Chapter 6 – Breaking Point
Thiago knew something was different the moment he walked onto the pitch.
The grass underfoot felt familiar now, almost comfortable. The drills no longer twisted his mind into knots. His body reacted before commands came. His anticipation had sharpened.
But it wasn’t just the pitch that had changed.
It was how people looked at him.
Not with awe. Not yet.
But with recognition.
His teammates started passing to him more. Not just out of obligation, but out of trust. They called for overlaps, asked for switches, even looked to him during set-piece drills like he might know the right decision.
He was no longer the street kid from Rocinha.
He was one of them.
Almost.
In the cafeteria, the noise always echoed too loud off the walls.