Chapter 8: Future Knowledge
The glow of Amani’s laptop screen illuminated his cramped bedsit as the clock ticked past midnight.
He’d been at this for hours, methodically researching the football landscape of 2010, cross-referencing his memories with current reality, and building what would become the most valuable database in football if anyone knew it existed.
The system interface hovered in his peripheral vision, occasionally highlighting relevant information or providing additional context to his research. But this was work that required his human insight, his memories of how careers had unfolded, which players had succeeded and which had failed, which tactical innovations were coming and which would prove to be dead ends.
On his screen, he had multiple tabs open: transfermarkt.com showing current player values, various club websites, news articles about promising youngsters, and most importantly, a private document he was building titled "Future Stars - Current Status 2010."
The list was staggering in its potential value:
Mohamed Salah - Currently at El Mokawloon in Egypt, 18 years old, valued at virtually nothing. In Amani’s timeline, he would move to Basel in 2012, then Chelsea in 2014, before finding his true level at Liverpool. Current market value: €50,000. Future peak value: €150+ million.
Harry Kane - In Tottenham’s youth system, 17 years old, considered a decent prospect but nothing special. Multiple loan spells ahead before breaking through. Current value: Unrated. Future value: €100+ million.
N’Golo Kanté - Playing for Boulogne in the French third division, 19 years old, completely unknown outside France. The system highlighted him as particularly interesting:
Player Analysis: N’Golo Kanté
Current Level: French Third Division
Predicted Career Path: Caen → Leicester → Chelsea → Premier League Legend