, what you want to tell me".

    "Trust me". Sam chuckled. "By the way, how''s your girlfriend?" sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Cough!

    Ian coughed violently, almost choking on his spit but then he chuckled nervously. "Ah, why do you suddenly ask? Sophia is fine of course".

    "I hope so". Sam growled. "You better make sure she finishes her university course before giving her a 9-months assignment!"

    Ian chuckled again nervously. "Of course, of course".

    "Good". Sam nodded. "Later then, go focus on your studies".

    Thinking of something, Ian complained. "Aren''t you just going to Spain now? Why did you and Kayla not just come visit me in England before going there? That way, you''ll just tell me what you want to tell me".

    Sam chuckled. "I can''t". Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire

    "Why?"

    "You want Hansi Flick to skin me alive?"

    "¡­" Ian was stunned.

    Sam laughed. "Yesterday, he was already expecting me back in Spain to train with the team. If I delay any further, he''ll truly lose it with me".

    "Ah, I get it now," Ian sighed. "Troubles of being such a good player".

    "Anyways, Goodluck man, and bye".

    With that, the call finally came to an end.

    After arriving in Spain, Sam went on an evening date with his girlfriend to different iconic tourist locations in the city of Barcelona.

    After that, the next day, he resumed his daily workout activities with his training buddies, Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Gavi, and Alejandro Balde.

    The reason why Hansi Flick was desperate to have Sam back in the squad was because in his absence and Lewandowski''s absence in the last game due to injury, FC Barcelona ended up playing a goalless draw against Alaves.

    The German coach was desperate for his club to bounce back to winning ways, and he believed that Sam was the nexus for it.

    After their workout that morning, they did another bet and Sam won, being the first to arrive at the Spotify Camp Nou for team training.

    Training with his teammates, Sam''s life quickly returned to default settings.

    Their next game was a Spanish La Liga game against Sevilla and even as they trained, Hansi Flick trained his squad with their opponents in mind.

    After his heroics out during international duty, Sam was in elite physical and mental shape as he was even sharper in training, satisfying his coach.

    He was plunged straight to the starting XI for the next game.

    For the first game in his life, Sam was to start as the striker, a false 9.

    (La Liga:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Sevilla)

    (Date: 20th October, 2025)

 Chapter 335 The most in-form player in Europe! [1]

    (La Liga:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Sevilla)

    (Date: 20th October, 2025)

    It was an FC Barcelona home game.

    Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire

    The atmosphere in the Spotify Camp Nou was electric as the fans of the Blaugrana gave the Sevilla players a sufficient welcome to their home stadium.

    Like expected, both teams started with their strongest lineups.

    For the home side, with Sam back from his international break, he was plunged straight to the lineup, completing Barca''s 4-2-3-1 formation.

    It was a 4-2-3-1 formation that most FC Barcelona fans were unused to. This was because this time, it was not Lewandowski leading the attack as the striker but rather the young Nigerian prodigy, Samuel Moses.

    Marc Andre Ter Stegen started in between the posts as the goalkeeper, while ahead of him was a quadruple defense comprised of Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Inigo Martinez, and Alejandro Balde.

    For this game, the German coach made the decision to rest the defensive prodigy that rose from the La Masia academy, Pau Cubarsi.

    Ahead of the defense in midfield was a duo of Frankie De Jong and Pedri.

    After a while of being sidelined from the starting XI by Marc Casado, the Dutchman, Frankie De Jong finally did enough to convince the coach, restoring his place in the FC Barcelona starting XI in midfield alongside Pedri.

    Ahead of the midfield duo was the dynamic quadruple attack.

    In this game, a fully fit Dani Olmo started, taking Sam''s spot in attacking midfield even as Sam took on his false 9 role, leading the attack.

    To his left and right sides were Raphinha and Lamine Yamal respectively.

    Robert Lewandowski''s injury was a disaster for the club, but still, the fans could not help but want to see how Sam would perform from the onset in the false 9 role in the squad.

    FWEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, the Spotify Camp Nou bore witness to a Samuel Moses masterpiece.

    Having traveled to Nigeria and created such miracles, dragging his country to the FIFA World Cup, physically and mentally, Sam was in his best state and starting this game, it reflected in his gameplay.

    Hansi Flick''s Barcelona was a fluid and well-oiled offensive machine that could attack in various ways, and this machine became even more dynamic with someone like Sam playing as a false 9.

    From the onset, Barca quickly set a marker, dominating this game early as their offensive players ran the Sevilla defense ragged.

    Sevilla tried their best, clinging on.

    The atmosphere in this stadium was electric.

    The energy of the fans swept through the corners of the stadium in waves, converging on the pitch, pushing the home side players to do wonders on the pitch.

    From the attacking midfield spot, FC Barcelona fans have bore witness to the Sam and Yamal partnership before but today, they witnessed it from the striker and left-wing positions, a telepathic chemistry on the pitch.

    Playing as a false 9 meant that Sam had the privilege to roam.

    He must not stay in the box like a target man, and that was exactly what Sam did, roam about the forward line.

    BZZZ!

    He was a menace, receiving the ball, dribbling, spraying passes, playing short one-two penetrative passes, his game was fluid and effortlessly natural.

    It was almost like he had been playing as a false 9 all his life.

    In the 31st minute of this game, Sam''s hard work finally bore fruit as after a fluid combination play involving Dani Olmo, Yamal, and Raphinha, the Brazilian played the final pass to him inside the 18-yard box.

    ''My moment!''

    Sam recognized his moment, and he seized it with aplomb.

    Bam!

    With his first touch, he ditched the imposing Sevilla center back, pushing the ball beyond him even as the defender slipped.

    Evading the defender''s sprawling arms that tried to grab and drag him back, Sam pounced on the loose ball and then¡­

    BAM!

    The Sevilla goalkeeper only reacted after the ball nestled into the net as Sam hit it with absolute venom.

    "GOALLLL¡­!!!"

    The Spotify Camp Nou quickly roared to life.

    The first half ended 1-0 in Barca''s favor. More goals didn''t materialize not because Barca''s offense was lacking, but because Sevilla defended desperately.

    In the 2nd half though, the floodgates opened with Sam leading the charge.

    FWEEE!

    The game barely started after the referee''s whistle as Barca kicked off the 2nd half when taking the ball, Sam embarked on a crazy solo run.

    With his tall and imposing frame, and his silky footwork, he weaved through Sevilla players, cutting through them like they were not there.

    "Oh my God! What is this?!"

    "He goes through 1, 2, 3¡­, 4! My God! He''s one on one with the goalkeeper! Can he do it¡­?!"

    "Yes he DOES!" The commentator screamed.

    "He chips it over the goalkeeper and its 2 nil to Barca!"

    "Sam, what a player!"

    Sam whirled off towards the corner flag in celebration, eliciting loud roars from the home FC Barcelona supporters.

    In the 45th minute, just after the start of the 2nd half, Sam got his 2nd goal.

    7 minutes later, in the 52nd minute, after a flawless series of play with Lamine Yamal, the Spaniard prodigy managed to slip the ball across the face of goal to the other side where Raphinha lurked in the right place at the right time.

    Bam!

    The Brazilian poked the ball beyond the goalkeeper and into the net.

    "GOALLLLLL¡­!" The fans roared.

    Just like that, 3-0¡­, FC Barcelona were running away with the victory. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Sevilla tried to make something happen but led by Ronald Araujo, the FC Barcelona defense was like a rock, keeping them out.

    They weathered the sudden Sevilla momentum long enough for Sam to put an end to it in the 77th minute, scoring his 3rd goal of this game and making it a hattrick.

    This time, it was a pass from Gavi who already replaced Dani Olmo in this game, setting the ball for Sam to volley past the goalkeeper and into the net.

    In the 83rd minute, Ronaldo Araujo leaped highest, powering a header beyond the Sevilla goalkeeper from a corner kick to make it 5-0 to the Blaugrana.

    By the time the final whistle blew, all that was left of Sevilla were ruins.

    The Catalan club literally obliterated them.

    Sam got his match ball, and also his man of the match award for this game.

    At the end of the game, across soldier media, a certain term began proliferating across football communities around the world.

    "The most in-form player in Europe is Samuel Moses!"

 Chapter 336 The most in-form player in Europe! [2]

    (UEFA Champions League:)

    (Barcelona vs Dortmund)

    (Date: 23rd October, 2025)

    After the game against Sevilla at the Spotify Camp Nou where Sam announced himself to the world as a prolific false 9, a few days later, another game was to be played at the Spotify Camp Nou.

    In the build up to the game, reporters did interviews with fans.

    "What do you think about this game?"

    "It''s just another platform for Zinedine Sam to show his genius".

    "Are you not an FC Barcelona fan? Why do you agree to call your player Zinedine Sam?"

    The fan smiled. "It''s a name that he''s been called long ago, long before he even started playing in the English premier league".

    "Besides, Sam''s playstyle truly is elegant like Zidane''s".

    "Yes, I hate Real Madrid but not Zinedine Zidane. Afterall, he''s one of the G.O.A.Ts, I also think Sam won''t mind being called the Zidane in the Camp Nou!"

    It was another UEFA champions league game, Sam''s 2nd official UEFA champions league game.

    After scoring a hattrick against Sevilla at the weekend, Sam was in the form of his life and he wanted nothing more than to carry this form to the UEFA champions league game against Dortmund.

    In the build-up to the game, alongside his training buddies, he trained like mad, pushing himself to the ultimate level.

    And finally, it was time to show it on the pitch.

    The atmosphere at the Spotify Camp Nou today was even more electric than in the Sevilla game, rising to a crescendo as the UEFA champions league anthem started being played. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Both teams started with their strongest lineups.

    For the home side, Hansi Flick started with his favored 4-2-3-1 formation with Sam once again leading the line as a false 9 striker.

    To his left and right were Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, while behind him in attacking midfield today was Gavi who finally reclaimed his spot in the team.

    Behind Gavi in midfield were the duo of Pedri and Frankie De Jong.

    Further behind them, Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsi, Ronald Araujo, and Jules Kounde started in defense for the Blaugrana even as Marc Andre Ter Stegen remained the last man in defense. Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

    It was a formidable lineup, but Dortmund''s lineup was also formidable.

    For the German side, starting in a similar 4-2-3 1 formation as the Blaugrana, Sergio Guirassy started as the striker while to his left and right were Gittens and Karim Adeyemi respectively.

    Starting in attacking midfield was Brandt, while further behind him in center midfield were GroB and Marcel Sabitzer.

    In defense, the German team started with a quadruple of Svensson, Nico Schlotterbeck, Emre Can, and Sule, with their goal protected by Kobel.

    FWEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, an unforgettable UEFA champions league game at the Spotify Camp Nou started.

    Barca started strong, taking the battle to their opponents even as the German side refused to cower, meeting them pound for pound on the battlefront.

    Dortmund''s defense was airtight, shutting off the fearsome Barca attack and giving their own offensive units the time on the ball to launch counterattacks.

    FC Barcelona was still the dominating side for the first few minutes despite the Dortmund resistance but in the 40th minute of this game, against the run of play, the ball rolled in behind Ter Stegen''s net.

    It came from a corner.

    Ronald Araujo rose highest, heading the ball away but it was a weak clearance as landing inside the box again, a scramble quickly started.

    The FC Barcelona players desperately defended their goal but before they knew it, Schlotterbeck, the Dortmund defender somehow got to the ball, poking it between players, and Ter Stegen to roll inside the net.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!" The away stands erupted as the traveling supporters roared in joy, jubilating with their team.

    That goal seemed to set coals of fire beneath the asses of the FC Barcelona players as their offensive play became direct and much more urgent.

    Sam and Raphinha led the fightback but for the second time, against the run of play, Dortmund scored again!

    This time, it was Brandt, their attacking midfielder.

    Lashing into the ball just outside the 18-yard box in the 44th minute, the attacking midfielder unleashed a piledriver shot that beat Marc Andre Ter Stegen.

    "¡­!"

    The Spotify Camp Nou became as silent as a church even as the Dortmund players and their fans celebrated.

    Right before the eyes of their fans, FC Barcelona was being unraveled.

    The first half came to an end with the Blaugrana losing 0-2.

    During halftime, Hansi Flick raged at his players, criticizing multiple aspects of their game and in the end, he told them just one thing.

    "Let''s go out there and seize what is ours, the victory!"

    "I want nothing less than victory!"

    When the FC Barcelona players entered the pitch again in the 2nd half, it was clear that something was different. The look in their eyes was that of men who were ready to kill.

    FWEEE!

    The war started!

    Offense after offense, run after run, play after play, FC Barcelona pressured Dortmund and 13 minutes after the restart, they got fruit for their labor.

    Having dropped back when his team was out of possession, Sam managed to win the ball back just outside the Dortmund 18-yard box and then quickly spotting Raphinha''s run, he raised the ball over the defense.

    Raphinha didn''t think¡­

    POW!

    With his left foot, he volleyed the ball into the bottom right corner!

    Kobel stood no chance, only watching the ball flash past him like a rocket, driving into the net.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!!!" Raphinha pumped a fist aggressively, not celebrating too much as he rushed into the net, picking the ball to resume play.

    57 minutes, 1-2¡­

    FWEEEE!

    FC Barcelona continued their offense, and now, the Dortmund coach made changes, changing his team into a more defensive shape.

    Attack after attack, but Dortmund held¡­

    It was almost like a siege battle but the opponent was the Ancient Wall of China, stalwart, unyielding in the face of the besiege.

    60 minutes passed¡­

    70 minutes passed¡­

    80 minutes passed¡­

    85 minutes passed¡­

    But then in the 86th minute, FC Barcelona won a penalty after Lamine Yamal was tripped in the box.

    "YEAHHHH¡­!" The FC Barcelona fans roared loudly like they already won.

    With Lewandowski injured, Raphinha was supposed to be the next in line penalty taker but for some reason, the Brazilian surrendered the duty to Sam.

    Sam was not polite, confidently taking the ball and placing it down.

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, he took a confident run, then¡­

    Bam!

    With audacious swagger, in this tense moment, Sam played a Panenka penalty, sending the ball down the middle of the net and sending the goalkeeper to no man''s land.

    Sam jogged to the side of the post, doing the Jude Bellingham celebration as he spread his arms, inviting the chants.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    "What a game!" The commentators raved.

    "What audacity from Sam! The confidence to even try a Panenka at the 86th minute of this game, this boy''s got balls of steel!"

    FWEEE!

    The game continued, resuming a familiar sequence; Barca attacked, Dortmund defended with 10 men behind the ball!

    Shot after shot was blocked¡­

    Shot after shot was saved¡­

    Dortmund was barely clinging on, and it seemed to be working, almost enough until in the 90th minute, Gavi was tripped just outside the 18-yard box.

    FWEEEE!

    The referee gave the Dortmund player a 2nd yellow card, upgrading it to a red even as he awarded a freekick to FC Barcelona.

    The Dortmund player showed no signs of remorse as he walked out of the pitch. Afterall, he saved his team from a likely goal that would have made them lose the game.

    As soon as the freekick was awarded, Sam took the ball, spreading his arms even as his eyes narrowed in focus as he looked at the goalpost.

    The position of the ball was not too optimal.

    Sam was hesitant. In the end, despite being confident in his freekick taking skills, he decided not to leave it to chance.

    ~----~

    [You have accessed ability card: Bend it like Beckham!]

    [Card Effects:]

    >This card can only be used during a set-piece. Once used, for 10 minutes, for every freekick that your team gets, you gain the ability and technique of a prime David Beckham, giving you a +80% scoring buff when taking a free-kick<

    ¡­

    [You have made use of ability card: Bend it like Beckham!]

    ~----~

    A perfection mastery freekick technique plus the Bend it like Beckham card was a recipe for a masterpiece!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded again, Sam calmly jogged towards the ball and then, raising his right leg up for a swing, he hit the ball.

    Bam!

    The ball rose, curling, over the wall of players, towards the goal¡­

    The goalkeeper reacted, taking a step and another before diving but the curvature of the ball was just too acute, taking it away from his grasp.

    Whoosh!

    The ball went past him, into the net as it rippled.

    And then, the Spotify Camp Nou went haywire.

    BOOM!

    "ZINEDINE SAM¡­!!!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM¡­!!!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM¡­!!!"

    "They called to God, they prayed for a miracle, Sam answered!"

    "It is finished!"

    "Sensational! Crazy! Clutch!"

 Chapter 337 A new King in Catalan

    Bam!

    Sam''s leg perfectly connected with the ball, hitting it at the optimum position that he wanted and sending it on a deadly curling trajectory towards goal.

    The ball rose, curling, over the wall of players, towards the goal¡­

    The goalkeeper reacted, taking a step and another before diving but the curvature of the ball was just too acute, taking it away from his grasp.

    Whoosh!

    The ball went past him, into the net as it rippled.

    And then, the Spotify Camp Nou went haywire.

    BOOM!

    "ZINEDINE SAM¡­!!!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM¡­!!!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM¡­!!!"

    "They called to God, they prayed for a miracle, Sam answered!"

    "It is finished!"

    "Sensational! Crazy! Clutch!"

    "From 2 goals down, to 3 goals up and the victory! This is sensational! This is stuff of legends! This is stuff of fiction!"

    "A Zinedine Samed game!"

    "And this game shall be remembered as the Samuel Moses game!"

    Amid the roar of the commentators, deflated, the 10 Dortmund players collapsed on the pitch, unwilling to believe what was happening.

    At some point in this game, they were 2 nil up!

    So how?!

    Just how did this happen?!

    And then from the floor where they laid, deflated and defeated, they stared at him, the cause of their misery who now celebrated.

    The Spotify Camp Nou was a cauldron of noise as the FC Barcelona fans paid homage to his performance, to the miracle that he just performed.

    And riding the energy generated by the noise, including the familiar "Sam" chants, he charged towards the corner flag, sliding on his knees in celebration and this riled them up even more, taking the noise through the roof.

    BOOM!

    Sam''s teammates swarmed all over him as they also celebrated.

    "Bastardo!" Behind him, Gavi roared, pushing him, shoving him excitedly.

    Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, all the FC Barcelona players swarmed Sam, celebrating with him excitedly.

    This goal came at just the right moment, in additional time.

    Now, Dortmund had less than 1% chance of actually getting back on the game. It was virtually over.

    When his teammates finally gave him some space, Sam removed his jersey, showing it to the FC Barcelona fans, including his number that was attached to the back of the jersey.

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    [No. 40]

    It was the no. 40 that was at the back of his jersey but at this moment, looking at him, the FC Barcelona fans seemed to see the no. 10 jersey.

    They were too emotional, their emotions quickly cascading as they could not hold it in any longer.

    "Sam!"

    "Sam!"

    "Sam!"

    The whole stadium chanted.

    "I feel like I''m bearing witness to history". One of the commentators chuckled. "This ''Sam'' chant, I think it''s something that''s going to quickly become iconic and a staple of the Spotify Camp Nou".

    "This Sam boy, he really is the deal".

    "Barcelona struck it big with him. As an attacking midfielder, he''s already a menace, to think he can also be this good as a false 9".

    "Hansi Flick has really unlocked more of Sam!"

    FWEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle sounded, showing a yellow card to Sam before blowing for the game to start even as Sam reacted nonchalantly to the yellow card.

    The game continued and like expected, Dortmund could not create anything of note before the referee''s whistle sounded again, bringing the game to an end.

    Sam got a 2nd consecutive man of the match award in the UEFA champions league. This time though, he didn''t get the match ball as he scored only 2 goals, but those 2 goals translated to more 3 points for FC Barcelona.

    Well, if Sam was just a high profile signing for FC Barcelona fans previously, after his performance that night against Dortmund at the Spotify Camp Nou, his status changed overnight.

    To many fans, they no longer cared about his age, the fact that he was just 19. To them, Sam was the new King in Catalan.

    For a long time, the best part of almost 2 decades, there was a King in Catalan, the Argentine maestro, Lionel Messi. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The Messi era was one of the best eras of FC Barcelona as a club.

    Led by the mercurial Argentine, Messi pushed the boundaries of reality and expectations, setting a new standard for the club with his record-breaking statistics and performances every single season.

    Since Messi left, FC Barcelona was never quite the same.

    To the fans, the King was gone.

    Even the prince was gone too, Neymar Jnr; he was gone far before the King, leaving FC Barcelona fans grasping for straws.

    Since Messi left, the expectations of FC Barcelona fans became a bit tempered with season after season of heartbreak. Last season seemed like their best chance of reclaiming their spot as Kings of Europe.

    But agonizingly, they lost it against a rampant Liverpool in the semifinal.

    To the fans in recent years, it was nothing new, losing it when it seemed like they were perfectly poised to win it.

    It only tempered their expectations even more.

    A few seasons earlier, the rise of Lamine Yamal made them believe that the Spotify Camp Nou had its new prince.

    All they needed was patience, patience for the prince to blossom and mature, metamorphing to become the new King.

    To think that the Spotify Camp Nou would get a King even before Yamal fully matured.

    After the performance against Dortmund, to many FC Barcelona fans, the Spotify Camp Nou now had its new King.

    "Zinedine Sam will lead us to the UEFA champions league trophy!" They bragged and claimed in the streets.

    "Sam is unstoppable!"

    "Samuel Moses is the most in-form player in Europe!" The FC Barcelona fans claimed and it was not just delusion, they had the statistics to back up the claim.

    ***

    [Samuel Moses stats in the 2025/2026 season in all competitions:]

    *Games: 9

    *Goals: 13

    *Assists: 5

    ¡­

    [International games- Nigeria:]

    *Games: 4

    *Goals: 3

    *Assists: 2

    ¡­

    [UEFA champions league:]

    *Games: 2

    *Goals: 5

    *Assists: 2

    ¡­

    [18 goals + assists in just 9 games!]

    ***

    Considering the fact that Sam missed a chunk of games due to the scandal that he got involved in, he was having a truly terrific season so far.

    And after the Dortmund game where he successfully proved himself again, Sam got his greatest test of the season. The greatest test of any new FC Barcelona player that plied his trade in the Spanish top flight.

    FC Barcelona''s next game was the first El Clasico of the season!

 Chapter 338 El Clasico

    El Clasico¡­, a popular term that any up-to-date football fan knew, but what did it mean?

    To know the meaning of El Clasico, first, you had to know what a derby meant.

    A derby is commonly known as a match between two local clubs that are geographically close to each other, for example teams that are from the same city or from the same part of the country.

    Back in the English premier league when Sam plied his trade for Fulham, he played in West London derby rivalries with Brentford, Chelsea, and Queens Park Rangers.

    Manchester United vs Manchester City was another major derby rivalry.

    But the El Clasico, it is a rivalry above the normal rivalry. Some referred to it as the derby above derbies.

    In simple terms though, El Clasico translates to "The Classic" in English and it is used to refer to football matches between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.

    It is the most famous club football match in the world!

    It is also considered one of the fiercest rivalries in sports.

    As 2 of the best and biggest clubs in Spain, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona''s rivalry dates back, a derby between the Spanish capital and Catalonia, a part of Spain that vied for supremacy and independence.

    It was not just a football game; it was a game with a lot of political consequences but none of that concerned the fans and the players.

    To the fans and the players, El Clasico is a game of pride and glory.

    The hate and rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona fans transcended borders. They vied and fought at every avenue that they get.

    And all of that tense energy clashes on the football pitch on El Clasico day.

    Just 3 days after FC Barcelona''s UEFA champions league clash against Dortmund, they would be playing their first El Clasico of the season against their eternal rivals, Real Madrid and it was an away game.

    (La Liga:)

    (Real Madrid ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 26th October, 2025)

    Sam had been an FC Barcelona fan since he was 6, since FC Barcelona was in its peak and had the likes of prime Messi, prime Iniesta and Xavi plying their trade with the club.

    Though he was still a boy in most of those epic battles, he had lived through at least 2 epic El Clasico battles every season since he was 6. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He had watched his team succumb to the pressure of their Madrid rivals, and he had watched his team blow them away with shocking victory margins.

    He had watched iconic moments between both clubs; the 5-0 victory at the Bernabeu, Messi silencing the Bernabeu in iconic fashion back in 2017 and Ronaldo getting his revenge in the next game.

    The iconic battles, the Ramos and Pepe eras, the Dani Alves and Jordi Alba eras, the Marcelo and Carvajal eras, the BBC and MSN eras, the Modric, Kroos, Casemiro and the Xavi, Iniesta, and Busquests eras.

    The head-to-head battle between both big clubs till today was still tight.

    Sam lived through all these battles, watching as a fan, always cheering the club in red and blue on at every El Clasico night.

    And finally, for the first El Clasico in his life, he was not just going to cheer on as a fan, he was going to be playing as a player.

    He was going to actively participate in the greatest clash of his club''s history.

    ¡­

    The next day after the game against Dortmund¡­

    Thud! Thud!

    Alongside his training buddies in Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Gavi, and Alejandro Balde, Sam jogged through the streets of Barcelona, already starting their preparations for the big game in 2 days.

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    That morning, the city of Barcelona was no longer as nonchalant to their passage as it was no longer news that they jog every morning.

    That morning, as they jogged, FC Barcelona fans came out in droves.

    Some jogged after them, others just took pictures, but all of it was motivated by the big game that was coming up in 2 days.

    "Sam, we need you at the Bernabeu!"

    "You''re better than their Mbappe, and Bellinghams, and Vinicius, show them who''s boss that day!"

    "Yamal, please work your magic!"

    "We must win the game!"

    The fans said what they wanted, heaping pressure on the jogging players but the players didn''t take it that way.

    With nonchalant smiles on their faces, they took the fans'' words as motivation instead but they didn''t pay too much attention to it.

    More of their attention was rather on the competition among themselves.

    "First to arrive at the Spotify Camp Nou!"

    Thud! Thud!

    The dug into their reserves, from a jog quickly erupting into a sprint.

    They ate yards of space with each step, quickly leaving the fans to eat the dust and a few seconds or so later, Sam once again won, arriving first at the big stadium in Barcelona but this time, Alejandro Balde came 2nd, arriving before Gavi.

    And again, Pedri came last, Lamine Yamal just edging him in the race.

    "F*ck! I came last again!" He cursed in Spanish.

    Once again taking on the duty of providing breakfast for them that morning, they quickly entered the gym, going on about their activities.

    A few minutes later, they were done.

    ~----~

    [You have completed Daily System Quest: Mentality Monster!]

    [You have been rewarded with low-grade physical conditioning elixir!]

    ~----~

    A few dozen minutes later, they got home, got refreshed, dressed up in training clothes and arrived early back at the stadium for team training.

    The 5 FC Barcelona players were as diligent as usual, more diligent even in their preparations for the first El Clasico of the season.

    Last season, they did it, beating their rivals in all El Clasicos that they played but it was not a guarantee that they could do the same this time around.

    Afterall, Real Madrid was not a club to stay stagnant.

    They were always getting better, evolving every year.

    Afterall, they were a club fielding the likes of Vinicius Jnr, Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Trent Alexander Arnold all in their squad, all major Ballon d''or contenders in the just-concluded season.

    To win, they had to give their all.

    ¡­

    The next day, Sam and his training buddies went about their day like usual, giving their all in training in preparation for the big game.

    They did a few more times and in no time, D-day was here.

    It was the night of El Clasico.

 Chapter 339 A clash of behemoths; Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona

    26th October, 2025¡­

    (La Liga:)

    (Real Madrid ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 26th October, 2025)

    The first El Clasico of the season.

    The game was dubbed a clash of behemoths, and for good reason, after all, both clubs were currently in the forms of their life.

    After a full season of settling down in the Spanish Capital, Kylian Mbappe already embraced his role as a superstar in Madrid, jointly leading the new Galacticos era alongside his electric teammate, Vinicius Jnr.

    This season, just like FC Barcelona, Real Madrid was balling.

    Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jnr. were both having terrific seasons domestically, the former being the current leader in the Pichichi race for the highest goal scorer in the Spanish league come season end while Vinicius led in the most assists race.

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    Sam was directly behind both superstars in the race but for now, it was the Madrid superstars who had the advantage.

    Not just Vinicius and Mbappe either. In the Spanish Capital, other superstars like Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Brahim Dias, and Federico Valverde were also having terrific seasons already, making Madrid a formidable side to face this season.

    Besides, both of the big 2 clubs fought neck to neck at the top of the table.

    FC Barcelona had the lead currently, but they led their eternal rivals by just 1 point, which would undoubtedly evaporate if they lost the upcoming El Clasico match.

    It was a game of high stakes and emotion.

    Even before the game started, as the blue and red FC Barcelona team bus arrived in Madrid, the Real Madrid fans gave their archenemies a sufficiently hostile welcome as they unveiled banners of Sam painted like a clown.

    Not just that, they unveiled banners of Sam edited to look like an Ape¡­, racism!

    The Spanish La Liga and football in general frowned at racism but sometimes, the passion of the fans could not be curbed no matter how many rules are put in place to keep them in line.

    To win, football fans are ready to do anything, no matter how unethical, no matter how much it would affect their opponents negatively.

    In the face of victory in the El Clasico, to them, nothing else mattered.

    FC Barcelona was surely going to file a complaint to the league at the end of the game due to the racist-inspired banners, but for now, they had the biggest game of their season so far to play.

    In the team bus, staring at the banners, Sam could already feel his blood boiling hot. ''These bastards¡­!''

    This was his first time facing racist abuse since his professional career started.

    Sam was no stranger to racist abuse, having watched other black professional football players suffer it over the years, including Real Madrid''s own Vinicius Jnr. against Valencia that caused a storm in the football world seasons ago.

    In the end though, football fans don''t care, they''d do anything to help their teams win.

    "Don''t worry, we''re with you". Raphinha said as he noticed his heightened emotions, trying to calm him down.

    Sam flashed the Brazilian a smile. "Yeah, I''m fine, thanks".

    And in truth, after that, he was fine.

    Yes, he still felt some lingering anger but he did not let it affect him anymore.

    Rather, he turned it into a smoldering fire that burned in the furnace of his heart, turning into tangible motivation that pushed him to a state of defiance.

    ''Tonight is my night!''

    ''Tonight, let''s go crazy!''

    ''Tonight, let''s set the Bernabeu on fire!''

    ''You dare abuse me racially?'' He grinned. ''Fine, I''ll make sure that you never forget me easily, I''ll leave my mark in your goddamn stadium!''

    Matching into the dressing room alongside his teammates, Sam didn''t feel like a footballer entering a stadium at all, rather he felt like a gladiator entering a notorious coliseum where he was to fight a bloody battle with his life on the line. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''It''s now or never!''

    In the dressing room, uncharacteristic of the German coach, Hansi Flick went on a lengthy lecture, emphasizing the importance of getting a result out of this game.

    He didn''t put unnecessary pressure on his players, going about that they must win, rather, he just told them to try their best and get a result.

    But that simple speech, it left Sam''s blood boiling already.

    By now, the lineup for the 2 squads was already revealed long ago.

    The visitors, FC Barcelona started in their regular 4-2-3-1 formation.

    Marc Andre Ter Stegen started in between the posts for the visitors, with a quadruple defense comprising Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, and Alejandro Balde sitting ahead of him as his protectors.

    Ahead of the defense was the midfield duo of Pedri and Frankie De Jong.

    As for the offense ahead, like expected, Sam started as the striker with the role of a false 9 again with Raphinha and Lamin Yamal flanking him from both left and right. Sitting behind him was an energized Gavi.

    As for the home side, Real Madrid''s starting XI was just as formidable if not even more formidable.

    Starting in a 4-3-3 formation, a fully-fit Madrid side had Thibaut Courtois, the Belgian wall in between the posts with the quadruple of Ferland Mendy, David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger, and Trent Alexander Arnold protecting him in defense.

    Ahead of the defense was a midfield trio, the new Madrid midfield stars of Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, and Federico Valverde.

    Further ahead of the midfield trio was the all-star attack comprising the trio of Vinicius Jnr. at the left, Kylian Mbappe through the middle, and Rodrygo through the right flank.

    It was a formidable Real Madrid team.

    No wonder the game was dubbed a clash of behemoths.

    The atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabeu was absolutely electric even as the Real Madrid fans made a lot of noise, trying to unnerve their archrivals.

    When the Madrid anthem started being played, the tens of thousands of fans flooding this stadium sang at the top of their lungs, setting the atmosphere for the epic clash that was about to take place in this iconic stadium.

    And then, the players came out into the pitch amid a cauldron of noise.

 Chapter 340 A game of superstars

    "Madrid!" "Madrid!" "Madrid!"

    The passionate fans sang loudly.

    The Santiago Bernabeu was a cauldron of fire and fury.

    The air was electric, charged with the anticipation of 80,000 voices waiting to explode. Every seat was filled, every fan standing, scarves raised in a sea of white and blue and red defiance.

    The stadium trembled, not just from the chants but from the sheer weight of history pressing down on the moment.

    Real Madrid and Barcelona, neck and neck at the top of La Liga took their first steps onto the pristine pitch, the roar cascading down like a tidal wave.

    Flashbulbs erupted from the stands, capturing the gladiators of Spanish football in a blaze of light.

    The chants were deafening, Madridistas bellowing "Hala Madrid!" as Cules responded with defiant jeers.

    Every touch of the ball in the warm-up was met with a reaction, whistles for the enemy, cheers for the heroes.

    The Bernabeu breathe in symphony with the match, its pulse syncing with the drama that was about to unfold.

    This was not just any game, it was a game of superstars; Mbappe, Vinicius, Bellingham, Sam, Raphinha, Yamal.

    No matter the outcome, it was surely going to a bloodbath at the Bernabeu.

    The aroma of freshly cut grass mixed with the lingering scent of flares and adrenaline and for a fleeting second, the world outside did not exist.

    The referee''s whistle was imminent, the battle for supremacy about to begin, and then¡­

    FWEEEE!

    Like a knife, the sound of the referee''s whistle cut through the battlefield, and immediately, the pitch exploded into action.

    Real Madrid kicked off the game, starting the clash of behemoths.

    Thud! Thud!

    Embodying Hansi Flick''s philosophy, the FC Barcelona players quickly swarmed after their counterparts in the white of Madrid, quickly closing them down as they pressed for the ball aggressively. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But keeping their cool, Madrid rotated the ball around in midfield, giving it to Bellingham who held on to possession long enough, perfectly utilizing the la pausa before sending a threading pass to the left where a certain Vinicius Jnr. lurked.

    Bam!

    As soon as Bellingham hit the pass, Vinicius moved and Jules Kounde who marked him responded. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire

    Bzzz!

    Without touching the ball, the Brazilian did his trickery, flickering with his quick feet and dazzling the Frenchman before erupting away in a burst of speed.

    Vinicius dazzled Kounde for a moment, but the Frenchman was not totally fooled, dragging at his jersey and quickly following him.

    Vinicius was unable to escape, and so, slowing down as he closed down on the touchline, he started his trickery all over with his rapid feet, trying to dribble past Kounde but the Frenchman was not to be fooled.

    Bam!

    Vinicius passed but Kounde intercepted, sending the ball out for a corner kick.

    It was just a corner kick but jumping, Vinicius waved his arms at the home supporters, riling them up as they responded, roaring like sound monsters.

    BOOM!

    Grinning, the Brazilian trudged off, allowing the corner kick taker to take the ball. The game was just starting, but the drama already started.

    Real Madid took their corner kick and Barcelona successfully defended it.

    That first action from Vinicius and Kounde was an accurate premise to what was to follow in this game, absolute cinema.

    Have you ever seen a battle between 2 monsters?

    Both with unimaginable powers, fearsome beyond imagination, the clash of their wills, their skills, their experience and power, it was a sight to behold.

    That was the sight that now played out in the Santiago Bernabeu.

    The Madrid attacking unit was electric, Vinicius clearly being the stand-out player as he dazzled with his dribbling, repeatedly testing Jules Kounde who struggled to cope with his pace and electric dribbling.

    Kylian Mbappe was an explosive monster, the Frenchman exploding to life an interval with his bursting pace and quick feet, having snuck a few shots already that almost resulted in a goal if not for Ter Stegen''s quick reactions.

    As for Rodrygo, the Brazilian was a magician, keeping the Madrid attack ticking with his consistent and worrying dribbles.

    The Madrid midfield was also electric as they dazzled, Valverde shining in particular as the closest moment in this game came from him.

    Having received a cut back pass from Vinicius, as the Uruguayan charged towards the ball, about to take his customary power shot, the Santiago Bernabeu came to life as fans in white rose up around the stadium.

    POW!

    He hit the ball with absolute venom, sending it towards the top right corner but on top of his game, Ter Stegen managed to pull off a crazy save, tipping the ball just over his post and out for a corner.

    Camavinga acted as the destroyer this game, playing the Casemiro role as he tried his best to intercept all Barca attacks.

    As for their defense, against Barca''s attack, they were also as solid as a rock.

    Alaba and Rudiger were absolute rocks, consistently making solid tackles and roaring to celebrate every single one like they just won a battle.

    The energy in this game was just transcendent.

    It was not all Madrid though.

    FC Barcelona took the game to their opponents. Afterall, it was a game of pound to pound, the Catalan giants were not ready to cower before their opponents despite this being their home stadium.

    Afterall, it was not a game of predator vs prey, it was a game of monster vs monster.

    The Catalans played with lethal intent.

    Their attack gelled like a well-oiled machine, Sam fully embracing his role as a false 9 to make the attack tick as Raphinha especially dazzled with his endless energy this game even as Lamine Yamal turned Ferland Mendy inside out.

    The midfield was just as solid and steady as usual, Frankie De Jong playing a solid game while Pedri strutted his stuff in the middle of the park.

    The defense also did its job led by the Uruguayan wall, Ronald Araujo.

    With his no-nonsense defending style, the Uruguayan led Pau Cubarsi and the rest of the defense to resist the onslaught of Real Madrid attacks.

    To the fans in this stadium, they never got a moment to rest. There was no boring moment as their hearts was kept in their throats throughout.

    And finally, in the 23rd minute of this game, the deadlock was broken¡­, by Real Madrid.

    Kylian Mbappe struck!

 Chapter 341 Kylian Mbappe strikes!

    In the 23rd minute of this game, the deadlock was broken¡­, by Real Madrid.

    Kylian Mbappe struck!

    It was a customary Kylian Mbappe goal, but first, the credit needed to go to the solid defending that was just put out by the men in white.

    It was FC Barcelona on the attack.

    After winning the ball back in their own half, pass after pass, play after play, the Catalans worked their way up the field till they bore down on Real Madrid''s 18-yard box even as the tens of thousands of fans in white all around this stadium drowned them in an ocean of boos.

    Bam!

    Sam received a pass from Pedri in the 18-yard box and immediately, he heard footsteps behind him even as he instinctively spread his body, protecting the ball.

    With a powerful thud, he felt something, someone clattering into him from behind.

    He didn''t even need to look to know who it was. ''Damn Rudiger¡­!''

    This was not the first time that the imposing German defender tried to rough him up this game. Rudiger had a no-nonsense playstyle of always targeting the opposition''s best attacker, and his focus today was on Sam.

    But Sam had no intentions of reducing himself to the defender''s level, fighting a physical battle with him where he was sure to lose.

    Instead of that, he fought with his own strengths.

    His movement, his positioning, his interplay, that was what he used to confound Rudiger and at this moment, immediately after he received the ball and Rudiger clattered into him from behind, Sam''s brain geared into overdrive.

    Whoosh!

    Rudiger swung his leg from behind, trying to steal the ball but expecting it, Sam blocked with his own leg, protecting the ball.

    Federico Valverde closed down on him from the front, swinging for the ball too but with his leg on top the ball, Sam maintained control his absolute mastery of a football, dragging it back and forth to evade the Uruguayan.

    "¡­!"

    Sam was under a lot of pressure; any mistake and he would lose the ball but he didn''t make a mistake because he just spotted a run.

    Lamine Yamal just moved!

    Bam!

    Sam cleverly hit the ball with the outside of his left boot, sending it in between the little opening between the defenders as Lamine Yamal got the ball.

    As soon as the teenage Spaniard took his first touch of the ball in such a position in the 18-yard box, the whole Real Madrid defense panicked even as the roar and boo of the home fans hit a crescendo.

    Yamal barely controlled the ball though when Ferland Mendy, the Real Madrid left back clattered into him from the side.

    Holding his ground, the young Spaniard dazzled.

    Slowing down and with his left foot, he used a Cruyff turn to kill the ball''s momentum, turning towards the right and just as Mendy followed him, he turned back as with the same left leg, he flicked the ball left.

    An ultra-smooth body feint!

    Mendy was fooled, slipping as he fell on his butt even as Yamal already left.

    A brilliant piece of skill from the Barcelona winger to beat his man but apart from Rudiger, Real Madrid had another no-nonsense defender in central defense. Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

    Swoosh!

    David Alaba went on a ruthless sliding tackle as soon as Yamal destroyed Mendy, catching the young winger off-guard.

    Startled, Yamal jumped, evading the Austrian''s sprawling legs even as David Alaba intercepted the ball.

    Before he could stand up though, another of his teammate already pounced.

    Valverde who was closest to the loose ball pounced, hitting it up field but he didn''t hit the ball blindly. It was not a clearance.

    Rather, as soon as Alaba intercepted the ball, Valverde looked up field, spotting Kylian Mbappe who suddenly raised his hand, calling for him.

    Bam!

    Valverde hit the ball immediately, raising it and sending it toward him. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And then¡­

    Bzzz!

    A footrace started!

    Kylian Mbappe vs Ronald Araujo!

    Both were fast, but Mbappe was faster. This meant despite starting behind the defender, Mbappe ate yards of space like they were not there, just barely evading the Uruguayan to get to the ball first just outside the 18-yard box.

    From defense to attack, the transition happened in nothing but an instant.

    Kylian Mbappe had the ball and he was ahead of him already, but Ronald Araujo was not one to give up though.

    Thud!

    Maintaining his speed, Ronald Araujo clattered into Mbappe just before he entered the 18-yard box, shoving him with his shoulder.

    Instead of resisting though, respecting Araujo''s greater physicality, Mbappe rather disengaged from the physical duel.

    This was not him giving up though, it was just him simply re-strategizing.

    "Close him down!" From the touchline, Hansi Flick yelled at his defender as he realized the Madrid attacker''s intentions first.

    "¡­!" Ronald Araujo finally realized.

    This position, this sequence¡­, it was Mbappe''s trademark while he still plied his trade for Paris Saint Germain in France.

    ''NO! I need to close him down¡­!''

    Araujo moved but it was already too late.

    By slowing down and disengaging from the physical duel, the French captain, Kylian Mbappe allowed Araujo to overtake him but, in the process, it gave him more time on the ball to pick his moment.

    With 2 touches of the ball, Kylian Mbappe regained his balance and then with a 3rd touch, pushing the ball to the right, a move that Araujo failed to intercept, Mbappe set himself up for the shot just outside the 18-yard box.

    "¡­!"

    Instantly, the Santiago Bernabeu fell silent in anticipation.

    Just like Hansi Flick and then Ronald Araujo recognized this move, they also finally recognized it.

    Afterall, it was not just Mbappe''s trademark in PSG, it was also Ronaldo''s trademark move at some point when he plied his trade for their club.

    After setting himself up, Mbappe took a step and then with his right foot¡­

    BAM!

    He hit the ball, sending it on a curling trajectory towards the top right corner.

    Having had an amazing game so far, Ter Stegen took a step before diving after the ball. He did everything perfectly, just the curl on the ball was too much, and the accuracy called for blood.

    Whoosh!

    The ball flew through the air, rolling, rotating, curling till it went past the goalkeeper''s grasp, nestling into the net.

    It was a goal.

    "¡­!"

    Silence, at the Bernabeu, then¡­

    "GOALLLLLLLL¡­!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 Chapter 342 Barcelona responds!

    "GOALLLLLLL¡­!!!!!!!!"

    The Santiago Bernabeu erupted, turning into a cauldron of activity.

    The fans in white jumped, screaming for joy, waving their white jerseys with ecstasy written all over their faces as they celebrated.

    While Marc Andre Ter Stegen picked the ball out of his own net, Kylian Mbappe already whirled away in celebration as his teammates ran after him, jumping before doing his closed arm celebration.

    The Bernabeu was loud and boisterous as Madrid celebrated their goal.

    And just like that, 1-0 to Real Madrid.

    "¡­"

    Silently, the FC Barcelona players processed the goal, not blaming anybody as they recognized that it resulted from a moment of individual brilliance.

    But that brilliance left them looking for their own brilliance.

    Their bloods burned with fervor.

    ''Win!''

    The voice was already rearing its head in Sam''s head.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    Eventually¡­

    FWEEE!

    In the 23rd minute of this game, Real Madrid scored but it was just 1 goal and the FC Barcelona players didn''t let it demoralize them, making them even more focused and determined to make a comeback.

    And when the referee''s whistle sounded, they started their quest for a comeback even as once again, Sam led the charge.

    That goal didn''t change anything.

    It was still an end-to-end game, an incredible game of pound-to-pound football.

    Madrid attacks, Barca defends¡­

    Barca attacks, Madrid defends¡­

    After that goal, even as Barca attacked, Madrid got the better chances as their attacking players were finally ignited.

    Vinicius Jnr. went haywire at some point, going on an incredible solo run and shot that ended with his shot stinging the bar before bouncing back only for the rebound to kickstart a further scramble in the Barcelona box 18.

    Rodrygo also got one shot on target, a low shot that forced Ter Stegen into making an awkward save.

    Mbappe also shone, utilizing his explosiveness to devastating effect.

    He dazzled with his pace and quick feet, confounding the Barca defenders anytime he moved and he already let loose 2 more lethal shots that forced the in-form Ter Stegen into making 2 more incredible saves.

    Ter Stegen''s performance was solid enough to keep Madrid at bay, long enough for his team''s buzzing attack to finally get a tangible result.

    Before Madrid could double their lead, Barcelona responded!

    It happened in the 34th minute of this game. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Pedri won the ball back from Bellingham and immediately, he played a horizontal pass to the left where a rampaging Alejandro Balde lurked.

    The rapid FC Barcelona left back quickly took the ball in his strides.

    Thud! Thud! Thud!

    Hitting the ball long, he ate yards of space like they were not there, charging down the left flank and evading challenges in the process.

    When he ran into Rodrygo, with a simple shift and an explosion of speed, he erupted past the Brazilian winger.

    And when he ran into Trent Alexander Arnold in the Madrid half, Balde''s electric dribbling ability reared its head as a few step overs later and a drop of the shoulder and the Englishman was left chasing straws.

    BZZZ!

    Balde pushed the ball in between his legs, nutmegging him as he rushed past him and then he finally raised his head to look into the 18-yard box.

    By the side, close to where he made his run, Raphinha ran, aligning his run with his even as the Brazilian asked for the pass.

    But Alejandro Balde looked past him, to the 18-yard box. Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire

    There, to the right side of the box, Lamine Yamal lurked, Mendy following him closely even as he charged into the box.

    Also in the box was Gavi, the attacking midfielder.

    But the tallest FC Barcelona player currently in the 18-yard box was Sam.

    Despite being the striker of his team, he was the one who was behind, barely inside the 18-yard box but it was a clever move.

    This was because with all the defenders preoccupied with marking the runners in blue and red running into their box, anticipating a pass, they had no time to focus on Sam who decided to stay behind just at the edge of the 18-yard box.

    ''That''s it!'' Alejandro Balde made his decision, then¡­

    Bam!

    He hit an accurate cross with his left foot towards the box.

    Whoosh!

    The ball floated through the air, rotating. One of the Real Madrid defenders read the trajectory of the ball first¡­, David Alaba.

    As soon as the Austrian did the math, his eyes widened. ''Sam!''

    He moved but it was already too late as jumping, Sam cooled the momentum of the ball with his chest just in time as Alaba clattered into him.

    Sam''s balance was disrupted but spreading his arms in mid-air, he was able to prevent his body from flipping over as he landed on his feet.

    His muscles strained as he fought with the Austrian center back, protecting the ball even in the unbalanced stance where he landed.

    Bzzz!

    Sam noticed Rudiger finally react, rushing to block any possible shot from him but Sam didn''t shoot the ball.

    Instead, he looked, and noticed him.

    Gavi, who was suddenly free due to the attention on him.

    Bam!

    He hit the ball in a lobbed pass, raising it over Rudiger and towards Gavi who was suddenly isolated in the Real Madrid 18-yard box.

    "¡­!"

    Trepidations spread through the Santiago Bernabeu as time seemed to slow down.

    Gavi traced the ball with his eyes, calculating its trajectory, having the presence of mind to allow it drop to the optimum position before swinging his leg to take the shot.

    But then¡­

    Whoosh!

    Somehow, the intelligent David Alaba was able to read Sam''s intentions though a bit late, he still reacted.

    That sound was the sound of Alaba''s last-ditch sliding tackle for the ball and hearing it, Gavi reacted, making a split-second decision to change his action from shooting the ball to cutting it instead.

    Bzzz!

    That touch sent the sliding David Alaba to the shadow realm, opening him up one on one with Thibaut Courtois, the Real Madrid goalkeeper.

    Gavi no longer hesitated.

    Bam!

    With the outside of his boot, he poked the ball and it moved, flashing past Courtois'' side and into the Real Madrid net.

    Having risen to their feet from the moment when Sam rose into the air, cooling the ball with his chest, the FC Barcelona fans in the away stands now erupted in their opponent''s home with deafening roars of defiance and ecstasy.

    "GOALLLLLLLLLLLL¡­!!!"

 Chapter 343 This is El Clasico!

    "BARCA HAS DONE IT!" The commentators roared.

    "The Catalans have done it in Madrid!"

    "That''s the equalizer!"

    "What a goal!"

    "So many people involved, so many brilliant plays involved!"

    "Balde''s run, just beautiful! Sam''s physicality against Alaba? Brilliant! And that pass? My God, that was straight out of Mesut Ozil''s book!"

    "And then that finishing touch?!"

    "My oh my! Gavi, come on, this is the Bernabeu short man!"

    While the commentators raved, waxing lyrical about the equalizer that suddenly silenced the Santiago Bernabeu, Gavi was already charging away towards the corner flag even as the away stands erupted in ecstasy.

    Gavi didn''t just run, as he ran, he pumped his fists excitedly, his pupils dilated in the tense energy of this game.

    As he pumped his fists, he bent his body, sliding in celebration even as he kept on pumping them fists excitedly.

    "COME ON!!!" He roared in Spanish.

    His teammates arrived, swarming him, celebrating the goal with him.

    The reaction of the home fans?

    "BOOOOO¡­!!!"

    That goal only made the atmosphere in this stadium even more hostile.

    The Madrid fans went as far as throwing bottles and other things at the celebrating FC Barcelona players, truly making the atmosphere hit a fever pitch.

    It took some intervention before the fans and players finally calmed down.

    Despite the disruption though, reality was reality.

    In the 34th minute of this game, it was now 1-1¡­

    FC Barcelona was back in the game.

    Absolute cinema.

    "And that is Sam''s first El Clasico goal contribution! Does he have what it takes to do more in this game?"

    "Surely, this game has more drama, right?"

    Yes, there was more drama in this game, the El Clasico kind.

    After that goal, once again it was even between both teams, taking them back to square zero where they started but this time, with more drama.

    Mbappe already scored, Gavi equalized, and yet both teams wanted more.

    FWEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, the cinema continued.

    And this time, a certain Vinicius Jnr. truly became unleashed.

    Real Madrid and FC Barcelona have a roster of superstars, professional football players who were at the peak of the profession but when it comes to thriving in chaos and pressure, few thrived like the Brazilian, Vinicius Jnr.

    Barcelona''s equalizer didn''t demoralize Vinicius at all, rather, it only made the Brazilian want to make his mark in the game even more.

    BZZZ!

    Vinicius became a monster!

    Every single time that he got the ball from the 34th minute onward, the Brazilian dazzled, turning Jules Kounde inside out.

    And every single dribble after, he never failed to jump aggressively, pumping his hands to rile up the Madrid fans in white.

    In the 38th minute, he went on another solo run, penetrating into the Barca defense and sneaking out a shot that forced Ter Stegen into an awkward save, pushing the ball into the bar for a rebound.

    ''A chance¡­!''

    Vinicius erupted, chasing after the loose ball but someone went after him. The Uruguayan, Ronald Araujo.

    Vinicius arrived at the ball first but immediately after, Ronald Araujo clattered into him, shoving him off the ball with his shoulder in a display of power. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire

    It was a goal kick but that action¡­, it became a catalyst for violence.

    "Bastard! What was that?!" Bellingham who was close by quickly closed the distance to Araujo, shoving him with his arms.

    A hot-blooded Araujo reacted immediately, turning towards the Englishman.

    Bellingham didn''t back down. "F*ck you!"

    Of course, Bellingham reacted for a reason, it was a slightly hard tackle. And Vinicius who was at the end of it had no intention of staying quiet.

    The Brazilian was known for his fiery personality.

    As soon as Vinicius rose back to his feet, he pointed a finger at the Uruguayan, warning him but the Catalan players were having none of it.

    Pak!

    Pau Cubarsi slapped Vinicius Jnr.''s pointed finger aside!

    "¡­!"

    Emotions quickly flared!

    FWEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle quickly sounded as he mediated, trying to calm the situation even as the players of both clubs clashed.

    Raphinha charged from where he was, trying to also mediate the situation but he barely spoke when Vinicius shoved him aside with one hand.

    "¡­!" The Brazilian was shocked, he could only laugh.

    They were compatriots internationally but clearly, that didn''t mean much to Vinicius at this moment as club rivalry took precedence.

    The game turned chaotic and heated.

    But this was El Clasico!

    This was the energy of the great rivalry between the 2 top Spanish clubs.

    Sam was at the side but witnessing his teammates clash against those of the Spanish Capital club, he could not stay idle as he also entered the fray, mediating while using the opportunity to exchange a word or two with the opponents.

    Since making his debut as a professional football player, this was by far the most heated game that Sam had taken part in.

    The energy, the tension, the near violence, everything was next level.

    He was not used to it but Sam didn''t succumb to it. Having lived through El Clasicos like this as a fan, he adapted properly as a player now.

    When the players finally calmed down, the referee finally started his onslaught, brandishing yellow cards like they were freebies.

    Ronald Araujo and Vinicius Jnr. received a yellow card, Bellingham and Pau Cubarsi also received yellow cards.

    The Real Madrid fans clamored for a penalty for Ronald Araujo clattering into Vinicius in such a manner but the referee was having none of it.

    Standing his ground, after both sides accepted his decision, he blew the whistle again to continue this fiery game.

    FWEEE!

    The game continued. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After that altercation in the 38th minute, both sides were even more eager to sink the other and get the bragging rights at the end of the game.

    Vinicius continued dazzling, constantly setting Mbappe up against the stalwart Barca defense.

    The Barca attackers were not idle either.

    Led by Sam, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal, they dazzled, going again and again as they threatened the Madrid defense.

    Both sides created chances, keeping the fans on edge throughout but in the end, the first half ended in a draw.

    Half-time, 1-1.

    Even as they walked down the tunnel, Vinicius continued exchanging words with Ronald Araujo, pointing fingers at the Uruguayan.

    This was a fiery game.

 Chapter 344 The turning point; breaking the stalmate!

    In the FC Barcelona dressing room, there was silence for a time, the only sound being the heavy breathing of the players.

    Until it was broken by the German coach.

    Hansi Flick decided to amp the tempo with his players. "Come on guys!"

    He clapped. "You and I know exactly what we came here to do, to win!"

    "They''re insecure from last season".

    "They want to make us lose our cool, they want to unnerve us, that''s why they''re trying to incite violence on the pitch".

    He grinned. "But that only means we''re doing the right thing!"

    Hansi Flick smiled. "Real Madrid are losing their nerves, and trust me, we have what it takes to make them lose it completely".

    "People say they have nerves of steel, I say we can break even steel".

    He grinned. "Let''s go for the kill this second half!"

    "Let''s show them who the true King in Spain is!"

    With that, the German coach was done, letting his words sink into the head of his players as time for the start of the second half loomed.

    In the dressing room, sitting, Sam felt his hands twitching.

    His whole body trembled. Sam felt¡­ excited.

    ''Hehehe,'' he grinned. ''Let''s show Madrid who''s boss!'' Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A few minutes later, the gladiators from Catalan stepped back into the pitch.

    At the opposite side, stepping out of the tunnel, it was clear that the Madrid players also came with more venom to ditch out damage in this 2nd half.

    Clearly, Carlo Ancelotti also said something to rile them up.

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, it started, or rather, it continued.

    Bam! Bam!

    A game of end-to-end football, end to end attack, it continued.

    The defenses of both clubs were stretched, pushed to their wit''s end simply due to the level of offensive play in this second half.

    For the Madridistas¡­

    Vinicius Jnr. was constantly electric, creating something out of nothing.

    Kylian Mbappe was explosive, bursting into life on intervals, pushing the Barca defense to the limit in a bid to score the winning goal of this game.

    In midfield, Valverde led, having a terrific game.

    He was everywhere, in attack, passing, unleashing terrific strikes of the ball. In defense, he was there, sliding everywhere, jumping into tackles with gusto.

    Bellingham also had a solid game.

    As for the Catalans¡­

    Sam was the thorn that constantly tormented the Madridistas.

    With his terrific level of play as a false 9 this game, the rest of the Barca attack raised its level to meet him, Lamine Yamal especially being a menace.

    The young Spaniard repeatedly turned Ferland Mendy inside out, creating a few chances already even as Raphinha stayed a bubble of energy in attack.

    In midfield, Pedri made things tick for the Catalans still.

    He was having a terrific game.

    This game was still tied, fiery, and electric.

    Both clubs tried their all, utilizing every weapon in their arsenal and yet, a tangible result was yet to materialize in this 2nd half.

    50 minutes, no goal¡­

    60 minutes, no goal¡­

    70 minutes, still no goal¡­

    But then just 3 minutes after the 70th minute, Raphinha burst to life, bombing down the left-hand side of the pitch as he played one-two passes with Alejandro Balde, cutting through Madrid defenders like they were not there.

    After one final pass from Raphinha, just as Camavinga rushed in, Raphinha nutmegged him, skipping into space and setting himself up to take a shot.

    But just before he could take the shot.

    Whoosh!

    David Alaba slid in aggressively to block the shot.

    Making a split-second decision, from a shot, Raphinha changed his mind, pushing the ball to the right where Sam lurked.

    Bam!

    With his first touch, Sam shifted the ball, away from Rudiger''s aggressive charge and leg swing as the defender clattered into him.

    Gnashing his teeth to bear the pain of Rudiger''s aggressive kick, Sam tracked Raphinha with his eyes.

    After that pass, the Brazilian continued his run.

    David Alaba already reacted, chasing after him again but the Austrian was not as fast as the Brazilian and besides, Raphinha had a head start in this foot race.

    Sam didn''t hesitate¡­

    Bam!

    He touched the ball a second time, this time being a hit as with the inside of his boot, he delicately flicked the ball up and past Rudiger''s reach.

    "¡­!"

    Rudiger reacted, moving his head after the ball to intercept it. Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire

    He could not intercept the ball, but he managed to graze it with his head, changing its trajectory a bit but mid-motion, Raphinha reacted to the ball''s position.

    Behind the Brazilian¡­

    Thud! Thud!

    David Alaba chased.

    From the left, Carvajal charged in with a look like he was ready to kill while from the right, Mendy charged in with a calculating gleam in his eye.

    Raphinha had no time to think, and so he simply shut his head down and did what he practiced all his life to do best, hit the ball.

    In that awkward position, Raphinha jumped slightly and then, he swung his left leg with all the power that he could muster.

    BAM!

    Raphinha hit the ball with his left leg on a volley across the face of goal!

    Like a rocket, it flashed with speed, disappearing even as Raphinha collapsed to the pitch, somersaulting.

    As for the ball¡­

    With wide eyes, Thibaut Courtois followed the ball as it flashed across the face of goal. He dived, stretching his tall frame as he reached for the ball.

    His reaction was perfect, but the power behind that shot was just too much.

    The ball flashed past his grasp.

    Whoosh!

    Mendy slid after the ball, swinging his leg and trying to intercept it but it was not enough as the ball rapidly flashed past him too.

    In the end, the players in the white of the Spanish Capital club could only watch with desperate looks on their faces as the ball nestled into the net.

    Raphinha somersaulted and quickly jumped back to his feet, pumping a fist in celebration. "GOALLL!!!" He screamed.

    "GOALLLLL....!!!!!!!"

    The away section in the Santiago Bernabeu exploded again.

    It was pure chaos; it was pure cinema.

 Chapter 345 A masterpiece at the Bernabeu!

    "GOALLLLLL¡­!!!" The commentators screamed.

    "Raphinha with the thunderbolt!"

    "What a hit!"

    "Courtois definitely didn''t see that coming!"

    After his somersault, jumping back to his feet, Raphinha was already charging towards the corner flag to celebrate even as Sam and the rest of his teammates charged after him, celebrating excitedly.

    Arriving at the corner flag, the Brazilian jumped high, pumping a fist in celebration even as the stunned Real Madrid fans watched them spitefully.

    Sam jumped on Raphinha''s back, celebrating the goal with him.

    When Yamal arrived, he led the way, starting the Brazilian samba dance. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As soon as Raphinha realized what the young Spaniard was doing, with a big smile on his face, he joined. Sam was awful at dancing but eager to join in on the fun, he also joined in on the dance even as Balde also danced with them.

    "What a comeback from FC Barcelona!"

    "And just like that, they''re in front!"

    "But this boy, Samuel Moses, can we just talk about his quality?"

    "Can we talk about the quality in that assist?"

    "I mean, come on, that''s his 2nd assist this game! The Madrid defense is doing a good job at marking him not to take a good sight of goal, but still, his playmaking skills are tearing Madrid apart".

    "That pass to set up Gavi was crazy, but this was even crazier!"

    "What a pass!"

    "He is the model false 9!"

    "But what a change. Earlier in the season, the football world was set ablaze as FC Barcelona unveiled their newly signed attacking midfielder".

    "To think that this midfielder would be such a lethal striker now".

    "Barcelona truly are blessed to have him".

    That goal¡­ only left more nerves dangling in this game.

    The tension in this game didn''t decrease, rather it increased, Real Madrid suddenly feeling the heat.

    Having lost all 3 games against the Catalan giants during the previous season, Real Madrid were desperate to make their comeback and get a win.

    They were under a lot of pressure to perform at the El Clasico, Kylian Mbappe especially who was yet to taste a victory at the El Clasico.

    They were not even satisfied with ending this game in a stalemate.

    And to think now, they were not even drawing, but were rather losing¡­

    ¡­to hell with courtesy!

    FWEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded in the 74th minute of this game after Raphinha''s goal, the signal for the game to continue, Jose Mourinho''s Real Madrid suddenly seemed to have reincarnated in this current crop of players donning the white of the Spanish Capital club.

    Real Madrid lost it completely.

    After playing fair, curbing their desire to incite violence amid high tension since, to still be losing after all that?

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    It was demoralizing, and so Madrid decided to switch it up!

    They decided to turn the game on its head!

    Thud! Thud!

    The Madrid players no longer just chased the ball, they sought murder!

    But the fact that they sought murder didn''t mean Barca would roll over on their belly for them though. Rather, it was the sudden change that took over the Catalan''s game that incited their desire for violence even more.

    After Raphinha''s goal, suddenly infused with more confidence as they were now leading in this game, FC Barcelona truly awakened, rearing its head.

    The Catalans started their football heritage.

    Pressed to quickly win the ball back and score again to make it a deadlock once again, the Real Madrid players chased the ball everywhere, including the forwards like Mbappe and Vinicius and yet that was where Barca shone.

    Tiki! Taka!

    Prime FC Barcelona seemed to have reincarnated.

    Sam seemed to turn into a prime Lionel Messi, Yamal turning into a prime Neymar as with their one-two passes and silky dribbling skills, they began cutting the Real Madrid defense open again and again like a hot knife through butter.

    Bzzz!

    Every touch, every body movement, it was done with lethal intent, turning the players facing them inside out and forcing them to embrace the dark side.

    In midfield, Pedri and Gavi seemed to turn into reincarnations of Xavi and Iniesta as they dictated the play in the middle of the park.

    Bam! Bam!

    They passed the ball in consistent and dizzying triangular patterns, dancing circles around the pursuing Real Madrid players.

    Raphinha remained a bubble of energy, a constant source of strength.

    And then supporting him on the left was an Alejandro Balde who also seemed to transmogrify in this game, turning into a prime Jordi Alba.

    The young Spaniard bombed up and down the left-hand side of the pitch like a tireless machine whose sole purpose was sinking Madrid to defeat.

    On the right, Jules Kounde was no Dani Alves but the right back did his defending to a tee, frustrating the suddenly tame Madrid attack.

    With every play, every touch of the ball, every minute that passed, Madrid players became more frustrated and the frustration began spilling.

    ''Kill him!'' The Jose Mourinho spirit whispered.

    Whoosh!

    Ferland Mendy was the first to lose his head, taking Yamal down in an extremely dangerous tackle as the Spaniard continued teasing him.

    The referee''s whistle sounded immediately as the left back got a yellow card.

    And yet Barca didn''t stop due to that.

    Barcelona continued tormenting them and in reply, they played ugly. Rudiger led the charge, seemingly transforming into a prime and ruthless Sergio Ramos.

    Real Madrid were being toyed with at the Bernabeu!

    This was not just any performance from FC Barcelona, this was a masterpiece!

    A game of heavyweights where the Catalans taught their bitter rivals an unforgettable lesson in football.

    In the 83rd minute of the game, it finally happened.

    FWEEEE!

    The referee blew his whistle again, this time brandishing a straight red card to Carvajal who took down Raphinha after another marauding attack.

    The veteran Spanish right back muttered some curses before trudging off the field angrily, nerves were at their highest in this game.

    Sam stood over the ball to take the freekick as he was greeted by an ocean of boos from the Real Madrid players.

    After a short run, Sam took an accurate freekick, sending it towards the top right corner but Courtois pulled off an incredible save, tipping the ball over for a corner.

    When the corner was cleared, Rudiger almost took out Araujo in the process of clearing the ball.

    The game was truly heated.

    But then just 2 more minutes later, Barca did it again, they scored.

    And this time, Sam did it.

    He got his name on the scoresheet finally.

 Chapter 346 The King!

    After the unsuccessful corner kick, Real Madrid started their customary counterattack even that late in the game.

    Bam!

    Again, Federico Valverde arrived at Rudiger''s clearance first, flicking the ball to a free Camavinga just before Frankie De Jong could steal it.

    With the ball, the Frenchman kicked it long, quickly kickstarting a counterattack as he ran with the ball.

    He didn''t run with it for long though, kicking it to the left where an adrenaline-infused Vinicius Jnr. lurked.

    As soon as the ball touched Vinicius'' leg in the right, tens of thousands of fans in white stood up around this stadium, anticipating a miracle.

    Afterall, this was usually the time when they did it, the time when they created miracles, clutching victory from the jaws of defeat.

    Comeback was Real Madrid''s staple food; they were infamous and well around the football world known for it.

    Just last season, they did it countless times.

    Against Dortmund, they did it, Vinicius leading the charge as he scored a hattrick in the dying minutes of the game to complete an incredible comeback against their German opponents.

    Not just against Dortmund, that same last season, they did it against Manchester City in the playoff round of the UEFA champions league where they came from losing 2-1 in the 85th minute to winning 2-3 by the final whistle.

    And not just last season, they''ve done it countless times in the big stages where the whole world was watching.

    Seasons earlier in the UEFA champions league, in the big stage of the semifinals against Manchester City, they also did it, Rodrygo scoring 2 stoppage time goals in quick succession to draw them from the jaws of defeat, eliminating Man City''s 2-goal lead only for Benzema to get the decisive winner in additional time.

    Creating incredible comebacks¡­, that was what Madrid was known for.

    And this was why as soon as the ball got to Vinicius, the Madrid fans stood up, anticipating, hoping for a miracle.

    And Vinicius was already in the zone state.

    As soon as the ball got to him, with a drop of the shoulder, he left Kounde for dead but instead of running with the ball, he instead hit it with his right leg, unleashing a terrific trivela pass into space.

    Thud!

    Kylian Mbappe dug in, erupting in a sprint after the ball.

    Ronald Araujo pursued!

    "¡­!"

    In that moment, the FC Barcelona fans had their hearts in their throats as they feared for the worse.

    Thud!

    Mbappe dug in, shoving Araujo aside with his hand and overtaking him in the foot race in the process even as all his body entered an excited state, moving with determined focus and intent.

    Marc Andre Ter Stegen charged out, but he was not fast enough.

    Mbappe got to the ball first.

    "¡­!"

    Silence descended across the Bernabeu.

    Kylian Mbappe took one touch of the ball to set himself up, unwilling to make any mistake when he took his shot but that moment of hesitation did him in.

    Whoosh!

    Slightly behind him, from the side, as soon as Mbappe took that first touch, Ronald Araujo dove in aggressively on a sliding tackle.

    It was a risky move but he got it right, getting the ball first as he kicked it away from Mbappe''s foot to the right.

    There, Pedri already arrived.

    As soon as the Spaniard got the ball, he turned around and looked upward before quickly hitting it.

    Bam!

    Pedri sent the ball up and high, to the right side of the pitch, where a certain Lamine Yamal was now unmarked.

    Eager to score the equalizer, Real Madrid sent too many players up field as soon as they started the counterattack, now opening them up.

    With a body feint, a step over, and a la croqueta, Lamine Yamal sent Ferland Mendy to the shadow realm once again in this game.

    Driving into the box, just before he could run into Rudiger, Yamal flicked the ball towards a certain Sam who was in the box.

    Bzzz!

    David Alaba having read the Spaniard''s intention reacted fast.

    But Sam was backing down to no Alaba!

    He also jumped after the lobbed ball, clattering into Alaba in the process but Sam managed to stay composed in the air to control the ball with his chest.

    Alaba grabbed his left hand, dragging him to the ground even as he collapsed but straining his muscles and standing his ground, with eyes burning with fire, Sam followed the ball with his eyes.

    And as he fell with the Austrian, he raised his right leg, swung, and then¡­

    POW!

    Sam was falling but he still managed to generate enough power to unleash an absolute thunderbolt, sending it towards the bottom left corner.

    His shooting technique was perfecto.

    Once again, Thibaut Courtois did everything right, diving after the ball but for the 3rd time, he was beaten in this game.

    The ball snuck into the net.

    Real Madrid fans prayed for a miracle when Vinicius had the ball, a miracle did happen just mere seconds later, but not quite the miracle that they expected.

    Sam got his first El Clasico goal!

    "GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!" The commentators roared even as the away stands at the Santiago Bernabeu went haywire.

    "HE''S ARRIVED!"

    "HE''S STRUCK!"

    "ZINEDINE SAMMMMM, HE''S ARRIVED!"

    "THE KING!"

    "King of the Santiago Bernabeu!"

    "King of the Spotify Camp Nou!"

    "The new King of Spanish Football, remember the name, Samuel Moses!"

    "HE''S HERE!!!"

    "Who is Kylian Mbappe? Who is Vinicius Jnr? He is Sam! Samuel Moses!"

    Sam charged towards the corner flag, sliding on his knees before a stunned and dumpfounded Santiago Bernabeu.

    His teammates celebrated with him.

    And just like that, Real Madrid was butchered.

    FWEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle sounded but there was nothing more to do.

    Carlo Ancelotti finally pulled the plug, taking off his superstars like Mbappe and Vinicius, giving the youngsters, Endrick and Brahim Diaz a learning opportunity.

    That move said it all, Real Madrid already gave up on the game.

    And it played out just like everybody watching this game expected. With the superstars gone, the youngsters just threw stones against a stalwart wall, trying their tricks and flicks against an unbreakable FC Barcelona side.

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    In the 90th minute, Sam was taken out of the game by Hansi Flick as he received a standing ovation from the FC Barcelona fans.

    And incredibly, a few Real Madrid fans put their hate aside, applauding his performance today.

    They already admitted defeat, and in so doing, they appreciated what he did on the pitch today. It was incredible.

    On the pitch today, he was a genius. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A few more minutes later, the referee''s whistle sounded again, finally bringing the game to an end.

    With a 1-3 scoreline, FC Barcelona won.

    And with 2 assists and 1 goal accompanied by a man of the match award, Sam''s first El Clasico was an unforgettable one.

    He was the King.

 Chapter 347 Reactions

    During the post-match interview, all eyes were on him, the King.

    As the recipient of the man of the match award in this game, Sam came out representing FC Barcelona, taking the interview on their behalf.

    As he walked towards the interview crew, all the cameras focused on him.

    All attention was on him, and Sam didn''t shy due to it.

    Rather, he basked in it, rubbing his nose as he felt on top of the world.

    ''Ahh¡­, this feeling, I''ll get addicted it!'' He smiled.

    "What a game you had Sam!" The male reporter said with a big smile on his face. "What a game! You truly killed it out there today man".

    "This is the Bernabeu, and yet, you showed no respect," he laughed. "2 assists and 1 goal, what a performance, Sam how do you feel after all that?"

    "Terrific!" Sam laughed. "I won''t even try to be modest, I feel like a superhero".

    "I still remember a few days ago while jogging alongside Gavi, Pedri, Yamal, and Balde. We met a few Barca fans on the road who demanded for us to win, saying we must win". He looked at the camera. "Guys, we did it, we won!"

    He chuckled. "Getting to fulfill the dream of fans like that, it''s a dream come true for me". He grinned. "That''s why I feel like a superhero".

    "Honestly, I feel great!"

    The reporter smiled. "I can''t help but recall that this game was not all bed and roses for you and your teammates, Madrid got the lead first".

    "At that moment, what were you feeling? What was going through your mind? Did you know then that you would win?"

    "Ah," Sam scoffed, laughing. "I''m no prophet". He smiled. "Besides, this is the Bernabeu, this is Real Madrid, there''s no guarantee to win in this stadium".

    "I never knew we would win, and I believe my teammates felt the same way. We just didn''t want to lose without putting up a fight".

    "We came to the Bernabeu with a certain mentality".

    His eyes gleamed as he smiled. "We came to play our hearts out".

    "If we lost, so be it, at least we''d go home with the knowledge that we gave our all on the pitch. That''s enough for us".

    "And since we won," he grinned again. "Thank God!" He laughed.

    "What a mentality to have!" The reporter smiled. "I think a lot more footballers would benefit by having a mentality like yours".

    Sam just smiled.

    "With this victory, you''ve widened the gap between your club and Real Madrid. You now have a significant 4-point gap at the top of the table, do you think Barcelona has what it takes to retain the Spanish La Liga title?"

    Sam went over his thoughts before answering carefully. "The Spanish La Liga is one of the hardest league titles to win in the world, I can''t underestimate it".

    "All I know is that we''ll give our all to fight to the very end".

    "Talking about our credentials of winning it, of course, I believe we''re well equipped to retain the La Liga title".

    "Beating Madrid in their home, I think that''s the greatest proof of it".

    "But we won''t become complacent due to that. Every game apart from this one is as important, after all, they all give 3 points for a victory".

    "We''ll keep on doing our best, fighting for every point in every game and hopefully, come season end, our efforts are rewarded". Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Well said". The reporter smiled.

    "One more thing Sam. After your performance today, social media has been set ablaze, they''re calling you the King of Spain!"

    The reporter smiled shrewdly. "What do you think?"

    Sam chuckled. "If they think I''m King, so be it".

    "Don''t even think I''ll be modest, I worked hard for it".

    The reporter laughed. "Well said, I like you Sam".

    "Do have a great day, and thanks for having me".

    "You too".

    With that, Sam trudged off back to meet his teammates with his swagger in his steps, amid the rapid clicking of cameras. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He was sure that a certain Kayla would be grumbling at home already.

    ''After this game, my social media popularity¡­, heh''. He smirked.

    ¡­

    Just like expected, after the game at the Santiago Bernabeu, the football world was taken by storm as reactions followed the aftermath.

    Explosive reactions.

    (ESPN News:)

    (King Sam at the Bernabeu! Samuel Moses leads the destruction at the Bernabeu, leading FC Barcelona to a famous victory against Real Madrid with Raphinha and Gavi acting as capable support casts! The faith of the striking position at Barca is in safe hands, Barcelona players ratings vs Real Madrid:)

    (Goalkeeper & Defense:)

    (Marc Andre Ter Stegen: 7/10)

    >The German is looking more assured in between the sticks as he dutifully protected the goal with some good saves when Madrid began piling the pressure at 1-1, including sensational saves against Mbappe and Vinicius<

    (Jules Kounde: 6/10)

    >Offered little in attack, but understandable since he went up against Vinicius Jnr. Did his fair bit of defending, though lost to the Brazilian a few times<

    (Ronald Araujo: 7.5/10)

    >A rock in defense. Marshalled the defense well against Real Madrid''s rapid attack, playing the offside trap to perfection alongside his partners in defense<

    (Pau Cubarsi: 8/10)

    >Was a rock alongside Ronald Araujo. Did all the defending bits with little to no mistakes, and also impressed with his passing from the back. A solid performance<

    (Alejandro Balde: 7.5/10)

    >A great threat going forward, constantly bombing up and down the pitch and combining with Raphinha to devastating effect. Played the decisive pass that led to one of the goals<

    (Midfield:)

    (Frankie De Jong: 6/10)

    >Got stuck in as usual doing his stuff, but sometimes struggled against Real Madrid''s physical midfield<

    (Pedri: 7.5/10)

    >A beacon in midfield. Pedri strutted his stuff like usual, doing the tiny bits, playing passes and dictating play from the middle of the park. A solid display<

    (Gavi: 7.5/10)

    >A bubble of energy all over the pitch. Struggled to make much of an impact in the 2nd half, but took his goal well in the 1st<

    (Attack:)

    (Lamine Yamal: 8/10)

    >Mendy will be seeing him in his nightmares tonight. Absolutely electric with his dribbling, turning Mendy inside out and more than one occasion. Did his fair bit of playmaking in helping defeat the Merengues<

    (Samuel Moses: 9.5/10)

    >What else is there to say? The King! Absolutely bossed the game from the first minute, assisting Gavi for the 1st goal, assisting Raphinha for the 2nd goal, and scoring the 3rd goal himself. An unforgettable performance<

    (Raphinha: 8/10)

    >Not his best day against Carvajal but he never gave up, doing his thing on the pitch and then taking his goal with aplomb when the opportunity presented itself. A solid showing<

    The rating by ESPN News reflected the feeling among the football community.

    Tonight, it was all FC Barcelona and Sam was at the helm of the conversations. After today''s display, to a lot of football fans around the world, Sam was up there at the very top tier of footballers in the world.

    He was a balon d''or contender!

    He was having a terrific season, and may go all the way to win it all come season end.

    They could not wait to see more of him.

 Chapter 348 Preparations for the biggest award ceremony in football

    After the game at the Santiago Bernabeu, a big celebration started in Barcelona as the fans in blue and red flooded the streets.

    New banners of Sam were made all across the city of Barcelona.

    Banners dubbing him the King.

    With that performance against their bitter rivals in their own stadium, Sam truly bought the hearts of every FC Barcelona fans, including the greatest skeptics.

    They all now believed in him.

    That night alone, the FC Barcelona online store experienced a sudden upsurge in the number of orders for Sam''s No. 40 jersey.

    More fans now wanted to wear Sam''s no. on their back, flaunting it everywhere they went. Sam became an even bigger hit overnight.

    The players also celebrated their victory as they returned to Barcelona from Madrid. After getting home though, Sam bid farewell to his friends in the squad before driving straight home.

    He did the rest of the celebration at home with his girlfriend.

    Kayla surprised him after such a performance on getting home. She made his favorite food again, Banga Soup and starch to celebrate the occasion.

    Sam ate to his fill, feeling lucky for dating her again. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    That night, laying down on his bed with his girlfriend sleeping in his arms, Sam reminisced, looking back on all he had achieved in his football career at the young age of just 20.

    Yes, he rarely kept track since he was so busy but he was 20 now.

    It still felt like just yesterday when he was 17.

    ''Time moves so fast''.

    In the end, he just focused on his statistics for this season.

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    He normally didn''t pay much attention to them but after arriving home and eating, Kayla showed him some posts on social media that raved about him, and the incredible reactions to his performance today.

    Among them, he saw multiple posts highlighting his stats for the season.

    (2025/2026 Football Season:)

    (All Competitions:)

    (Goals: 14)

    (Assists: 7)

    (Games: 10)

    (21 goals + assists in 10 games)

    "Hehe," he chuckled. "Great for my debut season in La Liga".

    "I wonder how it''d be at the end of the season".

    That night, Sam slept soundly like a baby.

    The next day, Sam did something that he had not done before, he invited his friends in the FC Barcelona squad to visit him for dinner.

    And then, later in the night after a training-day off since Hansi Flick gave his players a break after the impressive victory against Real Madrid, Gavi, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, and Alejandro Balde visited Sam.

    And for the first time in their lives, the 4 Spanish players got exposed to the beauty of African delicacies, delicately prepared by Kayla.

    At first, it was weird, the sight, the smell, but the taste¡­, boy was it heavenly!

    Lamine Yamal was the first to fall in love.

    Balde quickly followed, and eventually Gavi and Pedri also ate the food.

    After eating, spending quality time together, they discussed different topics but the main topic of their discussion was the big footballing event that was scheduled to take place tomorrow, 28th October.

    Tomorrow, the biggest award ceremony in football was to take place, France Football''s Balon D''or ceremony.

    The Balon D''or was the biggest individual award in football, and so the award ceremony was held in high esteem in the football community.

    And for the first time in his career, Sam was invited for the ceremony.

    Alongside his teammates, his friends who visited him today, tomorrow, they would be in Paris for the award ceremony.

    After his record-breaking 2nd season with Fulham in the English premier league, leading them to a history-making season, Sam''s efforts were finally about to be recognized and rewarded by football''s big awards.

    He already got the PFA Footballer of the Season for the English Premier league, his biggest individual award so far, and Sam was due for more.

    That evening, in his mansion in Barcelona, Sam discussed the ceremony with his friends, debating the type of suit that they would wear tomorrow.

    They also guessed what position each of them would take in the Balon D''or rankings when the final ranking was released tomorrow at the ceremony.

    Individually, they had terrific campaigns last season but none of them were quite confident of lifting the big trophy, the Balon D''or award itself.

    "Tomorrow, we''ll know who lifts it".

    With that, Sam finally bid his friends farewell, doing the final fashion brainstorming with his girlfriend before going to sleep.

    Fortunately, Kayla managed to choose a fashionable Gucci suit for him.

    His preparations for the ceremony were complete.

    ¡­

    The next day, Sam gave himself completely to his girlfriend as Kayla did what she did best, prepping him for the big occasion.

    She did her magic so perfectly that when Sam came out of his mansion, he looked like a model about to enter the walkway.

    She grinned. "You look dashing!"

    "Thank you, my love". Blowing a kiss at her, he entered his luxury car and quickly drove off to where he was scheduled to meet his teammates who were also invited to the ceremony in Paris.

    After arriving at the hotel, Sam met up with his teammates who were also invited for the ceremony.

    Barcelona''s President, Joan Laporta was also there at the hotel alongside Hansi Flick, the FC Barcelona coach.

    The President would be following his players to the ceremony.

    After making their final preparations at the hotel, making sure that everything was in order, the contingent from FC Barcelona finally went to the airport where they took their private jet to France, Paris.

    They arrived to much fanfare.

    Click! Click!

    The cameras went haywire in Paris, FC Barcelona fans who were based there coming out to welcome their beloved club''s superstars.

    And like expected, most of the attention was on Sam and Lamine Yamal.

    Raphinha, Pedri, Gavi, and other superstars of the Catalan club received their fair share of attention as they got a triumphant welcome in Paris.

    About an hour later, when the ceremony was scheduled to start, Sam and his teammates finally entered the walkway.

    Today, Sam looked especially dashing.

    The cameras focused on him.

 Chapter 349 France footballs ballon dOr ceremony [1]

    The Ballon d''or gala was a spectacle of elegance, excess, and electric anticipation. The venue, the grand Parisian theater adorned with golden lights and velvet carpets buzzed with the energy of football royalty.

    Cameras flashed incessantly, capturing every high-profile arrival as the world''s greatest players, past and present, graced the red carpet.

    The scent of expensive cologne, the low hum of excited chatter, and the presence of legends turned the evening into something otherworldly; a cathedral of footballing greatness.

    And then came Sam''s entrance.

    Click! Click!

    The sound of snapping cameras intensified, focusing on him. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Sam entered the walkway.

    Dressed in his pristine black Gucci suit, tailored to perfection, the subtle gold accents on his lapel glinted under the flashing lights of the cameras.

    His gait was effortless, a blend of natural swagger and quiet authority, the kind cultivated by years of proving doubters wrong.

    Sam was a Nigerian sensation, football''s newest superstar player who took the world by storm and was already a household name. He walked into the walkway with the confidence of a man who knew he belonged.

    As soon as he stepped out of his luxury car, a wave of noise erupted, fans chanting his name, reporters scrambling to ask questions, and fellow professionals turning their heads.

    This was Sam''s first ballon d''or gala, but he was not someone that could be ignored, not anymore.

    The cameras lingered on him longer than usual, sensing that he was not just another attendee. Rather, he was a story.

    Microphones were thrust in his direction.

    "Sam! Did you expect to be here this soon?" A reporter called out.

    He smirked, adjusting his gold cufflinks. "If you know football, you know I was always going to be here," he said, his deep but confident voice cutting through the cacophony of noise.

    Sam took time to build his confidence, time and effort, and it was not going to crumble just because he attended such a high-profile gala.

    At this moment, he was an even blend of charisma, talent, and audacity, the perfect storm for a new era of superstardom.

    After Sam entered, he was quickly followed by his teammates and behind them, the established legends of the game arrived with the aura of men accustomed to such nights in Paris.

    Cafu of Brazil soon arrived, the legendary Brazilian fullback. With his arrival, it didn''t take long for other of his national team compatriots to arrive.

    Roberto Carlos arrived before Ronaldo Nazario''s arrival.

    A few other legends arrived before one of them stole the limelight.

    "CR7!"

    "CR7!" The reporters called, entering a frenzy.

    Cristiano Ronaldo arrived.

    The Portuguese superstar, once a multiple-time reigning champion of the ballon d''or award himself arrived in all his grace and charisma.

    Draped in a designer tuxedo, he waved to the crowd. His arrival was met with a mixture of respect and excitement, the reporters and cameramen not quite getting enough of him before he entered the venue.

    And then Ronaldinho''s arrival.

    The Brazilian magician, known for his dribbling artistry, entered with a beaming smile, shaking hands with former teammates and exchanging inside jokes.

    The atmosphere was lighthearted and full of footballing brilliance.

    Inside, noticing all the commotion outside, in all honesty, Sam felt his heart beating fast in the presence of so many football legends.

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    Inside, the theater radiated class.

    Golden chandeliers bathed the hall in warm light, and the stage, draped in black and gold, bore the iconic silhouette of football''s most coveted individual price.

    The atmosphere was both celebratory and tense. Behind the smiles and handshakes, there was an undercurrent of fierce ambition.

    Afterall, last year, with Rodri''s ballon d''or win effectively ending the Messi and Ronaldo duopoly that lasted decades, football was ready to enter a new age of new ballon d''or winners.

    As the host took the stage, the room fell into silence.

    Speeches, highlight reels, and tributes played, celebrating a year of unforgettable goals, impossible saves, and moments that had defined an era.

    The nominees sat in the front rows; their faces composed but their hands betraying nerves. Sam was among the nominees.

    In a way, it was just a customary thing, the nerves of being in this moment.

    In truth, most of the nominees already knew who the winner was going to be despite Rodri''s shocking victory last year over Vinicius Jnr. of Real Madrid.

    As the announcer opened the envelope and smiled knowingly, the room seemed to hold its breath. The golden stage lights reflected off the pristine surface of the Ballon d''or trophy, the weight of football history resting on that final name.

    Then came the moment.

    "And the winner of the Ballon d''or¡­, Mohamed Salah!"

    For a second, there was silence, a collective pause before the entire hall erupted into applause.

    Clap! Clap!

    Some stood immediately, clapping with genuine admiration. Others, especially the younger challengers forced polite smiles, disguising the disappointment that burned beneath.

    As for Salah''s reaction?

    At first, Salah sat still, processing the moment. Then, with a deep exhale, he stood up slowly, his usual humility wrapped around like a second skin.

    A soft, appreciative smile formed on his face as he embraced those around him; his teammates, rivals, and former winners who acknowledged his greatness.

    The cameras captured everything; his eyes glistening slightly, his hand momentarily placed over his heart in gratitude.

    A champion who had been relentlessly consistent, resilient, and spectacular finally getting his due after leading Liverpool to the UEFA champions league trophy.

    As he walked to the stage, he passed Sam, the Nigerian star who had been in the conversation all year and who was the architect behind stealing a 2nd premier league title from him.

    Sam, leaning back in his chair, gave a small nod, acknowledgement from one era''s rising force to another''s enduring legend.

    Truly, Salah''s story was admirable and inspiring.

    During his return to the English premier league and debut for Liverpool back in the 2017/2018 season, Salah had a record-breaking season in the premier league, smashing a lot of goalscoring records and leading Liverpool to the UEFA champions league final alongside his strike partners in Mane and Roberto Firmino only to fall to Ronaldo''s unstoppable Real Madrid side.

    After that first season, he was consistently good but never quite hit the same heights, making the ballon d''or award to elude him every time.

    Nobody expected him to win it now, when he was well into his 30s already.

    It truly was a story of perseverance, Salah''s never-give-up spirit.

    He was an inspiration to fans and players around the world.

    He finally arrived at the podium.

 Chapter 350 France footballs ballon dOr ceremony [2]

    Now standing at the podium, Salah looked at the golden trophy, tracking its surface with his fingers before gently lifting it.

    Clap! Clap!

    The roar of the crowd surged again; fans, footballers, and icons applauding and recognizing a player who had defied odds at every step of his journey.

    He cleared his throat, the weight of history pressing down.

    Then, with humility and pride, he spoke. "This award¡­, this isn''t just for me," he began, his voice steady. "It''s for everyone who believed".

    He grinned. "It''s for Egypt, for Africa, for every kid who dreams with a ball at their feet".

    "I am the first African to win the ballon d''or award since the legend, George Weah," he said, his voice turning emotional. "It''s an honor".

    The crowd cheered louder, and the camera panned to icons of African football; some with knowing smiles, others nodding in pride.

    Tonight was more than a personal victory; it was a statement.

    Didier Drogba, the former Chelsea striker and Ivory Coast legend who worked for France Football in particular had a big smile on his face as he presented the trophy to the deserving and record-breaking Egyptian.

    As Salah lifted the Ballon d''Or high above his head, the golden glow illuminated his face, etching the image into football history.

    A night that would be remembered, a night where hard work, consistency, and sheer brilliance triumphed.

    With the main award claimed already, highlights of Salah''s legendary season finally played out on the big screen, showing his biggest clutch moments for Liverpool in the previous season.

    At some point, last season, it seemed like anything Salah does would lead to a goal as he entered God-mode, breaking even Lionel Messi''s record by scoring and assisting in more than 10 games in a single football campaign.

    And then came his heroics in the UEFA champions league.

    His heroics against PSG in the round of 16, further heroics against Arsenal, all leading to the blockbuster final, Salah was unplayable in the previous season.

    The only reason why he didn''t have a perfect season was a certain Nigerian who also took the English premier league by storm in the previous season, a certain brat going by the name of Samuel Moses.

    Without any respect for his elders, Sam disrupted Salah''s perfect legendary season, depriving him of the English premier league by creating history with Fulham FC, winning the club its first English premier league title.

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    After that, as the night progressed, the atmosphere in the grand hall of the Ballon d''Or gala remained electric.

    The tension from the main award had barely settled when the next announcement arrived.

    "And now, the Golden Boy Award, given to the best young player in world football". The host continued.

    The screen behind the stage flashed with the faces of the nominees, young prodigies who had set the football world ablaze with their talent in the past season.

    But one name stood out all year, one player who had shattered expectations, terrorized defenses, and announced himself as football''s next force.

    The announcer smiled, savoring the moment.

    "And the Golden Boy of the year is¡­ Samuel Moses!"

    Sam''s moment¡­, finally.

    Clap! Clap!

    The room immediately erupted with applause, but Sam himself?

    He barely reacted at first. Dressed in his sharp black Gucci shirt, he leaned back slightly, as if he had expected this all along.

    No sudden gasps, no hands over his mouth; just a small, knowing smirk.

    ''Finally!'' He thought.

    The camera zoomed in as he exhaled through his nose, shaking his head lightly before rising to his feet with the aura of a man who had arrived.

    A few pats on the back, a handshake from Ronaldo Nazario, and then a hug with Gavi, Pedri, and a fist bump with Lamine Yamal, all recipients who had won this award before, he finally began his slow, deliberate walk to the stage.

    "You deserve it!" Yamal said energetically in Spanish behind him.

    As he climbed the steps, he spotted Salah in the front row, holding his Ballon d''Or trophy.

    Their eyes met for a second, a brief, unspoken exchange between Africa''s present King and its next challenger.

    Salah gave him a small nod of approval.

    Back on the pitch while plying their trades for Liverpool and Fulham respectively, they were rivals on the pitch but on this stage, they were African counterparts chasing greatness together.

    Sam stepped up to the podium, where the gleaming Golden Boy trophy awaited him. There, he picked it up, its weight solid in his hands, then he turned to face the audience.

    Facing the audience, he took a deep breath, looking out over the sea of footballing royalty.

    And then, with a confident but measured tone, he spoke. "I could say I didn''t expect this, but¡­ I''d be lying".

    Laughter rippled through the crowd, some amused, some nodding in agreement. Sam wasn''t here to play humble. He had dominated, and he knew it.

    "This isn''t just my win," he continued, his voice calm yet powerful. "It''s for every kid watching from the streets, from the academies, from places where dreams seem too far away".

    He grinned. "I''m proof that nothing is impossible".

    His words hung in the air, carrying weight far beyond the glitz of the gala.

    And then he lifted the Golden Boy trophy high, its golden shine illuminating his face, a face that from tonight, would be remembered as the next great superstar in world football.

    As he walked back to his seat, the cameras stayed on him longer than usual. This was no ordinary winner.

    This was a statement, a warning to the world.

    Football had just welcomed its next legend.

    With that, the final full ranking for the 2024 Ballon d''Or was finally released.

    [2025 Ballon D''or Ranking:]

    [1. Mohamed Salah]

    [2. Jamal Musiala]

    [3. Trent Alexander Arnold]

    [4. Kylian Mbappe]

    [5. Samuel Moses]

    [6. Harry Kane]

    [7. Vinicius Jnr.]

    [8. Alexis Mac Allister]

    [9. Raphinha]

    [10. Pedri]

    [9. Jude Bellingham]

    [10. Virgil Van Dijk]

    [11. Robert Lewandowski]

    [12. Lamine Yamal]

    [13. Ryan Gravenberch]

    [14. Erling Haaland]

    [15. Florian Wirtz]

    [16. Ademola Lookman]

    [17. Alejandro Balde] Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [18. Federico Valverde]

    [19. Gavi]

    [20. Cole Palmer]

    [21. Allison Becker]

    [22. Bukayo Saka]

    [23. Antonio Rudiger]

    [24. Ibrahima Konate]

    [25. William Saliba]

    [26. Vitinha]

    [27. Joshua Kimmich]

    [28. Pau Cubarsi]

    [29. Luis Diaz]

    The Ballon d''Or ceremony finally came to an end.

 Chapter 351 A crazy tale

    A day after the ballon d''Or ceremony.

    Spain, Barcelona¡­

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    5 youths jogged through the streets of Barcelona, sweating profusely even as they managed to keep their breathing at an optimum level.

    Like usual, Sam was at the head of the pack, leading his training buddies.

    Just behind him was the rapid Alejandro Balde, followed by Gavi, and then Pedri and Lamine Yamal who jogged at their own pace.

    Yesterday, they were in Paris, attending one of the biggest ceremonies in football as they were shoved on the spotlight. Not just that, Sam even managed to steal the show in the ballon d''Or ceremony.

    But they did not let that cloud their brain after returning to Spain.

    The ballon d''Or ceremony was the reward ceremony for their performances in the previous season. For the new season, the ballon d''Or race already started.

    If they wanted to achieve more in their careers, they knew not to dwell too much on something like a ceremony. This was why returning to Spain, they didn''t rest, continuing their training schedule.

    Of course, Sam was the one who forced it on them.

    Lamine Yamal complained at first since Hansi Flick, their coach gave them a day out after the ballon d''Or ceremony but to Sam, a day out did not take anything away from their personal training.

    This was why this morning, the 5 of them hit the streets of Barcelona again.

    "3¡­, 2¡­, 1, now!" Sam yelled as soon as they were 50 meters away from the Spotify Camp Nou, erupting into a sprint.

    Like usual, Alejandro Balde dug into his reserves, pushing him to the end but once again, Sam arrived at the finishing line first.

    After they both arrived, panting, they turned, waiting for the others.

    Like usual, Gavi arrived next and then today, surprisingly, Pedri finally beat Lamine Yamal in a sprint race, arriving first.

    Instead of focusing on Pedri''s feat though, they didn''t, rather focusing on Sam. "Bastardo!" Gavi came, punching him.

    "How can you be so multitalented?" He joked in Spanish.

    "To think you''d come 5th in the ballon d''or!" Alejandro Balde added as he was not able to hide the astonishment in his voice.

    It was already a full day since the ballon d''Or ceremony in France, but his teammates still could not get over it.

    From the final ballon d''Or ranking that was released yesterday by France Football, the ranking meant that Sam was recognized as the 5th best player in the world last season!

    To his training buddies, this was shocking.

    Afterall, last season, Sam didn''t even play in the UEFA Champions League, meaning he played the season with a big handicap already.

    Besides, his club, it was not the biggest in Spain.

    Heck, Lamine Yamal only truly heard much about Fulham, Sam''s former club after getting close to the Nigerian maverick.

    To think that playing for such a small club in England, not playing in the UEFA champions league, Sam would still be recognized as the 5th best player in the world during the previous season was shocking to these players.

    ''This guy¡­!'' Lamine Yamal simply couldn''t get it out of his head.

    Salah winning the ballon d''or trophy was not shocking after his performances and record-breaking heroics during the previous season for Liverpool.

    Jamal Musiala coming second was not shocking either. Afterall, during the later stages of the previous season, the German midfielder truly exploded, producing scintillating performances to lead Bayern Munich all the way to the UEFA Champions League final.

    Even on the final, he dazzled, only losing because his team was weaker.

    Musiala''s 2nd best ranking was not a shocker too.

    Arnold and Mbappe making the top 4 was also not shocking, but Sam making the top 5? To people like Pedri and the others who didn''t know much about him till their club signed him, it was beyond shocking.

    Heck, Sam was rated higher than every single FC Barcelona player despite the crazy things that they achieved in the previous season.

    "Sam, how do you do it?" Balde asked, genuinely baffled. "How can you be so good?"

    "It''s almost like you can play in any position on the field".

    "How can you be so good in attacking midfield and still be so lethal as a striker? Heck, it''s so unfair!" The Spaniard cried. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Sam chuckled. "Come on guys, it''s nothing".

    "Nothing?!" They almost strangled him.

    In the end, entering the Spotify Camp Nou gym alongside them, Sam was forced to tell his story even as he also worked out with them.

    After the ballon d''Or ceremony yesterday, his popularity grew again.

    Millions of football fans around the world already knew him and his ability after his recent performances for FC Barcelona. But aside from football fans in England and Nigeria, few truly knew how good he was for Fulham.

    This was why after the ballon d''Or ceremony, millions of football fans followed him on social media, digging out his story.

    They were eager to know the pre-Barcelona Sam.

    There were few things fans loved than a good weak to strong story, and Sam''s story was a perfect one, an almost unbelievable one.

    From the streets of Abraka all the way to West London in England, from Enyimba FC to Fulham FC, they were eager to know his history.

    Due to all this, a certain youtuber who made his YouTube channel solely dedicated to Sam''s career experienced a crazy surge in subscribers.

    While fans were patient enough to go to YouTube videos to dig out his history, Sam''s friends, Gavi, Pedri, Yamal, and Balde were not as patient.

    Since they had such exclusive access to him, they wanted first-hand information and so right there in the gym, Sam was forced to tell his story.

    He felt like crying but at the same time, he enjoyed it.

    Telling them his story left him feeling proud of how far he had come.

    From the streets of Abraka, his first Christmas game in the Delta State University field, he didn''t hide anything.

    And then to his heroics for Enyimba FC, forcing his way into the starting XI and leading the Nigerian club to glory on the continental stage.

    He did not exclude any detail, telling them of Austin, his captain during his Enyimba days who he struck a great partnership with on the field.

    He told them of the CAF champions league battles.

    The scintillating battles against Al Ahly, Wydad AC, the penalty shootouts, the crazy comebacks that he orchestrated, Sam recalled it all, telling them.

    At some point, even he was stunned.

    ''Damn! I really am good''.

    And then his debut for Fulham FC.

    When he got to this stage, Lamine Yamal perked up, eager to hear more.

    He told them of his first half season for the English club. When he told them of how in just his first half season, he led Fulham to its first trophy in decades, the Carabao Cup, their jaws dropped open in shock.

    "Bastardo!" Gavi cursed. "This guy¡­, you''re a freak!" He said in Spanish, making the others burst out laughing.

    When he told them of how his coach refused to play him at first, but finally decided to let go of his pride, a decision that paid off dividends, they reeled, Yamal in particular almost worshipping him as they laughed.

    The manner in which he led Fulham to knock out Liverpool out of the Carabao Cup shocked them, leaving them hooked and engrossed in the story.

    And then, his record-breaking 2nd season for Fulham.

    The unforgettable, 5th ballon d''Or-ranking season.

    The premier league winning season!

    When Sam started his story and progressed, at some point, it became hard for even his friends to believe. This was simply because it was too good to be true.

    His clutch moments in games, those unforgettable games against Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, they all left an impression on his teammates.

    His stint in England was crazy, truly crazy times.

    When he got to his incredible hattrick displays against Manchester City, Lamine Yamal could not help but utter a ''damn!''

    "Bastardo!" Gavi exclaimed again, not able to hold himself.

    And eventually, when he got to the climax, they held their breaths.

    This climax, it was too much!

    To think that Fulham and Liverpool were tied on points on the final matchday of the season, and they needed to score a minimum of 6 goals against the reigning English champions to dethrone them to the premier league title!

    This¡­, how on earth did Sam and Fulham do it?

    When Sam told the story, they refused to believe it.

    "The heck! You guys actually did that?!"

    "That is how you got your premier league trophy?!" Balde exclaimed.

    "Yes, what did you expect?" Sam laughed.

    "No wonder you were ranked 5th in the ballon d''Or". Pedri muttered.

    Then the next moment, Alejandro Balde went to the ground, doing push-ups out of respect for Sam, making the others laugh.

    At the end of Sam''s story, they were all flabbergasted.

    They all laughed over it but after that story, they never saw him in the same way again. That story was crazy.

    They no longer saw Sam as a normal footballer, they now saw him as a freak.

    ''That guy¡­, he''s crazy!''

 Chapter 352 Familys day out

    After months of speculation, the 2025 Ballon d''Or award was finally given out, Mohamed Salah joining a host of illustrious footballing greats to have won the award in their career.

    And with it, the 2026 Ballon d''Or award race began.

    Theoretically, from the moment that the 2025/2026 football season started, the 2026 Ballon d''Or race already started.

    But though this was the reality, psychologically, football fans and even football players themselves didn''t truly see it so until the previous season''s ballon d''Or award was finally given out.

    With the award given, they finally felt all shackles of the previous football season leaving them, fully embracing the new season finally.

    2024/2025 was gone¡­

    ¡­now all eyes were on the 2025/2026 football campaign.

    Who would be Mohamed Salah''s successor come October 2026?

    Besides, 2026 was special because unlike the previous season, it was a World Cup year. And without doubt, the FIFA World Cup that was to be held in the U.S.A and Canada would become the biggest decider for the ballon d''Or award.

    Which country was the favorite for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

    After the final string of FIFA World Cup qualifier matches were played this year, FIFA finally released their updated national team ranking.

    [FIFA Men''s World Ranking:]

    [The FIFA Men''s World Ranking is a ranking system for men''s national teams in association football. The men''s teams of the member nations of FIFA, football''s world governing body are ranked based on their game results with the most successful teams being ranked highest.

    [The rankings were introduced in December 1992, and eight teams; Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain have held the top position, of which Brazil have spent the longest time ranked first.]

    [Top rankings as of 28th October, 2025:]

    [1. Argentina]

    [2. Spain]

    [3. France] S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [4. England]

    [5. Brazil]

    [6. Portugal]

    [7. Netherlands]

    [8. Belgium]

    [9. Italy]

    [10. Germany]

    [11. Uruguay]

    [12. Colombia]

    [13. Croatia]

    [14. Morocco]

    [15. Japan]

    [16. United States]

    [17. Senegal]

    [18. Iran]

    [19. Mexico]

    [20. Switzerland]

    This were the top 20 highest ranked FIFA nations.

    A points system is used to determine the ranking, with points being awarded based on the results of all FIFA-recognized full international matches.

    The ranking system has been revamped on several occasions, generally responding to criticism that the preceding calculation method did not effectively reflect the relative strengths of the national teams.

    Since 16 August, 2018, the ranking system has adopted the Elo rating system used in chess and Go.

    Among the top 20 recognized FIFA nations, there was no place for Nigeria, Senegal and Morocco being the highest ranked African national teams.

    After their crazy run during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, going all the way to the semifinals, Morocco climbed into the top 20 of FIFA ranking, eclipsing Senegal as the best African footballing nation. Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire

    It was also after the 2022 FIFA World Cup that Argentina stole 1st position.

    Not just due to the World Cup win, Argentina as a country was going through a purple patch in terms of international football.

    Afterall, they were right at the center of an ongoing dynasty.

    An imperious Argentine dynasty led by the King, Lionel Messi, who''s now led Argentina to an impressive 3-peat of international trophies, winning the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and then the 2024 Copa America in succession.

    It was a crazy period for Argentina and its fans, equaling Spain''s purple reign during the early 2010s.

    There were now even debates on social media about how high they would rank in a ranking of all-time best national football sides.

    Argentina was not the out and out favorite though.

    Last year, during Euro 2024, Spain showed to the rest of the footballing world that their country was back to dominate football internationally.

    Led by the imperious Rodri at the middle of the pitch, and the dynamic duo of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams running the flanks, Spain formed an imperious side that defeated all opposition to win the 2024 Euros.

    After that performance, nobody dared underestimate them.

    Just like Argentina, they were favorites for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

    Not just them. Countries like France and Brazil could not be underestimated either. With so many superstars in their squads, the sky was their limit.

    Among all these favorites, Nigeria was nowhere to be seen.

    This was why recently, a lot of fans urged Sam to leave his country and play for another country of his choice, either England or even Spain.

    FC Barcelona were working his Spanish International Passport. If Sam really wanted, he could play for Spain, but is that what he wanted?

    That morning, laying down on his bed after completing his daily system quest, Sam looked at his celling, thinking.

    He shook his head though. ''Nah, I''ll stay''.

    He was too loyal to his home country to play for another country.

    Call him foolish but the truth was that he was Nigerian true and true, bred and raised from the suburbs of the country.

    He could not imagine himself donning the national team jersey of another country. He smiled. ''If Nigeria is not feared, I''ll make them feared''.

    ''They think we''re not favorites?'' He grinned. ''Try me''.

    On his bed, he grinned cheekily, envisioning a fantasy future of himself with the national team winning major trophies.

    The FIFA World Cup being important did not mean it was the only criteria to winning the ballon d''Or award though.

    Domestic club football performance was still important, so also was the overall performance and achievement in the UEFA Champions League.

    ''This time, it was Salah''s turn''.

    Sam''s eyes gleamed. ''I''ll make sure next year is my turn''.

    ''But for now, it''s family day out time''.

    "Babe, you''re still on the bed?!" Kayla''s raised voice snapped Sam out of his reverie as he chuckled.

    "Coming babe," he laughed. "I''ll be done in a minute".

    After his Golden Boy award, Mrs. Moses was never the same.

    Back in Nigeria, Sam''s father called him, telling him about how his mother could not stop bragging about the achievement of her son.

    "Have you heard?"

    "They say my son won the balloon award!"

    "He is the best young player in the world!"

    Sam was used to his mom''s shenanigans though, laughing it off.

    And since he had today off, he decided to make his first major individual award memorable, inviting all of his family to meet him here in Spain for the first time in their lives.

    And so, having paid for their flight tickets yesterday, this morning, Sam''s family finally arrived in Barcelona.

    As soon as they arrived, Mrs. Moses did not hold back as she hugged her son, drowning him in kisses, and repeatedly telling him how proud of him she was.

    Tired of the kisses and feeling mischievous, Sam smirked at his mom. "Are you sure you''re proud of me?"

    "Is my memory failing me, or who forbade me from playing football?"

    "That¡­," Mrs. Moses was stumped.

    "That, you know¡­,"

    In the end, to Sam''s shock, his mom didn''t try to wriggle out of it this time like she had always done for 100% of his life.

    This time, smiling shamelessly, she accepted it. "I accept, I did forbid you from playing football. Forgive me son, I was foolish then".

    "But you can''t blame me". She added, making Sam roll his eyes.

    "I was just trying to protect my son".

    "I mean, come on, I carried you in my stomach for 9 months. Do you know the pains of pushing you out on the day you came out?"

    "And you expect me to just accept you getting injured carelessly because you love playing football?"

    "Come on, I was concerned for my first fruit, you can''t blame me".

    Kayla glared at Sam. "Stop it already, stop making mom feel guilty".

    Sam chuckled, raising his arms in surrender. "Ok, ok, I surrender".

    Mr. Moses laughed. "So, what''s the destination this time?"

    "Kayla''s African Cuisine?"

    "Huh?" Mr. Moses looked at Kayla who puffed, smiling proudly.

    "After getting exposed to mom''s dishes the first time, I become truly fascinated by African foods and so I decided to start up a restaurant here".

    "Don''t worry, I don''t have the time to attend to it every time so I hired African food specialists who would be doing the job in my absence".

    "And guess what?" She raised her head proudly. "I brought them all the way from Nigeria the last time I visited".

    "When Sam was detained?"

    "Yes". She nodded with pride.

    "This¡­, wow!" Mr. Moses was flabbergasted. "To still think of that even in that tense situation, girl, I guess I may have underestimated your calm under pressure".

    "I know I''m awesome!" Kayla accepted shamelessly, making the others laugh.

    That morning, they went to Kayla''s restaurant, enjoying different delicious African delicacies after which Sam took his family on a tour around Barcelona.

    He ended the tour by taking them to the iconic Spotify Camp Nou stadium.

    Despite coming here already when his son came to Barcelona the first time for his unveiling, Mr. Moses could not help but break down in tears.

    "Dad?!" Sam was shocked.

    Mr. Moses raised a hand to allay his worries. "It''s ok son. It''s just, coming here with my family, it''s been the longest dream of mine".

    "I never thought I''d get to fulfill it someday, but well, here I am".

    Sam grinned. "I love you dad, and mom too, and Kayla, and Sophia".

    "Why me last?" Sophia grumbled.

    Sam laughed.

    After a long day, their family''s day out finally came to an end.

    That night, Sam got a message notification from his coach.

    Ding!

    {NEW! Unread message from Hansi Flick¡­}

    Hansi Flick dropped the next fixture of FC Barcelona.

    Football¡­ was back.

 Chapter 353 After the ballon dOr [1]

    (La Liga:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Espanyol)

    (Date: 3rd November, 2025)

    These days, there was a popularized term among football communities, ''Football before the ballon d''Or'' and ''Football after the ballon d''Or''. Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire

    It did not just circulate among fan circles, it also circulated among player circles, the FC Barcelona circle not excluded, Sam and his friend circle in particular.

    After the 2025 ballon d''Or ceremony in Paris, France, Sam''s very first ballon d''Or ceremony and his first taste of a big individual trophy, the Golden Boy award, Sam''s heart was ignited with passion once again.

    Not just him, his close football friends experienced the same thing.

    Afterall, just like him and apart from Alejandro Balde, Pedri, Gavi, and Lamine Yamal were all winners of the Golden Boy award before him.

    Now, they wanted to level up and broaden their horizons.

    They didn''t want to be just the best youth player anymore, rather, they wanted to become the best player in the world.

    And their ballon d''Or bid already started.

    This was why Sam and his friends trained for the Espanyol game differently.

    In the build-up to the La Liga clash against Espanyol, the group of friends trained harder than usual and also worked harder than usual.

    It was not just because of their ballon d''Or bid though, it was also because like usual, they decided to turn it into a close circle competition.

    Gavi suddenly brought it up one morning while they jogged.

    "Hehe".

    Hearing that chuckle, they knew that the fiery and short Spaniard was up to no good and when Gavi opened his mouth, they confirmed it.

    "Just competing against others for the ballon d''Or is too boring and fleeting. Let''s make it our competition like usual. Just like our sprint competitions, and the late-coming competitions".

    "Let''s turn the ballon d''Or bid into a personal competition".

    It was a crazy idea from Gavi, but why not?

    This was why Sam put even more effort into prepping for the Espanyol game. Days before the game, Hansi Flick revealed his starting XI.

    All 5 of them made it to the starting XI.

    Just like that, a few days passed in a jiffy and it was D-day already.

    30 minutes before the game, the starting XI for both teams was released officially. Like expected, they both started with strong lineups.

    For Espanyol, starting in their regular 4-2-3-1 formation, the visitors started with a defensive quadruple of Romero, Cabrera, Kumbulla, and El Hilali, with Garcia protecting them in between the posts.

    The midfield duo comprised of Gonzalez de Zarate and Lozano.

    As for the 4-man attack, Puado started in left wing, Kral in attacking midfield, Carreras in right wing, and Fernandez as the striker.

    On the opposite side, the home side started in the same formation.

    Marc Andre Ter Stegen started in between the posts with a defensive quadruple of Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsi, Ronaldo Araujo, and Jules Kounde sitting ahead of him. The defensive duo comprised of Pedri and Gavi.

    And then up ahead, Dani Olmo started in attacking midfield, flanked by Lamine Yamal on the right and Raphinha on the left.

    And then like usual, Sam started as the striker, Barca''s false 9.

    FWEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, from the first minute of kickoff, led by Sam at the tip of the attack, FC Barcelona went about dissecting their opponents.

    Visiting their opponent''s imperious backyard, nobody expected Espanyol to play attacking football and like expected, they played defensive.

    What nobody expected was just how thorough their defensive set-up would be ruthlessly torn apart by a rampant FC Barcelona attack.

    At first, it was tough to break down, solid defensive play shutting out a rampant Raphinha and Lamine Yamal through the wings.

    Playing in his false 9 position, the 2 center backs pushed up, not giving Sam any space to work his magic.

    For 10 minutes, this worked until Sam decided to fall deeper to create.

    Just 3 minutes after he did this, he erupted.

    BZZZ!

    A receive, one delicate touch, a flick to evade a tackle, an ankle-breaker body feint, a delicious elastico to open up space, and then a penetrating through pass.

    In one moment of individual brilliance, Dani Olmo and Sam swap positions, Sam playing the ball in for the Spaniard who didn''t miss his mark.

    With a silky smooth la croqueta, Dani Olmo rounded the Espanyol goalkeeper, Garcia before poking into an empty net to make it 1 nil.

    The Spotify Camp Nou erupted.

    13 minutes, 1-0¡­

    That¡­, opened the floodgates.

    Just a few minutes later, in the 18th minute, it was Lamine Yamal''s turn to provide the assist, playing Dani Olmo on again to score after a moment of the Spaniard showing his mastery in the tight spaces.

    18 minutes, 2-0, Dani Olmo 2 goals.

    After that, Sam, Raphinha, Dani Olmo, and Lamine Yamal went haywire, cutting Espanyol open repeatedly like a hot knife through butter.

    Espanyol defended with their lives, for a time, but it was not enough.

    In the 29th minute, Raphinha did it, getting on the end of another Sam pass before playing a thunderous volley past the Espanyol goalkeeper.

    In the 35th minute, Pau Cubarsi got on the end of a Raphinha cross, putting it past the Espanyol goalkeeper to make it 4 nil.

    It was a drubbing already, but they were not done, not yet.

    In the 45th minute, piling on Espanyol''s misery, Sam went on an incredible solo run after a pass from Lamine Yamal, going through 5 players before burying the ball into the net in a display of skill and sheer brilliance.

    FWEEE!

    The ref finally blew for halftime after that.

    45 minutes, 5-0¡­

    Espanyol were being humiliated by the champions.

    When 2nd half started, FC Barcelona removed their foot off the gas even as it gave Espanyol some ideas.

    In the 68th minute, they scored from a corner.

    Was that the catalyst for a comeback?

    No.

    It only gave them a false hope, false hope that was dashed in just 2 minutes.

    In the 70th minute, Sam got his brace, stealing the ball with his aggressive pressing up the field and catching Espanyol off-guard before scoring an easy goal.

    6 nil to FC Barcelona.

    And then just 7 minutes later, in the 77th minute, it happened again.

    Alejandro Balde started an overlapping run from deep after winning the ball, starting an FC Barcelona counterattack.

    He passed to Raphinha who poked to Sam who flicked the ball back to Balde for the young Barcelona fullback to smash past the Espanyol goalkeeper.

    GOAL¡­, 7 nil.

    Sam was substituted after 80 minutes, Pau Victor coming on in his place but he already did the damage with his 2 goals and 3 assists.

    In additional time, Pau Victor got a goal for his troubles to end the rout.

    8-0 to FC Barcelona, an imperious victory. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Sam got another man of the match award.

 Chapter 354 After the ballon dOr [2]

    (UEFA Champions League:)

    (Matchday 4 of 8:)

    (Dynamo Kyiv ¨C FC Barcelona)

    (Date: 6th November, 2025)

    After the 8-0 drubbing of Espanyol at the Spotify Camp Nou, just 3 days later, Barca got a UEFA champions league date with Dynamo Kyiv in Ukraine.

    Like expected, Sam made the FC Barcelona squad for the game.

    There was no change to Hansi Flick''s starting XI for this game.

    As for the home side though, the Ukraine club started with their most formidable lineup against the visiting Catalan giants.

    Starting in their customary 4-3-3 formation, Neshcheret started in between the posts for the Ukrainian club. Starting ahead of him was a quadruple defense of Tymchyk, Popov, Mykhavko, and Vivcharenko.

    In midfield was a trio of Buyalskyi, Mykhaylenko, and Pikhalyonok.

    And then in attack was the attacking trio of Yarmokenko, Vanat, and Kabayev, forming a dangerous Dynamo Kyiv side.

    Against the Catalans in their home stadium, the Ukrainian club bared their fangs first, getting an early lead in just the 3rd minute of the game from an absolute thunderbolt of a shot.

    From outside the box, Mykhaylenko set himself up before unleashing an absolute piledriver that tore its way into the bottom left corner of the net, leaving Marc Andre Ter Stegen with no chance.

    That goal woke Barca up but before they could bite, the home side struck again from a lightning-quick counterattack.

    The ball moved from defense to attack in nothing but a second.

    Before the Catalans knew it, Yarmolenko, the Dynamo Kyiv right winger already poked the ball past Marc Andre Ter Stegen into the net.

    2-0 in 20 minutes¡­

    Well, that did make the Catalans finally bare their fangs.

    Raphinha started a famous comeback night in the UEFA Champions league for the Catalans, buoyed by an absolute Pedri masterclass in midfield.

    Pedri was silky this game, silky and smooth like a prime Andres Iniesta.

    After helping the Catalans dictate the game, settling his team into the game and dictating the tempo, he amped it, suddenly playing a defense-splitting pass in the 34th minute, setting Raphinha up.

    The Brazilian did not miss his mark, shooting from a tight angle to score.

    34 minutes, 2-1¡­

    Raphinha''s celebration was short but passionate, the comeback was on.

    After that goal, Dynamo Kyiv tried to rally but in midfield, Pedri ran circles around their midfielders, setting the tempo for the game.

    Pedri was having an absolute midfield masterclass.

    In the 43rd minute, he played a lobbed pass over the Dynamo Kyiv defense, setting Raphinha up to score his brace from an all too familiar volley.

    The first half ended fiery but it was a draw.

    In the 2nd half, Pedri continued his masterclass, passing to Dani Olmo who set up Lamine Yamal to get the 3rd FC Barcelona goal of this game.

    That was when the away fans erupted.

    "GOALLLLLL¡­!!!" They celebrated madly, the comeback was done, for a time.

    Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    Unwilling to give up, the Ukrainian club rallied, pouring a mountain of attacking resources at the Catalans and in the 80th minute, it bore fruit.

    Vanat, Dynamo Kyiv''s striker finally shot.

    Again, it was a counter-attack.

    2 touches, that was all it took.

    One touch to skip past Pau Cubarsi, overpowering the young defender with his physicality and his next touch was the shot, beating Ter Stegen easily.

    3-3!

    What a game! S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The atmosphere in this stadium was now extremely frightening.

    3-3, the score was level, a fitting way to end such a fiery and exciting game but the Catalans had no intentions of going home with just 1 point and Pedri made sure of it, combining with the King in one moment of genius in the last minute of the game in the 90th minute.

    Bam!

    Another silky lobbed pass from Pedri.

    Bzzz!

    Finally, after 90 minutes of a pretty subdued performance compared to his normal standards, Sam finally erupted, coming up clutch.

    He jumped for the aerial ball, fighting, and he won the aerial battle.

    With his head, he pushed the ball from the physical center backs who wrestled with him all game and then with his chest, he protected it, then¡­

    ¡­he struck!

    They thought they had Sam marked, blocked, but he improvised.

    Yes, they blocked all normal shooting options and so leaping up into the air and twisting his body in mid-air, Sam swung his left leg, executing an incredible scissor kick in the last minute of this game with his left leg.

    Bam!

    Neshcheret, the Dynamo Kyiv goalkeeper dived but the ball already went past him, nestling into the net.

    "GOALLLLLLL¡­!!!" The away fans roared.

    "ZINEDINE SAM¡­!!!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM¡­!!!"

    "He''s struck again, clutch! Assassin!"

    "When Barca needed him the most, he struck!"

    "They kept him quiet for 89 minutes, but not for a full game!"

    "He''s the King, and he''s arrived in Ukraine!"

    Charging towards the corner flag, Sam slid on his knees in celebration even as he pointed at his head, highlighting his mentality.

    "Vamos!!!" He roared at the camera.

    His teammates arrived, swarming him.

    That goal, Dynamo Kyiv was not recovering from it anytime soon.

    A few minutes later, the referee blew the whistle, finally bringing this incredible UEFA champions league game to an end.

    Sam may have grabbed the front papers with that clutch game-winning goal but in this game, Pedri was the star.

    The midfielder got rewarded for his masterclass display with a deserving man of the match award.

    Afterall, he got 3 assists in this game plus a pre-assist.

    Pedri had his prints over all 4 goals that FC Barcelona scored.

    Apart from Pedri''s masterclass, with this performance, Sam took his tally to 17 goals in just 12 games for this campaign, also making it 6 goals now in 3 games in his debut UEFA champions league campaign.

    The 2026 ballon d''Or race was on.

    As for FC Barcelona, off to their next challenge, a domestic one.

    They would be taking on Real Sociedad next in the league.

    ***

    (La Liga:)

    (Real Sociedad ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 10th November, 2025)

    ***

    For FC Barcelona, it was another game to extend their lead over Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at the forefront of La Liga.

 Chapter 355 The best striker on the planet [1]

    ***

    (La Liga:)

    (Real Sociedad ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 10th November, 2025)

    ***

    On 10th November, a rampant FC Barcelona side visited Reale Arena.

    They went up against a Real Sociedad side that was in form and had just thrashed Athletic Bilbao 1-3 in their last league game.

    It didn''t matter though, Barca visited that stadium with only one intention, to win and run away with all 3 points.

    For his lineup this time, Hansi Flick made changes.

    Starting in the familiar 4-2-3-1 formation, the attack remained the same with Raphinha, Sam, and Lamine Yamal all starting, while Dani Olmo started slightly behind them in attacking midfield.

    Deeper in midfield though, a change was made, Gavi being rested for this game as Frankie De Jong took his spot on the team.

    In defense, Alejandro Balde and Ronald Araujo were also rested, giving opportunities to Gerard Martin who started in left back. Apart from Martin, the rest of the defense comprised of Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, and Jules Kounde.

    Like expected, Marc Andre Ter Stegen started in between the posts for the Catalan giants.

    As for the home side, lining up in a familiar 4-1-4-1 formation, Alex Remiro covered the posts for them while ahead of him was a quadruple defense comprised of Aramburu, Elustondo, Aguerd, and Lopez.

    In midfield was the imposing figure of Martin Zubimendi, while ahead of him was the playmaking quadruple of Tite Kubo, Zakharyan, Marin, and Gomez.

    Oskarsson started as Real Sociedad''s striker today.

    Having scored 2 goals in the Athletic Bilbao game, Oskarsson was in top form. This game was dubbed the game of strikers.

    And when the referee''s whistle sounded, it indeed seemed so.

    FWEEE!

    The first 10 minutes of this game was tight and even as both sides probed each other, Real Sociedad''s defense staying solid against the Catalan attack.

    But then, in the 12th minute of this game, the in-form striker struck.

    Just one chance, one opportunity, one counter-attack was all he needed to sink FC Barcelona into the pit of trailing behind in this game.

    After a series of attacking plays by the Catalan giants, the ball got to Dani Olmo in the box who twisted and turned, finding the right angle to unleash a shot or play that killer pass that would cut Real Sociedad open.

    But the opportunity never came because Martin Zubimendi clattered into him, winning the ball fairly after a heavy tackle.

    As soon as the Spanish midfielder won the ball, he spotted a run¡­, Oskarsson''s run and he did not hesitate.

    Bam!

    Hitting the ball long, the striker exploded into a foot race with Inigo Martinez.

    Oskarsson managed to keep his composure under pressure from the Barcelona center back as after taking one touch to control the ball, a slightly heavy touch, he stretched his left leg, poking the ball past the onrushing Ter Stegen.

    BOOM!

    The Reale Arena exploded with noise immediately as ecstatic fans roared at the top of their lungs, celebrating the goal and their corresponding lead.

    That goal¡­, derailed Barcelona''s energy a bit, but it didn''t last.

    This was because after that, the King struck. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    They say the Lion is the King of the Jungle, well, today, Sam showed to football fans across the world that he was the King of the Spanish La Liga.

    Barcelona went behind in the 12th minute, and for 20 minutes, they suffered, their attack coming stuck against a tight Real Sociedad defense until Sam struck with his fangs and deadly claws.

    4 minutes, that was all it took to turn the game on its head.

    3 touches of the ball¡­, that was all it took to sink Real Sociedad.

    Bam!

    The first came in the 32nd minute as Sam lashed on the end of an incredible Lamine Yamal trivela pass, directing the ball past the goalkeeper and into the net.

    Just one touch.

    1-1¡­

    A minute later, just after Real Sociedad kicked off again in the 33rd minute, Frankie De Jong won back the ball and quickly played a lobbed pass to Sam.

    Alex Remiro, the Real Sociedad goalkeeper charged out but keeping his composure, Sam chipped the goalkeeper, scoring a cheeky goal. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    1-2¡­

    From losing, Barcelona began winning in the blink of an eye, but that was not all as he struck again.

    Once again, just one touch.

    2 minutes after his second goal, in the 36th minute of this game, Sam got a diagonal pass from Pedri. Receiving the ball just outside the Real Sociedad 18-yard box, with his quick feet, he evaded challenges, setting himself up, then¡­

    POW!

    He completed the set with an absolute thunderbolt shot!

    Alex Remiro was rooted to one spot, not moving till the ball nestled into his net. He looked at the rustling net, stunned.

    "GOALLLLLL¡­!!!" FC Barcelona fans roared in ecstasy, and then the Sam chants burst out in the Reale Arena.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    "What the heck! The heck! The heck!"

    "My GOD!!!" The commentators raved.

    "3 touches, 3 goals, and Reale Arena is stunned!"

    "Real Sociedad can''t believe their eyes, they''re seeing ghosts!"

    "And ladies and gentlemen, this is Him, Samuel Moses, the best striker on the planet!"

    "4 minutes was all he needed to singlehandedly win the game!"

    Sam charged to the corner flag, spreading his arms, doing the Jude Bellingham celebration as a stunned fanbase stared at him.

    What¡­, did they just witness?

    The first half ended 1-3 in Barca''s favor.

    In the 2nd half, Pedri scored a goal to round off an amazing performance as the game eventually came to an end 1-4 in Barca''s favor.

    With another hattrick added to his collection, Sam comfortably won the man of the match award.

    And now, he was on a goalscoring streak.

    With today''s hattrick, Sam now had 20 goals in just 13 games this season, forming a completely crazy goalscoring ratio.

    Barcelona extended their lead at the top of the La Liga table.

    Their next fixture was another away Spanish La Liga game against Celta Vigo.

    ***

    (La Liga:)

    (Celta Vigo ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 23rd November, 2025)

    ***

    But before that, there was an international break from 10th to 18th November, meaning it was time for international duty again.

 Chapter 356 The best striker on the planet [2]

    ***

    (International Friendlies:)

    (Nigeria ¨C Togo)

    (Date: 13th November, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Ghana ¨C Nigeria)

    (Date: 16th November, 2025)

    ***

    For Nigerians, time was moving so fast.

    One moment, they were stuck worrying about FIFA World Cup qualifying as they were just one step from missing another FIFA World Cup.

    And yet, somehow, a miracle came in the form of Sam.

    But that was not the end. Just after securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, another worry came in the form of the AFCON, the African Cup of Nations tournament, Africa''s version of the Euros and Copa America tournament.

    The last AFCON was played in 2023, a time of heartbreak for many Nigerians as they made it all the way to the final only to lose to the host nation, Ivory Coast.

    After that final, the heartbreak lingered for a long time and after 2 years of healing from it, the AFCON was here again, starting this December.

    Before the AFCON tournament though, Nigerian organized 2 international friendly games during the international break so the Nigerian coach could get in tune with his team and get them up to speed as fast as possible.

    This was why Sam left Barcelona to join the Nigerian camp for the International friendly games.

    Another reason why he did it was because International friendly games are unlike club friendly games.

    Unlike in club friendlies where goals and assists are not recorded in the official stats record of a player, goals and assists provided in International friendly matches are recorded in a player''s career stats, highlighting their importance.

    This was why Sam was eager to don the green of the Nigerian national team again after his heroics the last time.

    And oh boy, did his decision pay off.

    It didn''t take a long time. Like a blink, it was already D-Day.

    The Togolese national football team visited Nigeria, only to be placed to the chopping block by a rampant Nigerian squad led by Sam.

    For this international friendly, certain big names of the Nigerian squad were nowhere to be seen. Big names like Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, and Ademola Lookman didn''t make the squad, leaving Sam as the biggest name there.

    And for this reason, the Nigerian coach decided to take a gamble.

    He decided to play Sam as a striker for the national team.

    Afterall, Hansi Flick was doing it successfully in Barcelona and besides, this was just a friendly game which meant he could experiment. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And boy was the experiment a success.

    In the game against Togo, Sam dominated from the first minute of the game.

    In the 8th minute of the game, after some tight space dribbling in the box, he set up Alex Iwobi who scored from a precision shot towards the top right corner.

    That goal sent the Nigerian national football stadium into a frenzy.

    Togo tried to rally after going behind but not when Sam was on the pitch. The Togolese defenders struggled against him on the pitch, their struggle was clear as day, highlighting just how good he was.

    In the 23rd minute of the game, he rattled the bar with a shot before doing the same again in the 38th minute.

    "F*ck!" Sam cursed, grabbing his head in disbelief.

    ''Damn! My luck is crap this game!''

    Before the 1st half came to an end though, after an incredible solo run with the ball, he gave the pre-assist to another Nigerian goal, this time buried into the net by Frank Onyeka.

    After that, the first half came to an end.

    In the 2nd half, the game was more even as Togo threatened more but they got nothing to show for their efforts.

    In the 77th minute of this game, tripped in the box, Sam won a penalty for Nigeria and taking the ball confidently, he waited for the ref''s whistle.

    FWEEE!

    Once it sounded, he took a short run before hitting the ball, sending the goalkeeper one way and scoring the other way.

    He jogged towards the corner flag with a big smile on his face, and then he did his Black Panther celebration.

    The game came to an end with Nigeria winning 3-0 comfortably.

    Trust Nigerians, after the game, they worshipped Sam like a God, raving about his performance all across social media.

    But then came the big test against their archrivals, Ghana.

    Joining the rest of the Nigerian squad, Sam made the trip to Accra, the capital city of Ghana where they clashed against the Black Stars.

    This time, it was not as straightforward as the game against Togo.

    The clash against the Black Stars of Ghana was tight and incredibly intense, but in the end, led by Sam, the Super Eagles of Nigeria got the edge over their rivals with a single goal difference.

    Both countries played a goalless first half.

    All the action came in the 2nd half though as they came with energy and fire.

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    Ghana struck first, stunning the visitors as their striker buried the ball into the net after an incredible sequence of passes, flaunting their seamless teamwork.

    In the 61st minute, Nigeria trailed by 1 goal.

    Today, it seemed that the Black Stars would be running away with the bragging rights but there was a defiant player on the Nigerian side.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    He played with an obsessive desire to win.

    Yet, the opponents didn''t make it easy, till he forced their hand.

    It happened in the 79th minute.

    Trailing behind, the Super Eagles amped their attacking tempo, launching raid after raid of attacks against Ghana''s defense, a move which finally bore fruit as Sam leaped highest, lashing into a slightly mishit cross.

    Bending his body in mid-air, his head managed to hit the ball, directing it towards the top left corner of the post.

    The Ghana goalkeeper dived, but not enough.

    "GOALLLLLLLL¡­!!!" The Super Eagles fans screamed at the top of their lungs.

    Sam charged towards the corner flag, sliding in celebration even as they started chanting his name at the away stands.

    Clearly, after that, the end of this game was a draw but again, Sam was not willing and so, he came up clutch from his country.

    Leading the press from the front, he pressed the Ghana defense relentlessly till they made a mistake, the goalkeeper fumbling due to his pressure.

    The goalkeeper panicked, mishitting the ball.

    Stretching his leg, Sam managed to intercept the ball and just as the panicked goalkeeper rushed him, keeping his composure, Sam nutmegged the goalkeeper, the most humiliating move ever as the ball rolled into the net.

    Cold¡­, just cold.

    "SAM!" "SAM!" "SAM!"

    The Sam chants broke out again in Ghana.

    Sam equalized for his country in the 79th minute, then won it in the 88th.

    The game came to an end with a Nigerian victory.

    That game was later called the game of the King.

    The Nigerian fans chanted. "Best striker in the f*cking planet!"

    With his brace, Sam took his goalscoring tally for the season to an incredible 23 goals in just 15 games!

 Chapter 357 The best striker in the planet [3]

    ***

    (La Liga:)

    (Celta Vigo ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 23rd November, 2025)

    ***

    Sam spent approximately a week in Nigeria, after which he took a flight back to Spain, Barcelona.

    Kayla didn''t follow him this time though.

    Afterall, she was a university student, she had her life to attend to.

    And so, after over a month since helping her boyfriend solve the scandal case that she was involved in, she finally felt comfortable enough to leave him in Barcelona.

    With Kayla gone, Sam''s full attention returned to football.

    He had 7 days after the game against Ghana to prepare for his next club football, another Barcelona away game, this time against Celta Vigo.

    Sam returned to his normal monotonic schedule. Alongside his training buddies, jog in the morning, work out in the gym, go for team training, engage in personal training, go home, sleep, wake up the next day, then reset.

    It was monotonic, it was boring, but Sam was used to it.

    His new friends were not exactly used to it though.

    Alejandro Balde was the one who suggested it first. Training for 7 straight days in preparation for their next game and not doing anything else was just too boring, and so the Spaniard invited his friends for a birthday party.

    It was the first big birthday party that Sam had attended in a long time.

    As heroes of Spanish football, superstars of FC Barcelona, they got a big welcome on arriving at the birthday party venue.

    Unlike what he expected, Sam had a nice time with his friends there.

    And when he returned home, he felt even more refreshed to keep up with his schedule. ''Wow¡­, I never knew going out once in a while could be so refreshing''.

    That was the only break in his schedule.

    In no time, D-day was here and the FC Barcelona squad traveled to Celta Vigo, taking on their opponents in their home stadium.

    FC Barcelona''s hot winning streak continued, and so did Sam''s goalscoring streak, highlighting the truth that he was the most in-form striker in the world again.

    The game ended 2-5 in FC Barcelona''s favor.

    The first half was a bit tight, Celta Vigo playing a low block that frustrated the visitors, ending the first half in a 1-1 draw.

    But in the second half, FC Barcelona exploded.

    Sam scored the 2nd goal, giving FC Barcelona the lead and Pedri put out another masterclass from the middle of the pitch, Lamine Yamal being electric as usual as they took the game from the grasp of the home side.

    Pedri scored the 3rd goal, courtesy of a Raphinha assist.

    Lamine Yamal scored the 4th goal, while Raphinha scored the 5th goal, courtesy of an assist from Sam. Celta Vigo got a consolation goal, but it had no consequence to the overall disposition of the game.

    Pedri won the man of the match award.

    ¡­

    3 days later, Barcelona took on Sporting Lisbon in matchday 5th of the UEFA champions league group phase.

    It was a tight game for the Catalans despite the fact that they played in their home stadium, the visitors from Portugal pushing them all the way.

    Sporting Lisbon got the first goal in the 17th minute but a moment of individual brilliance from Lamine Yamal in the 28th minute leveled the game, as he scored a brilliant curler after a dazzling solo run.

    In the 34th minute, Lamine Yamal did it again, setting up Gavi to score the 2nd FC Barcelona goal to give them the lead.

    The first half came to an end 1-2 in Barca''s favor.

    But just 1 minute after the 2nd half restart, Sporting Lisbon did it, their star striker, Viktor Gyokeres scoring an absolute banger to level the proceedings again.

    46th minute, 2-2¡­

    The game continued like this till the 90th minute.

    Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire

    After maintaining their winning streak for so many games, Sporting Lisbon was on the verge of breaking it but a defiant striker refused to give up.

    After being tightly man-marked out of this game for the majority of the game, Sam came clutch for FC Barcelona again, something Fulham fans were very used to.

    These days, Barca fans were also getting used to it.

    Sam scored from a header in additional time to steal all 3 points for FC Barcelona, dooming their Portuguese visitors to go back home with 0 points.

    Lamine Yamal won the man of the match award of this game.

    ¡­

    4 days later, on 30th November, Barcelona took on Elche at home.

    On this game, Sam put out an attacking masterclass at the Spotify Camp Nou, registering a hattrick of assists and a goal to doom Elche to an absolute thrashing.

    He was in terrific form.

    The first goal came late in the first half, in the 43rd minute as the visitors managed to tame Barca''s rampant attack for over 40 minutes with their low block.

    But the energetic Gavi broke the momentum.

    Like a relentless shark, he burst into the Elche 18-yard box, putting his energy to good use to be at the right place at the right time to receive Sam''s pass, quickly poking it past the goalkeeper to get the first goal.

    In the 45th plus 2 minutes, Sam did it again, spraying a pass to the left which Raphinha took in his strides, beating his man before cutting in and rifling a shot into the roof of the net with absolute venom, leaving the Elche goalkeeper no chance.

    In the blink of an eye, from a goalless draw, Barcelona now had a 2-goal cushion, comfortably winning the game already.

    This was how FC Barcelona was this season.

    Just when you thought they''ve been tamed, they strike.

    This season, they seemed inviolable.

    It just felt like they had the ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and a draw no matter how tight the game was. And the difference maker, that X factor carrier, it was Samuel Moses.

    Sam was not done though.

    After 2nd half started, he continued his impressive play, smoothly combining with his fellow forwards and midfielders to devastating effect.

    In the 56th minute of the game, he finally got his goal.

    Receiving a pass from Lamine Yamal in the box, he twisted and turned, using his elastico dribble to cut past 2 defenders that marked him before cooly slotting into the bottom right corner, leaving the goalkeeper standing, stunned.

    56 minutes, 3-nil to FC Barcelona.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    The Sam chants broke out again in the Spotify Camp Nou stadium.

    FC Barcelona fans across the world were having the time of their lives. When the club purchased Sam, they had high expectations for him, but not this high.

    Sam already far exceeded all their expectations.

    To cap off his incredible performance, Sam set up Ferran Torres next who replaced Raphinha in this game, scoring the 4th goal of the game.

    Marc Andre Ter Stegen kept a clean sheet as Barcelona got another 3 points.

    They were running away with the La Liga title.

    Sam got another man of the match award and with that performance, he took his statistics for the season to 26 goals and 15 assists in just 18 games!

    Incredible!

    Sam was now leading the football world in the European golden boot race, having scored more goals than any other forward across the top 5 European leagues.

    This season, he was in a level of his own.

    FC Barcelona truly struck gold by getting his signature.

    ¡­

    (Barcelona fixtures:)

    (La Liga:)

    (Mallorca ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 3rd December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Real Betis ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 7th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (UEFA Champions League:)

    (Fulham ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 11th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (La Liga:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Leganes)

    (Date: 15th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Barcelona ¨C Atletico Madrid)

    (Date: 21st December, 2025)

    The season was ramping up, the games were coming thick and fast.

    The FC Barcelona players were not overwhelmed though as Hansi Flick cleverly managed his team, rotating them across the games as they came.

    The game against Mallorca was not as straightforward as expected.

    Going to their opponent''s home stadium, again having to face a low block, FC Barcelona was frustrated for almost 90 minutes of this game.

    But once again, their star striker struck.

    By now, it felt like a lifetime ago when Sam was known as a world-class attacking midfielder, his identity was now full-blown striker. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Most young fans only knew him as a striker, not his days as an attacking midfielder. It was crazy.

    It was almost as if Sam was guaranteed to score every game.

    After Mallorca managed to hold the Catalans for 88 minutes, in the 89th minute, Sam broke the voodoo, scoring an incredible volley goal from an Alejandro Balde assist.

    In the 2nd minute of additional time after Mallorca finally left their low block, aggressively chasing the equalizer, Sam added salt to injury, winning the ball back and kickstarting a Barca counterattack.

    He played the ball high, to the left where Raphinha charged.

    Taking the ball in his strides, the Brazilian ate yards of space like they were not there before cutting in and roofing the ball into the top right corner.

    2-0 to FC Barcelona¡­, another game with a Sam goal and assist.

    The 20-year-old was in unplayable form.

    The best striker in the planet!

 Chapter 358 - 358: The best striker in the planet [4]

    After the victory against Mallorca away from home where Sam got another goal and assist, FC Barcelona''s next game was against an in-form Real Betis led by an imperious Anthony.

    Last season, when Anthony, the Manchester United winger made a loan switch to La Liga, fans jokingly called his transfer the arrival of the G.O.A.T.

    Well, that joke aged well.

    This was because a season on from then, Real Betis managed to go all in to get Anthony''s signature, pricing him from Manchester United''s grasp due to Anthony pushing for it, thereby heralding the rise of the Brazilian G.O.A.T.

    In recent months, Anthony was one of the most in-form players in Spain. Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire

    For Real Betis, he finally seemed to play at his full potential, dazzling in almost every game as he took Real Betis to the top 4 of La Liga.

    Currently, the top 4 of the Spanish La Liga table was like this.

    (Updated Spanish La Liga table:)

    (1. FC Barcelona)

    (2. Real Madrid)

    (3. Atletico Madrid)

    (4. Real Betis)

    And there was only 1 point separating Real Betis from Atletico Madrid!

    Having beaten Real Madrid earlier in the campaign already, this was why the game against Real Betis was predicted to be a big challenge for FC Barcelona.

    Sam did not care about all of that though, he trained, prepared, and approached the game like every other game.

    Alongside his training buddies, they continued their daily training.

    Like this, in no time, it was already D-day.

    On the 7th of December, alongside his teammates, Sam went to the Estadio Benito Villamarin in Seville, Real Betis'' home stadium.

    For this game, Hansi Flick rotated his team, clearly in preparation for the tough champions league showdown that would take place in England next week, a game that was especially important to Sam.

    Today, at the Estadio Benito Villamarin, Hansi Flick started with a starting XI that was led by Sam in attack as usual, but this time, he was flanked by Raphinha and Gavi from the left and right respectively.

    Lamine Yamal was rested for this game.

    Behind the attack, Dani Olmo started as the attacking midfielder while further behind him was the duo of Frankie De Jong and Marc Casado.

    For this game, Hansi Flick decided to rest Pedri also, a decision that did not sit well with the FC Barcelona fanbase.

    Behind the midfield in defense was an unchanged quadruple of Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsi, Ronald Araujo, and Jules Kounde in defense. Marc Andre Ter Stegen naturally started in between the posts for the visitors.

    As for Real Betis, they started with their strongest XI in a 4-2-3-1 formation just like FC Barcelona''s for this game.

    The no. 1 goalkeeper, Adrian started in between the posts for the home side, while ahead of the goalkeeper was a quadruple defense comprising Sabaly, Bartra, Diego Llorente, and Rodriguez.

    Ahead of the defense was the midfield duo of Cardoso and Altimira.

    In attack, led by Anthony, the G.O.A.T who started in the right-wing position, his supporters in attack were Isco in attacking midfield, Rodriguez in the left-wing position, and Hernandez starting as the striker.

    From the atmosphere in this stadium created by the fans, to the look in the eyes of the Real Betis players, it was clear that they lined up today for an upset.

    In recent months in La Liga, FC Barcelona was the team to beat.

    Led by a rampant Samuel Moses, they were imperious, unbeatable and now, led by their very own Anthony, Real Betis wanted to beat the unbeatable.

    With Anthony on their side, nothing was impossible!

    FWEEEE!

    From the first whistle, the Real Betis players showed their intentions.

    They would not cower before FC Barcelona!

    Unlike other sides in the Spanish La Liga this season who almost always played a low block against the rampant Catalan side, Real Betis decided not to cower, taking the game to the visitors, and that was what they did. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Bam! Bam!

    Real Betis played their football with confidence.

    On the right wing especially, a driven Anthony played like a man possessed, determined to prove his doubters wrong.

    The ex-Manchester United winger was electric this game, repeatedly burning Alejandro Balde with his dribbles as he turned the Spaniard inside out.

    The first half was a tight affair.

    Real Betis caught Barcelona off-guard with their intensity and aggressive attacking play this game, but this did not mean the Catalans cowered either.

    Afterall, they were the predators here.

    Real Betis were just challengers hoping to topple and injure the predator.

    Well, when Real Betis pushed, FC Barcelona bared its fangs, unleashing their incredible weaponry in attack.

    With Sam and Raphinha leading the attack, they dazzled up front.

    Despite their old-school dogged defending, Sam especially tortured Bartra and Diego Llorente, Real Betis'' center backs with his dribbling and playmaking attributes as he combined to devastating effect with Raphinha and Gavi.

    Playing as a winger was not Gavi''s natural position, but the Spaniard showed his versatility this game as he combined well with Sam.

    Dani Olmo was also a constant menace behind Sam, his shot in the 23rd minute being the closest sight of goal that the ball had seen in this game.

    The only weak point for Barcelona this game was the midfield.

    With Pedri out of the lineup, the midfield struggled to dominate possession like usual. Afterall, nobody could do what Pedri did, no other midfielder could quite dictate the tempo of games like Pedri did.

    Despite it, Frankie De Jong and Marc Casado did their best, putting in a solid shift to keep a rampant and motivated Real Betis at bay.

    The first half was an end-to-end affair, extremely intense as the fans bore witness to incredible attacking football.

    It was crazy that somehow, despite all the attacks packed into the half, the first half still ended goalless.

    During halftime, Hansi Flick had a little team talk with his players and whatever he told them definitely worked as after they came out for 2nd half, they played like an entirely different team.

    Real Betis was just as defiant in the first half, but then, the FC Barcelona attack finally clicked, entering that unstoppable state that they could break anything.

    It happened¡­ suddenly.

    Real Betis never saw it coming.

    Sam was the anchor, receiving a cross from Jules Kounde with his chest, evading the aggressive center backs as with his chest, he pushed the ball to Gavi who was close to him in the 18-yard box.

    It was perfect for Gavi to take a shot but just as he did, multiple Real Betis players put their bodies on the line, jumping in front of him, blocking his shot pathway and so Gavi improvised.

    "Gavi!" A certain Barcelona attacker called in the box.

    By the time the Real Betis players realized the danger, Gavi already hit the ball towards a suddenly free Raphinha.

    Under 0 pressure, the Brazilian did not miss his mark, poking the ball into an empty net to secure the lead for the Catalans, leaving the Real Betis goalkeeper no chance.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!!!" The away fans celebrated excitedly.

    Charging towards the corner flag, Raphinha jumped and pumped a fist in celebration as all the tension finally disappeared with that goal.

    But, not so fast¡­, Real Betis said.

    Because just 3 minutes after Barcelona''s goal in the 56th minute, Real Betis struck in the 59th minute, courtesy of an assist from the G.O.A.T.

    In the 58th minute, Anthony suddenly burst to life after receiving the ball.

    With a silky touch, he controlled the long pass and then with a body feint and an explosion of speed, he left Alejandro Balde eating dust.

    Entering the Barcelona 18-yard box, he twisted and turned, causing chaos, enough to open up space for his attacking midfielder, Isco who was making a late run into the box.

    Anthony pushed the ball into Isco''s path and the ex-Real Madrid midfielder did not miss his mark, hitting the ball with absolute venom.

    POW!

    Ter Stegen was rooted to one spot, he didn''t even see it coming, the shot.

    And with that, this stadium roared to life, Real Betis fans roaring at the top of their lungs as Isco celebrated with Anthony.

    "Vamos!!!" The G.O.A.T, Anthony roared excitedly.

    8 minutes after that goal, in the 67th minute of the game, the G.O.A.T did it again, dooming Barcelona to defeat.

    After beating Alejandro Balde again with his flawless dribbling this game, Anthony cut in before curling a perfect shot in from outside the box.

    Ter Stegen dived after the ball but it was not quite enough. The ball went past his grasp, nestling into the net.

    "GOALLLL¡­!!!" Anthony screamed at the top of his lungs like a mad man, charging towards the corner flag and screaming in celebration.

    What a game, what a performance from the Brazilian.

    A win against Barcelona, orchestrated by him, what a story it was meant to be if only a certain Nigerian didn''t bare his ugly fangs.

    When it seemed like Real Betis already ran away with the lead, in the 90th plus 2 minutes, Sam struck.

    From outside the box, he unleashed an unreal knuckle ball shot that went high and dipped, confusing the Real Betis goalkeeper.

    Before the goalkeeper could understand what happened, his net already shook as the ball nestled into its embrace.

    2-2!

    The traveling FC Barcelona fans wildly celebrated.

    The game came to an end 2-2, and Anthony won the man of the match award.

    What a game it was.

 Chapter 359 - 359: An honored legend

    (ESPN News:)

    (FC Barcelona''s winning streak is finally broken, but they maintain their unbeaten streak as they drew 2-2 against Real Betis at the Estadio Benito Villamarin. Most importantly though, Sam maintains his goalscoring streak, it''s now 27 goals in just 19 games. He''s on another level!)

    ¡­

    (Supersport News:)

    (FC Barcelona escapes the Estadio Benito Villamarin with a point despite Hansi Flick heavily rotating his team for the champions league game in mid-week, a 2-2 draw. Now, all eyes are on Fulham vs Barcelona!)

    ¡­

    (GOAL.com:)

    (FC Barcelona player ratings against Real Betis:)

    (Goalkeeper & Defense:)

    (Marc Andre Ter Stegen: 7.5/10)

    (Jules Kounde: 7/10)

    (Ronald Araujo: 7.5/10)

    (Pau Cubarsi: 8/10)

    (Alejandro Balde: 5/10)

    ---

    (Midfield:)

    (Frankie De Jong: 6.5/10)

    (Marc Casado: 7/10)

    (Dani Olmo: 6.5/10)

    ---

    (Attack:)

    (Gavi: 7/10)

    (Sam: 8.5/10)

    (Raphinha: 8/10)

    ¡­

    (Champions League Football:)

    (Fulham ¨C Barcelona)

    (A game of nostalgia for Sam! After months since his move from England, he''s finally returning to his roots in Craven Cottage before tens of thousands of Fulham supporters. Will Sam perform?)

    FC Barcelona''s next game was a UEFA Champions League game and it was between Barcelona and Fulham, Sam''s previous club.

    Yes, it was a game of nostalgia for him.

    He spent just 1 and half seasons in the West London club, but to Sam, it was a significant and unforgettable period of his life.

    Afterall, he created memories with the Fulham supporters.

    He created history with them.

    Winning the EFL Cup, and then the FA Cup and the English premier league, winning all that in just 1 and half seasons, damn, if that was not memorable Sam did not know what else was.

    Sam may be away from England now but in his free time, he still followed Fulham, keeping tabs on their performances in the English premier league.

    With his heroics with the West London club last season, he and his teammates booked a first UEFA champions league spot for Fulham in years.

    This season, Fulham played in the UEFA Champions League.

    After last season''s heroics, certain important players left Fulham like Sam, going to greener pastures but the situation of the club was not as tragic as Sam feared after their departures this season.

    With a core now led by Emile Smith Rowe, Fulham was still a force to be reckoned with in the English premier league.

    At the moment, they were in 5th position in the premier league table but only 4 points separated them from the top 3 position.

    So yes, Fulham was doing well in Sam''s absence.

    Sam was happy for his old club, but he was an FC Barcelona player now, this was why he put even more effort in training preparing for the big game.

    Afterall, football was what he knew how to do best.

    Football was the catalyst for the memories and history that he created with Fulham. This was why, returning back to Craven Cottage, Sam wanted to show them that he still got it, that he didn''t regress.

    He wanted to show the fans that adored him in Fulham what they transformed him into.

    And so, Sam trained for the game. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Day after day, training after training, he put in 100% and in no time, it was D-day.

    3 days later after the away game against Real Betis, on 10th of December, the FC Barcelona squad traveled to England, Fulham.

    Right there at the airport, Sam received a hero''s welcome in Fulham.

    Fulham fans flooded the stadium awaiting his arrival with banners depicting him in a Fulham jersey, banners of him lifting the premier league trophy, lifting his golden boy award, and banners of him balling out for Fulham FC.

    Right there at the airport, the nostalgia hit Sam.

    This was a city where he was adored.

    That was not all though, Sam was singled out of the FC Barcelona squad and honored on his arrival to Fulham.

    Councilor Patricia Quigley, the Mayor of the London Borugh of Hammersmith & Fulham invited Sam to a meal on his arrival in Fulham.

    This was a great honor.

    And not just that, leaving the Mayor''s office, Councilor Patricia Quigley personally led a contingent that escorted Sam to Craven Cottage, Fulham''s home stadium where the greatest honor was revealed.

    "¡­!"

    Sam was shocked as the secret was finally unveiled.

    Unknown to him and the rest of the world, Fulham secretly worked on a bronze statue outside their stadium.

    And today, they finally unveiled it to the rest of the world.

    It was a bronze statue of Samuel Moses.

    Sam was immortalized in Fulham.

    "¡­"

    Staring at the bronze statue, Sam was speechless and emotional, driven to tears all of a sudden as he was caught off-guard.

    In the end, he gave a speech with a big smile on his face. "This¡­, I won''t lie, I don''t even know how to react".

    The audience laughed.

    He looked at the Mayor. "First, I want to express my gratitude to the Mayor, Councilor Patricia Quigley for approving this and making it possible".

    "I''m grateful ma".

    The Mayor smiled back at him.

    Then, Sam grinned. "And I want to thank the city of Fulham especially, fans of the white, black, and red".

    "I love you guys and you know it".

    "When I was unknown and obscure, you had faith in me, prying me from the jaws of the NPFL to prove myself in the English premier league".

    He looked at his old coach, Marco Silva. "Coach," he smiled. "Thank you for believing in me".

    He grinned mischievously. "Thank you for playing me in that Liverpool game".

    Marco Silva chuckled among the audience.

    He remembered that day, he was glad he dropped his pride to take the decision. He lost nothing and gained everything after that day.

    Sam smiled as he faced the camera. "Fulham made me, and tomorrow," he grinned. "I''ll show you all the monster that you created!"

    "Pity us Sam!" Some of the fans bellowed, making him to laugh.

    In the end, after more speeches from the Mayor herself, highlighting the importance of Sam''s incredible achievements for the City of Fulham during the previous season, Coach Marco Silva also had a speech. Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire

    After that, the little ceremony finally came to an end.

    When Sam returned to his hotel to meet up with his teammates, his training buddies teased him.

    Yamal laughed. "Are you some kind of honored legend now?"

    "Get lost!" Sam said, eliciting more laughter.

    That night, the group of 5 teammates and friends played a few rounds of FIFA on a PS5 console before finally retreating to bed on time for the night.

    Tomorrow was going to be a big day.

    In a blink, it was morning already.

    No training was scheduled for morning, just Hansi Flick going over the game strategy with his players all over again as he warned them not to do anything stupid to make sure that they were in optimum state for the game.

    The FC Barcelona players were obedient, all staying docile in preparations for the big UEFA champions league clash.

    And then, later at night, they finally arrived at Craven Cottage.

    In big UEFA champions league nights like this, opposition fans tend to be extremely hostile, trying to get into the head of their opposition players and rattle them before the game but simply due to the presence of a specific player in the Barcelona squad, the Fulham fans were tamed for this game.

    Both squads started with their strongest starting XI.

    For the visiting side, FC Barcelona, Hansi Flick finally reverted to his strongest lineup with the attacking trio of Raphinha, Sam, and Lamine Yamal anchoring the attack and Gavi playing just behind them in attacking midfield.

    Behind them was a midfield duo of Pedri and Frankie De Jong.

    Manning the defense was the imperious quadruple of Alejandro Balde, Inigo Martinez, Ronald Araujo, and Jules Kounde in right back. Barca''s no. 1, Marc Andre Ter Stegen started in between the posts.

    As for the home side, they lined up in a familiar 4-2-3-1 formation.

    Raul Jimenez led the attack, while behind him was the attacking trio of Alex Iwobi in left wing, Emile Smith Rowe in attacking midfield who was now the core of this team, and the rapid Adama Traore down the right wing.

    Behind them was the duo of Berge and Lukic in midfield.

    As for the defense, the quadruple of Antonee Robinson, Calvin Bassey, Andersen, and Castagne started. Further behind them was Bernd Leno in between the posts.

    Craven Cottage was electric.

    The home fans sang at the top of their lungs, excited for a lot of different reasons. The homecoming of their hero, their eagerness to show him what the team was now capable of in his absence, and the eagerness to see what he could do.

    Heck, their emotions were complicated and going haywire this game.

    They wanted to win but they didn''t want Sam to look bad. They wanted Sam to play well but not enough to help FC Barcelona win.

    Their emotions were heightened and complicated.

    And then, all of it came to a halt, focusing on the game as soon as the referee''s whistle cut through the noise like a knife.

    FWEEEE!

    The game started.

 Chapter 360 - 360: The King is back!

    Fulham fans were not used to seeing Sam play as a striker.

    Heck, they''ve never seen him play for their club as a striker.

    When Sam still plied his trade in the English premier league for Fulham FC, he was renowned as an all-action attacking midfielder.

    The player who made Marco Silva''s team tick.

    The link between attack and defense, the driving force of Fulham''s attack, the most lethal weapon in Marco Silva''s arsenal.

    And yet, here he was, lining up against them.

    Not as an attacking midfielder, but as a striker.

    Weird, but by the end of this game, the Fulham fans would learn to see Sam in a new light and accept just how versatile he was.

    Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire

    FWEEE!

    The whistle imperiously cut through the noise around the stadium like a knife.

    And then, the game started.

    Instantly, Sam took the wheel.

    FC Barcelona started kick-off and directly from the first kick of the ball, Sam showed that he didn''t return to Craven Cottage to play as bombing straight down the field, Pedri expertly threw a lobbed pass towards him.

    "¡­!"

    The fans across the stadium froze in shock.

    In just the first minute of this game, the chemistry between the FC Barcelona players reared its head as Pedri and Sam caught the Fulham defense napping.

    Pedri played the lobbed pass, and Sam ran into it.

    Calvin Bassey reacted, trying to shove Sam aside with his physicality but the Nigerian International quickly got a reality check when Sam stood his ground.

    ''Damn! He''s this powerful¡­?''

    Calvin Bassey realized too late.

    Sam didn''t just stand his ground against his International teammate, spreading his arms and changing his running stance, he was able to force Calvin Bassey out of balance, making the center back stagger.

    That little stagger, removing the pressure from him for a split second, that split second was all the time that Sam needed. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Whoosh!

    Pedri''s pass flew through the air, the ball drawing a parabular through the air as it dipped in a perfect arc towards his position.

    This exact same pass, Pedri had played it for Sam countless times in their personal training sessions.

    Pedri knew his speed like the back of his hand, and he had the technique to add just the right weight on the pass.

    The ball perfectly floated into Sam''s front.

    Thud!

    Reading the danger and knowing just what kind of threat Sam posed in front of goal, Bernd Leno kicked the ground, erupting in a sprint as he rapidly closed the striker down but Sam kept his cool.

    Leno''s charge sent adrenaline through his body, urging him to act fast but it did not make him lose his cool, he still had 100% presence of mind.

    And so¡­, Sam didn''t try to take a first touch to calm the ball.

    Instead, he jumped directly and swung his right leg.

    It was a volley!

    POW!

    Sam''s right leg hit the ball with venom, roofing it towards the top left corner of the net with incredible power.

    Bernd Leno reacted, sprawling his arms but not quite fast enough.

    The power behind Sam''s shot was just too much, it snuck past him, and into the net, silencing Craven Cottage.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!!!"

    The away fans and the other FC Barcelona players celebrated.

    Sam didn''t let it get to his head though, raising his arms up instead of celebrating his goal. He refused to celebrate his goal against Fulham even as Lamine Yamal jumped on his back, celebrating.

    That goal was the fastest of Sam''s whole career.

    It was not even a full minute yet before the ball found its way into the net, it was his first goal scored in the 1st minute of a game.

    "Well, we wondered what version of Sam will come to Craven Cottage today after what happened yesterday".

    "Heck, the boy got honored with his own trophy in this same stadium".

    "But I guess even that is not enough to stop Sam".

    "Clearly, he came with his scoring boots today".

    "The boy is unstoppable!"

    "The Fulham legend scores in Craven Cottage, what a game this is turning out to be already!"

    "A lightning-fast goal!"

    FWEEE!

    Sam''s goal came in just the first minute, there was still 89 minutes to play, and boy did that goal wake Fulham up!

    "Come on!" Emile Smith Rowe roared, doing the work that Sam usually did when he still played for the West London club.

    "It''s just Sam".

    "It''s just FC Barcelona".

    "Are we scared of them? NO!"

    "Come on! Let''s play our game, we can win!"

    And well, with Smith Rowe''s urging, Fulham did just that.

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded again to continue the game, the UEFA champions league clash truly started in Craven Cottage.

    It didn''t go all FC Barcelona''s way.

    Under Marco Silva''s tactical drilling, this iteration of the Fulham squad played with cohesion and grit, defending doggedly as a team.

    And when they did get the ball back, the new core of Fulham dazzled.

    Emile Smith Rowe had a playmaking masterclass in the middle of the pitch for the West London club.

    Up against the likes of Pedri, Gavi, and Frankie De Jong, world-renowned football stars, Emile Smith Rowe did not fade into obscurity as he showed what he could do at the highest level against the best of the best.

    He dictated the game for Fulham, spraying passes left and right, setting his teammates up, a technique which he already practiced to near perfection.

    Yes, he didn''t have Sam''s physicality.

    Yes, he didn''t have Sam''s versatility or his power header, nor even his power shot, but Emile Smith Rowe could create.

    Besides, before Sam left Fulham, he managed to inherit something from the Nigerian maverick¡­, the mamba mentality.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    Smith Rowe lacked Sam''s style of play, and so he channeled his mamba mentality through his intelligence and elite passing ability.

    And after repeatedly knocking at the door, he did it.

    Berge won the ball back in midfield before quickly passing it diagonally to Emile Smith Rowe, even as Frankie De Jong quickly pressed him for the ball.

    Standing his ground, Smith Rowe evaded a physical duel, rather using a body feint before quickly spinning round with the ball, smoothly evading De Jong''s tackle.

    The Dutch International didn''t give up though, coming again for the ball.

    Smith Rowe expected it, and was why he didn''t hold on to the ball.

    He spotted Adama Traore''s unstoppable burst of speed immediately after he was done spinning past De Jong, and then¡­

    Bam!

    With the outside of his boot, Emile Smith Rowe hit the ball on a perfect trivela, sending it spinning through the air like a shot put.

    Far higher up the field, having left Cubarsi in the dust with his pace since Alejandro Balde was caught out of position, Adama Traore took the long pass in his strides, pushing it forward as he charged towards goal.

    Ronald Araujo approached¡­

    Whoosh!

    Just as Adama Traore was to shoot, the Uruguayan went on a sliding tackle but that was where Adama Traore did it, cutting the ball instead of shooting.

    That bought him enough time for Araujo to slide to no man''s land and then keeping his cool in front of goal, he hit the ball with power.

    Bam!

    Straight to the bottom right corner.

    Marc Andre Ter Stegen stood no chance.

    "GOALLLLLL¡­!!!"

    Craven Cottage erupted to life.

    Charging towards Adama Traore, Emile Smith Rowe jumped on his back even as they celebrated the goal wildly.

    Before the game continued, Smith Rowe looked at Sam, winking at him as he grinned. "Game on!"

    Sam grinned back. "Game on!"

    He could feel his blood boiling hot. ''Hehe, this¡­, I''m going to love this!''

    Today, who was going to be the King of Craven Cottage?

    With Smith Rowe''s performance so far, was there a new King in Craven Cottage and did the real King just went on a vacation, and was back?

    Was the King back?

    Time would tell.

    FWEEE!

    The game continued, and Sam played his heart out.

    Dropping deep and fully embracing his false 9 role this game, he balled for FC Barcelona, connecting with Gavi, Pedri, and Lamine Yamal to devastating effect as they probed Fulham''s defense again and again.

    Fulham may have equalized in the 22nd minute through a moment of individual brilliance from Smith Rowe, but they were not deterred by it.

    Rather, they only played better.

    Not willing to roll over in defeat, Fulham matched FC Barcelona''s intensity aura for aura, it was an end-to-end game.

    Barca attacked, Fulham defended¡­

    Fulham attacked, Barca defended¡­

    It was crazy, intense, exciting, the star players embracing the moment as they showed just what they could do in the biggest stages and biggest moments.

    Yamal dazzled with his dribbling, Gavi dazzled with his intensity, Pedri dazzled with his calm composure and playmaking, Alejandro Balde dazzled with his overlapping runs, Raphinha dazzled in attack, Smith Rowe dazzled in playmaking, while Sam did everything.

    He was all-action, 10 in 1.

    But then, despite all the excitement, despite all the chances created, the first half came to an end with the ball failing to enter the net a 3rd time.

    The first half came to an end 1-1.

    It was a first half draw.

 Chapter 361 - 361: The King of Craven Cottage

    The first half came to an end 1-1.

    It was a first half draw.

    But the second half was another case entirely.

    If the first half was like the prelude, the preparation to a nuclear disaster, well, in the second half, the nuclear bomb exploded in a crazy supernova.

    Hansi Flick and Marco Silva didn''t even need to say any words to their players during halftime. Seeing the look in their eyes was all the 2 coaches needed, they could tell that their players were locked into the game.

    Both teams were determined to win.

    This was a test of wit and will, which would prevail?

    FWEEE!

    The referee''s whistle sounded again, continuing the duel in Craven Cottage.

    A clash of international borders, a clash of Spanish culture and English football, a clash of Samuel Moses and Emile Smith Rowe.

    It was intense, end to end, exciting, but the best always find a way.

    The best this time was¡­ Smith Rowe.

    In the 57th minute of this game, the Englishman exploded to life again to devastating effect for Fulham FC.

    After breaking another FC Barcelona attack, Calvin Bassey played the ball long to Adama Traore, a portion of the pitch where Pedri also stayed. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire

    Pedri pursued after the ball, but this foot race was destined from the beginning to have only one conclusion.

    Whoosh!

    Adama Traore dashed past the Spaniard like Barry Allen, taking the ball in his strides, eating yards of space before cutting the ball back to Emile Smith Rowe close to the Barcelona 18-yard box.

    As soon as Smith Rowe received the ball¡­

    BZZZ!

    His brain geared into overdrive, and then magic happened.

    A sliding tackle from Frankie De Jong came but with a delicate flick of the ball, Smith Rowe smoothly evaded the challenge, coming up against Ronald Araujo next but he didn''t dribble.

    Bam!

    He hit the ball once, passing to Alex Iwobi who was at the left.

    As soon as the ball was hit¡­

    Bam!

    Alex Iwobi hit it back.

    One-two¡­, tiki-taka against the Kings of tiki-taka.

    "¡­!"

    Craven Cottage came alive.

    Emile Smith Rowe intended to give the Catalans a taste of their own medicine. It was crazy, but you know the craziest thing?

    It worked!

    Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!

    4 swift passes did it.

    The pass to Alex Iwobi, the return pass to Smith Rowe, the progressive pass to Raul Jimenez in the box, and the last pass, Jimenez laying the ball for Smith Rowe. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    4 passes, but those 4 passes pried Barcelona''s defense open, tearing it imperiously like a hot knife through butter.

    "Block him!" Araujo screamed but it was too late.

    It was not a shot, not any fancy technique, Smith Rowe simply passed the ball towards the bottom right corner, leaving Ter Stegen frozen in one spot.

    The goalkeeper did not see that coming.

    "GOALLLLLLL¡­!"

    Craven Cottage transformed into a cauldron of noise.

    Ecstatic Fulham fans went haywire, celebrating at the top of their lungs as Emile Smith Rowe charged towards the corner flag, sliding on his knees in celebration before the stadium.

    "Smith!" "Smith!" "Smith!"

    They chanted his name loudly.

    "Well, well, they asked who the King of Craven Cottage was and I guess we have our answer".

    "Emile Smith Rowe is the true King of Craven Cottage!"

    Well, those words were said a few dozen minutes too soon.

    This was because after all the celebrations, Fulham seemingly having completed their comeback in their home ground, a familiar face did them in, completing a masterclass performance in Craven Cottage.

    ''That goal¡­!'' Sam''s eyes glistened with excitement as Smith Rowe''s goal replayed in his head. ''Damn! He''s better than the last time I played here!''

    Compared to last season, Smith Rowe was a better footballer now.

    But Sam didn''t feel bitter, he felt happy, ecstatic even, and that became the catalyst that pushed him into the flow state.

    ''How can I play bad when my friend is playing so good?''

    ''Hehe, I''d be a bad friend if it ends like this''.

    ''Afterall, what are friends for?''

    Just like that, Sam was unleashed.

    BOOM!

    Like a hurricane, he struck.

    Fulham only got to celebrate their lead for a measly 3 minutes, this was because in the 60th minute of this game, Sam unlocked another lever.

    In Craven Cottage, they were not used to striker Sam.

    Rather, they were used to an all-action midfielder Sam who could do everything, press, tackle, create, and shoot. They were used to the Sam that unleashed absolute piledrivers from beyond the 18-yard box.

    Well, Fulham fans saw that Sam in Craven Cottage again.

    In the 60th minute of this game, spotting Sam who embraced his false 9 role again, dropping deep outside the 18-yard box to derail the Fulham defenders, Pau Cubarsi took the gamble and played a swift ground pass to Sam.

    Sam received and controlled the ball by using a Cruyff turn.

    With that simple move, he evaded his marker, Berge, leaving the midfielder eating dust even as the Fulham defense responded to his movement.

    Anytime that he had the ball, they retreated on tenterhooks.

    This time though, Sam had no intention of running into the 18-yard box with the ball. He was ok right where he was.

    He raised his head and looked at Bernd Leno''s position, then the post.

    Standing in between the posts, Bernd Leno''s eyes widened.

    "¡­!"

    He recognized that look, he''s seen it countless times in training when Sam still played for Fulham and trained with him daily in Craven Cottage.

    "Close him down!" The goalkeeper roared but it was already too late.

    Sam grinned. ''Just about right''.

    And then¡­

    POW!

    His right leg swung, unleashing an absolute thunderbolt as he used his knuckle shot technique for the 2nd consecutive game.

    The ball rose like a missile, going high into the sky before dipping down as if redirected by an auto-controller, dipping into the goalpost.

    Despite the fact that it looked like the ball was going outside from the beginning, Bernd Leno did not take the risk of standing still.

    This was because he knew the threat that Sam could pose with a ball at his feet. He jumped, which was the right decision.

    Leno''s hand touched the ball, then¡­

    Bang!

    Bernd Leno managed to push the ball against the post, making it rebound back into the net as a scramble started immediately.

    After a scramble, Antonee Robinson managed to clear the ball awkwardly though it was still inside the 18-yard box.

    The players scrambled¡­, who would get there first?

    Thud! Thud!

    Hearing those footsteps, the Fulham players felt their heartbeat accelerate; they raised their heads to look.

    Sam who took the initial shot was already back!

    "¡­!"

    Craven Cottage froze still, watching Sam as he raised his right leg and swung it in mid-air at the ball, unleashing another volley, this time a scissor kick.

    Bam!

    This time, Bernd Leno did not see the ball.

    It whooshed past him at a crazy speed, nestling into his net before he could react as the goalkeeper cursed.

    GOAL!

    FC Barcelona scored again!

    It was 2-2.

    And again, Sam did not celebrate.

    After that equalizing goal, for over a dozen minutes, the game became tight and end-to-end again until he proved the decider once again.

    This time, it was Lamine Yamal who threw in a cross for him from the right as Sam dug in, floating into the sky like superman.

    He rose above every other player in the 18-yard box before powering a header towards the top right corner.

    Leno could only watch it go in, gritting his teeth.

    ''This bastard!'' He thought.

    ''Man¡­, what a pain to play against him!''

    Sam got his hattrick, giving Barcelona the lead again in this exciting game and for the third time, he refused to celebrate.

    "My God! I spoke too soon!" The commentator laughed.

    "Guys, ignore my previous words, the King of Craven Cottage is still Sam!"

    "What the hell am I seeing?"

    "0-1 to 2-1, then to 2-3 now, what a game!"

    "Smith Rowe is amazing this game, but Sam is freaking unplayable!"

    And yet, that was not all.

    Sam got his hattrick and gave his team the lead again in the 72nd minute of this game, and then in the 83rd, FC Barcelona added the final nail to complete Fulham''s coffin in this game.

    This time, it was an electric Alejandro Balde who did it.

    After stopping another round of rampant Fulham attacks, Barcelona exploded, going on the counter and Alejandro Balde was at the heart of it.

    Starting all the way from Barca''s half of the field, he evaded a challenge, and then another before kicking the ball long and exploding after it with speed.

    The Spaniard literally left afterimages behind as he ran!

    No one could catch him and when he finally met Fulham''s imperious last man in defense, Calvin Bassey, he took the easier route, passing to Sam who ran after him all the way from defense.

    Sam took one touch to control the ball before slipping it past Calvin Bassey and back towards Balde.

    Balde didn''t hesitate, hitting the ball with the outside of his right boot as he sent it towards the bottom right corner.

    Bernd Leno was beaten in his post for the 4th time this game.

    GOAL!

    2-4!

    "What a goal!"

    "What a game!"

    "And that''s a hattrick and an assist, Sam is unplayable!"

    FC Barcelona won the game, and Sam won another man of the match award.

    The King of Craven Cottage was back, and he was Samuel Moses.

 Chapter 362 - 362: Unplayable Sam

    90 minutes, 2-4¡­

    FC Barcelona won the game, and Sam got another man of the match award.

    The King of Craven Cottage was back, and he was Samuel Moses.

    "What a goal!" S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What a game!" The commentators raved.

    "And that''s a hattrick and an assist, Sam is unplayable".

    "And ladies and gentlemen, this is the forerunner of the 2026 Ballon d''Or, the leader of the pack!"

    Across Craven Cottage, there were mixed feelings among the fans.

    This was a player that they brought from Nigeria, and watched grow. From making his debut in the Carabao Cup, to singlehandedly winning games against Manchester City in the English premier league, to being clutch in the FA Cup.

    They had so many memories of Sam that seeing him again induced so much nostalgia, but for him to go and score a hattrick against them.

    ''This bastard¡­!''

    He was a bastard, but in the end, he was their bastard.

    A bastard that they created.

    And so, the Fulham fans let go of their mixed feelings, appreciating greatness. Afterall, this was a legend of their club.

    Clap! Clap!

    Around Craven Cottage, tens of thousands of fans in the white, black, and red rose to their feet as they gave Sam a standing ovation.

    And for the final time, a familiar chant rang around Craven Cottage.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    Hearing those chants, the commentators could not stay quiet. "Well, well, it''s not every day that you get to see a player from the opposing side receive a standing ovation in away ground".

    "Most especially when the stage is the UEFA Champions League".

    "But well, this is Fulham, and this is Samuel Moses, both sides of the same coin. He may be Blaugrana now, but Sam and Fulham are inseparable".

    "He now occupies a deep place in their history".

    "That aside though, this standing ovation is well deserved".

    "I mean, what a performance!"

    Noticing the standing ovation and hearing those chants, as the adrenaline of the game slowly started fading away from him, Sam could not help his emotions as he started feeling nostalgia.

    The ''Sam'' chants in Craven Cottage, he missed it.

    This was his home for over a year after leaving Nigeria for the first time, and it occupied a special place in his heart.

    Sam could not stay still, and so he walked over to the fans.

    Before doing anything, he first raised his hands over his head, rubbing them in a plea for forgiveness against what he did to their beloved club today, a gesture which elicited laughter from the commentators.

    After which Sam pumped his fists high before bumping it against his chest.

    The chants exploded, growing louder.

    Thud! Thud!

    Sam heard footsteps behind him and before he knew what was happening, a familiar figure ran into him, crashing against him from behind.

    "You bastard! Your really went and did it today, huh?"

    With a big smile on his face, Sam turned round, hugging Smith Rowe, a signing that he endorsed for Fulham since day 1.

    In the prelude to the game, both friends refrained from meeting each other and catching up on lost time.

    This was because they were both focused on winning the game for their respective clubs.

    Knowing Sam''s competitive spirit, Emile Smith Rowe knew that he was determined to win even if this clash was against his beloved Fulham, this was why he trained harder and gave his best performance of the season so far.

    And yet, that was still not enough against Sam''s brilliance.

    The unsufferable bastard!

    Sam laughed, patting Smith Rowe by the shoulder. "You''re the main man of the team now".

    "That''s because you left you bastard!" Smith Rowe laughed, eliciting more laughter from Sam.

    And then right there on the pitch, under the canopy of tens of thousands of Fulham fans, they started doing catch-up, recovering lost time.

    At the end of it all, Fulham glared at Sam. "You better lead your club all the way to win the UEFA Champions League after what you just did to us".

    Sam chucked. "Leave it to me".

    "And you better win the ballon d''Or too, or else I won''t forgive you".

    Sam laughed again. "I''ll try".

    And with that, they finally walked out of the pitch.

    Like expected, it didn''t take long before Sam was summoned back to the pitch for the post-match interview.

    The female reporter was all giddy with smiles. "Sam, you were unplayable today!" She gushed as soon as he arrived.

    "How do you feel? Coming back to Craven Cottage after so many months, receiving such a wholesome welcome, and putting out such a performance before the fans, how do you feel?"

    Sam sighed. "It''s a bittersweet feeling honestly. On one hand, I don''t want to inflict any pain on Fulham, but at the same time, I know that they want me to play at my best. That''s what they came to see".

    "And I''m obligated by a contract to play my best to help my team win, so yeah, I feel bittersweet". He laughed.

    The reporter chuckled. "Well, by scoring a hattrick to help Barcelona to the win, you definitely inflicted pain and made them excited at the same time".

    "They missed you Sam, you could tell from the reactions".

    "I missed them too, for real".

    "How was your preparation for the game? Did you train harder than usual? Did you know that you''ll score a hattrick?"

    Sam looked at the reporter incredulously. "Know that I''ll score a hattrick? Come on, that''s ludicrous!" He laughed. "I''m not some prophet or seer".

    "I didn''t change my training routine; I just did my best in training like usual and approached the game with the mindset to win".

    "I won''t lie though, Smith Rowe''s electric form on the pitch also spurred me on to play at my best. I''m glad to see he''s the new main man in Fulham". He grinned.

    "Before leaving, Sam I''d like to know, did you know about the bronze statue that was made in your honor ahead of time?"

    Sam scratched his head. "You really think I''m such a good actor? That I''ll have such an emotional reaction if I knew ahead of time?" He chuckled.

    "Of course, I didn''t know, that''s why this visit to Fulham is extra special for me". He looked towards the stadium stands. "This is a visit that I won''t forget in a hurry, a memory that''s forever engraved in my mind".

    Thinking of something, he grinned. "If I live long enough for it, I''ll definitely tell my grandkids stories of yesterday and today".

    The reporter laughed. "Now, that''ll be something to write about".

    She smiled brightly at him. "Sam, thanks for having me, do have a nice day".

    "You too". Sam smiled back and left.

    He waved one last time at the fans before walking into the tunnel.

    It was not yet over for Sam though. When it was Barcelona''s turn to leave the stadium, they met a traffic, excited Fulham fans who wanted Sam''s autograph.

    And then, the whole FC Barcelona squad was forced to wait for him as he signed a few autographs and took a few pictures, making today the best day of their lives for a lot of fans.

    After which he joined his teammates and then, zoom, the Barca bus was gone. They returned to their hotel in Fulham.

    Since they already played the game though, Sam didn''t stay at the hotel.

    After telling Lamine Yamal and the others where he intended to go, an invitation that he wanted to honor, he drove out of the hotel on a car he rented.

    Marco Silva, Fulham''s head coach organized a party to commemorate Sam''s bronze statue with the team and all the Fulham players would be present. Sam also got an invitation and that was where he was headed to.

    That night, they met up in a club in Fulham.

    There, Sam was able to catch up with a lot of topics with his old teammates, learning about a lot of things that he didn''t know before since he was literally a hermit whose only cares in the world was family and football.

    Despite the fact that he followed Fulham games, he didn''t truly understand how much of a terrific season Smith Rowe was having till they told him.

    Smith Rowe was currently having the best season of his life statistically.

    And not just that, they told him of Manchester City''s resurgence in the English premier league under Pep Guardiola.

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    The Citizens were back, and not with good intentions.

    They were taking the premier league by storm this season after stumbling last season, and Erling Haaland was having an imperious campaign, topping every single goalscoring chart.

    Kevin De Bruyne was also having a resurgent campaign after a lot of people wrote him off last season, accusing him of being old and washed.

    All in all, Manchester City was back.

    And then they showed him the recent updated 2026 ballon d''Or top 10 early rankings.

    [2026 Ballon d''Or top 10 rankings:]

    [1. Samuel Moses]

    [2. Erling Haaland]

    [3. Pedri]

    [4. Kylian Mbappe]

    [5. Rodri]

    [6. Harry Kane]

    [7. Kevin De Bruyne]

    [8. Vinicius Jnr.]

    [9. Lamine Yamal]

    [10. Ousmane Dembele]

    Sam was at the forefront once again.

    His old teammates teased him about it, telling him he must win the damn ballon d''Or or he was gay.

    Sam was stunned. "W-what? I''m not gay!"

    "Then prove it!"

    "¡­!"

    Sam was flabbergasted. ''F*ck! They got me!''

    He had a nice time with his old teammates before returning late to his hotel room. The next day, the FC Barcelona squad left England.

 Chapter 363 - 363: Life of Sam

    Spain, Barcelona¡­

    It was the morning after the grueling UEFA Champions League match in Fulham, England, a match that had a lot of significance to Sam.

    The city of Barcelona stirred gently under a soft Mediterranean sunrise.

    The sky was painted in warm hues of orange and pink, and a light sea breeze filtered in through the open balcony doors of a luxurious high-rise mansion overlooking the cityscape, Sam''s mansion.

    The distant hum of life in the streets below, of early risers heading to work, the faint melody of a street musician, all blending into the quiet elegance of the morning.

    "Ahh!" Sam sighed, taking a deep breath as he looked down through the open balcony doors. ''What a sight''. He thought.

    And then, he started easing into his day with a slow stretch, his body still feeling the aftereffects of the previous night''s battle on the pitch.

    The adrenaline had long since faded, leaving behind the familiar dull ache in his muscles, a badge of effort and victory.

    He moved with the deliberate sluggishness of someone who gave everything the night before on the pitch.

    Yes, Sam was suffering from fatigue from the grueling match yesterday.

    Even with his physical conditioning elixirs that the system rewarded him with, to return to optimum state as soon as possible for the next game, Sam still had to recover normally like other professional football players.

    It was just that he had an advantage over other players in terms of recovery speed, an advantage that could not be bridged with just talent alone.

    The game in Fulham may have seemed like a workover for FC Barcelona if you look at the 2-4 scoreline, but Fulham gave them hell.

    Led by Emile Smith Rowe, they fought a great battle against the Catalan giants, pushing them to the edge.

    This was why after the game, Hansi Flick gave his players the day out to rest and recover for their next game which was a league game.

    And this was why for the first time since they started their daily work-out as training buddies, Pedri, Lamine Yamal and the others decided to skip today, telling Sam that they were too exhausted to go today.

    Sam couldn''t blame them, after all, none of them had a system like him.

    And so, dressed in training gear, he settled into his post-match recovery routine in the mansion''s sleek recovery room.

    A state-of-the-art compression machine wrapped around his legs, methodically working to flush out lactic acid and reduce inflammation.

    At the side, an ice bath waited nearby, the thought of it unappealing but necessary.

    Sitting, Sam sipped on a nutrient-packed smoothie, the taste of banana, oats, and protein powder blending together as he scrolled through his phone.

    He went through messages from his teammates, notifications from the club and its fan pages, and then highlights from last night''s game flooding his feed.

    But then, all of it was interrupted by a sudden video call notification.

    {Incoming video call from Mi Corazon¡­}

    Seeing that pop-up notification, Sam smiled involuntarily.

    It was his girlfriend, Kayla.

    His Spanish lessons already reached an advanced level. And with his growing knowledge of Spanish, Sam changed the name he saved his girlfriend''s contact with on his phone to Mi Corazon, translating to My Heart.

    He answered the video call with a smirk, leaning back in his chair as Kayla''s face appeared on the screen.

    She was still in bed, wrapped in a blanket, her hair slightly messy.

    "You look exhausted," she teased, her voice laced with warmth.

    "And you look like you just woke up". He fired back with a chuckle.

    They talked effortlessly, slipping into the comfortable rhythm of two people who knew each other inside out.

    It was just a week or so since Kayla left, but Sam was missing her already.

    She congratulated him on the match, playfully scolding him for scoring a hattrick after all that he went through with Fulham in England.

    Hearing that, Sam was caught off-guard, laughing before defending himself, though they both knew he''d do it again if it meant winning.

    As they talked, he moved to the ice bath, grimacing as he lowered himself in. "Alright," Sam groaned. "Here comes the suffering". He muttered, causing Kayla to laugh at his exaggerated misery.

    And just like that, minutes passed in easy conversation; discussing weekend plans, her work, his upcoming training schedule.

    It was a rare moment of normalcy in a life that rarely slows down.

    Outside the city continued to wake but in this quiet pocket of the morning, everything felt balanced.

    Football, recovery, love, a harmonious blend of the things that mattered most.

    "I feel blessed". Sam suddenly said, smiling lovingly.

    Kayla smiled. "I know, I love you too".

    Sam chuckled.

    After ending the call minutes later, Sam finally stood up, going about his day as he decided to cook and yet that was when another phone call came in.

    {Incoming call from Coach Eric Chelle¡­}

    Sam answered the call immediately. "Hey Coach, good morning".

    "Good morning Sam, how are you doing?"

    "I''m good, what of you?"

    Well, that was the prelude to another lengthy conversation.

    Eric Chelle, the head coach of the Nigerian national team contacted Sam personally because something important to Nigerian football was coming up.

    The coach called because in less than 2 weeks, the AFCON tournament would start. On 21st December, Morocco, the host country will welcome Comoros at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat for the first clash of the tournament.

    For Africans, the AFCON tournament had the same significance as the Euros and the Copa America. It was a big major trophy in any player''s cabinet.

    Besides, Nigerians suffered an AFCON heartbreak recently.

    They made it all the way to the 2023 AFCON tournament final only to lose to the hosts, Ivory Coast in a slightly controversial and agonizing manner.

    Nigerians were desperate to win a major trophy after having last won the AFCON title back in 2013, when it was held in South Africa.

    Eric Chelle wanted to create history with his Nigerian squad, and hence why he personally contacted his best player.

    Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire

    He wanted Sam to report to the squad as soon as possible.

    Sam''s answer?

    "Don''t worry coach, I''ll try my best".

    S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 364 - 364: Just another day at the office

    That morning, after making his food and eating, Sam relaxed in his room, idly playing a game of FIFA in career mode on his PS5 console.

    After which he slept, fully enjoying the rare day of rest.

    Sam woke up when it was already late afternoon.

    He woke up to the grumbling of his stomach, and so the first thing that Sam did was to order a take-out online from his girlfriend''s restaurant right here in the City of Barcelona.

    Kayla may be back to Netherlands already, attending to her academic activities but even in her absence, her restaurant thrived.

    Afterall, she was Samuel Moses'' girlfriend.

    Sam''s fame in the city of Barcelona was not small, he was a celebrity.

    After devouring the take-out, Sam idly went about his day, doing anything that entered his mind till it was evening.

    Around 5:00pm in the evening, putting on new training clothes, he finally jogged out of his mansion, entering the streets of Barcelona.

    Like the others, he was tired and wanted nothing more than a day off to recover not just physically but mentally.

    But unlike the others, Sam didn''t have that luxury.

    Afterall, if he went a day without completing his daily system quest, his system had a penalty waiting for him.

    And so, that evening, alone, Sam jogged through the streets of Barcelona.

    Thud! Thud!

    Alone jogging again after a long time of jogging with his training buddies, Sam realized how much he missed it. There was a nice ring to it.

    And the experience was made even better by the sound spreading from his JBL headset into his ears as he jogged.

    It was a popular song in Nigeria.

    [Spotify:]

    [Playing from your Library: Liked Songs]

    [Joy Is Coming- Fido]

    With that song on repeat blasting into his being through his ears, jogging didn''t feel like a chore at all, rather Sam was having a blast and enjoying himself.

    Before he knew it, he already arrived at the Spotify Camp Nou.

    He already met his daily jogging target.

    After that, he entered the Spotify Camp Nou, quickly accessing the gym where he went about completing the remaining task targets in his daily system quest. His arrival was met by surprise by the stadium workers.

    "Good morning, Sam".

    But they greeted him enthusiastically nonetheless.

    Since he was alone, a few of the Spotify Camp Nou stadium staff who never had the privilege to ask him for autographs before now took advantage of the opportunity, asking him for autographs.

    Sam obliged all of them, signing and making their day with that little gesture as he entered the gym.

    In less than an hour, he was done.

    Jogging back home, Sam opened his iPhone, focusing on something, FC Barcelona''s fixtures to determine the next game.

    (La Liga:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Leganes)

    (Date: 15th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Barcelona ¨C Atletico Madrid)

    (Date: 21st December, 2025)

    Sam focused on the last of the 2 fixtures.

    ''I guess the Leganes game will be my last club game for the year''. He thought as he continued on his way home.

    On the spot, he made the decision.

    Like every other Nigerian who was a football fan, Sam wanted to win the AFCON tournament with his country. Doing it would make him an automatic legend of the Nigerian professional football team.

    And of course, the glory that comes with it.

    Thinking of all the benefits that comes with it, the joy, Sam wanted to do it and he was determined to sacrifice club football for it.

    This was why before getting home, Sam put a call to Hansi Flick, informing the coach of his decision.

    Hansi Flick already expected this ahead of time, so he didn''t object.

    He only had one request.

    "Make sure we win the next game before you go".

    Sam chuckled. "Of course, we will".

    "Good".

    ¡­

    The next day, Sam went back to default settings.

    He and his training buddies were back to their normal training schedule, all in preparations for the next game which was a league game against Leganes.

    When Hansi Flick released his starting XI, all 5 of them made the line-up.

    Using that as motivation, every training session, every day in the prelude to the game, they kept on giving their all, pushing themselves to the ultimate level.

    Like this, in a short period of time, D-day was here.

    On 15th December, Barcelona welcomed Leganes to Barcelona.

    Like expected, against an FC Barcelona side that was in imperious form, Leganes was like an egg that was smashed against a wall after making the trip to the Spotify Camp Nou in Barcelona.

    Raphinha opened the scoring early, lashing into a Frankie De Jong pass, exploding towards goal with speed before putting 1 past the goalkeeper.

    In just the 6th minute of this game, Barca went ahead.

    And that goal set the motion for the rest of the game.

    In the 22nd minute of the game, FC Barcelona did it again, this time the Sam and Yamal partnership shining again as Sam set up the Spanish teenager to evade his man before rifling it into the roof of the net.

    2 nil!

    Yamal celebrated his goal excitedly with Sam.

    The first half ended 2-0 in FC Barcelona''s favor.

    During half-time, Hansi Flick didn''t tell his players much, simply telling them to go out there and enjoy themselves on the pitch.

    When 2nd half started, that was exactly what the Barca players did.

    The attack simply turned on, leading to incredible samba football as the FC Barcelona players ran circles around the Leganes defense, torturing them.

    In terms of dribbling, the Leganes players suffered as their Barcelona opponents humiliated them.

    At the late stages of the game after a stalwart Leganes second half defensive performance against Barca''s attack, when it seemed like Sam was finally going to break his goalscoring streak, he just went on and did it again.

    Sam was able to score the simplest of goals in the 88th minute, taping home at point-blank range from a Raphinha cross that flashed across the face of goal. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Sam celebrated his goal excitedly.

    And with that, the game came to end with a convincing 3-0 scoreline.

    FC Barcelona and Sam in particular were simply in imperious form.

    To Sam, it was just another day at the office.

 Chapter 365 - 365: Joining the squad

    With another impressive performance against Leganes though Raphinha won the man of the match award, Sam was able to further add to his incredible goals and assists tally for the season.

    His stats now looked like this halfway into the season.

    [Samuel Moses=]

    [No. 40]

    *Goals: 31

    *Assists: 17

    *Games: 21

    In just 21 games this season, Sam already racked up an incredible 31 goals and 17 assists, forming an astonishing combined total of 48 goal contributions.

    In the 2025/2026 season, he seemed to finally realize his full potential; he was putting out all-time great numbers this campaign.

    But personally, for Sam, after another impressive game against Leganes for FC Barcelona, that was the end of his club football for the year 2025.

    A tough game against Atletico Madrid was coming up, a game that FC Barcelona fans attached a lot of importance though but unfortunately, Sam would be unavailable for that game.

    In his absence, FC Barcelona did not have a reliable striker, Ferran Torres and Pau Victor being makeshift options.

    Hansi Flick would have to find a way around it though.

    One thing the fans didn''t like was the prospect of breaking their unbeaten streak so far, but Sam didn''t'' think about it much.

    This was because even if FC Barcelona''s unbeaten streak was broken by Diego Simeone''s Atletico Madrid, FC Barcelona''s lead at the top of the La Liga table would still be firm and imperious, hence no dangers for the club.

    This was why after the game against Leganes, during the post-match interview, Hansi Flick finally told the fans of Sam''s decision. He took his time to explain how much the AFCON tournament was to Africans.

    Despite the fact that Hansi Flick''s argument was convincing, the fans still had mixed reactions, some selfish ones not wanting Sam to leave at all.

    None of their opinions mattered though.

    This was because just 2 days after the Leganes game, on 17th December, Sam left Spain, connecting with the Nigerian squad which was already gathered in Nigeria preparing for the trip for the 2025 AFCON tournament.

    Sam joined the squad.

    ¡­

    Rabat, Morrocco¡­

    In the capital city of Morrocco, the days leading up to the AFCON tournament in the host country was electric with anticipation.

    Streets were adorned with colorful banners, massive billboards displaying the faces of African football legends, and fans flooded airports, hotels, and training ground just to catch a glimpse of their national heroes.

    This was because this period, the national teams participating in the tournament were beginning to report to Morrocco one after the other.

    Across the streets, vendors sell jerseys, scarves, and vuvuzelas, while radio stations and television broadcasts were filled with tactical debates, squad analysis, and game predictions of the group stage tournament.

    Which countries would progress from the group stage?

    Which would be eliminated?

    And which country would go all the way to win the AFCON tournament?

    As Nigeria''s squad arrives, excitement reaches a fever pitch. Then comes the moment everyone has been waiting for, the arrival of the Nigerian superstar.

    Right there at the airport, hundreds of fans in the white and green of Nigeria were gathered, waving banners of a certain Nigerian football star, Samuel Moses.

    The rising star and new leader of the Nigerian national football team.

    The plan touched down to a sea of fans, chanting his name, waving flags, and setting off fireworks.

    Security struggled to control the euphoric crowd as Sam stepped out clad in designer tracksuits, sunglasses, and headphones, exuding confidence.

    Not just fans; at this moment, journalists also scrambled for quotes.

    But Sam simply smiled and waved, focused on the task ahead as he moved with his teammates. Soon, they join the others at their high-end training facility, where new teammates embraced him like a long-lost brother.

    During the last Nigerian game, Victor Osimhen and Victor Boniface, the star Nigerian strikers were absent, giving Sam the opportunity to play as the striker.

    And now, with their return, they laughed and socialized with Sam.

    Sam may just be 20 but they didn''t look down on him, they''ve watch his game enough to know exactly what he could do and they respected him for it.

    It didn''t take long, Eric Chelle quickly taking over control of his team.

    The coach gave his players time to rest, recover from the jet lag and immediately after, he plunged them straight into training.

    The players responded with gusto.

    Winning the AFCON tournament was a life dream of every single one of them, as they wanted to replicate the legend of old Nigerian stars like Austin JJ Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo and the likes who all won the tournament as their predecessors.

    The last time, back in 2023, they made it all the way to the final only to stumble at the final step, losing to the hosts, Ivory Coast.

    That heartbreak taught them a lesson, making them stronger, more resilient.

    And now, they were back stronger and determined to get what they deserved.

    This time, nothing would stop them from going all the way.

    This time, they wanted to create history.

    Under Eric Chelle''s leadership, training intensified with cameras focused, capturing every move of the stars, especially focusing on Sam in training.

    They captured everything; his crisp passed, thunderous shots, and commanding presence. The team, now complete looked sharper, hungrier.

    And most importantly, they were led by an equally hungry coach.

    Unlike the previous Nigerian coach who prepared a highly talented Nigerian squad to play defensive football, Eric Chelle was far bolder, taking an approach that the Nigerian predecessors who won the AFCON title used¡­, offensive football.

    With the likes of Samuel Moses, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, and others all available for him in attack, he would not make the same mistake as his predecessor to favor a defensive football style. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Eric Chelle preached offensive football to his players.

    The host nation''s air buzzed with tension and excitement as all the national teams arrived, training, locking in for the ultimate tournament.

    Rival teams took notice of each other, especially Nigeria.

    Afterall, they were tipped as one of the favorites this time.

    And they were right. This time, Nigeria wasn''t just here to participate, they''ve come to conquer.

    And Samuel Moses was the head leading this Tiger.

 Chapter 366 - 366: AFCON 2025 [1]

    (AFCON 2025:)

    (Group Stage- Matchday 1 of 3:)

    (Morocco ¨C Comoros)

    (Date: 21st December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Mali ¨C Zambia)

    (Date: 22nd December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (South Africa ¨C Angola)

    (Date: 22nd December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Egypt ¨C Zimbabwe)

    (Date: 22nd December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Senegal ¨C Botswana)

    (Date: 23rd December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Tunisia ¨C Uganda)

    (Date: 23rd December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (DR Congo ¨C Benin)

    (Date: 23rd December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Nigeria ¨C Tanzania)

    (Date: 23rd December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Algeria ¨C Sudan)

    (Date: 24th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Ivory Coast ¨C Mozambique)

    (Date: 24th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Cameroon ¨C Gabon)

    (Date: 24th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Burkina Faso ¨C Equatorial Guinea)

    (Date: 24th December, 2025)

    These were the 24 national teams competing in the 2025 AFCON tournament.

    On the first day of the tournament, 21st December, one of the favorites, Morocco, the host nation took on Comoros at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

    On that evening, the 69,000+ capacity stadium was filled to the brim with tens of thousands of passionate African football fans.

    Both countries came out to meet this game with the best they could offer, their very best starting XI. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    For the Moroccans, starting in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Bono manned the goal as their protector while ahead of the goalkeeper was an imperious defensive quadruple of Attiyat Allah, Riad, Aguerd, and the PSG star Achraf Hakimi.

    In defense was the duo of Ounahi and Sofyat Amrabat, while ahead of them was the trio of Hakim Ziyech in attacking midfield, Real Madrid''s Brahim Diaz in right wing, and Ben Seghir in left wing.

    El Kaabi started as the striker for the host nation.

    As for Comoros, starting in a similar 4-2-3-1 formation, Anzimati-Aboudou started as their goalkeeper while ahead of him was the defensive quadruple of Zamir, Mohamed, Abdoul Anziz, and Djambae.

    Ahead of them was the midfield duo of Massulaha and Ali Mze.

    In attack comprised Assane in right wing, Hadji in attacking midfield, Tarek as the left winger, and Djoudja as the striker.

    Both teams may be starting from the same starting point in this game, and they may have started in the same formation, but those were the only similarities between them as the game started and progressed.

    In this game, Morocco was by far the superior side.

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, under the gaze and supporting roars of tens of thousands of Moroccan fans, Morocco went on a rout in Rabat.

    From the beginning, there was no question about who would win this game.

    People always knew the winner was going to be Morocco, the question was by how many goals were they going to win?

    Well, Moroccans got their answer soon.

    As early as the 7th minute of this game, Morocco scored its first goal against Comoros, courtesy of an incredible combo between 2 of Morocco''s brightest stars, Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz.

    Both Real Madrid academy graduates combined to devastating effect in the beginning stages of this game, cutting Comoros open time and again.

    And then, after another overlapping run from Hakimi, he played the ball to Brahim Diaz, setting the electric Real Madrid player up.

    Receiving the ball, Brahim Diaz burst into the 18-yard box like an unstoppable hurricane, weaving through challenges with his quick feet and staying upright with his incredible physicality and center of gravity.

    He managed to keep the ball long enough to shoot it into the bottom right corner of the net, beating the Comoros goalkeeper.

    "GOALLLL¡­!!!" The stadium roared to life as Moroccan fans celebrated.

    Charging towards the corner flag, Brahim Diaz slid on his knees in celebration, pumping his fists excitedly as the fans celebrated with him.

    Just like that, Morocco secured its lead and it was just the start.

    In the 16th minute of the game, Morocco doubled its lead, this time Riad, the Moroccan center back scoring from a corner kick.

    He rose highest in the Comoros 18-yard box, powering a header into the net and leaving the Comoros goalkeeper little chance.

    16 minutes, 2-0¡­

    Morocco continued without lowering the intensity.

    Just 4 minutes later, in the 20th minute of this game, El Kaabi, the Moroccan striker got in on the fun as he tapped into an empty net from a Brahim Diaz pass after another electric dribble from the winger.

    And then almost 2 dozen minutes later in the 39th minute of the game, Brahim Diaz made it 4-0, getting his name on the scoresheet again.

    This time, he unleashed an absolute rocket from outside the box that beat the Comoros goalkeeper, nestling into the roof of the net right down the middle.

    The power behind the shot was too much, leaving the goalkeeper little chance to save it.

    It was already a rout, 4-0 in 39 minutes.

    The first half came to an end 4-0; Comoros was being outran, outplayed, and outmaneuvered at every part of this game.

    When second half started after 10 minutes of halftime to catch their breath, the Moroccan intensity lessened a bit on the pitch but it didn''t do much to change anything as Comoros could not create anything of note to break down Morocco''s defense.

    And well, they were just inviting more goals by not scoring themselves, an opportunity that an imperious Morocco side didn''t let slide.

    Achraf Hakimi did it again after another overlapping run, playing the second ball that led to the 5th goal in this game as the Moroccan striker, El Kaabi got his 2nd goal of the game from a header, making it 5-0 to Morocco.

    It was an absolute drubbing.

    53 minutes, 5-0¡­

    After that, Comoros was just defending, holding on to dear life but even that was not enough as in the 62nd minute, Hakimi himself got in on the goalscoring act.

    After a series of one-twos with Brahim Diaz, he cut into the 18-yard box before unleashing an unreal curler, sending it into the top left corner of the net, leaving the Comoros goalkeeper no chance.

    It was an absolute golazo, a goal straight out of the top drawer.

    6-0 to Morocco.

    An ecstatic Achraf Hakimi all smiles jogged to the corner flag before celebrating by dancing with his teammates.

    The game eventually came to an end 6-0 to Morocco.

    The hosts put down a marker on their backs straight from the first game of the tournament; they were one of the teams to beat.

    Morocco got 3 points and Comoros? 0 points.

 Chapter 367 - 367: AFCON 2025 [2]

    (AFCON 2025:)

    (Group Stage- Matchday 1 of 3:)

    (Morocco 6-0 Comoros)

    (Date: 21st December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Mali ¨C Zambia)

    (Date: 22nd December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (South Africa ¨C Angola)

    (Date: 22nd December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Egypt ¨C Zimbabwe)

    (Date: 22nd December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Senegal ¨C Botswana)

    (Date: 23rd December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Tunisia ¨C Uganda)

    (Date: 23rd December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (DR Congo ¨C Benin)

    (Date: 23rd December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Nigeria ¨C Tanzania)

    (Date: 23rd December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Algeria ¨C Sudan)

    (Date: 24th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Ivory Coast ¨C Mozambique)

    (Date: 24th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Cameroon ¨C Gabon)

    (Date: 24th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Burkina Faso ¨C Equatorial Guinea)

    (Date: 24th December, 2025)

    Morocco opened the AFCON 2025 with a performance that captured the heart of every football fan who watched the game.

    They set an early marker as one of the proven favorites of the tournament.

    On the evening of the 21st, they opened the tournament and then the next day, on 22nd, the intensity of the AFCON tournament truly started.

    3 games were played on the 22nd.

    First was the clash between Mali and Zambia, then the clash between South Africa and Angola, and then the clash between Egypt and Zimbabwe.

    By the end of the day, one day dominated the headlines, Mohamed Salah.

    After a tight game of incredible football, Zambia narrowly won 1-0 over Mali, while South Africa and Angola played a 2-2 draw. As for Egypt though, the Egyptians went on a rout, running circles around their opponents all game.

    Zimbabwe suffered under the assault of the Pharaohs.

    Led by the electric Egyptian Mohamed Salah, and a stalwart Omar Marmoush, Egypt was solid enough to steamroll through their opponents.

    The first goal came in the 33rd minute, Omar Marmoush setting Salah up. 3 touches, the first to control the ball, the second to skip past his marker and into the 18-yard box, and the third to slot it into the bottom right corner.

    Mohamed Salah celebrated by doing his customary praying celebration.

    That goal killed the Zimbabwe momentum, and Egypt ran rampant.

    Just 5 minutes later after the first goal, in the 38th minute of the game, Mohamed Salah got his brace, courtesy of another Omar Marmoush assist as he riffled the ball into the roof of the net, leaving the Zimbabwe goalkeeper no chance.

    And then, in the 45th minute, the 3rd goal entered, courtesy of an own goal from one of the Zimbabwe players.

    The first half came to an end 3-0 in Egypt''s favor.

    That scoreline demoralized the Zimbabweans.

    When second half started, they embraced defense, protecting their goal so the scoreline would not turn more embarrassing. And since they were already winning, the Egyptian coach did not push too hard.

    In the 60th minute of the game, he took out his star player, Mohamed Salah, giving opportunities to younger players to show their talent.

    45 minutes of bullying later, the game finally came to an end.

    No goal entered in the 2nd half, leaving the game to end 3-0.

    Mohamed Salah won the man of the match award with his brace.

    At the end of the 2nd day of the tournament, alongside Morocco, Egypt proved their credentials as one of the favorites of the 2025 AFCON tournament.

    And then came 23rd.

    Unlike the previous 2 days, 4 games were played on the 23rd; clashes between Senegal and Botswana, Tunisia and Uganda, DR Congo and Benin, and then the clash between Nigeria and Tanzania.

    It was finally the D-day for the Nigerians.

    But before them, Senegal lined up on the pitch in one of the stadiums against Botswana first. Senegal were one of the favorites this time too.

    Led by a core of Ismaila Sarr and Diallo in attack, a core of Idrissa Gueye and Sarr in midfield, a core led by Kalidou Koulibaly in defense, and Edouard Mendy in between the posts, the ex-Chelsea goalkeeper, Senegal was a formidable side.

    They also had a legend on the bench in Sadio Mane.

    As soon as the game started, Senegal ran rampant, running rings around the Botswana defense as they played in a familiar 3-4-3 formation.

    With Edouard Mendy starting the build-up from the back, Senegal played a perfect game, blowing Botswana aside with a convincing 5-1 display. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ismaila Sarr got a brace and assist, Idrissa Gueye got a goal and assist, Camara got a goal, and then the last goal was scored by the legend who was introduced later in the game, Sadio Mane.

    Botswana scored a consolation goal later on but it didn''t matter, Senegal already won the game convincingly.

    The game between Tunisia and Uganda was much more serious and intense. After a grueling battle on the pitch, Tunisia narrowly won with a 2-1 scoreline.

    DR Congo vs Benin Republic ended in a 0-0 stalemate.

    And then came Nigerian''s turn when it was already dark in Morocco.

    Eric Chelle''s troops finally lined up for their first battle of the 2025 AFCON, under the bright spotlights in Morocco.

    Eric Chelle started with his strongest starting XI.

    Nigeria''s starting XI was arranged in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Stanley Nwabali in between the posts as the goalkeeper, and a defensive quadruple of Osayi-Samuel, Calvin bassey, Ajayi, and Ola Aina ahead of him.

    Further ahead of him was the duo of Onyedika and Wilfried Ndidi in midfield, and then the trio of Ademola Lookman in left wing, Alex Iwobi in right wing, and Sam playing as the attacking midfielder.

    Sam was back in attacking midfield to accommodate another player up front, Victor Osimhen who started as the striker.

    Afterall, attacking midfield was still his preferred position on the pitch.

    As for their opponents, Tanzania started in the same 4-2-3-1 formation with Salim in between the posts and the quadruple of Mohamed, Hamad, Nondo, and Mwaikenda ahead of him in defense.

    Further ahead was the midfield duo of Mkami and Yahya, while further ahead was the trio of Msuva, Salum, and Mzize.

    Shentembo started as their striker.

    Contrasted against the Nigerian team of big names, it was clear that this Tanzanian team was full of unknowns.

    But it didn''t matter because as soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, they were equals on the field of play.

    FWEEE!

 Chapter 368 - 368: AFCON 2025 [3]

    Tanzania may have lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, but don''t let it deceive you. Against the all-conquering Nigerian team, their coach had no intention of playing open football.

    Rather, his philosophy against the Nigerians was defend till death.

    In actuality, on the field of play, his formation looked more like a 5-4-1 formation as they defended against the offensive firepower of the Nigerians.

    FWEEEE!

    From the first minute of the game, Nigeria showed that they were not here to play as they took the game to their opponents.

    With Sam once again in the middle of the pitch as the orchestrator, the creator, and with a dangerous striker like Victor Osimhen ahead of him, he was free, liberated; he felt like a fish in water.

    Bam! Bam!

    Sam played his heart out, enjoying himself on the pitch.

    His position was attacking midfield but he did everything. From attacking, shooting, dribbling to defending, tackling, even going on sliding tackles and then to playmaking, setting his teammates up.

    Sam was all-action in Nigeria''s first show in the 2025 AFCON.

    He was not the only one though, he had a lot of supporting cast today.

    On the right, electric dribbling was not Alex Iwobi''s forte which meant that just like Sam, he was the additional technical playmaker for Nigeria, continuing from where Sam stopped to create for his team.

    And he was doing a good job at it.

    While on the left, Ademola Lookman was as electric as ever from the onset, bravely charging at the Tanzania defense again and again, turning them inside out with his electric dribbling and pace.

    Upfront, Victor Osimhen was a menace, probing with his incredible pressing, physicality, and ruthless eye for goal.

    The few times that Tanzania won the ball back and tried to counterattack, the fullback duo of Osayi-Samuel and Ola Aina shut out any dangers before they could fully materialize, Calvin Bassey perfectly sweeping up after them any time they stumbled with mechanical precision.

    Like this, Nigeria played a perfect game and yet the goal failed to materialize.

    Throughout the first half, Nigeria dominated on every perceivable statistic, pressing Tanzania to death and yet, the Tanzanian defense held strong for 45 minutes.

    The first half game to an end in a goalless draw.

    During half-time, Eric Chelle smiled at his players. "Good job," he grinned. "They''re barely holding on; they won''t be able to sustain it".

    "Just keep doing what you''re doing and the goals will come".

    FWEEE!

    When 2nd half started, remaining patient, Nigeria did it, playing their game and pressuring Tanzania but the more the minutes passed without a goal, the more the Nigerian fans in white and red on the stands became reckless.

    They clamored for a goal.

    50 minutes, no goal¡­

    60 minutes, no goal¡­

    70 minutes, no goal¡­

    75 minutes, no goal¡­

    And then in the 78th minute, Sam burst to life.

    By then, he already entered the flow state, running with a single-minded focus of putting the ball inside the net.

    Bam!

    He received a pass from Wilfried Ndidi and after beating his man with a silky smooth la croqueta, he fed the ball to Alex Iwobi with the outside of his right boot who hit it one-time to Victor Osimhen in the box.

    Sam ran after the ball, into the box.

    Osimhen took one touch of the ball and feeling defenders around him, he looked, found Sam''s run and simply left the ball on his front for him to shoot.

    Thud! Thud!

    "¡­!"

    Seeing him run closer, the Tanzanian defense panicked but it was already too late, Sam already arrived at the right place at the right time.

    Whoosh!

    A Tanzanian player slid in but not even hesitating, with narrow-minded focus, Sam swung his right leg back and then¡­

    WHOP!

    Like a missile, the ball rose up, honing towards the net.

    The Tanzanian goalkeeper was rooted to one spot, only seeing afterimages that were left by the ball. Before he knew it, the ball already nestled in his net and the young Nigerian already charged off to celebrate.

    Sam slid on his knees in celebration as a familiar chant made its way to Morocco.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    The passionate Nigerian fans sang at the top of their lungs.

    "Well, well, well, who else but Samuel Moses?!"

    "Once again, he''s come up clutch for his country, scoring when they needed it the most!"

    "The maverick, the boy wonder is here in Morocco!"

    A lot of Nigerian fans heaved a sigh of relief after that goal.

    To the Tanzanian national team though, all hell broke loose after that goal. To hell with it! They had nothing else to lose, or so they thought.

    After that goal, their coach gave the order as they finally left their turtle shell to attack aggressively and get the equalizing goal after defending all game.

    That¡­ was a foolish decision against Eric Chelle''s Nigeria.

    The floodgates opened.

    Sam scored in the 78th minute, in the 81st, he raised the ball over the defense for Victor Osimhen to run into, volleying a shot into the net with a perfect shooting technique as the Tanzanian defense was now more open to exploit.

    75 minutes, 0-0¡­

    81 minutes, 2-0¡­

    In the 85th minute, Alex Iwobi set up Sam, playing a diagonal pass into the box for Sam that Sam made the most off in a moment of individual brilliance.

    The ball was hit fast and with power but Sam was still able to tame it perfectly with his wand of a right foot. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Stopping the ball with one touch, with his second touch, he rainbow-flicked the defender pressing him and with his third, he volleyed it into the net.

    A thunderbolt!

    BAM!

    "Ladies and gentlemen, Zinedine Sam is here in Morocco!"

    "Be scared, be afraid, show respect!"

    "The Nigerian King is here!"

    From 0-0, Tanzania were now being killed 3-0.

    But still not done, in the 89th minute, Ademola Lookman went on a crazy solo run, cutting through Tanzanian players like they were not there before cutting in and beating the Tanzanian goalkeeper at his near post, scoring Nigeria''s 4th goal.

    The game eventually game to an end 4-0 in Nigeria''s favor.

    With a brace and 1 assist, Sam made his AFCON debut in grand style, winning the man of the match award in his very first game.

 Chapter 369 - 369: AFCON 2025 [4]

    (AFCON 2025:)

    (Group Stage- Matchday 1 of 3:)

    (Nigeria 4-0 Tanzania)

    (Date: 23rd December, 2025)

    The next day, on 24th December, the remaining teams in the group stage ducked it out on the pitch.

    Algeria won convincingly over Sudan 2-0, securing 3 points while the reigning champions of the AFCON Ivory Coast won 3-1 over Mozambique. Cameroon vs Gabon was a 1-1 draw, while Burkina Faso won 1-0 over Equatorial Guinea.

    With these results, Matchday 1 of the AFCON 2025 group stage finally came to an end.

    Matchday 1 did not lack exciting games, there was a bunch of it.

    In the build-up to the AFCON tournament, there were 5 African countries that were billed as the favorites; namely Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Nigeria, and Ivory Coast, the reigning champions.

    At the end of matchday 1, none of the favorites fumbled, all 5 countries managing to win their games, amassing the maximum 3 points each.

    The last game of matchday 1 was played on the 24th, after which there was a 2-day break before matchday 2 commenced.

    (AFCON 2025:)

    (Group Stage- Matchday 2 of 3:)

    (Morocco ¨C Mali)

    (Date: 26th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Zambia ¨C Comoros)

    (Date: 26th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Egypt ¨C South Africa)

    (Date: 26th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Angola ¨C Zimbabwe)

    (Date: 26th December, 2025)

    ¡­ S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (Uganda ¨C Tanzania)

    (Date: 27th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Nigeria ¨C Tunisia)

    (Date: 27th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Benin ¨C Botswana)

    (Date: 27th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Senegal ¨C DR Congo)

    (Date: 27th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Gabon ¨C Mozambique)

    (Date: 28th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Ivory Coast ¨C Cameroon)

    (Date: 28th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Equatorial Guinea ¨C Sudan)

    (Date: 28th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Algeria ¨C Burkina Faso)

    (Date: 28th December, 2025)

    After paying attention to all the games in matchday 1 of the tournament even as they played their own game too, the focus of the Nigerians finally narrowed because following up was going to be a chore.

    Instead of paying attention to all the competing nations, they focused their attention on only the favorites, their biggest rivals in the tournament.

    Even as they focused on their rivals, they didn''t lose sight of themselves.

    The Nigerian squad under Eric Chelle focused on their own football, learning it, mastering it, and perfecting it.

    And this time around, Calvin Bassey, the Nigerian mainstay was the captain of the Nigerian national football team.

    Leading by example at the back of the squad, the core, the rest of the Nigerian squad prepared for their next game like their life depended on it.

    They literally shut themselves away from the outside world, from the negative world of social media, all to focus their full attention on playing football.

    Day in, day out, they gave their all in training.

    And as they trained, 2 days quickly passed, the first day of matchday 2 of the AFCON rolling into town as the first games were played.

    On 26th, the Nigerian squad focused on 2 games, the Morocco game and the blockbuster encounter between Egypt and South Africa.

    Morocco played their game against Mali first.

    In African football, Mali may not necessarily be one of the heavy hitters but they were no pushovers either.

    On 26th, facing the hosts and one of the favorites, Mali played their hearts out on the pitch, giving out a performance for the ages.

    They may not have Morocco''s big names, but they had a solid and cohesive team and against the hosts, they caused a lot of trouble.

    The first half of the game was an exciting one of end-to-end football, Mali holding the hosts to a 1-1 draw.

    When second half started, it was the same thing till late in the game when Morocco finally rose up from their slumber courtesy of an angry Achraf Hakimi.

    In the 80th minute of the game, the PSG fullback took the game by the scruff of the neck, singlehandedly winning it for Morocco.

    In the 81st minute, after an electric overlapping run down the right-hand side of the pitch, Hakimi threw in an accurate cross for Morocco''s striker to power into the net with a powerful header.

    And then just 2 minutes later, in the 83rd minute, after a series of one-twos with Brahim Diaz, he burst into the 18-yard box with speed.

    He attracted all the attention to himself, freeing up space before cutting back a pass for Brahim Diaz to poke into a suddenly empty net as the goalkeeper was also focused on Hakimi since.

    2 moments of individual brilliance in the space of just 3 minutes, that was all it took for Achraf Hakimi to turn the game around for the hosts.

    Hakimi won a 2nd consecutive man of the match award.

    With Morocco''s game won, all eyes turned towards the blockbuster encounter between Egypt and South Africa and this time, things didn''t go exactly as planned for the favorites.

    South Africa orchestrated the first major upset of the AFCON 2025 in imperious fashion, snatching victory from the Pharaohs of Egypt.

    With Ronwen Williams leading the South Africans as their captain and talisman, the goalkeeper managed to put out a man of the match display in the 2nd group stage game, shutting Egypt out and leading his country to a famous victory.

    Egypt outplayed South Africa, winning on every single parameter, outshooting them, out-possessing them but yet, it didn''t matter.

    In the first half alone, Egypt got 11 shots to South Africa''s 3, 9 on target.

    But Williams was a wall in between the posts.

    He denied Salah 6 times by the end of the game!

    The first half ended in a goalless draw but in the second, Omar Marmoush seemed to have provided the breakthrough when he scored in the 72nd minute of the game, sending Egyptians around the world into a realm of euphoria.

    Ecstasy, joy¡­, they celebrated the goal exuberantly.

    But 10 minutes later, the South African defiance started, orchestrated by a team that played team football like a well-oiled machine.

    The equalizer came on the end of a sudden 18 pass sequence, South Africa''s striker, Rayners literally passing the ball into the net at the end in the 82nd minute to bring the game level and stunning Egyptians around the world.

    That goal¡­ spurned Egypt on!

    ''We must get the winner!''

    They pushed men forward in attack, desperate to get the winner but that risky gamble left them open at the back.

    All it took was one counterattack, just one.

    Mokwana, the South African winger got the pass and without hesitation, he started the counterattack, led it, and ended it.

    With his speed, he charged down the field, bursting past multiple Egyptian players, including the goalkeeper as he rounded him before slotting into the net, sending the internet into a frenzy.

    It was a big upset, an unexpected one.

    South Africa won!

    Egypt lost.

 Chapter 370 - 370: AFCON 2025 [5]

    With their 2nd win of the group stage, amassing 6 points in total, Morocco secured a favorable position for themselves in their bid to make it to the knockout stage of the AFCON tournament.

    But with Egypt''s loss, a nation was suddenly put under pressure.

    With 3 points in 2 games, Egypt''s position was not secure, they had to do more to secure a spot in the knock out stage.

    All eyes quickly left 26th''s games though, focusing on the 27th games.

    This time, all eyes were on Nigeria and Senegal.

    Nigeria went first, taking on Tunisia in their 2nd group stage game.

    There''s a saying, if it ain''t broke, don''t fix it.

    Eric Chelle went with a certain formation for his first game and the result went swimmingly, he didn''t make any stupid changes.

    The same starting XI started for this game.

    As for Tunisia, they started in a regular 4-3-3 formation with Ben Said being their protector in between the posts.

    Ahead of the goalkeeper was a defensive quadruple of Abdi, Talbi, Meriah, and Mathlouthi. While in midfield was the trio of Ghandri, Rafia, and Skhiri.

    Further ahead in attack was the attacking trio of Saad, Jouini, and Achouri.

    Against Nigeria though, this attacking trio ran against an unstoppable defensive block as soon as the referee''s whistle sounded.

    Nigeria''s defense was as rock solid as steel, while their attack was dynamic.

    In this game, Victor Osimhem played at his very best.

    The striker took the game by the scruff of the neck, scoring 2 early goals in the 9th and 13th minute to sink Tunisia to a certain defeat.

    Tunisia got one back in the 22nd minute, making it 2-1 but what that did was only anger the Nigerians more, making them more rampant.

    Sam combined with Alex Iwobi and Ademola Lookman to devastating effect, dictating the tempo of the game long enough for the 3rd goal to materialize.

    Who else but Samuel Moses?

    Sam latched into a loose ball inside the 18-yard box in the 38th minute of the game, unleashing a powerful volley that beat the goalkeeper, entering the net to make it 3-1 in Nigeria''s favor.

    In the 44th minute, Victor Osimhen got his hattrick, powering a header into the net from an Alex Iwobi cross.

    The first half came to an end with Nigeria winning 4-1.

    The Super Eagles were imperious this tournament.

    2nd half didn''t go much different from expectations. Nigeria did most of the attacking, while Tunisia did more of the defending.

    Against the run of play though, in the 2nd half, Tunisia scored first, Rafia, the center midfielder unleashing an absolute rocket from outside the box that beat Stanley Nwabali, powering its way into the net.

    It happened in the 50th minute, stunning this stadium.

    In response, just 5 minutes later, Sam did almost exactly the same thing at the other side, powering a rocket shot from 30 yards out into the net.

    The accuracy on his shot was devastating, ricocheting off the bar before diving into the embrace of the net.

    5-2¡­, it was an exciting game!

    In the end, that was all there was to the game.

    Sam was substituted in the 75th minute, including Victor Osimhen, giving way for Viktor Boniface who did the most of the minutes he got, lashing into an Ademola Lookman pass to score the 6th goal of the game.

    The game came to an end 6-2 in Nigeria''s favor.

    Nigeria was in imperious goalscoring form, and the fans of the Super Eagles were absolutely loving it.

    After Nigeria''s game, the other focus point of 27th December soon started, Senegal''s clash against DR Congo.

    In this game, Senegal may not have scored as much goals as Nigeria, but they once again proved their credentials as one of the favorites of the AFCON tournament with a totally imperious performance.

    The first half came to an end 1-0, the electric Ismaila Sarr getting the only goal but in the 2nd half, the boy truly exploded.

    He scored 2 more goals to emulate Victor Osimhen''s efforts, becoming only the 2nd player to score a hattrick in the AFCON tournament this time.

    The golden boot race was already heating up.

    When it came to Ivory Coast''s turn, they managed to secure a narrow 2-1 win over Cameroon, securing 6 points too.

    At the end of matchday 2 of the group stage, the golden boot race was already shaping up as the main contenders were now known.

    With 1 assist and 4 goals, Victor Osimhen was among the leading candidates for the golden boot award. But the true leader was Ismaila Sarr.

    With his brace and assist in the first game, and then today''s hattrick, Ismaila Sarr now led the golden boot and golden ball race with 5 goals in 2 games!

    Sam also now had 4 goals and 1 assist in 2 games.

    This AFCON tournament, the offensive players were going haywire, showcasing their talent as they dazzled with impressive goalscoring performances.

    With the end of matchday 2, all eyes focused on matchday 3.

    (AFCON 2025:)

    (Group Stage- Matchday 3 of 3:)

    (Angola ¨C Egypt)

    (Date: 29th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Zambia ¨C Morocco)

    (Date: 29th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Zimbabwe ¨C South Africa)

    (Date: 29th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Comoros ¨C Mali)

    (Date: 29th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Uganda ¨C Nigeria)

    (Date: 29th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Botswana ¨C DR Congo)

    (Date: 30th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Tanzania ¨C Tunisia)

    (Date: 30th December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Benin ¨C Senegal)

    (Date: 30th December, 2025)

    ¡­ S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (Equatorial Guinea ¨C Algeria)

    (Date: 31st December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Sudan ¨C Burkina Faso)

    (Date: 31st December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Gabon ¨C Ivory Coast)

    (Date: 31st December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Mozambique ¨C Cameroon)

    (Date: 31st December, 2025)

    Matchday 3 of 3 of the group stage, the penultimate games of the group stage of the 2025 AFCON tournament.

    The last game that would decide which country progressed and which were eliminated, the deciding game of the group stage.

    The attention across Africa honed on 29th, 30th, and 31st December, the days that would determine the joy and sorrow of millions of football fans across the continent of Africa, Nigeria included.

    The preparations for the game were more intense than usual, more driven than usual, players determined to give beyond 100% on the pitch.

    Like this, time moved fast and, in a jiffy, it was D-day.

    It was 29th December.

    Egypt started the matchday by playing their final game of the group stage against Angola, a must-win game for the Pharaohs of Egypt.

 Chapter 371 - 371: AFCON 2025 [6]

    "It''s the first game of matchday 3 of the AFCON 2025 tournament, and here in the Complexe Sportif Mohammed V Stadium, the Pharaohs of Egypt will be taking on their challengers from Angola".

    "It''s a must-win game for Egypt".

    "Having lost their second group stage game against South Africa, they have only 3 points from 2 games and are now trailing in 3rd position in their group".

    "If Egypt are to progress to the knockout stage of the AFCON tournament this time around, a draw is not acceptable. To qualify, they must win!"

    "Can they do it?"

    "Nobody knows, but Mohamed Salah clearly looks pumped for the occasion!"

    "The reigning ballon d''Or winning is warming up at the touchline, clearly in the mode to add to his legend in the AFCON tournament". S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What better way to commemorate an iconic ballon d''Or win than to win the AFCON tournament right after?"

    "This tournament, Salah is clearly aiming for glory!"

    "On the side of Egypt, they''re starting with their customary 4-3-3 formation with Mohamed Salah leading the attacking trio that also has Trezeguet in left wing, and Omar Marmoush in attack".

    "The Manchester City striker is also in amazing form this tournament".

    "Behind Egypt''s attack in midfield is the midfield trio of Fathy, Attia, and Sayed, while their defensive quadruple comprises Hamdy in left back, Abdemmonem and Rabia in center back, and Hany in right back".

    "El Shenawy is the man manning the posts for the Pharaohs of Egypt".

    "As for Angola, they are lining up in their dynamic diamond-shape 4-4-2 formation again with Neblu in between the posts, and ahead of him Bondo, Buatu, and the Gaspar brothers forming the defensive lineup".

    "Ahead of them is Maestro in defensive midfield protecting the defensive line, Banza and Hossi in center midfield, while today Nteka plays as the attacking midfielder for the Angolans".

    "As for the offense, Zini and Luvumbo form the attack for Angola".

    "Today, Egypt are the favorites but Angola are no pushovers. They''re clearly ready to push their opponents to the end and if possible, snatch home the victory".

    "And since they''re in 2nd position in their group, if they manage to secure a draw today, they would have knocked Egypt out of the tournament, progressing at their expense".

    "Ladies and gentlemen, this is a game of high stakes!"

    "Peel your eyes and watch, don''t miss a moment of this game, or you''d regret it".

    As the commentators covered the major event, the players of both national squads finally came out of the tunnel, entering the pitch to a cauldron of noise.

    Like the commentators said, this was a game of high stakes.

    Nerves were high, and the tension was palpable.

    For the Egyptians, it was a must-win situation.

    But for the Angolans though, having put themselves in this favorable position due to their impressive performances in their first 2 games, a draw was enough for them to progress to the knockout stage of the tournament.

    Despite this though, Angola didn''t play a defensive game against the Egyptians. As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, they showed that they meant business even with the high stakes of this game.

    FWEEEE!

    From the first minute of the game, the intensity of both squads showed.

    Omar Marmoush led the Egyptian charge from the front, pressing the opposition defenders with extreme aggression to create chaos.

    But prepared for him and Egypt''s attack in general, the Angolan defense played a solid game, allowing their midfield and offensive players to thrive.

    This was the game of their lives!

    They made no mistake.

    Bam! Bam!

    Once they got the ball, they seemed to transform into a prime Barca, playing quick short passes to cut through the Egyptian formation.

    With their diamond 4-4-2 formation, they choked the center of the pitch, the only openings appearing in the wing but even with Salah playing as the right winger for the Egyptians, he failed to make any tangible impact.

    Against Salah, Bondo, Angola''s left back played the game of his life, following the Egyptian King everywhere he went and man-marking him out of the game.

    The first half was extremely frustrating to the Egyptians.

    Despite the imperious defense of both nations, desperate not to let a goal in, the game was still extremely exciting as the attackers kept on knocking.

    And in the end, Angola shocked the world, getting the goal first.

    It happened in the 39th minute of the game, in a counterattacking situation as Nteka, Angola''s attacking midfielder received the ball in the middle of the park.

    After calming the ball with his first touch, he raised his head to look, and then he froze¡­

    ''This¡­!''

    Egypt''s goalkeeper was slightly off his lines!

    "¡­!"

    The Egyptian goalkeeper noticed the threat immediately but it was already too late as without hesitation, Nteka tried his luck, hitting the ball with venom from the halfway line, sending it with power towards goal.

    The full stadium quieted down, spectators holding their breaths in shock.

    "¡­!" Desperate, the Egyptian goalkeeper charged back, looking at the ball but he was not fast enough.

    Ping! Pong!

    The ball hit the top bar, but then instead of ricocheting outside, it ricocheted off the bar then into the net just in time for the Egypt goalkeeper to arrive, pushing it outside.

    "Did it¡­?!" The commentators roared, then¡­

    FWEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle sounded, confirming it.

    The ball crossed the line before the goalkeeper pushed it outside.

    "GOALLLLLL¡­!!!"

    The roars of the Angolan fans in the stadium did not just represent them, it represented millions of Angolan fans around the world and the Angolan dream.

    They celebrated excitedly even as Nteka, the hero of the day charged towards the corner flag, sliding on his knees in celebration passionately.

    That goal¡­ deflated Egypt''s confidence.

    Angola got their goal already, making it 1-0 and yet, they refused to defend still as they continued pressing the Egyptians, playing them pound for pound.

    Egypt tried every thing in their knowledge, using every weapon in their arsenal and yet, Angola''s defense remained elusive to them.

    The Pharaohs of Egypt were frustrated.

    The first half came to an end 1-0 in Angola''s favor.

    During halftime, Egypt''s Coach faced his players, a look of rage, frustration, and undaunted determination of his face.

    He opened his mouth to address his players; he spoke¡­

 Chapter 372 - 372: AFCON 2025 [7]

    "You think we can''t win?!" The voice of the Egypt head coach boomed through the locker room, reverberating in the bones of all the Egypt players.

    "Against Angola?! You think we can''t win?"

    "Come on!"

    "If we can''t win even against Angola, then what the hell are we doing here?"

    "We may as well forfeit the 2nd half and admit defeat!"

    "You, you, you!" He pointed at them. "Look at me!" He pointed at his face passionately. "We can win!"

    "We''re equipped to win!"

    "We will win!"

    "Don''t give me any of that half-hearted nonsense in the 2nd half. I know you''re trying your best, but today, your best is just not enough!"

    "Go beyond your best, give me the impossible!" S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "The impossible," he nodded. "Yes, that''s what I want from you guys today!"

    "Go out there and play the 2nd half like this is the final of the AFCON tournament, play like you''re trailing behind in the final and you want to win!"

    "Go out there and teach the Angolans the essence of football!"

    "Come on!" He clapped. "Let''s go out there and win!"

    That got the blood of the Egyptian players boiling.

    With eyes burning with the fire of a volcano, they stood up, approaching the second half with deadly killing intent.

    And when the referee''s whistle sounded, Egypt started their march to freedom, their march to liberation, their march to the knockout stage of the 2025 AFCON tournament!

    FWEEEE!

    In the 2nd half, Salah was still man-marked but overridden by the passionate speech of his coach during halftime, Salah took it a step further.

    For 45 minutes, Bondo have marked Salah out of this game, harassing him, bullying him, overpowering him, but not anymore!

    ''Not anymore''. Salah''s eyes burned with a fiery zeal.

    As soon as the 2nd half started, he took his time, walking, jogging, tracking the ball even as his teammates played on the other side of the pitch.

    And when the ball was finally hit to the right side of the pitch where he was, Salah erupted like Akaza, the Demon General in Demon''s Slayer.

    BZZZ!

    Salah moved.

    But he didn''t just approach it with brute force and at face value like before.

    Instead of using brute force, he tricked his marker.

    He moved the first time as soon as the ball was hit. In response, the player grabbed at his jersey, running after him. Bondo wasn''t even looking at the ball and having noticed this, this was the flaw that Salah planned to exploit.

    Watching the ball and timing its trajectory, Salah already calculated it, and that was why he moved, knowing that Bondo would follow without looking at the ball.

    His movement was just a feint!

    Abruptly, Salah stopped, leaving Bondo to go ahead of him and that was when the ball descended in the position where he stopped.

    Bam!

    Salah controlled the ball with a perfect first touch.

    "¡­!"

    Realizing his mistake, Bondo tried to rectify it immediately, charging back to close down Salah without hesitation but once again, Salah expected this and that was why he moved¡­

    Bzzz!

    Salah seemed to turn into a mirage, an afterimage.

    Bondo barely moved when with his left leg, the Egyptian King delicately flicked the ball to the right and jumped backward.

    By flicking the ball, he took it past Bondo towards Angola''s half and by jumping backward, he was able to evade Bondo''s hand that would surely fling to have grabbed his jersey.

    Bondo did just as Salah predicted but Salah already left him, leaving only a mirage behind.

    Whoosh!

    Salah hit the afterburners immediately after going past Bondo!

    And that was the mistake.

    The Angolans were so confident in Bondo''s handling of Salah that they failed to account for the scenario where Salah dribbled past him.

    ''You underestimate me!''

    Thinking so, Salah closed in on the 18-yard box with blistering pace.

    And just as he entered the 18-yard box, he ran into a road block in 2 players.

    Salah slowed down, then with his quick feet and body movement, he mesmerized both players, making them hesitate and stick out their leg and just as it seemed like he was about to run past them, he hit the ball.

    Bam!

    It was a pass, in between the legs of one of the defenders into open space in the Angolan 18-yard box.

    "¡­!"

    The Angolan defenders reacted in panic, trying to clear the ball but someone else got there first.

    "OMAR MARMOUSHHHH¡­!!!"

    Marmoush did it, using his long leg to poke the ball into the net.

    The stadium in Casablanca erupted, Egyptian fans rising to their feet and celebrating at the top of their lungs even as Marmoush charged towards the corner flag and celebrated by executing a backflip.

    A moment of individual brilliance from the Egyptian King turned the game around, but Angola was still fine with a draw.

    The goal came in just the 48th minute of the game.

    It seemed like Egypt would ride that momentum and score another quick-fire goal, but Angola remained cohesively disciplined, playing their game.

    For another 20+ minutes, Egypt saw no sight of goal as the game continued 1-1, that was until the 73rd minute of the game.

    Another cross-field pass, another Salah perfect control and this time instead of a dribble, Salah floated a teasing cross into the 18-yard box.

    Once again, a scramble started in the Angolan 18-yard box.

    But this time, an Egyptian player rose highest. Hamdy, the Egyptian left back was in the right place at the right time to power a header past Angola''s goalkeeper and into the net, settling the game.

    "GOALLLLLLLLLL¡­!!!!!!" The commentators and the Egyptian fans screamed at the top of their lungs even as tearing his jersey in ecstasy, Hamdy charged towards the corner flag, waving his jersey in euphoria.

    The sheer emotion among the Egyptian fans at that moment was so much that one of them even fainted out of too much excitement.

    The fan luckily woke up a few seconds later.

    But that was how high the excitement was.

    2 moments of individual brilliance from Salah, and it was enough to decide the game. For the rest of the game, Angola tried their best, threatening but they failed to produce anything tangible in front of goal.

    Egypt led by Salah pulled off an incredible comeback win.

    It was a tight win but a win nonetheless, and it was worth 3 points.

    Egypt sank their opponents, eliminating them out of the tournament and qualifying to the knockout stages at their expense.

    What a game it was.

    Salah won the man of the match award for the game.

 Chapter 373 - 373: AFCON 2025 [8]

    (Nations in the Round of 16: Egypt; ¡­)

    Egypt did it, dispatching Angola to join the other countries that already secured qualification to the round of 16 of the AFCON tournament.

    Their scintillating game against Angola was just the prelude to an incredible matchday of the AFCON though, other games were played.

    Zambia vs Morocco progressed harder than people expected as the Moroccan coach rested some of his players, giving fringe players the opportunity to shine. Afterall, with their 6 points, Morocco already secured qualification.

    Their only battle was now to hold on to the top spot in their group, so they could be in a favorable spot for the round of 16 draws.

    And against a Zambian side that was fighting desperately for qualification, both nations played an intense game in front of their fans.

    Zambia got the first goal, scoring in the 44th minute and stunning the hosts, sending Zambian fans around the world into a world of euphoria, building the hope of qualification inside them.

    The first half came to an end 1-0 in Zambia''s favor.

    In the 2nd half though, led by an imperious Achraf Hakimi from the back, Morocco rallied against the Zambian national team.

    After a few early minutes of pressure as Zambia desperately defended their lead, one of the Moroccan center backs raised a ball above the Zambian defense for Morocco''s striker to run into.

    Omar Marmoush did not miss his mark.

    He ran, and swung his leg, then¡­

    WHOOP!

    The Zambian goalkeeper didn''t even see the ball till it was already in his net. The Zambian players groaned in frustration.

    In the 63rd minute of the game, the game became level.

    And 4 minutes later in the 67th minute, Morocco completed the comeback, one of the Moroccan midfielders poking in from close range to close the lead, sending Zambian fans around the world into the depths of the abyss of sorrow.

    Zambia''s run in this AFCON tournament seemed all but over, their light snuffed out by an imperious Moroccan side, but this lasted until the 90th minute.

    On the 90th minute of this game, crazy things happened.

    Everybody already wrote off Zambia, expecting Morocco to claim another impressive victory to round off a clean sweep of their group stage campaign, but then a Zambian defiance arose.

    In the 90th minute of the game, the Zambian captain took the ball outside Morocco''s 18-yard box, and then he tried his luck.

    BAM!

    Hitting the ball with absolute venom, the ball rose and flew like a rocket, accelerating with speed before nestling into the roof of the net.

    The ball went straight to the middle of the net, but the power behind it and the fact that it hit the bar before ricocheting into the net left Morocco''s goalkeeper with no chance.

    "GOALLLLLLLLL¡­!!!"

    Morocco was stunned; Zambia was shocked.

    That night, a nation would tango all night long!

    In incredible fashion, Zambia managed to snatch qualification from the jaws of defeat, making it to the knock out stages of the AFCON tournament in 2nd position behind Zambia.

    After Morocco''s game, on the same 29th December, Zimbabwe took on South Africa in another blockbuster game.

    And then, another big upset happened as the Zimbabwe national team rallied to an unlikely victory against the South Africans.

    South Africa was knocked out of the tournament!

    Crazy scenes¡­, you just had to be there.

    The Zimbabwe players ran the length of the pitch, celebrating wildly with their fans in the stadium. Again, on the same day, another nation was to tango all night long, part of the joy of securing qualification.

    After South Africa''s game, Comoros took on Mali but it was the only boring game of 29th as both nations played out a boring 0-0 draw.

    And then the last big game of 29th.

    (AFCON 2025:)

    (Uganda ¨C Nigeria)

    (Date: 29th December, 2025)

    Egypt already played its game, securing qualification. The same thing for Morocco, another of the favorite countries in the tournament this time.

    And now, it was Nigeria''s turn.

    For this game, Eric Chelle finally decided to rest some of his players, giving opportunities for other players in the Nigerian squad to shine.

    This did not mean Nigeria was throwing in the towel though.

    Far from it, they also wanted to win.

    If they won, they would have secured a clean slate of their group stage campaign, winning all 3 of their games and amassing the maximum 9 points.

    It was the same 4-2-3-1 formation for Nigeria, but with different faces. Only the defense, midfield and goalkeeper positions didn''t change.

    Nigeria''s offensive lineup changed significantly though.

    In attack, Ademola Lookman started again as the left winger but this time, Alex Iwobi was moved, taking the attacking midfield spot. On the right, Samuel Chukwueze was brought to the lineup as the right winger.

    Victor Osimhen remained the main man leading the line though.

    As for Uganda, they started with their strongest lineup in a 4-2-3-1 formation with the likes of Semakula, Mugabi, Awany, and Kayondo in defense and Watenga holding the fort in between the posts.

    Ahead of the defense was the midfield duo of Lwanga and Aucho.

    Further ahead in attack, Omedi started as the right winger, Okello in attacking midfield, Mato as the left winger, and Ssemugabi leading the line as the striker.

    On paper, contrasted against each other, one of the 2 squads was clearly superior and when the referee''s whistle sounded, there was no deviation from popular expectations.

    Nigeria dominated the game.

    FWEEE!

    From the first minute of the game, the Super Eagles hoarded possession, passing their opponents to death even as Uganda sat deep, defending doggedly.

    Enjoying the vast majority of possession, Nigeria was able to get their attackers in favorable positions but against Uganda''s stalwart and team-defensive efforts, the most important thing failed to materialize, a goal.

    For 45 minutes, Victor Osimhen knocked, helped by Lookman, Chukwueze and Alex Iwobi and yet a goal failed to materialize.

    Uganda were literally playing with 10 men behind the ball.

    They were playing Jose Mourinho football.

    And it worked, though it was not pleasant to the eye.

    The first half came to an end with a 0-0 draw.

    Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 374 - 374: AFCON 2025 [9]

    During halftime, Eric Chelle had only a brief word with his players.

    "Go out there and get the victory".

    FWEEE!

    When the players went back to the pitch, the referee''s whistle signaling the continuation of the game, Nigeria switched to a different gear.

    Ademola Lookman dazzled as the outstanding player so far, turning his man inside out repeatedly with his electric dribbling. Alex Iwobi was also amazing with his playmaking, Osimhen also pressing fiercer than usual.

    But still, with a certain man in the lineup, Nigeria failed to tick enough to get over a tight Ugandan defense.

    They were missing one man in the lineup, Samuel Moses.

    In recent weeks, there was a trend moving online, a question of if Nigeria was becoming too dependent on Sam''s brilliance, putting unnecessary pressure on his young shoulders.

    The boy was just 20, could he take on so much pressure?

    Maybe they had a point and the Nigerian team proved it today as they failed to score in Sam''s absence.

    Uganda stuck with their ultra defensive approach and it was working.

    50 minutes, no goal¡­

    60 minutes, no goal¡­

    70 minutes, no goal¡­

    And then Eric Chelle finally pulled the trigger.

    The Nigerian head coach finally made substitutions, taking off Victor Osimhen and Alex Iwobi in the 72nd minute with the intent to rest them for the round of 16 game, introducing Sam and Viktor Boniface.

    On the touchline, while Sam was being introduced, the noise came.

    BOOM!

    The Nigerian fans cheered at the top of their lungs, welcoming their star player to the pitch.

    "My goodness. The boy is just 20 but he has the aura of a veteran already".

    "Can anyone remind me when last a 20-year-old had such a reception to being introduced in a game?"

    "Sam has truly made this Nigerian squad his own".

    "But against this Ugandan defense, can he do it today?"

    Sam and Boniface jogged into the pitch, Sam quickly meeting some of his teammates to relay instructions from the coach.

    And then, it started¡­

    FWEEE!

    Tactically, Eric Chelle didn''t change anything, leaving his team to play in the way they did normally. The only thing that changed was 2 players.

    As soon as Boniface and Sam entered the game, it changed. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This was Boniface''s first playing opportunity in the AFCON tournament as he played second fiddle to Osimhen in the squad lineup, and so eager to impress, the Bayer Leverkusen striker pressed the Ugandan defense like a monster.

    That aggressive pressing was actually what did it.

    Bam!

    "Boniface''s done it!"

    "He''s stolen the ball¡­, now it''s a loose ball!"

    Boniface pounded having timed it to perfection, intercepting a Ugandan pass. Immediately, Ugandan defenders swarmed around him but instead of going at it alone, he rather backheeled the ball backward.

    Behind him was¡­ Samuel Moses.

    "¡­!"

    Tens of thousands of Nigerian fans around this stadium immediately rose to their feet as Sam burst into the scene, taking Boniface''s pass.

    Immediately, they rushed, trying to press him but that was a mistake.

    Sam was ultra press resistant.

    BZZZ!

    With a la croqueta, he exploded through their middle and then with an incredible elastico dribble, Sam cut through the last man in defense.

    Nigerian fans around the stadium placed their hands on their head in disbelief, stunned by what they were seeing.

    Thud! Thud! Thud!

    The Ugandan goalkeeper charged out but keeping his cool, with another la croqueta, Sam rounded the goalkeeper before poking into an empty net.

    "GOALLLLLL¡­!!!" The stadium roared to life.

    7 minutes after coming on, in the 79th minute, Sam broke the deadlock.

    Jogging towards the corner flag, he spread his arms, doing the Jude Bellingham celebration and embracing the energy of the fans as they chanted his name. Sam felt on top of the world.

    But that was not it, not yet¡­

    3 minutes later, in the 82nd minute, Chukwueze played a corner into the box and Viktor Boniface rose above all the Ugandan defenders.

    He was off balance though as one of the Ugandan center backs rose after him, pressing him. Because of this, instead of heading towards goal, Boniface improvised, heading the ball sideways.

    Instantly after the ball was pushed by Boniface¡­

    Bzzz!

    Filled with adrenaline, Sam''s body moved instinctively as he went on a reckless diving header.

    Bam!

    Sam hit the ball into the net with his head before anyone could react.

    "GOALLLLLLL¡­!!!"

    For the second time this game, the stadium roared to life.

    A Viktor Boniface brace of assist, and a Samuel Moses brace, Nigerian fans were having a field day as the Ugandan defense was finally unrivaled.

    The game came to an end 0-2 as after putting in more of what he usually did into the game for the remaining minutes, Sam secured another man of the match award, pushing Nigeria to the knockout stages of the AFCON 2025 tournament.

    Nigeria''s game was the last game of 29th.

    ¡­

    30th December¡­

    Botswana took on DR Congo first, as after a thrilling game across 90 minutes, both countries settled for a point each after playing an incredible 3-3 draw.

    On the same day, Tanzania took on Tunisia, another game that ended in a draw as both countries settled for a 1-1 draw after an incredible end to end game for 90 minutes.

    Both games were thrillers, but the last game played today was not as thrilling as the others, Senegal going bonkers against a helpless Benin Republic side.

    Against their opponents from Benin, Senegal controlled the game from beginning to end, ending the first half 0-1, while a Sadio Mane second half rampage to get a brace settled the game, shooting Senegal to the knockout stage.

    ¡­

    31st December¡­

    On the first game of 31st December, Equatorial Guinea took on Algeria. After an intense game across 90 minutes, Algeria ran away with a narrow victory, winning 1-0 against their opponents.

    On the same day, the last day of the matchday, Sudan took on Burkina Faso only to run away with a 3-1 victory.

    Gabon also took on Ivory Coast. The game was harder than expected for the reigning champions, but they managed to escape with a draw courtesy of a stoppage time goal from them to secure a 1-1 draw.

    And then the last day of the group stage, Mozambique vs Cameroon.

    The Cameroonians went on a rout after Mozambique got a red card in the first half, destroying them for the rest of the game and securing a 5-0 victory.

    The Mozambique players closed the game in tears.

    And with that, the group stage of the AFCON 2025 tournament was over.

    16 countries progressed to the Round of 16 stage in Morocco.

 Chapter 375 - 375: Round of 16; weeding out the pretenders from the challengers

    The group stage of the 2025 AFCON tournament was over.

    Now, on to the round of 16 stage.

    The group stage was like a sieve, weeding out the pretenders in the tournament away from the true challengers who made it through the challenge.

    Now, 8 games of unmatched intensity.

    16 nations duking it out in a knockout battle.

    (AFCON 2025:)

    (Round of 16:)

    (Zimbabwe ¨C Egypt)

    (Date: 3rd January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Morocco ¨C Mali)

    (Date: 3rd January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Tunisia ¨C Benin)

    (Date: 4th January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Algeria ¨C Ivory Coast)

    (Date: 4th January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Cameroon ¨C Tanzania)

    (Date: 5th January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Nigeria ¨C Angola)

    (Date: 5th January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Botswana ¨C Sudan)

    (Date: 6th January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Senegal ¨C Burkina Faso)

    (Date: 6th January, 2026)

    Out of the 24 African nations that competed in the tournament from the first group stage game, these were the 16 that were left standing after the bloodbath of the group stage.

    They''ve won the first battle, but they were yet to win the war.

    The next round of the battle was even fiercer and crazier than the first, against much more formidable opponents, the round of 16 stage.

    But before the AFCON tournament round of 16 started, the players had 2 more days of rest and training to prepare for the decisive game.

    Also, the day after the last group stage game was New Year''s Day.

    Since they were in Morocco and for such an important reason too, 1st January being New Year''s Day didn''t mean that the players got a day off though.

    They still had a tough round of 16 game to play in just 2 days.

    The Nigerian team was not excluded from this either.

    Eric Chelle didn''t give his players the day off, but he was sensitive enough to limit today''s training to the minimum, giving his players all the time they needed to catch up with their family and celebrate the emotion of a new year.

    Sam was focused on his football, he was determined to lead his nation to reclaiming the AFCON title, but despite that, he was also a family man.

    This was why Sam didn''t use the time Eric Chelle gave them for his extra training like usual. Rather, he used it for something else.

    Sam had a video call with his family first.

    "Hey mom".

    "Hey my baby boy!" An enthusiastic Mrs. Moses waved through the camera at her son. "Happy New Year!" She cheered.

    "Same to you mom". Sam smiled.

    "Son, happy new year". Mr. Moses chipped in.

    "Hey, how''s new year like in Morocco?"

    Sam looked at his sister through the phone, a weird look on his face. "You''re still staying with mom and dad?"

    "What do you mean?" Sophia snapped.

    Sam chuckled. "I mean, after so long, you''re in the university already. I thought by now, you''d have relocated to stay with Ian in London".

    Sophia snorted. "Apparently, I''m not worth schooling in London, right?" She glared at him. "That''s why you didn''t sponsor my own overseas studying, right?"

    "¡­"

    Sam was speechless, totally stumped as he looked at his sister.

    "This¡­," he was short of words to say, in the end he chuckled. "Really, Sophia? That''s so petty".

    "Did you tell me and I didn''t pay for it?"

    Sam looked at his mom, sighing. "Mom, see this¡­, comment!"

    Mrs. Moses shrugged, and smiled. "She''s just pulling your legs. I suggested it to her, but she said she wanted to experience at least one year of schooling in a Nigerian government university before making the switch abroad".

    Sam looked at his sister again, and smirked, finally understanding. "Hah¡­, you got me there". He chuckled.

    "I remember you having this childhood obsession of going to the university". He chuckled again. "So, how was the experience?"

    Sophia tried to stay strong at first, but then it crumbled.

    "Horrible". She cried.

    Sam laughed. "Is it really that bad?"

    "Don''t get me started big bro!" Sophia was triggered. "They deceived me. Going to a Nigerian university is the worst move I ever made in my life!"

    Sam froze. ''Well, shit¡­, here we go again''.

    Sophia continued ranting.

    "They''re frustrating as hell!"

    "The lecturers are literal embodiments of suffering and frustration!"

    "For a simple assignment, they can go the extra mile just to make sure that students suffer to get it done!"

    "It''s as if¡­, as if they take joy in our suffering!"

    When Sophia was finally done ranting, she was left breathing heavily.

    Sam hesitated. "Umm¡­, sorry?"

    "Get lost! I don''t need your sorry". Sophia snapped again. "I just wanted to say it out". She shrugged. "Anyways, schooling here sucks".

    "Ok, can we talk about the good things now?"

    "Yeah, yeah, the good things!"

    Sophia''s mood suddenly experienced a big change, becoming bubbly. "Apart from the academic and official problems, in terms of the overall school life experience, I''d say its not that bad".

    "Sam, did you know, AY and Bovi came to my school last week!"

    Sam was stunned. "Who''s AY and Bovi?"

    Sophia fumed. "They''re very famous Nigerian comedians! They''re the literal Godfathers of Nigerian comedy. When comedy first started becoming famous around the country, they were the leaders then".

    Sam nodded slowly. "Oh¡­, I never knew".

    "Also, also I met a few popular musicians during this period of just 2 semesters. Even Davido came one time!"

    Well, Sam called his family to enjoy family time on New Year''s Day.

    He never expected Sophia to dominate the whole thing.

    He sighed. ''Last borns¡­''

    In the end, after Sophia was done talking about her school life, Mr. Moses finally started, focusing on his questions on football and the AFCON tournament.

    Mr. Moses was Sam''s father, but he was also an avid football fan.

    As a lover of the sport for decades, if there was one thing Mr. Moses truly loved apart from FC Barcelona winning the UEFA Champions League again, it was also to witness Nigeria win another AFCON trophy.

    This was why he spoke with his son, talking about the tournament even if they were supposed to be talking light-heartedly to enjoy the new year mood now.

    Mr. Moses asked about the environment and camaraderie in the squad, he wanted to know that the players were all in their best state of mind.

    Afterall, it played a big role in big football tournaments like the AFCON.

    After Mr. Moses was done laying out his mind, Mrs. Moses took over again and her conversation deviated towards a certain person, Kayla.

    "So¡­, Sam," she winked at him. "When are you doing to do it?"

    "Do what?"

    "Tie the knot you dummy!"

    "Ah, this¡­," Sam sighed. "I just feel like its not the right time yet".

    Mrs. Moses'' face changed. "What are you waiting for you bastard son? I''m telling you now, this old woman wants a grandson!"

    "But mom, you''re not even old yet".

    "It doesn''t matter!" She snapped.

    In the end, Sam sighed and had to relent. "Don''t worry mom. I''ll make sure it doesn''t stay too long anymore. And rest assured, the moment that I make the decision, you''ll be the first person that I tell". S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Ok, good boy". She grinned, now satisfied.

    After that, they talked about multiple different topics, the previous year in general and all that happened and then at the end of the video call, Mrs. Moses gave her son one last reminder.

    "Go speak with Kayla now".

    Sam nodded. "Ok mom".

    After cutting the call, he didn''t dial Kayla immediately though. Rather, he made a few phone calls and spent some money, arranging Sophia''s official transfer from Nigeria to UK to study abroad.

    Only after that did he finally put a video call to his girlfriend.

    As soon as Kayla spoke, Sam felt like he was suddenly plunged into a pool of flowers and love. "Babe, how are you doing?"

    "I''m good Mi Paz".

    "Mi what?"

    "Mi Paz". Kayla smiled mischievously. "You decided to start calling me Mi Corazon after learning a few Spanish. So I decided to do some Spanish lessons myself, and now I want to call you Mi Paz".

    She grinned. "It means My Heart".

    Hearing that, Sam smiled brightly. "What I''d do for you to be in my arms right now, on this day". He sighed. "Alas, we have an important game to play".

    "It''s fine babe. You focus on your football, win, make suer you do!"

    "After the tournament, we''ll have all the time in the world for ourselves".

    "You''re right babe". Sam smiled. "Thanks for understanding".

    "It''s fine, I know you''re not cheating".

    Sam chuckled. "How are you so sure?"

    "I know you". Kayla said confidently. "You''re so stuck up with your life and football that you don''t even have time sometimes to have a luck, I don''t reckon you have the time to spend on another girl".

    "Besides, you love me".

    Sam grinned. "Well, babe, you''re right about that".

    "I love you, and I want to keep on loving you more".

    "Me too Mi Paz". She smiled.

    In the end, the 2 lovers continued teasing themselves on the video call, talking about different topics till they were tired.

    Tired and on the bed, they continued their video call till finally, Kayla had to forcibly end it so Sam could rest and focus on his training the next day.

    Sam slept soundly that day.

    Tomorrow, training begins.

 Chapter 376 - 376: Round of 16 clash; evidence of the brave

    Training, tactical drilling, more training, reset, repeat¡­

    For the remaining days in the build-up to their epic round of 16 clash, Eric Chelle pushed his players to the ultimate level.

    The fact that they were billed as one of the favorites did not mean they could become complacent, this was football.

    To win, they had to take every single game serious.

    From this stage on, it was knock out.

    To win, they had to take every single game like it was a final because it was.

    To win, they had to respect every single opponent that comes before them and play at their best, utilizing all the weapons in their repertoire to destroy them.

    This was why despite their favorites billing, this team trained like hell.

    Every day, they broke a good sweat, Sam leading the charge.

    Having been overweight at some point of his life after ditching football for 4 years, Sam knew well the importance of hard work and working out. He led the charge for his teammates, pushing them on with his mamba mentality.

    Train, train again, never stop training!

    Train till the ultimate level is attained!

    Train till your body hurts!

    Like this, they prepared and in no time, it was D-day.

    (AFCON 2025:)

    (Round of 16:)

    (Zimbabwe ¨C Egypt)

    (Date: 3rd January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Morocco ¨C Mali)

    (Date: 3rd January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Tunisia ¨C Benin)

    (Date: 4th January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Algeria ¨C Ivory Coast)

    (Date: 4th January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Cameroon ¨C Tanzania)

    (Date: 5th January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Nigeria ¨C Angola)

    (Date: 5th January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Botswana ¨C Sudan)

    (Date: 6th January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Senegal ¨C Burkina Faso)

    (Date: 6th January, 2026)

    8 clashes, 8 games to decide the 8 teams that would progress from the round of 16 stage of the AFCON tournament to the quarter finals.

    3rd January, 2026¡­

    Zimbabwe took on Egypt, the first game of the round of 16 stage.

    For this game, Egypt was the clear favorite but things didn''t go exactly as planned after the game started. That was the beauty of knockout stage games in major tournaments, players and nations approach the game to die.

    They would lose? Who cares?

    What matters is that they''d give every single ounce of effort there on the pitch before going out with dignity and respect, that''s if they lost in the end.

    And that was exactly the mentality that Zimbabwe came with today.

    Against the Pharaohs of Egypt, the Zimbabwe players played their best football since the AFCON tournament started, making it by far the most thrilling game of the tournament so far.

    Unexpectedly, it became a clash of titans.

    Against the Pharaohs of Egypt, the Zimbabweans didn''t cower, coming out to meet them in the open field to play a game of pound for pound football.

    Zimbabwe''s bold strategy surprised Egypt and their coach. Even if it didn''t, the passion and energy of the Zimbabwe players definitely did.

    Bam! Bam! Bam!

    They left everything out there on the pitch.

    Running kilometers, chasing after the ball, chasing the Egyptians down, pressing for the ball, and launching their own attack raids, they played like they weren''t against a superior team at all.

    It was all mentality, and boy was it working for them.

    The first half incredibly came to an end 0-0 despite all the chances that were created in this game. Salah especially was locked to just creating as they didn''t give him any chances to run free at goal.

    When second half started, it continued the same way, Zimbabwe playing Egypt, pushing them to the edge.

    It was an intense game.

    But¡­, Zimbabwe could not keep up that intensity for 90 minutes.

    They managed 80 minutes, but those last 10 minutes, it was just too much for them. They were already past their limit, and Egypt pounced.

    After being pushed all the way by their opponents who were desperate to create an upset, finally, Egypt bared its fangs in defiance.

    This time, Omar Marmoush was the hero.

    The Manchester City striker pounced in the 83rd minute, jumping highest and lashing into a Mohamed Salah trivela pass, heading it past the Zimbabwe goalkeeper and into the net to the despair of the Zimbabwe players.

    Omar Marmoush celebrated his goal with incredible passion.

    The Zimbabwe players felt deflated, all their efforts, all gone in just a moment. But they didn''t give up, not yet.

    There was still time!

    Pushing on with that mentality, Zimbabwe attacked, desperate to get the equalizing goal as Egypt was forced to defend their lead.

    Mohamed Salah was even taken off, bringing in a more defensive-minded player to help the Pharaohs of Egypt hold on to their lead.

    Zimbabwe actually came close, but then, their overzealousness to score a goal left them exposed at the back.

    One counter, just one was all Egypt needed to deal damage again.

    After intercepting a pass, one of the Egyptian center backs quickly played a straight pass to Omar Marmoush who was the only Egyptian player up field.

    "¡­!"

    The Zimbabwe players saw the danger but it was already too late.

    Taking the ball in his strides, Omar Marmoush pushed it upward, rushing after it with speed. Zimbabwe''s last man in defense tried to wrestle the striker for the ball but flexing his physicality, Marmoush shoved the defender off his feet!

    Egyptian fans around the stadium rose up to their feet.

    And when Omar Marmoush entered the Zimbabwean 18-yard box, he cut the ball to the right, and then¡­ Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    BAM!

    He hit it perfectly towards the top right corner.

    The goalkeeper dived, but no chance, it was a precision shot. The ball nestled into the top right corner, sending Zimbabwean fans around the world to despair and Egyptian fans around the world into a world of euphoria.

    Omar Marmoush charged towards the corner flag, sliding on his knees in celebration as he pumped his fists passionately.

    He won the man of the match award at the end of the game.

    Egypt won the first game of the round of 16 stage, eliminating Zimbabwe and progressing to the quarter finals of the 2025 AFCON tournament.

    Next up Morocco vs Mali.

    ¡­

    Morocco vs Mali was a mauling.

    Mali approached the game with the same give it all mentality, but against the Moroccans, they hit a brick wall. Morocco chipped in 4 goals past their opponents, allowing only a consolation goal from them.

    All 4 Morocco goals were scored by 4 different players.

    The hosts were playing on another level this tournament.

    Mali was eliminated, Morocco progressed, and Brahim Diaz got the man of the match award.

    Next up was Tunisia vs Benin, a clash of the middle weights!

    ¡­

    Tunisia vs Benin was a thrilling game.

    After playing out a 1-1 draw in fulltime, they went to extra time where both sides failed to score a goal, eventually going to penalties.

    Tunisia won the game 4-3 over their rivals on penalties.

    Tunisia progressed; Benin Republic was eliminated.

    ¡­

    Next up was Algeria vs Ivory Coast, another game with a clear favorite, and yet it was the stage for the next big upset of the tournament.

    Algeria stunned the reigning champions.

    Having scored an early goal at just the 3rd minute of the game, Ivory Coast were seemingly cruising towards an easy victory but Algeria remained defensively disciplined for over 80 minutes, long enough to stage an unlikely comeback.

    Algeria stunned Ivory Coast, scoring in the 88th and 90th minutes to eliminate the reigning champions from the tournament.

    Absolute cinema!

    Next up was Cameroon vs Tanzania.

    ¡­

    Cameroon vs Tanzania was another tight pound for pound game, but at the end, there was a clear winner as Cameroon prevailed 2-1 over their opponents.

    All 3 goals were scored in the first half.

    Next up was Nigeria vs Angola.

    ¡­

    Finally, the Super Eagles were to play.

    After the shocker against Ivory Coast, would this be another shocking upset? Well, sit down and enjoy because the Super Eagles cooked on the night.

    Sam led the game, orchestrated it, and opened it up, scoring the first goal from a crazy dribble and a beautiful curling shot in the 12th minute of the game.

    The first half came to an end 1-0 in Nigeria''s favor.

    Second half was still all Samuel Moses.

    In the 56th minute, he played a needle pass through the Angola defense for Victory Osimhen who outmuscled his markers and scored past the goalkeeper.

    Sam did it again, assisting Ademola Lookman for the 3rd goal of the night.

    Nigerian won 3-0 on the night.

    Sam got another man of the match award for his troubles, and off to the quarter finals they marched.

    Next was Botswana vs Sudan.

    ¡­

    Botswana vs Sudan played a boring 0-0 draw across 90 minutes.

    In extra time, it followed the same boring sequence till in the 112th minute of the match, one of the Botswana center backs rose highest, powering a header into the net from a corner kick.

    Botswana won the game by the skin of their teeth, progressing.

    The center back won the man of the match award.

    Next and last in this stage of the tournament was Senegal vs Burkina Faso.

    ¡­

    Burkina Faso didn''t roll over before the giant that faced them, rather, just like Zimbabwe, they played the game of their lives against Senegal.

    The first half came to an end 1-1.

    And then in second half, Sadio Mane played another super sub role, scoring a brace in the 74th and 77th minute to send Senegal to the quarter finals.

    Senegal won 3-1, progressing to the quarter finals.

    Sadio Mane won the man of the match award.

    And now, off to the quarter finals.

 Chapter 377 - 377: Quarterfinal matchups; amping the heat

    At the end of the round of 16 stage of the AFCON tournament, a few things were established in the tournament.

    First, Sam pulled away from his rivals in the golden boot race, establishing himself as the challenger in pole position to win the golden boot with his incredible haul of 7 goals and 3 assists in just 4 games.

    Sam''s career rise was nothing short of meteoric.

    He did it in the NPFL with Enyimba FC, he did it in the English Premier League with Fulham FC, and now he was doing it with FC Barcelona in the Spanish La Liga.

    And also now, he was doing it in the AFCON tournament.

    Sam was still just 20, but he played with the maturity and skill of a veteran of the game. His game intelligence was far ahead of his real age, just like Lamine Yamal.

    No stage was too big for him, no opponent was too big for him.

    He could perform anywhere, anytime, and that was what made him special.

    After what he did with Fulham last season, lots of football fans around the world learned about Sam, becoming his fans. And with what he was doing with FC Barcelona this season, his fanbase only kept on increasing.

    This season, he was the early ballon d''Or favorite but Sam was clearly showing that the pressure of such a position was not getting to him.

    Ballon d''Or favorite or not, he was still Samuel Moses, dubbed Zinedine Sam, the boy that was ready to give his all anytime on the pitch to win.

    Because of Sam alone, a lot more football fans watched the AFCON tournament this year, him being the center of attention of the tournament.

    And being the center of attention, the pressure still didn''t get to him.

    Sam was balling out in the AFCON tournament, leading Nigeria as one of the favorites to go all the way and win the trophy.

    But he was not the only star player balling out in the tournament though.

    Mohamed Salah may have dropped off in the golden boot race, but overall, his impact was still synonymous with Egypt''s success.

    It was his assist that helped Omar Marmoush score in the last game, helping Egypt to finally break the deadlock and get the winner.

    The Egyptian King was still very much in the golden ball race, so was Sam, and so was Ismaila Sarr.

    The Senegalese forward, Ismaila Sarr was another stand-out player in the tournament, and the closest player to Sam in the golden boot race with 5 goals.

    Despite the fact that he didn''t score in Senegal''s round of 16 game, he was the one who created the assist for Sadio Mane''s first goal that ended up being the winner. His influence in the Senegal side was massive.

    Also in the golden ball race were 2 stars from the host nation, Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz. Both were balling out for Morocco in the tournament.

    In front of their home fans, both star players felt in their elements.

    Their numbers may not contend with the 3 others who were favorites for the golden ball award, but if Morocco managed to go all the way in the tournament, there was nothing stopping them from scooping home the award.

    The round of 16 battle was over¡­, 8 countries progressed while 8 were eliminated.

    Now, all focus moved to the epic quarterfinal matchups.

    The heat was amping up, the pressure was hitting a crescendo.

    (AFCON 2025:)

    (Quarterfinal:)

    (Egypt ¨C Morocco)

    (Date: 9th January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Tunisia ¨C Algeria)

    (Date: 9th January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Cameroon ¨C Nigeria)

    (Date: 10th January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Botswana ¨C Senegal)

    (Date: 10th January, 2026)

    The round of 16 games ended on the 6th, giving the players at least 2 days of rest to prepare for the next game.

    Due to the side of the tournament bracket that they were put in, the first game of the AFCON 2025 quarterfinals was poised to be a blockbuster encounter; a clash between 2 African footballing giant nations, Egypt and Morocco.

    Both countries had time to rest and prepare for the epic clash.

    The other clash to be played on the 9th was the encounter between Tunisia and Algeria, 2 average African footballing nations who managed to dig themselves all the way to the quarterfinal stage.

    And then, the next day, scheduled on the 10th was Senegal and Nigeria''s games against inferior opponents on paper.

    Due to this matchup, all eyes focused on the first clash of the quarterfinal stage, the epic encounter between Egypt and Morocco.

    Sam could not imagine the mood in both nation''s camp.

    It must be filled with a lot of tension, or maybe not.

    But none of that really concerned him, this was because Nigeria had their own game to play just a day after the blockbuster clash between Egypt and Morocco. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Instead of worrying about them, he worried about Nigeria''s immediate opponent, Cameroon.

    Nigeria was billed as the favorites in that game, but Sam already played enough football at the professional level to know the consequence of underestimating an opponent.

    They made it to the quarterfinal for a reason, and Sam respected them for it.

    For the next few days after the round of 16, while engaging in recovery measures, they also trained like their lives was on the line.

    These days, Eric Chelle had eyebags under his eyes as if he was not sleeping as the coach lived, breath, and saw tactics even in his dreams.

    The last thing Eric Chelle wanted was for his team to be eliminated due to an oversight from his side, this was why he gave his all.

    Tactically, he drilled his team.

    Physically, he worked them to the bones.

    Day in, day out, and in no time like this, it was D-day.

    9th January, 2026¡­

    In the 75,000+ capacity Grand Stade de Tanger stadium in Tangier, filled to the brim with passionate football fans in red and white, Egypt lined up against the hosts, Morocco in the epic game of the quarterfinal stage.

    Both teams were stacked and at their strongest.

    It was going to be an epic game.

    The Nigerian team watched the game as one in their hotel.

 Chapter 378 - 378: Quarterfinal clash; Egypt vs Morocco

    Ole! Ole! Ole! Ole!

    Energetic fans sang around the stadium.

    The Grand Stade de Tanger pulsed with raw, uncontainable energy as Egypt and Morocco clashed in this high-stakes AFCON quarterfinal.

    The massive arena, perched on the northern coast of Morocco, became a cauldron of passion and pride, with over 75,000 roaring fans igniting the night.

    The air was thick with tension and anticipation as waves of red, green, and white flooded the stands.

    Moroccan supporters, draped in the Atlas Lions'' colors beat drums and waved massive flags, creating a hypnotic rhythm that echoed through the stadium as they went all out to support their nation.

    Egyptian fans, clad in the iconic Pharaohs'' red, responded with thunderous chants and ululations that reverberated through the concrete walls.

    There may be more Moroccan fans in this stadium, but that did not mean the Egyptians were ready to accept defeat as they roared in their few numbers at the top of their lungs to match the Moroccan intensity.

    The game was yet to start.

    Lined up on the pitch already, the players went through warm-up routines.

    And yet, that was enough to leave the stadium going full gaga mode.

    Every touch of the ball sparked an eruption of cheers or jeers, while the piercing sound of vuvuzelas added to the electric atmosphere.

    The crowd surged with excitement as star players showcased their skill and dazzling footwork with the ball, a way to excite the fans and also to calm their own nerves which were clearly high in the buildup to this blockbuster game.

    Egypt and Morocco held nothing back, going all out today.

    The Pharaohs of Egypt started in their customary 4-3-3 formation, with the dynamic trio of Trezeguet, Omar Marmoush, and Mohamed Salah leading the line again. Behind them was the midfield trio of Fathy, Attia, and Sayed.

    And in defense lined up the quadruple of Hamdy, Abdelmonem, Rabia, and Hany, with the goalkeeper, El Shenawy manning the posts for the Egyptians.

    As for the Atlas Lions of Morocco, they came out in their 4-2-3-1 formation.

    Al Ek Kaabi led the attack as the striker, while behind him was the regular trio of Ben Seghir in left wing, Hakim Ziyech in attacking midfield, and Brahim Diaz in the right as the right winger.

    In midfield was the duo of Ounahi and Sofyat Amrabat, and the defensive quadruple comprised Attiyat Allah, Riad, Aguerd, and Hakimi.

    Yassine Bono manned the post for the Moroccans.

    Both had star-filled lineups, it was a clash of heavyweights.

    The referee didn''t waste time.

    FWEEEE!

    Cutting through the wave of noise around the stadium, the referee''s whistle sounded the signal to start the game.

    And immediately, peak football started on the pitch. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Both teams played with endless energy, eager to assert authority over the game and attack. Their energy led to an incredible end to end game at the beginning of this game as both sides struggled to balance the game.

    It was tight and intense¡­.

    ¡­nerve-wracking.

    Bam! Bam!

    Every play elicited amplified reactions from the fans in the stands.

    Every touch of the ball sparked a louder eruption of cheers or jeers. Moments of brilliance drew gasps and applause, while missed opportunities were met with groans of anguish.

    It was an extremely intense game.

    As the game progressed, the tension became almost unbearable. Fans leaned forward in their seats, hearts pounding, eyes locked on the pitch.

    When a certain goal was inconceivably caught by the goalkeeper, the stadium exploded in a deafening roar, accompanied by gasps of shock.

    When Hakimi started those overlapping runs, combining to devastating effect with Brahim Diaz, the Moroccan fans broke out in cheers, singing loudly.

    And when on the opposite side, Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush did it, the Egyptian fans roared with endless energy.

    All the stars showed up this game, balling out.

    Hakimi took shots at goal, Brahim Diaz did too. On the opposite side, Salah and Marmoush also created chances, unleashing shots at goal and yet, there was no goal. This was because of the elite level of both goalkeepers this game.

    The goalkeepers played at an elite level, keeping the game even.

    Despite its intensity, the first half came to an end 0-0.

    During halftime, no one had any idea what the respective nation''s coaches said to their players but the players came out for the 2nd half with even more energy and intensity, Mohamed Salah especially playing like a man possessed.

    BZZZ!

    Like a bee, the Egyptian King buzzed.

    The Moroccan left back marking him, Attiyat Allah suffered the brunt as buzzing about, Salah turned him inside out at a freakish frequency.

    The left back was being burnt and stung in this game.

    Like this, Salah created countless chances for Omar Marmoush and other Egyptian players who kept on missing, at other times Yassine Bono pulling off incredible saves that left you as a striker rethinking your life choices.

    It was an incredible game.

    Brahim Diaz was playing good since, but in the 2nd half, he soon also entered a monster level as he burnt the Egyptian players with his energetic dribbling.

    This game was end to end, incredibly intense.

    But due to the goalkeeper''s performances, 90 minutes approached and still no goal.

    "What a game we''re bearing witness to here!"

    "Egypt and Morocco, 2 nations with deep roots in African footballing history. Which of them will prevail today?"

    "It''s already 82 minutes yet no goal".

    "Will it be decided by a penalty shoot?"

    "And oh! Brahim Diaz is brought down outside the box!"

    "It''s a freekick!"

    Standing up, Brahim Diaz groaned, wiping away his sweat.

    As the Egyptian players set up their wall, the Moroccan attackers converged, discussing who should take the freekick.

    They were all sweating and breathing heavily.

    They were tired and yet, they kept on going.

    "Let me take it". Ziyech suddenly said.

    The others turned around to look at the ex-Chelsea player.

    Hakimi walked closer. "Are you confident?"

    "I''ll try my best".

    "That''s good enough". Hakimi patted Hakim Ziyech''s back to motivate him and since no one protested the decision, it was finalized.

    In the 83rd minute of the game, about 25 yards away from the goal, Hakim Ziyech stood before the ball, looking at the goalposts.

    FWEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle sounded.

    Ziyech looked one last time, then he moved.

    One step, two step, three step, then¡­

    Bam!

    Inclining his body to the side, Hakim Ziyech hit the ball perfectly, sending it on a delicate curving trajectory through the air.

    "¡­!"

    The stadium froze, watching.

    El Shenawy, Egypt''s goalkeeper moved, diving after the ball.

    "¡­!"

    Over 70,000 fans watched.

    El Shenawy''s hand grazed the ball, but the technique behind the shot was too insidious. The rotating ball rotated past him, sneaking past and into the net.

    "¡­!"

    For a brief moment, silence, then¡­

    BOOM!

    The Grand Stade de Tanger exploded!

    "GOALLLLLLL¡­!!!"

    Moroccan fans screamed at the top of their lungs.

    "OOH MY GOD!!!"

    "OHHHH MY GOD!!!"

    "HAKIM ZIYECHHHHHHH!!!"

    "Morocco prayed for a miracle, Ziyech answered!"

    "And Morocco is leading!"

    Charging towards the corner flag, Hakim Ziyech tore his clothes apart, throwing them to the side as he pumped his fists passionately, celebrating his goal with exuberant energy.

    His teammates jumped all over him, celebrating with him.

    The Egyptian players and fans felt deflated.

    After giving Ziyech a yellow card for his unbridled celebration, the referee''s whistle sounded to continue the game. Egypt tried but it wasn''t enough, the game came to an end.

    Morocco won 1-0.

    Hakim Ziyech was the hero, winning the man of the match award.

    What a game it was.

 Chapter 379 - 379: Quarterfinal clash; Tunisia vs Algeria

    Another AFCON tournament.

    Another Mohamed Salah heartbreak.

    At this point, heartbreak at critical moments was synonymous with the Egyptian King, maybe apart from his UEFA champions league win with Liverpool FC in the previous season.

    Salah broke down in tears on the pitch as the Moroccan players celebrated.

    ''Again!'' He growled in his mind, clenching his fists.

    Salah was a great player, one of the best of his generation but when it came to the critical moments in football, there was this bad luck that followed him.

    As great as he was, an African footballing legend, his legacy in international football paled in comparison to the likes of Sadio Mane, and this was simply because unlike Mane, he was yet to win an AFCON title.

    Egypt were always favorites in every AFCON tournament with him on the side, and yet, they always stumbled in the critical stages.

    Even in the previous 2 AFCON tournaments, though Egypt didn''t do especially well in the last one as he suffered an injury early in the tournament, in the previous one, Egypt did well, going as far as the final where they engaged in an epic final showdown against Senegal.

    That game was dubbed the Sadio Mane vs Mohamed Salah game.

    Millions of fans tuned in from around the world to watch, and again, under the limelight, Salah failed to lift the Pharaohs of Egypt to the win that they deserved.

    Sadio Mane got him on the night.

    After playing a draw in fulltime and extra time, they went to a penalty shootout.

    Yes, the Senegalese fans may have employed dirty tactics, pointing laser lights at the eyes of the Egyptian players who were taking the penalties.

    It was incredibly dirty, yes, but Salah didn''t want an excuse.

    Rather, he wanted results.

    But in the end, that was enough to do it.

    Sadio Mane did it, scoring the final penalty in the intense penalty shootout to send Senega to victory over his Egypt, once again dooming him to failure.

    Tonight''s situation may not have been as painful as that of years ago, but still, this was the quarterfinal stage.

    Just 2 more victories and they would have the AFCON title!

    Salah bit his lips, trembling. ''Why always me?!''

    His teammates noticed him crying and without hesitation, the more senior members of the squad walked towards him, hugging him to console him.

    And then, the real moment of solidarity came when Achraf Hakimi noticed the Egyptian King smiling.

    It didn''t concern him, this was his moment to celebrate a famous victory for his country, but Hakimi was sensitive enough to approach the Egyptian.

    He hugged Salah tightly, patting him on the head as he consoled him. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And then he whispered in his ear. "To me, you''re still a legend".

    It may feel like just superficial words, words to sound hypocritically sentimental, but Salah didn''t take it that way.

    Those words got to him.

    And for the first time since the final whistle, Salah smiled.

    He looked at Hakimi and patted him back on the head. "Thank you man". He grinned. "Now go on and win the tournament!"

    "You can''t eliminate me and not win, got it?"

    Hakimi grinned back. "Yes sir!"

    And with that, the curtain closed.

    Morocco was the country to progress to the semifinal stage of the AFCON tournament, and Egypt was the first country to be eliminated.

    On that same night, next up was Tunisia vs Algeria.

    ...

    That same night, next up, the focus left the Grand Stade de Tanger to the Complexe Sportif Mohammed V stadium in Casablanca, Morocco, where the 2nd quarterfinal clash was being played between Tunisia and Algeria.

    The Complexe Sportif Mohammed V in Casablanca was a seething cauldron of North African rivalry as Tunisia and Algeria locked horns in a gripping AFCON quarterfinal.

    With over 45,000 passionate fans packing the iconic stadium, the atmosphere crackled with intensity and anticipation.

    The Tunisian faithful, draped in red and white, filled one end of the stadium with rhythmic chants and beating drums, their voices rising in unison like a battle cry to send an army to war.

    Across from them, Algerian supporters, proudly waving the green and white of the Desert Warriors, responded with thunderous applause and deafening whistles, creating a symphony of sound that echoed through the historic venue.

    The referee didn''t keep the energetic fans and players waiting.

    FWEEEE!

    Immediately after the whistle sounded, a battle started in the Complexe Sportif Mohammed V in Casablanca.

    Two evenly rated African national teams duked it out in a battle to the death in the quarterfinal of the AFCON tournament.

    It was a tight and extremely intense game.

    The air was thick with tension as every pass, tackle, and shot was met with roars of approval or groans of frustration. The energy of the fans was high.

    Flares lit up the night sky, casting an eerie glow over the pitch as the crowd''s energy surged and ebbed with the flow of the game.

    When a player darted past a defender or a goalkeeper made a spectacular save, the stands erupted in chaos.

    Fans clutched their scarves and flags, living and breathing every moment of the intense battle unfolding before them.

    The first half ended in a goalless draw.

    The second half? It progressed almost just like the first half, both sides creating countless chances but never truly threatening to score.

    As the final whistle approached, the noise reached a fever pitch, with both sets of supporters willing their team toward victory.

    In this legendary stadium where history and passion collided, the spirit of North African football was alive and burning brighter than ever.

    But, in the end, who would win?

    Which of the 2 countries would burn brightest?

    Tunisia did.

    In the 87th minute, Talbi, the tall Tunisian center back rose highest to a corner kick, powering a header past Algeria''s goalkeeper and into the net.

    "¡­"

    For a second or so, silence, then¡­

    BOOM!

    Tunisian fans across the stadium and around the world erupted in ecstasy.

    The players celebrated like mad men, giving no care how they looked, the fans went mad in the stadium stands.

    With 3 minutes left to fulltime, Algeria could do nothing and even in additional time, they could do nothing.

    Algeria was doomed.

    And once again, Tunisia did the impossible, climbing one step further in the AFCON tournament to the semifinal stage at the expense of Algeria.

 Chapter 380 - 380: Quarterfinal clash; Cameroon vs Nigeria [1]

    Of the 8 teams that originally made it to the quarterfinal of the 2025 AFCON tournament, 4 already played against themselves, 2 qualifying with 2 being eliminated from the tournament. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Morocco and Tunisia already progressed to the semifinal, where they were automatically matched up against each other in the grouping.

    Egypt and Algeria were eliminated.

    And with the first 2 games of the first day done, the fans had a moment of reprieve as they rested, preparing for tomorrow''s games.

    Next up was Cameroon vs Nigeria.

    ¡­

    10th January, 2026¡­

    Thud! Thud! Thud!

    Like usual, that morning, a certain member of the Nigerian squad jogged through the streets of Morocco away from his hotel.

    Listening to the ''Not Like Us'' jam from Kendrick Lamar that was still making waves in the rap world even in 2026, Sam''s body emitted sweat and steam as he jogged through the streets of Morocco.

    Yes, it was the AFCON tournament but that did not mean that his system took it easy on him.

    To the system, it was just another stage for him to perform and rise to become the Football God like it promised.

    At the beginning of the AFCON tournament, like Sam expected, his system lit up with a new notification, informing him of another quest added to his Seasonal System Quest, and the quest was about the AFCON tournament.

    The quest had 3 missions; the first being to win the AFCON tournament itself, the second being to win the golden ball award given to the best player of the tournament, and the third and last being to win the golden boot award given to the player with the most goals at the end of the tournament.

    For the 3 missions, Sam was making great progress.

    In the golden ball and golden boot race, he was already the favorite alongside Senegal''s Ismaila Sarr, and Morocco''s Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz.

    With other favorites in the country already eliminated, the golden boot race was now made narrower. Sam was currently the forerunner, but his main rival to the golden boot award was still Senegal''s Ismaila Sarr.

    ''I''ll do it!'' Sam thought as he ran.

    ''I''ll carve another legend in this AFCON tournament!''

    ''I''ll keep on announcing my name to the world, at every opportunity, at every given chance''.

    ''I''ll keep on Losing Myself, seizing my moment till I hit my peak''.

    ''¡­Till they acknowledge that I''m the new King in football''.

    ''¡­Till they all believe that I''m the best''.

    A group of paparazzi soon spotted Sam, taking pictures of him indiscriminately which forced him to increase his pace, jogging to the nearest stadium where he completed the rest of his daily system quest.

    With that, he finally returned to his hotel room.

    That morning, there was no training for Eric Chelle''s players. Rather, he invited them to the conference room where he did the last tactical drilling before the game into their heads, and then he sent them off to rest and mentally prepare themselves for the clash in the evening.

    Time moved very fast, and in a blink, it was evening.

    Nigeria lined up against Cameroon in the 69,000+ capacity Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium in the capital city of Morocco, Rabat.

    Like expected, both countries started with their strongest lineups.

    For the Nigerian squad, nothing changed.

    For the Cameroon squad, starting in a 4-1-4-1 formation, the Manchester United goalkeeper, Andre Onana who was also the captain started in between the posts as the last man in defense for Cameroon.

    Ahead of him, in defense was the quadruple of Tolo, Wooh, Ngadeu, and Tchatchoua. In CDM (Central Defensive Midfield) was Quomah Baleba.

    And then further ahead him, higher up in the field was the quadruple of Bassogog, Hongla, Anguissa, and Bryan Mbeumo as the attacking force.

    Leading the line as the striker though was a familiar face, Victor Aboubakar.

    Ole! Ole! Ole! Ole!

    The Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat roared with unrelenting passion as both countries faced off in this high-stakes AFCON quarterfinal clash. Nigeria were the favorites, but not by much.

    Cameroon was also a giant of African football.

    The stadium, packed with over 50,000 fervent fans became a battleground where the fierce West African rivalry unfolded in electrifying fashion.

    FWEEEE!

    From the opening whistle, even as the game started, the atmosphere in this stadium remained electric.

    Nigerian supporters, draped in green and white, filled the air with pulsating drums and rhythmic chants, their voices echoing through the concrete walls in a vivid display of their passion for the sport.

    Across the stands, Cameroonian fans, adorned in the iconic green, red, and yellow of the Indomitable Lions responded with thunderous songs and vuvuzelas that blared in unison.

    Just like in the past 2 previous quarterfinal clashes, it was an intense game.

    The tension was palpable with every pass, every tackle, and every near miss, Victor Osimhen leading the charge for the Nigerians.

    Fans leapt to their feet in anticipation, their emotions swinging between ecstasy and despair as the action on the pitch unfolded.

    The stadium vibrated with raw energy as flares lit up the night sky and banners waved proudly in support of their heroes.

    When either side launched a dangerous attack, the collective gasp of the crowd filled the air, followed by eruptions of cheers or groans, depending on the outcome. Football was just beautiful that way.

    But in the end, Nigeria struck, drawing first blood.

    It was Samuel Moses who created it.

    Receiving a pass from Alex Iwobi just outside the 18-yard box, with his physicality, Sam protected the ball, spinning, looking for the perfect pass.

    Victor Osimhen ran into space, including Ademola Lookman as their markers responded but instead of passing to them, Sam threaded the ball through the middle, back towards Alex Iwobi''s diagonal run.

    "¡­!"

    Noting the threat, the Cameroonian goalkeeper, Andre Onana rushed out but keeping his cool, with his first touch, Alex Iwobi chipped the ball over the goalkeeper.

    "GOALLLLLLL¡­!!!" The stadium roared to life as the Nigerian fans celebrated with passion at the top of their lungs.

    The goal came in the 33rd minute, but Cameroon didn''t stay still though.

    In the 44th minute, they responded, their striker, Aboubakar rising highest in the box to lash into a header, sending it past Stanley Nwabali.

    "GOALLLLLL¡­!!!" The Cameroonian fans responded in kind.

    This game was end to end.

    The first half came to an end 1-1.

    But when 2nd half came, a certain player stole the stage.

    The King showed up.

    Zinedine Sam did what he did best, he mesmerized and dominated.

 Chapter 381 - 381: Quarterfinal clash; Cameroon vs Nigeria [2]

    45 minutes, 1-1¡­ sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    During half-time, Eric Chelle had only a few words for his players.

    "Come on boys, you know, and I know what we''re capable of".

    "Cameroon are not our true opponents".

    "They''re just a stepping stone towards glory".

    "In the 2nd half, pull no punches, go for the knockout blow!"

    "Let''s show them who''s boss!"

    It was only a few words but the Nigerian players had so much respect already for their coach that they came out for the 2nd half with their blood boiling.

    Especially in one of the players, an old habit came back.

    They do say old habits die hard.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    The voice was already rearing its head in Sam''s mind.

    And in kind, Sam responded, embracing his mamba mentality and singlehandedly turning the game around in the 2nd half.

    Tonight would be remembered as the night when Sam went berserk.

    As soon as the 2nd half started, for the first few minutes, it was still a game of end-to-end football as Cameroon played Nigeria like equals, eager to lay down their credentials in the biggest stage of African football.

    They were eager to cause an upset, but then there was Sam.

    BZZZ!

    In the 61st minute, he erupted.

    Tiki taka football, Sam brought it to the Nigerian squad.

    The Cameroonian defense did a good job since, holding him and Victor Osimhen''s threat off, curbing Nigeria''s fearsome attack but they could only do it for so long before one of them truly erupted.

    In the 60th minute, Sam entered the flow state, fueled by his incredible desire to grab this game by the scruff of the neck and win it.

    And in the 61st, he showed exactly what he was mad off.

    Bam! Bam! Bam!

    3 swift passes to cut the Cameroonian defense open.

    The first starting from Sam who passed to the right to Alex Iwobi, the 2nd being Alex Iwobi cutting the ball back to Sam, Sam skipping past a challenge, and the 3rd into the 18-yard box towards Victor Osimhen.

    Bam!

    With his incredible physicality, Victor Osimhen held off the press of the Cameroonian center backs, tracking Sam''s run and as soon as he entered the 18-yard box, he played the final pass, laying the ball in Sam''s path.

    Before the Cameroonian defense could react¡­

    POW!

    Sam struck the ball with venom, hitting it with such force that the ball seemed to bend from the point of impact, rushing towards goal like a missile.

    Andre Onana stood no chance, caught ball watching as the ball honed towards the top left corner with absolute speed and force, almost tearing the net apart in its wake.

    "GOALLLLLLLLL¡­!" The Nigerian fans erupted in ecstasy.

    "COME ON!!!" Sam roared at the top of his lungs.

    His first goal was straight out of the top drawer, but Sam was not done yet.

    Far from it.

    Rather, he was just starting.

    BZZZ!

    8 minutes after his first goal in this game, giving Nigeria the lead, Sam buzzed into the Cameroon 18-yard box again, just in time after an incredible Ademola Looman dribble as the winger played a cross into the box for Osimhen.

    Osimhen reacted to the cross but the Cameroonian center backs also reacted to him, and so he decided to leave it having noticed someone behind him.

    Osimhen feinted, jumping over the ball and fooling the Cameroonian defense, leaving it to the unmarked Sam.

    "Mark HIM!!!" The Cameroonian coach screamed at the top of his lungs but it was already too late as buzzing into the right position at the right time, Sam hit the ball on a volley with his right foot.

    BAM!

    Another powerful shot that left Andre Onana no chance.

    Like a thunderbolt, it streaked towards goal, nesting into the top right corner before Andre Onana could blink his eyes.

    "F*ck!" Onana cursed, punching the air in frustration.

    Sam?

    Having just scored his brace in the AFCON quarterfinals, he was already wheeling away towards the corner flag as he slid on his knees in celebration, igniting the stadium into a cauldron of noise.

    Familiar chants were started by the Nigerian fans.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    In the 69th minute of the game, with his 2nd goal of the game, Sam doomed all hopes of a Cameroonian comeback as the scoreline was now 1-3.

    And yet, he was not done yet.

    From the 70th minute on, Sam''s dribbling was fully unlocked.

    BZZZ!

    Like a bee, he buzzed around the Cameroonian players, eliciting cheers from the Nigerian players as he ran circles around their opponents.

    Everywhere he went, players were nutmegged, left scrambling for the ball on their butts.

    Everywhere he appeared, players were left chasing shadows.

    This aggravated some aggressive reaction from the Cameroonian players, but Sam was equally adept at avoiding trouble as he was at creating it with his dribbles.

    And in the 77th minute, the frustration finally got to the Cameroonian players, one of them hitting Sam a fraction too hard, inviting a straight red card!

    FWEEEE!

    The referee didn''t even hesitate.

    Groans reverberated around the stadium from dissatisfied Cameroonian fans, but the referee was having none of it. His decision was final.

    Suddenly down to 10 men, Cameroon was doomed.

    Sam took the freekick. And despite being almost 30 yards away from the post, he hit a dangerous freekick that beat Andre Onana again only for the goalpost to come to the rescue, hitting it before bouncing off for a corner kick.

    Sam grabbed his head. "F*ck! I missed".

    "F*ck you!" A Cameroonian player growled in his ear before running off.

    Chuckling, Sam continued his game.

    Cameroon survived the corner kick. For a few minutes, they thought it was over but in the 83rd minute of the game, Sam piled on their misery.

    In that moment, he turned into a prime Neymar.

    After receiving a cross-field pass from Ola Aina with his chest, Sam controlled the ball perfectly and as the tackle flew in, he nutmegged the first player.

    With a la croqueta, he cut through 2 more Cameroonian players taking him to the left side of the pitch. And before he could be sandwiched there, with a Cruyff turn, he smoothly turned away from trouble.

    The Cameroonian players were left chasing his shadow.

    Whoosh!

    A sliding tackle flew in but Sam smoothly jumped over it.

    And then facing his final challenger, Sam flicked the ball, rainbow-flicking the poor guy before quickly setting his sight on goal.

    As the ball descended, Sam traced it with his eyes, and then¡­

    POW!

    He swung his leg again, hitting it with such force that it flew off with speed.

    This time, Andre Onana saw the ball. This time, he dived after it and actually touched it, but again the force behind it was too much.

    It snuck past Andre Onana''s grasp, and into the net.

    "GOALLLLLL!!!" The commentators screamed.

    "A hattrick!"

    "Samuel Moses scores a hattrick in the AFCON quarterfinals!"

    "Holy cheeks! The boy is on God mode!"

    "He is unstoppable!"

    "Unplayable!"

    "Unbeatable!"

    Charging towards the corner flag passionately, Sam jumped high into the air and when he landed, he did the suiii celebration.

    "SUIIII¡­!!!"

    Millions of Nigerian fans around the world did the celebration with him.

    With Sam''s hattrick, Cameroon was doomed. They later scored a goal in additional time, making it 2-4 but it changed nothing.

    Nigeria won the game and Sam won another man of the match award with his haul of 3 goals and 1 assist. Crazy!

 Chapter 382 - 382: Quarterfinal clash; Botswana vs Senegal

    Cameroon vs Nigeria was not a contest.

    Rather, it was a one-sided humiliation where Sam dominated, pushing himself to the forefront of the race for both the golden ball and golden boot awards for the AFCON tournament.

    That performance was not just any type of performance, it was a statement display from the best player in the world.

    Mohamed Salah may have won the ballon d''Or award but nobody doubted that now, Sam was by a sizeable margin the best player in the world.

    He did not just pass the eye test; his numbers were insane.

    And now, it was Senegal''s turn.

    Later that same day, in the night, Botswana took on Senegal, a game where Botswana was predicted to be put to the sword by the Senegalese.

    The quarterfinal clash between Botswana and Senegal was a true David vs Goliath battle, and the Complexe Sportif Mohamed V stadium in Casablanca crackled with anticipation.

    Over 40,000 spectators filled the stadium, eager to witness whether the underdog Zebras of Botswana could stand against the might of the Teranga Lions of Senegal in this high-stakes AFCON encounter.

    Afterall, a spot in the semifinal was what was at stake.

    Botswana''s passionate supporters, dressed in sky blue and white, sang relentlessly, their voices carrying a mix of excitement and defiance.

    They knew their team was the tournament''s Cinderella story, and they were determined to push them forward.

    Meanwhile, Senegalese fans, a sea of green, yellow, and red dominated the stands, their rhythmic drumming and choreographed chants creating a relentless, hypnotic energy.

    You could feel the confidence of the fans from the drums alone.

    FWEEEE!

    From the first whistle, the stadium pulsed with nervous tension.

    It was supposed to be a game of David vs Goliath, an absolute crushing from Senegal, but still it was the AFCON quarterfinal, a knockout game where any single mistake could result in elimination.

    This was why like the other quarterfinal games, every touch of the ball in this stadium still brought a reaction; gasps from Botswana''s faithful when their team surged forward, deafening roars from Senegalese fans whenever their star players danced past defenders.

    The weight of expectation hung in the air as Senegal, one of the tournament favorites pressed high, while Botswana fought with heart and grit, refusing to back down before the towering visage of their opponent''s momentum.

    As the game reached its boiling point, the atmosphere became a storm of noise; whistles, vuvuzelas, and chants blending into a deafening wall of sound.

    And that was when the dreadlock was broken, in the 39th minute.

    POW!

    It was a thunderbolt shot.

    It was a shot from outside the 18-yard box.

    It was Idrissa Gueye, the Senegal midfielder who unleashed the shot, leaving the Botswana goalkeeper no chance.

    A goal befitting of the AFCON quarterfinals, a goal with enough raw energy to cut through the tension in this stadium.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!!!" Senegalese fans celebrated at the top of their lungs.

    Charging towards the corner flag alongside his teammates, Idrissa Gueye jumped down on the field, sliding forward in celebration as his teammates jumped after him, celebrating the goal exuberantly.

    The first half came to an end 0-1 in Senegal''s favor.

    When second half started, the onslaught continued.

    It was all Senegal, just Botswana defending desperately for their lives even as they were already losing the game.

    Senegal was too strong, too stacked, leaving the Botswana players no openings to attack. They hoarded possession with an iron fist, attacking again and again to show their superiority in the game.

    And then, the superiority eventually showed¡­ from the corner kick.

    It was another Senegal corner kick, and this time, the towering center back and captain of the national team, Kalidou Koulibaly was the one who leapt highest, planting a powerful header towards goal and beating Botswana''s goalkeeper.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!" The Senegalese players and fans celebrated the goal with as much passion and excitement as the first goal.

    That goal entered in the 58th minute.

    It was not over, not while Ismaila Sarr was yet to enter the scoresheet.

    And then, the winger finally did it, taking a ball from deep and going on an incredible solo run before cooly slotting past the goalkeeper into the bottom right corner, scoring a crazy goal that got Senegalese fans on their feet again, screaming for joy and hailing his name.

    Charging towards the corner flag, Ismaila Sarr celebrated by pointing to his jersey name, showing the world that he was HIM.

    He was still a contender for the golden ball award.

    Sarr''s goal came in the 66th minute.

    It was already 0-3 in Senegal''s favor, but the Teranga Lions of Senegal were not yet satisfied. They wanted 1 more, at least 1 more, and they got it.

    This time, it was the striker, Nicolas Jackson who finally got it.

    The Chelsea striker was injured previously, but he recovered fast enough to play a role in the quarterfinal of the AFCON tournament.

    It was a classic poacher''s goal, lashing into a cross from Ndiaye, the right winger before tapping into the net from close range in the 74th minute.

    0-4 to Senegal¡­, and they were finally satisfied.

    The game eventually came to an end 0-4, Idrissa Gueye winning the man of the match award with his goal and assist.

    Senegal progressed; Botswana was eliminated.

    And with that, the quarterfinal fixtures of the AFCON tournament were all played, sending the eliminated countries home and giving the qualified countries one more stage to showcase their talents.

    The semifinal fixtures of the AFCON tournament were finally ready.

    (AFCON 2025:)

    (Tunisia ¨C Morocco)

    (Date: 14th January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Senegal ¨C Nigeria)

    (Date: 14th January, 2026) Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The semifinal clash was set, and they were to be played on the same day.

    The 4 last surviving teams in the tournament.

    Tunisia would take on Morocco in a potentially intense battle, while Senegal would take on Nigeria in undoubtedly the most blockbuster encounter of the tournament so far.

    It was a clash between 2 tournament favorites.

    A clash between the Teranga Lions of Senegal and the Super Eagles of Nigeria; it was going to be a treat to never forget.

 Chapter 383 - 383: Semifinal matchups; the final culling

    Out of the 24 countries that competed in the AFCON tournament from the group stage, after going through a treacherous process of culling, now only 4 African countries remained in the tournament.

    Only 4 made it to the semifinals.

    And now, it was time for the final culling.

    (AFCON 2025:)

    (Tunisia ¨C Morocco)

    (Date: 14th January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Senegal ¨C Nigeria)

    (Date: 14th January, 2026)

    Football was an unpredictable sport.

    At the beginning of the tournament, nobody predicted Tunisia to make it all the way to the semifinal of the AFCON tournament but here they were, alongside 3 big names of African footballing history.

    And now, alongside the big 3, they were to undergo the final culling in the prelude to the final game of the AFCON tournament.

    After the quarterfinal, the teams had 3 days of rest to prepare for their next game in the semifinals.

    The atmosphere in the Nigerian camp was full of palpable tension. Afterall, this time, theirs was the clash dubbed as the clash of titans.

    The matchup of death.

    On the other side of the matchup, Morocco already took on another tournament favorite once in Egypt, passing the test with flying colors.

    Now it was Senegal and Nigeria''s turn to prove their mettle against a dangerous opponent, to show that they were cut from champion material.

    In those 3 days, in the Nigerian camp, Eric Chelle didn''t push his players to the limit physically like others expected.

    Rather, the coach employed meditation techniques with his players.

    Eric Chelle already worked with his players long enough to have a good idea about their physical condition. This was why he knew that after training so hard for every game since the group stage till now, all his players were in peak physical condition, even the substitutes.

    This was why in those 3 days that they had, instead of working his players to the bone, he rather utilized the days for what they were meant for, rest.

    In his words. "You''ve pushed your bodies enough, now it''s time to push your minds".

    "Football is a physical game as much as it''s a game of the mind".

    Employing advanced post-match recovery processes and meditation practices with his players, Eric Chelle made sure that all his players were at their peak and well rested before the game.

    He didn''t just do that though.

    While they recovered their body, he drilled them mentally, going on a literal lecture, explaining his tactics for the Senegal game.

    It was Nigeria''s biggest game in the tournament so far, their biggest test.

    Eric Chelle was determined to pass the test, and so were his players.

    Eric Chelle had literal sleepless nights, analyzing, making deductions to dissect the strengths and weaknesses of the Senegal team to the barest minimum for his players to quickly grasp.

    And then, he drilled his own approach to the game into their heads.

    Only after that was the coach satisfied.

    But he was not the only one working his ass off though. This was the semifinals, one more step and it would be the AFCON final; the other 3 coaches also worked their asses off analyzing and dissecting the opposition team.

    To them, it was now or never. There was no better shot at the AFCON trophy than the semifinal right now, they had to give their all to take it.

    It was going to be a clash of titans.

    Like this, time moved fast. In a jiffy, it was already D-day.

    14th January, 2026¡­

    The evening was cloudy and cold, a perfect atmosphere for football.

    The venue for the first semifinal game was the Complexe Sportif Mohammed V stadium in Casablanca.

    And that evening, the stadium was a seething cauldron of passion and tension as Morocco, the tournament hosts faced Tunisia in a blockbuster AFCON semifinal.

    The stakes could not have been higher.

    One step away from the final, a North African rivalry brimming with history, and a stadium overflowing with 50,000 roaring fans, each heartbeat synched with the drama unfolding on the pitch.

    From the moment the teams emerged from the tunnel, the Moroccan crowd erupted into a deafening wall of noise.

    "Dima Maghrib!" "Dima Maghrib!"

    Waves of red flooded the stands, massive flags unfurling as the thunderous chants of the Moroccan fanbase shook the stadium.

    The rhythmic beating of drums and the blaring of horns created an almost hypnotic intensity, a force willing the Atlas Lions forward.

    But the Tunisian supporters were defiant.

    A section of the stadium pulsed with the determined energy of their traveling fans, draped in red and white, belting out war cries of their own.

    Their chants rose and fell in waves, refusing to be drowned out by the Moroccan onslaught.

    The home advantage was just unfair, but they refused to give up.

    And then¡­

    FWEEEE!

    The game started. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Morocco was the favorite, but Tunisia played the game of their lives, leaving it all on the pitch against the Atlas Lions.

    Every pass, every challenge, every surge forward sent shockwaves through the stands. The tension was suffocating.

    Gasps of anticipation turned into deafening roars with each near-miss, and jeers cascaded down as tempers flared on the field.

    And when the goal finally came, the stadium exploded; one half in absolute delirium and the other in stunned silence and bitter defiance.

    It was an agonizing goal, an own goal.

    After holding out for most of the first half, in the additional time after 45 minutes, Morocco finally broke the deadlock, one of the Tunisian defenders scoring an agonizing own goal.

    Morocco didn''t care though; they celebrated the goal exuberantly.

    The first half came to an end 0-1 in Morocco''s favor.

    When second half started, Morocco piled on the pressure even as Tunisian bravely defended for their lives.

    As the game neared its climax, the sheer intensity of the atmosphere was overwhelming and it was in that atmosphere where Brahim Diaz shone brightly.

    Like a beacon of light in darkness, the Real Madrid winger went on an incredible solo run, carrying the Moroccan dream forward as he scored from close range after dribbling through the whole Tunisian defense!

    In the 62nd minute, Brahim Diaz ended the game.

    "GOALLLL¡­!!!" Moroccan fans roared at the top of their lungs.

    On that night, it would be recorded that after a valiant performance from Tunisia, they bowed out of the tournament with their heads held high.

    On that night, Brahim Diaz won the man of the match award.

    And Morocco matched to the final of the 2025 AFCON tournament.

    Next was Senegal vs Nigeria.

 Chapter 384 - 384: Semifinal clash; Senegal vs Nigeria [1]

    (AFCON 2025:)

    (Tunisia 0-2 Morocco)

    (Date: 14th January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Senegal ¨C Nigeria)

    (Date: 14th January, 2026)

    Tunisia vs Morocco was decided.

    Now on to the clash of death, Senegal vs Nigeria.

    The game was scheduled to be played in the 2nd biggest stadium in Morocco based in the capital city of Rabat, the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium with a seating capacity of over 69,000 fans.

    On the night, the 69,000+ capacity stadium was filled to the brim.

    That night, the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah became a coliseum of war.

    This was not just a semifinal, this was the battle of death, a clash of titans; a clash of Senegal vs Nigeria, two of Africa''s greatest footballing powerhouses, locked in the most intense, nerve-shredding showdown of the tournament.

    The buildup to the game itself was filled with tension and when the night eventually came, the air was suffocating with tension.

    There was an equal presence of fans supporting both countries as the 2 different fanbases went all out in support of their team.

    The Senegalese faithful, draped in green, yellow, and red pounded their drums like war signals, their chants rhythmic, deep, and unrelenting as if summoning their warriors to battle.

    Across the stands, a sea of Nigerian green and white erupted with fierce, unyielding energy, their voices shaking the very foundations of the stadium as they screamed chants to support their team.

    "Up Super Eagles!"

    When the players started marching out of the tunnel, the noise around the stadium hit a crescendo, rising above the roof.

    Both nations started with their strongest lineups, holding nothing back.

    Nigeria started with a now customary 4-2-3-1 formation.

    In between the posts for the Super Eagles stood the imposing figure of Stanley Nwabali, the Nigerian-born goalkeeper. While ahead of him stood a quadruple defensive set-up comprising Samuel Ajayi, William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, and the electric Ola Aina.

    Ahead of them in midfield was the duo of Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi, then further ahead was the power-offence quadruple.

    Victor Osimhen led the attack as the striker.

    To his right and left flanks respectively were Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman, the Brest and Atalanta wingers while behind Osimhen was the core of the Nigerian team, Samuel Moses, the young FC Barcelona star.

    It was a formidable lineup, but Senegal''s lineup was just as formidable.

    Senegal started in a 3-4-3 formation.

    In between the posts for the Teranga Lions of Senegal was Edouard Mendy, the ex-Chelsea goalkeeper. Ahead of him was a defensive trio comprising Diallo, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Seck.

    Ahead of the defense in midfield was a formidable quadruple of Sarr, Idrissa Gueye, Camara, and Diarra.

    As for the attack, it was comprised of the attacking trios of Ismaila Sarr, Nicolas Jackson, and Ndiaye.

    The game was poised to be a clash of titans.

    FWEEEEE!

    That sound unleashed the demons in the players, they were let loose.

    The moment the referee''s whistle blew, the match became a battlefield, and the atmosphere turned feral.

    At first, it became a contest of physically as the 2 midfields wrestled for the ball, trying to snatch dominance over the game which neither side was outrightly successful at. They were evenly matched.

    This continued for a few minutes until the game settled down.

    As soon as the game settled down though, they didn''t let it stay that way, they amped up the tempo.

    BOOM!

    The players of both sides clashed with aggressive intent.

    And firmly behind them from the stands, the 2 different fanbases supported their teams, roaring at the top of their lungs in support and hate for the other side.

    Every touch of the ball was met with a roar of approval or a cacophony of whistles, every foul was greeted with furious protests, and every missed chance sent fans to their knees in agony.

    The stadium was literally alive, a living, breathing entity fueled by pure, unfiltered passion.

    This was no ordinary game; it was like a derby.

    But Sam was used to derby games.

    In England, he played derby games against Chelsea, Tottenham, and the likes, other London clubs. And then in Spain, he played in the derby of derbies, the crazy El Classico between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.

    All these games were tough games, but a trend that Sam already established in his career was that he always turned up in the big games.

    In those games were everywhere is locked, no space left to attack, everywhere was left airtight, that was when he thrived.

    That was when his mamba mentality reared its head.

    ''Win!''

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    Sam was the first player to hit the zone state in this game.

    And in the 23rd minute of the game, he erupted, proving the difference maker between both sides.

    Bam!

    Under pressure, Alex Iwobi overhit a cross towards the Senegal 18-yard box that was too high to get to.

    All the players in the 18-yard box gave up, but Sam didn''t.

    Thud!

    Kicking the ground with his powerful legs, like a spring, his legs stretched and then he leapt into the air like an elastic frog.

    Sam didn''t just jump, he also raised his right leg, above his head, after the ball that was flying above him with speed, then¡­

    Bam!

    One touch. One silky, delicate touch.

    And like an obedient puppy, the ball calmed down, all the momentum of its flight killed in that one touch.

    "My GOD! What a leap!"

    Even as the commentators raved in shock and the Senegal players finally came back to their senses, realizing the sudden threat where they never expected one, before they could move, Sam already improvised. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After such a crazy ball control, what next?

    Having tried the Senegal center backs once already, Sam knew that they won''t give him time to settle on the ball if he decided to land.

    And so, he improvised in mid-air to shoot.

    After controlling the ball by raising his right leg above his head, still suspended in mid-air, Sam twisted his body, his back now facing ground.

    And as his right leg descended, including the ball, his left leg swung up.

    POW!

    An overhead kick!

    No one expected that crazy leap and mid-air ball control; no one expected the sudden overhead kick too.

    "¡­!"

    Edouard Mendy was rooted to one spot, watching as the ball rushed with speed into the net before his brain could even realize what just happened.

    When he realized, Sam was already whirling away in celebration.

    "GOALLLLLLLLLLLL¡­!!!" This stadium roared to life.

    "ZINEDINE SAM!!!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM!!!" The commentators roared shrilly.

    "What guts! What temerity! To hit a bicycle kick in the AFCON semifinals, only Samuel Moses would have thought of this, only that madman!"

    "And to do it against Senegal, the Teranga Lions, freak!"

    "Samuel Moses is a freak!"

    "Ladies and gentlemen, peel your eyes and savor every moment of it because you''re currently watching the best player in the world in action!"

    Sam charged towards the corner flag before sliding on his knees in celebration, pointing at the Nigerian fans who responded with exuberant energy.

    "SAM!!!" They chanted at the top of their lungs, tearing their shirts, celebrating, some even wanting to jump into the pitch to celebrate with him.

    It was chaos, beautiful chaos that Sam orchestrated.

    In the 23rd minute of the game, 0-1 to Nigeria, courtesy of an absolute Sam banger goal.

    What a moment to be alive!

 Chapter 385 - 385: Semifinal clash; Senegal vs Nigeria [2]

    "IDRISSA GUEYE!!!"

    "IDRISSA GUEYE!!!"

    "IDRISSA GUEYE!!!"

    "What a player, what a moment!"

    "He''s been buzzing all game, the driving heart of Senegal''s midfield tonight and he''s popped up with the all-important clutch goal!"

    "Who saw this coming?!"

    "No one!"

    "Senegal is ahead, 2-1!"

    "Bonkers! Absolute cinema at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah!"

    "Now, this is football!"

    "Peak!"

    45 minutes plus 2 minute of additional time, 2-1¡­

    Just like that, from 0-1 up, Nigeria started trailing in this game, and then¡­

    FWEEEE!

    The referee blew his whistle for half-time.

    The Nigerian players walked down the tunnel to their dressing room feeling like they just let up a big opportunity.

    How did this happen? Just how?!

    They honestly had no idea.

    In the dressing room, Eric Chelle, the Nigerian coach paced up and down, the tension and proceedings of the game having gotten to him too.

    He was tense even as he tried his best to stay calm.

    He knew that his mood as the coach could affect his players though, this was what enabled Eric Chelle to calm down, and then he faced his players.

    "You think we can''t win?!" His voice was loud and full of venom.

    "Why? Are they superior to us?"

    Silence.

    "Answer me!"

    "No sir!"

    "Then why are we not winning?"

    Silence.

    Eric Chelle glared at his players. "We have all the tools necessary to win this game, there is absolutely no reason why we should be trailing!"

    "Now, I want you to go out there and snatch what is rightfully ours, the lead!"

    "I''m not satisfied with just an equalizer; I want 2 goals!" He raised 2 fingers for emphasis. "2 goals as fast as possible!"

    "That is what we deserve!"

    "That is what we''ve worked so hard for!"

    "We can''t fumble after getting this far, unacceptable!"

    "We must win, and we will win! Got it?"

    "Yes sir!"

    "Now get ready to go back to that pitch, we have a game to win".

    When Eric Chelle was done with his speech, the Super Eagles players felt their blood boiling, their muscles spasming with contraptions of anticipation and adrenaline. They could not wait to get back on that pitch.

    And soon enough, they returned, entering the pitch again to a familiar cauldron of noise.

    As they entered the pitch, their coach''s words continued reverberating in their heads, leaving their eyes burning with a fiery zeal.

    The referee didn''t dawdle.

    FWEEEE!

    He blew the whistle again, and then the clash started in this stadium.

    BOOM!

    The fan service hit an even higher crescendo this time around.

    Just as the players clashed between themselves on the pitch, the fans also clashed between themselves in the stadium stands, competing with their loud voices and their drums.

    It was a crazy spectacle to behold.

    On the pitch, riding on the foundation of all this energy and passion, Senegal and Nigeria played the game of their lives.

    Bam! Bam!

    The ball moved so fast it felt like a blur; it was a game of intense football!

    There was no dull moment.

    If Senegal was not attacking, Nigeria was attacking.

    And there were exciting matchups all over the pitch; Ismaila Sarr vs Samuel Ajayi, Ndiaye vs Ola Aina, Nicolas Jackson vs William Troost-Ekong and Calvin Bassey, Idrissa Gueye against the Nigerian midfield duo.

    For the Nigerian side, it was Moses Simon vs Diallo, Ademola Lookman vs Seck, Victor Osimhen vs the towering Koulibaly, and Sam vs Idrissa Gueye, Camara, Koulibaly, literally everyone that faced him.

    Sam was not in one place, at least not anymore.

    Eric Chelle didn''t just motivate his players, he also tweaked something.

    Sam may have scored the only Nigerian goal so far but he was being man-marked by the fearsome Koulibaly, limiting his influence, and this was why Eric Chelle finally gave his No. 10 a free role in the second half.

    Yes, in the Nigerian national team, Sam now wore the No. 10 jersey.

    The switch happened just before the AFCON tournament was to start.

    And in this second half, even as other players fought, among the Nigerians, the player whose no. kept flashing in the cameras was Nigeria''s no. 10.

    Sam was everywhere.

    Flexing his stamina, running himself to the ground, chasing after loose balls, jumping into tackles and when in possession, orchestrating the play, spraying passes left and right to set his teammates up.

    Sam was doing everything, back to his all-action self this second half.

    But still, it was not enough.

    Senegal was too tough, a literal mountain to crack.

    And time was moving.

    50 minutes, no goal¡­

    60 minutes, no goal¡­

    70 minutes, no goal¡­.

    In the 70th minute, Eric Chelle finally made changes, an offensive change, taking off Moses Simon and introducing a second striker in Viktor Boniface.

    As soon as Boniface entered the pitch, Nigeria''s attack changed, becoming more brutish, powerful, and direct to the point.

    And that was the change that Eric Chelle, the change that separated good coaches from great coaches, the change that made the difference.

    In the 76th minute of the game, Viktor Boniface went up against Diallo, chasing a loose ball.

    Moses Simon would have failed the physicality duel but this time, against Viktor Boniface, Diallo jammed against a wall, shoved aside by Boniface. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Sarr, the Senegalese midfielder quickly rushed in to intercept but holding his ground, Boniface regained his composure before hitting a quick cross into the box, towards an un-marked Victor Osimhen.

    Osimhen was unmarked!

    Thud!

    The Nigerian striker moved immediately.

    But reading his threat, Koulibaly pounced after him, grabbing his jersey, intent on bringing him down.

    Even if he took a red card for it, at least, he would have protected his team''s lead. They simply needed to hold on for 20+ minutes to the end of the game.

    But Osimhen was having none of it.

    "Get lost!" He growled as the ball floated in.

    Swinging his arms, he tried to shrug off Koulibaly but the Senegalese center back was too strong. His desperate struggles managed to do something though, making Koulibaly lose his balance, collapsing to the pitch.

    Even as Koulibaly collapsed to the pitch, he never let go, still grabbing Osimhen''s jersey, intent on bringing him to the ground with him.

    Osimhen felt the tug, he could not fight it.

    But before going down, his eyes gleamed. ''I need to do this first!''

    The ball floated in and as he also lost balance due to Koulibaly''s pull, Osimhen jumped and swung his right leg on a volley.

    He could not add much power to the shot, but it was enough.

    Bam!

    An awkward shot.

    Edouard Mendy, the Senegalese goalkeeper dived after the ball but due to hitting it awkwardly, the ball moved slower than Mendy expected.

    If Osimhen hit the ball normally, Mendy would have caught it.

    But due to losing his balance due to Koulibaly''s tug, the awkward shot enabled the slowly floating ball to miss Mendy entirely, going past the goalkeeper and entering the net from an awkward angle.

    Thud!

    Victor Osimhen finally fell down but he didn''t stay down, immediately rolling to his feet and jumping, pumping his fists aggressively as adrenaline and ecstasy filled his head with dopamine.

    "COME ON¡­!!!" Osimhen roared.

    "GOALLLLLLLLLL¡­!!!" Nigerian fans in the stadium roared.

    The game was level again.

    The commentators raved.

    "What a game!"

 Chapter 386 - 386: Semifinal clash; Senegal vs Nigeria [3]

    "IDRISSA GUEYE!!!"

    "IDRISSA GUEYE!!!"

    "IDRISSA GUEYE!!!"

    "What a player, what a moment!"

    "He''s been buzzing all game, the driving heart of Senegal''s midfield tonight and he''s popped up with the all-important clutch goal!"

    "Who saw this coming?!"

    "No one!"

    "Senegal is ahead, 2-1!"

    "Bonkers! Absolute cinema at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah!"

    "Now, this is football!"

    "Peak!"

    45 minutes plus 2 minute of additional time, 2-1¡­

    Just like that, from 0-1 up, Nigeria started trailing in this game, and then¡­

    FWEEEE!

    The referee blew his whistle for half-time.

    The Nigerian players walked down the tunnel to their dressing room feeling like they just let up a big opportunity.

    How did this happen? Just how?!

    They honestly had no idea.

    In the dressing room, Eric Chelle, the Nigerian coach paced up and down, the tension and proceedings of the game having gotten to him too.

    He was tense even as he tried his best to stay calm.

    He knew that his mood as the coach could affect his players though, this was what enabled Eric Chelle to calm down, and then he faced his players.

    "You think we can''t win?!" His voice was loud and full of venom.

    "Why? Are they superior to us?"

    Silence.

    "Answer me!"

    "No sir!"

    "Then why are we not winning?"

    Silence.

    Eric Chelle glared at his players. "We have all the tools necessary to win this game, there is absolutely no reason why we should be trailing!"

    "Now, I want you to go out there and snatch what is rightfully ours, the lead!"

    "I''m not satisfied with just an equalizer; I want 2 goals!" He raised 2 fingers for emphasis. "2 goals as fast as possible!"

    "That is what we deserve!"

    "That is what we''ve worked so hard for!"

    "We can''t fumble after getting this far, unacceptable!"

    "We must win, and we will win! Got it?"

    "Yes sir!"

    "Now get ready to go back to that pitch, we have a game to win".

    When Eric Chelle was done with his speech, the Super Eagles players felt their blood boiling, their muscles spasming with contraptions of anticipation and adrenaline. They could not wait to get back on that pitch.

    And soon enough, they returned, entering the pitch again to a familiar cauldron of noise.

    As they entered the pitch, their coach''s words continued reverberating in their heads, leaving their eyes burning with a fiery zeal.

    The referee didn''t dawdle.

    FWEEEE!

    He blew the whistle again, and then the clash started in this stadium.

    BOOM!

    The fan service hit an even higher crescendo this time around.

    Just as the players clashed between themselves on the pitch, the fans also clashed between themselves in the stadium stands, competing with their loud voices and their drums.

    It was a crazy spectacle to behold.

    On the pitch, riding on the foundation of all this energy and passion, Senegal and Nigeria played the game of their lives.

    Bam! Bam!

    The ball moved so fast it felt like a blur; it was a game of intense football!

    There was no dull moment.

    If Senegal was not attacking, Nigeria was attacking.

    And there were exciting matchups all over the pitch; Ismaila Sarr vs Samuel Ajayi, Ndiaye vs Ola Aina, Nicolas Jackson vs William Troost-Ekong and Calvin Bassey, Idrissa Gueye against the Nigerian midfield duo.

    For the Nigerian side, it was Moses Simon vs Diallo, Ademola Lookman vs Seck, Victor Osimhen vs the towering Koulibaly, and Sam vs Idrissa Gueye, Camara, Koulibaly, literally everyone that faced him.

    Sam was not in one place, at least not anymore.

    Eric Chelle didn''t just motivate his players, he also tweaked something.

    Sam may have scored the only Nigerian goal so far but he was being man-marked by the fearsome Koulibaly, limiting his influence, and this was why Eric Chelle finally gave his No. 10 a free role in the second half.

    Yes, in the Nigerian national team, Sam now wore the No. 10 jersey.

    The switch happened just before the AFCON tournament was to start.

    And in this second half, even as other players fought, among the Nigerians, the player whose no. kept flashing in the cameras was Nigeria''s no. 10.

    Sam was everywhere.

    Flexing his stamina, running himself to the ground, chasing after loose balls, jumping into tackles and when in possession, orchestrating the play, spraying passes left and right to set his teammates up.

    Sam was doing everything, back to his all-action self this second half.

    But still, it was not enough. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Senegal was too tough, a literal mountain to crack.

    And time was moving.

    50 minutes, no goal¡­

    60 minutes, no goal¡­

    70 minutes, no goal¡­.

    In the 70th minute, Eric Chelle finally made changes, an offensive change, taking off Moses Simon and introducing a second striker in Viktor Boniface.

    As soon as Boniface entered the pitch, Nigeria''s attack changed, becoming more brutish, powerful, and direct to the point.

    And that was the change that Eric Chelle needed, the change that separated good coaches from great coaches, the change that made the difference.

    In the 76th minute of the game, Viktor Boniface went up against Diallo, chasing a loose ball.

    Moses Simon would have failed the physicality duel but this time, against Viktor Boniface, Diallo jammed against a wall, shoved aside by Boniface.

    Sarr, the Senegalese midfielder quickly rushed in to intercept but holding his ground, Boniface regained his composure before hitting a quick cross into the box, towards an un-marked Victor Osimhen.

    Osimhen was unmarked!

    Thud!

    The Nigerian striker moved immediately.

    But reading his threat, Koulibaly pounced after him, grabbing his jersey, intent on bringing him down.

    Even if he took a red card for it, at least, he would have protected his team''s lead. They simply needed to hold on for 20+ minutes to the end of the game.

    But Osimhen was having none of it.

    "Get lost!" He growled as the ball floated in.

    Swinging his arms, he tried to shrug off Koulibaly but the Senegalese center back was too strong. His desperate struggles managed to do something though, making Koulibaly lose his balance, collapsing to the pitch.

    Even as Koulibaly collapsed to the pitch, he never let go, still grabbing Osimhen''s jersey, intent on bringing him to the ground with him.

    Osimhen felt the tug, he could not fight it.

    But before going down, his eyes gleamed. ''I need to do this first!''

    The ball floated in and as he also lost balance due to Koulibaly''s pull, Osimhen jumped and swung his right leg on a volley.

    He could not add much power to the shot, but it was enough.

    Bam!

    An awkward shot.

    Edouard Mendy, the Senegalese goalkeeper dived after the ball but due to hitting it awkwardly, the ball moved slower than Mendy expected.

    If Osimhen hit the ball normally, Mendy would have caught it.

    But due to losing his balance due to Koulibaly''s tug, the awkward shot enabled the slowly floating ball to miss Mendy entirely, going past the goalkeeper and entering the net from an awkward angle.

    Thud!

    Victor Osimhen finally fell down but he didn''t stay down, immediately rolling to his feet and jumping, pumping his fists aggressively as adrenaline and ecstasy filled his head with dopamine.

    "COME ON¡­!!!" Osimhen roared.

    "GOALLLLLLLLLL¡­!!!" Nigerian fans in the stadium roared.

    The game was level again.

    The commentators raved.

    "What a game!"

 Chapter 387 - 387: Semifinal clash; Senegal vs Nigeria [4]

    "GOALLLLLL¡­!!!" Nigerian fans in the stadium roared.

    In the 77th minute, 2-2¡­

    The game was level again.

    "COME ON!!!" Victor Osimhen roared.

    The Nigerian striker didn''t just celebrate in one place though.

    Dodging his teammates, he charged towards the corner flag, all the while pumping his fists aggressively out of sheer euphoria and excitement.

    A goal to draw your country level in the semifinal of the AFCON tournament, there were few goals better for a career highlight reel than this goal.

    This was a goal that every striker yearned to score for their country, and Victor Osimhen just scored it.

    Of course, he was ecstatic.

    Of course, he felt on top of the world.

    As soon as he arrived at the corner flag, Victor Osimhen went on his knees, all emotional as he pointed his fingers up to heaven in gratitude.

    With that goal, Nigeria was on again.

    The game was still on!

    One more thing though, it would not be a goal without the raving of the commentators. "What a game it is!"

    "What a goal!"

    "Born in Nigeria, bred in Napoli, a striker forged in blood finally finds his moment in the semifinal of the AFCON tournament!"

    "A goal for the Super Eagles!"

    "A goal forevermore!"

    "What a moment to be alive!"

    "What a game!"

    "First, it was 0-1 to Nigeria, courtesy of the young genius, Samuel Moses from a bicycle kick to never forget!"

    "And then, in the blink of an eye, Senegal leveled, Nicolas Jackson of Chelsea being the savior for the Teranga Lions!"

    "And then, even faster than the first time, Senegal scored again, this time from a thunderbolt from Idrissa Gueye!"

    "Then, it was 2-1 to Senegal, from 0-1 down!"

    "At that point, we thought we''ve seen it all but little did we know we were just starting. The Super Eagles kept on pushing, again and again, and finally, in the 77th minute of the game, they got a reward for their persistence".

    "Another goal¡­, 2-2!"

    "Ladies and gentlemen, peel your eyes open because you''re witnessing a classic of classics in the AFCON tournament, a game that is not forgotten years and decades after it is played".

    "That is what we are bearing witness to today".

    "A classico!"

    "The game is level again, who shall prevail or are we going to penalties?"

    From the beginning of this game, the tension between both sides was high and now, after Victor Osimhen''s goal, the tensions boiled over.

    While Osimhen celebrated his goal, nobody knew who started it first but Frank Onyeka and Idrissa Gueye quickly clashed on the pitch, exchanging words and needing the referee to intervene.

    The referee branded his card, handing 2 yellow cards to them each.

    The tension was now even more palpable.

    But then, even that could not stop the progression of this game.

    FWEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle sounded again, the signal to continue the game and the war of fire and brimstone continued in this Moroccan stadium.

    Bam! Bam!

    Both countries played with even more urgency and intensity.

    Both wanted the winning goal, the goal that would seal the game and establish them as legends of African football.

    By now, both coaches already made changes to their lineups, bringing some fresh legs to increase mobility on the pitch.

    The intensity of the game increased even more, end to end, extremely heated. The fans in the stadium stands held their breaths.

    The tension was also getting to them, making their voices lower than normal, but they were soon triggered¡­

    BAM!

    The ball grazed the bar before going off for a goal kick off another Idrissa Gueye shot, and the Nigerian fans could not help their blood pressure rising.

    The Senegalese fans were no different either.

    After Victor Osimhen''s goal, the Senegal defense finally adapted, noting the threat of a rampant Viktor Osimhen. And with the defense being so compact, they were able to marshal and keep the 2 strikers quiet, but not the ACM though.

    Nigeria''s central attacking midfielder was still everywhere.

    Sam chased every ball as if he never got tired, dribbled as if he had lungs of Dragons. He was drenched in sweat but never stopped fighting.

    But despite it all though, the Teranga Lions found the breakthrough first, in the 84th minute of the game.

    Again, it was Nicolas Jackson.

    And again, it was a pass from Ismaila Sarr.

    Whoosh!

    The ball rushed into the 18-yard box courtesy of an Ismaila Sarr cross, making the Nigerian defense to react in response.

    But then¡­, Calvin Bassey slipped!

    "¡­!"

    Originally, Nicolas Jackson already gave up hope of getting to that ball but as soon as he noticed Calvin Bassey slip, adrenaline filled his body.

    Thud!

    The Senegalese striker dug his left leg on the ground, using the momentum to push himself like a spring into motion, stretching his right leg out in the process, and then¡­

    Bam!

    That was all the Nigerian goalkeeper heard.

    Stanley Nwabali calculated the trajectory of the ball, diving after it but Nicolas Jackson''s long legs were what confused the Nigerian goalkeeper.

    A normal striker''s legs would not be long enough to reach that ball, but Jackson''s legs were long enough, poking the ball into the net.

    Silence, then¡­

    BOOM!

    The Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah exploded in ecstasy.

    Nicolas Jackson celebrated by charging to the corner flag, sliding on his knees in celebration even as he pumped his fists with passion.

    In the 84th minute, 3-2¡­

    Agony. Regret, anger became the theme among the Nigerians.

    The commentators raved. Senegalese fans rejoiced; Nigerian fans were stunned.

    It seemed all but over, but then, just 3 minutes after Senegal''s goal, Nigeria proved their credentials as tournament favorites.

    Like a bee, the Super Eagles stung.

    And this time, it was Alex Iwobi, orchestrated by Sam.

    In the final few minutes of the game, losing?

    Sam lost it, he felt like he was going crazy. Inside his head felt like a chaotic volcano that was about to erupt.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    It kept on screaming in his head.

    And then when the ball eventually touched his leg this time, he went gaga!

    Sam went on one of those mazy runs, cutting through Senegal like a hot knife through butter, skipping past challenges like they were not there, long enough, deep enough till he was in Senegal''s 18-yard box, and then¡­

    Bam!

    He pushed the ball back to Alex Iwobi since multiple defenders already blocked his path. With his run, he created space for his teammates.

    As soon as he pushed the ball, Alex Iwobi erupted.

    POW!

    A shot executed with anger and rage.

    Like a missile, it tore through the air to its destination. Edouard Mendy dived but he stood no chance, the ball tore its way into the net! S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And then¡­

    "COME ON!!!"

    Pupils dilated, veins popping all over his body like molten fire in a volcano, Sam screamed passionately despite the fact that he was not the one who scored the goal even as he turned to face Alex Iwobi.

    "COME ON!"

    Alex Iwobi screamed back at him as they jumped at each other, bumping their chest against each other in celebration.

    In the 87th minute of this game, 3-3!

    At this moment, Sam didn''t feel like a professional football player alongside his teammates at all.

    Rather, he felt like a gladiator.

 Chapter 388 - 388: Semifinal clash; Senegal vs Nigeria [5]

    FWEEEEE!

    The full-time whistle.

    3-3.

    Senegal and Nigeria could not be separated in 90 minutes.

    Both countries were stacked with ballers, evenly matched after an incredible game of 90 minutes. And now, over to extra-time.

    Before that, this was the game in numbers.

    [23rd minute: 1st goal- Nigeria]

    [Goalscorer: Samuel Moses]

    [Assist Provider: Alex Iwobi] S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡­

    [43rd minute: 2nd goal- Senegal]

    [Goalscorer: Nicolas Jackson]

    [Assist Provider: Ismaila Sarr]

    ¡­

    [47 + 2nd minute: 3rd goal- Senegal]

    [Goalscorer: Idrissa Gueye]

    ¡­

    [77th minute: 4th goal- Nigeria]

    [Goalscorer: Victor Osimhen]

    [Assist Provider: Viktor Boniface]

    ¡­

    [84th minute: 5th goal- Senegal]

    [Goalscorer: Nicolas Jackson]

    [Assist Provider: Ismaila Sarr]

    ¡­

    [87th minute: 6th goal- Nigeria]

    [Goalscorer: Alex Iwobi]

    [Assist Provider: Samuel Moses]

    A 6-goal thriller after 90 minutes.

    90 minutes of unforgettable, intense football.

    Alex Iwobi got a goal and assist, Sam got a goal and assist, Idrissa Gueye got a goal, Ismaila Sarr got 2 assists, Nicolas Jackson got 2 goals.

    There were so many contenders for the man of the match award.

    It was a game straight out of the top drawer, incredible football was played across the 90 minutes that just passed.

    This game, literally all the stars in both countries showed up.

    But now, it was extra-time.

    Huddled up in the stadium alongside their coach, for the first time in a long time, Sam noticed that his breathing was extremely ragged even as he listened to the words of their coach who addressed them.

    On the other side, the Senegal coach also addressed his players.

    And then¡­

    FWEEE!

    The first half of extra-time started.

    And once again, Nigeria and Senegal refused to give in to their opponents, coming out to play football like they were not the same players who just played 90 minutes of non-stop attacking football.

    On the stands, the fans of both sides had their hearts on their throat.

    It was a wonder why an emergency was not called yet in the stadium for a heart attack emergency, that was how vicious and vivid the tension was.

    In the first half of extra-time, the players of both sides kept on giving their all, buzzing in attack and staying even more defensively disciplined as the last thing they wanted was conceding a goal at this stage of the game.

    In the end, Ademola Lookman got the best chance of the first half of extra-time as after another one of those mazy runs from him, he unleashed a shot across the face of goal only for it to graze the bar before rolling off for a goal kick.

    Ademola Lookman grabbed his head in disbelief. "F*ck!" He cursed.

    The game continued but then the referee''s whistle sounded again, bringing the first half of extra time to an end after 15 more minutes of football.

    During the second half of extra time, both coaches made changes again, and of the changes, Eric Chelle took Ademola Lookman off for Kelechi Iheanacho, already preparing for the penalty shootout.

    The Senegal coach''s changes reflected the same thing as among his changes, one of them included introducing Sadio Mane into the pitch this late into the game.

    And with that, the second half of extra-time started.

    Another 15 minutes of less intense football, but that took nothing away from the tension of the game.

    Rather, it was even more tense than all the other halves.

    Afterall, at this stage of the game, it was already too late to rally round to overcome a deficit. Any country that scored now was the winner, that was the consensus on the pitch and among the fans.

    And so, both countries defended desperately for their lives.

    In the 108th minute, spotting Edouard Mendy slightly off his lines, Sam hit another one of those trademark shots from the halfway line.

    But this time, Edouard Mendy covered ground fast, snatching the ball from the air before it could enter the net.

    Another reason why it was easier for Mendy was because Sam didn''t hit it perfectly. After 108 minutes of such intense football, Sam''s legs were like jelly.

    He was dead tired and exhausted, but he kept on pushing.

    In the 113th minute, Idrissa Gueye tried another of those crazy shots of his, this time forcing Calvin Bassey to make a desperate block with his body on the line.

    At this point, the players no longer cared about injury or taking care of themselves, they just wanted to win and they did everything they could for it.

    In the 114th minute, in a counterattack orchestrated by Calvin Bassey''s block, Kelechi Iheanacho received the ball in the wing before going on a mazy run, charging through players buoyed by his fresh legs.

    He cut into the box successfully but when it finally reached the execution part, Kelechi Iheanacho skied the ball!

    Groans of frustration and disappointment quickly filled the stadium.

    Iheanacho was also disappointed at himself, but there was nothing he could do about it.

    There was no more time, the game was drawing to an end.

    And then, in the 118th minute, in a moment that definitely gave millions of Nigerian fans multiple heart attacks, Sadio Mane, the Senegalese legend received the ball in the 18-yard box one-on-one with Stanley Nwabali, Nigeria''s goalkeeper!

    "¡­!"

    Trepidations ran through the hearts of the Super Eagles fans, but then, Stanley Nwabali pulled a Jesus moment, creating a miracle.

    Bam!

    Sadio Mane hit the ball at point-blank range but from that range, showing reflexes similar to those of the Flash, Stanley Nwabali''s left hand moved.

    The ball struck his hand, and bounced.

    It was still a loose ball!

    "¡­!"

    Sadio Mane pounced but once again showing inhuman reflexes, Stanley Nwabali jumped, pushing the ball away before Sadio Mane could get to it.

    BOOM!

    That miraculous double-save elicited roars of adoration from the fans of the Super Eagles that filled this stadium, some tearing their clothes in the passion.

    It was a moment of individual brilliance, and it was recognized by the world, the commentators especially talking non-stop about it.

    Stanley Nwabali saved Nigeria, and then¡­

    FWEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle sounded again.

    Extra-time was over, and now, on to penalties.

 Chapter 389 - 389: A penalty shootout

    The Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat was as its absolute boiling point.

    120 minutes of sheer war, six goals split between two African footballing giants, and yet no winner.

    It was a game unlike any other.

    The final whistle of extra-time had blown, but there was no relief; only the nerve-wracking dread of a penalty shootout.

    The nerves among the fans were at their highest.

    At this point, both sets of fans had to agree that the game was now out of their hands. A penalty shootout was a 50/50 gamble, any side could win it at this point; and the fans could not help but feel tense.

    Fans, players, coaches, everyone knew what was at stake.

    A ticket to the final. Glory or heartbreak.

    The stadium, once a deafening inferno of chants had settled into an eerie tension as the players converged around their coaches, the 2 coaches already going over his penalty lineup with their players.

    This was the moment of truth.

    Some fans couldn''t watch. Others clutched their heads. Prayers filled the air.

    Now, it was time. The referee handed the ball to the first taker. The moment of reckoning had arrived.

    Senegal''s captain, Kalidou Koulibaly stepped up first.

    Stanley Nwabali, the Nigerian goalkeeper tried a few subtle antics to get into the head of his opponent but Koulibaly was having none of it.

    Ice-cold, he sent Nwabali the wrong way, burying the ball into the bottom left corner. 1-0, Senegal.

    BOOM!

    Senegalese fans roared in ecstasy and relief.

    But then¡­, Sam took the ball.

    "¡­!"

    The stadium fell into shocked silence, the commentators reacted.

    "Wow¡­, Sam is Nigeria''s first penalty taker!" The shock could be heard in their voices.

    "Wow, nobody saw this coming, what a bold decision from Eric Chelle".

    "Yes, we all know the boy is good. Everybody with an eye can see just how talented Sam is, but people often forget that the boy is still a teenager".

    "In a penalty shootout at the semifinal of the AFCON tournament, to make him the first taker, don''t you think that''s too much for his age?"

    "This is literally his first AFCON!"

    "It''s a gamble from Eric Chelle!"

    "Sam is well-known for his mamba mentality approach to football. Tonight will be one of his ultimate tests, prove your mentality in the biggest of stages!"

    "Will the young genius crumble under pressure, or will he thrive?"

    Confidently, after taking the ball Sam swaggered to the penalty spot.

    Edouard Mendy stared the 20-year-old down, looking into his eyes with intensity, trying to intimidate him but Sam only smirked in reply. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The stadium was as silent as a church.

    "Sam vs Edouard Mendy, who shall prevail?"

    A deep breath, a powerful run-up, and Sam rifled the ball with immense power, straight down the middle of the post.

    Edouard Mendy dived left.

    1-1!

    "And he scored!"

    "Nerves of steel, Sam!"

    Sam pumped a fist in celebration at the fans, growling slightly.

    And well, that penalty set the tone for the rest of the shootout. 2 talisman for both countries scored, and both nations were infused with confidence.

    The second round¡­

    Senegal''s Ismaila Sarr went up. His shot was nearly perfect; Nwabali dived the right way but couldn''t reach it. 2-1, Senegal.

    Nigeria''s response? Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian striker who had been electric all tournament stepped up. His shot was clinical, the bottom right corner, leaving no chance for Mendy. 2-2.

    The third round¡­

    Boulaye Dia for Senegal. Calm as you like, he dinked it cheekily down the middle as Nwabali committed early.

    The audacity! 3-2, Senegal.

    But Kelechi Iheanacho was not to be outdone. A short stutter in his run-up, then a side-footed strike. Mendy got fingertips on it, but it was in! 3-3.

    The fourth round¡­

    Senegal''s Idrissa Gueye walked up. Experience on his side, the midfielder struck it confidently. No mistake. 4-3, Senegal.

    For Nigeria, Viktor Boniface took responsibility. The pressure was immense, but he sent Mendy the wrong way. 4-4.

    The fifth round, the decisive moment¡­

    This was it.

    If Senegal scored, Nigeria would have to score to stay alive. If Senegal missed, Nigeria could win it with their next shot.

    Pape Matar Sarr, the Senegalese midfielder stepped up and placed the ball down. He exhaled. The tension was unbearable.

    He took his shot, and Nwabali guessed right!

    Whoosh!

    A full-stretch dive to his left. The ball was parried away! SENEGAL HAD MISSED!

    BOOM!

    The Nigerian end of the stadium quickly erupted in chaos, but it wasn''t over yet. Nigeria still had to convert.

    The final shot¡­

    With a nation holding its breath, who would take Nigeria''s final penalty?

    Stanley Nwabali!

    Eric Chelle was pulling moves right out of George R.R Martin''s a Song of Ice and Fire!

    Yes, the Nigerian coach sent out his goalkeeper.

    The hero of the night now had the chance to seal it himself.

    The goalkeeper picked up the ball, walked to the spot. The weight of history was now on his shoulders.

    BOOOOOO!

    The Senegalese fans booed, trying to rattle him. Opposite him, Mendy stood tall, ready for anything.

    Nwabali took a deep breath. One step back, two, three, and then¡­

    FWEEEE!

    The referee blew his whistle.

    Stanley Nwabali ran up¡­ a smooth, composed strike¡­

    Bam!

    Silence, for a second, and then¡­

    "GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL¡­!!!!"

    BOTTOM CORNER. MENDY BEATEN. GAME OVER!

    The stadium exploded!

    Nigerian players stormed the pitch. The bench emptied in a blur of green and white as they rushed to mob Nwabali, their savior, their warrior.

    Osimhen tackled him to the ground. Iheanacho leapt onto his back. The fans in the stands went berserk, screaming, crying dancing.

    It was mad euphoria on the pitch.

    On the other side, Senegal''s players collapsed in devastation. Some fell to their knees; others buried their faces in their jerseys. The dream had ended in the cruelest way possible.

    Tonight was a night for the ages.

    Nigeria had survived the battle of death, the clash of titans.

    Nwabali, goalkeeper, hero, legend had etched his name into AFCON immortality and Nigerian footballing folklore.

    As the Super Eagles celebrated, Africa knew it had witnessed one of the greatest semifinals in the history of the tournament.

 Chapter 390 - 390: A date in the final

    With Sam''s heroics yesterday, getting another goal and assist, taking his tally to a more ridiculous figure of 11 goals and 5 assists, Sam''s name was already immortalized in this AFCON tournament but he was not the hero last night.

    Last night was Stanley Nwabali''s night.

    The Nigerian goalkeeper won the man of the match award at the end of the game, having pushed Nigeria over the edge to win the game.

    And with that, a date was finally set in the final.

    A date between 2 of the favorites that were recognized at the beginning of the tournament, a date between Morocco and Nigeria.

    (AFCON 2025:)

    (Final:)

    (Morocco ¨C Nigeria)

    (Date: 18th January, 2026)

    Both countries didn''t have it all smooth-sailing for them.

    Just like Nigeria faced a big hurdle yesterday in Senegal, having to fight through the Teranga Lions, Morocco also passed through a trial of blood in the form of clashing against the Pharaohs of Egypt led by the Egyptian King.

    And just like Nigeria, they passed their test with flying colors.

    And now, these 2 nations were to clash in the final of the tournament.

    After their crazy performances since the beginning of the tournament till now, both countries were in crazy form.

    The final was billed to be another clash of titans, another game where 2 giants of African football would clash in a battle to the death.

    But before that, another game was scheduled in the tournament.

    The game for 3rd place.

    (AFCON 2025:)

    (Match for 3rd place:)

    (Tunisia ¨C Senegal)

    (Date: 17th January, 2026)

    The 3rd place match would be played a day before the final, but even that would only take place in 3 days.

    And so, Sam and his teammates had a little time to recover from the game that drained them of all strength.

    Playing 120 minutes against Senegal drained the Nigerian squad.

    And now, led by their coach, they all went through post-match recovery procedures to recover as soon as possible for the final clash that would take place in the largest stadium in Morocco, the Grande Stade de Tanger stadium in Tangier.

    Before the 3rd place match, in one of the evenings as Sam continued recovering from the exertion of the Senegal game, he spoke with his girlfriend.

    "Hey babe".

    "My big baby," she smiled. "How are you faring?"

    Sam smiled tiredly. "It''s tough, honestly, far tougher than I expected". He chuckled. "I never expected staying and maintaining my body at the top level to perform at my best every game in a tournament would be this hard".

    He sighed. "Now, I admire what Lionel Messi and that Argentina team did during the 2022 World Cup even more".

    Kayla smiled. "Messi is your idol, right?"

    Sam smirked. "Is that even a question?"

    She chuckled. "Well, make your idol proud. Replicate what he did with his country with your country".

    Sam smiled. "I don''t even know if Messi watches the AFCON tournament, but I want to believe he does". He grinned. "That''s one of the things motivating me to keep on giving my best for each and every game".

    "You can do it babe!" Kayla smiled. "It''s just 1 more game remaining now".

    "Yeah," Sam nodded. "1 more game¡­ against Morocco".

    "You guys can win!"

    Sam smiled again. "I know we can, but¡­"

    He sighed. "You know, most of my teammates got to the last AFCON final too only to lose to Ivory Coast, the then hosts in the final".

    "The situation this time is so similar, and I feel like the trauma of that last AFCON tournament is already getting to them".

    "Then help them!"

    "Huh?"

    Kayla smiled. "You dummy, it''s so simple! Have you forgotten your time in Fulham, when you loved playing the captain even as you were not the captain?"

    "It''s one of the things that drew me to you, those antics of yours".

    "It made you seem so confident".

    "I am confident!" Sam stressed.

    Kayla laughed. "Anyways, your teammates need you know. Just like you used to motivate your teammates back in Fulham, motivate them".

    "With Fulham, you broke trends that nobody ever expected".

    "You won the premier league with Fulham Sam! Surely, winning the AFCON with Nigeria is not an impossible task".

    Sam smiled, regaining his confidence again. "You know what? You''re right babe, we''re absolutely going to crush Morocco!"

    "It''s time to go rile up the boys!"

    After a few more talk, they ended the call.

    For the next few days, alongside his teammates, Sam did what he always did before. Train, train, and train again¡­, non-stop training.

    And then, in a flash, it was already 17th.

    ¡­

    17th January, 2026¡­

    In the Complexe Sportif Mohammed V stadium in Casablanca, on a cool breezy night, Tunisia took on Senegal in the 3rd place match of the tournament.

    Just like the Nigerian squad was exhausted after the semifinal game, the Senegal squad was also extremely exhausted after that grueling match.

    It showed in the 3rd place match, giving Tunisia some initial hope. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The first half came to an end 0-0.

    But as soon as Sadio Mane was introduced into the game, within just 3 minutes, the veteran Senegalese footballer showed his genius, receiving a pass from Idrissa Gueye before curling past the goalkeeper to score.

    Sadio Mane''s goal in the 66th minute of the game ended up being the only goal of the game, the winner.

    And just like that, Senegal won, claiming 3rd place in the AFCON tournament.

    With 3rd place in the tournament already finalized, all eyes turned and focused on the penultimate game of the 2025 AFCON tournament, the epic final clash between Morocco and Nigeria.

    Both nations would do anything to win!

    Hours after Senegal''s win, Morocco''s captain, Achraf Hakimi was caught by reporters who threw questions at him.

    "Captain, Nigeria''s attack are billed as the most fearsome in the tournament so far. Do you think your team can stop them?"

    "Of course!" Hakimi answered confidently without hesitation.

    "We''ve handled and tamed much worse attacks, Nigeria''s attack is not going to be any different. We''ll definitely win!"

    The mind games already started.

    That same night, Hakimi''s words were thrown at Troost-Ekong, Nigeria''s captain who responded by calling Hakimi''s words the words of a drunkard.

    Fires were already being shot, all in preparation for the penultimate moment of the tournament.

    To the fans, it felt like a long time but it no longer tarried.

    In the blink of an eye, D-day was already here.

    It was 18th of January, 2026.

 Chapter 391 - 391: AFCON final; Morocco vs Nigeria [1]

    18th January, 2026¡­

    Grand Stade de Tanger, Tangier.

    The night Africa stood still.

    (AFCON 2025:)

    (Final:)

    (Morocco ¨C Nigeria)

    The stage was set.

    After weeks of battle, triumph, heartbreak, and unrelenting drama, the grand finale of the Africa Cup of Nations was finally here.

    Morocco vs Nigeria.

    The hosts, Morocco, carried the dreams of a nation desperate to lift the trophy on home soil. Nigeria, three-time champions stood on the other side, seeking to reclaim continental glory.

    The Grand Stade de Tanger was a cauldron of noise, color, and passion.

    The stadium was filled to the brim. Over 70,000 fans, draped in the red and green for Morocco, and green and white for Nigeria roared, chanted, and waved flags, filling the air with a deafening symphony of football fever.

    The rhythmic beating of African drums, the sharp blare of trumpets, and the synchronized clapping of tens of thousands created a pulsating heartbeat that echoed across Tangier.

    This was more than a game.

    This was war.

    This was history.

    And then came the iconic walkout, the moment of destiny.

    As the final minutes before kickoff ticked away, the energy reached a fever pitch. Then, suddenly, the stadium lights dimmed.

    A deep, cinematic drumroll thundered through the speakers. The anticipation was unbearable.

    All eyes turned towards the tunnel where the gladiators of tonight prepared to step onto the grandest stage.

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria, dressed in their iconic green and white kits, stood side by side; Samuel Moses, Victor Osimhen, Stanley Nwabali, Ademola Lookman, all wearing faces of pure steel.

    This was their moment.

    Opposite them, the Atlas Lions of Morocco, Achraf Hakimi, Yassin Bounou, Hakim Ziyech, Brahim Diaz, their expressions unwavering, a nation''s hope burning in their eyes.

    Then, the tunnel doors opened.

    BOOM!

    A thunderous roar erupted as both teams stepped onto the pitch.

    In his 3-year career, Sam had played in some pretty big matches and some pretty big stadiums, but none of those atmospheres matched the intensity in the Grand Stade de Tanger at this moment.

    Badump! Badump!

    Sam could feel his heart beating fast, he could feel the moment.

    Flames shot up from the sidelines. The stadium was shaking, Africa was watching. The world was watching.

    The players walked in formation, heads held high, their hearts pounding with the weight of the occasion.

    Two teams. One trophy.

    A single night to determine a lifetime of glory. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The 2 teams lined up. The AFCON trophy, glistening under the lights stood between them. Tonight, the trophy itself was at stake!

    And then came the important moment, the pride, honor and emotion of each competing nation¡­, the national anthems.

    The Moroccan anthem played first.

    "Hymne Cherifien".

    As the first notes rang out, tens of thousands of Moroccans stood as one. Their voices carried the anthem across the stadium, loud, defiant, unwavering.

    The players stood with hands over their hearts, some eyes closed, others staring straight ahead, embracing the moment. A nation behind them, a destiny before them.

    Then came Nigeria''s turn.

    "Nigeria, We Hail Thee".

    The Super Eagles stood tall, their heads high.

    The Nigerian section of the stadium erupted, belting out every word with raw passion and pride.

    Sam could not help it. Hearing the passionate singing, he also joined in as he could feel goosebumps coursing through his body.

    Stanley Nwabali closed his eyes, soaking it in. Osimhen clenched his fists, every fiber of his being consumed by the anthem''s call.

    The last words echoed into the night. The fans exploded into cheers. The Moroccans waved their flags with fury, while the Nigerians responded with loud chants of their own.

    The atmosphere was just electric.

    Then, the referee finally took the ball, letting the 2 captains shake hands.

    The whistle was seconds away.

    The final battle had arrived.

    And like expected, the 2 coaches pulled no punches, coming out with the strongest lineup of players that both of their nations could offer.

    For Morocco, starting in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Bono manned the posts for the hosts while ahead of him was a defensive quadruple comprising Attiyat Allah, Riad, Aguerd, and Achraf Hakimi.

    Further ahead of them was the midfield duo of Ounahi, and Sofyan Amrabat, and then the trio of the left winger, Ben Seghir, the attacking midfielder, Hakim Ziyech, and the right winger, Brahim Diaz.

    El Kaabi led the line as the striker.

    It was a formidable lineup of players.

    Nigeria''s own was not inferior though. Starting in their regular 4-2-3-1 formation, Stanley Nwabali started in between the posts while ahead of him was Ola Aina, William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassy, and Samuel Ajayi.

    In midfield was the duo of Wilfried Ndidi and Alex Iwobi as Frank Onyeka sustained a knock in the Senegal semifinal game.

    Ahead of the midfield duo was the quadruple of Ademola Lookman in left wing, Moses Simon on the right, Sam as the attacking midfielder, while Victor Osimhen led the attack as usual as the striker.

    This was a lineup that match Morocco''s lineup pound for pound.

    It was the ideal final that all neutral fans hoped for.

    And now, it was a reality.

    FWEEE!

    The referee''s whistle finally sounded and immediately, all hell broke loose.

    Just like the whole world expected, both sides were eager to show their dominance and assert authority over the game, and was why they started the game with such endless energy and intensity.

    Thud! Thud!

    For the first 10 minutes of this game, it was all action as the ball was pinged around the pitch, never settling in one place.

    Both countries struggled to hold on to possession as the rapid press from both sides led to the ball being quickly stolen, and as a consequence, this resulted in crazy counterattacks for both countries.

    Nigeria got the first counterattack!

    BZZZ!

    Wilfried Ndidi got the ball and passing to Sam, he quickly threaded a needle pass through the Moroccan defense, cutting it open for Victor Osimhen.

    It was a literal perfect pass, setting Osimhen up but then Yassine Bono pulled reactions that came straight out of an anime.

    The goalkeeper erupted with rapid speed, charging out and closing Osimhen down, blocking him just as he finally unleashed his shot.

    Bam!

    Bono saved the first clear chance this game, and you had to see the reactions of the Moroccan fans.

    "YEAH!!!"

    "COME ON¡­!!!" The fans celebrated Bono''s save in spectacular fashion.

    The game was on!

 Chapter 392 - 392: AFCON final; Morocco vs Nigeria [2]

    Nigeria got the first counterattack, and it was the prelude.

    Not the prelude to another Nigeria counterattack though, but the prelude to a flurry of counterattacks from both countries.

    In just the 6th minute of the game, Sam set Victor Osimhen up, forcing a spectacular save out of Yassine Bono.

    In response, 3 minutes later, Morocco also got its own counter-attacking chance, started by Achraf Hakimi and built on by Brahim Diaz.

    On the right-hand side of the pitch where the Real Madrid and PSG players plied their trades, the Moroccan right back and right winger exchanged swift and short passes, cutting through Nigeria''s midfield with it, and then¡­

    Bam!

    Brahim Diaz hit the final pass, sending it into space and then Achraf Hakimi hit the afterburners, chasing after the ball like he was Iida from My Hero Academia with his engine superpower.

    The Moroccan right back ate space like they were not there, chasing after the ball, penetrating deep into Nigeria''s half.

    And then, when he caught up to the ball, calming it down, he looked into the box where his striker and another Moroccan player were already lurking.

    Hakimi did not play the ball to them though, rather¡­

    Bam!

    He cut the pass back to Brahim Diaz who followed him all the way from midfield. And that pass¡­ set Brahim Diaz loose!

    BZZZ!

    Ola Aina pounced, trying to arrive at the ball first but like a floating bird, Brahim Diaz arrived first, poking the ball with the tip of his left boot, taking it away from Ola Aina''s outstretched leg.

    That touch, set Brahim Diaz up.

    Diaz went full Messi mode!

    Nigerian players quickly reacted to his threat, closing him down, and that was when this winger went super Saiyan.

    A body feint, a step over, a dribble to the left to open up space, a moment to calm down, and then a lethal curled shot with his left foot.

    With this sequence, Brahim Diaz beat 3 Nigerian players like they were not there before curling a shot towards the top left corner.

    "¡­!" The stadium froze.

    Even time seemed to freeze¡­

    But then, Nigeria''s Stanley Nwabali mounted on Eagle''s wings, jumping into the air like Superman as he floated after the ball!

    Incredulously, under the watch of the whole world, Stanley Nwabali did the impossible, poking the almost perfect shot away from goal and out for a corner.

    Thud!

    When Stanley Nwabali fell down, he quickly scrambled back to his feet and confirming that it was a corner, with veins popping all over his neck, he jumped, planting his feet on the ground before pumping his fists passionately.

    "COME ON!!!" He celebrated his save like it was a goal.

    Not just him, a passionate Calvin Bassey and William Troost-Ekong joined in on the celebration, acknowledging the save that he just made. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The atmosphere was electric.

    Morocco played their corner kick and Calvin Bassey rose highest, heading the ball away and saving Nigeria from a scare.

    The game continued.

    A few minutes later, another Moroccan counterattack came which was quickly followed by another lightning-fast Nigerian counterattack.

    Both nations were buzzing in attack, eager to score and get the advantage.

    In the end though, in those early stages of the game when their energy was so hot-blooded, a goal failed to materialize as both defenses and the goalkeepers performed at an elite level, shutting the attacking players down.

    After 20 minutes, the intensity of the game reduced, the game becoming balanced as both sides could not afford continuing to play at such intensity.

    After 20 minutes, the intensity lessened and 8 more minutes after that, in the 28th minute of this game, the deadlock was finally broken.

    It was a Nigerian corner kick.

    Ademola Lookman hit the ball, executing a perfect corner into the 18-yard box and as a scramble started, Calvin Bassey rose into the air like Ironman, catching the ball with a powerful header that finally beat Yassin Bono.

    Finally!

    BOOM!

    The Grand Stade de Tanger erupted in chaos.

    Nigerian fans screamed at the top of their lungs, celebrating, and the Nigerian players were not excluded either as Calvin Bassey ran towards the corner flag, pumping his fist all the while as he celebrated.

    28 minutes, 0-1 to Nigeria.

    Nigeria broke the deadlock but Morocco was not to be outdone.

    After minutes of buzzing, trying their hardest to no avail for the equalizer, they finally got a befitting reward for their hard work.

    A goal that came straight out of the top drawer.

    It was Brahim Diaz with the ball, going on another of those crazy dribbles through the Nigerian defense, shrugging challenges off with his physicality, going on still and just as he was to shoot, William Troost-Ekong slid in aggressively.

    Whoosh!

    The Nigerian captain''s tackle was aggressive but he got the ball just as Brahim Diaz entered the 18-yard box, sending the Real Madrid player to the ground even as he lost the ball, letting it roll backward.

    All eyes followed the now loose ball¡­, who would get to it first?

    Thud!

    Familiar legs arrived first.

    Lightning-quick legs, the legs of Achraf Hakimi!

    In that short moment, Achraf Hakimi became Federico Valverde.

    The Nigerian defense was still slightly sleepy, just reacting to his threat when without hesitation, Achraf Hakimi pounced on the ball, unleashing an outside the box missile shot reminiscing of Federico Valverde''s bangers in the Real Madrid shirt.

    POW!

    The ball flew like a literal bullet!

    Stanley Nwabali was given no time to rearrange his position. Instinctively, he jumped, pushing his hand after the ball but he was nowhere fast enough.

    In a blur, the ball flew past him.

    It was no technical shot towards the corner, the ball flew just past Nwabali''s side but the lethal speed behind it was its power.

    Stanley Nwabali could not stop the ball, it flew past him, and then¡­

    ¡­the net shook!

    BOOM!

    The Grand Stade de Tanger roared to life again.

    "GOALLLLLLLLLLLLL¡­!!!" Moroccan fans roared at the top of their lungs, screaming, jumping, jubilating as they celebrated the goal.

    Achraf Hakimi just came up clutch for his country!

 Chapter 393 - 393: AFCON final; Morocco vs Nigeria [3]

    "CAPTAIN FANTASTIC!" The commentators raved.

    "What a shot!"

    "Clutch player!"

    "Arguably the best player of this Moroccan squad!"

    "He''s led Morocco all the way from the group stage as the captain to this stage. And even at this stage, Achraf Hakimi is showing the world that he is yet to be tired, not until he wins the trophy that he so much covets!"

    "What a player!"

    While the commentators raved, Achraf Hakimi charged towards the corner flag amid roars of celebrations from fans of the Atlas Lions.

    As soon as he got to the corner flag, feeling mischievous, he pointed his finger at the fans and did the machine gun celebration, moving his hand as he mimicked the movement of a shooting machine gun.

    In response to his celebration, the fans roared.

    His teammates soon swarmed him, celebrating exuberantly.

    28 minutes, 0-1 to Nigeria.

    35 minutes, 1-1.

    Game on!

    After that goal, the atmosphere of this game changed.

    Both sets of fans knew that this game was going to be a war, a war between 2 formidable armies, but still, Morocco''s equalizing goal truly lit a fuse.

    BZZZZ!

    The atmosphere in this stadium hit a fever pitch, becoming extremely electric as the momentum became even between both sides, resulting in even more chaos in this game.

    And then¡­

    FWEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle was the signal to continue the game.

    Immediately, the players of both countries jumped into the fray again, restarting an intense game of end-to-end football.

    Led by Achraf Hakimi from the back who kept on making overlapping runs, bombing into Nigeria''s half frequently with the ball, the Moroccan captain led the charge for his teammates, dictating the tempo of the game for his team.

    Of course, he had a supporting cast of elite players.

    Almost all of Morocco''s attack came from the right-hand side.

    This game, Brahim Diaz was electric.

    This was the final of the AFCON tournament. After today, the tournament was over, there was no more games to play.

    And so, the players approached this game with a mentality to leave everything out there on the pitch. Brahim Diaz was a perfect example of this mentality as he played like his life was on the line.

    He played like there was no tomorrow, like the world was ending tomorrow.

    He was bold and fearless, recklessly running at the Nigerian defense time and again as soon as the ball got to him, causing chaos and creating chances for the Moroccan national team.

    On the other side, Ola Aina suffered the brunt of Brahim Diaz''s genius, burned time and again as the game progressed.

    Brahim Diaz''s partner in crime, Morocco''s striker was also doing his job.

    Up against the duo of Calvin Bassey and William Troost-Ekong in central defense though, he struggled to make much of an impact.

    But in this game, the role of all these players was not the hardest though.

    The Moroccan player with the hardest duty was Sofyan Amrabat. The Manchester United midfielder was tasked to man-mark the greatest threat of the Nigerian squad, Samuel Moses.

    In this game, despite not being the captain of the Super Eagles, Sam was the Achraf Hakimi of Nigeria.

    He was the talisman, the go-to man in this final.

    This game was an extremely tight and intense game, and to break their opponents down, his teammates consistently looked towards him for inspiration.

    But Sam was being man-marked.

    Sofyan Amrabat was his shadow this game, following him everywhere, defending doggedly old school style.

    Sam was patient though, trying his best not to be frustrated.

    He knew that his moment would come eventually.

    His moment didn''t come in the first half though. After an intense game across 45 minutes, a quarter from an hour, the half-time whistle was finally blown by the referee, leaving both countries to share the spoils 1-1 after the first half.

    During half-time, Eric Chelle had a few words for his players.

    But in the end, what he meant was.

    "We can win, so let''s win!"

    Sitting in his corner of the dressing room, Sam fiddled with a puzzle box in his hand even as the events of the first half replayed in his mind.

    Sofyan Amrabat did a good job of keeping him in check.

    That was why now in the dressing room, the only thoughts in his head were those of the Manchester United midfielder.

    He replayed Amrabat''s movements in his head, his preferences, which of his leg he moved first when tackling and pressing, Noah''s brain became a supercomputer as he analyzed all the details in his mind.

    And by the time they had to re-enter the pitch, he already had a concrete image in his mind of his opponent¡­, a concrete image on how to dismantle his opponent, Sofyan Amrabat.

    It was time to put his plan and image to the test.

    FWEEEE!

    The second half started.

    Just like the first, it was a tight game between 2 formidable sides.

    Both sides created chances, but nothing concrete. It was an exciting but nerve-wracking game as the fans watched on.

    ''Score already dammit!'' The fans felt like they would have a heart attack any moment as the game progressed.

    50 minutes, no goal¡­

    60 minutes, no goal¡­

    And then, in the 67th minute of this game.

    Click!

    Everything clicked, all the stars aligning in the perfect image that Sam had in his head as he finally outthought Sofyan Amrabat.

    In the 67th minute of the game, Sam erupted.

    In the 67th minute of the game, he started a solo run that would become iconic, remembered for decades.

    In the 67th minute, he started a sequence of play that would forever be synonymous with the name, Samuel Moses.

    And the name, Zinedine Sam.

    In the 67th minute, Sam erupted, singlehandedly tearing Morocco apart.

    Wilfried Ndidi played the pass, having just halted another Morocco attack in its tracks before quickly playing a pass to Sam in the half-way line.

    As soon as Sam''s leg touched the ball, his body entered a state of ultra instinct!

    BZZZ!

    He erupted. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 394 - 394: AFCON final; Morocco vs Nigeria [4]

    Sam received the pass, and then¡­

    BZZZ!

    Like usual, as soon as Sam received a pass, Sofyan Amrabat went in hard with a tackle, starting with his right leg to aim for the ball even as he slammed his body against Sam, trying to shake him off balance.

    But this time though, Sam predicted everything in his head.

    With his back facing Sofyan Amrabat, facing his side of the pitch, he anticipated Amrabat''s move and braced for it.

    He lowered his body a bit, resting backward to brace for impact, then¡­

    Bam!

    Amrabat clattered into him from behind but having braced for it, Sam did not shake nor did he lose balance. Instead of losing balance, his eyes gleamed with malicious intent as he cleverly borrowed the force instead, spinning in place.

    Using Amrabat''s body as a pivot, Sam spun on the spot, taking the ball with him and subtly pushing the Moroccan midfielder aside.

    In that one move, from facing his side of the pitch, he was able to turn around using Amrabat as a foil, now facing Morocco''s side of the pitch.

    And with his slight push, making Amrabat lose balance, Sam was free for just a fraction of a second before Amrabat could recover.

    That little time¡­ was all he needed!

    Bam!

    Sam hit the ball long and chased after it!

    Thud! Thud! Thud!

    His long legs ate yards of space in the pitch, chasing after the ball.

    Sofyan Amrabat did a good job keeping him in check in this final that the moment he broke free, the Moroccan squad shook in trepidation.

    "Stop him!" The Moroccan coach screamed from the sidelines.

    Ounahi was the first to appear, blocking Sam''s path.

    Without blinking in panic, Sam''s legs moved instinctively, rapidly swinging over the ball as he executed step overs.

    Wary of being dribbled past, instead of going on the tackle, Ounahi backpedaled in the face of Sam''s threat and in the process he was losing his balance.

    ''A chance¡­!'' Sam''s eyes gleamed.

    He kicked the ball to the left, Ounahi responded by going left.

    But just as fast, he kicked the ball back to the right, forcing the Moroccan midfielder to forcefully react, turning back to the right.

    ¡­and Sam kicked the ball to the left again!

    This time, Ounahi could not react.

    He slipped!

    Bam!

    Sam kicked the ball, exploding past the midfielder who collapsed to the field in his wake, watching him leave, stunned.

    Ounahi was stunned, but Amrabat was not.

    Having picked himself off, the Moroccan midfielder was already chasing after Sam but he was not as fast as Sam.

    He chased Sam''s shadow.

    But he had other assurances, there were still more Moroccan players to pass.

    Sam''s next obstacle was Hakim Ziyech.

    Acknowledging his threat, the Moroccan attacking midfielder already tracked back and now blocked Sam but he was even easier to kill.

    A calculates stagger, a body feint and Hakim Ziyech was left shaking, scrambling to no man''s land.

    Sam dealt the finishing blow with a silky smooth elastico dribble.

    BZZZ!

    Hakim Ziyech collapsed to the pitch on his butt!

    Sam moved with ruthless intent.

    "STOP HIM!!!" The Moroccan coach kept screaming in the touchline.

    And finally, with Hakim Ziyech out of the way, Sam entered the 18-yard box but that was when he ran into Morocco''s fearsome defenders.

    Thud!

    Riad charged, his intent clearly to intimidate the Nigerian midfielder.

    But Sam''s eyes were clear, unafraid, and focused.

    ¡­not today.

    As Riad charged in, Aguerd, the 2nd Moroccan center back accompanying him to double-team Sam, with clarity, Sam moved straight at them.

    Bam! Bam!

    2 slick, lightning-fast touches of the ball.

    A la croqueta and Sam passed Riad, but Aguerd was not having it, blocking Sam''s advance with his body.

    If Sam was stopped that way, and he fell, it was likely to be awarded as a penalty but Sam did not fall as Aguerd was about to clatter into him.

    Instead, he killed all his momentum and speed, halting, then¡­

    BZZZ!

    Sam executed a rainbow flick on the spot.

    Aguerd backpedaled, eyes widening as he watched the ball float above his head, knowing well that he was unable to reach it.

    His eyes flickered with desperation.

    Looking to the side as he watched Sam run past him, he tried to drag Sam''s jersey, taking the risk for a penalty kick instead but Sam predicted that move.

    As soon as he flicked the ball in a rainbow arc, he dodged as Aguerd stretched his arms to dodge his jersey.

    But then¡­

    Thud!

    Yassine Bono rapidly charged out of his posts, closing Sam down.

    Without panicking, as the ball descended after his rainbow flick, Sam hit the ball upward again with his 2nd touch, chipping Yassine Bono in the process.

    Yassine Bono jumped but his hands could not reach the ball. He could only watch as the ball floated past him and as Sam ran past his side.

    Sam was now facing an empty net!

    Behind him, Sofyan Amrabat who pursued him all the way had a front-row VIP seat to watch what followed. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    What followed was simple.

    The ball descended into Sam''s path again. If he simply tapped it, it would enter the net but no, Sam was not satisfied with merely tapping it in.

    He jumped, swinging his right leg and rifling the ball in on a volley.

    BAM!

    The net rippled.

    And Sam charged off, towards the corner flag, before a stunned stadium as Nigerian and Moroccan fans alike watched in shock and disbelief, not quite believing what they just bore witness to.

    Arriving at the corner flag, Sam slid on his knees in celebration even as he spread his arms, doing the Jude Bellingham celebration on his knees.

    And then¡­

    BOOM!

    The Grand Stade de Tanger exploded!

    Tens of thousands of Nigerian fans roared, screaming at the top of their lungs, celebrating. And this time, even some of the Moroccan fans reacted, giving a standing ovation to the god-like display that they just bore witness to.

    "ZINEDINE SAM!!!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM!!!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM!!!" The commentator screamed in a shrill voice.

    "Nigeria prayed for miracles, they got the little boy from Abraka, Delta State. Born in Nigeria, but with the heart and feet of a Brazilian!"

    "God-like!"

    "Unstoppable!"

    "Unmatched!"

 Chapter 395 - 395: AFCON final; Morocco vs Nigeria [5]

    The Grand Stade de Tanger was a cauldron of noise!

    BOOM!

    Chaos, ecstasy, shock, all these emotions and more clashed in this stadium in a chaotic cacophony of reactions.

    That goal¡­ was incredible.

    As Sam slid on his knees in celebration, doing the Jude Bellingham celebration to booth, the stadium erupted.

    On one side was the Nigerian fans. All of them rose to their feet, some pulling their jerseys and waving it wildly, the drummers increasing the intensity of their drums, and others simply crying in ecstasy.

    That goal was unforgettable! Clutch! It meant the world to the fans.

    And then the Sam chants broke out again in Morocco, in the final of the AFCON 2025 tournament.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!

    Ecstatic fans of the Super Eagles bellowed at the top of their lungs.

    As for the Moroccan fans, they were conflicted.

    That goal¡­, Sam literally ran through the whole Moroccan defense!

    The Nigerian fans always bragged about having the best player in the world playing for their country. The Moroccan fans always refuted these claims but after this goal, a large part of the fanbase became conflicted.

    That goal could not be faked. It was a moment of individual brilliance, a moment of genius that separated Sam from all the other players in this game.

    This was an incredibly tight game, a tight game between 2 giants of African football, clashing in the biggest stage of football for the continent of Africa, the AFCON final and yet in this big stage, Sam was still able to perform.

    He already performed in the NPFL, he performed in the premier league, he performed in the La Liga, he performed in the UEFA champions league, and now, Sam laid his claim as a God among men in the final of the AFCON tournament.

    Clap! Clap!

    The Moroccan fans could not help it, some of them rose up, erupting in applause as they celebrated greatness.

    They didn''t chant his name like the Nigerian fans, happiness didn''t show on their faces, and yet they felt the need to appreciate greatness.

    Trust the commentators, they would not miss the opportunity to say their thoughts on such an iconic moment.

    "What a moment for Sam!"

    "He''s written his name in AFCON footballing folklore!"

    "He''s a Nigerian legend true and true now!"

    "A Nigerian legend¡­ at the age of 20, 20, my God!" S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Sam is a once in a lifetime genius!"

    "A genius on the level of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Mark my words, this boy is going to dominate the world of football!"

    "This is the rise of another legend of the sport!"

    "The rise of a football God!"

    "When last has opposing fans given a round of applause to the best player of the enemy team? And to do it in the final of the AFCON tournament, it only goes to show how much of a God among men Sam is!"

    "The boy is blessed!"

    "His feet are divine weapons of mass destruction in a football pitch!"

    The Moroccan players were not excluded from the awe the whole stadium was feeling at this moment as they stared at Sam celebrate.

    ''This guy¡­!'' Sofyan Amrabat felt like he was going crazy.

    The others saw it, but not as clearly as he did. Afterall, he got a VIP front-row spot to watch Sam in action in his full glory.

    And having been tasked to man-mark Sam, a task that he put beyond 100% of his effort into fulfilling, to witness the man he was supposed to man mark just do this sorcery, Amrabat was flabbergasted.

    ''He''s not human!'' He concluded.

    Still on the ground, Ounahi looked on, stunned. ''This guy is a monster!''

    The whole Moroccan squad stood still, watching Sam as he celebrated, too speechless to comprehend the sorcery that he just performed on the pitch.

    While everyone reacted, trust Sam''s teammates, they also reacted.

    They all charged after him as he went to celebrate and they swarmed him, jumping all over his body in celebration.

    After the initial celebrations, Victor Osimhen went before Sam, going on one knee and taking Sam''s boot as he wiped dust from it in a theatrical display.

    The Nigerian striker was honestly awed.

    As the striker of the Nigerian team, when Sam started the attack, he was close by and so he also had front-row view to see Sam in motion.

    What Sam just did was something that Victor Osimhen never thought was possible. That dribble, going through the whole squad, and the ice-cold finish at the end, all of it was grafted in his head, never to be forgotten.

    "My man!" Victor Osimhen said with a big grin.

    Though they badly wanted it, the Nigerian players were disappointed. The celebrations for that goal could not continue forever.

    Under the urging of the referee, they quickly returned to the pitch, arranging themselves in their position as the referee''s whistle finally sounded again.

    FWEEEE!

    The whistle sounded but everyone could tell immediately¡­, it was no longer the same after that goal.

    Sam''s goal grabbed this game by the scruff of the neck, taking control.

    Earlier in this game, all the way from the first half, Morocco and Nigeria were evenly matched, both playing an intense game of end-to-end football.

    The analysts predicted a defensive mistake to be the defining difference between both countries that would decide the winner of the trophy tonight.

    But unlike predictions, Sam became the deciding factor.

    Singlehandedly, he scored the goal of the tournament.

    And that goal tilted the scales, pushing the momentum in Nigeria''s favor, taking it out of Morocco''s grasp completely.

    And after scoring such a goal in the final of the AFCON tournament, Sam was already in the zone state.

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, he continued.

    BZZZ!

    With eyes burning with hunger for more, determined to deal out even more punishment to his opponents, Sam erupted, playing like a superhuman with extraordinary powers among mere humans.

    All his skills were utilized on the pitch!

    He dribbled, weaving through challenges one after another, repeatedly torching the Moroccan players who seemed to be down on motivation.

    Even Sofyan Amrabat who had been doing such a good job at man-marking Sam since faltered, and Sam was not kind enough to let them off the hook after such a sudden dip in concentration.

    Sam punished them.

    In the 67th minute, he scored, making it 1-2 and giving Nigeria the lead for the 2nd time in this game and then just 3 minutes later in the 70th minute, Sam sealed the game.

    After receiving a diagonal pass from Alex Iwobi, with his rapid tight-space dribbling, he burst his way into Morocco''s 18-yard box again.

    "¡­!"

    This time, the whole Moroccan defense reacted in trepidation.

    Whoosh!

    Players went on sliding tackles, putting their bodies on the line to block any possible shot. Some put their head on the way without fear, others charged closer to clatter into Sam, determined to win back the ball by any means.

    Right there in the 18-yard box, with all the attention suddenly on Sam due to the trepidations in the Moroccan defense, a dangerous player was left unmarked.

    Nigeria''s striker, Victor Osimhen was left unmarked.

    Bam!

    A soft, delicate pass.

    The Mesut Ozil pass!

    In the zone state already, Sam was able to execute the pass with flawless efficiency, sending the ball in between the Moroccan players surrounding him towards the unmarked Victor Osimhen.

    Osimhen didn''t waste a moment on the ball.

    As the ball floated towards him, he followed it with his eyes and just as Yassin Bono was about to react, instead of trapping the ball first, he hit it directly.

    BAM!

    Victor Osimhen hit the ball on a volley, sending it towards the left side of the goal with immense speed.

    Yassine Bono dived but it was not enough, the ball nestled into the net.

    "GOALLLLLLLLLLLL¡­!!!" Ecstatic Nigerian fans around the stadium erupted in ecstasy even more as they celebrated the goal.

    Devastated Moroccan fans directly broke down in tears in the stadium as soon as the 3rd Nigerian goal entered the net.

    Charging towards the corner flag with wide strides, Victor Osimhen roared at the top of his lungs, pumping his fists in ecstasy as he ran.

    And after arriving at the corner flag, he turned, pointing at the one who provided him with that pass¡­ Samuel Moses.

    When Sam arrived, Victor Osimhen went on one knee again, dusting his boots even as the Sam chants filled the stadium again.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    Singlehandedly, Sam took over the 2025 AFCON final with an iron fist, dictating the outcome of the game.

    67 minutes, 1-2¡­

    70 minutes, 1-3¡­

    Morocco never recovered.

    Hit by the Sam syndrome, the Moroccan national team lost all motivation. As the game wore on, they regained some motivation, pushing them to launch dangerous attacking raids but it didn''t amount to much.

    The game was already over.

    80 minutes, no goal¡­

    90 minutes, no goal¡­

    After 5 minutes of additional time, still no goal, and then¡­

    FWEEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle blasted, bringing the game to a sudden halt.

    The game¡­ was over.

 Chapter 396 - 396: Nigeria, champions of Africa!

    FWEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle blasted through the stadium, cutting through the noise and announcing a final truth around this stadium.

    The game was over.

    "¡­"

    "¡­"

    "¡­..!"

    For a few moments after the final whistle, the stadium and its inhabitants could not quite believe the significance of that whistle as they were still engrossed in the energy of the game.

    The game, the final of the AFCON tournament was over.

    The AFCON tournament was over.

    And with it, an explosion...

    BOOM!

    An explosion of emotions.

    But first was the loud voice of the commentators who made sure to make the moment iconic and unforgettable.

    "History! Glory! Immortality! The final whistle has blown in Tangier, Morocco, and Nigeria, yes, Nigeria are Kings of Africa once again!"

    "They''ve prevailed over the hosts!"

    "This has been a final for the ages! A night where legends were written, a night that will be told for generations! And in the heart of it all, a name that will be remembered forever, Samuel Moses!"

    "What a performance! A goal that defied physics, a solo run through Moroccan defenders like a phantom in green, and an assist that carved open the host nation''s defense like an artist with a brush!"

    "Ladies and gentlemen, this is Samuel Moses!"

    "He has painted his masterpiece on the grandest canvas of them all!"

    "From Lagos to Abuja, from Benin City to Port Harcourt, from Abraka to Asaba, the celebrations will last for days, for weeks! Nigeria have conquered Africa, and they have done it in style!"

    While the commentators waxed lyrical, displaying their passion for the sport, on the stadium, there was a more vivid reflection of fan passion for the game.

    The Grand Stade de Tanger was now two different worlds, split by the sheer contrast of human emotions.

    Jubilation, heartbreak, and emotion, it all jumbled together into a cacophony of extreme reactions.

    On one side, pandemonium. The Nigerian fans were losing their minds. Flags waved wildly; voices strained from endless chanting. Fans hugged, danced, and fell to their knees in tears of joy. The sea of green and white was a storm of ecstasy.

    A Nigerian fan stood on a railing, beating his chest, screaming into the night sky. "Champions of Africa!"

    On the other side? Silence.

    The Moroccan fans sat frozen in heartbreak. Some had their hands over their mouths, eyes wide with shock. They had dared to dream, but the dream had been crushed by the shadow of the villain called Nigeria.

    A few wiped tears away, while others tried to applaud their team for the journey.

    The Moroccan players, stunned and devastated, stood scattered across the pitch, hands on hips, staring blankly.

    They had given everything. But tonight, it was not enough.

    Achraf Hakimi broke down in tears.

    Finally, he understood how Salah felt when Morocco eliminated Egypt.

    Achraf Hakimi was a veteran himself already.

    He already had almost a decade of experience in football and in this time, he already had his fair share of losses in the big stages, most notably in the champions league and the World Cup but still, this feeling...

    It was so frustrating. To come all this way, only to lose at the last moment.

    He looked up, letting his tears flow freely.

    Hakimi was not the only one who cried. Brahim Diaz was also in tears, looking towards the stadium stands sorrowfully.

    The mood among the Moroccan players was a forlorn one. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    While Morocco writhed in silent agony, the Super Eagles had collapsed to the ground in celebration. Some punched the air, others fell onto their backs, laughing, crying, screaming.

    Stanley Nwabali sprinted across the field, arms wide open, before being mobbed by his teammates. Victor Osimhen ripped off his shirt, pumping his fists, his veins popping, his face pure adrenaline.

    And at the center of it all, Sam.

    The man of the match. The architect of victory.

    Sam fell to his knees, overcome by emotion. From the beginning of the tournament, he already imagined how he would feel if they managed to make it all the way to win the trophy but now that he did, he was not sure how to react.

    His teammates dragged him up, lifted him into the air, parading him like a hero.

    Chants of his name rang out across the stadium.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    Sam was used to these chants already. But hearing them this time, he felt so emotional.

    ''I did it!'' He thought. ''No, we did it!''

    They had done it. Nigeria were champions of Africa once again.

    Noting the mood of the Moroccan players, a few of the Nigerian players, including Sam took the liberty of meeting their opponents to cheer them up.

    Afterall, just like them, this was a game that they prepared for with every ounce of effort that they had in them, determined to win too.

    But that was the cruel nature of football, there are always the winners and at the same time, there are always the losers.

    Today, the host nation, Morocco was the loser.

    Having lost against the host nation of the previous AFCON tournament in the final, finally, Nigeria went all the way, birthing a new batch of immortals.

    Sam hugged Hakimi, patting him on the back. "You played a great game". He said with all the seriousness he could muster.

    Hakimi stared at him, wiping his tears, and then he forced a smile back. "You also deserve the trophy". He laughed. "What a performance you had today!"

    Sam smiled back at the compliment.

    All over the pitch, it was the same thing as the triumphant Super Eagles players approached the Atlas Lion players, comforting them.

    And then, it was their moment again. They focused on themselves.

    The celebrations on the pitch quickly hit a crescendo as led by their captain in William Troost-Ekong, the Nigerian players approached the fans together, celebrating with them and roaring in victory.

    It was a moment of solidarity that they would never forget.

    A moment when a nation was united as one under the banner of football, filled with the victor''s euphoria.

    After celebrating with the fans, the players finally met their family.

    Yes, their families were present.

    Sam''s family were no different. As early as the semifinals, Sam''s family made the trip to Morocco to support their son though Sam never had the opportunity to meet them properly till now.

    They were allowed into the pitch to join Sam where Sam hugged his father, so emotional that tears of joy gathered in his eyes.

    Winning a trophy with Nigeria, it was something that every football player playing in the streets of Nigeria dreamt about.

    Sam never expected to fulfill this dream at the young age of 20.

    "Thank you dad," Sam muttered, hugging his dad tightly as he suddenly remembered after that faithful night when he revealed the truth of his system to his father, and the support he got in return.

    He could not forget his dad giving him the money to buy the pair of boots and jersey that he competed with in the Christmas game back in 2022.

    Sam hugged his dad tighter. "Thank you for everything".

    "You deserve it son". Mr. Moses hugged his son back.

    And then, it was time for the awards ceremony.

    The coronation of Kings.

    The night sky above Tangier in Morocco was ablaze with fireworks. The Grand Stade de Tanger had become a cathedral of triumph, the air thick with jubilation, the echoes of Nigerian celebrations reverberating across Africa.

    As the Super Eagles gathered at the podium, dressed in champion T-shirts, drenched in sweat and glory, the Moroccan players stood nearby, exhausted, heartbroken, but dignified.

    The CAF officials, alongside football legends stood by the gleaming AFCON trophy, its golden shine almost blinding under the stadium lights.

    First was the Golden Boot award.

    As soon as it was announced, with a big smile on his face, Sam stepped forward, receiving the award amidst applause.

    This tournament, he truly went beyond his limits.

    Sam did a clean sweep.

    With his 12 goals and 6 assists in just 7 games in one tournament, Sam set a new AFCON record for most goals in a single tournament and most goal contributions in a single AFCON tournament.

    All of this, he did at the tender age of 20.

    He was literally unplayable this tournament.

    Next was the Golden Glove award. Stanley Nwabali, Nigeria''s rock in goal, stepped up, a smile breaking through his typically stoic face.

    He had been Nigeria''s wall, their last line of defense, their hero in the semifinal shootout against Senegal. The emotional goalkeeper kissed the award, lifting it high as his teammates cheered.

    And then the moment everyone anticipated, the Player of the Tournament.

    The stadium roared as the announcer''s voice boomed.

    "And the best player of AFCON¡­ SAMUEL MOSES!"

    The stadium erupted again.

    The man of the final. The orchestrator of victory. The artist who painted his masterpiece on Africa''s biggest stage.

    Sam walked up, draped in the Nigerian flag, his face a mixture of disbelief and pride. He shook hands with officials, lifted the award, and turned toward the Nigerian crowd who chanted his name.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    Sam''s eyes welled with tears again.

    ''This moment¡­, I wish I can have it frozen forever''.

 Chapter 397 - 397: Memories of a lifetime

    Draped in the Nigerian flag, holding the golden ball award and the golden boot award, mind stretched taut with heightened emotions, Sam stood, watching¡­

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    His eyes welled with tears. ''This moment¡­, I wish I can have it frozen forever''.

    28 days since the tournament started, 7 games where he had to fight and toil with not just his teammates but his nation, 28 days of pushing his body both physically and mentally beyond its limits, and finally, here he was.

    And then tonight.

    The tension, the heartbreak, the war of 90 minutes, it all led to this.

    Sam smiled brightly; he would bask in the moment.

    He waved at the fans, eliciting even more cheers in this stadium and then he finally stepped aside with his 2 trophies.

    And then, the moment that a nation waited for.

    The moment of glory.

    The Super Eagles assembled on the grand podium, not just individual players anymore, standing behind their captain, eyes fixed on the golden AFCON trophy that was waiting before them.

    All of their eyes burned with eager fire and anticipation.

    The CAF President handed the trophy over with a congratulatory handshake, William Troost-Ekong taking it with a polite smile.

    In that moment, time seemed to stop.

    A deep breath. A pause.

    Then, the captain lifted the trophy high into the night sky.

    BOOM!

    A massive explosion of green and white confetti erupted.

    The stadium shook with the roar of Nigerian fans as fireworks painted the sky in golden bursts, sending the energy in this stadium again into a fever pitch.

    Sam felt excitement and joy fill his whole being.

    Alongside his teammates, the Super Eagles players jumped, hugged, and danced, some falling to the ground in overwhelmed joy.

    Osimhen drummed on the trophy with both hands, Stanley Nwabali lifted Sam onto his shoulders, and the team formed a circle, dancing in unity.

    The trophy passed from hand to hand, each player kissing it, some holding it close, others lifting it high, basking in their immortality.

    Ahh¡­, what an experience, what a moment.

    Memories for a lifetime¡­

    As the celebrations continued, the Moroccan players stood watching, some with admiration, most with longing, others with tears in their eyes.

    This was the trophy that they wanted most after fighting so hard for so long.

    They had fought with everything, but tonight was not theirs. Tonight, the Super Eagles soared the highest, besting every other nation in the tournament.

    In the stands, Nigerian fans waved their flags furiously, dancing in endless celebration.

    In that moment, Noah finally understood Peter Drury''s commentary in the FIFA World Cup final 2022 after Argentina won.

    ''¡­and a nation shall tango all night long!''

    He smiled. ''Hehe, if the stadium is like this, I wonder how back home in Nigeria is like''.

    ''I guess¡­ chaos, and commotion, and joy, and jubilation!'' He grinned.

    In Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Asaba, streets would be filled with people chanting, singing, and dancing till dawn.

    Truly, tonight, Nigerians shall tango all night long.

    Thinking of this, instinctively, Sam wanted to be in his girlfriend''s arms and when he looked back to where his family was, his smile widened. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    There Kayla was, a big smile on his face, a flower bouquet on her hand, waving at him as soon as she noticed him look in her direction.

    Sam''s smile widened. He could no longer hold himself.

    Leaving his teammates, he erupted in a sprint. With a big smile, Kayla also ran towards him and she jumped into his arms.

    Hugging his girlfriend tightly, Sam twirled round with her.

    When he dropped her, he engulfed her rosy lips in a long sensual kiss.

    "Ahem¡­," the sound of a clearing throat was what interrupted the kiss.

    When Sam looked, what greeted him was the glare of his little sister whose face was as red as a potato. "Sam!" She hissed. "You''re on life camera!"

    Sam looked at the camera focused on him. "Who cares?" He laughed.

    Mr. Moses looked at him, brimming with pride. "That''s my son!"

    Mrs. Moses didn''t retort though. Like her husband, she looked at their son with pride and then, "Sam, be active, I want my grandson soon!"

    Sam almost stumbled.

    But then, with a big smile on his face, he finally decided to take personal pictures with his family.

    Once one of his teammates noticed, he walked closer.

    After greeting his parents politely, Victor Osimhen became the one to take a picture of Sam and his family to commemorate this night.

    As the camera flashed, a big smile on Sam''s face, he could not help but think back to that night¡­, the night of the FIFA World Cup final 2022.

    That was when everything changed.

    Since then, from playing in the rough field of the Delta State University in a Christmas Game, he graduated to the professional pitch of Enyimba FC in Abba, and then Fulham''s Craven Cottage, before eventually settling in the Spotify Camp Nou.

    And now, here he was, in the grandest stage of African continental football.

    ''It feels like a dream¡­ but I''ve really come a long way''.

    Tonight, Africa had witnessed an unforgettable tournament.

    Nigeria had conquered.

    And with the AFCON trophy in their hands, they stood as the undisputed Kings of the continent.

    After taking pictures with his family, he also took with his teammates, every single one of them with the AFCON trophy, and then he also took with their coach.

    The players were the protagonists tonight, but the role of the coach was not to be understated. Without Eric Chelle''s tactics, they won''t be here.

    Not just Sam, the other Super Eagles players acknowledged their coach as with Sam carrying him on his shoulders, they also paraded their coach round the stadium to the fans.

    After that, the celebrations finally started waning in the stadium, moving outside the stadium.

    After the celebrations at the stadium, Sam and his family finally went to the hotel where they already booked ahead of time.

    That night, he ate a delicious African meal made by his mom.

    And then, alone with his girlfriend in their hotel room, they had a night to remember to commemorate it even more.

    Celebrations would continue in Nigeria.

 Chapter 398 - 398: Triumphant return

    The Super Eagles players spent just the night in Morocco.

    Afterall, on their phones, they could follow the happenings through Twitter about how the celebrations were going back home in Nigeria.

    In Nigeria, 18th January suddenly felt like Christmas eve.

    That night, no one slept.

    Millions of youths flooded the streets, carrying the Nigerian flag and flaunting it, drowning themselves in celebratory powders, jubilating even as one name reigned supreme in their tongues.

    "Sam Oye!"

    "Sam Oye!" They sang, screaming.

    "Osimhen Oye!"

    "Nwabali Oye!"

    "Nigeria Oye!"

    "Nigeria Oye!"

    "Morocco Kuya!"

    "KUYAAAA!" They chorused.

    It was not just in one part of the country. Across the country, youths flooded the streets, celebrating the win and return of the AFCON trophy to their home soil.

    That night, DJs got to show their talents, flooding the clubs and bars with music so the celebrating Nigerians could enjoy to their hearts'' content.

    Back in Abraka, it was chaos.

    It was not just the Nigerian flag, the Abraka citizens also created banners of Sam, waving them as they ran across the town, inserting and singing his name to popular Nigerian Afrobeats songs.

    That night, few people slept on time.

    Some didn''t even sleep at all, celebrating all night. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And the originally inconsistent NEPA in charge of electricity across the country also decided to join in the celebrations, giving the country constant light throughout the period of the celebration, making it even more memorable.

    And this was why Eric Chelle decided that they won''t stay in Morocco, that he and his players would be returning to Nigeria the next day to join the country in the celebrations.

    The Super Eagles'' triumphant return to Nigeria was nothing short of legendary.

    As their plane touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, thousands of fans had already gathered, waiting, singing, chanting, ready to welcome their champions home.

    The tarmac was lined with dignitaries, family members, government officials, even the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but they were nearly drowned out by the massive wave of green and white in the streets.

    The entire country had erupted into celebration.

    It was a sea of green and white.

    As the players stepped out of the aircraft, one by one, the deafening sound of vuvuzelas, drums, and cheers filled the air.

    Banners waved, flags soared, fans climbed on cars, lampposts, and rooftops, anything for a better view of their heroes.

    Click! Click!

    Camera sounds reverberated rapidly as paparazzi and fans used their smart phones to take pictures of their idols, immortalizing the moment and making sure that the memory was archived to be shown to their children and grandchildren.

    The loudest cheer came when Sam stepped out of the airplane, lifting the AFCON trophy high above his head.

    Eric Chelle didn''t instruct his players on this. After discussing among themselves, William Troost-Ekong, the Nigerian captain agreed to his teammates suggestion to allow Sam come out with the trophy.

    Afterall, he singlehandedly won them the tournament.

    As soon as Sam stepped out with the AFCON trophy lifted above his head, the joy of the fans became uncontainable.

    "CHAMPIONS!"

    "CHAMPIONS!"

    "SUPER EAGLES!!!" They cheered at the top of their lungs.

    The crowd went wild. People danced, screamed, and hugged strangers as if they had won the trophy themselves.

    "Super Eagles don come back!"

    "Dem don carry AFCON come house!" They cheered in pidgin.

    "Nigeria no dey carry last!"

    "Up Super Eagles!" They roared.

    It was an explosion of national pride, the kind of joy that made strangers feel like family, and for citizens to temporarily forget the numerous problems plaguing a big country.

    And of course, they got set for the victory parade for the ages.

    The Nigerian government had prepared an open-top bus parade, but they had underestimated the turnout. The streets of Abuja were jampacked.

    The players stood on the bus, waving, singing, and spraying water on the fans below, basking in the love of their people.

    The crowd chanted.

    "Super Eagles, we love you!"

    "Osimhen!" "Nwabali!" "Sam!"

    The loudest cheer was reserved for Sam, the hero of the final and literally the whole tournament. As he stepped to the front of the bus, a fan shouted.

    "SAM FOR PRESIDENT!!!"

    Laughter, cheers, and applause followed.

    The parade moved slowly through the city, stopping at key locations, including Eagle Square, where government officials and football legends awaited them.

    It was a parade to never forget.

    ¡­

    By evening, the players were invited to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, where they were received by the President himself.

    Medals of honor were awarded.

    The entire squad received national recognition, and some were even promised houses, land, and lifetime benefits.

    The players, still on a high from their victory, couldn''t believe the love they were receiving. This was not just a team; this was a movement.

    ¡­

    And then came another night of endless celebration.

    Across the country, Nigeria did not sleep.

    In Lagos, the streets of Surulere, Lekki, and Ikeja turned into dance floors, with massive street parties, blaring music, and people waving flags from car windows.

    It almost felt like Independence Day.

    In Port Harcourt, celebratory gunshots rang through the air, fireworks lighting up the night sky.

    In Kano and Kaduna, processions filled the streets, horses decorated in green and white, riders chanting in celebration.

    In Enugu, Owerri, Benin City, Asaba, Ibadan, everywhere, people sang, danced, and honored their team.

    Even Nigerians abroad flooded the streets of London, New York, and Toronto, draped in green and white, chanting.

    "Up Super Eagles!"

    The nation of Nigeria was united in solidarity under the banner of football.

    The Super Eagles had done more than just win a tournament.

    They had given a nation hope. They had united a people. They had made history, history to never be forgotten.

    And as the celebrations raged on, one thing was clear.

    This was Nigeria''s moment, and they would never forget it.

    ¡­

    While the celebrations raged, holed inside a room, with blood-shot eyes, a certain Nigerian having worked hours on end on a video finally posted it.

    As soon as he hit post, he jumped in giddy excitement, quickly downing a bottle of beer in celebration.

    [YouTube Channel: MagicalSam]

    (You have posted a new video in your YouTube channel ''MagicalSam'')

    (Samuel Moses- Volume 2: Conquering Africa!)

    That video¡­ soon took the world by storm.

 Chapter 399 - 399: Conquering Africa

    (ESPN News:)

    (Sam wins the AFCON tournament, clinching his first trophy of the season! With 12 goals and 6 assists in just 7 games, an incredible combined total of 18 goal contributions, Sam did not only take his Barcelona form to the international stage, he eclipsed it! Click this link to watch the best of Sam in the AFCON tournament:)

    ¡­

    (Supersport News:)

    (Samuel Moses just solidified his run at the top of the Ballon d''Or rankings! With his total now on 43 goals and 28 assists already for the season, in just 29 games, Sam is having a Messi and Ronaldo season. We''re witnessing the rise of a new all-time great, a new Barcelona legend!)

    ¡­

    (GOAL.com:)

    (Give the Ballon d''Or to Sam already!)

    (Breaking down Sam''s season in numbers. 12 goals and 6 assists in 7 games in the AFCON tournament, 9 goals and 4 assists in the UEFA Champions League, 43 goals and 28 assists in total for the season in just 29 games! That is 71 goal contributions already, and the season is not over yet!)

    (By the end of this season, no matter what happens, Sam''s name would already be in the same conversation with the likes of Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Ronaldo Nazario. The boy is that good.)

    ¡­

    (FCBarcelona Official:)

    (Sam wins his first trophy of the season @AFCON. Images=)

    (Congratulations. Applause emoji=)

    ¡­

    (Nigerian Television Authority- NTA:)

    (Samuel Moses, Victor Osimhen, and Stanley Nwabali shines as Nigeria wins the 2025 AFCON tournament!)

    (Click this link to watch the best moments from the tournament:)

    The world of social media was set ablaze after the AFCON tournament.

    Few AFCON tournaments in history ever receive this level of publicity. But with Sam''s performance being the driving force of the publicity, the attention of the whole football world turned to the continent of Africa and its tournament.

    All the major football news channels in the world covered the event, highlighting the legendary season that Sam was already having.

    Never in the history of the AFCON tournament has a player won the golden boot award and also gave the most assists, winning the golden ball award also. And yet Sam, a 20-year-old did it.

    What Sam did created history, he set a continental record.

    Before now, a lot of football fans already knew who Sam was by now, most especially after his crazy performances for FC Barcelona in the UEFA champions league.

    The Catalan club was one of the most popular clubs in the world, and one of the most scrutinized. Playing for Barca now, more limelight now shone on Sam.

    And under so many eyes, he was not crumbling under the pressure. Rather, with his mamba mentality, he thrived like an apex predator in a jungle, the jungle of elite professional football.

    Even as the whole world entered a rave for the boy named Sam, catching bits and pieces of his highlights from the AFCON tournament online since not everybody watched the tournament, that was when a YouTube video dropped online.

    A video that soon took the world by storm, breaking records, setting new viewership records and like records.

    [YouTube Channel: MagicalSam]

    (You have posted a new video in your YouTube channel ''MagicalSam'')

    (Samuel Moses- Volume 2: Conquering Africa!)

    Sometime ago, an encounter with Sam changed Gregory''s life.

    Leaving his pitiful life behind, filled with conviction and purpose, he decided to become a fulltime youtuber, creating his channel around the rising Nigerian footballer, Samuel Moses.

    This decision was the best decision that Gregory ever made in his life.

    The first video of his channel, Samuel Moses- Volume 1: Rising from the streets of Abraka covered Sam''s rise from the suburbs of Abraka, rising all the way to Fulham, England, and then to Barcelona, Spain. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    That video changed Gregory''s life, exploding in popularity. But the popularity of his first video paled in comparison to what his second video got.

    It was only his 2nd video in his channel.

    And like usual, having informed Kayla before posting it, Kayla promoted the video on all of Sam''s social media platforms, and that was where the boom came from.

    BOOM!

    Like an explosion, it skyrocketed.

    Ding! Ding! Ding!

    (Congratulations! Your YouTube channel ''MagicalSam'' has received 500 subscribers!)

    (Congratulations! Your YouTube channel ''MagicalSam'' has received 1,467 subscribers!)

    (Congratulations! Your YouTube channel ''MagicalSam'' has received 8,300 subscribers!)

    (Congratulations! Your YouTube channel ''MagicalSam'' has received 13,489 subscribers!)

    (Congratulations! Your video ''Samuel Moses- Volume 2: Conquering Africa'' has attained the Hot tag!)

    (Congratulations! Your video ''Samuel Moses- Volume 2: Conquering Africa'' has received 13 million likes!)

    (Congratulations! Your video ''Samuel Moses- Volume 2: Conquering Africa'' has received 56 million likes!)

    (Congratulations! Your video ''Samuel Moses- Volume 2: Conquering Africa'' has received 334 million likes!)

    (Congratulations! Your video ''Samuel Moses- Volume 2: Conquering Africa'' is now the no. 1 trending video on YouTube!)

    "¡­!"

    Gregory could not believe his eyes.

    He knew that miracles lied with Sam, he''s seen, tested and proven it. But still, this miracle¡­, this miracle was still far beyond his expectations.

    It was a very straightforward video but one that he poured his heart and soul into just like the first video that it made.

    It exclusively covered Sam''s journey in the AFCON tournament.

    Sam was too busy in the tournament to notice, focused on bringing the trophy home but all the way from matchday 1 in the group stage, Gregory was there, having travelled to Morocco to get first hand experience of the tournament.

    Going to Morocco, it was one of the best decisions of his life and career.

    With first hand perspective, he watched Sam in every game, watched him perform miracles on the pitch, watched him make fool of opponents, watched him show just how superior he was to any other player on the pitch.

    And then, Gregory was hit with an epiphany. ''A video!''

    His eyes gleamed. ''I must make a new video¡­ a video on the tournament!''

    He made the video, working his ass off after working every Nigeria game in Morocco to compile the masterpiece video that he uploaded.

    Conquering Africa took Gregory to the peak of his career.

 Chapter 400 - 400: The beginning of forever

    After going beyond his limits, pushing himself to the ultimate level and fulfilling his goal, bringing the AFCON trophy back to Nigeria, all that Sam wanted to do was rest.

    He was exhausted.

    Throughout the duration of the tournament, he never rested, always training, always going through tactics, living and breathing football.

    The adrenaline at the moment didn''t let him feel it. And 2 days after winning the trophy, he didn''t feel it yet.

    But on the 3rd day, Sam felt it, extreme exhaustion.

    He felt like he would just faint at any moment.

    This was why he proposed a vacation to his girlfriend. Kayla didn''t object. Sam fulfilled his promise and won the AFCON tournament, so she was determined to indulge him, give him anything he wanted.

    On the 3rd day after clinching the AFCON trophy, Sam went on a vacation with his girlfriend to the United Arab Emirates, Dubai.

    ¡­

    Finally.

    After a grueling battle at the AFCON, after the roars of the crowd and the weight of a nation on his shoulders, Sam finally had his moment of peace.

    They choose the United Arab Emirates for their getaway, a place of luxury, serenity, and breathtaking beauty.

    This time, Sam decided to truly indulge himself.

    For days, they had relaxed in Dubai''s finest resorts, cruised the Persian Gulf in private yachts, explored the golden dunes of the desert, and dined under the stars. Sam thoroughly enjoyed himself.

    During this time, he only received a contributory message from Hansi Flick, his coach and his teammates, congratulating him on his trophy win.

    They knew that he needed the rest.

    After a few days of this, enjoying himself, letting his sore muscles to rest and recover even while he kept on jogging to fulfill all righteousness with his system, Sam decided that it was finally time to focus on football again.

    With the AFCON tournament out of the way, the only thing that remained in his head was club football.

    He had been away from FC Barcelona for almost a month.

    In this time, in his absence, his club played a few grueling games. Sam finally focused on FC Barcelona''s fixtures to catch up on what he missed.

    (FC Barcelona fixtures:)

    (La Liga:)

    (Barcelona 2-2 Atletico Madrid)

    (Date: 21st December, 2025)

    ¡­

    (Copa Del Rey:)

    (Round of 32:)

    (Barbastro 0-4 Barcelona)

    (Date: 4th January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Supercopa de Espana:)

    (Semifinal:)

    (Athletic Club 0-1 Barcelona)

    (Date: 8th January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Supercopa de Espana:)

    (Final:)

    (Real Madrid 2-4 Barcelona)

    (Date: 12th January, 2026)

    The AFCON trophy was not Sam''s first trophy of the 2025/2026 football season. Rather, it was the Supercopa de Espana.

    Against Real Madrid, even without him on the side, Hansi Flick managed to pull another tactical masterpiece against Real Madrid for the second straight season in the same stage, outthinking Carlo Ancelotti to push his team to victory even without their two star strikers.

    FC Barcelona was a team in form.

    Sam may have not played in both games, the semifinal and final but his name was registered among the FC Barcelona players playing in the Supercopa de Espana, and hence the win was also recorded under his name.

    FC Barcelona won the trophy; he also won the trophy.

    Those were not all the games that FC Barcelona played in this period though.

    (Copa del Rey:)

    (Round of 16:)

    (Barcelona 3-1 Real Betis)

    (Date: 15th January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (La Liga:)

    (Getafe 1-0 Barcelona)

    (Date: 18th January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (UEFA Champions League:)

    (Matchday 7 of 8:)

    (Juventus 3-1 Barcelona)

    (Date: 21st January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (La Liga:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Valencia)

    (Date: 26th January, 2026)

    Today was 25th, and tomorrow was the day of FC Barcelona''s next game.

    At first, after coping pretty well in his absence, the team finally seemed to be feeling his absence as they stumbled in two consecutive games against Getafe first, then Juventus in the Champions League.

    Despite both losses though, it was not a full-blown crisis yet as FC Barcelona still comfortably led the La Liga standings and the UEFA champions league standings in first place.

    This was why Hansi Flick took the initiative to message Sam, telling him not to rush his return that the team was perfectly fine in his absence. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This was the reason why Sam was still on his vacation.

    And today, after enjoying the beauties of Dubai with his girlfriend, bonding even deeper than ever before, he was finally set to do something big.

    He had been planning something far greater than just touring Dubai. Something more important than any trophy he had ever won.

    As the final evening of their vacation arrived, Sam took his girlfriend to a private, secluded beach on Zaya Nurai Island, a paradise just off Abu Dhabi''s coast.

    The setting was perfect.

    A soft, candlelit dinner on the sand. A path lined with red rose petals leading to a breathtaking oceanfront setup, and a string quartet playing in the background.

    The sky burned with hues of orange, pink, and gold as the sun began to set over the Arabian Sea.

    Sam held her hand, gazing at her with a look she had never seen before, a mixture of nervousness, excitement, and overwhelming love.

    Sam took a deep breath.

    ''It''s now or never!''

    And then, as the waves softly kissed the shore, he dropped to one knee.

    Kayla gasped, hands covering her mouth, eyes glistening with tears before he had even spoken a word.

    Sam smiled, looking up at her with unrestrained love in his eyes. "From the moment I met you, my life changed".

    "You have been my peace, my biggest supporter, my happiness. Through the highs, the lows, the victories, and the struggles, you have always been there".

    "And now¡­ I don''t ever want to do this life without you".

    He pulled out a custom-made diamond ring, glistening under the candlelight.

    "Will you marry me?"

    Tears streamed down her face as she nodded frantically before she even had the strength so say¡­

    "Yes! Yes, Sam! A thousand times yes!"

    Sam smiled. He slid the ring onto her finger and before he could even stand, she pulled him into the deepest, most heartfelt kiss.

    The waves clapped against the shore as if the ocean itself was celebrating them.

    As they embraced under the golden twilight, fireworks burst into the night sky, painting their love in shimmering lights.

    Sam had won AFCON, conquered stadiums, lifted trophies, but this moment?

    This was the greatest victory of his life.

    And as he held her in his arms, he knew; this was only the beginning of their forever.

    ***

    {Congratulations to us on 400 chapters! Yay!!! Someone shoot the fireworks!}

 Chapter 401 - 401: Back to Barcelona

    Sam''s vacation finally came to an end.

    After more than a month since he played his last game for FC Barcelona, going for the AFCON tournament with the Nigerian squad, triumphantly, he finally returned to the city of Barcelona.

    That morning in Dubai, he finally bid farewell to his girlfriend.

    Kayla had school work that she needed to attend to, and so as he returned to Barcelona, she also returned to the Netherlands.

    26th January, 2026¡­

    On a cool afternoon in the city of Barcelona, Sam finally returned.

    His friends were not there to welcome him though. Afterall, that evening, FC Barcelona had a date with Valencia in the Spotify Camp Nou, another league game.

    The Valencia game was another reason why Sam decided to end his vacation yesterday and return to Barcelona today.

    After more than a month of deprivation from club football, Sam was eager to get back to his mojo, and he knew that the key was watching his teammates in action against Valencia at the Spotify Camp Nou.

    The game was scheduled for evening.

    After returning to Barcelona in the afternoon, Sam entered his house for the first time in more than a month. Later, he visited his girlfriend''s African restaurant where he ate a sumptuous African meal.

    Sam never realized it but he missed the city of Barcelona already.

    It was just a month and yet, it felt like¡­

    ''Feels like forever''. He sighed.

    Spending the rest of the day to wind down from his journey, in the evening, he finally drove his car to the Spotify Camp Nou.

    As soon as the familiar white GLE 53 AMG pulled up at the stadium, a mini commotion erupted at the Spotify Camp Nou. FC Barcelona fans followed Sam''s incredible exploits in the AFCON tournament, but they had no idea when Sam would return to the club.

    The media already queried Hansi Flick a few times during interviews but the German coach kept his lips sealed, revealing no information on Sam.

    This was why his sudden arrival elicited such a reaction.

    The ecstatic fans swarmed Sam''s car, forcing the security to intervene. Having expected such a reception though, Sam was prepared.

    Coming out of his car, he waved at the fans with a big smile on his face. Before entering the stadium, he indulged some of them, signing autographs on shirts that they provided while taking pictures with others.

    Only after this did he enter the stadium.

    As soon as Sam entered inside the stadium, it was announced, eliciting even more reactions from the tens of thousands of fans inside the stadium.

    Only when he was inside did Sam realize how much he missed the passionate energy of this stadium in every home game. The energy of the fans was infectious, making his blood boil despite the fact that he wasn''t going to participate in this game.

    And then, the players finally came out of the tunnel to loud noise.

    By now, his teammates also already learned of his arrival. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As soon as they entered the pitch, from the VIP stands where he sat, Sam waved at them wildly, eliciting smiles from some of them.

    Hansi Flick started with the best XI that he had available in Sam''s absence.

    Starting in their regular 4-2-3-1 formation, Marc Andre Ter Stegen started in between the posts for the Catalan giants, while ahead of him was a defensive quadruple comprising Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsi, Ronald Araujo, and Jules Kounde, the rock-solid quadruple.

    Ahead of them was the midfield duo of Pedri and Frankie De Jong. Further ahead was the quadruple in attack; Lamine Yamal in right wing, Raphinha in left wing, Dani Olmo in attacking midfield, and Ferran Torres as the starting striker.

    As for Valencia?

    Starting in the same 4-2-3-1 formation, Mamardashvili started in between the posts for the visitors with a defensive quadruple of Foulquier, Tarrega, Mosquera, and Gaya ahead of him.

    In midfield was the duo of Guerra and Barrenechea, while further ahead was the quadruple comprising Rioja in right wing, Almeida in attacking midfield, Lopez in left wing, and Sadiq Umar as the striker.

    On paper, FC Barcelona was the vastly superior side.

    But when the whistle sounded, things didn''t go all the Catalan side''s way.

    Valencia started kickoff, starting and successfully executing a devastating sequence that was definitely straight from the practice ground.

    As soon as Guerra passed the ball, Almeida received it, leaving the ball for Guerra to hit it again straight towards FC Barcelona''s side of the pitch, catching Barca''s offside trap off-guard.

    Whoosh!

    Having practiced this countless times in training, as soon as the pass was hit, Sadiq Umar, the Valencia striker erupted with immense speed.

    Ronald Araujo reacted but his reaction was not quite fast enough.

    Like a flash of blur, he blitzed past the defense, took one touch of the ball and as Ter Stegen rushed towards him, he rifled the ball into the net past the helpless goalkeeper, scoring the first goal of the game in the 1st minute!

    "¡­"

    Silene reigned in the Spotify Camp Nou, and then¡­

    BOOOOOM!

    The away stands erupted as shocked and ecstatic Valencia fans rose to their feet, celebrating at the top of their lungs.

    Pumping his fists passionately, Sadiq Umar charged towards the corner flag and once he arrived, he jumped high into the sky and did a popular celebration.

    "SUIIIIII¡­!!!"

    He hit the suiii celebration at the Spotify Camp Nou!

    That goal¡­ stunned Barcelona.

    Clearly, they did not see it coming.

    And just like that, 0-1 to Valencia in the 1st minute.

    After that goal, Valencia started defending as Barcelona soon took control of the game, launching raid after raid of attacks on the enemy box.

    But Valencia held, they played an ultra-defensive low block, frustrating the attempts of the Catalan giants.

    Watching from the stands, Sam felt frustrated.

    ''F*ck! F*ck! F*ck!''

    ''Turn this around!'' He silently cheered his teammates on.

    Not tonight though. His witch didn''t come in the first half as the game ended 0-1 in Valencia''s favor.

    Against all odds, Valencia held on.

    But there were 45 minutes remaining in this game.

 Chapter 402 - 402: A Pedri masterclass

    In the dressing room, Hansi Flick raged, berating his defenders for switching off in the 1st minute of the game and letting that goal in.

    The German coach was understandably furious.

    Valencia''s strategy was clear. After getting that first goal, they were content with playing with 10 men behind the ball, defending for their lives.

    Hansi Flick calmed down; he knew that raging won''t solve the problem.

    After his initial rant, the German coach focused on his strategy board, identifying the defensive strengths of the opposition team, highlighting their best defensive players, including devising a plan to break down that defense.

    To win, Hansi Flick knew that he had to create a tactical masterpiece specially targeted at the opponent''s strategy, and that was what he did.

    He already did his best; the rest was up to his players.

    The players returned to the pitch and this time; a tense Sam could no longer hold his nerves.

    From the VIP stands, he cheered them on. "Come on boys!"

    "You can do this!"

    Sam''s sudden cheer changed the energy in this stadium, not just among the players on the pitch, but also among the fans in the stands.

    If Sam could cheer, who were they not to cheer?

    And then¡­

    BOOM!

    The noise at the Spotify Camp Nou rose even more, hitting a crescendo.

    FWEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle sounded again, and all hell broke loose.

    The whole FC Barcelona team jerked to life like an ancient slumbering beast that finally awoke from its ancient slumber.

    This 2nd half, buoyed by the loud noise being made by their fans, the Barca team played entertaining football like a well-oiled machine.

    They overwhelmed Valencia, dominating possession.

    And Raphinha was the Starman at first.

    Leading the attack, the energetic Brazilian led his teammates by example, pressuring the Valencia defense for every ball, unleashing dangerous shots at every opportunity he got, stinging the palms of the Valencia goalkeeper.

    Valencia was hanging on for dear life, and it was working despite the pressure.

    At this point, it was literally 80%-20% possession but it didn''t matter because FC Barcelona could not score.

    50 minutes, no goal¡­

    60 minutes, no goal¡­

    70 minutes, no goal¡­

    And then, Pedri Gonzalez erupted.

    From the beginning of this game, all the way from the 1st half, Pedri had been having an amazing game, controlling the tempo of the game as he pinged perfect passes left and right, absolutely bossing the midfield.

    And yet, in the 2nd half, as the desperation for a goal increased, Pedri finally entered the zone state, taking his game to the next level.

    In the 72nd minute, Lamine Yamal started a mazy dribble from the right, turning 2 Valencia players inside out before passing to Pedri just outside the ball.

    Bam!

    Pedri''s first touch reminded of a prime Andres Iniesta!

    The Spaniard''s first touch enabled him to nutmeg Barrenechea, the Valencia midfielder before skipping into the Valencia 18-yard box.

    Challenges came immediately but keeping his cool, Pedri cut through 2 more players with a perfect la croqueta and just as Tarrega, the Valencia centerback was about to crash into him with his tall frame, Pedri spun like a roulette wheel.

    Literally rotating on top of the ball, with a roulette skill, he ditched the center back for no man''s land, now one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

    Mamardashvili charged out of his post to confront the midfielder.

    Instead of being intimidated, Pedri taunted the goalkeeper, feinting a shot.

    That was enough for the Valencia goalkeeper to drop to the ground, and that was when Pedri finally hit it, lobbing the goalkeeper to score an outrageous goal.

    "GOALLLLLLLL¡­!!!"

    The Spotify Camp Nou seethed like a boiling sea!

    Pedri celebrated by punching a fist at the fans in excitement but then quickly rushing into the box, he picked the ball and ran off, eager to continue the game.

    Pedri was eager for a reason.

    He was already in the zone state.

    The game restarted, and then just 3 minutes after his goal, Pedri did it again, sliding a pass for Dani Olmo who without missing a beat slotted past the goalkeeper.

    "GOALLLLLLLL¡­!!!"

    The Spotify Camp Nou seethed with even more noise.

    2 goals in 4 minutes, and just like that, Valencia''s advantage was gone.

    Barca was leading now!

    Valencia finally decided to come out of their shell, eager to attack and get a second goal to even the score line but coming out left them open.

    In the 78th minute, Gavi replaced Dani Olmo.

    In the 80th minute, Gavi assisted Lamine Yamal, playing the ball for the teenage wonder to cut into the middle before unleashing a deadly curler into the net, thoroughly beating Valencia''s goalkeeper.

    80 minutes, 3-1¡­

    From 0-1 to 3-1 in how many minutes, but Barca was not done yet.

    In the 87th minute, just before coming off the pitch, Pedri added the final nail to the coffin, playing a ridiculous defense-splitting pass that cut Valencia open like a hot knife through butter, setting up Gavi one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

    Gavi hit the ball first time, sending it in-between the legs of the goalkeeper to score Barcelona''s 4th goal of the match.

    By the 4th goal, having lost his composure in the passion of the sport, Sam was screaming at the top of his lungs in the VIP spot, celebrating exuberantly.

    At the end of 90 minutes, FC Barcelona had already thoroughly defeated their opponents, teaching them an unforgettable lesson in their home grown.

    Valencia was schooled, and humbled.

    FC Barcelona won the game 4-1.

    Pedri Gonzalez won the man of the match award with his 1 goal and 2 assists. He was unplayable this game, especially the 2nd half.

    And with that, FC Barcelona secured another win, strangling their hold on the La Liga title race battle against Real Madrid.

    After the game, Sam entered the pitch to an explosion of cheers and applause.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!" Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Sam didn''t play but the fans sang his name at the top of their lungs still. Hearing his name being sang, Sam smiled, blowing a kiss at them.

    He would be available for FC Barcelona''s next game.

    He was back.

 Chapter 403 - 403: Into the deep end [1]

    Sam may just be coming back from the AFCON tournament, having won it, but he knew that to him, the season was far from ending.

    Rather, the true difficult part of an elite club''s season just started.

    Unlike other clubs like Fulham where he played before in England, big clubs like FC Barcelona truly become busy at the business end of the season.

    The games stack up, coming in fast and hard, and this was because unlike small clubs, they compete in multiple tournaments.

    This season, FC Barcelona was competing in not just the Spanish La Liga, but the Supercopa de Espana, the Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League.

    And at this stage of the season, having won the Supercopa de Espana already, FC Barcelona was still in the 3 other competitions, and it was ramping up.

    They were now into the deep.

    This was why immediately after the game against Valencia on the 26th of January, after a day of rest on 27th that Hansi Flick gave to his players, from the 28th, Sam joined his club teammates in training again.

    He was back, back to the grueling schedule of club football.

    Hansi Flick already sent his players the fixtures for FC Barcelona''s next 5 games, he also sent it to Sam since he was now back in the fold.

    (FC Barcelona fixtures:)

    (UEFA Champions League:)

    (Matchday 8 of 8:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Atalanta)

    (Date: 29th January, 2026)

    ¡­

    (La Liga:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Alaves)

    (Date: 2nd February, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Copa del Rey:)

    (Quarterfinal:)

    (Valencia ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 6th February, 2026)

    ¡­

    (La Liga:)

    (Sevilla ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 9th February, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Barcelona ¨C Ray Vallecano)

    (Date: 17th February, 2026)

    At some point between this fixture of 5 matches, it would be a game every 3 days for FC Barcelona.

    For Hansi Flick, the FC Barcelona head coach, it was not just about making his players play at their best anymore, it was now also about making them play at their best while managing them enough to make sure that they don''t burn out.

    The deep end of every football season for big clubs was always like this, packed and full of action, and Sam was ready for it.

    This was why from 27th January, he finally resumed his hobby with his friends, jogging through the streets of FC Barcelona again with Pedri, Gavi, Lamine Yamal, and Alejandro Balde.

    Jogging alongside them, Sam felt like it had been forever since they did this.

    "I never knew how much I missed this till now". He laughed.

    Lamine Yamal smiled and said in Spanish. "Me too".

    Of course, after getting close to the Spotify Camp Nou, they did their customary competition and like usual, Sam won the race.

    But this time, there was a shocker.

    Lamine Yamal did the impossible, blitzing past Gavi to clinch 2nd position in the sprint race for the first time since they started.

    The rest were shocked, their eyes wide. "Your speed has improved?"

    Lamine Yamal grinned, feeling mischievous. "I''ve been working with my personal trainer to improve my physicality, and with it, my speed has been improving too".

    "Apparently, speed is in a way tied to physicality".

    "I just have to learn a few techniques about my running technique. With the right technique, I can be faster, so that''s that". He smiled bashfully.

    "Wow¡­," Sam was amazed. "You have to introduce me to that personal trainer of yours!"

    "Me too!" Pedri said with all seriousness.

    In the end, Gavi and Alejandro Balde also showed their willingness, making Lamine Yamal to promise to introduce the trainer to them.

    After that, they entered the gym, did the usual for the day, and then¡­

    Ding!

    ~----~

    [You have completed Daily System Quest: Mentality Monster!]

    [You have been rewarded with low-grade physical conditioning elixir!]

    ~----~

    After that, Sam drove home, eager to enjoy the day off too.

    Speaking of the system, after Sam played his last AFCON game against Morocco, winning and bringing the trophy home, his system lit up with series of notifications, no doubt related to his seasonal system quest.

    But Sam didn''t have the time to go through them because of the chaos of the celebrations, and then his vacation that followed soon after.

    He never had time to focus on his system since that time. But now, on getting home, after taking a cold shower, he laid down on his bed and focused on it.

    ~----~

    [Congratulations! You have completed Season Quest 4 in your Season System Quests: Supercopa de Espana!]

    [You have been rewarded with 5,000 Skill Points!]

    [You have been rewarded with an Advanced-tier skill mastery Upgrade Card!]

    >NOTE: The Advanced-tier skill mastery Upgrade Card can be used to upgrade the mastery of any skill below the Advanced level to the Advanced level<

    ¡­

    [Congratulations! You have completed Season Quest 6 in your Season System Quests: AFCON 2025 Tournament!]

    [You completed Mission 1: Win the AFCON trophy!]

    [You completed Mission 2: Win the Golden Ball award!]

    [You completed Mission 3: Win the Golden Boot award!]

    [Calculating completing rating, please wait¡­] Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Calculation complete!]

    [Congratulations! You have received a perfect completion rating of S-tier!]

    [Your completion rating has exceeded the reward tier of the system!]

    [Automatically combining normal rewards to create a new fitting reward!]

    [Please wait¡­]

    [You have been rewarded with a Legendary Passive Skill: Clutch Player!]

    >Clutch Player: This passive skill triggers only during the biggest games, in the biggest stages. When triggered, all your abilities and attributes increase by 50%, making you a far deadlier, and lethal footballer. The X-Factor favors you, making you a clutch player<

    ~----~

    Sam stared at the notifications before him with an incredulous expression on his face. In the end, he muttered. "Damn!"

    "Clutch player is actually a passive skill?!"

    Saying that, the first name that came to his head was. "Didier Drogba!"

    Sam grinned. "Now, I finally understand!"

    Didier Drogba, the ex-Chelsea striker was never outrightly the best player in the world but the Ivorian legend had a reputation for coming up clutch every time in the biggest stages.

    Sam had no doubt that the Chelsea legend had this passive skill.

    Sam already built a reputation for himself as a clutch player before now, and to think he now had the passive skill too.

    Sam smiled. "The season''s about to get even more exciting¡­"

 Chapter 404 - 404: Into the deep end [2]

    Due to how busy he was, schedules piled up to the brim, it had been a long time since Sam last looked at his system player status.

    And finally, he looked at it, first navigating to his skills tab.

    Afterall, he just got rewarded with an Advanced-tier skill mastery Upgrade Card for a trophy he won that he didn''t even play in the final.

    Benefits of playing for a big club.

    Sam sighed. "Should I perhaps invite the squad to a dinner party in my house and host them, just to thank them?"

    He chuckled. "Maybe I''ll do that at the end of the season".

    "For now, let''s feast".

    He didn''t hesitate, quickly scrolling through his skills.

    By now, every single skill that he had was already ingrained in his bones. He knew his body like the back of his hand, and knew exactly what he was capable of with a ball at his feet.

    Compared to when he just started, compared to when he even first entered FC Barcelona, his mastery of his body was now at its peak.

    His body to mind coordination was literally perfect.

    With this in mind, he went through his skills. Unknown to him, after his exploits in the AFCON tournament, even without the help of the system, some of his skills already upgraded on their own.

    The best example was his Elastico dribble skill. After his exploits in the AFCON tournament, from the intermediate mastery level where it was before, Sam''s mastery of the Elastico was now at the Advanced level.

    With a grin on his face, after going through the skills, he choose one of them to use the Advanced-tier skill mastery Upgrade Card on.

    ***

    [Target Skill Acquired: Knuckle Ball Technique]

    [You have made use of the Advanced-tier skill mastery Upgrade Card!]

    [Upgrading basic mastery skill, please wait¡­]

    [Upgrade complete!]

    [Congratulations! Your mastery of the Knuckle Ball Technique is now at the Advanced level!]

    [Your Shooting Attribute has increased by +1!]

    ***

    To Sam, his prominent football ability was his dribbling skills.

    His dribbling was almost perfect, devastating on the football pitch. And after the AFCON tournament, it was his dribbling skills that improved the most.

    Playing as a striker for FC Barcelona now due to Robert Lewandowski''s ACL injury, his shooting was important to him.

    Sam''s shooting was not shabby in anyway, elite even, but still, he wanted to take it one step further when given the chance. This was why instead of choosing a dribbling skill to upgrade, he choose the knuckle ball technique.

    Another reason was because the skill was still at the basic mastery level since. By taking it all the way to the Advanced mastery level at a go, it would result in the greatest increase to his overall football ability.

    After the upgrade, relaxed on his bed with a smile on his face, Sam finally focused on his system player status again.

    ~----~

    [Player status!]

    Host: Samuel Moses

    Current Career Status: Reigning Premier League champion, Reigning FA Cup champion, Reigning Supercopa de Espana champion, Reigning AFCON champion

    Talent Rating: S

    Player Position: Attacking Midfield/Striker

    Player Attributes:

    *Pace: 86

    *Shot: 88

    *Pass: 85 S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    *Dribbling: 89

    *Defending: 40

    *Physicality: 82

    *Stamina: 90

    Overall Rating: 88

    ¡­

    [Owned Football Skills:]

    [Passive skill: Stalwart]

    >You have proven your credentials as a reliable stalwart with well-rounded attributes in the middle of the pitch. You can score, you can assist, you can dribble, and you can press; you are the complete package<

    >+10% to all 4 packages when on the pitch<

    >All 4 packages refer to your shooting attribute, your passing attribute, your dribbling attribute, and your stamina attribute<

    [Passive Skill: Clutch Player]

    >Clutch Player: This passive skill triggers only during the biggest games, in the biggest stages. When triggered, all your abilities and attributes increase by 50%, making you a far deadlier, and lethal footballer. The X-Factor favors you, making you a clutch player<

    [Active skills:]

    [Basic mastery level: Step overs; overhead kick; trivela shot]

    [Intermediate mastery level: Cruyff turn; La croqueta; Power header; Roulette; Overhead Kick; Rainbow Flick; Penalty Technique; Scissor Kick]

    [Advanced mastery level: Spatial awareness; Power shot; Body feint; Elastico; Knuckle Ball Technique]

    [Perfect mastery level: Freekick Technique]

    ¡­

    [Legendary Inheritance: Elastico]

    [Legendary Inheritance: Spatial Awareness]

    [Legendary Inheritance: Power Shot]

    ¡­

    [Ability cards:]

    >Shoot it like Lewy<

    [Card uses remaining: 2]

    >Thread it like KDB<

    [Card uses remaining: 2]

    >Bend it like Beckham<

    [Card uses remaining: 2]

    ¡­

    [Trophies won:]

    >NPFL title ¡Á1<

    >CAF Champions League trophy ¡Á1<

    >EFL Cup title ¡Á1<

    >Premier League title ¡Á1<

    >FA Cup title ¡Á1<

    ¡­

    [Title: Space Interpreter!]

    [Title: Legs of Steel!]

    [System Remark: An elite young talent playing in one of the best leagues in the world!]

    ~----~

    And all of a sudden, Sam''s basic mastery skills were the lowest in his repertoire. He was an even better footballer now.

    During the course of the AFCON tournament, his skills improved a lot. Not just his skills, but his attributes too.

    At some point, his Stamina attribute finally broke the threshold to 90.

    Not just his Stamina, his dribbling, shooting, and physicality attributes also improved. Honestly, staring at the status, Sam felt a bit scared.

    He could not believe he was the one with these ridiculous stats.

    "I''m no longer a Lion Cub". He thought with a chuckle.

    With that, resting his head comfortably, he finally slept.

    ¡­

    The next day, Sam woke up early, quickly catching up with his friends as they started their hobby early.

    After completing his daily system quest alongside his friends, they finally reported for team training again under Hansi Flick''s guidance.

    The Barcelona head coach drilled them till they were tired, after which they went home. The next day, they did the same thing, and again, and again till D-day finally came.

    In the blink of an eye, it was already 29th.

    They were caught in the eye of the storm, trapped in the deep end.

    They were not scared though, rather, they were determined to continue their trophy bids this season.

    Sam went straight back into Hansi Flick''s starting XI.

    He felt hyped for the game.

    ''Bring it on!''

 Chapter 405 - 405: Into the deep end [3]

    Sam didn''t realize how much he missed club football till he was back on the pitch, at the Spotify Camp Nou.

    29th January, 2026¡­

    (UEFA Champions League:)

    (Matchday 8 of 8:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Atalanta)

    The Spotify Camp Nou was a cauldron of anticipation, a behemoth of footballing history thrumming with restless energy as FC Barcelona prepared to face Atalanta in a high-stakes UEFA Champions League group phase game.

    It was matchday 8 of 8, the final game of the league phase of the new UEFA Champions League format before the playoff games.

    For FC Barcelona, the game didn''t hold much significance since they already qualified to the round of 16, currently leading the UEFA Champions League table.

    As for their Italian opponents today though, Atalanta, their spot in the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League was not secure yet which made this game a high-stakes game for them.

    If Atalanta wanted to make it to the playoffs, from where they could fight for a spot in the round of 16 stage of the UEFA Champions League, they must win this game against the Spanish club in away ground.

    The Italian club and its players came to Spain with only one thing in mind, to win and snatch home a victory.

    But of course, FC Barcelona also wanted to win even if it meant very little to them. Afterall, this was a club with demands to win every single game.

    A big club.

    The air crackled with electricity, a symphony of drums, chants, and the deafening roar of nearly 100,000 Cules, their voices merging into a singular, unrelenting force that blasted through the gigantic stadium.

    The blaugrana mosaic stretched across the stadium, a stunning display of club pride as fans held up their colored placards, creating a breathtaking sea of blue and red.

    The hallowed pitch gleamed under the floodlights, the grass pristine and perfectly manicured, a stage awaiting footballing artistry.

    The Champions League anthem soon filled the air, evoking goosebumps as the players emerged from the tunnel, their faces set with focus and determination.

    On the touchline, the 2 coaches embraced.

    All the while, Atalanta''s traveling supporters, though vastly outnumbered, carved out their own defiant presence in the stands, their black and blue banners waving fiercely, singing in unison to remind the world that they too belonged on this grand stage.

    The sense of history and expectation was overwhelming; Barcelona, a club with an insatiable hunger for European glory, versus Atalanta, the fearless underdogs from the Italian Serie A known for their relentless attacking football.

    Like expected, both squads started with their best starting XI.

    Plunging Sam straight back into the starting XI, Hansi Flick''s FC Barcelona started in their customary 4-2-3-1 formation with Marc Andre Ter Stegen in between the posts, and the defensive quadruple of Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, and Jules Kounde ahead of him.

    In midfield was the duo of Pedri and Frankie De Jong, while further ahead in attack was the quadruple that the world feared.

    Gavi started in attacking midfield, while to his left and right respectively were Raphinha and Lamine Yamal. Leading the line was a familiar face, Samuel Moses.

    Sam was back in his striker position.

    It was a fearsome lineup.

    But Atalanta''s lineup was also one to cause trepidations in any opponent.

    Starting in a 3-4-3 formation, Carnesechhi started in between the posts as the goalkeeper, while ahead of him was the defensive trio of Kolasinac, Hien, and Djimsiti.

    The midfield quadruple comprised of Zappacosta, Pasalic, de Roon, and Bellanova. De Ketelaere played as the striker, while to his left and right were Ademola Lookman and Retegui respectively.

    This was a team that already built a fearsome reputation for their compact and seamless team play in the European stage.

    And tonight, they were to clash against the Catalan giants.

    On the stadium, the roar reached a crescendo.

    The referee glanced at his watch, and for a brief moment, a tense silence fell before the opening whistle. Then, in an instant, the storm was unleashed.

    FWEEEE!

    That sound cut through the temporary stillness on the pitch, making the players explode into action.

    The game started.

    Barcelona vs Atalanta was always going to be an exciting affair, but nobody expected what transpired on the pitch within the next few minutes.

    At the Spotify Camp Nou, the backyard of the fearsome Catalan giants, Atalanta showed no hesitation or fear, playing their game to their fullest potential.

    Atalanta played fearlessly at the Spotify Camp Nou, making it an exciting spectacle as they played a game of end-to-end football at their opponent''s home.

    And of course, most of it went through one player, the Atalanta player that was having another electric season, Ademola Lookman.

    After winning the AFCON trophy together with Nigeria just about a week ago, now, Sam''s International teammate, Ademola Lookman locked horns with him, eager to doom him to defeat.

    In the 18th minute of the game, after another dizzying dribble into the box, Ademola Lookman finally did it, making Pau Cubarsi to overcommit in a tackle.

    FWEEEE! sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, he pointed to the spot.

    It was a penalty!

    The Blaugrana fans protested the decision of course but it changed nothing. Against Marc Andre Ter Stegen, after exchanging an embrace with Lookman who won the penalty, De Ketelaere, Atalanta''s striker stepped up to take the penalty.

    After a confident short run, the striker sent Marc Andre Ter Stegen one way, sending the ball the other way into the top left corner of the net.

    "¡­!"

    Silence, for a few fractions of a second, and then¡­

    BOOM!

    The Spotify Camp Nou erupted, at least, the away stands.

    The few thousand traveling Atalanta away supporters roared, screaming at the top of their lungs even as Kelelaere celebrated their goal.

    Against all odds, in the 18th minute, Atalanta scored in FC Barcelona''s home stadium, snatching the lead in this high-stakes UEFA Champions League game.

    But their lead didn''t last long.

    8 minutes later, FC Barcelona made its comeback.

    Lamine Yamal scored.

 Chapter 406 - 406: Into the deep end [4]

    8 minutes after De Kelelaere''s goal, in the 26th minute of the game, Lamine Yamal scored, drawing FC Barcelona level.

    Sam played his part in the goal.

    Winning an aerial duel between him and one of the tall Atalanta defenders, Sam was able to head the ball towards Gavi who quickly pushed it towards Lamine Yamal, and trust the teenage wonder.

    Bam!

    One slick touch to receive the ball, calming it, another touch to skip past a challenge, a flick to skip past another challenge, and then a volleyed shot, striking the ball while it still floated in the air.

    Carnesecchi, Atalanta''s goalkeeper stood no chance despite the fact that he clearly saw the ball as Yamal hit it with venom on his left foot.

    The ball tore its way through the air, leaving a slight whistling sound in its wake as it nestled into the very bottom right corner, leaving the poor goalkeeper no chance.

    Lamine Yamal quickly charged towards the corner flag with Gavi and Sam following him in tow, and then Sam hugged him, lifting him up excitedly.

    As soon as he dropped the Spanish teenage wonder, together, the 3 players did a dance celebration, doing a viral dance challenge.

    And this time, Sam didn''t fumble. He did the dance well having practiced it ahead of time due to Lamine Yamal''s urging.

    At the end, amid the roar of the fans, he laughed.

    "And just like that, FC Barcelona are level!"

    "Honestly, what a team Hansi Flick has assembled in this squad".

    "Last season, they were fearsome but with Sam, they are on another level completely. It''s almost as if they don''t know how to lose at all".

    "This Barcelona side is scary honestly; it reminds of the all-conquering Barcelona sides of the early 2010s that ruled with Lionel Messi as the King".

    "As an FC Barcelona fan, what a moment to be alive!"

    "To witness the new King play, Samuel Moses!"

    "And to witness the Prince alongside him, Lamine Yamal!"

    After that goal, making it 1-1, this game became even tighter but the defense of both clubs managed to hold firm, playing at an elite level to hold off the onslaught of the world-class attack of both teams.

    In the 43rd minute, De Ketelaere scored again, making it a brace but before the Italians could celebrate, the referee''s whistle sounded.

    It was an offside.

    The audible groans from the Atalanta fans could be heard around the stadium. And in the end, the first half came to an end 1-1.

    During halftime, Hansi Flick took it easy on his players, telling them to enjoy themselves on the pitch and when second half started, that was exactly what they did. Barca''s midfield finally stepped up.

    In the first half, they failed to hold on to possession due to Atalanta''s seamless teamplay but in the second, Pedri Gonzalez finally stepped up.

    In the 2nd half, Pedri became unplayable!

    The ball could not be taken off the feat of the Spanish maestro as with it, he glided through the midfield like a kite, zipping back and forth, evading challenges, shifting and shuffling the ball, and playing those neat and tidy passes.

    With Pedri playing like a man reborn suddenly in the 2nd half, FC Barcelona dominated possession, tightening their grip on the game, but then¡­ after 10 minutes of this, Atalanta struck on the counterattack.

    "OH! Pasalic has won back the ball!"

    "He''s passed to de Roon, and then to Zappacosta, and then a long ball to Ademola Lookman!"

    "The Nigerian International has the ball!"

    "Barcelona''s dominating midfield have been cut through for the first time this second half, will it prove costly?"

    Yes, it proved costly.

    Catching Jules Kounde out of position, Lookman just managed to beat the Barcelona offside trap, beating Inigo Martinez for pace as he charged towards the Barca 18-yard box with the ball.

    And just as Ter Stegen rushed out to meet him, calmly, he curled the ball towards the right, placing it into the net out of the goalkeeper''s reach.

    As the stadium erupted, without stopping his run, Ademola Lookman simply made a byline to the corner flag, placing one hand to his lips in celebration.

    In response, provoked by that gesture, FC Barcelona fans roared.

    "BOOOOOO¡­!!!"

    They drowned the Nigerian International in boos. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Well¡­ that gesture from Ademola Lookman, the shush celebration, it was a mistake. But that was the turning point, the gesture that awoke the slumbering beast.

    And all of a sudden, Barca fans no longer took the game casually.

    All of a sudden, they wanted a bloodbath.

    All of a sudden, they wanted a slaughter.

    BOOM!

    Like a war chant, they roared at the top of their lungs, showing their intention to their players and well, the players played for the fans.

    If that was what they wanted, then they''d do it.

    Ademola Lookman scored in the 55th minute of the game, making it 1-2, but then it started¡­

    FC Barcelona erupted, upping the tempo of the game.

    In the middle of the park, Pedri and Frankie De Jong became beacons of light in darkness, supplying light to the attack in need of service.

    Raphinha got the second goal.

    Not in the 60th minute, not in the 70th minute, but in the 81st minute, buoyed by the loud roar of determined Barca fans.

    After receiving a pass from Gavi, the Brazilian executed an immaculate touch to beat his man, and then rifled a shot past Atalanta''s goalkeeper, beating him at his near post to equalize the game.

    81 minute, 2-2¡­

    And yet, that was not all.

    While Atalanta held for its life, desperate to hold on to the draw at the very least, Sam finally erupted, coming up clutch.

    Well, something influenced it actually.

    [Your passive skill has triggered: Clutch Player!]

    [All your abilities and attributes have increased by 50%!]

    Sam scored from a dead-ball situation, leaping highest, outmuscling the Atalanta defender and planting an unstoppable header towards goal¡­ in the 90th minute, clutch!

    He made his return in grand style.

    Charging towards his corner flag, Sam kissed the FC Barcelona badge before turning and showing his jersey to the fans, pointing to his name.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    The familiar chants erupted at the Spotify Camp Nou.

    FC Barcelona won the game 3-2.

 Chapter 407 - 407: Into the deep end [5]

    [FC Barcelona]

    [Samuel Moses]

    [Statistics for 2025/2026 Season:]

    [Goals: 44]

    [Assists: 28]

    [Games: 30]

    In his room in Barcelona, framed on a wall, Sam looked at his achievements so far for the 2025/2026 season with a big smile on his face.

    He started a habit since his days in Fulham of framing his achievements on his wall in a football season once they started impressing him.

    And this season? This was his third picture frame.

    This was because of the impressive season he was having.

    In terms of trophies, Sam was on course to having the best season of his professional football career but that was not the most impressive thing.

    After Hansi Flick made the bold change on the wake of Robert Lewandowski''s injury, pushing him to play as a striker, Sam''s numbers skyrocketed, truly entering that level of monstrous performances.

    Going to the AFCON tournament and returning to his attacking midfield role didn''t change any of it, Sam''s attacking instincts were now honed to a truly frightening level.

    Afterall, he learned from one of the best of the best in Robert Lewandowski.

    Not just that, he had a system too.

    But both were not the true reason for his ridiculous numbers this season. The main reason was because of his hard work. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    All the way from that Christmas game, then in the NPFL, then in the CAF Champions League, to the English Premier League, EFL Cup, English FA Cup, to the Spanish La Liga, UEFA Champions League, and the AFCON tournament.

    Through all these different tournaments, from being an inexperienced 17-year-old with little to no experience in the professional stage, Sam had worked his way to this moment, the enigmatic maverick that he was.

    The pride of Catalan, the new King of FC Barcelona.

    The new King of the UEFA Champions League, and Nigeria''s new superstar that led them to a first AFCON trophy in over 10 years.

    He was having a truly monstrous season.

    A combined figure of 72 goals and assists at this stage of the season in just 30 games was truly a monstrous return.

    It meant Sam averaged 2 goal contributions every game!

    This was crazy.

    But Sam was not done yet. Looking at the picture frame, he only felt motivated by it, this was not the peak of human performance yet.

    Thinking of a certain little genius, the previous King of Camp Nou, the Argentine Maestro, Lionel Mess, and thinking of what he did in that legendary 2012 season, Sam felt adrenaline coursing through him.

    ''This is not the limit of human performance''.

    ''Not yet''.

    ''I still have a long way to go''.

    ''The system said it could make me a Football God huh?'' He grinned. ''But why wait till I''m 25 first?''

    ''Why wait till I''m 30?''

    ''Can''t I become the Football God from the age of 20?''

    After breaking so many records already, most FC Barcelona debut records with his legendary season already, now Sam set his sights higher, not just aiming for the Ballon d''Or anymore, but aiming to create an all-time great season.

    A season so great that when others look at it, they look on in awe.

    A season so great that it becomes synonymous with excellence.

    A season so great that it becomes synonymous with the Ballon d''Or.

    Sam grinned. "Yeah, we can make it happen". He muttered.

    That night, after taking his bath, he had a call with his family, teasing his sister who was finally about to travel to England to stay with Ian.

    After that call, he also called his girlfriend, speaking till it was late.

    Only after that did Sam sleep.

    He slept soundly.

    The next day, he woke up like nothing happened but the blood coursing through his veins flowed with greater speed, burned with greater fervor.

    Sam wanted to do more.

    He knew he could do more, and he was determined to do more.

    When he jogged with his friends that morning, he so out jogged them that they stared at him like he was a monster. Even during the last 50 meters sprint, Sam gave them a sizeable gap, making Gavi look at him with a frown.

    "Bastardo!" The short Spaniard grunted. "You ate a Bull?"

    Sam grinned. "As a matter of fact, yes, I did eat a Bull".

    When they entered the gym, he worked out like a man on steroids, doing all the reps and workouts on record time, and doing even more than usual.

    When the system notification sounded, informing him that he had completed his daily system quest, Sam did not feel satisfied at all.

    He wanted more.

    And later in the day when he reported for team training with his teammates, his mood spilled to the pitch.

    By now, his teammates were used to him doing crazy things on the training ground. But today? Sam did not just do crazy things.

    He did things that left them wondering if he was still human.

    Sam played at an extraterrestrial level.

    Watching him play, Hansi Flick had a smile on his face like a lovesick man looking at his wife with adoration and affection.

    It was no debate, Sam was a shoe-in for FC Barcelona''s next game in the Spanish La Liga against Alaves in a few days.

    Sam was truly in the deep end now.

    And in the blink of an eye, the days rolled and it was D-day.

    FC Barcelona welcomed Alaves to the Spotify Camp Nou.

    Like expected, the Catalan giants dominated the visitors throughout the first half but the deadlock was not broken till additional time of first half when Raphinha scored from a volley after a Pedri pass.

    The first half came to an end 1-0 in Barca''s favor.

    But when second half started, it was painted blue and red and one player''s name was heard throughout the stadium¡­ SAMUEL MOSES.

    In the 2nd half, Sam erupted.

    He took the game by the scruff of the neck, becoming unplayable.

    In the 53rd minute, he scored his first goal from a scissor kick after a Lamine Yamal pass. 4 minutes later, in the 57th minute, he led a counterattack, going on an incredible solo run all the way from his half.

    He ran through 4 Alaves players before lobbing the goalkeeper to score his 3rd goal of the game and just before he was substituted in the 78th minute, he scored again in the 77th minute, making it a hattrick.

    Another hattrick for the season!

    This time, Sam leaped highest from a corner kick, powering in a header to effectively seal FC Barcelona''s win.

    He won the man of the match award; it was no contest.

    Sam¡­ was in the zone.

 Chapter 408 - 408: Into the deep end [6]

    With Alaves out of the way, swatted away like a mere bug, FC Barcelona set their sights on the Copa del Rey quarterfinal.

    It was a clash against Valencia.

    (Copa del Rey:)

    (Quarterfinal:)

    (Valencia ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 6th February, 2026)

    Despite being played in away ground, it didn''t matter.

    FC Barcelona blew their opponents away in a hurricane of Catalan energy, winning the Copa del Rey clash 0-5.

    Sam didn''t score a single goal but he won the man of the match award, why?

    On this game, Sam embraced the nature of a false 9, torturing a Valencia defense that was set up to frustrate him.

    Yes, thy frustrated him on the goalscoring front, but Sam ended up doing even more on the playmaking front, giving 4 assists in this game alone!

    On that day, the Valencia defenders learned to fear the Nigerian International.

    His first assist and FC Barcelona''s first goal came from a backheel touch, a delicate flick of the ball that landed it perfectly in Lamine Yamal''s path, enabling the Spanish teenage wonder to score an easy goal.

    That first goal entered in the 12th minute.

    11 minutes later, in the 23rd minute, Sam dropped deep and after receiving a pass from Pedri, he turned and hit it one time, sending an incredible trivela pass to Lamine Yamal''s path a second time.

    Their chemistry on the pitch was telepathic.

    This time, the Spanish teenage wonder had to do more but Lamine Yamal was up to the job.

    Blasting past his marker with speed, the teenage wonder took the ball on his lap, perfectly controlling it and taming its momentum and then with his right foot, he volleyed it past a sprawling goalkeeper.

    Lamine Yamal whirled off towards the corner flag, sliding on his knees in celebration as the traveling FC Barcelona fans celebrated excitedly with him.

    The 3rd goal came in the 39th minute, courtesy of Sam again.

    This time, it was his dribbling that pried the tight Valencia defense open.

    Turning the defenders here and there with his quick feet, penetrating into them with a devilish La Croqueta, he saw Raphinha''s run and pushed the ball in his path, in time for the rapid Brazilian to whip a shot past the goalkeeper into the net, scoring FC Barcelona''s 3rd goal of the night.

    The first half came to an end 0-3 in Barca''s favor.

    And then, in the 2nd half, there was a personal record breaker.

    Not with the 4th goal though. Gavi hustled the 4th goal of the game for himself, lashing into a loose ball in the box after a corner kick and rifling it into the roof of the net, leaving the goalkeeper no chance.

    The 4th goal entered in the 61st minute.

    But the 5th goal? It came in the 70th minute, and Sam got his 4th assist.

    Guess who the goal scorer was?

    Lamine Yamal.

    After making his debut a few seasons ago, the Spanish teenage wonder finally scored his first professional hattrick.

    Having dropped deep, Sam received a pass from Pedri and threaded it, cutting the Valencia defense open like a hot knife through butter, setting Yamal who did the rest, rounding the goalkeeper to score an amazing goal.

    "GOALLLLL...!!!"

    Once the realization hit him that he just scored his first professional hattrick goal, Yamal couldn''t even celebrate, overwhelmed by emotion.

    Sam ran towards him, hugging him and raising him above his feet.

    Their teammates swarmed them, celebrating with them. And at the end of it all, having recovered a bit, Lamine Yamal finally celebrated.

    Making a love fans towards the away fans, he stopped Sam who was about to leave and then placing one knee down, he took Sam''s leg, wiping dust off it.

    Sam assisted all 3 of his goals and Lamine Yamal acknowledged it.

    The FC Barcelona fans went crazy in the away stands.

    At this point, there was no way out for Valencia. Hansi Flick made changes, shaking his team up, resting guys like Sam and Lamine Yamal.

    The game ended 0-5 in Barca''s favor.

    With that performance, Sam took his tally to 47 goals and 32 assists in just 32 f*cking games!

    He was not slowing down at all.

    Rather, he seemed to be accelerating even.

    He was having a truly all-time great season if he continued at this pace. Hell, it was a great season already, it was a matter of how great he could go now.

    ¡­

    (La Liga:)

    (Sevilla ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 9th February, 2026)

    Sevilla welcomed FC Barcelona.

    Wary of the rampant Catalans, Sevilla played a very aggressive game and they targeted one player, Samuel Moses.

    The defenders tackled him so hard, playing tactical fouls, dragging his chest, cleverly matching his leg that the FC Barcelona fans feared for his fitness, raining down boos and complaining to the referee.

    In the end, one of those tackles attracted a red card eventually in the 71st minute of the game after Sam''s right ankle started bleeding.

    At that point, he was already bruised and battered.

    But still, after that red card in the 71st minute, Sam still ended up scoring the game winning goal from the freekick that followed.

    He played a perfect freekick, rounding the wall of players before sending it into the top right corner, leaving Sevilla''s goalkeeper no chance.

    "GOALLLLLLL¡­!!!"

    The stadium erupted, passionate Barca fans roaring at the top of their lungs.

    Concerned about his fitness, after that goal, Hansi Flick subbed Sam out of the game and FC Barcelona were able to see the game out.

    Another 3 points bagged.

    Sam won another man of the match award.

    But after the end of the game, after a medical diagnosis, Sam was identified to have suffered a minor ankle injury.

    FC Barcelona fans feared for their fate.

    ¡­

    (La Liga:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Rayo Vallecano) S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (Date: 17th February, 2026)

    Before 17th, Sam already recovered but being cautious, Hansi Flick started him on the bench.

    For the first time in a long time, Sam started on the bench.

    But FC Barcelona fans didn''t care. At the start of the game, his name was still the name that was being chanted at the top of their voices.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    It was a household name now.

 Chapter 409 - 409: Into the deep end [7]

    From the beginning of the match, one thing was clear, Rayo Vallecano stood no chance against FC Barcelona at the Spotify Camp Nou.

    At least, this was what people thought.

    But well, when the game started, Rayo Vallecano showed grit.

    The visitors embraced their place as the inferior side, playing a Jose Mourinho-style football, playing with 10 men behind the ball. And somehow, it was working, their low block keeping Barcelona''s fearsome attack at bay.

    With Sam not in the field of play, Ferran Torres took his place as the striker today and though the Spaniard was not as effective as the Nigerian International, he was still playing a decent game.

    Behind him, and to his left and right, Gavi, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal played well, torching the Rayo Vallecano defenders at every given opportunity, stringing together impressive plays, but it was never quite enough.

    That finishing touch was not just there.

    FC Barcelona had a lot of shots, and yet, it was not until the 33rd minute of the match when Raphinha got the first shot on target, forcing the goalkeeper to make an impressive save.

    And shockingly, that was the only shot on target in the first half.

    It was one of the worst first halves to a game that FC Barcelona had played all season. And during halftime, Hansi Flick was understandably furious, having a go at his players.

    But in the end, the coach didn''t make a change, not yet.

    He sent his players back to the pitch like that.

    Just 3 minutes after the restart though, in the 48th minute of the game, the electric Brazilian winger, Raphinha roared to life.

    It was a penetrative pass from Pedri that started the sequence and then taking the ball in his strides, with a body feint, double step overs, a nutmeg and an explosion of speed, Raphinha beat 2 players, charging into the box.

    There, as the Rayo Vallecano goalkeeper charged out, Raphinha maintained his cool and unleashed a shot that flashed across the face of goal, towards the right corner post.

    Bang!

    It hit the bottom post, and snuck inside the net.

    Silence, for about a second, then¡­

    "GOALLLLLL¡­!!!"

    The Spotify Camp Nou roared to life.

    Ecstatic fans hugged each other, celebrating among themselves, acknowledging the Brazilian, Raphinha who charged towards the corner flag, doing the calma celebration.

    The circumstances building up to that goal, after such a disappointing first half, everything made that goal just so iconic.

    It was Raphinha''s moment, and he basked in the attention.

    After that goal, Rayo Vallecano now desperate for their own goal finally came out of their turtle shell and that decision opened them up even more, giving the fearsome Barca attack more freedom to express their talent.

    Lamine Yamal stung first, dribbling past his marker, then cutting in before curling a lethal shot towards goal only for it to hit the post.

    The teenage wonder placed his hands on his head, unable to believe that he just missed that chance.

    And then, Lamine Yamal set Raphinha up again only for the Rayo Vallecano goalkeeper to pull off an amazing save.

    For the next 20 minutes, FC Barcelona threatened without scoring and then in the 68th minute of the game, Hansi Flick finally made a double change.

    He took off Gavi and Ferran Torres, introducing Dani Olmo and Sam.

    That change killed off the game in imperious fashion.

    Just 2 minutes after coming on, in the Rayo Vallecano 18-yard box, Dani Olmo received a pass from Pedri. Calmly, the attacking midfielder received the ball with his chest but he didn''t just receive it.

    With one movement, he received the ball and passed it on.

    Cleverly placing his body at an angle, the ball hit his chest, then floated past his markers and landed in Sam''s front.

    It was an awkward angle but by now, Sam already mastered the technique to unleash lethal shots even from such awkward angles.

    Leaning his body backwards, his right leg flung and struck the ball.

    BAM!

    From that awkward angle, he was able to apply enough force.

    The Rayo Vallecano goalkeeper dived but then the ball hit one of the defenders'' legs, causing a deflection.

    From the right where Sam hit it towards, the ball bounced towards the left, leaving the Rayo Vallecano goalkeeper sprawling helplessly in despair.

    It was a huge deflection, but the goal was still rewarded as a Sam goal since the initial shot was also goal-bound.

    Jogging to the corner flag, Sam did Lewandowski''s celebration, making a tribute to the FC Barcelona veteran striker who was still injured.

    And just like that, FC Barcelona secured another La Liga win.

    The game ended 2-0 at the Spotify Camp Nou.

    And this time, Raphinha won the man of the match award.

    ¡­

    (La Liga:)

    (Elche ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 22nd February, 2026)

    It was another game in away ground but once again, FC Barcelona was the overwhelmingly superior side.

    FC Barcelona was slowly putting together an all-time great season.

    They tore Elche apart in 90 minutes, securing a comfortable 0-3 victory.

    This time, Sam''s goalscoring and assist momentum was finally halted as he didn''t register a goal or assist in this game but well, even without scoring, he was once again at his playmaking best.

    He didn''t claim any of the 3 assists but his prints were all over all 3 goals, either starting the creativity with an amazing pass, or claiming the pre-assist.

    After another impressive performance, despite not getting a goal or assist, he ended up winning another man of the match award.

    FC Barcelona secured another 3 points.

    ¡­

    (Copa del Rey:)

    (Semifinal- Leg 1 of 2:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Atletico Madrid)

    A blockbuster game! S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Having missed the La Liga game against Atletico Madrid due to his international obligations, a game which his club ended up suffering in, Sam finally got his chance to exert revenge on one of the La Liga heavy hitters.

    The first leg of the clash was at the Spotify Camp Nou, and the whole squad was determined to demolish Atletico Madrid.

    But things didn''t go exactly to plan though.

    Straight from the first minute, things started going awry as Julian Alvarez received a dangerous pass from deep, outsmarting FC Barcelona''s high line defense, going behind them and scoring a smart goal past Ter Stegen.

    And just like that, Atletico Madrid were ahead in this semifinal clash.

    1 minute, 0-1¡­

    That goal stunned the hosts.

    But FC Barcelona drilled under Hansi Flick already developed a thick skin and fearsome mentality. They quickly shook off the shock of the goal and focused on their game, executing the gameplan.

    But then, it all went awry again.

    In the 18th minute, Rodrigo De Paul, the Argentine International and Atletico Madrid midfielder scored a screamer of a volley from outside the box.

    The ball flew with venom, beating Ter Stegen and nestling into the top corner to score Atletico Madrid''s 2nd goal of the game.

    18 minutes, 0-2¡­

    FC Barcelona was stunned; the Spotify Camp Nou was silenced.

    For a brief moment, FC Barcelona''s unbreakable carapace finally seemed to have cracked, their fearsome form dipping, fear seeping in but then Sam erupted.

    "Come on guys! We can do it!"

    The voice was already rearing in his head.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    Sam grinned. ''Ah¡­, it''s been long since I felt like this''.

    ''The feeling of being the one chasing the winner''.

    It made him feel a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu, remembering fond memories back in Fulham and Enyimba FC. Days when he strived for every single win.

    And so, Sam embraced the moment.

    Atletico Madrid held on with their fearsome defense throughout the first half. The second half started just like the first, Atletico Madrid being the superior side, but then¡­, FC Barcelona had Samuel Moses.

    And Sam struck, like fire!

    In the 53rd minute of the game, he unleashed a thunderous shot from over 30 yards out having observed Jan Oblak slightly out of position.

    The Atletico Madrid goalkeeper tried to recover but it was already too late.

    53 minutes, 1-2¡­

    But then, the Madrid side struck again just 5 minutes later.

    Julian Alvarez got his brace, lashing into an Antoine Griezmann perfect cross and heading the ball across goal and into the net.

    58 minutes, 1-3¡­

    FC Barcelona didn''t give up though.

    In the 69th minute, Sam breezed into the Atletico Madrid 18-yard box, skipping past challenges like they were not there and just as he was about to shoot, someone tripped him from behind, entangling his leg.

    It was Cesar Aspilicueta, the Spanish defender.

    "Arghhhh!" Screaming, Sam clutched his leg and collapsed in the box in pain, and then¡­

    FWEEEE!

    The referee blew his whistle, awarding a penalty and also fishing out a straight red card for the defender.

    The Madrid side tried to protest the decision but the referee didn''t change his mind. And so, Cesar Aspilicueta trudged out of the field.

    In the 69th minute, Sam took the penalty, and scored.

    69 minutes, 2-3¡­

    Diego Simeone, the Atletico Madrid coach made changes, taking off Julian Alvarez and putting in the big man, Alexander Sorloth.

    FC Barcelona continued toiling, pressuring Atletico Madrid but then in the 76th minute, against the run of play, Sorloth scored from a devastating counterattack that left the Catalan giants exposed.

    76 minutes, 2-4¡­

    FC Barcelona seemed done, totally out of the game, till they were not.

    The Catalan defiance reared its head.

    In the 80th minute of the game, Pedri slipped in a past for Lamine Yamal, the teenage wonder leaving multiple players in his wake before sneaking a shot into the bottom right corner and into the net.

    80 minutes, 3-4¡­

    Could Barcelona do it? Could they?

    Yes, they could?

    In the 89th minute, Sam entered the battle, leaping highest to power a header into the net from a Lamine Yamal cross.

    "GOALLLLLLLL¡­!!!"

    The Spotify Camp Nou turned upside down!

 Chapter 410 - 410: Into the deep end [8]

    Another FC Barcelona game, another Sam clutch moment.

    Another FC Barcelona game, another Sam hattrick.

    Another FC Barcelona game, another Sam MVP performance.

    To fans of the Catalan persuasion, it was just another day for a Sam magic. Well, the fact that he did it against Atletico Madrid added another layer to the achievement but still, Sam was Sam.

    The game ended 4-4.

    FC Barcelona did not win the epic Copa del Rey semifinal clash due to multiple defensive blunders from their defense, but still, the fans did not focus on it, sparing the blushes of the Barca defenders all due to one player''s brilliance¡­ Samuel Moses.

    Sam''s hattrick stole the show on the night.

    There were a lot of standout performers in the game, honorable mentions being Julian Alvarez, Rodrigo De Paul, Lamine Yamal, Pedri, but none of them quite stole the show like Sam did.

    When FC Barcelona needed him the most, the King showed up again.

    Like usual, he was simply clutch.

    It was a draw but from the excitement among the FC Barcelona fans at the end of the game, you''d be forgiven to think they won the game by a landslide.

    And at the end of the game, the FC Barcelona fans did something special, something that Sam would likely not forget in a long time.

    As soon as the game came to an end, a large section of the FC Barcelona fanbase in the fans seethed like an ocean, simultaneously spreading a gigantic banner that covered a large part of the stadium stands.

    It was a banner of Sam; it depicted him in the iconic FC Barcelona jersey, one leg on the ball and with him kissing the badge.

    [SAMUEL MOSES]

    [50 Goals]

    In the buildup to the game, Sam was at 49 goals after just 35 games, a figure that no other striker across Europe came close to matching, not even the likes of Erling Haaland who was in formidable form with Manchester City.

    Sam was head and shoulders above every other attacking player in Europe this season when it came to both the eye test and the numbers.

    This season? He was simply unplayable.

    The FC Barcelona fans prepared the banner ahead of the game. Based on the generational run of form that he was in this season; the FC Barcelona fans were sure that he would take his tally to 50 goals for this season this game.

    And Sam didn''t disappoint. Heck, he went and did more than was expected, scoring a hattrick to make it 52 goals in just 36 games¡­ crazy!

    But it didn''t matter, what mattered that he now had more than 50 goals.

    And so at the end of the game, a large section of the fans in the stadium unveiled the banner, waving it as it attracted a lot of attention, including media attention as the cameras focused on the banner.

    It was a truly incredible moment.

    And the fans didn''t stop at that, they started the already familiar chant in the Spotify Camp Nou.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    Hearing it this time, Sam could not help but feel the shivers.

    This time, it sounded different. It sounded closer to the familiar ''Messi'' ''Messi'' chants that once used to blast through the old Camp Nou stadium anytime the magical Argentine did a moment of magic. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The adoration, the respect, the love, Sam could feel all of it.

    Hearing it, he felt emotional.

    Lamine Yamal slapped his back, laughing as he pushed him towards the fans. "Go thank them".

    Sam briefly turned to glare at his friend but he didn''t stop moving.

    When he arrived before the fans, Sam waved. That simple gesture made the chants rise through the roof, turning into a howling cacophony.

    ''They''re so simple to please, huh?'' Sam smiled.

    That game was memorable for him for multiple different reasons, he would never forget it.

    And the next day, FC Barcelona finally made an announcement.

    Sam was to finally inherit the No. 10 jersey that belonged to the legendary Lionel Messi, that was briefly worn by Ansu Fati.

    That decision resulted in another mass celebration across the FC Barcelona fanbase. They were having the time of their lives.

    And then, life moved on.

    Afterall, the 2025/2026 football campaign was already in the deep end.

    With the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg clash out of the way, D-day for another FC Barcelona game soon came.

    (La Liga:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Real Sociedad)

    (Date: 2nd March, 2026)

    Another Spanish La Liga game in which Sam starred.

    After the epic clash against Atletico Madrid in the semifinal of the Copa del Rey, the squad had up to 7 days of rest, more than enough time for the team to prepare adequately for the game.

    Once again, for this game, Hansi Flick tweaked his formation as he was eager to rest some of his players for more important games.

    Starting in their regular 4-2-3-1 formation, the attacking trio was the same with Raphinha, Sam, and Lamine Yamal in attack.

    In attacking midfield, Hansi Flick rested Gavi, starting Dani Olmo.

    And then further back in midfield, Hansi Flick finally made the big decision, resting Pedri as he started both Eric Garcia and Frankie De Jong.

    Gerard Martin took Alejandro Balde''s position in left back, while the rest of the defense remained untouched; Inigo Martinez, Pau Cubarsi, and Jules Kounde all starting with Marc Andre Ter Stegen in between the posts.

    Against this FC Barcelona side, Real Sociedad came to the Spotify Camp Nou with bold intentions, with the belief that they could get something home.

    It didn''t work though.

    The midfield was shaky, yes. Gerard Martin was not exactly reliable, yes, but none of that was able to stop the churning FC Barcelona machine.

    Sam turned provider for the first goal in the 31st minute, setting up Eric Garcia to score a simple goal.

    And then in the second half, in the 64th minute, Raphinha flashed a cross across the face of goal that Sam pounced on, lashing on to tap into an empty net.

    2 more goal contributions to his tally for the season.

    Sam won another man of the match award.

 Chapter 411 - 411: Into the deep end [9]

    (UEFA Champions League:)

    (Round of 16:)

    (Leg 1 of 2:)

    (Lille ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 5th March, 2026)

    After 8 games of toiling, securing victories and dominating, FC Barcelona made it to the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League as the top team with the most points in the league phase.

    And after the playoff games were concluded, the exciting round of 16 stage of the UEFA Champions League finally started.

    Barca''s round of 16 draw was a slightly simple one against Lille, but if they progressed past the French side, every other team in their side of the bracket was a fearsome powerhouse in their own right.

    If FC Barcelona was to win another UEFA Champions League trophy after more than 10 years, their 6th trophy, they needed to be better than any other team in Europe since they would be pitted against the best of the best.

    For this game, both teams started with their best lineups, and it showed.

    Bolstered by the relentless energy of their home fans, Lille threatened within the first dozen minutes of the game and it eventually bore fruit.

    In the 12th minute of the game, Jonathan David showed perfect target man instincts as with his back to goal, receiving a cross, he hit the ball with his backheel, sending it towards the top left corner and in goal.

    It was a crazy goal!

    "GOALLLLLL¡­!!!"

    Lille''s Decathlon Arena stadium erupted, turning into a cauldron of noise.

    The passion of the fans could be felt as Jonathan David charged towards the corner flag, sliding on his knees and celebrating the goal wildly.

    Watching the stadium as they celebrated the goal, Sam could not help but feel wistful. ''In an alternate universe, I''d have played for Lille and not Fulham, right?''

    He still remembered vividly.

    After his 1 and half season with Enyimba FC in the NPFL, a few European clubs came for his signature then and if he didn''t remember wrong, Sam thought Lille was one of them and they gave him the highest monetary offer.

    In the end, he went to play for Fulham. He didn''t regret his decision though.

    Sam was not exactly sympathizing for them; he just entered that mood due to being influenced by the passion of the home fans in reaction to that goal. Well, he was still determined to doom them to defeat.

    In this game, Sam was man marked again.

    It only made him drop deep, increasing his influence in the overall dynamic of the game but Sam didn''t get many sights at goal himself.

    The first half ended 1-0 in Lille''s favor.

    But then in the 2nd half, in the 53rd minute of the game, Pedri flared to life, floating a perfect ball towards the left corner of the Lille 18-yard box for Raphinha to tap into an empty net. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The Brazilian celebrated his goal exuberantly.

    And then, just 5 minutes later, in the 58th minute, Raphinha did it again, this time from a Lamine Yamal trivela pass.

    Yamal received the pass at the far-right side of the pitch, torched his marker with a silky dribble, leaving the poor guy on his butt and then stretching his body, he played an unreal trivela pass that teasingly rolled past Lille''s defensive line, perfectly rolling into Raphinha''s front.

    Bam!

    With one touch, Raphinha pushed the ball and surged past the onrushing goalkeeper, accelerating to prevent the ball from rolling out for a goal kick.

    And then, from an acute angle, he hit it, sending it into the net.

    BOOM!

    The away section of the stadium erupted.

    This game, Sam didn''t have his usual level of influence but FC Barcelona won the game still. Raphinha won the man of the match award.

    In another rare game this season, Sam failed to score or assist.

    ¡­

    11th March, 2026¡­

    A week later, FC Barcelona welcomed Lille to the Spotify Camp Nou.

    Well, it was safe to say that the Catalans tore their opponents apart.

    In the 1st minute of the game, Sam lashed into a perfect Pedri pass, lobbing it past the goalkeeper to score the first goal of the game.

    In the 18th minute, Pedri doubled the score, making it 2-0 in Barca''s favor.

    In the 43rd minute of the game, Raphinha ended any contention in the tie as he scored Barca''s third goal of the night, dooming any Lille hopes of a comeback.

    In the 2nd half, Inigo Martinez leaped highest from a corner kick in the 82nd minute, scoring from a header to put his name on the scoresheet.

    At the end, it was a rout.

    FC Barcelona won 4-0 at home and 6-1 on aggregate.

    With that, they progressed to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League where they were guaranteed to meet a heavyweight of European football next based on the result of tomorrow''s games, no matter the result.

    The next day, Manchester City demolished Copenhagen in their tie, also progressing to the quarterfinals where they were automatically pitted against the Catalan giants in the next phase of the champions league.

    (UEFA Champions League:)

    (Quarterfinal:)

    (Leg 1 of 2:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Man City)

    (Date: 9th April, 2026)

    9th April was still a long time from now though, and so FC Barcelona focused on the next game on their agenda, another league game.

    And again, it was against a familiar opponent this season.

    (La Liga:)

    (Atletico Madrid ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 16th March, 2026)

    Again, FC Barcelona was to clash against Atletico Madrid this season.

    It was a league game and this time; they would be facing the Madrid team in away ground at the Metropolitano Stadium.

    Hansi Flick may have not played against the Madrid side at their home stadium yet, but he already had multiple experiences of playing against them this season. Not just that.

    More importantly, Hansi Flick had extensive data to pool from in his preparations for this blockbuster league game.

    No matter what form his team and his players were in, Hansi Flick knew that a trip to the Metropolitano was going to be tricky.

    He didn''t fret over it too much though.

    He simply did his best tactically, and left the rest to his players.

    And finally, it was time to test their mettle.

 Chapter 412 - 412: A blockbuster clash at the Metropolitano Stadium [1]

    16th March, 2026¡­

    A blockbuster clash between Atletico Madrid and FC Barcelona at the Metropolitano Stadium.

    The atmosphere in Madrid was electric.

    The Metropolitano was a cauldron of tension, a fortress bristling with defiance as Atletico Madrid and Barcelona clashed in this high-stakes La Liga showdown. The stakes were even higher due to their past history this season.

    Every seat in the stadium was filled, the air thick with anticipation and hostility. It was not a derby game, but the atmosphere was like one of a derby.

    It was a game between bitter rivals.

    Atletico Madrid hated Barcelona''s guts just as much as they hated the guts of their other nemesis, the club in the other side of Madrid, Real Madrid.

    The red and white faithful roared with tribal pride, their chants thunderous and unrelenting, shaking the steel bones of the stadium.

    But it was the traveling Barca fans, tucked into their section like a spark in dry grass who injected a reckless, overzealous energy into the night.

    By now, it was no news that Barca was stringing up an all-time great season this campaign if they continued with this momentum to the end of the season.

    They''ve beaten Atletico Madrid before this season, what was stopping them from defeating their rivals a second time?

    Barca fans have witnessed their team perform so many miracles this season, Sam coming up so many times that despite the fact that this was the Metropolitano, they still didn''t show any signs of fear.

    Flares lit up their enclave in molten blue and red, smoke coiling into the sky like a warning.

    They sang with delirious fervor, voices hoarse from passion and alcohol, jeering every Atletico gesture on the pitch, baiting the ultras with choruses that bordered on war cries.

    But of course, Atletico Madrid fans were not about to let their Catalan rivals outshout them in their own stadium.

    And so¡­

    BOOM!

    ¡­It became a tug of war among the fans.

    Banners danced wildly in the wind across the stadium, most from Atletico Madrid fans but Barca fans also raised banners, some defiant, others profane, all unapologetically provocative and loud.

    But one of them stood out.

    [Samuel Moses]

    [Happy 40th game of the season!]

    Yes, this game was Sam''s 40th game of the season in all competitions.

    Heck, he already lost count if not for the banner. This season, FC Barcelona fans seemed determined to follow every single statistic of his to the tee.

    The champions league clash against Lille may not have exactly pushed the Barca squad to its limits, but still, it was a UEFA Champions League clash, a competition where every team gave their all to win.

    Most of the Barca players were tired, still affected by fatigue but Hansi Flick didn''t change his formation still.

    For this game, he started with his best starting XI.

    And then¡­

    FWEEEE!

    The game started.

    And from the first minute of the game, Barca took the game by the scruff of the neck, dominating, but their dominance was brief. It didn''t last long.

    Just like Barca, Atletico Madrid started with their best lineup.

    And despite the initial dominance by the Catalan side, fueled by the relentless energy of their fans, Atletico Madrid were able to dig in and do what they did best under Diego Simeone, defend deep and hit them on the counter.

    The 1st minute passed, Barca dominating¡­

    The 2nd minute passed, the 5th¡­, the 10th¡­, then the 18th¡­

    Barca was still dominating, attacking, when Atletico Madrid''s stalwart defense won back the ball, immediately hitting the Catalans on the counter.

    Pedri lobbed a tricky pass into the 18-yard box, aiming to send the ball beyond the reach of the Atletico Madrid defenders but Robin Le Normand was having none of it as the Spaniard jumped, leaping highest to get to the ball.

    The Spaniard did it, and without hesitation, he headed the ball away to the right where Nahuel Molina, the Argentine International was already running.

    Raphinha pressed the Argentine International but Molina was calm.

    Bam!

    He took just one touch of the ball before passing the torch on, kicking the ball forward towards Giovanni Simeone, another Argentine International and the Atletico Madrid coach''s son.

    The Argentine received the ball, ran a bit with it, raised his head, spotted Julian Alvarez''s run before quickly kicking the ball long and high to the left.

    Like a remote-controlled missile, the ball moved with speed, arriving perfectly before Julian Alvarez at the left-hand side of the pitch. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Jules Kounde, Barca''s right back was caught out of position.

    He seemed¡­ to have beaten Barca''s highline!

    Bam!

    The Argentine International, Julian Alvarez did not hesitate, kicking the ball long and abusing his rapid speed to chase after it.

    Nicknamed the Spider, Alvarez was swift, rapid, and precise.

    Pau Cubarsi soon blocked him, making him slow down but just as the young Spanish center back went for the tackle, Alvarez tricked him, nutmegging him and skipping past him.

    Inigo Martinez read a moment of slight weakness in Alvarez''s strides, making him to instinctively step forward to make an aggressive tackle.

    But the Spider was rapid, too rapid.

    With one silky touch, he pushed the ball past Martinez to the right and just as he was about to stagger out of balance, he hit the ball with his right foot.

    BAM!

    Marc Andre Ter Stegen dived after the ball but his reflexes were not fast enough. The ball flashed past him, diving into the net.

    For a brief moment, there was silence, and then¡­ the Metropolitan erupted, turning into a cauldron of noise.

    Having been forced to defend since the first minute of this game, to launch their first attack and end up scoring in such decisive fashion left the fans of the Atletico persuasion feeling on top of the world.

    The Atletico Madrid fans went haywire in joy, screaming at the top of their lungs, Julian Alvarez was also about to charge towards the corner flag to celebrate when he noticed one of the linesmen raising something¡­ a flag.

    Alvarez''s eyes narrowed.

    FWEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle sounded, confirming it.

    It was an offside!

    "F*ck!" Alvarez cursed.

 Chapter 413 - 413: A blockbuster clash at the Metropolitano Stadium [2]

    And just like that, Barca survived the scare.

    After that scare though, the game became more even, Atletico Madrid slightly coming out of their shell to attack more.

    But it was still more or less the same Diego Simeone football.

    Nothing exciting, just plain, boring, old-school football. But it was effective. Like they say, if it ain''t bad, don''t fix it. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But then, today, it was not so good.

    After repeated knocking at the door of the fearsome Atletico Madrid defense to no avail for more than 40 minutes, hit by a stroke of luck, FC Barcelona finally broke the duck, scoring the first goal of the game.

    It came in the 42nd minute.

    And once again, Sam was at the heart of the action.

    Just like in the Lille game, Atletico Madrid gave one of their defenders the task of man-marking Sam on this game. Like most other teams that faced FC Barcelona this season, they were wary of the threat posed by their striker.

    Clement Lenglet, the ex-Barca player man-marked Sam and he was doing an amazing job at it so far.

    He was not alone in doing that unenviable job though.

    It was just too easy for Sam to dribble past him though he also stood his ground most times. So, in most occasions, as soon as Sam received the ball, Clement Lenglet''s role was not to stop him but to slow him down.

    Slow him down long enough for any of his teammates to join him as fast as possible, double-teaming Sam to stop him.

    The rest of the Barca attack was being shackled like this, even Lamine Yamal was tamed by an especially ferocious Cesar Aspilicueta this game.

    The young Spaniard uncharacteristically lost the ball too many times.

    The only player that played his normal game, dictating the tempo in the middle of the park was Pedri.

    And yet, Pedri alone could not make Barca win.

    This was why Atletico Madrid focused on the game changers, Sam, Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, locking them out of the game.

    For over 40 minutes, it worked, till it no longer worked.

    After more physical harassment from Clement Lenglet, Sam left his marker, leaving the striker position and dropping deep.

    That was when Pedri played a pass to him.

    As soon as the ball rolled towards him, Sam heard it¡­

    Thud! Thud!

    The sound of Lenglet''s boots behind him, the defender clearly ready to do anything, no matter how dirty or rough to stop him in his tracks.

    Knowing this, Sam didn''t keep hold of the ball, he didn''t even try to control it and rather flicked it on immediately.

    Bam!

    Bending his boots slightly, he flicked the ball, passing it on as soon as he arrived to the right, making Lenglet hesitate.

    In that hesitation, Sam bent his body, using one hand to shove Lenglet''s outstretched arms out of the way to avoid being grappled.

    He escaped Lenglet''s hold.

    With Sam''s back to the goal when he received the pass, to his right was Raphinha. The Brazilian was the recipient of Sam''s pass and like Sam, he didn''t receive a lot of time to settle on the ball.

    As soon as the pass came, Raphinha didn''t hesitate as noticing Sam''s run after evading Clement Lenglet, he passed to him.

    Pablo Barrios, the Atletico Madrid midfielder charged in, trying to stop Sam but having seen his shadow before he arrived, Sam reacted instinctively, hitting the ball, pushing it in between his legs.

    As Sam was about to charge past him after the ball, desperate, Barrios tried to react but he was already too out of balance.

    So, he slipped¡­ and fell to his butt.

    Thud!

    Without looking at him, Sam kept moving, but then¡­

    Whoosh!

    A sliding tackle from Conor Gallagher.

    Bam!

    Reacting swiftly, Sam pushed the ball with the outside of his boot towards Lamine Yamal while jumping at the same time, narrowly avoiding Conor Gallagher''s dangerously outstretched legs.

    Bam!

    Tiki taka!

    Lamine Yamal didn''t hold on to the ball either. Showing his flare, as soon as he received the ball, he quickly sent it back with a silky backheeled touch.

    The ball rolled into Sam''s path in the 18-yard box.

    By now, he was already dangerously close to Jan Oblak, the Atletico Madrid goalkeeper. And that was when a 2nd sliding tackle came in!

    Whoosh!

    This time, Sam didn''t pass, neither did he jump.

    He was moving with speed since, but as soon as Sam noticed the shadow movement first, he showed incredible technique, bringing his body to a halt immediately, killing all the momentum of his run.

    He was only able to do this due to countless hours of training with the ball, mastering his physicality to an unreal level.

    By stopping so abruptly, Sam allowed Robin Le Normand''s sliding tackle to slide harmlessly past him, and then he moved again.

    Thud!

    Jan Oblak finally charged out as Robin Le Normand quickly inclined his head, looking, waiting to know their fate.

    Jan Oblak''s reaction was fast, but Sam already expected it, and so¡­

    Bam!

    He hit with the ball outside of his boot again, calmly nutmegging the goalkeeper as the ball rolled towards goal.

    Thud! Thud! Thud!

    Nahuel Molina who had been charging back since increased his speed, chasing after the ball, trying to execute a goal line clearance but he was not fast enough. The ball just crossed the line when he arrived, hitting it outside.

    But then¡­

    FWEEE!

    Goal line technology sealed Atletico Madrid''s fate.

    It was a goal.

    BOOM!

    The Metropolitano erupted, Barca fans roaring at the top of their lungs even as Sam charged towards the corner flag, doing the Cole Palmer Cold celebration.

    ''Damn!''

    The Atletico Madrid fans were quiet, they truly felt cold.

    That goal¡­ decided the game.

    The first half ended 0-1 in Barca''s favor.

    The second half was even more boring and at the same time more tense than the first. Atletico Madrid came out more to attack, this time Barca being forced to defend. Even Sam went back to defend at times.

    After 90 minutes, the game did not provide a second goal.

    The game ended 0-1 in Barca''s favor.

    Another 3 points for the Catalan giants, another man of the match award for Sam in his milestone 40th game of the season.

    Sam was living the life.

 Chapter 414 - 414: Public figure

    (ESPN News:)

    (Another FC Barcelona game, another FC Barcelona win, another Sam MOTM performance. Samuel Moses''s sole goal was the difference maker between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. Video highlights attached:)

    ¡­

    (Supersport News:)

    (FC Barcelona on a quadruple race? The Catalan giants already won the Supercopa de Espana trophy this season, retaining it. They''re in the semifinal of the Copa del Rey, they''re in the quarterfinal of the UEFA Champions League, and the Spanish La Liga race is basically concluded already. Can they do it?)

    (With Samuel Moses in their ranks, Barca is limitless this season.)

    ¡­

    (GOAL.com:)

    (Dissecting the statistics behind Sam''s 40th game of the season: 40 games, 55 goals, 33 assists, 88 combined goal contributions!)

    (Never has the world seen this since Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo!)

    (This season, Samuel Moses has outscored Manchester United, Chelsea FC, Dortmund FC, and other notable football clubs in the world.)

    (Give the ballon d''Or award to its rightful winner already.)

    These days, the name Samuel Moses was synonymous with the word ''excellence'' in football.

    This season, Sam already became a benchmark for which other world class professional football players were gauged despite being just 20 years old, a fact that still left a lot of people reeling in shock and disbelief.

    The striker was clever, mature far beyond his age.

    And his athletic ability was just borderline crazy.

    Since the turn of the year after returning from the AFCON tournament, Sam''s popularity exploded again, reaching an all-time high.

    Because of him, a lot of people that never watched the AFCON tournament watched it this year and they were not disappointed.

    Watching the young Nigerian prodigy in action alone was worth it.

    These days, Sam was a public figure.

    After the AFCON tournament, even more prominent companies of the world approached him to sign endorsement deals. Finally acknowledging that his fianc¨¦e was better at these things than him, he left it all to Kayla and his father.

    It still felt surreal but yes, Sam already engaged Kayla.

    She was now his fianc¨¦e.

    The person who was most happy by this was not Sam, not even Kayla, but rather Mrs. Moses. These days, the woman was always perpetually giddy, never failing to boast about her son and his fianc¨¦e at every opportunity that she got.

    She kept pestering Sam about what day he decided for the marriage ceremony. Like usual, Sam was just left exasperated by his mom''s nagging.

    He kept evading her probing, but he knew that this strategy won''t last much longer. Sooner or later, he would have to decide on a date.

    Marriage, it was still an alien concept to Sam.

    A few years ago, Sam never expected that he would be thinking about marriage at the young age of 20 but well, here he was.

    Success had a way of changing expectations and the way you look at the world. His successful football career already changed his world in so many ways.

    Sam didn''t think too much about it though.

    ''We''ll decide later''. He thought.

    ''For now,'' he grinned. ''It''s time for an interview''.

    Yes, Sam was a public figure now and after the game against Atletico Madrid, one of the biggest TV shows in Spain decided to have an interview with him, reviewing his highly successful season so far.

    "Sam, welcome to the show, how do you feel?"

    Sam grinned. "I feel great".

    The host smiled. He was a middle-aged man with short brown hair and a neatly trimmed brown beard. "Once again, your goal was the difference maker in a game where FC Barcelona was frustrated by the best defense in Spain". S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "How does it feel to be the star of such a star-studded squad?"

    Sam shrugged. "I don''t really think about that much. Like you said, the Barca squad is star-studded. Rather than thinking about who is a star and who is not, I think on the pitch, all we think about is how to win".

    "You''re right". The host smiled. "Afterall, winning is the most important thing".

    "This season, you''ve broken numerous goalscoring and assists records already. At this rate, you may go on and break Lionel Messi''s record of the most goals and assists in a calendar year, how do you feel about that?"

    Sam smiled and rubbed his nose. "First, I feel flattered that my name is being mentioned in the same breath is Lionel Messi". He chuckled. "Really".

    He leaned back on his chair with a sigh. "Growing up, Lionel Messi was my idol, my G.O.A.T, the pinnacle of professional football".

    "To know that I''m breaking records that were set for him, and with FC Barcelona, honestly, it warms my heart more than anything".

    "I just wish he was here to witness me do it".

    Smiling sheepishly, he looked at the camera. "Umm, Messi, if you''re looking, one of my big dreams was playing for Barca while you watch from the stands. So um, if you can, visit the Spotify Camp Nou". He laughed.

    The host laughed. "Well, Sam, I''m sure Messi heard you".

    "I guess we have to watch out for the G.O.A.T now, right?"

    "Yes". Sam laughed again.

    After that, the host of the show asked a dozen more questions about Sam''s season; about his growing popularity, how he was dealing with it; about his numbers this season, how he managed to stay fit throughout the season.

    And then questions about the dynamic in the Barcelona squad under Hansi Flick, his relationship with his teammates, which of his teammates he was closest to, and who his best friend was.

    When the host asked him who his best friend was, Sam stared at the middle-aged man with a strange smile on his face.

    "You don''t know him?"

    The host was surprised by his question. "Your best friend? No". He laughed.

    Sam smiled. "With the amount of information about me that is online these days, I would have thought you''d know. My best friend is Ian".

    His smile widened thinking of Ian who was now closer than ever to getting his medical license.

    "Me and Ian, we''ve been together in like forever".

    "There''s no phase of my life that I can think back to with Ian not in it. He''s always been there, running with me, playing with me, moving forward with me".

    "In a few years, he''ll get his medical license and then," he grinned. "I''ll have my personal doctor".

    He looked at the camera. "Fans, those of you who are worried about my fitness, don''t worry. With Ian, I''ll be as safe as anything can be".

    "Besides, you can patronize him too. He''s my best friend so it should be a no-brainer," he grinned. "He''s good at what he does".

    After a few more questions, including questions on FC Barcelona''s next fixtures and if they actually had what it took to win a quadruple this season, the show finally came to an end.

    Sam was at the height of his career.

    Could he climb even higher?

    Who knows? But he was excited to know.

 Chapter 415 - 415: Blitz

    After the Atletico Madrid game and the interview that followed, Sam didn''t have the chance to engage in anymore idle activities simply because this was still the deep end of the season.

    And FC Barcelona was at the heart of it, competing in 4 different competitions still, trying to win every single one of them.

    Sam didn''t change anything, he continued his boring, monotonic schedule.

    Every day, he tackled his daily system mission alongside his friends, jogging through the streets of Barcelona, working out at the Spotify Camp Nou gym, and being punctual for team training every single day.

    Not just that, Sam organized personal training sessions with his friends.

    Before now, Pedri, Gavi, Lamine Yamal, and Alejandro Balde were already billed and recognized as some of the best and most exciting players in their different positions in the world.

    They were taking the world of football by storm since, but with Sam''s crazy rise, their success was put into perspective.

    The 4 Spanish players once thought they already hit their peak, the best form that they could reach, but playing alongside Sam and being friends with him but things into perspective.

    Being privileged to train with him every day, they learned a bitter truth, the truth that they were not yet at their peak.

    Maybe they were but heck, they could go further.

    There was nothing like perfection, just a constant chase for it. That was what they learned from the Black Mamba himself.

    Staying around Sam everyday has a way of affecting your psyche, you start developing the same mamba mentality that he has.

    The mentality that everything is achievable with the right amount of hard work, the mentality that impossible is nothing.

    And so, they worked, and worked, and worked again. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And the games kept coming, and they tackled them as they came.

    It was almost¡­ a blitz.

    Well, it was, the well-oiled machine piloted by Hansi Flick took on the rest of the football world without fear, competing in 4 different competitions.

    The first of them all were 2 La Liga clashes.

    (La Liga:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Osasuna)

    (Date: 27th March, 2026)

    ¡­

    (Barcelona ¨C Girona)

    (Date: 30th March, 2026)

    Hansi Flick approached both games cleverly, brilliantly rotating his team while keeping enough elite players on the pitch to pose a threat.

    The first game against Osasuna was a breeze to the Barca players.

    This time, Raphinha took matters into his own hands, scoring his first hattrick of the season. The game ended 4-0, a totally one-sided thrashing.

    The first goal came as early as the 18th minute, and this time, it was tiki taka football at its finest. Raphinha played one touch football with Sam, cutting Osasuna''s defense open like a hot knife through butter before eventually poking the ball past the goalkeeper.

    The second goal came in the 23rd minute, this time Lamine Yamal receiving a pass from Pedri before dribbling into the box and passing it into the bottom right corner, deceiving the goalkeeper to score.

    The first half came to an end 2-0 in Barca''s favor.

    Mere 3 minutes after second half started, Sam was tripped just outside the box and feeling it today, Raphinha requested from the striker to take the freekick.

    Sam didn''t argue, letting the Brazilian loose as Raphinha whipped in a perfect freekick, sending it into the top right corner.

    In the 48th minute, 3-0¡­

    And then in the 77th minute, Raphinha got his hattrick, lashing with a powerful volleyed shot after a silky Pau Cubarsi pass from deep.

    And like that, Barca won 4-0.

    Raphinha won the man of the match award.

    Against Girona was not much different. At the Spotify Camp Nou, the Catalans put out an almost perfect display, clinching victory with a 3-1 score line.

    This time, Sam was the star of the show.

    The first 2 goals were absolute stunners, both sent from outside the box, beating Girona''s goalkeeper with both his left and right foot.

    Sam''s lightning-fast double in the 12th and 15th minute doomed Girona, wiping away any hopes of an upset at the Spotify Camp Nou.

    In the 2nd half, Gavi completed the route, scoring from an Alejandro Balde pass after an overlapping run.

    Girona got a consolation goal late on but it didn''t matter.

    Sam won the man of the match award.

    ¡­

    (Copa del Rey:)

    (Semifinal:)

    (Leg 2 of 2:)

    (Atletico Madrid ¨C Barcelona)

    This season, the Catalan and Madrid clubs were at loggerheads with each other as this was already their 4th clash of the season.

    In the first leg of the semifinal clash, Atletico Madrid secured a 4-4 draw at the Spotify Camp Nou. At the Metropolitano, theoretically, they were supposed to have the advantage but it didn''t amount to much in the end.

    Once again, a player was their doom¡­ Samuel Moses.

    Sam didn''t score a goal neither did he register and assist but he was everywhere this game, helping Pedri orchestrate play from deep.

    His imprints were in everything Barca, pressurizing the Madrid side.

    The first half ended in a goalless draw but in the 2nd half, Jules Kounde whipped a cross in for Raphinha to lash in, scoring the first goal of the game in the 64th minute.

    And then in the 78th minute, Barca completed their assignment, this time Frankie De Jong scoring the goal after a series of passing sequences that started from Sam winning the ball from high up.

    And just like that, Atletico Madrid trailed 0-2 in their own home stadium, in the semifinal of the Copa del Rey.

    The Atletico Madrid fans were incensed but they didn''t let it show against their players, turning into furious support for their team instead.

    They booed every touch that a Barca player made after the 78th minute, their voices rising loudest when Sam touched the ball.

    It seemed to work, Barca failed to score a third goal but Atletico Madrid also failed to breach Barca''s highline effectively.

    Julian Alvarez was caught offside 6 times!

    And so, Barca won.

    Once again this season, in a high stakes game against the Catalan giants, Atletico Madrid saw themselves on the wrong side of a 0-2 score line.

    This time, it was even more destructive as they were knocked out of the Copa del Rey tournament.

    Barca progressed.

    They blitzed through 3 opponents like they were not there.

 Chapter 416 - 416: Against Real Betis

    It was a Saturday evening in Barcelona.

    5th April, 2026¡­

    The return leg of the La Liga fixture against Real Betis.

    These days, weeks precisely, FC Barcelona was unplayable, unreal.

    They were on a generational run of form.

    To most FC Barcelona fans, the notion of their main striker being Robert Lewandowski was as ancient as Slim Shady ruling the world of rap in the early 2000s. This season, Sam was doing the work even better than the real striker.

    This FC Barcelona side was just a well-oiled machine firing on all cylinders, a machine that could not be stopped, churning with peak efficiency.

    Hansi Flick football was gold, unplayable, untouchable.

    And with Sam, that menace, they were unbeatable.

    (La Liga:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Real Betis)

    (Date: 5th April, 2026)

    In the first leg of this fixture, just a few months after Anthony made the switch from Manchester United to the Spanish La Liga, plying his trade for Real Betis, they actually managed to play the Catalan giants to a draw.

    On that game, Anthony was a menace to the Barca defense.

    Could they do it again? Today?

    Well, the questions would answer themselves in a few hours.

    The Real Betis squad came to the Spotify Camp Nou in high spirits. Afterall, despite coming to the stadium of the most in-form team in Spain, they were no slouch either, they were in a good run of form.

    They were on a run of 5 games without a loss, 3 wins.

    And so, Real Betis came confident.

    Like expected, both teams lined up with their best formation.

    For Barcelona, Hansi Flicks stuck with his 4-2-3-1 formation, Ter Stegen between the posts; Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsi, Ronald Araujo, and Jules Kound in defense; Pedri and Frankie De Jong in midfield.

    As for attack, Gavi took the attacking midfield role, Lamine Yamal playing to his right as the right winger, Raphinha on his left as the left winger, while Barca''s sharpest weapon, Sam stayed up front leading the line as the striker.

    As for Real Betis? They started with the same 4-2-3-1 formation.

    Adrian started in between the posts as the goalkeeper; Perraud, Natan, Bartra, and Ruibal started in defense; Altimira and Cardoso started in midfield, while the attack consisted of familiar faces like expected.

    Giovanni Lo Celso played in attacking midfield, while to his right was the G.O.A.T, Anthony. To Lo Celso''s right was Fornals, and up ahead leading the line as the striker was Hernandez.

    The atmosphere at the Spotify Camp Nou was electric.

    The home fans were loud but not just them, the traveling away fans were charged with endless energy. They clearly had hopes of creating an upset.

    Could they?

    FWEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle cut through the clamor like the edge of a blade, and then, the action started on the pitch.

    The first half was a bloodbath.

    Both sides recklessly went on the attack, throwing themselves at each other recklessly in a game of end-to-end football, attacking relentlessly.

    Of course, it was extremely exciting for the neutral onlookers.

    For the fans connected to both teams though, it was nothing short of nerve-wracking.

    The sheer amount of shots on target, the sheer amount of goalkeeper saves, both goalkeeper were in top form.

    The game was exciting but the first game didn''t come till later in the first half.

    Heck, it came in additional time of the first half.

    And of course, it came from the King in Catalan, Samuel Moses.

    It originated from a corner kick.

    Pedri played a short pass to Gavi who stood with him close to the corner, and as he charged out from the corner flag, a Real Betis player quickly closing them down, Gavi left the ball to his Spanish counterpart.

    As chaos started in the Real Betis 18-yard box, Pedri took one last look inside the box, and then¡­ S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Bam!

    He hit it.

    A delicate, silky, devilishly accurate cross.

    It was a literal piece of art as the ball floated through the air, creating an arc as it curved, diving towards the other end of the box¡­ where a few players in blue and red lurked. And one of them was¡­ Sam.

    Thud!

    Kicking the ground, Sam leaped high into the air.

    And for a brief moment, he seemed to be floating, suspended in the air.

    "¡­!"

    Time seemed to freeze.

    In that brief moment in the air, Sam seemed to turn into a prime Cristiano Ronaldo and as the ball descended, he twisted his head swiftly after the ball.

    Bam!

    The ball hit his head and with the last-second twist of his head, he directed it, planting an accurate header towards the top left corner.

    Adrian, Real Betis'' goalkeeper reacted, diving but it was too late, and dangerous.

    At the last moment, the goalkeeper recoiled, protecting himself as he crashed into the goalpost. He barely protected his head.

    And the outcome?

    The ball nestled into the net.

    "GOALLLL¡­!!!"

    The Spotify Camp Nou erupted, turning into a cauldron of noise.

    What¡­ a goal!

    The commentators went haywire, going lyrical as they described the goal, screaming shrilly at the top of their lungs.

    That goal was magical, but it was not the only goal.

    In the 2nd half, Barca started an onslaught. Sam got the 2nd goal, setting the tempo and this time he lashed into a Lamine Yamal cross, scoring an incredible bicycle kick goal, another highlight in this game.

    He scored in the 55th minute of the game.

    55 minutes, 2-0¡­

    Pedri found the net in the 61st minute, sealing the game but Barca was not satisfied yet. Alejandro Balde scored the 4th goal of the game.

    Running all the way from defense with the ball, the attacking left back dribbled through Real Betis players like they were not there and suddenly one-on-one with the goalkeeper, he kept his composure to score an amazing goal.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!!!"

    The energy in this stadium exploded, turning into a supernova!

    BARCA¡­ was unplayable.

    After 90 minutes, the game ended 4-0 in favor of Barcelona, and Sam claimed another man of the match award.

 Chapter 417 - 417: UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal; Man City vs Barcelona [1]

    Just like Atletico Madrid, Real Betis was blown out of the way by the unstoppable hurricane called FC Barcelona.

    Their quadruple hopes were still alive.

    In the Copa del Rey, FC Barcelona was already in the final where Real Madrid awaited them. In the league, they had a comfortable 7-point lead over second-place Real Madrid now.

    And now, they could finally focus on the biggest of their 4 targets for the season, the UEFA Champions League.

    (UEFA Champions League:)

    (Quarterfinal:)

    (Leg 1 of 2:)

    (Man City ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 9th April, 2026)

    Last season, after years of dominance in the English Premier League, Pep Guardiola''s Man City finally faltered, having their very first off season, the worst of the Catalan tactician''s Man City career.

    They called it worst because it was Manchester City though. Under Pep Guardiola, the sky blues already built too fearsome of a reputation in England.

    In recent years, they were the benchmark of excellence in English football.

    This was why their fall was scrutinized so much.

    But that so-called fall was subjective. Afterall, despite the so-called fall, Manchester City still finished in the top 4 of the English premier leagues, meaning they were part of the best 4 English teams last season.

    They may have gone trophyless, but still it was not a total disaster.

    Despite this though, a lot of people, fans came for Man City''s head. The scrutiny was borderline crazy, the criticism was depression-inducing, it was pure chaos and for a time, even the stalwart Pep Guardiola seemed to run out of ideas.

    Man City legends like Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva were called washed, fans seeking for their departure.

    Erling Haaland was called a ghost in games that mattered.

    Pep Guardiola was called to resign, that he already lost his magic touch.

    Well, despite all that criticism, Manchester City held. They managed to stay stalwart. Despite the rest of the English premier league attacking and criticizing them, somehow, they managed to keep their head in the game.

    They accepted the failure of the 2025/2025 season, and then they went to holidays to prepare for a comeback in the 2025/2026 season.

    Well, the sky blues did it¡­, they were back.

    Manchester City was comfortably leading the premier league race this season as the top club, they were still in the FA Cup, and most importantly, they were now in the quarterfinal of the UEFA Champions League, about to clash with Barcelona.

    This season, Haaland already returned to his goalscoring best.

    Kevin De Bruyne somehow overcame his injury issues, staying fit and with it, the Belgian maestro returned to his very best.

    De Bruyne said it himself at the beginning of the season, this was his final run in a Manchester City jersey.

    It was the final charge of the assist king in Manchester.

    Not just him, other veterans like Ikay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva decided to stay for 1 more season, though both now played in a reduced role.

    And of course, with Rodri back, Manchester City was suddenly the all-conquering side that the whole of Europe once feared again.

    Pep Guardiola was back being the tactical genius again, the football maniac.

    This was why this quarterfinal clash was so pivotal and filled with so much hype. Afterall, this was a clash between 2 of the most inform teams in Europe.

    Barcelona was taking the Spanish La Liga by storm this season while Manchester City was once again taking the English Premier League by storm.

    In the goals'' side, Haaland was Sam''s only close contender this season.

    And in the assist side, De Bruyne was the closest to Sam.

    In the build-up to the game, three names dominated; Samuel Moses, Erling Haaland, and Kevin De Bruyne. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It was going to be a clash of epic proportions.

    And then, the official lineup was released.

    Hansi Flick didn''t change anything, it was the same lineup that he used against Real Betis. As for Pep Guardiola, he also used his best lineup.

    Lining up in a 4-4-2 formation, Ederson manned the posts for the Manchester club, while the defense comprised of Josko Gvardiol in left back, Ruben Dias and John Stones in center defense, and Manuel Akanji in right back.

    In midfield was Rodri holding the fort, joined by Phil Foden, and both flanked by Kevin De Bruyne on the right and Ikay Gundogan on the left.

    As for the 2-man attack, it was formed by Omar Marmoush and Erling Haaland. This season, the duo already built a fearsome reputation for themselves.

    They were called the twin Devils of Manchester.

    When the Barcelona team bus showed up to the Etihad, they received a sufficiently hostile welcome.

    The atmosphere inside the Etihad was crazy, electric.

    Since his career started, Sam had played in multiple big and iconic stadiums, exposed to crazy atmospheres and noise but today¡­, the atmosphere at the Etihad was something else.

    This season, Manchester City fans were extra passionate.

    An off-season was all it took for them to appreciate what their coach and players had been doing since. And now, their support for the club was even more staunch and stalwart.

    Exposed to this atmosphere, Sam could not help it, he felt awe, and a bit of trepidation but he didn''t let that feeling settled.

    That feeling made him feel¡­ challenged.

    And trust Sam, challenges were his daily staple; he loved them.

    He embraced the challenge, letting it become a fuel that ignited something inside of him. A fire.

    Once the spark lit up, it soon turned into a blazing inferno.

    Badump! Badump!

    Sam could feel his heart beating fast.

    The atmosphere was slightly cold but he could feel none of it as adrenaline surged through his bloodstream, keeping his brain awake and alert.

    Even while he stood still, he felt like he was floating.

    Sam recognized this feeling.

    He grinned. ''Today is gonna be a great day''.

    The players shook hands, separated into their different sides of the pitch, went into formation, and then¡­

    FWEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle cut through the atmosphere, serving as the signal.

    The game started.

 Chapter 418 - 418: UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal; Man City vs Barcelona [2]

    FWEEEE!

    The whistle cut through the stadium like a blade, and then, it started.

    The war at the Etihad.

    2 of the most in-form teams in the UEFA Champions League this season clashed in a highly-anticipated game, a game that promised excitement, action, and drama. A game where the star players took the stage as well as their coaches did.

    Yes, tonight, it was not just a clash between the players of both teams, a lot of it was also focused on the 2 coaches.

    The reason for the focus on Hansi Flick was self-explanatory. Last season, he led Barca''s resurgence at the top of European football and this season, with the addition of Sam, the German coach was forging an all-time great season with the Catalan club.

    As for Pep Guardiola? It was simple, the coach was Catalan.

    He was born and bred in Barcelona.

    Not just that, he was an FC Barcelona product. He once played for the club as a defensive midfielder having graduated from the academy; he had the Barca DNA soaked and ingrained in his bones.

    Still, that was not all.

    The true reason for the scrutiny and excitement is because in history, certain Barca squads are recognized among the best football squads of all time, and the all-conquering Barca squads coached by Pep Guardiola fall into this category.

    Pep Guardiola is a Barca legend.

    This was not just any game; it was a game of lost love, lingering love, complicated emotions, and pure Catalan football.

    The game started, and Hansi Flick''s Barca let loose.

    The 2 clubs'' philosophies under their different coaches could not have been more different, and it added to the excitement of the game.

    Hansi Flick''s Barca held on to the crisp passing style DNA of the club, but with a twist, the Hansi Flick twist.

    Instead of just passing, passing till you score, Hansi Flick''s Barca is high octane. It utilizes lots of precise passing, yes. But it also utilizes electric wingers in Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, adding a direct element to Barca''s style of play.

    And most importantly, he played a very highline, a system that most clubs across Europe were yet to fully grasp even in the coach''s 2nd season in charge.

    As for Pep Guardiola?

    He was Barca through and through.

    Even with Manchester City, he stayed true to his Catalan heritage, drilling a Man City team that excelled in patiently passing their opponent to death.

    This game was as much a clash of footballing philosophies as it was a clash of players; which philosophy would win?

    BOOM!

    The Etihad was loud.

    The Manchester City fans created an atmosphere of noise that buoyed their team on like a mantle of power, infusing them with relentless energy and for the first few minutes of the game, they dominated.

    Barca was forced to defend.

    Bam! Bam!

    Crisp, short passes tore the Barca formation open again and again.

    In the middle of the park, the midfield quadruple of Rodri, Phil Foden, Ikay Gundogan, and Kevin De Bruyne dominated the game, overwhelming Barca''s midfield for a time as they passed circles around their opponents.

    And whenever the ball got to Kevin, the Belgian maestro, the Barca defense shuddered in trepidation with lingering fear of the Belgian''s passing ability.

    Kevin De Bruyne already released 2 of those killer passes that cut the Barca defense open, his teammates just failing to capitate on the chances that he reacted.

    Also, the Barca defense was playing at an elite level. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Not just Barca, Man City''s defense was a rock this game.

    Even with the fearsome attacking trio of Sam, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha, Man City''s drilled defense this season held their own against the onslaught of highly talented forwards.

    It was an exciting game of end-to-end football.

    Barcelona was more on the backfoot, but more often than not, it was even and there were exciting matchups all over the pitch.

    Phil Foden vs Pedri in the middle of the park.

    Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush vs Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi.

    Kevin de Bruyne vs the whole Barca defense.

    Lamine Yamal vs Josko Gvardiol.

    Raphinha vs Manuel Ajanji.

    Rodri vs every Barca player that tried to run through his side of the pitch with the ball. This game, the towering Spaniard was perfect in his tackling and interception. He limited the ball being fed to Barca''s lethal striker.

    The game was tough, end to end, and extremely exciting, but then just a few minutes after 10 minutes, a player struck¡­

    ¡­SAM!

    Sam struck first.

    For the first 10 minutes of this game, he was starved of chances as the towering Ruben Dias shadowed him, monitoring his every move.

    For the first 10 minutes of this game, Sam had just 2 touches of the ball, 2 touches! That was how hopeless his situation was this game.

    But then, the single instance when he finally abandoned his spot as the mine striker, dropping deep, that was when everything changed.

    Ruben Dias knew that Sam won''t stay in one place all game, his fellow defenders knew. Afterall, even their coach already discussed that point for them.

    They''ve watched countless games and seen how Sam do it, but still, when the time came, reality was vastly different from a highlight reel.

    Bam!

    Pedri played a long ground pass towards Sam.

    Ruben Dias quickly closed him down, slightly pushing against his back but resting his body backward on the defender, Sam managed to absolve the pressure, holding his ground as the ball rolled towards him.

    With his back towards goal and Ruben Dias, one moment, it seemed as if he was about to trap the ball and then in the last second, he inclined his leg, flicking the ball with his heel instead to the right.

    Whoosh!

    The ball rose high into the air to the right, Ruben Dias quickly following it with his eyes but before the defender could react, the more agile Sam already did.

    Spinning in one place, Sam evaded Ruben Dias'' press.

    He chased the ball, then¡­

    Bam!

    He hit the ball with his chest, pushing it further forward into the Man City 18-yard box.

    John Stones quickly reacted, closing him down.

    After hitting the ball with his chest, Sam controlled it some more with his lap, keeping his eyes on John Stones. And then¡­ what he waited for came.

    Ruben Dias rapidly recovered, closing the distance.

    Hearing the sound of boots hitting the ground, Sam''s eyes gleamed, and then¡­

    Tap!

    A delicate tap of the ball, so delicate it almost didn''t make a sound.

    With that silky touch of the ball, flicking his leg at the last moment, the ball moved backwards slightly and to the right since Sam was now facing the goal.

    The ball flew through the air, and Ruben Dias flew past it with speed.

    The Portuguese defender realized his mistake too late.

    John Stones who didn''t have to fight against the force of inertia reacted faster, charging forward and jumping, blocking with his leg and body. But it was too late.

    Immediately after flicking the ball, Sam turned after it and then¡­

    BAM!

    A volleyed shot with his right foot, so powerful it sounded like a gunshot.

    It''s speed? It was that of a missile.

    Ederson was rooted to one spot.

    The net shook¡­

    "GOALLLLLLLL¡­!!!"

    Etihad roared to life.

 Chapter 419 - 419: War at the Etihad

    Barca stored first!

    At the Etihad.

    Yes, the Catalan club was in form, maybe even the form of their lives but no one saw this coming, not even the Barca players themselves.

    They expected to play a hard and extremely tough game, a game where Man City held the most advantages, and yet, they scored first.

    "GOALLLL¡­!!!"

    The Barca players celebrated excitedly, their fans joining them, roaring at the top of their lungs even as the commentators went haywire, waxing lyrical about the crazy nature of that goal and how unexpected it was.

    Charging towards the corner flag, Sam slid on his knees in celebration and when he rose to his feet, he kissed the Barcelona badge passionately.

    And then, the Sam chants broke out at the Etihad.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    The Man City fans felt a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu.

    They''ve heard this chant before, but not from Barca fans. Then, it was from Fulham fans. Against them, this Sam always seemed to receive a boost.

    ''This bastard¡­!''

    They were incensed but there was nothing they could do.

    And then, the referee''s whistle reverberated again; the game continued.

    That goal felt like an injection of energy to the Barca players as with it, their gameplay improved immediately with Sam leading the charge.

    But despite that goal, Man City didn''t rollover in defeat though.

    Not tonight, not in front of their fans!

    Rather, the sky-blues showed defiant energy and fight.

    Sam scored in the 14th minute of the game and from then on, it didn''t seem like a game of football anymore, rather it felt like a war.

    War at the Etihad.

    Bam! Bam! Bam!

    And the ammunition and bullets were the star players of both sides.

    After that goal, Ruben Dias and John Stones were even more rough on Sam, Barca''s star player but Sam didn''t cower. He took them on without fear and the result of it was extreme exhaustion.

    He was sweating like a Bull of labor.

    In the tightness of the game, in the middle of the pitch, Pedri and Phil Foden shined for their respective teams.

    Anytime they had the ball in the middle of the park, they seemed always able to do something that made their fans rise to their feet in awe and excitement.

    With silky touches, deceptive body movement and body feints, they weaved in and out, throwing passes like and right like Ancient Weavers of destruction.

    Ikay Gundogan assisted Phil Foden in dictating the tempo of the game.

    As for Kevin De Bruyne, he was a menace all game, throwing passes left and right, chasing the ball down relentlessly.

    He was giving his all in the game.

    And then Rodri? He was a rock in the middle of the park. No one could pass him.

    And on the other side, just as Sam tangled with Ruben Dias and John Stones, so did Omar Marmoush and Erling Haaland tangled with Barca''s center defenders all night, pushing them to the limit.

    It was a tight game.

    It was an exciting game.

    And then¡­

    FWEEEE!

    First half came to an end, 0-1¡­

    During halftime, Hansi Flick had a passionate team talk with his players, emphasizing the important of winning this game.

    He admonished his players to stay focused till the final whistle.

    Pep Guardiola?

    The Catalan coach ignited a fire in the cold expanse of his players'' hearts.

    And in the second half, Man City erupted.

    They came out with vastly different energy; the way they carried themselves was different; the way they played, chased after the ball, passed, all of it was different; more focused, more straightforward, and more lethal.

    For a few minutes after the restart, Barca failed to adjust to the sudden radical tempo switch of their opponents, and they were punished for it.

    In the 53rd minute, Kevin De Bruyne finally did it.

    From the right, after evading a tackle from Frankie De Jong, the Belgian maestro whipped his right leg, floating a dangerous cross into the box.

    The ball seemed to have been overhit, but was it really?

    The ball passed above all the players in Barca''s box, floating towards the edge of the post, where Marc Andre Ter Stegen was already rushing towards, and then¡­ a miracle happened at the Etihad.

    Whoosh!

    The ball that seemed to be overhit, one player could get to it.

    Erling Haaland leapt high, soaring into the air like some bird and just as the ball was about to float out for a goal kick, he raised his right leg high acrobatically, placing it in the ball''s path, and then¡­

    Bam!

    His leg touched the ball!

    The ball that seemed unassailable, unreachable by any other player, the tall, imposing, and athletic Erling Haaland got to it.

    And with his touch, he redirected the ball¡­ straight into Barca''s net.

    The Barca players were still stunned, unsure of exactly what just happened. They were only distracted by the sound of Erling Haaland rushing off to celebrate, and the subsequent roar of tens of thousands of fans at the Etihad.

    BOOM!

    The Etihad turned into a cauldron of noise. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Waving his arms wildly like a wild animal, Erling Haaland rushed towards the corner flag, celebrating his goal passionately.

    After the celebrations died down¡­

    FWEEE!

    The game continued.

    But, Erling Haaland was already in the zone state.

    Just 3 minutes after his first goal, he did it again. But this time, luck played in his favor, luck in the form of a stalwart Rodri.

    Barca was in the sequence of another attack when a perfect but heavy tackle from Rodri took Frankie De Jong off his feet. De Jong barely landed when Rodri rose back up from his knee.

    He raised his head and looked, then¡­

    Bam!

    He hit a long-grounded pass.

    Because as soon as he won the ball, Erling Haaland started running. Not just him, Omar Marmoush too.

    For a moment, Pau Cubarsi was stumped, wondering which of the 2 center forwards he should follow but the more experienced Inigo Martinez already reacted, going after Omar Marmoush.

    But the pass was towards Haaland.

    Pau Cubarsi jumped on a sliding tackle to try intercepting the pass but he timed it wrong, the ball rolled past him, into Haaland''s path.

    Haaland took one touch of the ball to set himself up.

    By now, Inigo Martinez already recovered, charging towards him even as Alejandro Balde also closed the striker down from the right.

    But it didn''t matter.

    Because at that moment, just inside the 18-yard box, Haaland raised his leg and then.

    WHOOP!

    The Man City striker unleashed a powerful shot.

    Ter Stegen dived but he stood no chance as Haaland''s shot was precise, straight towards the top right corner.

    It powered its way into the net, and then¡­

    BOOM!

    The Etihad exploded.

 Chapter 420 - 420: Prelude to the 2nd leg

    50th minute, 0-1¡­

    53rd minute, 1-1¡­

    56th minute, 2-1¡­

    In less than 10 minutes, the complexion of the game changed completely. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    BOOM!

    The Etihad exploded.

    The fans in sky blue in this stadium erupted, jumping up and down, some removing their jerseys and waving it wildly, others collapsing in tears as they celebrated the goal exuberantly.

    While this happened, the star of the moment, Erling Haaland was already charging towards the corner flag amid the cauldron of noise.

    The Norwegian striker had a big smile on his face, waving his right hand as he celebration passionately. And then, he slid on his knees in celebration.

    Behind him, his teammates surged forward, celebrating with him.

    Erling Haaland didn''t stop at that. Immediately after his sliding tackle, he sat on the pitch, curling his legs together in a yoga meditation pose.

    He did his iconic meditation celebration.

    And amid all the chaos, the commentators went loose.

    "HAALANDDDDD!!!" The excited commentator screamed.

    "ERLING HAALANDDDDD!"

    "ERLING HAALANDDDDD!"

    "The Norwegian King has struck!"

    "The Viking King has struck at the Etihad, when Man City needed it the most!"

    "Best striker in the world?"

    "There you have it, this is him, ERLING HAALAND!"

    "This is the best striker in the world!"

    "The best players leave their mark in the biggest stages, and this is one of the biggest stages you can ever think of, against Hansi Flick''s Barcelona, against Samuel Moses''s Barcelona, and yet, Haaland did it!"

    "This is the mark of greatness!"

    The stunned Barcelona players watched as their opponents celebrated.

    FC Barcelona did not play a bad game tonight. Far from it. They played an amazing game; it was just that the game was just so tight.

    And in the tightness, Haaland picked his moment to shine.

    Tonight was his night.

    "Come on guys!" Sam clapped, bringing his teammates back to the game. "It''s not over yet, there''s still time!"

    Sam was right, there was still time.

    But tonight, he underestimated the impact of momentum and fan energy. Most importantly, the underestimated the Etihad.

    From the 1st minute till now, the game had been even but after Haaland''s lightning-fast brace, the momentum finally swung in Man City''s favor.

    This sudden advantage? The sky blues were determined not to let go of it. Not just the players, the fans too, and of course the coach.

    Pep Guardiola regained his energy after Haaland''s brace, walking to the touchline as there, he regained his animated coaching energy as he gesticulated all game, directing his players on how to defend, limit the threat of the Barca players and manage their lead.

    Well, it worked.

    In the storm of a seething Etihad, Barcelona toiled, Sam toiled, Raphinha toiled, Pedri toiled, and yet it was not enough.

    Haaland came close to getting a hattrick in the 77th minute but Ter Stegen''s strong hands stopped the shot.

    And just like that, Barca lost the first leg of this UEFA Champions League clash in England, at the Etihad Stadium.

    The final scoreline was 2-1 in Man City''s favor.

    Erling Haaland won the man of the match award for his electric performance.

    ¡­

    (UEFA Champions League:)

    (Quarterfinal:)

    (Leg 2 of 2:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Man City)

    (Aggregate: 1-2)

    (Date: 15th April, 2026)

    It was already a day after the damning defeat in England.

    Sam and the rest of the FC Barcelona squad were already back in Spain. The defeat was damning, demoralizing but they could not afford to dwell on it.

    Afterall, they were in the deep end of the season already.

    Sam and his friends wanted nothing more than to ruminate on the defeat, focusing all their time and attention on preparing for revenge on the return leg but sometimes, things don''t always go according to plan.

    Especially when playing for a big club like FC Barcelona, and when you were competing in so many competitions.

    There were 8 days separating the 2 leg UEFA champions league game, but in between, there was another game, a La Liga game.

    (La Liga:)

    (Leganes ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 12th April, 2026)

    This game risked derailing their focus on the return leg of the Champions League game, but they had no choice. Hansi Flick had to face the challenge.

    Alongside his teammates and their coach, Sam returned to a familiar monotone schedule¡­, train, train, and train again.

    He had no time to think of nothing else.

    In these few days, all Sam could think of was football.

    And his family seemed to understand his need to focus, they gave him space. Even Kayla limited the time she nagged and spoke with her fianc¨¦e.

    Like this, Sam developed laser focus on his profession, football.

    And the first D-day came.

    Hansi Flick started with a vastly changed starting XI against Leganes. Big names like Sam, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, and Alejandro Balde all started in the bench, giving chance to Ferran Torres, Eric Garcia, Dani Olmo, and Gerard Martin.

    This left the team vulnerable though.

    A spirited Leganes side fought tooth and nail against this FC Barcelona side. Barca scored first, Ferran Torres scoring as early as the 4th minute of the game, but then Barca lost control of the game.

    Leganes scored in the 22nd and 35th minute of the game, stealing the momentum, and they sealed it with a third goal in the 45th minute.

    In the second half, a reluctant Hansi Flick was left with no choice.

    He brought out the big guns; Sam, Pedri, Lamine Yamal.

    Just 2 minutes after coming on, Sam assisted Raphinha, slipping a pass for the electric Brazilian to blast into the net.

    The first half started 3-1 in Leganes'' favor.

    2 minutes with Sam, Pedri, and Lamine Yamal in the game and it became 3-2, and that was just the start.

    In the 66th minute, Lamine Yamal scored an Ankara Messi goal.

    Receiving the ball in the halfway line, the teenage wonder wiggled past 7 Leganes players like they were not there!

    After that crazy dribble, he nutmegged the goalkeeper, scoring a confident contender for the goal of the season.

    66th minute, 3-3¡­

    For the rest of this game, Leganes held on for dear life, and yet, it was still not enough against this Barca side.

    In the 90th minute, Barca scored a 4th time.

    Sam leaped highest from a Pedri corner, powering a header past Leganes'' goalkeeper and into the net.

    The away section exploded in this game.

    Barca stole a late victory, Sam winning another man of the match award with his goal plus assist this game.

    And with that out of the way, the prelude for the main game continued.

    Time moved fast.

    In the twinkle of an eye, D-day came.

    The day, the moment of truth was here¡­ 15th April.

 Chapter 421 - 421: Return leg at the Spotify Camp Nou; heavyweight clash!

    15th April, 2026¡­

    8 days, they had 8 days to prepare for the epic return leg clash.

    The night at Spotify Camp Nou is one that''s been etched into calendars and carved into nerves. A Champions League quarter-final return leg, and the scenario was perfectly poised for a blockbuster clash; Manchester City holding a narrow 2-1 lead from the first leg.

    But now, the sky blues were entering hostile territory, the heart of Catalunya, where legends have risen and giants have fallen.

    Hours before kickoff, the streets around the Camp Nou buzzed.

    Thousands of Barcelona fans crowded the approach roads, waving scarves, singing anthems, and waiting.

    Then, the City team bus appeared, a sleek modern coach gliding slowly into the lion''s den, and hell was unleashed.

    The roar of the fans swelled into a chaotic symphony of whistles, jeers, and chants. Red and blue flares erupted in the air like battlefield smoke.

    Firecrackers snapped at their wheels.

    "VISCA BARCA!"

    "VISCA CATALUNYA!"

    Chants pound the air like war drums.

    It''s not violence, not vandalism, not theatre, not a ritual, rather, a message delivered loud and clear.

    ''You are not welcome here!''

    Inside the bus, the Manchester City players were stone-faced, staring through tinted windows at a sea of defiance.

    But beneath that icy exterior, their blood was boiling.

    Haaland cracked his knuckles, De Bruyne''s jaw was set like stone. Rodri, returning to his homeland clenched his fists tightly, he could not help it.

    They''ve been booed, spat at, disrespected, and now, they were ready.

    It was no longer about just defending a lead, now it was about proving that they can conquer football''s most sacred battlefield.

    It was about proving their coach''s tactics; it was about proving their credentials at the very biggest stage of club football.

    When they walked out for the warm-up, the welcome was deafening.

    Not applause, a wall of sound designed to drown them. Every City touch during the warmup was met with a tsunami of whistles.

    Tonight, the Catalan fans held nothing back; they went all out.

    Every shot on goal was heckled with savage glee. Barcelona fans rose as one, building psychological pressure before the first whistle even blows.

    And then¡­ the stadium went dark.

    A spotlight illuminated the massive centre tifo; a crimson and blue titan crushing a clockwork machine beneath its boot, with the phrase.

    >"Aquesta es casa nostra ¨C This is our home"<

    BOOM!

    The stadium stands quaked, fireworks arced above the stadium roof, and the Champions League anthem blared, barely audible over all the noise.

    The Camp Nou became a living, screaming organism, and in its center, 22 players prepared to write another chapter of footballing folklore.

    The Barcelona squad fed off this energy.

    Youngsters like Pedri and Lamine Yamal looked possessed. Raphinha''s eyes were fire, his experience steeled by the occasion.

    As for Sam?

    Badump! Badump!

    Sam could feel his heart beating rapidly against his chest.

    ''This¡­!''

    None of the Barca players knew about the elaborate preparations of the fans in preparation for this game. And this was why just like the Man City players, they were caught off guard by the atmosphere in the stadium.

    At first, Sam tried to be nonchalant but it was impossible.

    This atmosphere¡­, even with his almost 4 years'' experience in football, this was a first, this was unprecedented.

    He could not help it, his blood boiled.

    He felt goosepimples, all his hair standing on end and with it, adrenaline surged through him like molten fire flowing through a volcano.

    Sam''s eyes burned with molten fire, wide with dark glee.

    As for the City players?

    They thrived in hate. They drank in the fury, their faces taut, adrenaline pumping, hearts thundering.

    This isn''t just a football match.

    It is a clash of ideologies, of dynasties, of wills.

    A place where one goal can change history.

    And tonight, the gods of football were watching.

    And then¡­

    FWEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle was like a beacon of light in a chaotic storm, a beacon that gave focused to frenzied predators stuck inside a rectangle-shaped pitch.

    BZZZ!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, FC Barcelona erupted.

    They started kickoff and with it, oppression started.

    Riding the energy of the stadium, Barca dominated during the first few minutes of this game with ruthless efficiency.

    Bam! Bam!

    The ball was pinged left and right like a ping pong ball, cutting through Man City''s formation time and time again as Pedri dominated the midfield battle.

    That night, old fans didn''t see Pedri, rather they saw Andres Iniesta.

    The little devil was everywhere in the midfield, twisting and turning, cutting, shifting, orchestrating the deadly Barcelona dance, a dance of shadows.

    And then, the first chance.

    Pedri unleashed a devilishly accurate long pass to Lamine Yamal. The electric winger didn''t miss a beat, controlling the ball with one silky touch of his right foot and then with his left just as Josko Gvardiol closed him down, he flicked the ball on.

    With his left leg and the heel of his boots, Lamine Yamal flicked the ball into the box where Sam was already lurking.

    Instantly, a tug of war started.

    Ruben Dias and John Stones sandwiched Sam, wary of his threat but despite the physicality of his 2 markers, Sam still managed to do what he wanted.

    ''If it''s my will¡­, who dares to stop me?'' S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He leapt high in between the 2 defenders, controlling the ball with his chest.

    Ruben Dias tugged at Sam''s right arm, cleverly displacing his balance. Sam''s balance wavered, but sheer willpower pushed him on.

    His initial intention was mooted, unleashed a volleyed shot.

    But in that moment, Sam''s brain was working on overdrive.

    ''If not a volley, then what else?''

    The solution came immediately and Sam executed it without pause.

    As he descended with the ball, he suddenly twisted his body in mid-air.

    As Ruben Dias and John Stones watched with wide eyes, the Barca striker twisted in mid-air acrobatically, swinging his right leg at the ball, and then¡­

    BAM!

    An overhead kick!

    No one saw it coming.

    The timing, the speed of execution, everything was so swift and seamless that all the Man City players in the vicinity were rooted to one spot, including the goalkeeper, Ederson Moraes.

    Thud!

    Sam landed roughly to the ground on his back, but the ball was already inside the net.

    Jumping back on his feet, he charged away in celebration.

    For a moment or two, there was silence and then¡­

    BOOM!

    The Spotify Camp Nou erupted!

 Chapter 422 - 422: A thunderbolt!

    "GOALLLLL¡­!!!"

    The Spotify Camp Nou erupted.

    "ZINEDINE SAM!!!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM!!!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM!!!"

    The commentators screamed in a shrill voice, unable to contain their emotions as Sam charged away towards the corner flag in celebration, pointing at his name and no. 10 jersey before a boiling Camp Nou.

    "What a goal¡­!"

    "Sandwiched between 2 of the best center defenders in the world, and yet, that was not enough to stop him!"

    "Samuel Moses, the Monster! The man, the myth, the legend!"

    "What an overhead kick!"

    "And ladies and gentlemen, that is right up there with some of the best champions league goals that I''ve ever witnessed!"

    "Barca hoped for a miracle, and it came early, as early as the 6th minute!"

    "And of course, who else but Sam?"

    "Who else but the devilish Nigerian, the slippery serpent, the unstoppable force of nature, the Catalan fury, the King of the Spotify Camp Nou!"

    6th minute, 1-0¡­

    Aggregate, 2-2¡­

    That goal¡­ rattled Manchester City.

    When this game started, Pep Guardiola, the Man City coach was sitting on the sideline but after that goal, the Catalan coach could no longer afford to sit down as anxious, he paced up and down the touchline.

    It was just the 6th minute of this game, but Pep Guardiola''s nerves were already stretched taut. This game was truly going to test his mental resilience. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And the coach was not the only one to react.

    Just like Sam''s blood boiled, the blood of the Manchester City players also boiled. Tonight, they were determined to give their best.

    Heck, they were already giving their best.

    They were adamant not to let a goal in, and yet, just 6 minutes in, that fiend already breached them and scored¡­, how?

    Ruben Dias and John Stones stared at the celebrating Barca players in bewilderment, trying to make out the vague shape of the Barcelona striker celebrating among them.

    The 2 center defenders were stumped at how that goal became reality, but in the end, it was reality and they had no choice but to accept it.

    They could only make the resolution of not letting another goal in.

    Ruben Dias growled, his eyes turning feral like a beast as he glared at the celebrating Barca players.

    He clapped aggressively, aiming at his teammates. "Come on guys!"

    "It''s not the end of the world!"

    "It''s 2-2, come on, we''re still in the game!"

    Yes, Man City was still very much in the game.

    Ruben Dias'' shout and clap did the magic, making the players to calm their nerves, and then they developed laser focus on this game.

    The Blaugrana celebration eventually came to an end, then¡­

    FWEEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, this time, it was Man City''s turn to bring out a miracle straight from Jesus'' box.

    Man City executed a move straight out of the training ground.

    Gundogan passed to De Bruyne and the Belgian took one touch of the ball, allowing Erling Haaland to run all the way, penetrate into the Barca defense before suddenly playing a lethally accurate lobbed pass.

    Bam!

    The ball flew through the air, curving an arc like an AI-control mechanism was attached to it.

    By the time it dipped, Erling Haaland was already in dangerous territory behind the Barca defense, having shoved Pau Cubarsi aside with his immense physicality. The ball dropped on his front.

    And in that moment, time seemed to freeze in this iconic stadium.

    Inigo Martinez followed behind, subtly grabbing Haaland''s jersey to slow him down but that was not enough to slow down the towering Norwegian.

    Haaland slowed down in his own time, when he was about to take the shot as time seemed to freeze for him also, and then¡­

    WHOOOP!

    The sequence of his leg suddenly erupting from a stationary position to swinging happened instantaneously, kicking off a storm in the immediate surrounding as his leg struck the ball with venom.

    The ball flew with immense speed towards Ter Stegen''s right. It was a sure goal, a definite one, right?

    And yet in that moment, Marc Andre Ter Stegen, the German goalkeeper suddenly channeled the spirit of a prime Gianluigi Buffon, the Italian legend.

    Thud!

    Ter Stegen kicked the ground, pushing himself into the air as he jumped.

    At almost point-blank range, Haaland hit the ball and with such speed and yet, despite all that, Ter Stegen managed to make it.

    He pushed the ball, hitting against the post, and then it rolled into Alejandro Balde''s path.

    "¡­!"

    Chaos briefly erupted in the Barca 18-yard box.

    Haaland pursued, pressing the Barcelona left back but keeping his calm, with a drop of the shoulder, Alejandro Balde left Haaland for dead, erupting away with speed and kickstarting a rapid counterattack.

    A lightning-fast attack, well, that was the name of this game.

    After that Haaland and De Bruyne combo that caught Barca napping, only saved by their elite goalkeeper, the game turned even more intense.

    Attack after attack, dribble after dribble, pass after pass, it was like a battlefield straight out of World War II.

    Sam attacked, Haaland attacked¡­

    Pedri passed, Phil Foden passed¡­

    De Jong tackled, Rodri tackled¡­

    Gavi passed, Kevin De Bruyne passed¡­

    Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez tackled, Ruben Dias and John Stones tackled¡­

    Lamine Yamal dribbled, Omar Marmoush dribbled¡­

    It was crazy, chaotic, intense, tiring, end to end, and in that chaos, when the first half almost came to an end, a player finally lived above the chaos.

    He thrived, exploded, like a Butterfly breaking out of its cocoon.

    This player was¡­ Kevin De Bruyne.

    In the 44th minute of the game, the Belgian maestro exploded.

    It was a thunderbolt!

    He started it, receiving the ball from Manuel Akanji, pushing the attack deep into Barca''s half, observing his options as Haaland, Omar Marmoush, and an overlapping Josko Gvardiol all ran into space, anticipating his pass.

    Those runs drew players to them, leaving space open in the middle.

    No one expected the sudden change in decision.

    Mid-run, Kevin De Bruyne suddenly changed his mind and then after one more touch, he swung his right leg and then¡­

    POW!

    The sound was like quaking thunder!

    Hit by his lethal right foot, the ball flew like a missile with such force that it swerved unsteadily in the end, and then¡­ it nestled in the top left corner.

    Ter Stegen dived, but he stood no chance.

    Brief silence followed, and then¡­

    BOOM!

    All hell broke loose at the Spotify Camp Nou!

 Chapter 423 - 423: The flow state [1]

    The flow state¡­ what does it mean?

    The flow state, also known as being in the zone is a mental state of deep absorption and focus in an activity.

    It''s an experience where time seems to disappear, self-consciousness fades, and you are completely engaged in what you''re doing.

    It is characterized by intense focus, loss of self-consciousness, altered time perception, intrinsic motivation, balance of challenge and skill, and a pervading feeling of control, domination.

    Sam''s blood was already boiling since, he was filled with adrenaline since, well, since the start of this game.

    And yet, he didn''t enter the flow state till he witnessed it.

    BOOM!

    The Spotify Camp Nou erupted.

    "KEVIN DE BRUYNEEEEE!!!" The commentator screamed shrilly.

    "THE BELGIAN MAESTRO!"

    "THE MANCHESTER KING HAS STRUCK!"

    "The best players show up in the biggest stages, and peel your eyes gentlemen, because Kevin De Bruyne has arrived!"

    Witnessing Kevin De Bruyne carry the ball on that run, watching him score the goal, watching his home stadium erupt like a coliseum of madness, hearing the commentators wax lyrical about the goal, that became the catalyst that pushed Sam into a realm of altered time perception.

    And unlike before, it was not off and on, it lingered.

    Kevin De Bruyne scored in the 44th minute of the game, making it 1-1 in this game and 2-3 in aggregate score, giving Man City the lead again.

    There was no more time to do anything.

    The referee added just 2 minutes of additional time and it was over in a jiffy.

    In no time, they players were walking to the tunnel, exhausted due to the sheer intensity of this first half.

    And yet, even as he was sweating like a Bull for labor, his heart beating fast, his lungs burning, Sam was still in the zone state.

    Throughout Hansi Flick''s halftime speech, he didn''t listen.

    Heck, he didn''t even hear anything that the coach said.

    Sam was absentminded; all his focus and attention was left back on the pitch, analyzing the team, both his team and the opposition team, analyzing the movements of the players in the first half, their preferences, their positioning.

    At this moment, Sam''s brain moved like a supercomputer.

    And in no time, they were going back to the pitch again.

    FWEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle sounded, the signal to continue the game.

    Bam!

    Manchester City started kickoff.

    It took some time for Barca to win back possession and once they did, high up in the field, Sam called for the ball.

    It was an irrational move.

    The 2 Man City defenders shadowed him for every move he made, everywhere he went. He was sandwiched but despite all that, Sam called for the ball, and Pedri didn''t keep him waiting.

    Bam!

    As soon as Pedri passed the ball, Sam moved, shoving the hefty Ruben Dias aside with strength that Sam never knew he had inside of him.

    With the tip of his boot, he executed a delicate touch of the ball and as John Stones charged in, he nutmegged the Englishman.

    Manuel Akanji was already rushing in and with a la croqueta, Sam deleted him too before setting himself up and unleashing an accurate shot at goal.

    He didn''t even have to look at goal, but the shot was ruthlessly accurate, directed towards the bottom left corner.

    Ederson Moraes was on top of his game though.

    The Manchester City goalkeeper dived, saving the lethal shot at the right moment.

    And that¡­ was just the prelude.

    From the first minute of the second half, Sam became a menace, an extraterrestrial being with limitless potential.

    Every move he made, every touch he took bordered on perfection.

    He was shadowed for every move he made, and yet, they could not take the ball off him. The ball seemed to be glued to his feet.

    He dribbled like a wizard, weaved in and out like a slippery eel, cut like a knife, hit like a truck.

    Sam was everywhere.

    And yet, the defiant Man City defenders stubbornly held, playing at an elite level to keep the machine-made striker at bay.

    They were struggling, barely hanging on, even bleeding as Ruben Dias hit his nose against the ground at some point after being dribbled past by the electric Sam.

    And yet, by blood and sweat, they were handing on, defending like their lives depended on it.

    But even as they did all that, they were not perfect.

    After a dozen minutes and some more minutes since the second half started, they finally made a mistake, Manuel Akanji tripping Sam just outside the Manchester City 18-yard box.

    FWEEEE!

    The referee pointed to the spot; it was a freekick.

    With grim determination, Ruben Dias coordinated with his goalkeeper, barking orders to set a perfect wall of players to defend the freekick. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And once again, it was an almost perfect wall.

    But when Sam looked at the wall of players, and then the goal, he didn''t see players at all. All he saw were digits and numbers.

    His brain was now a computer, operating in 0s and 1s.

    The angle of elevation, the angle of depression, mass times acceleration equals force, the air resistance, wind resistance¡­, all the calculations filled Sam''s head in an instant as the wall was being arranged.

    An average human being would have collapsed due to the surge of information, but in the flow state, Sam took it all calmly, and then¡­

    FWEEEE!

    Receiving the signal, he took a deep breath, leaned backward slightly, and jogged towards the ball.

    1 step, 2 step, 3 step, 4 step, then¡­

    BAM!

    As soon as the ball was hit, all eyes followed it, time seemingly slowing down.

    Ederson reacted, diving after the ball as it managed to curl beyond the reach of the almost perfect wall of players, rushing towards the net with speed.

    The Brazilian goalkeeper dived, putting his all in the jump and yet, it was not enough.

    The power behind the shot was too much, the curve was too much, the angle was too acute.

    Whoosh!

    The ball flew past, and then the net shook.

    Silence.

    Then¡­

    BOOM!

    All hell broke loose!

 Chapter 424 - 424: The flow state [2]

    A freekick.

    A shot, a goal.

    BOOM!

    The Spotify Camp Nou exploded.

    "ZINEDINE SAM!!!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM!!!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM!!!"

    The commentators screamed in a shrill voice.

    "My God! What a goal! What a freekick!"

    "We mortals live in our world while Sam is another thing entirely, an alien, a god among mortals. He lives in a different plane entirely".

    "He''s immortal!"

    "He''s unstoppable!"

    "He can''t be stopped!"

    While the stadium exploded and the commentators went haywire with their commentary, like a demon possessed, Sam ran, evading his teammates as with dilated pupils, he pumped his fists excitedly with raw passion, celebrating his goal like a literal mad man.

    Arriving at the corner flag, directly in front of the camera, he jumped and when he landed, his hands pumped like active machine guns, and¡­

    "COME ON!!!" He roared.

    58 minutes, 2-1¡­

    And again, on aggregate, both big clubs were tied 3-3.

    Sam was in the flow state.

    He could not explain how he felt, but at this moment, he felt like he was capable of doing anything. And he felt that anything he did would be dangerous.

    Conceding again after that Kevin De Bruyne goal left a bitter taste in the mouth of the Manchester City defenders, but there was nothing they could do about it. The goal was already scored, the most they could do was focus on the future.

    Afterall, they were elite defenders, some of the best in the world.

    And so, the quadruple of Josko Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji, John Stones, and Ruben Dias returned to focusing on their job, keeping Barcelona''s attack at bay on the night, most especially the boy, no, the man called Samuel Moses.

    He was 20, but Ruben Dias dared not refer to the Nigerian as a boy anymore.

    If what Sam was doing in this game was what boys were capable of doing, Ruben Dias wanted to be a boy again!

    But no, apart from Sam, you can''t see another 20-year-old doing what he did in the highest stage of club football, the UEFA Champions League.

    He was a singular existence sitting at a pedestal of his own.

    But despite playing against this singular existence, the Manchester City defenders didn''t allow themselves to fall into despair. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    They were determined not to let Sam score a single goal at the beginning of this game, and yet he already scored a brace.

    That¡­ could shatter any ego and yet, the defenders didn''t fall to despair yet.

    "Come on!" Ruben Dias roared, organizing his players.

    Yes, they still had a chance.

    A chance to win.

    They may be losing on this game, but on aggregate, it was still 3-3, a draw.

    The game was still tied. And if they believed in their attacking players and defended perfectly for the rest of this game, there was still a chance of winning.

    And also, there was the option of going to penalties.

    Against this young and mostly inexperienced FC Barcelona side, Ruben Dias was willing to bet that his team would win if they went to penalties.

    And so it started, the unenviable job of defending Samuel Moses.

    BZZZ!

    He buzzed like a bird, floated like a butterfly, and stung like a bee.

    Manchester City''s defense may have made their conviction, but none of that conviction had anything to do with Sam.

    Just as they had their convictions, Sam also had his own conviction.

    And his conviction was to score another goal, complete his hattrick and complete the comeback for his team.

    The game continued.

    It was not all Barcelona though despite Sam''s form this game.

    Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush kept on worrying. With Kevin De Bruyne in midfield feeding the 2 center forwards, Barca''s defense was always at tenterhooks for majority of this game.

    But by now, fatigue was already wearing in.

    And as fatigue settled in, individual brilliance shone more.

    That was when a certain youngster shone. As Gvardiol gave in to fatigue, Lamine Yamal seemed to finally wake up from his slumber.

    The young Spaniard turned into an electric spark, a deadly electric spark.

    BZZZ!

    He moved and floated like a slippery eel.

    Whenever the ball touched his leg, he was definitely torching an opposition player with his silky dribbling.

    For the next 10 minutes after Sam''s goal, Lamine Yamal was the best player and yet, Manchester City''s defense refused to budge, until the 72nd minute...

    Lamine Yamal left Josko Gvardiol for dead again, drifting inside, trying to create space to unleash a curled shot at goal.

    That was when suddenly, Ruben Dias charged out of center defense, clattering against the floating right winger, taking him out in a mighty collision.

    FWEEEE!

    The referee blew his whistle immediately for a freekick but adamant that he got the ball first, Ruben Dias lost his head, throwing swear words at the referee.

    The referee brandished a yellow card for the Portuguese defender but still, the big man was incensed as his teammates tried to calm him down.

    Ruben Dias losing his cool? It was a rarity in football, and it showed the intensity and emotion of this game.

    FC Barcelona got another freekick and once again, Sam stood before the ball.

    After hugging Lamine Yamal and kissing him on the forehead, Sam stood before the ball, then he took a look at goal.

    The Spotify Camp Nou was eerily quiet¡­

    FWEEE!

    The referee''s whistle cut through the stadium like a blade, and then Sam moved, counting his steps towards the ball.

    1¡­, 2¡­, 3¡­, 4¡­, and then¡­

    Bam!

    This time, he didn''t hit it with much power.

    Sam simply curled his right leg around the ball, sending it on a rotating trajectory as it once again evaded the wall of players, and then¡­

    Thud!

    Ederson dived, touching the ball, pushing it slightly and yet, it was not enough.

    The ball awkwardly rolled into the net after Ederson''s touch.

    "¡­"

    For a few seconds, Manchester City fans stared in agony, hoping for a different result but their delusion was broken by the Catalan roars.

    BOOM!

    The Spotify Camp Nou exploded again, turning into a cauldron of noise.

 Chapter 425 - 425: The flow state [3]

    "ZINEDINE SAM!!!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM!!!"

    "Bear witness to greatness!"

    "See it, live it, witness it!"

    "2 freekicks in succession? That''s a sign of greatness, that''s a sign of footballing royalty, we are in the presence of the King!"

    "Samuel Moses is in a level of his own!"

    As Sam charged towards the corner flag, this time, he did the calma celebration to try taming the rapturous Spotify Camp Nou crowd but this time, it didn''t work. The fans were just too excited.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    The Sam chants broke out again at the Spotify Camp Nou.

    The atmosphere in this stadium was electric.

    And while Barcelona celebrated, on the other side, Manchester City writhed in agony. Ruben Dias in particular was still incensed, gesticulating wildly as he showed his displeasure at the referee''s previous decision to blow the foul.

    And then, the came continued.

    FWEEE!

    Manchester City may be trailing now, but it was just by 1 goal.

    Maybe, just maybe they still had a chance. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    That maybe was all Ruben Dias needed to rally his team again for one final all-out charge. In those final minutes, Manchester City played like a club possessed.

    Phil Foden who had been quiet for large swathes of this game finally came to live, weaving in and out of the Barca defense.

    And finally, he started throwing his trademark outside the box shots.

    None of them worked tonight though, at least not yet.

    Marc Andre Ter Stegen was in amazing form and most importantly, the defense ahead of him defended him like their lives depended on it.

    Maybe they were tired, but Barca''s stalwart defense all season didn''t show weakness as they tackled every loose ball, intercepted every pass, and closed down every opposition player with rugged determination and tirelessness.

    The intensity of the game in the final minutes was like steam; energetic, fiery.

    Not just Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne kept on doing his thing also as he took it to another level, not just throwing passes now but also unleashing trademark outside the box shots at every opportunity he got.

    Ikay Gundogan kept on doing his thing, pinging the ball around and then in the 78th minute, Pep Guardiola finally did something that he almost never did.

    He pulled the button, decisively flipping the game over.

    The Catalan coach made a radical team change, taking off Ikay Gundogan and introducing Bernardo Silva. He also took off Omar Marmoush, introducing Rico Lewis as he didn''t stop at just substitutions, but also a tactical overhaul.

    From the 4-4-2 formation that Manchester City started with, they changed to a radically flexible 3-5-2 or 4-5-1 formation.

    When in possession, it was a 3-5-2 formation as John Stones advanced into midfield, playing a makeshift number 8. Role while Phil Foden advances further up to join Erling Haaland in attack in Marmoush''s absence.

    And when out of possession, the team morphs, reverting back to a solid 4-5-1 formation to defend.

    For the final 10 minutes of the game, Manchester City was dangerous.

    The heart of every Barcelona fan on the stadium felt like it was being tightened by a wrench, the tension was that palpable.

    Badump! Badump!

    Their hearts beat drums of war at every Man City attack.

    They shook in trepidation every time Erling Haaland got the ball.

    Pep Guardiola seemed to have taken the nice Haaland out of the pitch, leaving an evil, anti-hero Haaland on the pitch who did not shy from playing dirty, abusing his physicality, pushing and shoving just to scavenge a chance.

    He did scavenge some, but Ter Stegen was at the top of his game, playing like a prime Thibaut Courtois in between those posts.

    It was an end-to-end game, a game of non-stop excitement.

    80 minutes, no goal¡­

    81 minutes, no goal¡­

    82 minutes, Haaland''s shot hit the bar.

    83 minutes, no goal¡­

    84 minutes, De Bruyne''s shot is pushed over the bar for a corner.

    85 minutes, the corner kick was played and Ruben Dias rose highest, planting a header that missed the goal by mere inches.

    "F*CK!" The Portuguese cursed in English before charging back to defend.

    86 minutes, no goal¡­

    87 minutes, no goal¡­

    88 minutes, no goal¡­

    89 minutes, no goal¡­

    90 minutes, no goal¡­

    5 minutes was added to the game.

    By now, few FC Barcelona fans could stay seated in the massive stadium.

    Majority of them felt like they were sitting on pin needles and so, they stood up, hoping, praying for their team even as they kept up the support by roaring at the top of their lungs.

    Every Man City touch was ridiculed with loud boos, while ever Barca touch was encouraged with wild cheers and chants.

    It was chaos, it was war, it was madness.

    90 plus 1 minute, no goal¡­

    90 plus 2 minute, Phil Foden received a cut back pass from Erling Haaland who burst into the Barcelona 18-yard box, his quick feet enabling him to wiggle through players in tight space like they were not there, until¡­

    WHOOSH!

    ¡­Until Ronald Araujo''s no-nonsense defending swept the Englishman off his feet but since he made solid contact with the ball, it was not a foul.

    Barca started a counterattack, but the big man Rodri cut it short.

    He passed to Kevin De Bruyne who received it, controlled it, and hit an instinctive cross into the box, into Erling Haaland''s path.

    Haaland chased after the ball, Pau Cubarsi chased Haaland.

    Haaland went ahead of the Barca defender, trying to awkwardly volley the ball in even as Ter Stegen reacted but before Haaland could hit the ball, Cubarsi, the young Barca center back dove into the ball''s path, recklessly putting his head on the way to clear the ball to the side.

    Bang!

    Haaland''s leg connected to the young player''s head with power!

    "¡­!" The stadium froze.

    Alarm! Shock¡­

    The medic rushed into the field, attending to the young player.

    A minute or 2 later, Pau Cubarsi rose back to his feet with a bandage covering his head. He was adamant to continue.

    Haaland didn''t receive a card. Afterall, he never knew the young defender would be that reckless, he was aiming for the ball all along.

    It was already past the 90 plus 5th minute, but the referee didn''t blow the whistle yet due to the delay.

    90 plus 6 minutes, no goal¡­

    90 plus 7 minutes, no goal¡­

    90 plus 8 minutes¡­

    FWEEEE!

    Not the final whistle, a freekick.

    Rodri swept Raphinha off his feet in an overzealous challenge uncharacteristic of the Spanish midfielder, earning a straight red card.

    The foul took place more than 30 yards away from the Man City goal.

    Sam and Raphinha stood before the ball.

    "Wow, what do we have here?"

    "Another freekick".

    "Surely, it''s too far away from goal, he wouldn''t try it right?"

    Tick! Tock!

    Time ticked.

 Chapter 426 - 426: Forging a legend

    FWEEE!

    Another foul, a Rodri red card, and another Barcelona freekick.

    By now, Manchester City''s defenders saw freekicks this game as some kind of voodoo. Afterall, with it, Sam already traumatized this defense that came to Spain, Barcelona with determination to not let a single goal in.

    And yet, that kid, Sam already let in 3, 2 from freekicks.

    So you wouldn''t blame them for being wary of freekicks.

    And yet, this time, Rodri''s challenge took out Raphinha from more than 30 yards away from the goal. Surely, there was no way this was another goalscoring chance for FC Barcelona, right?

    Not just the defenders thought this way, the commentators also echoed their sentiments, showing how pessimistic they were.

    Pessimistic? Maybe more like realistic.

    "Wow, what do we have here?"

    "Another freekick".

    "Surely, it''s too far away from goal, he wouldn''t try it right?"

    Tick! Tock!

    Time ticked.

    Badump! Badump!

    Standing before the ball alongside Raphinha, Sam could still feel his heart beating rapidly like the drums of liberation stretching free inside of him.

    He was tired.

    After over 90 minutes of this grueling game, giving his all to barely keep his team ahead, he was tired. He was exhausted, and yet, standing over this ball again, Sam could not help the flames of excitement blooming in his heart.

    Like the bible says, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

    The look in Sam''s eyes, that look¡­, his spirit still boiled with zeal and fiery passion and yet his body looked exhausted.

    But who cares?

    Sam''s mamba mentality entailed a few core principles, and one of them was to never stop giving his all till he fell down out of exhaustion.

    ''I''m not on the floor, so I can do it!''

    It sounded arrogant, but this was Sam. This mentality was his; it is what enabled him to climb the hierarchy of football royalty so fast with his system.

    If he believed it, then he could do it.

    30 yards from goal? Heck, he didn''t even care if it was 50 yards from goal at this moment, Sam believed that he could score it and so he would!

    Raphinha looked at his younger colleague, focusing on his eyes. He recognized that look, he had seen it in Sam''s eyes countless times in training and every time that look came out, the kid ends up doing something outrageous.

    Raphinha chuckled, walking closer. "You''re not tired huh, little devil?"

    Sam looked at him and grinned, then slightly shook his head.

    Raphinha smiled. "Are you confident?"

    Sam looked at him.

    "I want to do it".

    "Ok then," Raphinha patted him by the back before moving further to the side. "Do it then". He said.

    Raphinha didn''t leave that spot entirely because he served as an extra form of distraction. He already agreed to let Sam take the freekick, but Ederson, Manchester City''s goalkeeper doesn''t have to know.

    He was ready to get any advantage he could to help increase Sam''s chances of scoring from this freekick, his 3rd of the game.

    Now that he thought about it, if Sam scored, it would be a hattrick of freekicks.

    Raphinha''s eyes widened slightly as he threw one last look at his teammate. ''This guy¡­, is he even human?''

    He sighed. Now he understood what old Barcelona players felt when playing alongside the legendary Lionel Messi.

    He loved it though, and it excited him to no end.

    FWEEE!

    The referee''s whistle sounded again, the signal to take the freekick and all of a sudden, the Spotify Camp Nou became as quiet as a church.

    Nerves were stretched taut, breaths were held, eyes strained in focus¡­, could he do it?

    Could he actually do it?!

    Sam took a deep breath.

    Then¡­

    ~----~

    [You have accessed ability card: Bend it like Beckham!]

    [Card Effects:]

    >This card can only be used during a set-piece. Once used, for 10 minutes, for every freekick that your team gets, you gain the ability and technique of a prime David Beckham, giving you a +80% scoring buff when taking a free-kick<

    ¡­

    [You have made use of ability card: Bend it like Beckham!]

    ~----~

    The last usage of the ''Bend it like Beckham'' ability card.

    Yes, Sam felt confident in his ability and the way he felt at this moment. But also, he could feel the exhaustion in his bones, how heavy his legs now felt.

    Besides, he knew what was at stake. Not even the game, Barca already own, but a place in history. Getting a hattrick of assists, scoring 4 goals against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal, he could not help butterflies fluttering his stomach at the prospect of it.

    He was at the precipice of history.

    Maybe it was a foolish decision. Maybe it was wiser to keep this ability for other games when he truly needed it, but at this moment, Sam was willing to be foolish, or selfish depending on how you looked at it.

    Being foolish, sometimes, it was the mark of humanity. And Sam was human.

    As soon as he used the ability card, he felt a slight surge of electricity erupt from the sole of his leg, spreading through his body.

    Sam''s eyes ignited with a crimson light, and then, he moved.

    Thud!

    His leg hit the ground; first touch¡­

    Thud!

    Second touch¡­

    Thud!

    Third touch¡­

    Thud!

    Fourth touch, and then¡­

    Sam raised his right leg back before swinging with a force that seemed capable of turning stone to dust!

    His boot hit the ball straight at the center, and then, all hell broke loose.

    BAM! S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This was no caressed, finesse shot, rather, it was a powerful knuckle ball!

    WHOOSH!

    The ball flew like a missile, waving in the air like a flag. It flew high into the air, above the Man City wall of players, and then it dipped behind the wall, flying towards the top right corner.

    Thud!

    Ederson took a step, and stretching his body on a full body dive, he jumped after the ball. The goalkeeper gave his all, and yet, it was not enough.

    History was created.

    The ball nestled into the net, past Ederson, crushing Manchester City dreams around the world, scoring FC Barcelona''s 4th goal of the night.

    Silence, for a brief moment, then¡­

    BOOOM!

    The Spotify Camp Nou exploded.

 Chapter 427 - 427: The legend of Sam

    90 plus 9 minutes, goal¡­

    4-1.

    Manchester City''s fate in the Champions League Quarterfinal was sealed; Manchester City was doomed by a single player, Samuel Moses.

    "SAMUEL MOSESSSSSS!!!" The commentators screamed in a shrill voice.

    "REMEMBER THE NAME, SAMUEL MOSES!"

    "The man, the myth, the legend!"

    "King of the Spotify Camp Nou!"

    "Lord of strikers! Lord of the UEFA Champions League!"

    "That''s 16 goals in this UEFA Champions league season, he''s just 1 goal from matching Cristiano Ronaldo''s record in Europe''s elite club competition!"

    While the commentators screamed in a shrill voice, the Spotify Camp Nou seethed like the boiling surface of a restless sea.

    Some fans broke down in tears, others were more rapid, tearing their clothes violently as they celebrated with sheer passion and joy.

    As Sam charged towards the corner flag, the fans closest to the blockade gestured at him with joyful expressions, eager to touch the helm of his shirt, and Sam obliged the excited fans.

    Afterall, he was also in a great mood; he was excited.

    Charging to the corner flag, Sam jumped over the broadcasting board and when he got to the blockade, he jumped again, climbing it and with that, the fans closest to the blockade embraced him excitedly.

    "COME ON!!!"

    They screamed, hugging Sam, pumping their fists excitedly.

    Sam hugged them back, feeling his blood pump rapidly like it was being channeled from a high-pressure pumping machine. His adrenaline levels were high.

    Not just Sam, other FC Barcelona fans joined him, celebrating with him as the whole club and its gigantic fanbase went haywire in the passion of the game.

    As for Manchester City?

    After that last goal, Ruben Dias, the Manchester City defender finally gave up, falling to his butt as he sprawled helplessly on the pitch, looking at the sky with a distant, confused expression on his face.

    Anyone who saw him could read the silent question on his face.

    ''How?!''

    Just how did the bastard do it?

    Scoring a hattrick of freekicks in a single game, and in such a pivotal game too, against Manchester City, in the quarterfinal of the UEFA Champions League.

    Most of the other Man City players, especially the defenders were like Ruben Dias, sprawled helplessly on the pitch, some sitting, distant looks on their faces while others simply laid down on the pitch, utterly exhausted.

    And then, the commentators finally started waxing lyrical.

    They couldn''t help it, it felt like a travesty not to gush about this performance, and literally worship it.

    "Ah, what a game!"

    "Ladies and gentlemen, what we are witnessing tonight is not merely football, it''s artistry painted in technicolour on the canvas of the UEFA Champions League".

    "Etch his name in the stars, because tonight, under the lights of the Spotify Camp Nou, a legend has been carved into stone!"

    "Four goals. FOUR!"

    "Against Manchester City, the behemoth of English football, the oil-rich juggernaut that crushes dreams for breakfast".

    "But not tonight. Tonight, they were made to bow".

    "And not just bow, to kneel before a one-man orchestra in Blaugrana".

    "Barcelona''s maestro, the architect of chaos, the sculptor of moments divine!"

    "Three, yes, THREE freekicks, script that!"

    "Three freekicks, each one more audacious than the last. As if Poseidon himself curled the ball with tridents of pure magic".

    "From over 30 yards, from the flank, even from a near-impossible angle that mocked geometry itself; each strike bent time, defied physics, and found the net like destiny written in flame".

    "He''s not just a player. He''s a religion. A philosophy. The reincarnation of every great that ever wore the crest".

    "And that overhead kick? My God!"

    "A moment of pure insolence. Sam against Ruben Dias and John Stones, Sam against the world, and yet, physicality bordering on divine, control bordering on the otherworldly, and a finish that whispered, ''You are not worthy'', as the ball almost kissed the underside of the crossbar before nestling home".

    "The Nou Camp isn''t roaring, its weeping. Overwhelmed".

    "The gods of football have chosen their prophet. His boots are dipped in gold, his breath sings hymns of victory, and his name¡­ oh, his name will echo through the rivers of time like thunder".

    "Samuel Moses, Barcelona''s golden child, the tormentor of Manchester, the miracle in human form".

    "Take a bow, genius".

    "The night belongs to you!"

    The celebrations took even longer than expected, stretching on as the fans did not want to let their players back to the pitch and even the players were reluctant to return to the pitch.

    The score line was now 4-1, and the aggregate score was now 5-3.

    The tie was more or less decided, but then, the game must continue.

    As soon as the players returned to the pitch though and Manchester City dispiritedly kicked off the game, a familiar sound cut through the stadium.

    The referee''s whistle.

    FWEEEE!

    The game was over.

    Immediately, the stadium that was just barely calmed down erupted again in ecstasy, the players running across the pitch as they celebrated this legendary performance in their home stadium.

    Tonight, it was all Samuel Moses.

    His name was written and plastered all over the game but in the end, it was a collective team effort, and so his teammates could also bask in the glory.

    While they ran across the pitch, celebrating, the fans also celebrated, jumping restlessly in the stands like a crowd of drunk.

    Tonight was a night to never forget in the Spotify Camp Nou.

    It was a night where history was created.

    A night where Samuel Moses solidified his name among the list of all-time greats at just 20 years of age.

    Sam didn''t just stop at running round the pitch, celebrating excitedly with his teammates. After hugging all his teammates, he charged towards an emotional Hansi Flick, his coach who still stood in the touchline.

    As soon as Sam arrived, he hugged his coach, lifting him up excitedly.

    Hansi Flick laughed, cried, and celebrated.

    The German coach was a veteran of the game. He already overseed lots of Champions League nights like this one and not just for FC Barcelona, and yet, what he felt this night, he had never felt it anywhere before now. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Tonight was unforgettable.

 Chapter 428 - 428: Ballon dOr favorite

    4 days later¡­

    Barcelona, Spotify Camp Nou.

    "Good afternoon Pedri, welcome to the stadium. How are you feeling?"

    Pedri flashed a smile at the reporter. "I''m good, and you?"

    "I''m great". The female reporter grinned.

    "Before you go in, please I have one question," her grin slowly turned mischievous. "Who do you think is the ballon d''or favorite this season?"

    Hearing that question, Pedri looked at the reporter with a befuddled look that said ''did you really just ask that?''

    He chuckled. "Sam, of course".

    Pedri hesitated a bit before adding. "After what he did last time out against Manchester City, anybody would be a fool to think he doesn''t deserve it".

    The reporter''s smile widened. "You think so?"

    "Of course!"

    And with that, the Spanish midfielder wore his headsets back on before trudging off into the stadium, idly waving at the fans.

    That afternoon, not just Pedri, other FC Barcelona players who reported to the stadium were haunted by the referees, all asking the same question and all of them had the same answers.

    Sam was the sole favorite for the ballon d''or this season.

    Lamine Yamal''s response was even more dramatic. "Huh?"

    "Did your really just ask that?" He asked in Spanish. "4 goals in the quarterfinal of the UEFA Champions League, and against Manchester City".

    He raised an eyebrow. "65 goals and 35 assists in just 46 games, and its not even the end of the season yet. That''s 100 goal contributions!" S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The teenage Spanish winger chuckled. "Show me another striker with anywhere near these statistics and we''ll talk".

    The reporter only laughed, agreeing with him.

    Well, you could not blame the young Spanish winger''s enthusiasm.

    Sam was truly having an all-time great season. 65 goals in 2 seasons was a solid return for any striker in Europe, and yet Sam already had it in one season, in his debut season for FC Barcelona to boot.

    Not just that, added with his 35 assists in just 46 games, making a total of 100 goal contributions in a single season, he was currently recording the single most prolific season in football history since Lionel Messi.

    A few more of those and he''d eclipse the mercurial Argentine.

    It was already 4 days since the epic UEFA Champions League quarterfinal clash against Manchester City. And during this time, Sam was the talk of the town.

    Heck, not just the talk of the town, the talk of all Europe.

    His fame was already at an all-time high, and yet, somehow, he became even more famous. Sam was now an idol of football, a bonafide footballing superstar.

    That game took a lot out of FC Barcelona fans but here they were again, preparing for the start of another game, this time a La Liga game.

    The players were tired, but they were in the deep end of the season. They had no choice than to keep on playing. Hansi Flick believed in his players'' resilience, he believed they could handle it.

    And so, Sam made the lineup again.

    Just before the game started at the Spotify Camp Nou though, Sam received one of the biggest surprises of his life from the Catalan club.

    Joan Laporta, the club President himself walked into the pitch carrying a golden plaque with the number 100 engraved in bold.

    It was a golden plaque to honor Sam''s legendary debut season, to honor his 100 goal contributions in just 46 games this season.

    The date he scored the 100th goal contribution was engraved in the plaque, including the date that he scored his first goal contribution for FC Barcelona.

    Sam¡­ felt honored.

    FC Barcelona was one of the biggest football clubs in the world. To be honored by them in this manner, it showed how amazing of a season he was having since his debut for the Catalan club.

    Sam was happy, but his move was made even more giddy by the fact that just yesterday, he finalized contract talks with the club.

    After that Manchester City game, a lot of things changed for Sam, mostly his status in the football world.

    He was now one of the biggest players in the world of football.

    And with that label, a lot of other big clubs now showed interest in him. And to secure their prized asset, despite the fact that it was not even one year since he signed for the club, FC Barcelona upgraded Sam''s contract, making him the highest-earning player in the club.

    And with this golden plaque honor to booth, Sam was in a great mood. And when the game started, his mood reflected on the pitch.

    (La Liga:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Celta Vigo)

    (Date: 19th April, 2026)

    FWEEE!

    The referee''s whistle cut through the noise of the stadium like a blade, and with it, FC Barcelona''s composed destruction started.

    Knowing just how fatigued their opponent must be, Celta Vigo hoped to pressure the home side and get a result.

    After the referee''s whistle, during the first few minutes of the game, Celta Vigo actually had the better chances, pressuring Barcelona and eventually in the 19th minute, their pressure bore fruit as they scored the 1st goal of the game.

    But that was where their luck ended because in the 28th minute, Barca started its comeback, Pedri assisting Lamine Yamal for the first Barcelona goal.

    The midfielder slipped in a delicious through pass for the winger who didn''t make a mistake, taking the ball in his strides and poking it past the goalkeeper.

    The first half came to an end 1-1.

    The second half was more dramatic, as FC Barcelona bared their fangs more with Celta Vigo threatening at opportune moments.

    In the end, Inigo Martinez scored the 2nd goal of the game from a Raphinha corner kick in the 84th minute just wen it seemed like Celta Vigo was about to run away from the Spotify Camp Nou with a point.

    And even with that, Barca was not satisfied yet.

    In the 90th minute, Sam finally got his name on the scoresheet, scoring from close range from a sweet Lamine Yamal cross.

    The game ended 3-1 in Barcelona''s favor.

    Lamine Yamal got the man of the match award, but Sam played a starring role once again, solidifying his position as the best player in the world.

 Chapter 429 - 429: 16 days of death

    3 days later¡­

    (La Liga:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Mallorca)

    (Date: 22nd April, 2026)

    Another day, another matchday, another game.

    For this game though, Hansi Flick finally made a big change, taking majority of his starting XI players out of the game.

    Ferran Torres replaced Sam up top as the striker, while Dani Olmo took Lamine Yamal''s position on the left wing. Raphinha was the sole starting XI forward who stayed in the lineup.

    In the midfield, Pedri was taken off, replaced by Eric Garcia.

    Alejandro Balde was also taken off in defense, Gerard Martin taking the position of the electric and enigmatic attacking left back.

    As soon as the game started, once again, just like Celta Vigo, despite the fact that they were in the Spotify Camp Nou, Mallorca approached this game with the gutsy boldness to take a good result back home.

    The reason for their confidence?

    Simple. Hansi Flick''s rotation.

    Lining up in a 5-3-2 formation, this was a dynamic Mallorca side.

    With Greif holding the fort as their goalkeeper, Maffeo, Valjent, Raillo, Copete, and Mojica formed the valiant 5-man defense.

    Ahead of them was the midfield trio of Rodriguez, Costa, and Darder, while further of them in attack was Abdon and Larin.

    As soon as the game started, for the first few minutes, FC Barcelona dominated possession but the visitors had the more clear-cut chances.

    Nerves were high at the Spotify Camp Nou for a few minutes, right until Ferran Torres struck in the 12th minute of the game, scoring the first goal.

    The Spotify Camp Nou celebrated the goal exuberantly, bringing some much-needed calmness to the stadium but that calmness didn''t last.

    Just 3 minutes after Ferran Torres'' goal, Mallorca equalized.

    Darder, the center midfielder was the one who did, scoring an absolute banger from outside the box as he volleyed the ball in with venom.

    That goal rattled Marc Andre Ter Stegen.

    In the blink of an eye, 1-1.

    After that goal, Barcelona cracked down with their players, Raphinha leading the charge to score the 2nd goal even as Frankie De Jong tried to orchestrate play from deep in Pedri''s absence.

    It didn''t yield much fruit though, the midfield seemed disjointed without the calming presence of Pedri Gonzalez.

    The first half came to an end 1-1 for the 2nd consecutive league game.

    During halftime, Hansi Flick had a fiery team talk with his players, refusing to make any change.

    But as soon as his players returned to the pitch for the second half, they played with energy, but they lacked cohesion and balance.

    Barca seemed to have lost their identity and just 7 minutes after the 2nd half started, Mallorca capitulated on their opponent''s weakness.

    This time, it was one of the 2 center forwards, Larin.

    With a clever run, he was able to beat Barcelona''s offside trap, running with the ball before shooting past a helpless Ter Stegen.

    52 minutes, 1-2¡­

    While the away fans celebrated excitedly, large swathes of the Spotify Camp Nou was left in stunned silence.

    And yet, that was not all.

    In the 62nd minute, 10 minutes after his first goal, Larin got his brace after another perfect sequence of deceiving Barcelona''s offside trap as this time, taking the ball calmly in his strides, he lobbed Ter Stegen, scoring his team''s 3rd goal of the night.

    In the blink of an eye, Barcelona was trailing by 2 goals!

    Hansi Flick finally made changes, taking off Gavi, pushing Dani Olmo to the attacking midfield spot while introducing Sam and Lamine Yamal.

    The impact of the substitutes was felt almost immediately.

    In the 65th minute, Sam slipped a ball to Raphinha whose first touch flicked it into Dani Olmo''s path.

    The Spanish attacking midfielder calmly rolled the ball into the box with his right foot and then with his left, he rifled it into the net.

    GOALLLLLL¡­!!!

    The fans in the Spotify Camp Nou roared with barely suppressed anger.

    Their voices were now extremely loud, and riding this energy, FC Barcelona dug into their dogged reserves, Sam leading the charge.

    Just 2 minutes after Dani Olmo''s goal, Raphinha did it again, this time Sam once again slipping a deceiving pass into his path.

    One touch shot! S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    BAM!

    The Brazilian didn''t even try to control the ball and despite his awkward stance, he hit the ball first time with venom, sending it straight to the roof of the net through the middle.

    The Mallorca goalkeeper jumped, flailing his arms but he didn''t get it; the ball flashed past him before he could react.

    In the blink of an eye, 3-3!

    BZZZ!

    The atmosphere at the Spotify Camp Nou was now electric.

    It was fever pitch tension.

    Barcelona attacked, while Mallorca now defended for their lives, sometimes coming out of their shell with half-hearted counterattacks that were quickly snuffed out before they could become dangerous.

    70 minutes, no goal¡­

    80 minutes, no goal¡­

    90 minutes, no goal¡­

    90 plus 2 minutes, no goal¡­

    90 plus 5 minutes, no goal¡­

    90 plus 7 minutes¡­

    FWEEE!

    Dani Olmo won a penalty for Barcelona!

    In the 90 plus 7 minute.

    Sam stood over the ball, facing the goalkeeper who tried to taunt him to throw him off his game. He smiled slightly.

    FWEEE!

    As soon as the referee''s whistle sounded, he took a deep breath and did a short run, then a calculated stagger to through the goalkeeper off, then¡­

    Bam!

    He calmly hit it towards the top right corner, leaving the goalkeeper little chance though he dived the right way.

    The ball nestled its way inside the net.

    4-3¡­

    BOOM!

    The Spotify Camp Nou erupted, celebrating the pivotal game exuberantly like they already won the league.

    And most importantly, they celebrated because it was a good way to enter the next 16 days of death that would decide their team''s season.

    After today''s game against Mallorca, from 26th April, within a period of 16 days, FC Barcelona would play both legs of the UEFA Champions league semifinal against Inter Milan, while also facing Real Madrid, their eternal rivals in El Clasico twice, the first one in the Copa del Rey final.

    So yes, FC Barcelona was in their period of death.

    The period that would make or break their season.

 Chapter 430 - 430: Season decider

    (Copa del Rey:)

    (Final:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Real Madrid)

    (Date: 26th April, 2026)

    ¡­

    (UEFA Champions League:)

    (Semifinal:)

    (Leg 1 of 2:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Inter)

    (Date: 30th April, 2026)

    ¡­

    (La Liga:)

    (Valladolid ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 3rd May, 2026)

    ¡­

    (UEFA Champions League:)

    (Semifinal:)

    (Leg 1 of 2:)

    (Inter ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 6th May, 2026)

    ¡­

    (La Liga:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Real Madrid)

    (Date: 11th May, 2026)

    5 games, but they were not just any 5 games.

    This was a fixture of 5 games that had the capacity to decide the success or failure of FC Barcelona''s season, the season decider games.

    If FC Barcelona win all 5 of these games within a period of 16 days, then, this season would be on course to becoming their most successful season in over a decade as they would be on course to another historic treble win.

    Winning the Copa del Rey final would add another trophy to their cabinet for the season, and an important one too.

    Another reason why it was important to win the game was the fact that the final opponent was their eternal rivals, Real Madrid.

    It was an El Clasico final.

    Winning the final that way would add an extra touch of joy to it, and so the FC Barcelona players, fans, and their coach were determined to make it happen.

    Winning the 2-leg semifinal game against Inter Milan would push FC Barcelona to the final of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in over a decade. The last time they made the final was in 2015 when they went all the way to win the tournament.

    Then, FC Barcelona still had the MSN front trio of Messi, Suarez, and Neymar.

    Then, in midfield, Barcelona had the likes of Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquests, and Ivan Rakitic holding the fort, all Catalan legends.

    This was a vastly different FC Barcelona side with different faces, but this season, the fans were optimistic of their chances of going all the way.

    Afterall, this season, it was prime Hansi Flick ball in play.

    Most importantly, this season, they had Sam.

    As for the league games; the season was not over yet. They were leading the league race, but Real Madrid was hot on their heels having been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League already.

    If they blundered in multiple games, their archrivals could do the impossible and snatch the league title from them.

    This was why for the next 5 games, FC Barcelona did not just have to maintain maximum focus, they also had to play at their best.

    This was the time to play their best football of the season.

    The moment of truth was here.

    ¡­

    For the next few days after the Mallorca game, Sam retreated into himself.

    The only constants in his life during this time was his girlfriend, his family, and his workout friends. He cut everything else off, everything media related so he could fully focus on his football.

    This season, Sam was having the best season of his life but he knew that a moment of complacency was all it took to lose it all.

    Afterall, in a war, the most dangerous period was most often when victory was in sight. Because then, enemies forget everything for a last desperate stand, and not just that.

    When victory is in sight, the heroes tend to become complacent. And in war, complacency was a tried and tested pathway to failure.

    This was why in the days following the Mallorca game, Sam threw himself fully into training more than ever before.

    His schedule was simple; training, training, and training again.

    On a Friday morning¡­

    With his headset blocking his ear, loud music blasting to his hearing, Sam forgot everything else, only cognitive of his jogging partners as they jogged the length of the city of Barcelona.

    For the final 50 meters, today, he was merciless.

    Thud! Thud! Thud!

    Sam dug in, turning into a mirage and ruffling dust in his wake as his legs carried him like the flash, giving his friends a sizeable distance in the race today.

    At the end, they panted heavily, looking at him like he was a monster.

    Sam simply chuckled, leading them deeper into the stadium.

    That morning, they worked out, straining their muscles to maximum effect. And at the end, all 5 of them felt some fatigue but physically, they felt invigorated.

    Their bodies were as light as a feather.

    That day''s team training, the 5 of them were the best players in training by a mile and finally, Hansi Flick did his last team talk with his players.

    Tomorrow was the big day, the moment of truth, one of the big finals that they''ve been working hard towards all season.

    The El Clasico Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid.

    Hansi Flick faced his players.

    "Tomorrow, we''ll be one step closest to achieving one of our big dreams for the season," he smiled. "Winning the Copa del Rey trophy".

    "I know you can do it, so let''s do it".

    "Yes coach!" They cheered in Spanish.

    By now, Hansi Flick was already proficient in Spanish enough to communicate directly with his players.

    He did his last tactical talk with them. He didn''t tweak anything; he already perfected the formation for the final long ago. And he already did his best to drill it into the subconscious of his players.

    As for the starting XI? It was a familiar one.

    Arranged in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Marc Andre Ter Stegen protected the goal as the goalkeeper, while ahead of him was a defensive quadruple of Alejandro Balde, Inigo Martinez, Pau Cubarsi, and Jules Kounde. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Further ahead of them in midfield was the duo of Pedri and Frankie De Jong. In attacking midfield was Gavi, while the attacking trio comprised of Raphinha in the left, Sam in the middle as the striker, and Lamine Yamal on the right.

    This was vintage Barca, the best Barcelona starting XI this season.

    The game would be played at the Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla in Seville.

    The next day, hours before the game, the FC Barcelona squad arrived in the city of Seville.

 Chapter 431 - 431: Copa del Rey final; Barcelona vs Real Madrid [1]

    26th April, 2026¡­

    Saturday. 21:00.

    After a day filled with restless energy and anticipation, the sun finally set in Seville, but the city was already burning with anticipation.

    It''s Copa del Rey final night at the Estadio La Cartuja, and the air is thick with history, hostility, and raw passion.

    This isn''t just a football match, it''s Barcelona vs Real Madrid. El Clasico in its purest, most explosive form.

    It was the moment of truth.

    On the evening, the streets leading to the stadium were flanked by seas of color; Blaugrana on one side, Los Blancos on the other, split like the rivalry itself.

    Flares ignite, drums thunder, and chants pierce the evening air long before the buses arrive.

    Then comes the first roar, a signal.

    Through a tunnel of smoke and security, the Real Madrid bus crept forward. Immediately, white jerseys swarmed the vehicle, chanting loudly.

    "Hala Madrid!"

    "Hala Madrid!" They chanted with already hoarse throats.

    Some slapped the sides of the bus, trying to inject adrenaline directly into the veins of their heroes.

    Moments later, the noise intensified again.

    This time, it''s Barcelona.

    Their bus was greeted by an inferno of blue and red.

    "Visca El Barca!"

    They chanted, singing out like a war cry.

    Fans pound drums, waving massive flags, and throwing confetti like it was a parade, but this parade was marching toward war.

    Outside the stadium, it was a spectacle bordering on madness.

    Street vendors hawk shirts and scarves while firecrackers explode like gunshots in the alleys. Impromptu chants break out at every corner, sometimes escalating into shouting matches between opposing fans separated only by lines of riot police.

    The sevillano night is humid, but the tension is electric.

    Songs belted through the night, beers spilled and eyes were wild.

    To the fans privileged to be on the stadium on the night, they weren''t just about to watch a match; rather, they were living for a moment that had the capacity to define their year.

    Inside the stadium, the pregame energy was infectious, electric.

    As kickoff approached, La Cartuja transformed into a cauldron.

    The stands are a split battlefield. Half the stadium is swathed in Barcelona''s blue and red, a mosaic of scarves, flags, and painted faces.

    The other half is Real Madrid''s pristine white as if they were envoys of heaven, gleaming like armor under the floodlights.

    The noise? Simply deafening.

    Every warm-up pass from either team was cheered or jeered.

    When the big screens flash highlights of previous Clasicos, the crowd explodes with either cheers of triumph or bitter howls of rage.

    On the night, there was no calm corner of the stadium.

    There was no neutral zone. Not tonight.

    And then, the lights dim just slightly.

    Immediately, a crescendo builds. A solemn atmosphere settles in this stadium as the Copa del Rey trophy sits on its pedestal, gleaming under the spotlight.

    Then, a booming voice announced the arrival of the teams.

    And with it, the tunnel shakes.

    First out was FC Barcelona; led by their captain, Raphinha, faces hard, eyes locked forward.

    In response, the whistle of hatred rained from the Madrid side.

    And then came out Real Madrid, equally unbothered, matching the intensity step for step. Now it was Barcelona''s turn to jeer with venom.

    As both teams line up on the pitch, the chants hit a fever pitch.

    Anthems were screamed, not sung. Every fan was on their feet, fists clenched, hearts pounding in the passion for the game. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This is more than a final.

    This is a war of identity. A clash of philosophies. A rivalry soaked in history, politics, pride, and hate.

    Just like FC Barcelona came out with the big guns, their best starting XI, Real Madrid also held nothing back, coming out with their best.

    Real Madrid started with a similar 4-2-3-1 formation, Thibaut Courtois starting in between the posts while ahead of him was a defensive quadruple of Trent Alexander Arnold, Raul Asencio, Antonio Rudiger, and Ferland Mendy.

    In midfield was the solid midfield duo of Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni, while in attacking midfield was the mercurial Englishman, Jude Bellingham.

    The attacking trio comprised of 2 Brazilians and a Frenchman; Vinicius Junior in left wing, Rodrygo in right wing, and Kylian Mbappe upfront as the striker.

    This was a formidable lineup.

    As their anthem played, the eyes of the Real Madrid players burned with fervor, Vinicius Jnr. in particular nodding in his with fire blazing in his eyes.

    Kylian Mbappe was stone-faced, already locked in.

    Jude Bellingham was calm; the Englishman seemed to have the uncanny ability of never losing his composure.

    The FC Barcelona players matched the fervor of their opponents.

    Raphinha was just like Jude Bellingham, calm and composed, including Pedri. Like Vinicius, Gavi had a fiery blaze burning in his eyes.

    Lamine Yamal had a subtle smile playing in his lips as he stared at the seething stadium stands, while Alejandro Balde nonchalantly chewed on a chewing gum.

    As for Sam himself?

    Sam could not stay in one place.

    Even as the anthem sang, his blood was already boiling. And so, he moved, swaying from one feet to the other to keep his body moving even as he clenched and unclenched his fists in intervals.

    His eyes? They seemed to have narrowed into slits, like the eyes of a predatory Dragon ready to soar into the sky and hunt prey, and devour them.

    It was an iconic lineup of players.

    And then, the anthem was over.

    The players shook hands with themselves, and then the officials, before jogging into the pitch, separating into their different side of the pitch.

    The noise in the stadium rose to a crescendo with this.

    The captains of both teams moved last after the referee exchanged one last words with them. Raphinha ran to his side of the pitch, while Real Madrid''s captain on the night, Federico Valverde also ran to the middle of the pitch.

    The referee looked at his watch, and then¡­

    FWEEEE!

    The shrill sound cut through the night like a blade.

    The game started.

 Chapter 432 - 432: Copa Del Rey Final; Barcelona vs Real Madrid [2]

    FWEEE!

    The shrill sound cut through the night like a blade.

    The game started.

    And with it, all hell broke loose.

    Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, the 2 biggest clubs in Spain, characterized by a rivalry unlike any other in football, the El Clasico.

    Real Madrid, the Spanish Capital Club, the pride of Spain.

    Well-known and feared in Europe for their 15 UEFA Champions League trophies, 15! That is twice more UEFA Champions League trophies than any other club in Europe has. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    To a lot of football fans, the biggest football club in the world.

    A club with a long and deep history of victory, trophies, and fielding some of the best football players in the history of football.

    From the earliest Galacticos of Raul, Ferenc Puskas, Alfredo Di Stefano, to the early 2000s Galacticos era of Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo Nazario, David Beckham, and the likes to the just past era of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale.

    All these players were some of the biggest offensive players in the history of football, and yet, they were just one part of the big club, Real Madrid.

    Afterall, they also fielded some of the best midfielders in defenders in history.

    In the middle of the park, renowned world class midfielders like Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Kaka, and Casemiro all plied their trades for the club at some point. In the new era, they had boys like Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde, all elite football players.

    In defense? Real Madrid are well-known for their star-studded attack, but they are also renowned for their stalwart no-nonsense defensive lineups through the years.

    From the era of Sergio Ramos and Pepe, to Raphael Varane, Marcelo, Carvajal, and now in the era of David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger, Ferland Mendy, and Trent Alexander Arnold, Madrid always fielded the best players in the world.

    Afterall, they had the money to enter the market and spend on big players, and the history and allure to attract them to their team.

    As for FC Barcelona?

    Their history and story were much more modest, but no less legendary.

    Unlike their archrivals, the Blaugrana club are Catalan true and true. While Real Madrid are known for spending big on top and already established players, FC Barcelona are more renowned for their football academy, the La Masia academy.

    Afterall, the biggest legends of the club all came from the academy.

    From the era of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Puyol, all homegrown academy players of the club. And even earlier in the Yohan Cruyff era, then the Pep Guardiola, Ronald Koeman, and Mikel Arteta eras, Barcelona had history, lots of it.

    And then the new era of Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Sam, Pedri, Gavi, Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsi, Jules Kounde, and the likes.

    Both clubs were very different.

    One wears the pristine white representing their pride and superiority, while the other wears valiant red and blue to show that they are not inferior in any way.

    And subjectively, they are indeed not inferior.

    Yes, Real Madrid has 15 UEFA Champions League trophies to Barca''s modest 5 but Barcelona also made history in their peak.

    During the purple reign of the Lionel Messi era, Barcelona won 4 of their 5 UEFA Champions League trophies and the main difference between them and Real Madrid is their style of play.

    While Real Madrid are now above playing dirty, doing anything to get the victory, FC Barcelona was more characterized by their unique style of play¡­, the legendary tiki taka.

    Like the legendary Pep Guardiola said, we play not just to win, but to entertain and during their peak years, that was exactly what Barcelona did.

    In the 2009 UEFA Champions League final, they beat Manchester United with a 2-1 score line but 2 years later in 2011, peak Barcelona was shown to the world.

    That Barcelona team led by Xavi Hernandez and spearheaded by a young Lionel Messi passed Manchester United to death.

    That was peak Barcelona, that was peak Catalan football, tiki taka.

    During that period, core Barcelona players, Xavi, Sergio Busquets, and Andres Iniesta also led the Spain team to a legendary treble, winning back-to-back Euros, a World Cup, and the Euros tournament again.

    Tonight, at the Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla, it was not just 2 football clubs playing in a final, it was 2 distinct football histories clashing.

    2 football philosophies, 2 Titans of football clashing.

    And the 22 players on the pitch, tonight, they carried this weight that could crush a mountain on their shoulders, playing the game of their lives.

    There is El Clasico, and then there is El Clasico final.

    Sam had experienced El Clasico before, tonight, he experienced El Clasico final. And it was humbling.

    The tension in the stadium was palpable.

    The heat, the energy, the noise, Sam felt all of it permeating through his body, invading his bones, rattling him to his core and yet, he forced himself through it all to play his best football.

    ''This energy¡­!'' He grinned.

    It filled him with bloodlust, and Sam embraced it.

    The first half was an exciting game of end-to-end football, and it was embodied by high octane attacking football.

    Both clubs had a plethora of talent, and they showcased their skill tonight.

    For FC Barcelona, Sam, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha spearheaded a dynamic attack, Pedri feeding them swift and accurate passes.

    For Real Madrid, their lightning-fast attack erupted like Predators in a jungle.

    Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jnr. and Rodrygo, all speed demons showed what they were made off this game, pushing the Barcelona defense to its wit''s end.

    And yet, despite the fearsome attacking potential of both teams, somehow, the defense of both sides was able to hold.

    After a highly entertaining first half, it came to an end 0-0.

    During halftime, Hansi Flick and Carlo Ancelotti gave a piece of their mind to their players, commending the commendable part of their games this first half while criticizing the blunders that they made.

    After a fiery team talk, both coaches sent their players back to the pitch.

    The second half started.

    Just 2 minutes after the second half started, a goal was scored.

    Real Madrid scored¡­

    Kylian Mbappe scored.

 Chapter 433 - 433: Copa Del Rey Final; Barcelona vs Real Madrid [3]

    The first half ended in a goalless draw.

    An entertaining and tension-filled first half, but still goalless.

    The second half clearly had no intentions on taking the example of the first as just 2 minutes after coming on, the deadlock was finally broken.

    Real Madrid scored!

    It came from a lightning-fast Real Madrid counterattack.

    Having started kickoff in the first half, in the second half, FC Barcelona started kickoff and as the zealous Catalan players loomed over Real Madrid''s 18-yard box, eager to score, a stalwart presence in Federico Valverde stole the ball.

    As soon as Valverde stole the ball, Pedri and Frankie De Jong closed him down, initiating Hansi Flick''s favored high pressing approach.

    And yet, they couldn''t get the ball because Valverde didn''t take the risk of holding onto possession longer than usual, knowing what was at stake.

    And so, shortly after winning the ball, he flicked it to the right side of the pitch where a certain Englishman was already bombing up field after seeing him win the ball.

    Thud!

    The ball landed in his path and taking one silky first touch, Trent Alexander Arnold pushed the ball forward and past Alejandro Balde.

    He already evaded one player, but he didn''t take the risk of running with the ball knowing just how fast Balde could recover and defend.

    Besides, he didn''t need to take the risk because he had the perfect players for a counterattacking scenario like this in Mbappe, Vinicius, and Rodrygo.

    As soon as Valverde won back the ball, the crazy trio were already running, and so¡­

    Bam!

    Arnold hit one of those trademark crosses, sending the ball in a curving trajectory through the field from the right to the left where Vinicius lurked.

    Jules Kounde pursued the Brazilian but he was not fast enough.

    And Vinicius barely beat the offside trap.

    Knowing what was at stake, Vinicius dared not dilly dally as the ball floated towards him as after overtaking Jules Kounde, he took one touch of the ball, kicking it forward and pursuing after it like the flash himself.

    He was not alone.

    Through the middle, Kylian Mbappe ran, swinging his long legs and arms like a rampaging bull even as Rodrygo ran from the right.

    He had two options, so, which one?

    Vinicius didn''t even think, the idea came to him subconsciously and without hesitation, he executed it fueled by sheer instinct.

    Swinging his right leg, Vinicius hit a devilish trivela!

    Bam!

    As soon as his right leg hit the ball with the outside of his boot, it moved, hitting the grass once and floating forward in a curving trajectory like a discuss.

    Mbappe was running¡­

    Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez were also running, eager to close the lighting-fast striker down but due to their high offside line, they stood no chance.

    The Frenchman was just too fast.

    Kylian Mbappe was a literal speeding train.

    They could not catch up. They knew it, Mbappe knew it, Marc Andre Ter Stegen also knew it. And so, instead of placing misguided hope on his defenders, the German goalkeeper decided to take matters into his own hands.

    Whoosh!

    Ter Stegen charged out of his post to intercept the ball.

    Silence.

    For a few moments of pure tension, the Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla in Seville became as silent as a church.

    Time and space seemed to compress, slowing down to a crawl.

    All that remained was the pitch, the 18-yard box, and movement.

    The thudding sounds of Kylian Mbappe reverberated, the desperate charge of Marc Andre Ter Stegen was highlighted, and then¡­

    Whoosh!

    Kylian Mbappe lunged at the ball.

    Kylian Mbappe was faster, but the distance between Ter Stegen and the ball was shorter. The goalkeeper should have arrived first, and the Frenchman knew it, and so he lunged at the ball, throwing himself in a reckless attacking move.

    Before Ter Stegen could touch the ball, with the heel of his boots, Kylian Mbappe poked the ball past the scrambling German goalkeeper.

    Ter Stegen evaded the Frenchman''s boots at the last moment, narrowly escaping the grim reality of ending up injured.

    As for the ball?

    After Kylian Mbappe''s strangely acrobatic and reckless heel kick, the ball rolled into the net, unobstructed.

    Thud!

    Kylian Mbappe landed on his butt but he didn''t even feel the pain as the next moment he already stood up, waving his hands excitedly like a mad man while charging towards the corner flag in celebration. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And then¡­

    "GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!"

    The Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla erupted!

    "KYLIAN MBAPPEEEEE!" The commentator roared at the top of his lungs.

    "KYLIAN MBAPPE, the mercurial Frenchman have struck at the Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla!"

    "Vinicius Jnr. and Kylian Mbappe, what a duo!"

    "That pass, my God¡­, it was straight from heaven!"

    "And that finish? It could only have been done by Kylian Mbappe and no one else in the world, prove me wrong if you can!"

    "And Real Madrid are ahead in the Copa del Rey final!"

    "0-1! Game on!"

    The FC Barcelona players?

    They could not even point fingers at anyone, not that it was something they did regularly. This was because no specific player was at fault for that goal.

    It was just a result of a few certain player''s individual brilliance cooperating, cohabiting to create the moment of magic.

    At the Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla, there were 2 distinct energies in the stadium at the moment.

    On one side, tens of thousands of fans in the pristine white of Real Madrid celebrated at the top of their lungs, waving banners, whistling, screaming, undressing in an unbridled display of madness.

    On the other side, silence; somber, solemn silence.

    47 minutes, 0-1¡­

    Real Madrid was leading.

    In just the 2nd minute of the second half, the game already turned on its head, but how long could this status last?

    What would be the response of the FC Barcelona players?

    Well, their response was pretty straightforward and brutal.

    Chaos, war, battle!

    All hell broke loose on the pitch!

 Chapter 434 - 434: Copa Del Rey; Barcelona vs Real Madrid [4]

    Defiance¡­

    A single word, a simple meaning, but with a heavy undertone.

    What is defiance?

    In the simple dictionary, defiance is a daring or bold resistance to authority or to any opposing force.

    An open disregard; contempt.

    A challenge to meet in combat or in a contest.

    47 minutes, 0-1¡­

    Real Madrid scored, and in extension, they issued a challenge.

    In response, Catalan energy bloomed in all its full glory at the Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    That voice was back.

    That voice, it was the voice of defiance.

    FC Barcelona accepted Real Madrid''s challenge, and Sam was the tip of the spear that took the battle to the army in white.

    Pure, unadulterated football started on the pitch.

    FC Barcelona was already playing good since, dominating possession a bit in the first half but in this second half after Mbappe''s goal?

    They simply exploded, leaving hesitation behind to embrace instinct.

    There seemed to be a limit lock on the FC Barcelona players before but after that Mbappe, a limit breaker mechanism was initiated, breaking the limit.

    And so, flowing, relentless, attacking football followed.

    Real Madrid still had their moments, their half chances but for large swathes of this second half, they were largely stifled as FC Barcelona exploded.

    It was an all-out attacking display.

    The defense pushed forward, pushing the offside line so high, far higher than anything that FC Barcelona have played the season under Hansi Flick''s orders.

    And with such a ridiculous highline, the pressure became palpable. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The FC Barcelona players were like a swarm of locusts, swarming and overwhelming every obstacle before them, devouring any and everything in sight.

    In the middle of the pack, Pedri was like a flea, weightless, elusive, untouchable, quick-footed.

    Tonight, Pedri played the best game of his career.

    He led the press from midfield, winning back balls mere seconds after Real Madrid got it, and when he got the ball, he actually made use of it.

    Of course, in response to Barca''s offensive high press, Real Madrid tried to press back and that was where Pedri comes to fore as the orchestrator.

    Pedri didn''t get the chance of playing with legends like Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez to learn directly from them, but of that iconic FC Barcelona midfield trio, he did play with one, Sergio Busquests.

    And from the Spanish legend, he soaked and learned as much as he could, the core of it being his ability to escape pressure and press.

    Shifting the ball, changing his center of gravity, tight shuffling the ball, la croquetas, roulettes, Cruyff turns, Pedri used it all on the night!

    Every time he did, weaving through 2 or more Real Madrid players, FC Barcelona fans rose to their feet in awe.

    Frankie De Jong was his willing partner but tonight, the Dutchman was more of the destroyer, breaking down any Real Madrid attack before it could even start.

    And with Pedri being such an effective press resistant midfielder, and also executing his passing duties to a tee, the already iconic Barcelona attacking trio was let loose in Real Madrid''s half.

    Pedri did the orchestrating, Lamine Yamal did most of the dribbling and trickery. Tonight, in the second half, after that goal, Lamine Yamal was unplayable.

    Ferland Mendy was made to see stars.

    Yamal dribbled, weaving in and out, turning Mendy inside out with startling consistency as he created chances for his teammates.

    While Yamal did the dribbling, Raphinha repeatedly kept on running into space like a tireless madman, receiving passes not just from Yamal, Gavi, and Pedri but also Sam as he unleashed shot after shot at goal.

    Tonight, Thibaut Courtois put on that 2022 Champions League final cloak again, putting out a flawless goalkeeping performance.

    Sam and Raphinha had chances, again and again, and yet every time, the devilish Thibaut Courtois was up for the challenge.

    Sam didn''t just threaten and shoot, he also played.

    Sam played his heart out on the pitch.

    He dribbled, he created, he unleashed lethal shots at goal, making the Madrid defenders work their ass out to barely keep him in check.

    FC Barcelona was dominating heavily, and yet, no goal yet.

    This second half, after that goal, FC Barcelona ran Real Madrid ragged so thoroughly that it was diabolical, and so the Madrid players started playing dirty.

    Playing dirty when the going gets tough, that was also the Madrid way.

    The Spanish Capital club was not above playing dirty, so long that they get the win at the end of the game and tonight, that was exactly what they did under the onslaught of the FC Barcelona players.

    The defenders tackled like wrestlers, kicking like MMA fighters.

    The midfielders? The lunged like agile boxers, doing everything in their powers to slow down the game and kill FC Barcelona''s momentum.

    The FC Barcelona players complained bitterly, and yet the referee refused to brandish a card, yet.

    It was extremely frustrating but they had no choice but to play on.

    And you know the most painful thing? The dirty tactic was working.

    50 minutes, no goal¡­

    60 minutes, no goal¡­

    70 minutes, no goal¡­

    In the 72nd minute, Hansi Flick took out Gavi, introducing Dani Olmo to the game in a desperate gamble to turn the game around.

    75 minutes, no goal¡­

    80 minutes, no goal¡­

    84 minutes, finally, it happened¡­

    By now, the atmosphere in this stadium crackled with literal electricity, packed with palpable tension.

    Tiki taka, was the answer¡­

    It started from Pedri.

    Pedri played a through pass to Lamine Yamal. Pursued by a relentless Ferland Mendy, Yamal received the ball with the heel of his right boot, flicking it towards Jules Kounde who was behind him who didn''t hesitate.

    As the ball floated towards him, without even looking, simply focusing on the players in red and blue in the 18-yard box from the periphery of his vision, Kounde hit the ball into the box.

    Bam!

    It was a silky first touch from Dani Olmo.

    One touch to calm the ball, and a second touch to flick the ball again into the box, towards the position where Sam lurked.

    As the ball floated in, Sam didn''t even think.

    He forgot thought and embraced instinct.

    This was why as the ball floated in, even before the Real Madrid defenders surrounding him could realize what was happening, his right leg was already swinging and then, his leg connected to the ball in a powerful volley.

    BAM!

    The ball left a blur in its wake as it flew with power, tearing its way into the right corner of the net.

    This time, Courtois was rooted to one spot.

    He didn''t even see it coming.

    He only reacted when the roar of a thousand fans drowned him.

    "GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!"

 Chapter 435 - 435: Copa Del Rey Final; Barcelona vs Real Madrid [5]

    "GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!"

    "1-1!"

    "BARCELONA HAS DONE IT!"

    "THE KING HAS STRUCK AGAIN!"

    "SAMUEL MOSES, IMMORTAL, RELENTLESS!"

    "AND FINALLY, THE BLANCOS DEFENSE HAS BREEN BREACHED!"

    It was not just the commentators, the Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla in Seville literally exploded as tens of thousands of fans with pent up emotions in this stadium for 84 minutes finally let loose.

    Most FC Barcelona fans simply tore their shirts in the stand in the passion of the game, beating their chest, roaring excitedly.

    As for the culprit?

    As soon as he struck the ball, Sam fell down. But following the ball with his eyes, as soon as he saw it enter the net, he rose up to his feet and like a mad man, with dilated pupils, he charged towards the corner flag.

    His teammates charged after him excitedly amid the boiling stadium. Arriving close to the corner flag, Sam jumped down, sliding towards the flag on his butt.

    And then, he kicked the corner flag before jumping back to his feet. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "COME ON!!!" He roared, pumping his fists excitedly.

    Raphinha jumped on his back, celebrating with him excitedly even as Lamine Yamal went to his front, holding his face and touching his head with Sam''s head.

    The whole Barcelona team was suddenly feverish with excitement and energy. Since, they''ve been trying their best to no avail even as Real Madrid played unhinged and dirty football.

    Finally getting a result now? They were emboldened, they felt unstoppable.

    FWEEEE!

    After the passionate goal celebration, the referee''s whistle sounded to continue the game.

    Real Madrid kicked off, continuing the game but it was never the same.

    For the whole of this 2nd half, most especially after that Kylian Mbappe goal, Real Madrid played this game, hanging at a delicate balance.

    The FC Barcelona pressure was just too much.

    And yet, by playing dirty, they managed to hold on for so long. Unfortunately, they couldn''t do it for the full 90 minutes.

    After that goal, uncertainty invaded like an insidious poison.

    If Barcelona scores one, what is preventing them from scoring two?

    Will they score two?

    Real Madrid was the mentality monster club. A club that other clubs across Europe feared, the club renowned for their remontada spirit, clawing victory from the depths of defeat and yet against this Barcelona side, they felt fragile.

    And once that insidious poison invaded, there was no stopping it.

    Real Madrid no longer attacked, rather, they spent the next few minutes desperately defending more Barcelona attacks after the Catalan giants won back possession as the game continued.

    That belief that they could do it, that they could hold on against all odds was what held the team in white together against the onslaught of attacks since.

    But that goal put a dent on that belief, a crack, small and insignificant but at this moment, all Barcelona needed was a crack.

    They had the tools to widen the crack.

    84 minutes, 1-1¡­

    5 minutes after Sam''s first goal, Real Madrid won back possession, Jude Bellingham leading the charge to get the all-important 2nd goal to win the game.

    And yet, that was the moment when Sam decided to drop back.

    Due to his exploits in front of goal and his clutch factor, Sam already built such a fearsome reputation for himself that fans thought his shooting was his best attribute. But in reality, his stamina remained his strongest attribute.

    It was already the 89th minute of this grueling and punishing final, and yet, Sam was not tired yet.

    Fatigue was settling in, but the mamba mentality kept him going.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    One goal was good, but it was not enough.

    Sam wanted more. To win, he needed one more.

    And so he dropped deep, chasing after the ball.

    Federico Valverde was the one who halted the Barca sequence of play, stealing the ball and immediately passing towards Jude Bellingham.

    Pedri pressed Bellingham but with his superior physicality, the Englishman shrugged of the Spaniard''s challenge, spinning past him with a roulette.

    After that roulette, Bellingham looked left and right, scanning his options, and then he pushed deep with the ball.

    That was his mistake. He scanned left and right, but due to being tired after such a grueling game, he forgot to scan behind him.

    Whoosh!

    Sam arrived like a storm. Unstoppable.

    He rushed past Bellingham, stealing the ball from him. Bellingham tried to challenge immediately for the ball back but with more energy at this stage of the game, Sam flexed his physicality and shoved the Englishman aside.

    Jude Bellingham fell down, and Sam was left alone with the ball, in the middle of the pitch.

    Looking forward, Sam''s eyes narrowed as he saw an uneven line that led through the heart of the Real Madrid formation.

    He moved.

    BZZZ!

    Pushing the ball forward, he ran.

    He met Fede Valverde''s challenge first but with silky smooth step overs and a drop of the shoulder, he left the Uruguayan captain for dead, blasting away with speed on the other side.

    Other players in white tried to stop him, but Sam was unstoppable, charging through the middle of the pitch with blistering speed.

    He didn''t seem tired at all.

    Everything happened within just a few seconds and now, Sam was before the Real Madrid 18-yard box, about to step into it.

    The Real Madrid defense stirred, reacting.

    But he never entered the 18-yard box, Sam had the ball right where he wanted it. At that moment, his eyes narrowed into slits like those of a snake. He narrowed his vision towards one corner of the post, and then¡­

    BAM!

    The motion of swinging his leg back and striking the ball was so fast that it seemed like one movement.

    The ball moved with the force of a missile.

    Rushing so fast through the ground that grass were left swirling in its wake, defenders'' leg trailing helplessly in reverence of its passage, and then¡­

    Thud!

    Thibaut Courtois dived but after that first goal, his voodoo this night was already broken. The tall Belgian could not get to the ball on time.

    Whoosh!

    The ball kissed the bottom left corner of the net at such an acute angle that it seemed to have been measured before being shot.

    BOOM!

    The Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla erupted.

 Chapter 436 - 436: FC Barcelona; Copa Del Rey Champions

    BAM!

    An iconic shot that would soon become entrenched in history.

    The ball kissed the bottom right corner of the net and immediately, the Blaugrana end at the Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla went ballistic.

    Fans threw limbs, strangers hugged like brothers, tears welled up in eyes painted red and blue as smoke bombs turned the sky crimson and violet.

    Pandemonium.

    Madness.

    Delirium.

    The commentator lost all restraint.

    "OH MY WORD!"

    "SAMUEL MOSES, TAKE THE BOW, YOU ABSOLUTE MONSTER!"

    "A STRIKE FROM HEAVEN!"

    "FROM THE DEPTHS OF HIS SOUL!"

    "HE HAS PARTED THE SEA AND WALKED ON WATER IN SEVILLE!"

    "BARCA LEAD! BARCA LEAD!"

    Fans collapsed to their knees, fists in the sky, screaming to the heavens. Some were crying, others shaking. In the Madrid end, pure silence.

    A thousand white shirts frozen in disbelief, like statues witnessing a miracle they could not stop.

    They knew. It was over.

    Screaming at the top of his lungs, Sam allowed his body, mind, and soul to bask in the moment as he charged towards the corner flag, spreading his arms wide to embrace the energy of the stadium before sliding on his knees in celebration.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    The Sam chants started at the Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla.

    His teammates finally arrived, most sliding on the field after him in celebration, others jumping in joy, punching their fists out of sheer passion for the game and for their club.

    Raphinha hugged Sam excitedly, kissing his forehead without restraint as he lost himself in the celebrations already.

    When Sam rose back up to his feet, Lamine Yamal jumped on his back, pumping a fist in excitement as the fans roared with his movements.

    It was pure pandemonium, but there was joy in the chaos.

    FWEEE!

    The referee''s whistle soon sounded again, the signal to continue the game but at this point, there was very little that Real Madrid could do.

    Carlo Ancelotti, the Real Madrid coach went all out, setting his team loose as they went all out attack, sending majority of the players up field to attack.

    And yet, it was not bearing much fruit. Barcelona defended as a team.

    4 minutes of additional time were added to the game.

    Real Madrid kept on chasing the equalizer, but they never saw it. At the final minute, when Real Madrid got a corner, even Thibaut Courtois ran up field to join his players, desperate to help his team even the score line.

    And yet, it was not enough.

    The corner kick was played, and Real Madrid still failed to score.

    That was the last kick of the game.

    The final whistle blew.

    Barcelona 2. Real Madrid 1.

    As the players in white collapsed on the pitch in exhaustion, the players in red and blue still found the energy to run around the pitch in celebration, celebrating the victory excitedly in front of their fans.

    The commentators chipped into the celebrations.

    "And there it is!"

    "It is done!"

    "Barcelona are Kings of the Copa once more!"

    "In a night that will be carved into the marble halls of footballing legend, they have defied the odds, silenced their doubters, and lifted the crown above their eternal rivals!"

    "The mighty Real Madrid has been beaten!"

    "This wasn''t just victory, it was resurrection. It was rage turned to glory. It was Samuel Moses, the storm in human form, writing his name into the stars of Seville!"

    "Tonight, in La Cartuja¡­ Barca didn''t just win the Copa del Rey".

    "They conquered it!"

    And as the Barcelona captain raised the trophy high, gold confetti rained, and fans sang at the top of their lungs.

    "El Cant del Barca!"

    They sang with tears streaming down their cheeks, with joy overflowing.

    And as they sang, one thing was certain:

    This night would never be forgotten. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡­

    That night, Sam was the star of the show.

    With another MOTM award for his 2-goal haul in the final, singlehandedly winning the game for FC Barcelona, Sam solidified his position as the player primed to win the best player award of the Copa del Rey.

    And he did scoop the award, adding it to his growing individual award cabinet and yet that was not all for the night.

    With 2 more goals to his numbers this season, in the context of the Copa del Rey tournament, he also won the golden boot award for the tournament.

    That night, Sam felt on top of the world.

    That night, Barcelona was to celebrate all night, fans of the Catalan club savoring a well-deserved victory over their eternal rivals in one of the biggest stages of club football in the context of Spanish football.

    Sam did not exclude himself from the celebrations though.

    After such a grueling game both mentally and physically, even he wanted to relax and properly recover from the game.

    To his surprise, by the time he arrived back to Barcelona to much fanfare with his teammates, his fianc¨¦e was already there at the Spotify Camp Nou waiting for him. Sam was surprised to meet Kayla, but he didn''t say it.

    He was excited to meet her.

    Having driven to the stadium, Kayla scooped her fianc¨¦e away from the overzealous fans, driving him home.

    On getting home, Sam was treated to a sumptuous African meal that Kayla already meticulously made for him with the most love and care.

    That night, Sam didn''t just enjoy that meal, he enjoyed another meal.

    And another unforgettable night was added to the lore of romance between Sam and Kayla. That night, the fianc¨¦es let themselves loose in the throes of pleasure, basking in each other''s warmth, presence, and affection.

    Spending time alone with Kayla, Sam could not think of a better way to spend his night on the wake of such a legendary performance against Real Madrid in the final of the Copa del Rey.

    ''Ah¡­ I''m living the life''.

    Not just Sam, the other FC Barcelona players let themselves loose that night, savoring the moment and the incredible feeling of victory.

    The streets of Barcelona were lit with the flames of passion that night.

    It was an unforgettable night.

 Chapter 437 - 437: Locking in

    16 days of death¡­

    That was what the media called it.

    And the FC Barcelona fanbase agreed with the media, including the players. It was the 16 days that would decide their season and it already started.

    (Copa del Rey:)

    (Final:)

    (Barcelona 2¨C1 Real Madrid)

    (Date: 26th April, 2026)

    ¡­

    (UEFA Champions League:)

    (Semifinal:)

    (Leg 1 of 2:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Inter)

    (Date: 30th April, 2026)

    ¡­

    (La Liga:)

    (Valladolid ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 3rd May, 2026)

    ¡­

    (UEFA Champions League:)

    (Semifinal:)

    (Leg 1 of 2:)

    (Inter ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 6th May, 2026)

    ¡­

    (La Liga:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Real Madrid)

    (Date: 11th May, 2026)

    5 games in 16 days.

    Out of those 5 games, one of them was already played, one of the most important, the Copa del Rey final and it was a victory for FC Barcelona.

    And yet, they dared not rest on their laurels yet.

    The season was not over yet.

    The fans may be allowed to let loose for a long time, celebrating their second final win of the season over their archrivals, Real Madrid but the players could not afford the same leisure if they wanted to keep the late season momentum uniform.

    Sam especially did not dare be complacent.

    After the Real Madrid game, he truly was now on the cusp of victory.

    With his 2 goals against Real Madrid, he eclipsed more legendary goalscorers in football history, including Cristiano Ronaldo''s personal record of 61 goals in a season, a feat the legendary Portuguese only managed once in his career.

    Now, in the history of football, Sam had only two players ahead of him in the most goals department¡­ Lionel Messi and Josef Bican.

    With his 2 goals against Real Madrid, Sam took his tally for the season to an incredible figure of 71 goals in 1 season!

    It was a figure that left most elite strikers in football history chasing the wind.

    In just his debut season for FC Barcelona, and his first official season as a striker, Sam already entrenched his name among the greatest strikers in the history of football. He already wormed his way into the top 10 goalscorers in a season list.

    In the top 10 goalscorers in a season list, Fernando Peyroteo was the previous number 10, beating the legendary Robert Lewandowski and Mario Jardel, 55 goals apiece with his 56 goals haul in the 1945/1946 season.

    And yet, with Sam''s introduction, this legend was already kicked off the list.

    Now in 10th position was another Barcelona legend, the Uruguayan hitman, Luis Suarez with 59 goals in his record-breaking 2015/2016 season.

    His was the only other name besides Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo who made the list from a major European league in the 21st century, until Sam.

    Now in 9th position in the list is the legendary Portuguese, Cristiano Ronaldo with his 61 goals haul in the 2014/2015 season.

    After Ronaldo in 8th position is Dixie Dean with 63 goals in the 1927/1928 season, then Zico in 7th position with his 65 goals in 1979, and then the Brazilian G.O.A.T himself in 6th position, Pele with 66 goals in 1958.

    Tied with Pele at 66 goals a piece is Romario in 2000, another Brazilian legend in 5th position, and then the German legend, Gerd Muller in 4th position with his 67 goals in the 1972/1973 season.

    As for the current top 3?

    Currently in number 3 was the new King in Catalan, Samuel Moses with his 71 goals in the current season and counting.

    The season was still yet to come to an end!

    And Sam was still healthy, meaning he would likely participate in all the games till the end of the season. The mere thought of it is mindboggling.

    71 goals is an incredible figure, but it only puts into perspective the incredible goalscoring feat of the 2 figures above Sam in the list.

    In the 2011/2012 season, in a calendar year where Lionel Messi went absolute bonkers with his numbers, the legendary Argentine registered 73 goals in a single season!

    And above Lionel Messi is the one and only Josef Bican, the legendary Austria and Czech Republic international with 76 goals in the 1943/1944 season.

    It was a crazy list.

    And it puts Sam''s crazy performances this season into perspective.

    Seeing your name in a goalscoring list with legends like Pele, Gerd Muller, Josef Bican, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez is crazy, but is even crazier when you know you''ve made the top 3 spot in the list already.

    For emphasis, Cristiano Ronaldo is only ranked 9th!

    No one would blame Sam for feeling proud, for feeling fulfilled, for feeling complacent. Afterall, after that Real Madrid game and as a direct consequence of his brace, his fame managed to rise even more, something Sam never thought was possible at this point.

    They were already calling him the new G.O.A.T candidate of football.

    The G.O.A.T of the new generation.

    Others dubbed it the Rise of a Football God.

    So yeah, Sam would be vindicated for feeling immensely proud of his achievements but despite everything, he still had the mentality to keep his head down.

    ''The season is not over yet''.

    That was the simple phrase he used to keep himself sober.

    This time, he didn''t even put too much focus on the system rewards that he got for winning the Copa del Rey and his performance in the tournament.

    All his attention was already focused on the preparations for the UEFA Champions League semifinal clash against Inter Milan. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    They had just 4 days before the Inter Milan clash. It was a tight schedule, and yet Hansi Flick gave his players 1 day of rest.

    Knowing the importance of rest, Sam followed the instructions of his coach, resting properly as he focused on his post-match recovery.

    And then, the next day, alongside his friends, training started.

    Sam jogged, worked out in the Spotify Camp Nou gym, and went to team training as Hansi Flick drilled his players in training, ingraining his tactics for the semifinal in their head.

    It was just 2 days ago when they won the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid, and yet now, the atmosphere in Barcelona was electric again.

    This was because in a few days, a menacing team from Italy would arrive in Spain to challenge them in their turf.

    So, while the players trained and prepared, they also made their preparations.

    Time moved fast.

    And in a blink, D-day was here.

 Chapter 438 - 438: A rainy night in Barcelona

    30th, April¡­

    2026.

    The city of Barcelona pulsed with a raw, feverish energy.

    It was a rainy night in Barcelona.

    Rain drizzled steadily from a bruised sky, turning the streets into slick rivers of light reflected from the flares, headlights, and electric screens. But not even the rain could douse the inferno the Barcelona faithful had prepared.

    Hours before kickoff, the roads leading to the Spotify Camp Nou were clogged with a seething mass of supporters.

    They wore ponchos or simply let the rain soak them to the bone, their faces painted in blood-red and deep blue, their banners held high and defiant.

    Flares hissed and spat smoke into the wet air, casting an eerie glow through the mist. Thunderous drums pounded out a primal rhythm, and chants soared like war cries through the storm.

    "Barca!" "Barca!" "Barca!"

    "Inter, cabrones, saludad a los campeones!"

    When the Inter Milan team bus finally rolled into town, escorted by police, it was as if a spark had dropped onto a powder keg.

    The rain amplified the fury; fans banged on the security barricades, smoke engulfed the bus, and flares were tossed onto the wet pavement, hissing and spitting fire like furious serpents.

    Red and blue smoke clung to the ground, swirling around the tires like ghostly warriors. No matter what affiliation you were, any player not of the Barcelona persuasion would have felt the energy seeping into them. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The energy was unstoppable. It was insidious, like a drug.

    Inter''s players peered nervously from behind the glass, their faces momentarily illuminated by the flashes of lightning above and the wild strobe of camera flashes.

    It was chaos in the rain.

    It felt less like arriving for a football match and more like marching into enemy territory during wartime.

    Heck, it felt like walking into the opened maw of an Ancient Dragon.

    They finally entered inside, and yet, it didn''t stop.

    Inside the Spotify Camp Nou, the atmosphere was a living, breathing thing.

    The rain hammered the roof and the terraces, but under it all, the fans created a wall of sound so dense it seemed to shake the very concrete beneath their feet.

    Every song, every whistle, every jeer layered into a roaring symphony of hostility for the enemy team.

    Massive tifos unfurled across the stands; a snarling dragon in Barca colors swallowing a black and blue snake whole; another one of Sam sitting on a throne with a crown on his head, radiating royalty while stomping a similar black and blue snake on the head.

    The stadium lights glared down through the misty rain, catching the haze of smoke still drifting over the pitch, making the scene look almost surreal, like something out of a fever dream.

    Or to the Inter players, something out of their nightmares.

    As the teams lined up in the tunnel, every player could feel it; the energy.

    This wasn''t just a game.

    This was a battle for survival in the heart of a fortress, on a night when even the skies had turned against the invaders.

    And then, finally¡­

    FWEEEEE!

    When the referee blew his whistle for kickoff, Camp Nou erupted, not like a stadium but like a volcano, sending a shockwave of raw, primal energy hurtling into the rain-soaked night.

    And under the rain, in a slippery stadium, the war for a spot in the final of the UEFA Champions League started.

    The weather forecasters never predicted rain.

    And so, the rain was as much of a shock to the FC Barcelona players as it was to the Inter Milan players.

    But they were professional football players; they would manage.

    For the first few dozen minutes of this game, it was pure chaos as both teams struggled to settle on a steady rhythm to control the game.

    The pitch was slippery and wet, limiting the options of the players.

    Playing long ground passes was now a complicated and risky affair. If not hit right, the wet grass could slow the ball down, resulting in your team losing the ball in a dangerous position.

    Dribbling also became much trickier, and yet, the Barca players rose to the occasion fueled by the relentless energy of their fans in the stadium stands.

    Lamine Yamal played like a magician with his magic wand.

    Instead of being affected adversely by the wet ground, he took advantage of it, weaving through his markers with effortless ease as the famed Inter Milan defenders were forced to their knees and butts on numerous occasions.

    In the middle of the pitch, Pedri Gonzalez also kept it tidy, helping Barcelona to maintain control over the middle of the pitch despite the chaotic momentum of the game due to the rain.

    Upfront, Sam assumed a lethal false 9 role, dropping deep to help his team build attack. This was Hansi Flick''s strategy tonight.

    Alongside Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan had one of the best defenses in Europe and to break them down, Sam was given freedom to create.

    In the rain, he thrived.

    10 minutes, no goal¡­

    20 minutes, no goal¡­

    In the 33rd minute of the game, the deadlock was finally broken.

    Benjamin Pavard passed towards Calhanoglou in midfield, but the wet grass slowed the ball down, allowing the Wolfish Samuel Moses to pounce.

    Sam arrived at the ball first.

    Whoosh!

    Calhanoglou slid in recklessly for the ball, the wet pitch carrying him further as he slid and yet, anticipating it with his spatial awareness, Sam flicked the ball up before jumping over the challenge.

    As soon as Sam won back the ball, he already spotted someone''s run since and after evading Calhanoglou''s challenge, he hit a long lobbed pass to the right.

    Lamine Yamal took the ball in his strides, rounding his man before passing a lobbed pass back to Sam who already rushed into the 18-yard box.

    Immediately, in trepidation, the whole Inter Milan defense reacted to the presence of the most in form striker in Europe.

    And yet, Sam didn''t shoot. Rather, he simply flicked it behind him.

    POW!

    Pedri unleashed a thunderous volley!

    Having been following him since after Sam dropped back, he was in the right place to hit Sam''s flicked pass sweetly, sending it into the back of the net.

    "GOALLLL¡­!"

    The Spotify Camp Nou erupted.

 Chapter 439 - 439: War in the rain [1]

    33 minutes, 1-0¡­

    Even in the rain, as soon as the ball entered the net, the Spotify Camp Nou erupted, briefly drowning the deafening clangor of the heavy downpour.

    The FC Barcelona players reacted, celebrating the goal as Pedri ran towards the corner flag before sliding on his knees in celebration.

    Due to the slippery pitch, he slid for a long time before coming to a stop.

    His teammates swarmed him. And when Pedri stood back up, with a big smile on his face, he pointed at Sam, acknowledging him for the role he played in creating the goal.

    While the Barcelona players celebrated, for a few seconds, there was an argument among the Inter Milan players till Yann Sommer, their goalkeeper intervened, separating them with a few heated words.

    The celebration soon came to an end, and the Barca players returned to the pitch.

    FWEEE!

    The game continued.

    And finally, FC Barcelona got a firm grip over the game.

    During training, Hansi Flick never anticipated for a heavy downpour and this was why the fluid FC Barcelona team struggled to set a steady tempo at first.

    But after that Pedri goal, the team finally adapted.

    They learned to play in the rain.

    FC Barcelona finally gained the decisive advantage in this game, dominating possession and posing significant threat in attack, forcing Inter Milan to focus more on defense as the pressure mounted.

    "Visca Barca!"

    With the fans roaring nonstop on the fans, the players played their hearts out. For the next 10 minutes after Pedri''s goal, it was literally 70% to 30% possession in FC Barcelona''s favor.

    They were passing their opponents to death in the rain!

    Somehow, they learned to pass better in the rain.

    And then, in the 43rd minute of the game, the game was sealed.

    Pedri intercepted a pass aimed to Lautaro Martinez with his chest, bringing the ball down before quickly playing it up, lobbing it over the Inter Milan defense.

    The Inter Milan defense reacted, but someone was faster¡­ Samuel Moses.

    BZZZ!

    Sam left a blur, turning into a speeding train on the spot.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    The Sam chants erupted at the Spotify Camp Nou as evading the reckless challenges from the defenders to hold him down, he sped past them, running with the ball towards the goalkeeper as he was suddenly one on one with Yann Sommer.

    The Inter Milan goalkeeper was one of the best goalkeepers in the world, but against the best striker in the world, even he was not confident in this scenario.

    Yann Sommer bid his time a bit, and then he sudden rushed out, rapidly closing the distance to the striker as he slid towards him.

    ''Shoot¡­!'' Tens of thousands of Barca fans definitely thought that as their blood pressure rose, but Sam didn''t shoot, rather¡­

    Bam!

    He passed it to his left.

    To his left where Alejandro Balde was.

    It was crazy for a left back to be in this position in the first place. But when Inter Milan was about to attack before Pedri''s interception, Balde was caught out of position and this was the reason why he managed to appear here when Sam looked for a partner in crime.

    Besides, he recognized the fact that it was Balde running besides him and since his friend rarely received opportunities like this to score was why he passed.

    That pass obliterated the goalkeeper out of the equation.

    Balde ran with the ball towards an empty net, and then he smashed it in.

    "GOALLLLLL¡­!!!"

    The Spotify Camp Nou erupted again.

    Alejandro Balde scored in the 44th minute, effectively sealing the game, or so Barca fans thought but Inter Milan had something else in mind.

    The first half came to an end 2-0 in Barca''s favor.

    During halftime, Hansi Flick only had a little words for his players, telling them to seal the game so he could sleep on time.

    The players laughed to his joke. And then, they entered the pitch.

    FWEEE!

    Inter Milan restarted the game.

    As soon as Inter started the game, Lautaro Martinez, the Argentine striker started running straight at the Barcelona defense.

    For a moment or two, the Barca defenders were confused, then¡­

    Bam!

    Nicola Barella hit a long pass towards Martinez just before he could be caught by the infamous Barcelona offside trap.

    All of a sudden, in one hit, Martinez was one on one with Ter Stegen!

    The German goalkeeper charged out to meet the Argentine striker but keeping his cool, Martinez kicked the ball forward, past Ter Stegen''s reach, rounding the goalkeeper before scoring a smooth goal.

    "GOALLLL¡­!!!"

    The away stands at the Spotify Camp Nou that had been quiet for over 45 minutes erupted suddenly, brought back to life by that goal.

    Lautaro Martinez pumped a fist at his fans with passion but he didn''t celebrate, rushing into the net, picking the ball and rushing back to the center of the pitch to restart the game.

    Inter Milan scored in the very first minute of the 2nd half.

    The game continued, but that lightning-fast goal seemed to have rattled FC Barcelona''s nerves because just 3 minutes later, in the 48th minute of the game, Pedri played an uncharacteristic loose pass, letting Federico Dimarco to pounce.

    The Inter Milan wingback intercepted the pass and without waiting for a single moment, he kicked the ball forward, pursuing it with speed.

    With a one-two pass with Calhanoglou, he evaded Jules Kounde before running deep down the left flank of the pitch.

    Before the Barcelona defense could properly recover, he hit a silky trivela pass with the outside of his boot, sending it into the 18-yard box.

    Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi both kept an eye on the suddenly crazy Argentine striker, but Lautaro Martinez was just too elusive. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The striker was already in the flow state!

    He jumped in between both defenders, flinging his body acrobatically at the ball as he played a beautiful scissor kick, sending it towards the top left corner.

    Marc Andre Ter Stegen was rooted to one spot.

    GOAL.

    The Spotify Camp Nou was stunned.

 Chapter 440 - 440: War in the rain [2]

    45 minutes, 2-0¡­

    48 minutes, 2-2¡­

    "WHAT A GOALLLLL!" The commentators went haywire in excitement, screaming in a shrill voice that cut through the rain that was now a mere drizzle.

    "SENSATIONAL!"

    "Out of this world!"

    "Crazy! What a crazy player, what a crazy goal!"

    "Ladies and gentlemen, Lautaro Martinez is in the Spotify Camp Nou!"

    This time, Lautaro Martinez did not shirk celebrating as he charged towards the corner flag, waving his arms in sheer excitement and passion for the game as he then slid on his knees, his figure cutting through the grass like an arrow head.

    His teammates swarmed him, celebrating excitedly.

    While the Inter Milan players celebrated, the FC Barcelona defenders were baffled as they stared at each other, not knowing exactly what went wrong.

    ''How?!'' The same question rang in their minds.

    And not just the players, the fans too.

    After the ball entered the net a second time within just a few minutes, it was so unexpected that the Spotify Camp Nou briefly became as silent as a church.

    It was not till Lautaro Martinez charged away in celebration that the away fans erupted, celebrating their striker at the top of their lungs. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Meanwhile, the FC Barcelona fans remained stunned, frozen, and then they reacted in the only way they could.

    "BOOOOOOO¡­!"

    They drowned the celebrating Inter Milan players in an ocean of boos.

    And that? That was the catalyst.

    This game was an interesting game from the very beginning, an extremely important game for both clubs, a season-defining game, a game of exceedingly high stakes.

    But after this? The stakes rose even more, no longer just winning, but pride.

    And now, the FC Barcelona players were put on the spot.

    It was not an option any longer, they must win!

    It was crazy pressure, but none of the players donning the red and blue of Barcelona shirked the responsibility. Rather, they soaked on it, letting it sink in to become fuel that''ll push them forward.

    The commentators calling it the war in the rain was more of a joke, but after that equalizer, it truly became a war.

    A war in the rain.

    After that equalizer, Hansi Flick finally left the shade for the first time this game, walking to the touchline on his rain coat as he gesticulated wildly, organizing his players and directing them even as the game restarted.

    As for the FC Barcelona players?

    They ramped up the pressure.

    Those 2 goals were purely moments of individual brilliance from a single player. When it came to team performance, FC Barcelona was the vastly superior side this game and they ramped it up even more.

    Bam! Bam! Bam!

    Passes, dribbles, pressure, everything, FC Barcelona ramped it up, running Inter Milan ragged to the ground even as the black and blue defended valiantly.

    For the next few dozen minutes, Lautaro Martinez seemed to have changed occupation, rarely being seen in the striker position as he dropped to midfield to help his team weather the pressure and defend.

    It was all Barcelona, and yet, the 3rd goal failed to materialize.

    Sam especially was hungry again. Even in the drizzling rain, he was a menace, chasing every loose ball, receiving every pass and making use of it to the maximum, sending the Inter Milan defense shaking in trepidation every time he had the ball.

    Lamine Yamal kept on doing his thing, running circles around his marker as he created chance after chance for his teammates.

    He also took a few shots of his own, but nothing too much for Yann Sommer to handle. Raphinha was also a menace this game.

    The Brazilian was a bundle of energy, running everywhere, leading the up field press as he almost scored the 3rd goal only for it to hit the bar.

    In midfield, Pedri helped Barcelona press the opponents.

    It was a crazy game, and yet, still no goal.

    50 minutes, no goal¡­

    60 minutes, no goal¡­

    70 minutes, no goal¡­

    And then, in the 77th minute, it happened.

    It was another pass from Pedri into the 18-yard box where Sam lurked. Calmly bringing the ball down with his chest, Sam took a few touches with his lap before flicking the ball to the side where a certain Raphinha lurked.

    The pressure in the Inter Milan box from the defenders was much but this time, the Brazilian''s instinctive shot connected.

    It was a volleyed shot.

    POW!

    It flew like a missile, rushing into the net with a shockwave-inducing force.

    Yann Sommer could only stagger, falling to his butt and when he looked back, the ball was already inside his net.

    That goal¡­, it made a whole fan base to writhe in joy, the FC Barcelona fan base as they celebrated like mad men and women.

    Raphinha celebrated his goal exuberantly, charging towards the corner flag, jumping and pumping a fist at the fans even as the fans responded excitedly.

    Then, he pointed at Sam, acknowledging him for the goal.

    Sam didn''t score tonight, but his mark was in all 3 FC Barcelona goals as he made the assist for all 3 goals.

    Surely, the game was over, right?

    A certain Inter Milan thought different, precisely a certain Lautaro Martinez.

    Just 2 minutes after Raphinha''s goal, in the 79th minute, Lautaro Martinez received a pass just outside Barcelona''s 18-yard box.

    He was in no position to score. He had no right to score from there, and yet the man in form did just that.

    Outside the box, with multiple players in red and blue ahead of him, Martinez simply stepped over the ball once with his left foot, shifted the ball to the right with his right foot before using the same leg to rifle a thunderous grounded ball in.

    The ball rolled through the wet grass like a missile, making Ter Stegen sleep in green pastures, and yet he never got to the ball.

    It tore its way into the bottom left corner.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!!!"

    The Inter Milan fans erupted for the 3rd time this game in joy and shock.

    They didn''t know how their striker did it, but he did, and it gave them endless joy. They celebrated exuberantly.

    The game came to an end 3-3.

    Sam got a hattrick of assists; Lautaro Martinez got a hattrick.

    Lautaro Martinez won the man of the match award.

 Chapter 441 - 441: A matchday to rest

    (Copa del Rey:)

    (Final:)

    (Barcelona 2¨C1 Real Madrid)

    (Date: 26th April, 2026)

    ¡­

    (UEFA Champions League:)

    (Semifinal:)

    (Leg 1 of 2:)

    (Barcelona 3¨C3 Inter)

    (Date: 30th April, 2026)

    ¡­

    (La Liga:)

    (Valladolid ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 3rd May, 2026)

    ¡­

    (UEFA Champions League:)

    (Semifinal:)

    (Leg 1 of 2:)

    (Inter ¨C Barcelona)

    (Date: 6th May, 2026)

    ¡­ Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    (La Liga:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Real Madrid)

    (Date: 11th May, 2026)

    16 days of death, 5 deciding games.

    FC Barcelona already played 2/5 of the games. They won one, they lost one, now there were 3 games remaining in the grueling schedule of death.

    FC Barcelona didn''t lose any of the 2 games that they played but during that performance, there was a prevailing sense that the team was tired.

    You could not blame them, the players were rightfully tired.

    It was already matchday 34 of the Spanish La Liga, meaning that this season alone, FC Barcelona already played 34 games in the league. And as one of the biggest clubs in Spain, they didn''t compete in the La Liga alone, they competed in other tournaments.

    The elite club competition in Europe, the UEFA Champions League was the biggest but aside that, this season, FC Barcelona competed in the Supercopa de Espana, and the Copa del Rey.

    Packing all those games together culminated into a grueling season where most of the starting FC Barcelona players were now tired and worn out.

    Besides, on the back of the Inter Milan game, FC Barcelona just came from playing an intense El Clasico against their archrivals, Real Madrid.

    No matter what form Real Madrid was in this season, the Spanish Capital Club was still a bonafide big club with some of the biggest names in football plying their trade for them. They were always a threat.

    This was why for the Real Valladolid game, FC Barcelona fans clamored on social media, creating threads, pleading with Hansi Flick to rest all the important players in the team.

    It was more than a decade already since FC Barcelona won the UEFA Champions League trophy. To the fans, the trophy was the priority this season.

    Besides, it was not as if abandoning one game would doom the team.

    Afterall, they had a sizeable 7 points lead above Real Madrid at the top of the Spanish La Liga table. So, they could afford to rotate heavily.

    No one knew if the coach took the advice of the fans to do it, but on the prelude to the Valladolid game, Hansi Flick dropped a radical starting XI.

    He heavily rotated the team.

    FC Barcelona started with their regular 4-2-3-1 formation.

    Inaki Pena, the backup goalkeeper started in between the posts for the Catalan club. Ahead of him was an unfamiliar defensive quadruple of Gerard Martin, Eric Garcia, Ronald Araujo, and Hector Fort in right back.

    In the middle of the park was a midfield duo of Gavi and Frankie De Jong, while in attacking midfield was Fermin Lopez.

    Further ahead, the offensive trio comprised Ansu Fati who was on the back of another loan season in left wing, Ferran Torres leading the line as the striker, Pablo Torre in right wing.

    It was an entirely unfamiliar starting XI this season but no FC Barcelona fan complained. Rather, they traveling away fans kept up their support of the team.

    They didn''t place much hopes in getting a result from this game, but still, it was an opportunity for the club to give these players some playing experience.

    For Real Valladolid, starting in a 4-1-4-1 formation, Ferreira started as the goalkeeper while ahead of him was a defensive quadruple of Aznou, Sanchez, Curnart, and Perez. Juric was the single man in defensive midfield.

    Ahead of the defensive midfielder was a quadruple of Moro, Amallah, Chuki, and Anuar. Isolated up top was Latasa who led the line as the striker.

    ¡­

    3rd May, 2026¡­

    The atmosphere at the Jose Zorrilla Stadium was electric.

    Today, the Real Valladolid fans could smell victory. Despite playing against the current best team in the league, they smelled victory because this was a vastly different Barcelona side than the normal one.

    The fans smelled it, and so, they turned the stadium into a cage.

    A cage of raucous noise and support for their team, and FC Barcelona was the beast now caught in this stage, about to be slaughtered.

    FWEEE!

    The game started.

    The first half of this game was a complicated affair.

    Both clubs struggled to settle into the game as the 2 midfield clashed, struggling to control and orchestrate the game for their team.

    Even against a diminished and heavily rotated FC Barcelona side, the Valladolid club failed to get a foothold on the game.

    Still, they dominated in certain aspects.

    Just as the first half seemed destined to end as a boring affair, in the 44th minute of the game, one of the offensive Valladolid players scored a strong contender for the La Liga goal of the season award.

    Receiving the ball a few meters from the 18-yard box, Chuki, the Real Valladolid midfielder pushed the ball forward a bit before unleashing a shot that was straight out of the Gorgon Medusa''s box.

    He unleashed an unreal knuckle ball shot fueled by instinct.

    Inaki Pena dived but he could do nothing as the ball hit the top bar before bouncing down and into the net.

    Real Valladolid celebrated the goal exuberantly.

    The first half came to an end 1-0 in Real Valladolid''s favor.

    Second half started with no changes made between both teams. In the 2nd half, with a goal ahead already, Real Valladolid finally found their tempo and it led to a few dozen minutes of FC Barcelona being punished.

    The unfamiliar defense was pushed to their limits, violating the advantages of their high offside trap to the limit as the Real Valladolid players were caught offside 6 different times in 30 minutes.

    By the 80th minute, FC Barcelona was barely hanging on, Inaki Pena''s impressive performance keeping them in the game.

    In the 82nd minute, Hansi Flick made his first change, a double change; taking off Frankie De Jong and Ferran Torres, introducing Pedri and Pau Victor into the game on their stead.

    With Pedri on the pitch, the game was no longer chaotic. Barcelona gained control over the midfield battle for the first time, making the away Barcelona fans erupt with Pedri chants.

    It was no longer as lopsided, but Real Valladolid was still the superior side, until the 89th minute of the pitch.

    2 Barcelona youngsters combined for an unreal moment of magic.

    Pedri played a deep lobbed pass into the box which Pau Victor, the young Barca striker brought down with his chest. Just as the hefty Valladolid defenders clashed into him, before bringing him down, the young striker flicked the ball to his right where Pablo Torre lurked.

    Bam!

    It was an instinctive volleyed shot from the young attacker.

    Ferreira was rooted to one spot, watching as the ball flashed past him into the net. The goalkeeper groaned and fell backward in frustration.

    "GOALLLLL¡­!!!"

    The away FC Barcelona fans celebrated excitedly like they just won the game.

    The referee added 3 minutes of additional time. During those 3 minutes, Real Valladolid did everything to get the winning goal but it never came.

    The game ended in a draw.

 Chapter 442 - 442: Matchday? No, War Day

    1 day later¡­

    Thud! Thud! Thud!

    Sam jogged through the streets of FC Barcelona alongside his crew, eliciting reactions from the fans who were already used to their daily morning schedule.

    FC Barcelona fans gathered in the streets, allowing the 5 players to continue their jogging even as they waved banners at them.

    The banners showed different drawings, some depicting Sam in a crown and holding a sword like some ancient conqueror King.

    In others he was still the ancient conqueror King, and his Generals were behind him; Alejandro Balde, Pedri, Gavi, Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, and others.

    "We must win in Italy!" They chanted in Spanish.

    "We must kill the snake!"

    "We shall kill the snake!"

    Despite the commotion, none of the 5 youngsters jogging showed too much reaction as they focused on doing what they did best, working out.

    50 meters to the Spotify Camp Nou, they erupted into a sprint.

    This time, Lamine Yamal showed crazy speed, almost winning but Sam gave him an edge like usual.

    "I almost won!" He lamented.

    Sam laughed. "I almost let you win".

    "Showoff". Yamal pouted.

    The others laughed.

    They entered the gym, carried a few weights, and worked their whole body before finally leaving the gym after Sam''s system notified him of having completed another daily system quest.

    Later in the day, after going home to freshen up, they returned to the stadium where they engaged in team training under Hansi Flick''s guidance.

    It was just the next day after the Real Valladolid game, but Hansi Flick was already training his players. He didn''t give them a day off this time.

    This was because FC Barcelona''s next game was more than a normal game.

    Matchday? Nah, more like war day.

    And this was why Hansi Flick pushed his players.

    After the team training that morning, the German coach finally revealed his starting XI to his players that he intended to start at the San Siro in Italy.

    Compared to the starting XI that played against Real Valladolid, this was a starting XI that was more familiar to the players and the fans.

    They''ll start in their regular 4-2-3-1 formation, with Sam leading the line as the striker, flanked from both sides by Raphinha and Lamine Yamal. In attacking midfield is Gavi, and the center midfield duo is Pedri and Frankie De Jong.

    In defense, the stalwart back four was back!

    Inigo Martinez led the backline, leading a quadruple that comprised him, Alejandro Balde in left back, Pau Cubarsi as his partner in center defense, and Jules Kounde back in right back.

    As for the goalkeeper spot? Marc Andre Ter Stegen was back.

    ¡­

    The next day, 5th May; more jogging, more work at the gym, and more team training under Hansi Flick''s rigorous tutelage.

    In team training today, the German coach could not help himself nodding with a satisfied smile on his face.

    His team¡­ was ready.

    Physically, psychologically, his team was ready. His defenders were healthy and in sync, his midfield were their usual selves again after having time to rest.

    As for the attack? Lamine Yamal was electric as usual, Raphinha was a bundle of energy again. And Sam? Sam was Sam.

    Overall, the coach was satisfied already.

    He did his best in the preparations already, now was to leave the rest to fate.

    That afternoon, the FC Barcelona players got an epic sendoff like civilians of a city sending off their warriors to war in a distant and hostile land.

    Cheers and chants filled the stadium till the plane took off in Barcelona.

    Hours later, they arrived in Italy.

    They received a smaller but equally iconic welcome in Italy as FC Barcelona fans in the country came out to welcome their players.

    They were in enemy ground now.

    ¡­

    The next day, 6th May¡­

    Milan, Italy.

    Thud! Thud! Thud!

    5 players in FC Barcelona track suits jogged through the streets of Milan, not caring that they were deep in enemy territory as they continued their daily ritual right there in Italy, under the sun where countless enemy fans watched.

    They were not attacked by the fans, but they invited loud boos from Italian fans that saw them, eager to offset them psychologically before the game come evening, today.

    In response, Sam and his friends simply increased the volume of music blasting in their ears from their air pods.

    They jogged back to their hotel, and completed their daily ritual in the hotel gym. Only after that did their day start.

    It felt like a movie but the D-day was already here.

    The moment of truth.

    They didn''t let the occasion get to them though. Returning to their hotel rooms, they took their bath, freshened up before joining their teammates in the hall where Hansi Flick had the final team talk with them in preparation for evening.

    After that team talk, it ended.

    Preparation time was over.

    ¡­

    7:20pm.

    San Siro Stadium, Milan, Italy.

    The night sky over Milan was an ominous shroud as the FC Barcelona team bus rolled into enemy territory.

    Outside the San Siro, a mob of Inter Milan ultras had gathered hours before kickoff, flares blazing like infernal beacons, casting long shadows on the ancient walls of the stadium. They were eager to give their enemies a taste of their own medicine that they gave their players in Spain.

    Smoke choked the air, drums thundered in the distance, and chants laced with venom and pride erupted like battle cries.

    "Barca, tornate a casa!"

    They screamed, faces contorted with passion, blue and black flags whipping violently in the wind.

    As the bus pulled in, it was pelted with debris; plastic bottles, coins, the occasional stone, each bounce off the metal echoing like a warning shot.

    The glass shook. Inside, tension thickened.

    Even the veterans wore it like armor. Pedri clenched his jaw, eyes narrowed. Sam simply stared forward, unmoved, a warhorse in the calm before the charge.

    Gavi? Ever the firebrand, he cracked his knuckles, adrenaline leaking through his silence. Hansi Flick sat at the front, arms folded, absorbing the hatred like fuel.

    The moment they stepped into the San Siro turf, the hostility grew teeth. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A deafening chorus of whistles and jeers surged down from 75,000 strong. Inter''s Curva Nord was a spectacle of coordinated chaos, banners sprawled across the stand, a massive tifo unfurled.

    {Your Dream Dies Here!}

    Fireworks exploded just outside the stadium walls, shaking the concrete with every burst. The air felt electric, volatile, as if the entire city had conspired to drown Barcelona in pressure and fury.

    The players warmed up to a wall of noise, the kind that burrowed into your skin and rattled your nerves. But Barcelona didn''t flinch.

    They knew what this was; a sacred war.

    Ter Stegen calmly adjusted his gloves. Raphinha smirked at the crowd, admiring the energy and then tossing a wink at a particularly enraged fan. Frankie De Jong motioned for silence, only to be met with a tidal wave of insults.

    It was crazy.

    Hostile? Absolutely. Intimidating? To some.

    But to Barca, Hansi Flick''s Barcelona, it was beautiful. It meant they were feared. It meant the stakes were real.

    And then¡­

    FWEEEEEE!

    It started.

 Chapter 443 - 443: 90 minutes to decide a season

    FWEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle cut through the noise like a blade, the sacred signal to start the game at the San Siro.

    And the game started.

    The 90 minutes journey started.

    Tonight, this was a game to die for. A game to kill for.

    90 minutes to decide a season for Inter Milan. But for FC Barcelona, the once Kings of Europe? It was 90 minutes to decide a decade.

    It was more than a decade since FC Barcelona last made it to the final of the UEFA Champions League, in 2015 where they defeated another Italian side in a prime Juventus led by an ageing Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo.

    Tonight, it was not the final yet, but the road to the final.

    It was the semifinal.

    And it was not against that dynamic Juventus team, rather, it was against Simone Inzaghi''s stalwart Inter Milan side.

    The side boasting the best defense in all of Europe. A club that embraced and embodied the famous old-style defending of Italian clubs, a club that channeled the spirit of old Italian heroes; the Paulo Maldinis, the Nestas, the Cannavaros, the Leonardo Bonuccis and Girgio Chiellinis.

    Last week, at the Spotify Camp Nou, FC Barcelona did it once, breaking down the stalwart defense that was feared across Europe as they scored 3 great goals.

    Could they do it a second time?

    Could they do it tonight?

    Could they do it at the San Siro?

    No one knew, and that was the joy of it, the unpredictability of the game. It was why millions of football fans across the world tuned in to watch the game.

    And like expected, it was a banger.

    It was an epic from the onset.

    From the first minute of the game, FC Barcelona showed what they were made of at the San Siro.

    Last week, they may have played at home but then, they were coming off the back of a grueling Copa del Rey final with none other than their archrivals, Real Madrid. A game that tested their grit and mettle.

    Hansi Flick could not afford to push his players too much in that period so as not to risk injury, this was why Barcelona relieved the tempo of the game a bit.

    But tonight?

    Tonight, the core FC Barcelona players were well rested and hungry, starved of action, eager to enter the pitch and pounce on prey. Hunt, predate, and devour.

    The Italian fans turned the stadium into a literal cauldron of noise.

    BOOOOOO!!!

    Loud boos followed every FC Barcelona touch of the ball and considering that for the first few minutes, Barcelona dominated possession after kickoff, it was a literal non-stop booing.

    But despite the booing, FC Barcelona tried.

    In the hostile atmosphere created by the enemy fans, the FC Barcelona players thrived, flexing the Hansi Flick mentality.

    Tonight, Inter Milan started in their regular 3-5-2 formation.

    Yann Sommer started in between the posts, while the defensive trio ahead of him comprised of Alessandro Bastoni, Acerbi, and Bisseck.

    The midfield five comprised Federico Dimarco, Mkhitaryan, Calhanoglou, Nicolo Barella, and Denzel Dumfries. Ahead of the stacked midfield is the dynamic offensive duo of Lautaro Martinex and Marcus Thuram.

    It was a fearsome Inter lineup, the best there was this season, and yet against the sledgehammer called FC Barcelona, even at home, this lineup could not dominate as they conceded possession to Hansi Flick''s Barcelona.

    Bam! Bam! Bam!

    Tiki taka, they passed it in triangular patterns around the midfield, running circles around the Inter Milan midfielders though they had more numbers in midfield.

    Having more numbers in midfield did not mean they stayed in midfield though. Inter Milan''s defense was feared for a reason.

    When the opposition was in possession, the midfield tended to drop to defense, making it a literal 8-man defense.

    And buoyed by their coach, Simone Inzaghi''s defensive footballing philosophy, and buoyed even more by the noise being made by their fans, Inter Milan turned the San Siro into a fortress.

    And in extension, the players turned their defense into an impenetrable bastion that was safe from the Barcelona invasion.

    The FC Barcelona players were electric.

    In midfield, Pedri and Frankie De Jong pulled the strings, helped by Gavi while in attack, FC Barcelona was just electric.

    The dynamic Barca front trio tonight were electric.

    Lamine Yamal seemed to have drank directly from the cup of life before the game because the boy was playing like a magician.

    With every swing of his wand, the teenage prodigy did something that made fans to rise to their feet in awe.

    Was it a drop of the shoulder? A la croquet? An elastico? A nutmeg? A roulette? Lamine Yamal was a menace.

    As for Raphinha, he was everywhere, running like a tireless bull.

    He kept on running into space, making the Inter Milan defense shake in trepidation because FC Barcelona had more than enough players to feed him dangerous balls, their striker included.

    Yes, tonight, Sam played like a god.

    His impact was felt.

    Every touch of the ball that he had felt like a touch from heaven. Every movement of his body left the defenders panicking, scrambling, resulting in silly tackles that attracted 2 yellow cards already.

    Sam didn''t have a single shot at goal yet but still, his impact was felt.

    He and Lamine Yamal were menaces together. Where Yamal stopped, he started from there, running rings around the Inter Milan defense, playmaking to set up Raphinha at every opportunity.

    The Inter defense was just too solid to let out an easy goal. If it was any othr defense in Europe, Sam was sure that they would have scored already.

    And yet, it was not all Barcelona.

    Inter Milan may not be technical and dynamic like FC Barcelona, but they also had their own style of play; grounded, old-school, physical attacking style.

    Abusing the physicality of their attackers, Inter Milan also created their own chances, and unlike FC Barcelona, they took actual shots at goal but Ter Stegen was on top of his game, saving every shot that was sent his way.

    In the 23rd minute of the game, against the run of play, Lautaro Martinez did it, putting the ball in the net. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But before he could celebrate.

    FWEEE!

    The offside flag was raised.

    ''Dammit!''

    That was the closest that Inter Milan got.

    In the 38th minute, Lamine Yamal hit the bar after a crazy solo run and shot.

    5 minutes later, Sam weaved his way through the Inter Milan defense like a weaver, unleashing a shot only for Yann Sommer to pull off a crazy save.

    It was a game filled with a lot of tension.

    It was intense, it was end to end.

    And then, the first half finally came to an end.

    0-0.

 Chapter 444 - 444: Like a God

    Halftime¡­

    The tension in the FC Barcelona dressing room was palpable.

    It was just 45 minutes but the FC Barcelona players were filled with sweat, slugging water down their throats.

    Hansi Flick sat among his players, quiet for a few minutes, but then he stood up. In direct contrast to the tension that filled the room at this moment, the German coach had a relaxed smile on his face.

    "Who are we?" He asked.

    His players looked at him.

    Hansi Flick shook his head, disappointed. "Who are we?" He raised his voice.

    "Barcelona". Pedri answered.

    "Good!" Hansi Flick asked, then with burning eyes, he looked round his players and asked again. "Who are we?"

    "Barcelona they answered".

    He grinned, then yelled. "WHO ARE WE?!"

    "BARCELONA!" The players roared.

    "Good, good thing you know". He smiled. "You hear all that noise? All that booing in the first half, it''s a good sign, signs that they fear us".

    "I know what my team can do, and you also know what we can do".

    "All we need is to calm down and do it".

    "1 goal, that''s all we need. Maybe 2, but first things first". He chuckled.

    The players finally smiled, looking at their coach with a new fire in his eyes.

    "Do you believe we can win?"

    "Yes coach!"

    "Do you believe we can do it?"

    "Yes coach!"

    "Then let''s go and do it!"

    "WE''RE FC BARCELONA!"

    "VISCA BARCA!"

    Halftime elapsed.

    The players stepped back into the pitch. Stepping into the pitch again, Sam was assaulted by the loud noise of the Inter fans again but this time, all it triggered in him was a defiant will to win.

    He grinned darkly.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    The voice already started singing in his head.

    This time, it sang a lullaby of liberation.

    FWEEE!

    The second half started and all hell broke loose.

    Just like the FC Barcelona players, Simone Inzaghi also addressed his players during halftime, setting the flames of determination ablaze in their souls.

    The war that started in the first half continued in the second. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This time, Inter Milan stood as an even fiercer resistance, matching FC Barcelona''s pressure man to man.

    They hit back with the same pressure, more potent, more charged.

    It was the UEFA Champions League final.

    If anything, to them, this was the final of the tournament already. If they won this game, they would be one step to winning the trophy already.

    So, there was no need trying to preserve themselves, preserve energy.

    The players of both teams went all out, leaving it all on the pitch.

    Elite players thrive in tight situations. And tonight, a stand-out for FC Barcelona this season did what he did best again, being clutch.

    In the 55th minute of this game, Sam struck, like a Viper.

    After dribbling from the right, Lamine Yamal was forced to drift back outside the box where he noticed that Sam dropped out of the 18-yard box also, all parts of the strategies they were employing to break down Inter''s fearsome defense.

    The Inter defense responded to Sam''s erratic movements, becoming slightly disorganized.

    For a moment, Lamine Yamal became bold.

    He wanted to take advantage of the slight opening that Sam''s movement caused to have a go at it, trying to curl the ball in but then he changed his mind.

    Sam was right here, so why take the risk?

    Bam!

    He passed the ball to Sam and immediately, an Inter player applied pressure on him, Calhanoglou. Expecting it, Sam used it against the enemy player.

    At the last moment, he jumped over the ball, rapidly spinning around even as caught off guard, Halkan Calhanoglou let the ball roll in between his legs.

    The Inter Milan midfielder tugged at Sam as soon as he moved but expecting it again, Sam slowed down, letting the midfielder clatter into him from behind. Smashing against his tall and powerful frame was like hitting a wall; Calhanoglou staggered, falling gracelessly to the ground.

    Sam pushed forward, entering the 18-yard box.

    Whoosh!

    Denzel Dumfries went on a sliding tackle.

    But having anticipated it with his spatial awareness, Sam slowed down, trapping the ball and letting the Inter Milan player slide past.

    Then, he moved.

    He barely moved, when Alessandro Bastoni stuck out a leg, perfectly aiming to tackle the ball.

    It was an inch-perfect tackle.

    And yet, in that moment, Sam was already in the state of ultra-instinct.

    He had no right reacting to that inch-perfect tackle but he did. At the last moment, Sam''s legs snapped like a Viper''s bite, moving the ball one way and flicking it the other way in one smooth motion¡­ an Elastico!

    Bastoni was left awkwardly on his knees.

    Sam cut through the Inter Milan defense entirely only this one time like a hot knife through butter, but it was enough. He was a clinical striker.

    Yann Sommer rushed out of his post immediately after Sam moved past Bastoni to the left, but with his spatial awareness, once again, Sam predicted it even before the goalkeeper moved.

    As soon as Sommer moved, Sam''s right leg also moved, hitting the ball with the outside of his boot and sending the ball straight at goal.

    Yann Sommer reacted, flailing his arms.

    But it was not enough. The ball curved past his grasp, rising high before nestling into the top right corner.

    Silence, just for a few seconds, then¡­

    BOOM!

    The away section of the San Siro exploded.

    "GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL¡­!"

    The FC Barcelona faithful roared at the top of their lungs even as Sam charged towards the corner flag with a goofy smile on his face, sliding on his knees even as he crossed his hands over each other, doing his Black Panther celebration.

    His teammates swarmed him, celebrating at the top of their lungs.

    Inter Milan was stunned.

    The commentators were going crazy.

    "ZINEDINE SAM!!!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM!!!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM!!!"

    "HE''S STRUCK AGAIN! CLUTCH PLAYER! CLUTCH STRIKER!"

    "Just when Barca needed him the most! He''s showed up like a god!"

    "How lucky they are to have him, the best striker in the world bar none!"

 Chapter 445 - 445: A famous victory in Milan

    Like a God.

    It was a strong word, an offensive word to some, but he used it.

    The commentators used it because they could not help it. Watching Sam erupt like some monster, tearing the fearsome Inter Milan defense down with sheer brilliance, they could not hold themselves from comparing him to a God.

    A football God.

    In the 55th minute of this game, Sam scored.

    55 minutes, 0-1¡­

    Aggregate, 3-4¡­

    After what seemed like forever, FC Barcelona were ahead again in the semifinal tie of the UEFA Champions League.

    The traveling FC Barcelona fans celebrated for a long time, their excitement levels rising to an entirely new crescendo in this semifinal.

    And then¡­

    FWEEE!

    The referee''s whistle sounded, the signal to continue the game.

    The Inter Milan fans across the stadium roared, turning the San Siro even more heated. This time, their voices were more aggressive, more hostile and slightly panicked. Clearly, they wanted their team to go on the attack.

    And yet, the Inter Milan players didn''t go on the attack.

    That was not their style of play. That was not Simone Inzaghi''s way, and tonight, the home fans felt themselves frustrated like never before with their team.

    Inter Milan was losing, and yet, they continued playing their normal game, giving the Catalans the chance to ride the momentum of their goal and create even more danger with the ball.

    Lamine Yamal remained a menace, combining with Kounde, Sam, and Pedri to devastating effect as they kept on trying audacious dribbles.

    Most worked, some didn''t.

    And yet, all of it caused the home Italian fans trepidation as they felt like any tiny mistake could result in a goal.

    This was not a game for the faint-hearted.

    This was a game of real tension, a game that could induce high blood pressure in the weak.

    In the 61st minute, receiving the ball outside the box, with a drop of the shoulder, Sam nutmegged Calnanoglou, bursting into the Inter Milan 18-yard box before unleashing a piledriver at goal. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    POW!

    The sound of the ball being hit reverberated like thunder.

    And this time, Yann Sommer outdid himself, going down fast enough on a full stretch dive to push the ball against the post, ricocheting back into his defender''s path and Bastoni did not hesitate, clearing the ball to safety.

    But in this game, safety was an illusion. It was that intense.

    In the 66th minute, Inter Milan finally found what they wanted, a counterattacking chance. Federico Dimarco ran like a mad man with the ball through the flanks before crossing to Lautaro Martinez.

    Martinez jumped, winning the aerial ball but just before he could shoot the ball after landing, Pau Cubarsi recklessly put his head on the way again, heading the ball away.

    The young center defender would have suffered a head injury if Lautaro Martinez didn''t hold his leg at the last moment.

    When the Argentine striker stood up, helping the defender up as he massaged his head, he looked at him with an incredulous expression on his face.

    ''What a madman!'' He thought.

    Pau Cubarsi barely reacted to his look, already focusing back on the game.

    In the 72nd minute, Nicolo Barella dribbled into the Barca 18-yard box after another counterattacking run but Ter Stegen calmly took his shot from the air before throwing it up field, launching a Barca counter-counterattack.

    The last 2 dozen minutes of the game was a thriller.

    FC Barcelona tried their best to break down the Inter Milan defense a second time, and score their second goal of the night, while Inter also struggled to break Barcelona''s defense.

    After all the fanfare, all the psychological ploy, the home advantage, the noise being made by their fans, all of it didn''t seem to matter as FC Barcelona continued playing at an absolutely elite level.

    In the 77th minute, Raphinha got the next best chance of this game, bursting into the 18-yard box from the left like a ghost before sneaking a powerful shot towards the bottom right corner.

    Yann Sommer was beaten, but not the Inter defense. Once again, Alessandro Bastoni was a rock at the back for the Italian club.

    The Italian defender reacted as soon as Raphinha hit the ball, falling back towards the left side of his net from his perspective.

    And when the ball came, he was fast enough to push his leg out, intercepting the ball before it could sneak into his net.

    It was a goal-line clearance!

    Awkwardly, Bastoni clattered painfully into the post. He groaned in pain but he already did his work, and adrenaline made the pain feel mild.

    After his goal-line clearance, another defender, Acerbi jumped in, clearing the ball but due to the tension, it was another botched clearance.

    Instead of clearing the ball up field, the ball fell towards Lamine Yamal who was at the edge of the box.

    Receiving the ball, the young Spanish winger went to work as Inter Milan players quickly closed him down.

    A stagger, a drop of the shoulder, a ball shuffle, another ball push, and then¡­

    BAM!

    Lamine Yamal cradled the ball with the inside of his left foot, curling it towards the top left corner with terrible precision.

    And yet, once again, Yann Sommer stood tall like a wall.

    The goalkeeper dived, doing the incredible to get a touch on the ball, tipping it over the bar for a corner kick.

    FC Barcelona played the corner kick. Inigo Martinez rose highest, planting a firm header at goal but it was too direct. Yann Sommer picked the ball from the air, rushing forward to find a good passing option, but he didn''t find one.

    Inter Milan was desperate now, time was running out.

    It was 80 minutes already, yet still no goal.

    85 minutes, still no goal¡­

    Inter Milan finally left their shell, recklessly going on the attack.

    Ready for the pressure, the Barcelona defense caught Inter offside twice in 3 minutes. Besides, due to pushing so eagerly up field, Inter was exposed at the back as Raphinha almost scored the 2nd goal if not for another Yann Sommer intervention at the back.

    The game was end to end, filled with tension, passion, and determination.

    And yet, inevitably, there are always losers and winners.

    FWEEEE!

    The ref''s whistle sounded.

    The game¡­ was over.

 Chapter 446 - 446: Champions league finalists

    FWEEE!

    The final whistle pierced through the thick Milanese night like the cry of a divine decree. The game¡­ was over.

    Silence, brief, solemn silence.

    The FC Barcelona players could not believe it, they had done it; 0-1 at the San Siro, 4-3 on aggregate.

    They had done it. They had beaten Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final, played Inter Milan right after in the first leg, and now ended it with a victory in enemy turf, at the San Siro.

    In that instant, the tension that had gripped the visitors'' hearts for ninety minutes shattered into unfiltered, uncontainable euphoria.

    The Barcelona bench erupted; coaches, players, and staff spilling onto the pitch like a tidal wave of blue and garnet. Hansi Flick leapt into the arms of his assistants, fists raised, eyes gleaming with vindication.

    The joy of the German coach could not be contained.

    Sam fell to his knees, arms spread to the heavens, a quiet prayer lost in the roar. Even he could not believe it.

    Heck, this was his first season competing in the UEFA Champions League and now, he was already in the final of the elite competition of European clubs.

    Not just that, that goal in the 55th minute of the game made it 17 for Sam this season in the UEFA Champions League.

    Cristiano Ronaldo was the record holder of the most goals scored in a single UEFA Champions League season with 17, and after this unforgettable night in Milan, Sam just wrote his name in footballing folklore again.

    He matched Cristiano Ronaldo''s record.

    And if he went on to score another goal in the final, he would have eclipsed the legendary Portuguese forward, claiming a record from him.

    All these were thoughts for the future. Now, all he thought of was how happy he was; the joy, the euphoria, it was unmistakably striking.

    Gavi sprinted toward the away fans, thumping the Barca crest on his chest, screaming something no one could hear but everyone could feel.

    ''VISCA BARCA!''

    The players embraced like survivors, worn from battle but unbroken.

    Tears welled in Pedri''s eyes; hot tears of pride, of struggle, of dream reignited. Raphinha climbed the advertising boards and stood tall, arms outstretched, soaking in the adoration from the traveling cules, who had drowned out a city in celebration.

    In the away corner of the San Siro, Barcelona''s faithful shook the very foundations with their noise.

    Flags waved like flames in a storm. Flares lit up the night. Some cried, others sang. All of them believed again.

    And in brutal contrast, the Curva Nord fell into stunned silence.

    Inter fans stood motionless, blue and black scarves limp in their hands. Some shouted in frustration, others quietly made for the exits, heads bowed, hearts broken. The dream of Istanbul had died in their own cathedral.

    As the players gathered in midfield, hand in hand, facing the away stand, the stadium was divided between defiance and despair.

    One half of San Siro had become holy ground; the other a graveyard of lost hope. The commentary cemented the moment in history.

    The commentators went haywire. "Barca are UEFA champions league finalists again!"

    From the smoke and steel of San Siro''s heart, they carved a path with grit and art".

    "Not just a goal, but a reckoning, a roar as Barca rose, Champions once more".

    "Through jeers and fire, they found their light".

    "In enemy lands, they claimed the night".

    "The echoes of Milan shall long recall, the night the giants danced and did not fall".

    Sam won the man of the match award.

    And of course, he added to the post-match press conference.

    ¡­

    (UEFA Champions League:)

    (Semifinal:)

    (Leg 2 of 2:)

    (PSG ¨C Arsenal)

    (Aggregate: 1-0)

    (Date: 7th May, 2026)

    It was 7th May, 2026¡­ S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The atmosphere at the Parc des'' Princes was electric as Parisian fans welcomed their England counterparts all the way from London.

    It was the 2nd day of UEFA Champions League football, the 2nd semifinal.

    This time, between PSG and Arsenal.

    Last week, while Inter held Barca to a 3-3 draw at the Spotify Camp Nou, PSG showed their superiority in enemy soil, fertilizing the seeds of qualification with a 0-1 win at the Emirates Stadium in London.

    And now, the return leg of the UEFA Champions League clash started.

    FWEEEE!

    Last week, PSG dominated, but tonight, they blew their opponents away.

    Buoyed by the loud noise being made by their fans, PSG played like a well-oiled machine churning with unmatched efficiency as they ground Arsenal to the bones and yet, against the run of play, the London club scored first.

    And it was their starboy who struck, Bukayo Saka.

    Receiving the ball from the right, he wriggled past his marker, ventured close to the 18-yard box, evaded a few challenges before curling an absolute golazo into the top left corner of the net past Donnarumma''s grasp.

    18 minutes, 0-1, 1-1 on aggregate¡­

    Was that the premise to an Arsenal comeback?

    No. Simple as that.

    That goal was the catalyst that riled the rampant Parisians up. PSG woke up like an Ancient Dragon that had slumbered for a millennium who finally woke up, and with it, they tore Arsenal to shreds.

    Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was the architect for the Arsenal downfall.

    The Georgian scored the first goal just 4 minutes after Saka''s goal in the 22nd minute, curling a similar shot from the left this time. Despite David Raya going on a full stretch dive, the rotating ball evaded his touch and nestled into the net.

    In the 33rd minute, Kvaratskhelia did it again, dribbling through multiple Arsenal players before passing the ball for Mikel Merino to direct into the net.

    The comeback was complete!

    And yet, PSG was not satisfied yet.

    In the 45th minute, Dembele went on a rampaging dribble that cut through Arsenal players like they were not there before setting Kvaratskhelia up again for the winger to curl into the net a second time.

    18 minutes, 0-1¡­

    45 minutes, 3-1¡­

    The fortunes of this game changed so suddenly, so fast.

    The game ended in the first half. The second half was much more tame, a goalless draw.

    Arsenal lost. PSG qualified.

    The UEFA Champions League finalists were confirmed.

 Chapter 447 - 447: Footballing heritage

    (UEFA Champions League:)

    (Final:)

    (Barcelona ¨C PSG)

    (Date: 31st May, 2026)

    It was scheduled, the final of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League. Including its 2 finalists.

    This season, FC Barcelona and PSG had truly legendary runs, not just in the UEFA Champions League but also in their various domestic leagues.

    For FC Barcelona, not only did they win the Supercopa de Espana and Copa del Rey trophies against their archrivals, Real Madrid, but they were still leading the La Liga race, and now they were champions league finalists.

    They were on course for a legendary quadruple trophy season.

    Hansi Flick''s Barcelona was truly a menace, the German coach was a magician but this season, everyone knew what the true difference was. It was the young Nigerian striker, Samuel Moses.

    Sam was at the heart of everything Barca this season. He dribbled, dominated play, scored, and assisted this season.

    This season, he was a complete player.

    He did everything; from scoring outside the box goals, scoring penalties, freekicks, scoring headers, acrobatic goals, Sam did everything this season.

    And finally, his club was at the true critical stage of the season.

    The part of the season that''ll truly show if they had what it takes to not only chase but claim all 4 trophies that they were vying for this season.

    If in the end, FC Barcelona lost the UEFA Champions League final, and even the league title too, it would still be a legendary football season for the Catalan club, and most importantly for their striker.

    After the Inter Milan game, Sam''s 52nd game of the season, he took his tally for the season to 72 goals and 39 assists.

    Combined, that is 111 goal contributions in a single season!

    At this point, if it was not clear before, the whole world was already forced into submission that they were not witnessing just any talent but an all-time great footballer in action at the peak of his powers.

    Sam was different, a maverick. He was part of that elite group of players that you watch and never forget, that group of players that you watch and proudly tell tales of to your grandchildren at your old age.

    That was who Samuel Moses was, the Nigerian Zidane.

    Heck, that comparison was an old one. By now, a lot of people were already convinced that Sam was better than the French maestro. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Some claimed it was too early to judge, that maybe he was a one-season wonder but his most staunch fans shut it all up.

    "Are you guys crazy?!"

    "Which one-season wonder have you seen scored 40 goals in a season? Does that ring a bell? Any? What of 50? 60? 70? 72 freaking goals, any ring a bell?!"

    "Show me a one-season wonder that scores that many goals and we''ll talk".

    "And one that not just scores that, but assists 39 times, one more assist to make 40. Are you guys blind? Deaf? Dumb?"

    Sam''s fame was at its peak, at the young age of 20.

    That was the most frightening thing about it, Sam was just 20, which meant that he had decades of football ahead of him.

    With a talent like his, he could well go on to keep on playing at the ripe old age of 38 or even 40 still at the top level.

    And his consistency, jogging every morning, visiting the Spotify Camp Nou gym every day; he was the Black Mamba of football.

    With that mentality, his body would be at an elite level well into his 30s.

    While FC Barcelona had Hansi Flick and Sam, PSG simply had Luis Enrique.

    The Spanish coach who once won a famous treble for FC Barcelona, the last FC Barcelona coach who led the club to a UEFA Champions League win would be the club''s opponent in the final.

    PSG under Luis Enrique was different. With Kylian Mbappe gone to Real Madrid, the Spanish coach got to implement all his ideas in the team.

    And now, he transformed PSG into one of the most tight-knit, team work-driven teams in Europe.

    With the likes of Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradely Barcola, and a revived Ousmane Dembele in attack, PSG had one of the most electric attacking unit in Europe. And that was not their only positive.

    PSG''s midfield was an elite one comprising of a prime Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz, and the young menace, Joao Neves.

    To many football fans, their defense is their weakness but that is only when contrasted against their out of the world midfield and offensive unit.

    Compared against most clubs in Europe, PSG''s defense was still a world class one, comprising the likes of Nuno Mendes, Achraf Hakimi, Pacho, and a tested veteran in Marquinhos.

    PSG; Paris Saint Germain. FC Barcelona.

    Both were fearsome clubs this season, well-drilled machines that were churning with peak efficiency.

    It was the final that most neutral football fans hoped for.

    Two elite teams with similar football philosophies, playing raw exciting and attacking football; Hansi Flick ball vs Luis Enrique ball.

    The old vs the new.

    It was going to be a war, exacerbated by the bad blood and history between the 2 clubs in the UEFA Champions League.

    In 2016, FC Barcelona pulled off a famous comeback against PSG in the quarterfinal of the UEFA Champions League that would become known as the La Ramontada.

    Having suffered a 4-0 defeat at the Parc des Princes, PSG''s home stadium, the tie was all but done. So Europe thought, but Barcelona thought different.

    When the Parisians came to Barcelona, they faced the full fury of Catalan football and Catalan heritage.

    FC Barcelona battered PSG 6-1, the last goal scored in injury time to secure a famous victory at the Camp Nou.

    All this and more added even more juice to the UEFA Champions League final. It was going to be an exciting spectacle.

    That was for then though.

    For now, another important match beckoned for FC Barcelona.

    El Clasico beckoned¡­ the final El Clasico of the season.

 Chapter 448 - 448: Final El Clasico of the season

    The city of Barcelona pulsed with restless energy days before the final El Clasico of the season.

    The victory in Milan had not dulled the hunger; rather, it had sharpened it.

    And now, Real Madrid was coming to the Spotify Camp Nou, and the Catalan faithful had one goal: to bury their rivals beneath a thunderstorm of pride and vengeance; to rub their superiority this season on their faces.

    And then, it was D-day.

    11th May, 2026¡­

    (La Liga:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Real Madrid)

    On matchday, the streets swarmed with a sea of Blaugrana, drums echoing off the buildings, chants erupting from balconies, cafes, and alleyways.

    Fireworks crackled as early as noon. The sun barely stood a chance against the smoke that curled into the sky from flares and fireworks, painting the air in warlike hues of red and blue.

    As the Real Madrid team bus approached, it was met with the kind of welcome forged in centuries of rivalry and resentment.

    Thousands of fans lined the route, screaming, whistling, waving flags and banners like weapons. One of the banners, a massive one read:

    >Madridistas no sou benvinguts<

    Smoke bombs exploded in brilliant bursts of color. The bus crawled forward, surrounded by riot police, its tinted windows hiding faces surely steeled, but not immune.

    By contrast, when the Barcelona team bus emerged from the tunnel into the stadium, it was like the arrival of returning conquerors.

    Flares lit up the entrance like a coliseum gate; fans pounded on the bus as if to send strength through the stee.

    "VISCA BARCA!" They roared, a tidal chant that didn''t stop.

    It only grew louder.

    Inside the Spotify Camp Nou, the cauldron had already reached a boiling point. Over 90,000 fans had turned the stadium into a living, screaming organism.

    Tifos rippled like banners on a battlefield, massive murals of Cruyff, Messi, Iniesta, and Sam loomed high over the pitch like guardian spirits. A banner stretched across one stand, reading:

    "We sent Italy to sleep. Now we wake Spain up".

    The air crackled with hostility; every blade of grass felt charged.

    Real Madrid stepped out into a storm. The boos were relentless, like a hurricane against their every touch. Whistles, insults, chants that shook the rafters.

    And Barcelona''s players?

    They fed on it.

    Gavi beat his chest like a warrior before kickoff. Ter Stegen walked with the calm of a general, while Sam gave a wry smile, nodding to the crowd as if to say, ''leave it to us''.

    Tonight, it was a must-win game for Real Madrid.

    The Catalans already stole everything from them this season. If they wanted to avoid a fate of going this season trophyless, their only hope laid on the La Liga title and to have a tiny chance of winning it, they must win today''s game.

    This was why Real Madrid fielded their best lineup of players, forcing the recovering Kylian Mbappe back into the starting XI.

    Real Madrid played a 4-4-2 formation.

    In between the goals for the Spanish Capital Club was Thibaut Courtois, while the defensive quadruple ahead of him comprised Ferland Mendy, Antonio Rudiger, Raul Asencio, and Trent Alexander Arnold.

    In midfield was the quadruple of Federico Valverde, Dani Ceballos, Jude Bellingham, and Arda Guler.

    Arda Guler, the young Turkish prodigy already settled somewhat in his second season in Madrid, featuring more regularly for the Spanish Capital Club.

    As for Real Madrid''s offensive duo? It was Vinicius Jnr. and Kylian Mbappe.

    As for Barcelona, Hansi Flick started with exactly the same lineup that he used to play the Inter Milan second leg game.

    The main difference was that this time, they had the home advantage.

    The Spotify Camp Nou wasn''t just a stadium this night.

    It was a cathedral of defiance, a fortress of fury, and hell for anyone in white.

    FWEEE!

    The referee''s whistle cut through the bustle of the stadium, and it started.

    Like usual, FC Barcelona hoped to start the game on the front foot, eager to pressure their opponents but not tonight.

    Tonight, fueled by pure spite, Real Madrid was ready for their archrivals.

    They counter-pressed Barcelona.

    The Real Madrid midfield swarmed like locusts, elite locusts, leading the press to keep the pressure on their opponents even as they aimed to pressure them too. Against a weaker opponent, Barcelona would have easily beat the press but this was Real Madrid.

    After 2 minutes, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 8 minutes¡­, the game finally settled.

    It was no longer one-sided. It became even.

    Real Madrid played their hearts out on the pitch. The lethargy from the grueling semifinal clash against Inter Milan still showed on the body language of the Barca players, and the Madrid players took advantage of it.

    Vinicius and Mbappe especially were pure menace.

    With their speed, they terrorized the Barcelona defense, being careful so as to not be caught offside.

    After so many games of being punished by Barcelona''s highline, they already learned a few tricks to beat the offside trap.

    And tonight, they did it.

    In the 26th minute of the game, Real Madrid struck, hitting the anvil while it was still hot. And Vinicius Jnr. was the star this time.

    One moment, Real Madrid was on the defensive and the next, they already transitioned from defense to offense so smoothly that it was scary.

    As soon as the ball was won, Vinicius and Mbappe started running.

    Rudiger passed to Vinicius and after taking one touch, without even looking first, Trent Alexander Arnold played an unreal cross field pass to the other side of the pitch where Vinicius Jnr. ran.

    Vinicius blitzed past Jules Kounde with speed, taking the ball in his strides before cutting in and charging straight at goal.

    With a fake shot, he sat Ter Stegen to the ground. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As soon as the German goalkeeper went down, Vinicius lobbed the ball above him. Even before the ball entered the net, he was already running away in celebration.

    "GOALLLLLL¡­!"

    The away stands at the Spotify Camp Nou erupted as Vinicius ran to the corner flag, doing the calma celebration and drawing the ire of Barcelona fans.

    Real Madrid''s victory didn''t last though.

    As soon as the game restarted, Barcelona equalized almost instantly.

    Lamine Yamal struck.

 Chapter 449 - 449: The Yamal show [1]

    26 minutes, 0-1¡­

    The lead didn''t last though, Lamine Yamal struck.

    FWEEE!

    FC Barcelona restarted the game and this time, they decided not to rush things, passing the ball around as they embodied the Barca DNA of tiki taka football for a few minutes.

    From Pedri to Frankie De Jong to Jules Kounde, all the way to Sam and Gavi up field, FC Barcelona pinged the ball around, for almost 2 minutes, till the ball got to Lamine Yamal deep at the right side of the pitch.

    Pedri played an accurate long cross to Lamine Yamal and as soon as the ball got to the young winger, Ferland Mendy, Real Madrid''s left back pressed.

    As soon as Mendy pressed, Lamine Yamal read his move, reacting.

    He rolled the ball with one leg before pushing it with his other leg, nutmegging the left back. Ferland Mendy tried to grab Yamal but reacting fast again, he jumped, evading the left back.

    And just like that, he left his marker for dead.

    Yamal was not free yet though as Jude Bellingham already dropped back, initiating the press after he beat Ferland Mendy.

    Bellingham focused on defending his inside to prevent Lamine Yamal from penetrating into the 18-yard box with his dribbling. He wanted to push the winger to dribble outward.

    Yamal knew what his opponent''s intentions were, and he didn''t resist it. Rather, he accepted it, dribbling outside and away from Bellingham.

    Dani Ceballos crossed the distance to him next, pressing but Yamal kept his cool. With a drop of the shoulder and a la croqueta, he blitzed past the midfielder.

    Bang!

    Another Madrid player clattered into Sam, hitting him from the side even as the player''s elbow hit his ribs.

    Lamine Yamal felt a spike of pain but he didn''t react to it, gritting his teeth through it to push forward, and then¡­

    BAM!

    Lamine Yamal hit his trademark flair shot, curling the ball towards the top corner of the net.

    Thibaut Courtois knew exactly what the young winger was about to do, this was why he reacted fast, jumping. And yet, it was not enough.

    The angle on Yamal''s shot was too acute.

    It floated like a curve ball, moving past Courtois'' hand, then it kissed the top bar before bouncing down and into the net.

    Silence, then¡­

    BOOM!

    The Spotify Camp Nou erupted.

    "WOW! LAMINE YAMAL, WHAT A GOAL!"

    "A STUNNING SOLO RUN!"

    "The teenage wonder has added another volume to the Lamine Yamal collection!"

    "He blitzed through Ferland Mendy, shrugged off Jude Bellingham, sent Dani Ceballos to the shadow realm, held his ground against Federico Valverde and still managed to shoot, scoring such an outrageous goal past Courtois!"

    "What a goal!"

    Lamine Yamal rushed towards the corner flag, sliding on his knees in celebration even as the Barcelona fans cheered him on.

    His teammates swarmed him, celebrating with him.

    Mere 2 minutes after Real Madrid''s goal, in the 28th minute, Lamine Yamal did it, bringing the game back level.

    28 minutes, 2-2¡­

    The game continued.

    After that goal, Barca gained dominance over the game but as Sam was finally unlocked, causing menace in and around the Real Madid 18-yard box.

    Yet, Sam didn''t score a goal though despite his threat, neither did Barcelona.

    In the 37th minute of the game, FC Barcelona was stunned again and this time, it was Jude Bellingham.

    And again, it was another counter.

    It was vintage counterattacking Real Madrid tonight.

    Federico Valverde won the ball back after a stray pass from Inigo Martinez, immediately feeding the ball to Vinicius Jnr.

    Kounde quickly closed down the dangerous Brazilian but Vinicius didn''t try to dribble past the Frenchman this time, rather passing to Kylian Mbappe before erupting with speed, running out of bounds outside the pitch to evade Kounde.

    Pau Cubarsi was already pressing Kylian Mbappe as soon as the ball was passed, this was why instead of holding on to it, he hit it first time.

    Bam!

    He played a one-two with Vinicius Jnr., setting the Brazilian loose.

    Vinicius erupted with speed, bombing down the flanks with the ball even as the Barca defense retreated in trepidation.

    Pau Cubarsi raised his arms, calling for an offside but the linesman ignored him. The Brazilian managed to beat the offside trap.

    Somehow, Inigo Martinez managed to return fast enough to defend, pressing the Brazilian, forcing him to slow down.

    Vinicius slowing down allowed Kounde and Pau Cubarsi to arrive in time, and immediately, their attention went to the rampaging Kylian Mbappe who just bombed into the 18-yard box, asking for the pass.

    Vinicius didn''t pass to Mbappe though, he was already marked. Instead, he passed it behind Mbappe, to the space behind him.

    A moment ago, no one was there but as soon as the ball was hit¡­

    Whoosh!

    Jude Bellingham appeared.

    With his lap, Bellingham controlled Vinicius'' pass and before Pau Cubarsi could react, turning to defend against him, he hit the ball with his right leg.

    Bam!

    Ter Stegen was rooted to one spot, watching as the ball flew past him, nestling into the left side of the net.

    "GOALLLLL!"

    The away end at the Spotify Camp Nou erupted again.

    Jogging to the corner flag, Jude Bellingham slowed down and did his iconic celebrating, sending the fans into a frenzy.

    Tonight, it was the Madrid show, or so Madrid fans thought.

    37 minutes, 1-2¡­

    5 minutes later, the Yamal show continued.

    This time, it was Sam who won the ball back due to pressing high. As soon as he won back the ball from Rudiger, Sam stood his ground before the German''s physicality before passing to the left where Lamine Yamal lurked.

    Trent Alexander Arnold was already shadowing Raphinha, leaving Yamal as the only passing option.

    Bam!

    Yamal struck the ball instinctively as soon as Sam passed it. And yet, somehow, Raul Asencio managed to slide in front of goal, stopping the ball with a goal line clearance.

    But it was not over yet.

    This was because the rebound fell in front of Lamine Yamal again. The young Spaniard didn''t hesitate, instinctively heading the ball into a free net.

    FC Barcelona scored again. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    2-2.

 Chapter 450 - 450: The Yamal show [2]

    Halftime. 2-2.

    While the players walked down the tunnel for the halftime, the commentators could not help going lyrical about the stunning first half that they witnessed between these 2 footballing giants and archrivals.

    "What a half!"

    "What a game!"

    "This first half, it was the Lamine Yamal show!"

    "That first goal, oh my word!"

    "Vinicius scores, and yet Yamal says¡­ ''I can''t be outdone!'' He scores a solid contender for the goal of the season award to equalize the game".

    "Jude Bellingham strikes next, fed by Vinicius and yet once again, Yamal is not satisfied. The second goal was less glamorous but considering that they were losing, FC Barcelona fans around the world loved it nonetheless".

    "What a performance!"

    "It''s Vinicius vs Yamal today".

    During halftime, Hansi Flick had only a few words for his players.

    He didn''t have a lot of things to say to them, they played a good game. He simply commended them for the performance, encouraging them to be more defensively disciplined in the 2nd half.

    A few minutes later, second half started¡­

    As soon as the game started, FC Barcelona started an attacking sequence that was straight out of the training ground.

    As soon as the ball was passed to Pedri, Sam started running down the pitch. Then, Pedri played a long lobbed pass towards Sam. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It took the Madrid defense a moment for them to realize the threat, but by then, it was already too late. Sam was already about overtaking the Madrid defense as the ball descended when Rudiger made a crazy decision.

    He lunged at Sam recklessly, elbowing his face with his hand.

    "¡­"

    For a few seconds, as Sam collapsed to the ground from the impact, he felt nothing and then, suddenly, the pain came.

    It was sharp, biting, as if something cracked in his face.

    "Ugh!" Sam groaned, writhing in pain on the pitch.

    FWEEEE!

    The referee''s whistle reverberated, blowing for a foul as he gave Antonio Rudiger a straight red card.

    But that was not enough. Sam was the most important member of the FC Barcelona squad this season. And to see him be brutally brought down in such a manner, the FC Barcelona players were incensed.

    Gavi rushed up to Rudiger immediately, angrily standing up for his friend as he had to be held back by Raphinha in the end.

    The referee already gave a red card, so there was not much they could do.

    The Real Madrid players couldn''t even protest the decision; Sam writhing in pain on the ground was enough evidence. Besides, more evidence was on his face, the blood flowing from his face.

    For a moment, panic settled in the stadium as the medic rushed to the pitch, attending to Sam who was in a world of pain.

    Clearly, something broke in his face.

    There was a clamor in the stadium stands as FC Barcelona fans watched their star player writhe in pain, anxiety and fear written all over their faces.

    In the end, Sam was stretchered off the pitch.

    And with him, Rudiger also trudged off the pitch to a chorus of angry boos from the FC Barcelona fans.

    With that, Real Madrid was left to play the rest of the game with just 10 men but with Sam out of the pitch, FC Barcelona just lost a big part of their game plan.

    Both coaches made changes.

    Hansi Flick substituted Ferran Torres in for Sam, while Carlo Ancellotti made a more defensive change, bringing David Alaba for Dani Ceballos as he tweaked the formation of his team on the pitch.

    With just 10 men now, to close up the space that Rudiger''s absence left in their formation, Real Madrid changed to a 4-4-1 formation.

    Kylian Mbappe was the only man left in attack as even Vinicius Jnr. was now tasked with a more defensive role this game.

    FWEEE!

    The referee blew his whistle again, the signal to continue the game.

    Raphinha stood before the ball, about to take the free kick. After receiving a signal, he did a short run before hitting the ball.

    He hit the ball well but it was too close to the goalkeeper as Thibaut Courtois claimed the ball from the air after a simple dive.

    Then, rushing forward, he threw the ball long, quickly starting a counterattack but Kylian Mbappe barely started running when he was clattered on by a stalwart Inigo Martinez.

    "Ahh!" Kylian Mbappe screamed in pain before collapsing to the pitch.

    No one knew if Inigo Martinez did it deliberately as a form of revenge for Sam, but that action made the tension in this stadium rise even further as the referee blew his whistle again, showing the defender a yellow card.

    The Real Madrid players protested the decision but the referee paid them no mind, giving the signal for the game to continue.

    The game continued.

    With 10 men, Real Madrid suffered.

    FC Barcelona played like soldiers at war, repeatedly going on attack raids on the Real Madrid 18-yard box as Thibaut Courtois was forced into constant goal-saving mode. He was barely keeping his team in the game.

    The game became more physical, more brutal, more tension-filled and this time, even Madrid, famous for riding chaos could not ride the Catalan chaos.

    BAM!

    Raphinha struck in the 74th minute, sending a powerful volleyed shot into Courtois'' near post. The towering Belgian would catch that shot any other day but the chaos already spiraled, and today, he made a blunder, letting the ball in.

    Courtois cursed as Raphinha ran away in celebration.

    Lamine Yamal provided the assist after another crazy dribble from the right and cross. Today was simply the Yamal show.

    And to solidify his claim to the game, Yamal struck again.

    This time, from a corner kick.

    As soon as the corner was played in by Raphinha, a scramble started in the Real Madrid 18-yard box and amid the chaos, Lamine Yamal thrived as soon as the ball fell to his feet.

    With his ball control and tight-space dribbling, he passed through 2 Real Madrid players like they were not there, suddenly one on one with the goalkeeper.

    And then, he simply rolled it to the bottom corner past Thibaut Courtois.

    BOOM!

    The Spotify Camp Nou erupted again.

    If Lamine Yamal was a caterpillar still growing in his cocoon before, after that goal, he blossomed, becoming a butterfly.

    Lamine Yamal scored the first hattrick of his career.

 Chapter 451 - 451: Injury

    For the first game in what felt like forever to FC Barcelona fans, Sam played a game that he did not score or assist.

    But that was not the important point after the heated El Clasico game in Barcelona. The main talking point should have still been Sam, because Rudiger''s reckless tackle in the game left Sam injured.

    FC Barcelona fans should be clamoring on social media for Rudiger''s head in rage. Yes, they did clamor, but not as much as people expected.

    This was because of the teenage wonder, Lamine Yamal.

    Yesterday was Lamine Yamal''s show. The Spanish wonderkid stole the limelight so thoroughly that fans seemingly forgot the fact that Sam actually sustained a facial injury in the game.

    Not just the fans either, the media also fanned the flames.

    After such a performance from Yamal, scoring the first hattrick of his career, the world of football reeled as they speculated the future performances that would be put out by the youngster.

    Football sites like ESPN+, SuperSports, and other major channels fanned the flames, posting news with Lamine Yamal as the poster boy.

    In Barcelona and around the world, Lamine Yamal was already a superstar after his 2024/2025 season under Hansi Flick.

    And this season? His fame only increased more but now, after the performance yesterday against Real Madrid, outshining everyone else on the pitch, the young baller''s fame rose even higher.

    Despite the publicity and crazy attention that the game brought to him, Lamine Yamal didn''t let it get to his head.

    After all, his friend, Sam was injured.

    After the game, not just Sam''s friends; knowing how important he was to this team and the fact that the UEFA Champions League final was drawing closer each passing day, the full team checked up on Sam''s health.

    Apparently, while the game was still going on, Sam was rushed to the hospital on an ambulance to check up on his face.

    And by the time the game came to an end, the test results were already out.

    And finally, the players could heave a sigh of relief.

    It was a painful gash in his face but nothing lasting happened. All Sam needed was time for it to heal. Most importantly, it won''t affect his performance as a footballer. Sam could still play the next FC Barcelona game if he wanted.

    Raphinha grinned, patting the young striker on the head in his hospital bed. "You''re one tough bastard, huh?" He said in Spanish.

    "Bastardo," Gavi also grinned, playfully punching Sam on the chest. "You didn''t die, huh?" He asked in Spanish, making Sam smile broadly.

    "It''ll take more than that to kill me".

    "Says the guy who cried out in pain as if a needle was being driven through his heart," Lamine Yamal chuckled. "Seriously Sam, why did you scream like that? You got me really scared".

    Sam calmly inclined his head to look at the Spaniard. "Why did I scream like that huh?"

    He squirmed in his bed. "Come, Lamine, have they stomped on your face before?" He edged towards where Lamine sat on his bed. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Lamine looked at him, chuckled nervously, before carefully shifting farther away.

    Sam laughed.

    Lamine pouted. "You can be so creepy sometimes".

    Sam kept on laughing. "It helps you know".

    "Huh?"

    Sam looked at him. "I mean it. You know, even that Rudiger, he knows the importance of intimidation as a defender that''s why he goes to such lengths to create that unapproachable and crazy personality or himself".

    "But being crazy, it does not help just defenders, it helps strikers too".

    "When you''re intimidating, it''s easier to penetrate through defenders and score because psychologically, you''d have an advantage already".

    The FC Barcelona players wanted to spend some more time with their striker but after the doctor consulted with Hansi Flick, stressing the importance of rest to his striker''s health, the German coach intervened immediately.

    After letting his players say their goodbyes to Sam, he sent them away before also wishing his striker the best wishes to recover fast.

    He was about to leave when Sam stopped him.

    "Hey coach".

    "Huh?"

    Sam hesitated a bit before asking. "Will I play the next game?"

    Hansi Flick lingered, looking at him for a few seconds, then he shook his head. "No. You''ve played a lot of games this season. Even if you weren''t injured by Rudiger, I was already contemplating resting you for a game or two".

    "So, this is an opportunity".

    "But¡­"

    "Don''t worry," Hansi Flick smiled. "We can win without you".

    Hearing that, Sam also smiled. "Ok".

    As soon as the coach left his hospital bed, Sam sneakily picked up his iPhone, an excited look on his face as he dialed a number.

    [Outgoing call to Mi Corazon¡­]

    He asked his coach if he would play in the next game for a reason.

    Being injured? To other professional football players, it was a crime, an event that could more or less ruin their career if not make them stagnated for a long time.

    But for Sam? Injury was just a minor inconvenient because of his system.

    His system¡­ it was the one advantage that he had over every other professional football player in the world.

    An advantage that was exclusive to him. An advantage that had been inherited by geniuses of previous generations past, and was now inherited by him.

    An advantage that even Messi and Ronaldo never had.

    This was why instead of taking the sudden injury as a setback, Sam let fate have its way, thinking of it as a blessing instead.

    He thought of it as a blessing because it gave him time to rest and recover without the help of the system-given recovery pills.

    Though he had the system, Sam still preferred recovering normally.

    All those were marginal reasons though; the main reason why it excited Sam to no end was the fact that by getting injured, he finally had the time he needed to spend with his girlfriend and have a mini vacation.

    Mi Corazon? That was his girlfriend, no, fianc¨¦e.

    He could not wait to spend time with Kayla.

 Chapter 452 - 452: A mini vacation

    It was 2 days since the epic clash at the Spotify Camp Nou.

    The bruising El Clasico was over, and as the rave about Lamine Yamal''s hattrick died, that was when attention returned to the King¡­ Samuel Moses.

    That was when it settled in that for the first time all season, Sam walked off the pitch with nothing on the scoreboard. No goal, no assist, just the sting of a reckless elbow that left a shallow gash on his cheeckbone and a deeper one on his pride, or so people thought.

    But still, Barcelona was buzzing. Clasico nights always lingered in the city like perfume, but while the city boiled, Sam slipped away from all the noise.

    No press conferences, no headlines, no talk of golden boots, no Ballon d''Or talks. Just a short pause. Two days of quiet with Kayla.

    They checked into the Hotel Miramar, perched high above Montjuic, overlooking the city like royalty in exile.

    It was the kind of place where the scent of lavender clung to the hallways, and silence felt curated. Their suite had a private terrace wrapped in ivy and warmed by the Spanish sun.

    From there, the city sprawled below, indifferent and beautiful.

    Kayla ran her fingers along the line of gauze on his cheek as they sat together on the balcony, her legs draped over his lap.

    The first time she saw him after the injury after her trip to Barcelona, Kayla felt her heart leap out of her throat and in that moment, she wanted nothing more than to find that Rudiger guy to Madrid and strangle him to death.

    Now though, she was used to the sight.

    Looking at him, she smiled. "You still look perfect," she murmured, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear.

    Sam chuckled, wincing slightly.

    "You say that now. Wait until I''m doing interviews like a pirate".

    They spent their days drifting. Brunch at Flax & Kale, where Sam traded protein shakes for acai bowls and Kayla teased him about becoming too soft.

    Sam laughed to her jokes.

    They walked the Gothic Quarter at dusk, blending with tourists and street performers, Sam''s cup pulled low, anonymity draped over him like a borrowed hoodie. They ducked into antique bookstores and tried on ridiculous sunglasses in tiny shops.

    At night, they lounged in the infinity pool, steam curling into the air as the city lights blinked on like fireflies.

    Kayla wore his oversized Barca hoodie over her bikini, and he wore a quiet smile that rarely made it to the cameras. Away from all the hustle and bustle of professional football for the first time in a while, just with the woman he loved, Sam felt at peace.

    He felt like he was close to achieving nirvana.

    ''I wish this moment lasts forever''. He thought, a wistful smile on his face.

    Noticing the smile, Kayla also smiled. "What are you thinking about?"

    Sam looked at her, smiling wider. "Just thinking of how lucky I am to have such a beautiful career and have the most beautiful girl in the world as my fianc¨¦e. Also, I''m just appreciating the moment". He sighed. "I wish it can last forever".

    "Well, we can make it last forever".

    As Sam looked at her, baffled, she brought out her iPhone before quickly turning her back to him.

    Sam followed, hugging her from behind.

    Kayla raised her phone up, high enough to cover both of them in the camera, then¡­

    Click!

    She took a picture.

    Sam chuckled. "Well, that''s one way to go about it".

    "I know doofus".

    He laughed.

    They didn''t talk much about the match that resulted in his injury, they just enjoyed the moment. She didn''t bring up the missed chances or the silence of the scoreboard, God knows he''s scored enough this season already.

    Instead of bringing all that up, she asked about the dreams he used to have before football was a job.

    "Dreams?" Sam laid down, looking at the sky. "Well, when I was small, I used to dream of being a musician at times. My dad was the one who wanted me to play football, while my mom wanted me to go to medical school and be a Doctor". He confessed, half-laughing. "Then I saw FC Barcelona play. Everything changed".

    "Which Barcelona squad?"

    Sam looked at her, surprised. "Have I not told you of the very first football game that I watched, while I was just 6?"

    "You didn''t". sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Sam sighed, lightly slapping himself on the head. "Such an oversight from me". He grinned. "Well, it just means I can tell you now".

    Kayla looked at him, intrigued. "Do tell".

    "Ok," Sam''s face turned solemn, entering story-telling mood. "Once upon a time, in Nigeria, in the streets of Abraka¡­"

    Kayla rolled her eyes. "Tell the story normally".

    "But I want to tell it like this".

    "If you do, I''ll kiss you".

    "Huh?" Sam was confused. "Then, I will tell it like this".

    "You cheeky bastard". She kissed him.

    It took some time, but Sam did tell the story of the very first football game that he watched, the 2011 UEFA Champions League final between FC Barcelona and Manchester United.

    It felt like a lifetime ago when he watched the likes of Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Messi, and the others stealing the show in the elite stage of football, and now, it was his turn and the turn of the new Barca generation.

    He smiled. ''We''ll do it''.

    On the second morning, they took a motorboat ride along the coast, far enough from the beach crowds that it felt like another world.

    Sam let the salt wind hit his face, eyes closed, the sting of the sea numbing the scrape on his cheek. Kayla took photos of the horizon. He took photos of her.

    That night, as they returned to the hotel, she caught him standing on the terrace alone, staring down at Camp Nou glowing in the distance.

    "Thinking about next weekend?" She asked.

    He nodded once, then turned to her with that same fire he wore on matchdays. "A little. But not too much".

    Then he took her hand and pulled her inside.

 Chapter 453 - 453: The end is nigh [1]

    15th May, 2026¡­

    (La Liga:)

    (Matchday 36 of 38:)

    (Espanyol ¨C Barcelona)

    While Sam was having a mini vacation with his fianc¨¦e, enjoying a much needed vacation, the football season continued for FC Barcelona.

    After 35 grueling matchdays of the Spanish La Liga season, they were about to play matchday 36, an away clash against Espanyol.

    But most importantly, the end of the season is nigh.

    Plus today''s game, FC Barcelona had just 3 La Liga games left to complete the 2025/2026 football season. As for their European exploits, they had just one game remaining for the season, the UEFA Champions league final against PSG.

    The UEFA Champions League final still felt like a distant affair though, and so they focused on the one before them, the league clash against Espanyol.

    It was not just a league clash though, the game against Espanyol had another layer behind it because it was a Catalan derby.

    Espanyol were neighbors to FC Barcelona.

    That night, the FC Barcelona squad for the game traveled to the RCDE Stadium, the temple and home of RD Espanyol de Barcelona, where the rival fans gave them a somewhat subdued welcome.

    No matter how much they hated their big rival, Espanyol fans had no choice but to respect FC Barcelona, most especially after their crazy exploits in the UEFA Champions League against Inter Milan in the semifinal to quality to the final of the champions league after 10 years.

    In an alternate universe, Inter Milan could have easily won the game; that was how grueling and tight the semifinal clash at the San Siro was.

    For this game, Hansi Flick rotated his team again after the back to back grueling encounters against Inter Milan and Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League and the Spanish La Liga.

    For this game, both Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, including Pedri was rested. As for fullbacks, Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde? Both had a knock in training, forcing Hansi Flick to also rest both players for the game.

    FC Barcelona started in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, but this time, the offensive trio comprised of Ansu Fati, Pau Victor, and Ansu Fati.

    In attacking midfield was Gavi, while further behind him, deeper in the midfield were Frankie De Jong and Marc Casado who was back from his injury.

    In defense, the quadruple comprised Gerard Martin in left back, Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi in center defense, and Ronald Araujo in right back.

    Marc Andre Ter Stegen naturally started in between the posts.

    As for Espanyol? They started in a similar 4-2-3-1 formation; Garcia manning the posts for them, while ahead of him was a defensive quadruple of El Hilali, Kumbulla, Cabrera, and Romcro.

    In midfield was the duo of Gonzalez de Zarate and Lozano. I attacking midfield is Exposito, while Roca manned the right wing, Puado in left wing, and Fernandez as the starting striker.

    FWEEE!

    The game started and from the onset, Espanyol showed that despite the fact that this was a vastly rotated FC Barcelona team, they still feared their rivals.

    They played a careful and conservative game against the Catalan giants.

    Their defense was compact though. After all, by sacrificing offensive power for a more conservative playstyle, they were able to cover more ground in defense, shoring up all openings before their opponents could take advantage of it.

    Besides, with the true creative juggernauts like Pedri and Lamine Yamal not in the field, it was easier to defend against FC Barcelona.

    They almost did it for 45 minutes till in the 43rd minute when Pau Victor lashed into a Marc Casado cross in the box, cooly directing a header past Garcia and into the Espanyol net.

    The away fans erupted in celebration as soon as the ball entered.

    Pau Victor ran and slid on his knees in celebration.

    A few minutes later, the halftime whistle sounded.

    First half came to an end 0-1 in FC Barcelona''s favor.

    When second half started, Espanyol played with more urgency and intent. And yet, despite coming out of their shell, they soon found to their dismay that breaking down the FC Barcelona defense was not going to be a walk in the park. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This continued until the 72nd minute when Kumbulla, the center defender uncharacteristically struck the ball from over 30 yards out during an Espanyol attack.

    The attacking players surrounding him, asking for the ball screamed and gesticulated in frustration as soon as the defender struck the ball at goal, but they were left gawking in shock soon after, because the ball tore its way into the net at an acute angle in the top right corner.

    Silence, shock, then¡­

    BOOM!

    The RCDE stadium erupted as the home fans celebrated the goal exuberantly, even as the defender celebrated his goal with passion.

    With a big smile on his face, he charged towards the corner flag, pumping his fists excitedly even as the fans reacted to his joy.

    But Espanyol''s joy was short-lived.

    It was not even a minute. Mere seconds after Kumbulla''s wonder goal, Ferran Torres received a pass from Gavi before quickly slipping a through pass for Pau Victor who rounded Garcia, the Espanyol goalkeeper before scoring FC Barcelona''s second goal of the game.

    72 minutes, 1-1¡­

    73 minutes, 1-2¡­

    The young FC Barcelona striker celebrated with raw passion.

    That goal was the winning goal. Espanyol failed to score a second goal of their own, and the game came to an end with the 1-2 scoreline.

    Another 3 point secured on the road for FC Barcelona.

    Their La Liga title hopes was still firmly on point.

    ¡­

    After the Espanyol game, Sam ended his mini vacation, joining the next FC Barcelona team training to prepare for the finale of the football season.

    FC Barcelona''s next clash was another league game, this time a home game against the visiting Villareal.

    (La Liga:)

    (Barcelona ¨C Villareal)

    (Date: 18th May, 2026)

    Sam trained with the team. He felt good, showcasing his level in training. He made the starting XI for FC Barcelona''s next game.

    The team was in great spirits, ready to make history.

 Chapter 454 - 454: The end is nigh [2]

    18th May, 2026¡­

    It was Matchday 37, and the atmosphere at the Spotify Camp Nou was nothing short of electric.

    The air pulsed with tension and anticipation from the moment dawn broke over Barcelona. Streets near the stadium were flooded with a tide of Blaugrana; flags, scarves, and jerseys everywhere.

    Fans gathered in cafes and plazas, their conversations dominated by lineup predictions, title hopes, and dreams of glory.

    After the win against Real Madrid, this season''s La Liga winner was set in stone. But it was not until the win against Espanyol that they truly clinched the title, leaving their archrivals in the dust in second place.

    But they could not celebrate their title win in Espanyol; that was why they waited till today. And that was why today was so different, special and important to the FC Barcelona fans.

    As kickoff approached, the atmosphere thickened with emotion. Hours before the match, supporters swarmed the stadium gates. Children painted their faces, elders recounted past triumphs, and die-hard fans clutched banners bearing club legends and chants that echoed decades of dominance.

    The cules came in waves, a mosaic of faith and passion. The club megastore was stripped clean; every shirt with the number 10, 8, and 19 sold out by midday.

    No. 10 was Samuel Moses, No. 8 was Pedri, while No. 19 was Lamine Yamal.

    Inside the Camp Nou, the stage was set like a gladiatorial arena. Giant flags rippled across the stands, tifos were unfurled, and the roar of 90,000 voices created a symphony of defiance and belief.

    The chants didn''t stop for a second.

    "Visca el Barca!" They chanted repeatedly like a war drum.

    The weight of legacy was everywhere; Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Ronaldinho, ghosts of past glories hovering in the chants.

    Every pass, every touch in the warm-up drew an eruption from the crowd. Fans wept, fans laughed, fans prayed.

    Everyone understood; history was waiting.

    They may have already won it, but still, no one came to see their team draw or lose on their celebratory night. Rather, they came to conquer.

    For this game, Hansi Flick gave his big players freedom to express themselves on the pitch, fielding all his best players in the regular 4-2-3-1 formation.

    Ter Stegen started in between the posts, and ahead of him in defense was the quadruple of Alejandro Balde, Inigo Martinez, Pau Cubarsi, and Jules Kounde. In midfield was the regular midfield duo of Pedri and Frankie De Jong.

    Gavi was in attacking midfield, while on either side of him, in the right was Lamine Yamal while on the left was Raphinha.

    Sam led the line as the striker.

    For Villareal, L. Junior started in between the posts for the visitors, while their defensive quadruple comprised Femenia, Foyth, Costa, and Cardona in defense. They played in a 4-4-2 formation and their midfield quadruple comprised Nicolas Pepe, Comesana, Parejo, and Gueye.

    Their attacking duo comprised Barry and Perez.

    FWEEE!

    It was a formidable Villareal lineup, but up against that FC Barcelona lineup? They were going up against a giant, a relentless, ruthless and unstoppable giant.

    As soon as the game started, FC Barcelona took control.

    They ran rampant, dribbling, passing, penetrating through Villareal like a hot knife through butter as the Catalans dominated at home.

    They played with flair, energy, and freedom. Most importantly, they played with the joy and excitement of winning the La Liga title.

    FC Barcelona struck as early as the 8th minute.

    Alejandro Balde started it, bombing down the left side of the pitch with the ball before passing to Sam who slipped it to Lamine Yamal who hit it one-time, sending it back across in a cross towards a suddenly unmarked Balde.

    Bam!

    Balde rifled it past the goalkeeper and into the net.

    The Spotify Camp Nou erupted, celebrating the first goal of the game.

    Just 4 minutes later, in the 12 minute of the game, FC Barcelona doubled their lead, this time it was Raphinha bombing into the 18-yard box with speed and flair before poking the ball past Villareal''s goalkeeper.

    12 minutes, 2-0¡­

    Just 3 minutes later, in the 15th minute, Lamine Yamal scored the third FC Barcelona goal, weaving through 3 players from the right side of the pitch before curling a stunner past L. Junior and into the net.

    Yamal whirled off in celebration before a jubilant Camp Nou.

    10 minutes later, Villareal''s defense managed to hold, giving their offensive units chances in attack but in the 27th minute, one lightning-fast counterattack broke them down the 4th time this first half.

    This time, it was Sam.

    Pedri won back the ball and spotted the run immediately, lobbing it over the defense for Sam who overtook all the lumbering men in defense.

    He took the ball in his strides and as the goalkeeper charged out to meet him, he chipped the ball above him, scoring a cheeky goal.

    Sam celebrated with the calma celebration.

    In the 42nd minute, he doubled his tally from the air, powering a header past Junior and into the net from a Lamine Yamal cross.

    The first half came to an end 5-0 in FC Barcelona''s favor.

    This first half, FC Barcelona didn''t just win against Villarreal, they humbled team, teaching them an unforgettable lesson in football.

    In second half, they reduced the intensity, enjoying themselves, every capable player dribbling through Villarreal players for fun.

    But even at that, they still scored.

    Sam got his hattrick, receiving the ball from Raphinha outside the 18-yard box, shuffling his feet a bit before rifling as shot into the top bin.

    68 minutes, 6-0¡­

    And yet, that was not all.

    In the 75th minute, Jules Kounde joined the feast, smashing a stunner from outside the box into the net with stunning power.

    75 minutes, 7-0¡­

    It was over. It was a humbling defeat.

    Villarreal didn''t even get a consolation goal. They became the foil with which FC Barcelona enjoyed and started their La Liga title celebrations.

    By the time the final whistle blew, the Spotify Camp Nou was already boiling with endless energy and passion, then¡­ S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    FWEEE!

    The game came to an end.

 Chapter 455 - 455: FC Barcelona; 2025/26 La Liga Champions

    FWEEE!

    The final whistle blew, and the Spotify Camp Nou erupted, not in relief, but in ecstasy. Pure, unrestrained joy.

    Barcelona had not just claimed the title, they annihilated their final hurdle to show their dominance this season.

    A 7-0 demolition of Villarreal at home; a performance soaked in effortless swagger, precision, and ruthless brilliance. This wasn''t a team crawling toward glory; it was a coronation delivered with fireworks, finesse, and the flair only Barca can summon.

    The commentators could hardly contain themselves. Their voices rose with reverence, echoing through living rooms and radios across the world.

    "Magnificent. Majestic. Mesmerizing".

    "Barcelona aren''t just champions, they''re architects of footballing poetry¡­"

    The commentators waxed lyrical, speaking of a season defined by dominance, of fluid football sculpted with surgical brilliance.

    They called it one of the most complete campaigns in recent memory; a team reborn, rekindling echoes of the golden era.

    On the pitch, the players collapsed in joy. Some dropped to their knees, eyes glistening with the weight of a season''s worth of sacrifice and fire. Others sprinted toward the fans, arms wide open, as if embracing all of Catalunya at once.

    For Sam, it was more personal.

    To him, it was another title win in one of the top 5 leagues in Europe after his miraculous premier league title win with Fulham last season.

    Sam had a video call with his family right there at the Spotify Camp Nou.

    He cried, smiled, and roared with the euphoria of victory.

    Then, feeling mischievous, he pointed at his mom. "Mom¡­, remember when you were always so adamant that I won''t play football?"

    "¡­" His mom was stumped.

    Seeing her reaction, Sam grinned. "What do you think now? Do you still think football will ruin my life?"

    Mrs. Moses was stunned at her bold her son was, but then she laughed and shamelessly looked at him. "Humph! You''re lucky you made it in football, or you see me? I''d have skinned you alive".

    "Mom!" Sam called, stunned at how shameless she was.

    "Haha," his mom laughed at his reaction.

    The celebrations continued on the pitch.

    For Sam, after the Catalan police verified her identity, his fianc¨¦e, Kayla was allowed into the pitch as she ran to him before jumping into his arms.

    The couple in love kissed passionately right there on the pitch.

    Of course, trust the paparazzi.

    Click! Click! Click!

    The sound of camera clicks reverberated. The morning news tomorrow was surely going to become really spicy.

    Outside the bubble that Sam created with his fianc¨¦e and his family, celebrating, outside, the celebrations also continued.

    His teammates also celebrated with their families.

    At some point, his friends in the FC Barcelona team, Balde, Pedri, Gavi, and Lamine Yamal approached as they laughed with him, teased Kayla before taking group pictures with each other.

    It was a truly memorable moment, a harmonious memory, an unforgettable chronicle in their career tales.

    As for the fans? They were also celebrating exuberantly. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Shirts were thrown, flags waved, and the Spotify camp Nou became a sea of tears, laughter, and unfiltered euphoria.

    At some point, Hansi Flick was hoisted into the air by his players, the architect behind the spectacle. Fireworks exploded into the night sky.

    "Campeones, campeones, ole ole ole!" The crowd roared from the stands like thunder.

    The players danced, sang, and poured champagne over one another like children chasing a dream. It was simply unforgettable.

    Cameras flashed. Families joined on the pitch. Legends applauded from the VIP stands, even as confetti rained down in the club''s iconic red and blue.

    In that moment, the Spotify Camp Nou wasn''t just a stadium.

    It was the heart of world football; beating loud, proud, and forever blaugrana.

    ¡­

    Days later, Barcelona was still in celebration mode.

    After the home encounter against Villareal at the Spotify Camp Nou on 18th May, the celebrations continued for a long time.

    It''s been a long time since Catalan fans let loose in such a manner, celebrating a literal perfect season of football.

    But this time, they indulged themselves.

    It was their season, and they were allowed to enjoy it.

    The season was not over yet though. FC Barcelona still had 2 games to play to compete the season, first was their final La Liga game of the season against Athletic Club, an away game.

    And finally the UEFA Champions League final.

    Today was 25th may, the D-day for their final La Liga clash of the season.

    (La Liga:)

    (Athletic Club ¨C Barcelona)

    The atmosphere at the Estadio de San Mames was a bit subdued, with a hint of reverence as Athletic welcomed the La Liga champions to their home for the final matchday of the season.

    The fact that it was FC Barcelona didn''t make the Athletic Club coach roll his team over on their belly though. Rather, they started with their best starting XI.

    Just like FC Barcelona, Athletic Club played regularly in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Agirrezabala was the man in between the goal posts, while ahead of him in defense was the quadruple of De Marcos, Vivian, Alvarez, and Berchiche.

    In midfield was Ruiz de Galarreta and Jauregizar, while in attacking midfield stood Alex Berenguer.

    To the right of the attacking midfielder stood Inaki Williams, one of the Williams'' brother, while on the opposite flank was Nico Williams, one of the most electric wingers in world football.

    Ahead of them all was the sole striker, Sannadi.

    This was Nico Williams'' last game as an Athletic Club player. He reportedly signed a contract with a big club in Europe already; which means he would be leaving his parent club after today''s game.

    As for FC Barcelona? Hansi Flick tinkered with his team, letting a few players with need for playing experience to exercise their legs on the pitch.

    They started in their regular 4-2-3-1 formation. Inaki Pena started in between the goal, while the defensive quadruple this time comprised Gerard Martin, Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia, and then Hector Fort.

    In midfield was Frankie De Jong and Marc Casado, Gavi in midfield, while the front trio comprised Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres, and Pau Victr.

    FWEEE!

    The game started.

 Chapter 456 - 456: Prelude to the UEFA Champions League Final

    Athletic Club scored the first goal of the game.

    As early as the 13th minute, the FC Barcelona net shook and the hero of the sequence of play was the Spain International, Nico Williams.

    It started with Alex Berenguer, the attacking midfielder who received the ball with his back to goal before passing it towards Inaki Williams. Inaki Williams pushed the ball forward once, blitzing past Gerard Martin with speed before crossing the ball towards his brother on the other side.

    Bam!

    With his first touch, a perfect one, Nico Williams brought the ball under control. Eric Garcia closed him down immediately.

    But with his second touch, Nico Williams flicked the ball to his right, leaving Eric Garcia with an ankle breaker as the defender collapsed to the ground, leaving a hole in the FC Barcelona backline.

    Another touch, then another, then¡­

    BAM!

    Nico Williams stance seemed like he was aiming at the far corner, but at the last moment, he shifted his stance, swinging to shoot towards the near corner.

    Inaki Pena was rooted to one spot, watching as the ball entered his net.

    "GOALLLL¡­!"

    The Estadio de San Mames exploded.

    Yes, the Athletic Club fans respected their visiting opponents who already won the La Liga title, but that didn''t mean they wanted to lose.

    Rather, they wanted to win, respect notwithstanding.

    This was why they celebrated the goal passionately, suddenly infused with hope at a very real possibility of winning this game.

    After that goal in the 13th minute, the game opened up.

    FC Barcelona created some chances but in the first half, Athletic Club was the superior side as their dynamic attack cut Barcelona''s defense open again and again till they struck again just before halftime.

    In the 44th minute, Sannadi, their striker struck, fed by Inaki Williams as the striker pounced on the cross, heading it past Inaki Pena.

    44 minutes, 2-0¡­

    The Estadio de San Mames was a cauldron of noise already, but it died down just a minute later when Ansu Fati rolled back the years with a solo effort.

    As soon as the game was restarted, Frankie De Jong received a pass, ran up the field with it a bit before feeding Ansu Fati who was on the left. As soon as the ball touched Fati''s leg, he entered a state of ultra-instinct.

    When the first defender came for the ball, he protected it with his leg, making De Marcos lose balance before nutmegging him. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    With that, he bombed towards the 18-yard box.

    The midfielder, Ruiz de Galarreta rushed in before going on a sliding tackle but fearlessly, Ansu Fati flicked the ball above him before also jumping.

    As he landed, another defender was already there, Vivian, who was already stretched towards the floating ball.

    But Ansu Fati had other ideas.

    Thud!

    He landed, but he didn''t just land.

    While still in mid-air, the idea came and he executed it instinctively; caressing the ball with a delicate backheel touch to push it just beyond Vivian''s leg.

    The center defender didn''t expect such ingenuity, and he froze, for a moment. That moment was all Ansu Fati needed.

    Alvarez closed in.

    But taking the ball with him, Fati wiggled through the 2 defenders, one aggressive and the other frozen. Suddenly, he was one on one with the goalkeeper.

    Before the goalkeeper could react and rush out, he inclined his body to the left and curled his right leg around the ball, sending it towards the far corner.

    The goalkeeper dived, getting a touch on it but it wasn''t enough.

    The ball kissed the far post before nestling into the net.

    There was stunned silence at the San Mames for a few seconds, but then¡­

    BOOM!

    The traveling FC Barcelona fans exploded with joyful and exuberant celebration.

    The first half came to an end 2-1 in Athletic''s favor.

    When the second half started, Hansi Flick made a few changes, introducing Lamine Yamal for Pau Victor, moving Ferran Torres to the striker position.

    It didn''t matter much because Athletic Club kept on dominating.

    In the 60th minute, Nico Williams scored again, this time from a solo effort as he scored an absolute banger from outside the box into the top right corner.

    FC Barcelona kept on trying but nothing tangible happened.

    In the 72nd minute, Hansi Flick introduced Jules Kounde and Pedri, while in the 75th minute, he introduced Sam.

    Without anyone saying, the Athletic Club players and their fans knew that they heavyweights were in and the atmosphere in the stadium changed with it.

    Athletic Club changed their strategy, deciding to play a bit more defensive to protect their 3-1 lead but it didn''t matter before Barcelona.

    They tried their best, they persevered for 10 minutes, but just within 3 minutes, it all came unraveled.

    In the 86th minute, Sam slipped a pass to Lamine Yamal who teased the Athletic defenders with his twinkle toes before setting Pedri who unleashed a smashing hit, sending it towards the top left corner with precision.

    Then, in the 89th minute, an unlikely hero appeared, Gerard Martin.

    Pedri raised the ball above the Athletic defense for the overlapping left back who powered it into the net with a close-range header.

    In a blink, from 3-1, it was 3-3!

    BOOM!

    The away stands at the Estadio de San Mames exploded again.

    The FC Barcelona fans weren''t satisfied with just a draw though. They pushed their players to go for the winning goal, and the players on the pitch showed their eagerness within the last 3 minutes of additional time.

    They could not do it though, Athletic Club defended for their lives.

    And then¡­

    FWEEEE!

    The game came to an end.

    Sam didn''t score or assist this game but his impact was felt heavily after he entered the pitch, his imprint was all over the 2 goals scored after he entered the game. But for tonight, Gerard Martin won the man of the match award.

    To them, this was a preparatory game.

    The prelude to the UEFA Champions League final in Munich.

 Chapter 457 - 457: UEFA Champions League Final; PSG vs Barcelona [1]

    2 days later¡­

    27th May, 2026.

    At Robert Lewandowski''s sprawling Catalan villa nestled in the hills overlooking Barcelona, the air buzzed with anticipation; not just for the looming Champions League final, but for the gathering that promised to bind the squad tighter than ever before.

    The sun dipped lazily over the Mediterranean, casting a golden hue on the tiled rooftops and whitewashed walls as Lewandowski, ever the consummate professional and team leader opened his home for a classic reunion espanola; a traditional Spanish style get together meant to strip away the weight of competition and let friendship breathe.

    The UEFA Champions League final was to commence in 4 days.

    The atmosphere in Barcelona these days was electric, preparing for the club''s final game and most important game of the season.

    The pressure was much on the players, and was exactly why Robert Lewandowski organized this get together in his Catalan villa.

    He was still recovering from his injury, he could not take part in the final game but it didn''t matter. To Robert Lewandowski, what mattered was that he could still contribute to the team in this manner.

    The heart of the evening was set outdoors on a spacious stone terrace shaded by olive trees and trailing grapevines.

    Long wooden tables were arrange under string lights that twinkled like stars. The scent of grilled meats and spices filled the air; carne a la brasa, sizzling chorizo, and smoky morcilla charred over an open flame.

    Nearby, a massive paella pan sat bubbling with golden saffron rice, seafood, and rabbit, lovingly stirred by a local chef Lewandowski had hired from Valencia.

    Laughter echoed through the garden as players trickled in, dressed casually; linen shirts, shorts, and sandals.

    Gavi and Pedri took turns teasing each other at the ping pong table set up in one corner, even as Lamine Yamal hung out with Sam and Alejandro Balde.

    At another side, Jules Kounde, always the smooth one played DJ with a playlist of flamenco-infused pop, reggaeton, and old Spanish rock.

    Ter Stegen nursed a glass of tinto de verano and played chess with Hansi Flick. Yes, the coach was also invited for the occasion. After some dilemma he decided to drop by to lend his blessing to the night.

    Tapas were passed around; plates of jamon iberico, patatas bravas, boquerones en vinagre, and spicy pimintos de padron, each dish sparking conversation, debate, and jokes.

    Even the foreign players, unfamiliar with Spanish customs, quickly fell into the rhythm of relaxed eating and constant chatter.

    The beer flowed, but not too freely. After all, to others, the season may have finished already. But to FC Barcelona? Not yet, one game remained. The most important game of their season, the UEFA champions league final.

    Lewandowski enforced the beer restrictions, making sure everyone knew this wasn''t about partying, but it was more about presence, connection, and unity.

    As night deepened, Lewandowski stood, raised his glass of cava, and addressed his teammates; not with a fiery speech, but with quiet conviction.

    At first, he joked.

    Chuckling, he started. "I know most of you are angry with me". He smirked. "After all, I just went and got injured in a season and crazy as this one".

    "Well, I don''t blame you". He laughed. "I''m angry at myself too".

    "Anyways, you guys, I believe you all know why I invited you all here tonight¡­ the UEFA Champions League final".

    "We''re not just playing for a title. We''re playing for each other".

    "For this city. For the crest".

    "This feeling¡­ is what we fight to protect".

    The table erupted in applause and cheers. Arms linked, players sag along to a spontaneous chorus of "Volveremos a ser campeones" led by Ferran Torres, Sam, and Kounde.

    As an FC Barcelona fan for a long time, all the way since he was 6 years old, Sam knew all the Barcelona chants, slangs, and songs.

    Tonight, there were no speeches, no rehearsed bravado, just the raw, electric heartbeat of a team ready to go to war together.

    That night, under the Catalan stars, Barcelona wasn''t just a club.

    It was a family.

    After that experience in Lewandowski''s villa, the players who were fit returned to their normal schedule of train, train, and train again under their coach.

    Hansi Flick drilled his team physically and tactically to the optimum level.

    While they trained, time moved fast.

    And then¡­

    ¡­D-day was here.

    ¡­

    31st May, 2026¡­

    Germany, Munich.

    The night Munich held its breath.

    The Allianz Arena, normally cloaked in red blazed a split hue of electric blue and deep garnet, the colossal stadium pulsing with energy like the heart of Europe itself. Not just Europe, but European football. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It was the UEFA Champions League Final.

    (UEFA Champions League:)

    (Final:)

    (PSG ¨C Barcelona)

    Two giants. One crown.

    And the atmosphere? Electric. Feverish. Sacred.

    The streets outside were a sea of flags, chants, and face paint. Barcelona fans, draped in blaugrana, sang.

    "El Cant del Barca!"

    They roared with tearful pride, their voices echoing against the walls of the stadium. PSG ultras, slick in navy and red bellowed on their side.

    "Ici c''est Paris!"

    They roared, waving flares and marching in unison with relentless fervor.

    It was 2 football countries, 2 different footballing cultures.

    The languages were different, but the passion was identical; tonight was war in cleats.

    Then came the first seismic moment; the arrival of the team buses.

    The Barcelona bus rolled in first, escorted by flashing police motorcycles, cutting through the din like warship through stormy seas.

    Cameras flashed, fans screamed, and the team inside remained still; focused.

    Inigo Martinez, eyes locked ahead. Pedri, headphones on, bobbing slightly to the beat. The young blood and old guard, unified. Hansi Flick stood at the steps of the bus as they disembarked, clasping shoulders and whispering final words of steel into his players'' ears.

    Moments later, PSG''s bus swept in. Sleek. Shadowed.

    Behind blacked-out windows sat Marquinhos, impassive and calm, like a storm waiting to break. Alongside him, Ousmane Dembele, a man with divided loyalties stepped off to the mixed sound of whistles and cheers.

    Luis Enrique, ever cool, lithe as a predator followed his squad with a gaze sharp enough to cut glass.

    The Allianz Arena itself seemed to vibrate with the moment. The pitch was pristine, glowing under the floodlights like emerald glass.

    The Champions League anthem began to play, and the roar was deafening; thunderous, reverent, mythical.

    Fireworks cracked in the air. Drone cameras soared. It felt less like a game and more like the entrance to Valhalla.

    This wasn''t just football. This was ritual.

 Chapter 458 - 458: UEFA Champions League Final; PSG vs Barcelona [2]

    The lights dimmed.

    A hush swept the Allianz Arena; not silence, but the sharp intake of breath before a scream. Over 75,000 voices posed on the edge of eruption.

    The LED banners around the stadium glowed in regal hues; UEFA blue, PSG red, Barca garnet. Then, that iconic orchestral swell rang out:

    THE CHAMPIONS¡­ sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And the place detonated.

    Then, from the tunnel, they emerged.

    Paris Saint-Germain came out first. A phalanx of stars cloaked in sleek midnight-blue kits with bold crimson trims. Ousmane Dembele led the line; jaw clenched, aura coiled like a panther.

    Compared to his FC Barcelona days, the Frenchman was now a changed man- footballer; an improved footballer, the sharpest tool in the PSG attack.

    Behind him, Marquinhos stood tall, the team''s silent spine. As Dembele led the line, walking out, he met a wall of contrasting noise; jeers from the Barca faithful, and cheers from the Parisians.

    Then, Vitinha, Donnarumma, Hakimi; each face stone-carved with intent. They didn''t look nervous. They looked dangerous.

    And then, FC Barcelona.

    Led by the captain''s armband and the ever-steady Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, the team walked with the calm of kings. Sam emerged like a monument to discipline, face unreadable.

    Pedri, Gavi, and Lamine Yamal flanked him, young and fierce, forged in La Masia''s fire. Raphinha walked with swagger. Behind them came Jules Kounde, Inigo Martinez, and Alejadro Balde; all hungry lions, teeth bared.

    And then, Hansi Flick. He was just behind them, in his suit, his stare burning with a thousand memories of finals past.

    The Champions League anthem reached its crescendo.

    Flags unfurled. Children mascots stepped forward, and cameras zoomed in on eyes wide with destiny.

    Above them, the stadium pulsed with flashes; white-hot bursts capturing the exact moment greatness walked the grass. Confetti canons fired. The final ball sat at midfield like a crown on an altar.

    In the stands, it was war.

    "Visca el Barca!" Barcelona''s end roared in synchronized fury.

    PSG''s ultras countered with pounding drums and smoke plumes of red.

    When the anthem faded, all that remained was the sound of breathing; players, fans, coaches.

    Then the whistle blew.

    FWEEE!

    And the final began.

    The whistle sliced through the air, and the final was instantly ablaze.

    Barcelona kicked off, and from the first touch, it was clear; this was not a night for hesitation.

    The ball zipped across the lush Allianz Arena turf like it was magnetized to their boots. Pedri, Gavi, and Frankie De Jong, Barca''s triple threat engines dictated the rhythm with dizzying triangle passes, drawing PSG''s press like moths to flame.

    Sam dropped deep, linking play to devastating effect, while Lamine Yamal ghosted into the half-space, already testing Nuno Mendes with sly runs.

    During the first few minutes of confrontation, there was a clear winner. FC Barcelona.

    But PSG? They didn''t wait. They hunted.

    This season, PSG was a well-oiled machine under Luis Enrique. They didn''t arrive at the final of the UEFA Champions league without reason, his PSG team was being dubbed by some as the best PSG team in the club''s history.

    With the likes of Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele, and Desire Doue in attack, all electric dribblers and playmakers, they had one of the most dynamic attacking trios in European football. And with guys like Bradley Barcola on their bench, they had a robust bench.

    Their midfield was just as perfect, the trio of Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz, and the young Joao Neves all complimenting each other''s play to perfection.

    As for their defense?

    Most people who watched PSG dubbed their defense as their weakness, but that was only when put in contrast against their fearsome midfield and offense.

    When pitted against other world-class defenses in Europe, the defensive quadruple of Nuno Mendes, Pacho, Marquinhos, and Achraf Hakimi could stand their ground against any other defense.

    And tonight, against Barca''s fearsome attack, they had their work cut out for them but they were ready for the challenge.

    By the 3rd minute, Kvaratskhelia exploded down the left wing, a blur of pace and precision. He skinned Kounde with a feint so sharp it left grass in the air before unleashing a low cross into the box, cut out just in time by Cubarsi''s sliding challenge.

    The PSG corner led to chaos, Donnarumma even pushed up from the back, but Ter Stegen plucked the danger out of the sky like it was routine.

    The tension on the pitch escalated.

    Every touch sparked noise, every duel had venom. Lamine Yamal, the young prodigy on the right clattered into Nuno Mendes in a 50-50 that left both men gritting teeth and exchanging words.

    The ref let it play. This was a final, no cheap whistles.

    And then, in the 7th minute, Barca unleashed their first warning shot.

    Pedri picked the lock from midfield with a no-look through ball. Sam, reading it a second ahead of everyone immediately peeled away from Marquinhos and struck first-time from the edge of the box.

    For a second, the Allianz Arena froze in shock.

    Bam!

    The ball flew with speed. It fizzed low, skimming the grass.

    Donnarumma? The PSG goalkeeper quickly went low on a full-stretch dive, and barely got his fingertips to it. Corner.

    "F*ck!" Sam cursed.

    From the corner, chaos. Inigo Martinez won the header, smashing it into the crossbar. The rebound fell to Gavi, who volleyed only for it to be blocked by Pacho''s face. PSG cleared, but it was a statement; Barca had arrived.

    In the 10th minute, PSG responded.

    This time, it was Dembele, ever the wildcard. The electric forward darted in from the right, danced past Balde with that slinky gait before curling one toward the far post. Ter Stegen was beaten.

    And yet, it missed by inches.

    The stadium gasped.

    Ten minutes gone, and the match was already a powder keg. Like expected by neutral fans, it was a banger, an end to end game.

    Two philosophies. Two giants. One night.

    And neither blinking.

    This was surely a game that would leave its imprint in the history of the UEFA champions league, no matter the result.

    The game continued.

 Chapter 459 - 459: UEFA Champions League Final; PSG vs Barcelona [3]

    10 minutes, 0-0¡­

    Tonight''s UEFA Champions League final was one predicted to be one of the best in the history of the competition of both teams played to their strength, and within just 10 minutes, both clubs were already showing what they could do.

    It was intense, end to end.

    From minutes 11 to 20? It was blood and fire on the pitch.

    The final was no longer a match, it was a storm, and the Allianz Arena was the sea where the 2 sailing ships braved the storm for supremacy.

    It was controlled insanity on the pitch, tactical poetry scribbled in ink and flame as PSG and Barcelona embodied the different footballing philosophies of their coaches, Hansi Flick and Luis Enrique ball embodied in full display.

    Barca surged forward with almost reckless ambition, pushing their full-backs high. Alejandro Balde especially became a dagger down the left, overlapping Raphinha and tormenting Hakimi, the PSG right back.

    In midfield, Gavi was everywhere, combining with Sam to devastating effect as they pressed with their endless energy and stamina, jumping into duels, biting ankles, and screaming orders like 2 captains commanding the Barca ship.

    Sam? The Catalan King especially was playing like a man possessed.

    But PSG absorbed it all like a coiled spring. And then in the 14th minute of the game, they struck.

    GOAL!

    PSG: 1-0. Desire Doue.

    It came out of nowhere; sudden, unexpected.

    It started with Vitinha winning a scrappy ball in midfield and slipping it to Dembele in the right channel. The Frenchman feinted once, twice, before playing a filthy reverse ball behind Balde.

    Having switched positions with Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue, the young PSG prodigy was already in full sprint, slicing into space like a missile.

    He didn''t slow down.

    One touch to calm the ball, one glance at Ter Stegen, then¡­

    POW!

    A rising bullet to the near post, smashing into the roof of the net before anyone could move.

    1-0 PSG.

    The Alliance Arena exploded in noise.

    Desire Doue slid on his knees toward the corner, his face an expression of joy and passion as he spread his arms with emotion.

    The Paris end detonated.

    But FC Barcelona didn''t panic. Not yet.

    If there was something that FC Barcelona already established this season and last season, it was that FC Barcelona under Hansi Flick almost always scored. And in a final? It was almost a guarantee that they would get their own goal.

    Hansi Flick stood on the edge of his technical area, clapping calmly, eyes burning. He barked instructions, but he didn''t change a thing.

    And that trust¡­ it paid off almost immediately.

    The response? It came in the 17th minute.

    Gavi robbed Fabian Ruiz with a crunching tackle and instantly fed Pedri. One look up, and the elegant midfielder saw Sam peeling between the lines in a blur.

    Bam!

    A perfect thread through the defense, splitting it open like a hot knife through butter. Gasps erupted around the Allianz Arena.

    The PSG defense was not about to allow an easy goal though.

    Sam?

    He let the ball run, dummied Marquinhos, then backheeled the ball into the path of Lamine Yamal sprinting along his blindside.

    Yamal struck the ball first time at goal.

    Goal? No.

    Yamal struck too clean, too early. Donnarumma pulled off an instinctive save, a massive left glove tipping it wide. The stadium roared in disbelief.

    In the 19th minute, chaos again.

    PSG countered after a misplaced Barca pass. Kvaratskhelia found Dembele, who danced past Pau Cubarsi this time. He shot low, but Ter Stegen parried. The rebound fell to Desire Doue, again.

    Doue''s follow-up strike smashed the side netting.

    "Ohhh¡­!" Gasps rang around the stadium.

    The match had no midfield. Just war, just battle lines redrawn every thirty seconds. The crowd could barely breathe. Every attack looked like a goal.

    It was not football.

    It was war with rules.

    After a brief period of PSG domination, from minutes 21 to 30, more Barca players finally stepped up in a retaliatory display.

    If the first 20 minutes were a knife fight in a phone booth, the next 10 were chess with grenades.

    PSG, high on adrenaline from Doue''s opener, pushed. They wanted blood. They wanted the second.

    The front trio of Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue, and Dembele were unstoppable.

    They tore at the flanks like wolves, frequently changing position, dragging Barcelona''s defense into a stretched, frantic shape.

    Hakimi overlapped with menace. Vitinha floated dangerously at the edge of the final third.

    But Hansi Flick''s side didn''t collapse under the pressure. Rather, they coiled tighter. Quicker touches, shorter distances. Gavi and Pedri in midfield were starting to feel the pulse of the match in their boots.

    And in the 24th minute, it came. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    GOAL!

    Just like PSG''s goal, it came suddenly; unexpected.

    And who else but the King, Samuel Moses?

    It started innocently. A throw-in, deep in PSG''s half. Balde took it short to Raphinha who danced between two defenders and nutmegged Hakimi so casually it might''ve been illegal.

    He rolled it into the center where Pedri had ghosted between lines.

    And then¡­ art.

    Pedri opened his hips, but he didn''t take a touch; he just sent a slicing diagonal ball through the center channel.

    Gavi dummied, leaving the ball to arrive at Sam''s feet like fate.

    Bzzz!

    One touch, like a touch of the divine.

    A turn, and then¡­

    BANG!

    A thunderclap of a strike; low, clinical, kissing off the inside of the post and in. Donnarumma moved, but it didn''t matter.

    1-1.

    "COME ON!!!" Gavi screamed with passion, jumping excitedly.

    Sam didn''t celebrate with a roar though. He just stood there, arms raised slightly, calm and cold, like a hitman admiring clean work.

    Then¡­

    BOOM!

    The Barca end erupted, blue and red flags flailing like wild fire. Gavi grabbed Sam and screamed in his face. Pedri pumped a fist toward the dugout. Lamine Yamal jumped on Sam''s back, celebrating with passion.

    Hansi Flick didn''t flinch. He just clapped once, slowly, like a man who expected this exact script.

    It was a brutal game.

 Chapter 460 - 460: UEFA Champions League Final; PSG vs Barcelona [4]

    24 minutes, 1-1¡­

    Game on.

    In the 27th minute, PSG tried to bite back.

    The Georgian magician, Kvaratskhelia took matters into his own hands again, blitzing past Kounde on the left like he was not there. He cut inside and rifled a shot that sizzled past the far post.

    The cameras caught him snarling in frustration. The crowd felt it, the passion. This wasn''t just a final.

    It was a legacy warfare.

    In the 29th minute, there was almost another twist.

    Gavi intercepted a lazy pass from Fabian Ruiz and launched a counter, passing to Yamal. Lamine Yamal sprinted forward with options left and right. In the end, he made his decision easily, choosing Sam again.

    As soon as Sam received the pass, he set himself up before unleashing a piledriver from 25 yards.

    It flew.

    It dipped.

    And missed by inches!

    Gasps rippled across the Allianz. The scoreboard still read 1-1, but the energy was nuclear. The first third of the match had passed, and it felt like they''d already lived through a lifetime.

    The game continued.

    The pace didn''t slow down. It couldn''t.

    This wasn''t just a final. It was more like a trial by fire.

    Mistakes weren''t punished. They were executed.

    After Barca''s equalizer, the match turned bitter. Gavi clattered into Vitinha; full body, full message. Dembele squared up to Inigo Martinez after a shoulder barge. Even Pedri threw in a cynical tug on Kvaratskhelia''s shirt to stop a break, drawing a yellow and ironic cheers from the French end.

    But under the aggression, tactics simmered.

    Luis Enrique adjusted to the progressing game. He dropped Vitinha deeper, unstructed Joao Neves to screen Pedri, and gave Dembele more freedom to roam.

    Suddenly, Barca were chasing ghosts. Their midfield press lost shape, and PSG seized the moment.

    In the 36th minute¡­

    GOAL! Kvicha Kvaratskhelia.

    It started with a turnover. Pedri misread a ball and Vitinha pounced, laying it off quickly to Hakimi. The Moroccan flew forward like a bullet train, cut inside, and threaded a surgical pass behind Araujo.

    Dembele didn''t hesitate. He squared across the six-yard box, and then¡­

    Whoosh!

    Kvicha Kvaratskhelia arrived like a wrecking ball. One touch, and then, a shot, slamming it into the roof of the net.

    Ter Stegen was left chasing ghosts. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    2-1.

    Kvaratskhelia roared as he slid toward the PSG bench, fists pounding the turf in passion. The Parisians mobbed him. It was a statement goal, not beauty, but brutality.

    On the pitch, Barcelona suddenly looked rattled. For the first time, their lines staggered. Balde and Kounde started yelling at each other. The pressure was already getting to them.

    PSG¡­, the Parisians were a level above every other opponent that FC Barcelona had played against this season.

    Hansi Flick barked furiously from the touchline, demanding calm.

    But PSG smelled fear.

    And they almost made it worse.

    In the 40th minute, Kvaratskhelia again.

    He collected a long ball over the top from Marquinhos, sprinted into the box, chopped inside Kounde, and curled one toward the far post. Ter Stegen got fingertips to it. The ball kissed the outside of the post and spun out.

    Barca held on. Just.

    In the 43rd minute, a lifeline almost emerged. Lamine Yamal exploded to life, drifting infield and beating two PSG players with a dazzling run before clipping the ball over the top.

    Sam brought it down with his chest and volleyed; off balance, off target.

    "F*ck!" He cursed in frustration.

    Halftime approached.

    In Sam''s head, frustration bubbled, fueling adrenaline, and making his mamba spirit rage.

    ''Win!'' ''Win!'' ''Win!''

    The voice already started in his head.

    The Allianz Arena throbbed with sound, tension, and tribal roars. The fans weren''t watching history.

    They were living inside it.

    And then¡­

    FWEEE!

    The halftime whistle sounded. 2-1.

    During halftime, both coaches had a session with their players, pouring out their hearts, passion, and emotion to motivate their players.

    Whatever Hansi Flick said in the dressing room hit like a holy scripture.

    Barca came out like demons in blaugrana.

    FWEEE!

    The second half started.

    And immediately, all hell broke loose.

    Passes snapped. Presses bit. Gavi and Sam led the charge with fury, chasing everything. Pedri found spaces where none existed. Raphinha tucked inside, playing between the lines.

    As for Lamine Yamal?

    The teenager turned into a prime Neymar, drifting in and out with the ball, turning heads and breaking ankles with his silky dribbles.

    Anytime he had the ball, the PSG defense shook in trepidation, and then¡­

    GOAL!

    In the 49th minute. Raphinha.

    It was direct, devastating football.

    Balde sprinted down the left, beat Hakimi with raw pace, something you''ll rarely see in European football and sent a low ball to the edge of the box.

    There, the King stood, Sam, mounted in his nest.

    With his back to goal, he received the ball and flicked it with one touch beautifully to his side.

    Raphinha didn''t break stride.

    Half-volley. Clean. Violent. Unstoppable.

    Top right corner. Donnarumma didn''t even move.

    Bam!

    2-2.

    And then¡­

    BOOM!

    Barca''s bench exploded. Raphinha thumped the badge on his chest in celebration and pointed at the fans.

    Game on!

    Barca was back level, but Luis Enrique wasn''t silent.

    He gestured, reorganized, and PSG retaliated. Their press stiffened. The young menace, Joao Neves broke up everything. Dembele drifted central and drew defenders like moths to flame.

    And then, in the 61st minute¡­

    GOAL! Ousmane Dembele.

    Dembele picked up the ball from 30 yards out. He stared down Inigo Martinez. A step-over, a shift, then¡­

    Bzzz!

    He was gone.

    He danced between two defenders and curled one inside the post. Silken technique, deadly execution.

    3.2. PSG was leading again.

    Dembele didn''t celebrate wildly. He just stood, arms out, soaking in the moment even as he invited an ocean of boos from the FC Barcelona fans.

    He was putting out a statement display in this game, but Barca refused to die.

    "VISCA BARCA!" Chants rose from the Barcelona faithfuls.

    Hansi Flick made a change, taking off the impactful Gavi and introducing Dani Olmo to the game.

    In the 69th minute¡­

    Dani Olmo won back the ball before quickly passing to Lamine Yamal.

    The young prodigy touched the ball once, twice. With his third touch, he beat two men down the right and whipped in a cross.

    In the box, Sam rose like prophecy itself, but his header clipped the bar.

    ''Goddamit!''

    Sam could feel his blood boiling like a furnace.

 Chapter 461 - 461: UEFA Champions League Final; PSG vs Barcelona [5]

    70 minutes, 3-2¡­

    FC Barcelona was losing.

    This was despite playing at their best.

    Yes, FC Barcelona was playing at their best and yet they were losing. That was how fearsome PSG was this season under Luis Enrique.

    Today, Sam was at his electric best, buzzing in the forward line like a dangerous bee that could not be tamed.

    Lamine Yamal? The youngster was a menace to Nuno Mendes, turning him inside out repeatedly as another PSG player was tasked to help him double-team the Spanish prodigy. Despite everything, somehow, PSG was holding on.

    Pedri? Pedri was at his enigmatic best today, and yet, he was stifled up against the fearsome PSG midfield trio of Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha and Joao Neves.

    Today, literally all the FC Barcelona players turned up to the game. After all, they''ve been preparing for it like their life depended on it.

    Well, their happiness depended on it.

    And to them, their happiness meant everything. It''s been more than a decade since FC Barcelona last won a UEFA champions league title. And to these players, winning the UEFA champions league again and bringing the trophy back to Barcelona meant more than the whole world.

    This was why even as they were being outplayed, outfought, outscored by the Parisians, they didn''t give up.

    Sam and Raphinha kept on leading the press from up field with relentless energy. At times, the PSG defenders and midfielders toyed with them, passing around them in triangular patterns.

    And yet, despite the humiliation, Sam nor Raphinha didn''t give up.

    They kept on pressing. They kept on running.

    They kept on pushing.

    And then, in the 77th minute, when the feeling among the FC Barcelona fans was already becoming one of gloom, fragmented memories of Rome and Anfield flashing back in their mind, reminding of past heartbreak, that was when it happened, silencing the Allianz Arena.

    77th minute, GOAL! Samuel Moses!

    Pedri floated a diagonal pass to the far post where Raphinha got to it before knocking it back first-time across the face of goal. There, Sam, unmarked, a mistake he enforced, like a ghost dashed into space and buried it in.

    BAM!

    That sound¡­ it sank the heart of PSG fans worldwide. Their team just had to hold on for 13 more minutes till the end of the game.

    As for FC Barcelona fans? Euphoria. Ecstasy.

    BOOM!

    The Allianz Arena exploded, FC Barcelona fans roaring at the top of their lungs, jumping for joy, hugging strangers with endless ecstasy, pulling their shirts and waving it in the euphoria of the moment.

    As for Sam? That was his hattrick of contributions in the UEFA Champions League final, in his first ever UEFA Champions league campaign.

    And with that goal, his second goal of the game, he went 2 ahead of the legendary Portuguese, Cristiano Ronaldo as the player with the most goals in a single UEFA Champions League campaign with an incredible tally of 19 goals.

    3-3.

    FC Barcelona was not winning yet, the game was still very much on.

    Sam didn''t think about the little details though. For now, all that mattered was that he just scored the equalizing goal for his team when his goal needed it the most. Filled with euphoria, Sam whirled off away in celebration.

    With eyes dilated in passion, Sam pumped his fists excitedly, charging down edge of the pitch before sliding in celebration even as his teammates swarmed him. And then¡­

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    The Sam chants started in the UEFA Champions League final.

    The commentators screamed with shrill voices.

    "He''s struck again!"

    "ZINEDINE SAM! THE KING OF CATALAN! LORD OF THE SPOTIFY CAMP NOU!"

    "Cristiano Ronaldo was Mr. Champions League, King of the UEFA champions league but in just one season, his first in the UEFA champions league, Sam has done what even the Portuguese G.O.A.T could not do".

    "That is his 19th champions league goal this season!"

    "Eat that!"

    "And FC Barcelona are level again this game!"

    "What a game!"

    It was 3-3 now, but the game was not over yet.

    Sam''s goal only set off more sparks on the pitch, turning the tension in the Allianz Arena even more palpable.

    And then, without giving up, the war continued on the pitch.

    Both teams went for it. No fear. No brakes.

    Just all-out offense.

    It was exciting. It was intense. It was filled with tension, pride, bragging rights, and glory all on the line. It was not for the faint-hearted.

    In the 80th minute, Luis Enrique made a change, taking off Desire Doue and introducing Bradley Barcola even as he took Dembele to a false nine role, mimicking Sam''s work for FC Barcelona.

    Just a minute later, in the 81st minute, Dembele set up Kvaratskhelia whose shot kissed the outside of the post before flying outside.

    Groans filled the stadium from the fans even as Kvaratskhelia grabbed his head in disbelief, knowing just how much it would have impacted the game and PSG''s season if that ball entered the goal.

    In the 84th minute, Dembele hit the side netting.

    Just a minute late in the 85th minute, Donnarumma pulled off a massive instinctive save from Sam''s header from a Lamine Yamal cross.

    Raphinha drew another miracle save from Donnarumma in the 87th minute.

    And then¡­

    In the dying minutes of this game, a legend was born.

    Lamine Yamal, just 18, received the ball near the edge of the box from a Dani Olmo pass. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Tap!

    It was a delicate touch, like a babe''s caress.

    He cut inside.

    Paused.

    And then¡­

    Bam!

    He curled it gently, with soul, into the far corner.

    "¡­!"

    For a brief moment across the Allianz Arena, time seemed to freeze as tens of thousands of fans rose up to their feet.

    And then¡­

    The net rippled.

    The stadium went silent.

    Then it exploded.

    BOOM!

    3-4. FC Barcelona lead.

    Lamine Yamal raced to the corner, arms raised, tears in his eyes even as he fell to his knees in celebration. He was so emotional.

    His teammates swarmed him, embracing him in joy.

    A goal worthy of a final. A crowning moment.

    And then, PSG became a Bull.

    A fearless, rampaging Bull.

 Chapter 462 - 462: When legends are born

    89 minutes, 3-4¡­

    FC Barcelona was leading.

    Lamine Yamal scored a crazy goal in the 89th minute of this epic game, a goal that pierced the heart of millions of PSG fans worldwide, sending them into a crazy whirlwind of self-reflection and sorrow.

    But it was not over yet.

    It was already 90 minutes of this game. But it was not over, simply because the referee gave 5 minutes of additional time to this epic game.

    And Luis Enrique''s reaction?

    He pushed his team forward, urging them to abandon defense in favor of all-out offense. It was now a desperate gamble, either score or score. Nothing in between. That was the only way for PSG to survive.

    And so, all hell broke loose.

    BOOM!

    PSG threw everything. Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi, the fullbacks went up field, turning into makeshift wingers as they bombarded the FC Barcelona defense with an endless tide of rampaging attacks.

    Dribbles, direct shots, outside the box shots, PSG did everything. Not just that, they also tried crossing tactics as even the center backs pushed forward.

    Marquinhos pushed forward, become a makeshift striker as crosses rained into the FC Barcelona box.

    And yet, somehow, FC Barcelona remained alive, holding on desperately.

    In the 90th plus 2 minute, Vitinha had one final chance. Kvaratshkhelia cut in after another silky dribble, faking a shot before pushing the ball to the free midfielder who already built a reputation for his outside the box shots.

    POW!

    Vitinha hit his shot with power and accuracy and yet, it was blocked.

    During the final minutes of the game, already reading his opposition coach''s intentions like a book and knowing how dangerous it would become, Hansi Flick made defensive changes, something he rarely did.

    He introduced Ronald Araujo to the game, morphing his team''s backline into a 5-man defensive unit that now weathered the PSG onslaught.

    Ronald Araujo was the one who blocked the shot.

    The Allianz Arena exploded in cheers, the FC Barcelona faithful celebrating the block like it was a goal.

    Heroic.

    Iconic.

    And then, to the agony of PSG and Real Madrid fans around the world, the final whistle finally sounded.

    FWEEE!

    The Allianz Arena literally shook.

    Tears, screams, collapsing bodies.

    Sam dropped to his knees right where he was, too emotional to move as he broke down in tears. Gavi punched the air, charging into the pitch and towards him. Pedri raised his arms to the heavens in celebration; Lamine Yamal wept.

    Barca were kings of Europe.

    In the greatest final of the modern era.

    "What a game!" The commentators raved.

    "A night entrenched in footballing folklore already!"

    "A night of fire! A night of passion! A night of pure footballing brilliance from 2 of the best UEFA Champions League finalists in years!"

    "My God, what a game!"

    "PSG played the game of their life, they led, and yet the Catalan giants refused to give an edge. The Catalan King led his team to victory!"

    "And Lamine Yamal, what a boy!"

    "What a goal! He''s been creating legend after legend since his debut at the young age of 15 for the senior team, and tonight, he''s cemented that legend".

    "This is a night when legends are born!"

    "Pedri, Raphinha, Sam, Lamine Yamal, Inigo Martinez, Cubarsi, Balde, Kounde, all names that would be sang by Barcelona fans for years to come!"

    "What a night to witness a new King rise to the top of Europe!"

    "FC Barcelona are Kings of Europe!"

    ¡­

    Post-match, Allianz Arena, Munich¡­

    FC Barcelona Locker Room; 11:09pm.

    Bam!

    The door slammed shut behind them.

    For a few precious seconds, the room was silent. No speeches. No cameras. No staged celebrations. Just the sound of grown men breathing like they''d run from war, and maybe they had.

    Then it began.

    Gavi, the heartbeat, screamed. He jumped on a bench and howled like a beast. "Vamos, carajo!"

    Outside, the celebrations continued for a long time at the Allianz Arena. Not just in Munich, across the world, from Europe to Africa, to Asia, to America, millions of FC Barcelona fans had a blast as they celebrated all night.

    And now, the celebrations progressed to the FC Barcelona dressing room.

    What else did you expect?

    Barcelona were Kings of Europe again.

    Somewhere in Miami, Lionel Messi and his pals, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suarez were definitely having a blast too as they celebrated the first FC Barcelona champions league win in over a decade.

    In the FC Barcelona dressing room?

    Shirts were flung. Bottles sprayed. Ter Stegen doused Araujo in water, hugging him tightly once more for that decisive block against Vintinha.

    Lewandowski already joined his teammates in the dressing room, buzzing around Sam like a fly as he celebrated his successor, the new striker of Football Club Barcelona, the best striker in the world.

    Ter Stegen pulled off his captain''s armband and stared at it like it had weight. He wasn''t crying. He never cried, but his chest was rising fast.

    Hansi Flick? Still dressed in black, arms folded, leaned on the wall. He looked at every player. Every warrior. Yes, he had won the UEFA Champions League before now.

    Yes, he won a legendary sextuple with FC Bayern Munchen.

    And yet, nothing could beat this moment.

    Nothing could beat lifting another UEFA Champions League trophy. Nothing could beat this legendary moment, the perfect end to a perfect club season.

    When he finally spoke, his voice was low and cracked.

    "You didn''t just win a final".

    "You made history".

    The room erupted.

    Lamine Yamal, soaked and shaking, sat with a towel over his shoulders. His face glowed with disbelief. Raphinha wrapped an arm around him, whispering in his ear repeated. "You did it, nino. You did it".

    Having done it with Sam already, Lewandowski walked over, crouched in front of the kid and handed him the match ball which Sam rightfully won.

    "From one legend to the next," he said as he handed the ball to Yamal.

    Yamal just stared at it. Then smiled. Wide, unfiltered, pure.

    Pedri and De Jong clashed their foreheads together, grinning like lunatics. Ferran was already posting on Instagram, half-dressed, yelling at everyone to smile. Even Kounde, who never sang was belting out Barca chants in his thick French accent.

    The Champions League trophy sat on the central table now, untouched. Not yet lifted. Just waiting. Gleaming. Holy.

    Then Hansi Flick nodded. Ter Stegen turned, and together, they approached it.

    Hansi Flick lifted the trophy.

    The room detonated.

    Blue and red.

    Tears and sweat.

    Victory and vindication.

    FC Barcelona weren''t rebuilding anymore. They were reborn. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 463 - 463: Post-match interview

    (UEFA Champions League:)

    (Final:)

    (PSG 3-4 Barcelona)

    (Date: 31st May, 2026)

    The UEFA Champions League final was concluded. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The penultimate game of the season was played, and there was a winner, FC Barcelona clinching the 6th UEFA champions league trophy of the club''s history.

    And once again, PSG were denied the chance of lifting the first UEFA champions league trophy of the French club''s history.

    And now, after the game, after the trophy lift, after the crazy celebrations, the players gave time for the post-match interview.

    >Post-Match Interview Zone: Allianz Arena, Mixed Zone Tunnel.

    >11:37pm: Cameras rolling. Microphones everywhere.

    The white backdrop behind the players shimmered with Champions League and UEFA logos. Reporters from every major outlet crowded in behind barriers, jostling for position.

    The tunnel buzzed like a hive; from snapping camera shutters, to frenzied questions in Spanish, English, French, and Catalan.

    First to step up was Marc Andre Ter Stegen, FC Barcelona''s captain in the night, still in partial kit, hair damp, eyes sharp with adrenaline.

    A CBS Sports Reporter faced the team captain. "Marc, congratulations! You''ve just won the Champions League in one of the most thrilling finals ever, your first as the captain. How do you even begin to describe what happened out there tonight?"

    Ter Stegen smiled faintly, ruffling his hair. "I''ve played football for over a decade. I''ve seen finals, goals, heartbreaks¡­ but this? This was something else. They kept on scoring, and yet we refused to break. And that¡­ that''s Barca".

    A Sky Sports reporter got her turn and with a smile, asked. "They call Sam the best player in this FC Barcelona squad. And tonight, he definitely provided the goods. What do you think about his performance?"

    Hearing the reporter ask about Sam, Ter Stegen''s face bloomed into a big smile. "Sam?" He shook his head, smiling. "The boy''s a menace. He''s an FC Barcelona legend already though this is just his debut season".

    "It excites me to think about what he''ll go on to achieve with the club in the future. My advise to the club President is to give him a 100 billion dollars release clause as soon as possible". He chuckled.

    "As for his performance, I have nothing to say but magnificent. Like usual, he showed up in the crucial moment. He was clutch. Just magnificent. He deserves his man of the match award".

    "And of course, he definitely deserved the MVP award for the UEFA Champions League season".

    "19 goals in a single UEFA Champions League campaign? In your debut season?" He shook his head, shivering animatedly. "It''s scary man. Even Ronaldo and Messi never got numbers like this in a single season".

    Thinking of something, he added with a bashful smile. "Surely, he''s the front runner and guaranteed leader in the ballon d''Or race this season".

    An ESPN reporter approached next. "And that final goal from Lamine Yamal¡­ what does it mean to you?"

    Ter Stegen smiled again. "Like we expected, PSG were dangerous. They have a truly deadly attack. I saved shots today, yes. But what Lamine did¡­ that was magic. That is what this club''s future looks like. He deserves the world".

    He moved on, greeted by applause from some of the press.

    Next up, Lamine Yamal stepped before the media.

    Draped in a Barca flag, the match ball which Lewandowsi snatched from Sam still tucked under his arm, he faced the media, his face still flushed with disbelief.

    La Liga TV approached first.

    "Lamine, 18 years old, scoring the winning goal in a Champions League final. How are you feeling?"

    Yamal rubbed a hand through his face and replied, voice trembling. "I don''t know if this is real. Yes, I''ve scored goals in the Euros semifinal, but this? This was honestly different".

    He hesitated. "I used to watch these nights on TV with my brothers. Now I''m here. I scored¡­ in a champions league final. For Barca. It''s like I''m dreaming".

    A Marca Reporter approached next. "We saw the video when Lewandowski handed the match ball won by Sam to you. What did Lewandowski say when he gave you the ball?"

    Smiling, Yamal answered. "He said, ''From one legend to the next''. I almost cried right there".

    After Lamine Yamal, the man of the moment finally stepped up, Sam.

    This time, the reporters literally scrambled between themselves for his attention. In the end, another Sky Sports reporter got to question him first.

    "Sam, you''re 20 this year, and your trophy cabinet and personal achievements are already enough to leave legends wallowing in envy".

    "Tonight, you not only broke Cristiano Ronaldo''s champions league goal record, you also won the man of the match award of the game, and the MVP award of the UEFA Champions League campaign. You also lifted the story; so many positives in one night".

    "Most are already calling you a Football God, the G.O.A.T of the new generation, at just 20". The reporter smiled. "How do you feel?"

    Sam smiled, hesitated, tears welling in his eyes. "To be honest, 4 years ago, I would have never imagined myself in this position".

    "My mother hated football because I always struggled with injury".

    "At some point in my life, I was banished from playing football entirely. To see myself in this moment now, fulfilling a dream I once thought impossible," he sighed. "Honestly, all I feel is gratitude, endless gratitude to God".

    "I feel blessed".

    Then came Hansi Flick. Calm. Resolute. Legendary.

    The Catalunya Radio approached him. "Coach, there were moments when it seemed like PSG had it. What gave you faith?"

    Hansi Flick stared at the reporter with a slight smile on his face. "This club has always been about belief. In the system. In the talent. In the Barca way".

    "We suffered, yes. But suffering is part of greatness".

    ESPN approached next. "Does this vindicate your project? Your style? Your trust in the youth?"

    Hansi Flick nodded firmly. "Tonight, the world saw what we''re building. This wasn''t just a win, it was a warning".

    "Barca is back".

    The press room fell into silence as the UEFA official announced.

    "Player of the Match: Samuel Moses".

    A thunder of applause followed. The youngest MOTM recipient in Champions League final history.

 Chapter 464 - 464: Catalan legends

    Next day, late afternoon.

    Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona¡­

    [Benvinguts, Campions!]

    The sun hung low over Catalonia, casting long golden rays across a sea of humanity. Over 90,000 fans filled the Spotify Camp Nou; not for a match, but for a homecoming. An historic one.

    Flags waved like wildfire. Red and blue everywhere. Scarves, banners, tears. From the old socios to the children on their fathers'' shoulders, the cules had gathered in full voice.

    The stadium trembled. Not from footsteps, but from emotion.

    Drums. Chants. Flares lit the sky. A deafening roar thundered the moment the giant LED screen lit up:

    [Campeones d''Europa ¨C 2026]

    And then, the team bus rolled in; wrapped in glory, covered in confetti, gold-lettered across the side:

    [Visca Barca. Campions.]

    The players emerged one by one onto the makeshift stage build at midfield.

    Marc Andre Ter Stegen, the team captain held the trophy aloft once more, and the noise that followed in the stadium was earth-shattering. Gavi, arms wide, led the chant.

    "Una Champions mes! Una Champions mes!"

    Pedri and Lamine Yamal raced to the mic and started singing Catalan victory songs, dragging a blushing Sam to the front.

    The fans erupted into chants of his name:

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    Not just Sam today though. After all, when the game was tightest, the youngest player in the squad scored the winning goal.

    Today, Yamal chants were also bellowed across the Spotify Camp Nou.

    "Ya-mal!" "Ya-mal!" "Ya-mal!"

    He looked stunned; recently turned eighteen. He still clutched that same match ball like a lifeline, the belief that he''ll one day win one of his own fueling his joy at this moment. He raised the mic to his mouth and whispered.

    "Aquesta es per a vosaltres. Per a tota Barcelona".

    "This is for you. For all of Barcelona".

    The stadium melted.

    Then, the lights dimmed. A montage played on the screens; every goal, every save, every dribble, every scream. The journey from the league phase to the final in Munich. And finally, the trophy lift.

    Fireworks detonated above the Spotify Camp Nou sky.

    The city roared for miles.

    It wasn''t just a welcome. It was a coronation.

    Barcelona was home. And the kings had returned.

    ¡­

    Later that night. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    1:03am.

    In an empty pitch at the Spotify Camp Nou¡­

    The crowd was gone, the lights dimmed. Confetti still clung to the grass like whispers of the war just won.

    Hansi Flick stood alone near the center circle, hands in his coat pockets. No cameras. No journalists. Just the echo of ghosts; of Cruyff, of Guardiola, of Luis Enrique himself, his rival yester night, of the illustrious history of this club silently cheering him on.

    He looked up at the stands, now still, once deafening.

    "You''d be proud," he murmured. "We did it right".

    His eyes darted to the sky. He wasn''t crying, but the weight in his chest wasn''t just pride, it was release. The scrutiny, the doubt, the endless headlines that called him a relic, his tactics a risk. All of it washed away in that 4-3 war in Munich.

    Behind him, the Champions League trophy sat alone on a pedestal. Hansi Flick walked to it; rested his fingers on the cool silver.

    "You came back," he said softly. "Home".

    Maybe he was referring to the fact that it took more than a decade for the club to win the trophy again, or maybe he was referring to his own drought since his 2018 win with FC Bayern Munchen.

    Then he turned and walked away, his silhouette fading into the tunnel like a shadow from a dream.

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, Lewandowski''s home.

    1:47am.

    Suburbs of Barcelona.

    The villa was quiet. Dim lights. The city''s celebration a low hum in the distance.

    Robert Lewandowski sat alone on his balcony, a glass of wind in hand, the medal around his neck. He wasn''t partying. He never needed the noise.

    The match replayed in silence on the TV inside; muted commentary, slow-motion shots of his successor''s first goal, that assist, and then Yamal''s winner.

    He watched it all with stillness. Not pride exactly. Something deeper¡­ fulfillment. The fulfillment of having given his best despite the fact that he didn''t get to kick a ball in the final.

    Sam''s teacher? He dared not claim that title for himself.

    The boy was a prodigy, too talented for him to claim to be his teacher.

    But his mentor? Someone who guided him to become a better footballer? A better striker? Lewandowski could shamelessly insert himself into that enviable role in the young striker''s life and career.

    He still vividly remembered the day that the young Nigerian was announced to have been signed by his club, as an attacking midfielder.

    He still remembered his presentation like it was yesterday.

    He remembered his first training session, how effortlessly playing with a football was for him. How gracefully he carried himself in training with the ball, how tirelessly he pursued the ball when out of possession.

    Then, he thought. ''This boy has something''.

    He saw potential. And yet, even he, as experienced as he was never guessed how good Sam would grow up to become within just his debut season for the club.

    He never guessed that he would get to taste the UEFA champions league trophy again in the twilight years of his footballing career.

    He never guessed how versatile the young Nigerian would grow up to become, to become the most lethal striker in the planet.

    He sighed, sipping from a cup of warm tea.

    He felt like his work in FC Barcelona was over, done. This was the perfect time to say goodbye to the Catalan club.

    In the corner of the room, his daughter slept curled up on the couch, wearing a tiny Barca jersey with "Papa" printed on the back.

    Lewandowksi smiled, leaned back in his chair and exhaled.

    "One last dance," he whispered to the stars. "And what a finish".

    He already made his decision.

    The camera would pull away here.

    From the man.

    From the city.

    From the season.

    Because some victories don''t need parades. Some just need quiet¡­

    ¡­And a view of the sky.

    He grinned. "And yet, this one necessitates a parade".

 Chapter 465 - 465: The parade of legends

    Two days later¡­

    Spain, Barcelona.

    The day of the parade of legends.

    Early in the morning, Barcelona woke up to an iconic moment; a helicopter flew across the city, dragging a gigantic banner in its wake.

    It read:

    [Temporada de Somni ¨C The Dream Season]

    The streets of La Rambla, Passeig de Gracia, and Placa Catalunya overflowed with humanity. Hundreds of thousands, maybe more turned the heart of Barcelona into a roaring sea of red and blue.

    From balconies, windows, rooftops, fans waved flags and sang songs that hadn''t echoed this proudly in over a decade.

    The banners strung between buildings read:

    [Campions de Tot!]

    [The Dream Season ¨C 2026]

    [Triplet! Champions of La Liga, Copa del Rey, and UEFA Champions League!]

    Technically, it was a quadruple since they also won the Supercopa de Espana, but since they managed to win the UEFA Champions League this season after so many years, officially, it was a European treble season.

    At the center of it all, an open-top double-decker bus crawled through the streets like a triumphant galleon returning from war. On its sides, the glittering haul were flaunted in their full glory.

    The La Liga trophy, gleaming under the Mediterranean sun like a testament to perseverance and excellence.

    The Copa del Rey, wrapped in ribbons.

    And towering at the center, the UEFA Champions League, a trophy reclaimed from the gods of Europe.

    Music blasted from the speakers; Catalan anthems, club chants, drums that thudded like hearts.

    And at the front of the bus stood the giants, the heroes.

    Hansi Flick, in sunglasses and club gear laughed with his staff. Lewandowski and Sam stood at the front, the Polishman with his arms stretched wide, tossing a signed ball into the crowd.

    Gavi and Pedri were dancing, taking selfies, leading call and response chants.

    And Lamine Yamal, atop the bus''s roof like a king born in fire, holding the Champions League trophy aloft with both hands. The roar that followed the bus nearly cracked the air itself.

    As for the captain?

    He wore a crown someone had thrown up to him. At first, he laughed it off. But when Ter Stgen put it on his head and bowed mockingly, the crowd lost their minds.

    From Placa d''Espanya to Arc de Triomf, fans chanted.

    "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

    "Yamal!" "Yamal!" "Yamal!"

    "Barca!" "Barca!" "Baaaaaarca!"

    At one point, fireworks exploded above Montjuic as the procession reached its final destination.

    A temporary stage had been built. Giant screens displayed every glorious moment from the season; Gavi''s rocket against Atletico, Sam''s legendary goals in El Clasico, the Copa del Rey final goal, and of course¡­ Yamal''s winner in Munich.

    Hansi Flick stepped forward, mic in hand. The crowd fell silent.

    "This team¡­," he started. "This family¡­ gave everything. For this badge. For this city".

    "We weren''t just playing football. We were writing a new chapter in Barca history, a new chapter in the history of the biggest club in the world!"

    The fans cheered louder.

    Hansi Flick grinned. "A legendary chapter".

    Then, he turned to his players. "And I promise you, it''s just the beginning. We''ll go on to achieve even more together".

    "We''ll leave our mark in history".

    He handed the mic to Sam, who looked out at the endless crowd. Hansi Flick didn''t tell him about this ahead of time and so for a moment, Sam was stumped, but he quickly killed his anxiety and smiled.

    "I came here to win, to achieve my goals. But I stayed because of you".

    "This is the best club in the world. And now, we''ve reminded Europe of that truth".

    A few other players spoke, and then Yamal spoke last. He was not nervous, taking the mic and speaking with confidence.

    He may be younger than Sam by 2 years, but he''s stayed under the Barca scrutiny for far longer. It was funny but he had more experience playing in the top 5 European leagues than Sam.

    Yamal spoke. "I grew up dreaming of Camp Nou. Now, I dream of filling its future".

    "This isn''t just a treble. This is a promise".

    "We''ve achieved a lot together already, but we''ll achieve even more".

    The crowd cheered.

    The music hit again. Confetti cannons fired. The night became a festival, a memory carved into stone.

    Barcelona had their legends.

    And now, their era had begun again.

    ¡­

    FC Barcelona''s open-bus parade was an iconic one, and it elicited reaction from the global footballing community.

    It was Barca''s Renaissance under Hansi Flick, and whether they liked it or not, the wider footballing community had to bow to the tyranny of the new king.

    (L''Equipe- France:)

    ("PSG Falls, Europe Kneels: Barcelona''s Empire Reborn.")

    ("Paris dreamed of immortality. But Barcelona reminded them what legacy truly means. Hansi Flick has forged a team not of superstars, but of warriors, artisans, and believers. France applauds¡­ and aches.") Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡­

    (Marca- Spain:)

    ("Temporada de Oro! ¨C Barca''s Treble Lights Up the World!")

    ("From Munich to Montjuic, this Barca team captured not just trophies, but hearts. Hansi Flick silenced all doubters. Yamal is no longer a wonder kid, he is a generational terror. Sam is the new G.O.A.T. This is no fluke. This is the rebirth.")

    ¡­

    (The Guardian- UK:)

    ("Barcelona''s Beautiful Storm.")

    ("Not since the Guardiola era have we seen such cohesion, such joy in movement, such terrifying elegance. Ter Stegen''s leadership, Pedri''s rhythm, Yamal''s fire, Sam''s genius; Barcelona danced through Europe and lit a torch for future greatness.")

    ¡­

    (Gazzetta dello Sport- Italy:)

    ("Arte, Furia, Gloria ¨C Barca''s Masterpiece.")

    ("Italy knows art when it sees it. What Barca painted this season wasn''t football, it was opera. Each goal was a note, each match a crescendo. If there is a new dynasty forming, it begins in Catalonia.")

    ¡­

    (New York Times- USA:)

    ("Barcelona''s Return: A Global Powerhouse Reawakens.")

    ("From Wall Street to Wynwood, Barcelona jerseys are selling out. The world has a new obsession: the new King named Sam, the teenage star named Yamal, and a squad that refused to die. Football''s global heartbeat shifted again, to Spain.")

    Not just on global media, social media also exploded with reactions.

    Barcelona didn''t just win the treble.

    They won the world''s attention.

    And the world now waits¡­ for what comes next.

 Chapter 466 - 466: The gentle days after glory

    Two days after the open-top parade, when the crowds had quieted and the chants faded into memory, Sam escaped.

    Sam escaped; not from the love, but from the noise.

    This was the busiest season of his career by a sizeable margin. The UEFA Champions League final made it his 56th game this season.

    He didn''t just play the games though, he exerted himself, shattering records left and right. After the UEFA Champions League final, Sam''s statistics stood at 77 goals and 40 assists in just 56 games!

    It was a truly staggering figure, 117 goal contributions in 56 games!

    He truly went all out and did the impossible this season.

    This is why with Kayla''s hand in his, after the open-top parade, Sam boarded a private speedboat from the port of Saint Antoni de Portmany, slipping away to a secluded cove only known to locals and legends.

    The sky was painted in soft hues of coral and lavender. The sun, heavy and golden, sank slowly into the Mediterranean, throwing firelight across the waves.

    They docked at a Cliffside villa, carved into the rock like a hidden treasure; whitewashed stone, wraparound terraces, infinity pool bleeding into the sea.

    Their phones were off. No cameras, no fans, no football.

    Just peace.

    ¡­

    Day 1.

    That morning, Sam woke up to the gentle rustle of linen curtains, Kayla curled beside him, her head on his bare shoulder, their legs tangled beneath crisp white sheets.

    Once again, he applauded himself for the brilliant decision to go on a vacation and escape from all the noise.

    "You''re snoring less now that you''ve won the Champions League," she whispered with a smirk.

    They laughed, then he kissed her forehead.

    No crowds. No schedules. Just the slow rhythm of two hearts finally resting.

    Later, they explored the coastline by kayak, paddling through sapphire caves and sun-drenched inlets. Kayla wore a straw hat and a black bikini that made Sam forget every defense he''d ever broken.

    She laughed freely, splashing him with her oar, and he feigned surrender with dramatic groans.

    ''Gosh¡­ I wish it can stay like this forever''.

    They dined barefoot on the terrace, a private chef serving fresh langoustines, chilled albarino, and figs drizzled with honey. Sunset bled across the sky as soft Spanish guitar echoed in the background.

    After dinner, they sank into the infinity pool, stars winking above them, the sea below whispering secrets to the rocks.

    They spoke of nothing and everything; of their future wedding, of childhood dreams, of where to hang his Champions League medal.

    She said. "Wherever it doesn''t outshine you".

    Sam laughed.

    ¡­

    Day 2.

    Kayla surprised him with a massage appointment at a Cliffside cabana surrounded by lavender bushes and sea breeze. For the first time in months, his muscles weren''t screaming. His mind wasn''t racing. He let go.

    In the afternoon, they wandered the streets of Ibiza Old Town, Dalt Vila hand in hand, sipping caf¨¦ bombon in a quiet courtyard.

    Locals barely glanced at them; to this little town, they were just two lovers wrapped in sun.

    They had a great time.

    Hours later, the sky above Ibiza had turned a shade of deep violet, the stars crisp and close enough to pluck. From the rooftop of their private villa, the world felt distant; just sea, wind, and love.

    Sam had been quiet through dinner. Not brooding, just¡­ thoughtful. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kayla noticed the way he kept looking at her, like he was memorizing something. Like her smile was something he''d need to carry in his pocket.

    As the last of the dessert wine was poured, he took her hand and guided her to the terrace. Lanterns flickered around them, their glow soft and golden, and waves murmured far below.

    A light breeze lifted her curls as she stepped barefoot onto the cool stone.

    "I''ve got something for you," he said, pulling a slip of parchment from his shirt pocket.

    Kayla looked at his hand with curiosity, trying to guess what it was.

    It wasn''t a ring. She already wore that, had worn it for months now. It was a folded, cream-colored paper, delicately pressed, the kind you''d find in an old bookstore. Her brows rose as he placed it in her hands, his eyes unreadable but full of warmth.

    Kayla chuckled. "You''re being all mysterious, what is it?"

    Sam smiled warmly at her. "Look at it".

    She obeyed and looked.

    Just seven words, written in his clean, elegant handwriting.

    [Our Wedding Day ¨C June 3rd, 3PM.]

    Kayla stared. Her lips parted.

    Then¡­

    "Wait¡­ what?" Her voice was a whisper caught between laughter and shock.

    Seeing her reaction, Sam was satisfied, feeling a warm feeling rise in his chest. He smiled, rubbing the back of his neck.

    "Mom wore me down, always nagging about when the big day would be," he said with a grin. "And¡­ I realized I didn''t want to wait anymore".

    "We''ve already done the hard parts. You were there through every injury, every slump, every press circus. Hell, all the way from Fulham". He laughed.

    Kayla also laughed, tears already welling in her eyes.

    Sam looked at her, smiling. "You were there before the trophies. So now¡­," he stepped closer, placing a kiss on her forehead. "Let''s just do it!" He said with enthusiasm.

    "Let''s make it real. Three days from now. In Barcelona. Everything''s already in motion".

    She blinked, once, twice, then the paper fluttered from her hand as she lunged at him, wrapping her arms around his neck, burying her face in his chest.

    "You idiot," she whispered, laughing into his shirt, voice shaking. "You beautiful, sneaky idiot. I would''ve married you in a parking lot".

    He held her, grinning as the stars spun slowly above them.

    "Good. Because I''m not giving you time to run".

    "As if I ever would". She laughed.

    And as the sea sighed and the lanterns swayed, Sam held his future in his arms, and she held hers in his.

    ¡­

    That night, as they lay wrapped in linen again, waves murmuring in the distance, Kayla traced the hair on his arm and said. "It''s not just the trophies that make you legendary".

    "What is it then?" He asked, brushing her cheek.

    "The way you come back to yourself. To us".

    And in that quiet, private paradise, Barca''s star striker became something more than a champion¡­

    He became whole.

 Chapter 467 - 467: June 3rd in Barcelona

    June 3rd, 2026.

    Barcelona, Spain.

    The city still hummed with echoes of glory. Banners fluttered from balconies, fans wore Barca jerseys like second skin, and the air smelled faintly of summer and celebration.

    But high above the noise, on the lush terraced gardens of Torre Bellesguard, a neo-Gothic masterpiece by Gaudi, a different kind of magic was brewing.

    Here, in this hidden gem nestled in the hills overlooking Barcelona, Sam and Kayla would begin something far more eternal than any trophy...

    Their wedding ceremony.

    It was the most pivotal event of Sam''s life, and he didn''t hold anything back, going all out to make it one of the biggest and most memorable events of his life.

    The garden was transformed into a dreamscape.

    Ivory silk drapes billowed gently in the breeze, strung between ancient cypress trees. Rows of white wooden chairs faced a floral arch woven with wild roses, olive branches, and sun-touched lavender, each bloom a quiet hymn to Spanish romance.

    Sam and Kayla thought for a long time and where the venue of their wedding would be. At first, Sam proposed Nigeria while Kayla proposed Netherlands.

    As the gentle man he was, Sam initially agreed with his girlfriend''s wish for the wedding ceremony to take place in the Netherlands and already started preparations when Kayla changed her mind at the last moment.

    "Let''s do it in Barcelona". She said.

    "Why?" He asked.

    She smiled. "Because Barcelona has always been and is still your dream".

    "Huh?"

    "Remember the first football game you ever watched, the 2011 UEFA Champions League final between FC Barcelona and Manchester United?"

    "Yeah, what about it?"

    Kayla smiled. "That was when it all started, your passion and dream as an avid football fan. Your journey as an FC Barcelona fan".

    "Your life, your ambitions, your dream, it has all been tied to the city of Barcelona, so why not commemorate our matrimony there too?"

    Listening to that argument, Sam was speechless. He had nothing to say, and so he simply dragged his fianc¨¦e closer and kissed her passionately on the lips.

    A wedding in Barcelona¡­ it truly was a dream of his.

    And now, here they were.

    It was D-day.

    Soft Catalan guitar floated through the air, played live by an elderly musician with fingers full of soul. A narrow stone path lined with pale rose petals stretched down the center like a quiet invitation to forever.

    The guest list was small. No media. No flashes. Just intimate warmth; close family, childhood friends, and a few teammates who had seen Sam bleed and rise again.

    Of course, the likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Sam''s first captain back in his Enyimba days, Austin all received special invitations.

    Sam stood at the alter in a deep navy tailored suit, no tie, collaropen, sun catching on the Barca cufflinks tucked into his sleeves.

    He looked calm, impossibly so, his famous calma passive radiating even here. Comparing a wedding ceremony to an opposition 18-yard box was wild, but heck, it was Sam, so the comparison was apt. He was calm.

    But when he turned to see her, the mask cracked just slightly.

    A few chuckles reverberated from among the audience, eliciting a glare from Sam as he glared at his friends; Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Balde, even Smith Rowe, where they stood reacting to every subtle reaction that he made.

    And yet, that was only the prelude.

    Because, soon enough, Kayla stepped into view and simply stole the breath from every chest.

    She wore a simple, stunning silk gown, off-the-shoulder, the fabric hugging her frame like it had been sewn from moonlight. Her hair was swept into a soft updo, scattered with tiny pearls.

    In her hands, a bouquet of white gardenias and dusty blue thistle, tied with a ribbon embroidered with the initials S & K.

    Her eyes found his, and he forgot every match he''d every played

    Badump! Badump! S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Sam could feel his heart beating rapidly in his chest; a heartbeat of liberation, of freedom, of Joyboy.

    And then, the vows.

    The officiant was Sam''s father, the proud middle-aged man who once taught him how to juggle a ball in the backyard and now teared up trying to pronounce ''eternity'' without choking.

    It was an emotional moment.

    Sam took her hands, and then with the most sincere smile in the whole world, he said:

    "You were never just beside me. You were part of me".

    "In the noise, in the silence, in the chaos of stadiums and the peace of home. Wherever I go, I want your hand. Not behind me. Not in front. But with me, always".

    Kayla''s voice wavered, but she held firm.

    "I loved you before the world knew your name. And I''ll love you when the lights go out, and the shirts are folded away. I don''t need the roar of fans. I just need your voice whispering goodnight".

    Cheers erupted from the spectators, then¡­

    "They definitely googled that". A voice whispered among the audience.

    It was from the direction of Sam''s close friends again.

    Sam registered an urge to glare at the bastards one more time. Rather, he focused on the important thing that left his heart racing again.

    Drawing closer, he kissed her before the officiant could finish the line.

    The crowd laughed. Lamine Yamal whistled. Mrs. Moses teared up and tried to hide it by glaring at the sun. Even Hansi Flick, seated quietly in the back with his wife smiled like a proud father.

    Petals rained from above. Music swelled.

    Then, they walked down the aisle as husband and wife, hearts racing faster than a final whistle.

    Celebration followed.

    The reception was candlelight under the stars. Long wooden tables lined with tapas, cava, laughter, and golden lamplight.

    Austin made a toast referencing the good old days, the Enyimba days playing with the young prodigy of then, Sam who already blossomed to become a King now, eliciting cheers from the listeners.

    And then Ian, Sam''s best friend told a story about how he once patched up Sam''s busted ankle with duct tape and pure attitude, eliciting laughter.

    And Lewandowski, healed and grinning, raised a glass.

    "You''ve won the hardest competition now. And there''s no second leg. Only forever".

    More cheers erupted.

    They danced barefoot in the grass, lights hanging overhead like fireflies. Just before midnight, as Kayla rested her head on his shoulder, Sam whispered.

    "Champions League? Amazing".

    "But this?"

    "This is the real trophy".