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

Chapter 92: Volume 1, Chapter 92: The Extra Winger

On Sunday morning, light streamed through the high windows of the academy administrative offices, illuminating a whiteboard covered in preseason squad rotations. Nuno Marques sat across from academy director Marta Nunes, with performance analyst André Falcão leaning against the adjacent filing cabinet.

Marta set down her coffee cup and tapped a printed memorandum from the first-team coaching staff.

"Rui needs three academy players for the next preseason block starting Monday," Marta said. "It is not a talent showcase or a trial for first-team squad places. They are managing senior workloads during double sessions and need tactical numbers for positional drills. They want players who can keep professional exercises functioning without disrupting the rhythm."

"Position profiles?" Marques asked.

"One holding midfielder and two wingers," Marta replied. "Salvador Almeida is the obvious choice for the midfield slot."

"Agreed," Marques said instantly. "He has the physical maturity to handle senior contact and won’t complicate simple patterns."

"The first wide position goes to Duarte Faria," Marta continued, looking at Falcão.

"Cleanest touch in the U17s," Falcão added, referencing his tablet. "He handles contact on both sides, delivers a consistent final ball, and showed against Académica that he is presently our most complete wide player. He can step into a senior rondo or tactical pattern tomorrow without slowing the execution."

"That leaves the second wide slot," Marta said. "Who takes it?"

The room grew quiet.

"Leandro Viana is the current U17 starter on the left," Marques noted neutrally. "He is reliable, understands our defensive press, and gives consistent output."

"Bernardo Rocha is also available," Falcão pointed out. "Bernardo is physical, tracks back properly and gives us a dependable option on either wing."

"And Rayan El Mansouri?" Marta asked, turning to Marques.

A genuine debate emerged.

"Rayan gives us a specific profile," Marques said. "He is right-footed on the left, attacks central depth and can provide limited cover inside. He corrects mistakes quickly, recycles when the route closes and assisted the winner against Académica. Leandro remains our more reliable U17 starter, but Rayan gives the first team a different option."

"He was retained only two days ago," Falcão replied. "He is physically immature, has no official U17 minutes, prepares inconsistently for contact and scans too slowly inside. At senior speed, one extra touch can kill the drill."

"He also has no professional contract and no senior exposure," Marta added. "If we send him up and he struggles with the tempo, it could dent his progression."

"The first team specifically requested an inverted wide profile for their tactical shape this week," Marques said. "Leandro remains our primary U17 left-winger for matches, but Rayan’s specific body orientation and learning curve fit what the senior staff need for these specific drills. If he slows down an exercise, Rui will send him back down in twenty minutes. That exposure itself will test his adaptability faster than three weeks of U17 training."

Marta looked at the three names on her notepad, weighing the technical necessity against squad management. She picked up her pen and checked the final box.

"Send Rayan with Duarte and Salvador," Marta decided. "Make sure all three understand why they are going."

An hour later, Marques called Salvador, Duarte, and Rayan into the U17 office. The three players stood in a line before the coach’s desk.

"You three are reporting to the first-team facility tomorrow morning, Monday, 17 July," Marques began, his voice flat and authoritative. "Listen carefully to what this means. This is not a promotion or a professional contract. It is not senior registration. You are not receiving first-team squad numbers, and you are not promised a single minute in any upcoming friendly. You are going up because the senior staff require extra bodies to run specific positional drills and manage rotation."

Marques leaned forward, looking each of them in the eye.

"It may last one session. It may last three days. As soon as the first-team work block ends, you return to the U17s. You remain academy players."

Duarte absorbed the news with a cool, expectant nod. He adjusted his jacket, clearly viewing the call-up as a natural confirmation of his status. As Marques turned to write down reporting times, Duarte cast a brief, sharp glance sideways at Rayan.

"Try not to need five attempts before you understand the drill," Duarte murmured under his breath, quiet enough that Marques didn’t hear.

Rayan felt a pulse of irritation flare in his chest, but he kept his jaw set and refused to bite back. A verbal argument inside the head coach’s office would only prove Falcão’s doubts right. Instead, Rayan turned directly to Marques.

"Coach, what time do we report?" Rayan asked.

"Seven-thirty at Building A," Marques answered.

"Do we bring our standard U17 training gear or draw first-team kit?"

"Standard academy gear," Marques said. "Bring both indoor and moulded boots."

"Do we return to the U17 facility for afternoon recovery if we’re dismissed early?" Rayan followed up. "And are meals provided at the senior canteen?"

Marques gave a short nod before replying. "If you’re dismissed before lunch, report back to the U17 desk. Breakfast and recovery lunch are provided while you’re attached to their block."

Rayan made his way home to Olivais. The System remained silent.

In the family apartment, Sofia sat at the kitchen table, meticulously reading the printed notification slip Rayan had brought home.

"Monday, 17 July," Sofia read aloud, scanning the sheet line by line. "Report time 7.30 a.m. Building A, Main Academy Complex. Shuttle pickup at six-fifteen from Alameda." She looked up at Rayan. "It specifies here that you must bring your full academy training kit, shin pads, and signed medical clearance slip."

"I have everything packed in my bag already," Rayan said.

Karim, who had come by after Sofia forwarded him the club message, stepped into the kitchen with a broad smile.

"First-team training!" Karim exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "This is it, Rayan! Next step is the bench for the friendly matches, then the main stadium!"

"It’s not a debut, Dad," Rayan corrected softly, appreciating his father’s warmth but keeping his expectations grounded. "They just need extra players for tactical drills because senior workloads are high. It could be over after one session."

"A foot in the door is a foot in the door," Karim insisted, patting Rayan’s back proudly.

Leonor poked her head out from her bedroom, looking at the two bulging sports bags resting near the front door.

"Are you training with the first team or moving into their locker room permanently?" she teased, pointing at the extra footwear bag. "You packed four pairs of shoes for one morning."

"Moulded boots, studs, turf shoes and gym trainers," Rayan replied evenly. "You don’t want to be the guy who slips because you brought the wrong soles."

Rayan sent Bia a short message explaining that he had temporary first-team training the next morning and that it might last only one session. Her reply arrived later while she was still working on her portfolio.

That’s still a big morning. I’m finishing the shade plan for the square, so I’ll celebrate after tracing paper stops fighting me. Don’t let your dad announce your debut yet.

Rayan smiled at the final sentence. Karim had already come close.

Later that evening, before turning off his bedroom light, Rayan picked up his phone to check the official group dispatch sent by the academy administration. Attached was an official printed sheet detailing the temporary roster adjustments for Monday’s sessions.

Under the section marked Temporary Senior Positional Support, three names were printed in clear black lettering:

Salvador Almeida

Duarte Faria

Rayan El Mansouri

Rayan stared at the screen. Excitement he had hidden all day flairing up all at once.