Chapter 20 – Five Minutes
Thiago’s alarm buzzed at 05:58.
He was already awake.
Two weeks into first-team training, and his body now ran on instinct: wake before sunrise, hydrate, stretch, arrive early, speak little.
He didn’t want to be noticed.
He wanted to be trusted.
The difference was subtle—but critical.
He stepped into the locker room while most of the squad was still trickling in. Laced up in silence. Bib on. Shin guards tight. He taped his fingers out of habit now, even if he wasn’t sure why.
Maybe it just made him feel like a player who belonged.
Training was intense that morning.
Possession drills. One-touch rondos. Half-pitch transitions.
Thiago wasn’t the sharpest yet. He still turned too fast when pressured and hesitated in tight triangles. But his energy was consistent, and his movements crisp.