The System Turned Football's Worst Prospect Into a Monster.

Chapter 100: Volume 1, Chapter 100: The Algarve List

On Thursday evening in the primary coaches’ office at Alcochete, the main screen displayed the complete senior squad list alongside the remaining academy openings for the Algarve pre-season camp.

Rui Amorim sat behind the desk, scanning the names. André Falcão stood near the side monitor, while Nuno Marques leaned against the doorframe, representing the academy’s broader long-term interests.

"We have three spots remaining for the youth contingent," Rui said, tapping the desk once. "Let’s run through the options."

Falcão brought up the individual tracking data. "Duarte Faria is the clear inclusion. He remains our most complete academy winger, operates naturally at senior tempo and showed against Genk that his scanning and decisions hold up with a crowd around him."

"Agreed," Rui said. "Duarte is in."

"Salvador Almeida," Falcão continued, switching to the midfielder’s files. "He brings stable circulation, early spatial awareness, and tactical structure to the secondary unit. He keeps the ball moving cleanly under pressure."

Rui nodded. "Salvador takes the central spot. That leaves the final position."

Falcão opened the side-by-side comparison between Leandro Viana, Bernardo Rocha, and Rayan El Mansouri.

"Leandro is older, physically stronger, and tactically reliable," Falcão observed. "Bernardo offers consistent output on the left and has performed steadily all season."

"Leandro and Bernardo are dependable," Nuno said. "If they stay, they lead the U17 work here. Missing this camp does not close anything, but they need to hear the reasons from us."

"They will get them," Rui said. He turned to look at Rayan’s match footage from Farense alongside Thursday morning’s prepared-defender reps. "What about Rayan?"

"His raw output against Farense was one goal and one assist," Falcão said. "More importantly, his technical correction speed is abnormal. When Tiago Leal anticipated his inside feint this morning, Rayan varied his entry speed and released the ball on the third rep instead of forcing a dead angle. His pressing was corrected in a single instruction."

Rui leaned back, resting his chin on his hand. "One good friendly and a sharp morning session don’t make him a senior player. I want to see if that developmental curve holds up across multiple matches, under real fatigue, and against defenders who have scouted him. We take him to the Algarve to test."

He selected the final three checkmarks on the screen.

Selected Academy Contingent:

Duarte Faria

Salvador Almeida

Rayan El Mansouri

"Inform the players," Rui instructed.

In his room in Olivais later that evening, Rayan sat on the edge of his bed, checking his phone every few minutes.

He didn’t open social media, nor did he search for news about the squad roster. He replayed the morning’s drill in his mind: the feel of Tiago’s shoulder stopping his first burst, the instant adjustment to vary the stride, and the curved pressing path Rui had demanded on the transition drill.

He considered going down to the courtyard to do quick footwork drills, but checked the impulse. Doing extra repetitions on tired legs would not force the coaching staff to pick him. The work was already on the pitch.

At 8:45 PM, a formal notification appeared in the team’s internal messaging app, followed immediately by a text from Nuno Marques.

Rayan, you have been selected for the senior squad’s Algarve pre-season camp. Report to Alcochete at 07:00 tomorrow. Travel, accommodation, meals, required kit, staff contact and expected return are included in the logistics email sent to your guardian.

Rayan stared at the screen for ten seconds, reading the message three times to make sure he hadn’t misread the name or the time. Relief washed over him, followed by a sharp surge of adrenaline. He exhaled slowly, setting the phone on his desk.

He walked down to the kitchen. Karim had stopped by for dinner and was sitting across from Sofia while Leonor worked beside her plate with her sketchbook open.

"I made the Algarve list," he said simply.

Karim stood up immediately, his face lighting up with a wide grin. "I knew it! One goal, one assist, and they couldn’t ignore you! This is it, Rayan. This is where you take a permanent senior spot."

"It’s pre-season, Dad," Rayan corrected gently, stepping back from his father’s quick embrace. "They haven’t promised anything. It’s just a test camp."

Sofia immediately pulled out her notepad, setting down her teacup. "What is the reporting time? Is transport provided from Alcochete or do we drop you off? What are the meal arrangements? Do you need emergency medical forms signed, and when exactly do you return?"

"Seven in the morning at the academy," Rayan answered, looking over the logistics email on his phone. "Club bus is going to transport us. Return is next week."

Leonor looked up from her sketchbook, smirking as she tapped her pencil against the table. "Try not to refresh your phone every five seconds while you’re packing. We could hear it vibrating from upstairs."

"I was checking the time," Rayan said, though a brief smile broke through.

After finishing his packing, Rayan sent a short text to Bia.

Made the Algarve squad. Leaving tomorrow morning.

Her reply arrived a minute later.

Made it, then. Nice. My teacher liked the natural-light plan, so I’m fixing the section drawings tonight.

Rayan typed back cleanly.

That’s great, Bia. Save the drawings, I want to see the full portfolio when I get back.

Later that night, sitting in the quiet room with his kit bag fully packed by the door, the translucent smoked-black System interface materialised before his eyes.

[MISSION CHAIN: FORCE THE DOOR OPEN.]

[Record five senior-friendly goal contributions.]

[Reach Explosive Exit: Basic.]

[Complete ten high-tempo attacking actions.]

[Complete four correct senior pressing sequences.]

[Produce one multi-goal performance.]

[Reward: +8 Attribute Points.]

[Reward: +1 Advanced Skill Token.]

[Reward: Full Skill Fusion access.]

[Reward: Professional Pathway Interface.]

Rayan studied the requirements carefully. The objectives were steep, demanding sustained execution across multiple matches against experienced opponents.

On Friday, 21 July 2023, at seven in the morning, the morning mist hung low over the Alcochete training pitches as the team bus waited outside the main doors.

Rayan walked up the steps with his duffel bag slung over his shoulder. Salvador was already seated near the middle, untangling his headphones.

Towards the back row, Duarte sat by the window. He looked up as Rayan stepped into the aisle. There was no warm welcome or smiling nod, but Duarte’s gaze lingered on Rayan with a quiet, sharp awareness. He no longer looked past him as an extra academy body filler.

Rayan stowed his bag in the overhead rack and took his seat across from Salvador. Duarte was still the standard for completeness in the youth ranks, but the distance between them was no longer static.

The engine turned over, and the bus pulled out of the complex, turning south towards the Algarve highway. Rayan leaned his head against the glass, watching the training pitches fade into the morning light.

The door was unlocked. Now he had to push it open.