Barcelona's morning was humid and sharp with tension. At breakfast, Ajax U-23 sat in uneasy silence. Every breath felt heavier. Josip Van der Berg glared at nothing, Souleymane Traoré picked at his food, and Liam Janssen winced as he shifted, bruises darkening beneath his shirt.
Femi Adeleye sat apart, listening to a pre-recorded message from Lars de Groot. "Storm moments make captains. Lead them through it."
Femi ran a thumb over the green-and-white wristband on his arm — a Lagos street gift from his grandmother. A reminder.
Team Lineups
Ajax U-23:
1. Daan Visser (GK)
2. Kenji Okoro (RCB)
3. Ramon Dekker (CB)
4. Femi Adeleye (LCB)
5. Noah Willems (RWB)
6. Josip Van der Berg (LWB)
7. Yassine Bouali (CM)
8. Timo van Loon (CM)
9. Liam Janssen (RW)
10. Souleymane Traoré (ST)
11. Jacek Kowalski (LW)
Arsenal U-23:
1. Callum Price (GK)
2. Oliver Grant (RB)
3. Malik Boakye (CB)
4. Theo Watkins (CB)
5. Mason Rowe (LB)
6. Declan Burns (Midfield)
7. Noah Farley (Midfield)
8. Miles Carter (Midfield)
9. Ryan Barnes (LW)
10. Kai Sterling (ST)
11. Emil Kavanagh (RW)
Tunnel tension crackled. Kai Sterling's grin cut through the hush. "Hope Lagos is watching, Adeleye. You won't luck out this time."
Femi stared ahead. Josip bumped Kai hard.
First Half
Arsenal flew at them. The ball zipped between Carter and Burns. Kai burned past Dekker early, cutting in, his shot whistling inches wide.
Another surge in the 10th minute. A sharp one-two with Barnes. Femi lunged, Visser's fingertips keeping it out.
Josip snarled, "WAKE UP!"
18'. Mason Rowe clattered Liam, sending him reeling. Liam hauled himself up, pale, silent.
25'. Kai's stepover and feint caught Femi, but he recovered, shoving Kai wide. A cross floated harmlessly.
"You're slipping," Kai hissed.
34'. Josip burst down the left, fed Jacek, overlapping. The return pass was perfect. Josip cut back. Souleymane darted between Watkins and Boakye.
One touch, then another. A deft flick beneath the keeper.
Net rippled. The stadium roared. Souleymane ran to the corner, kissed his wrist — his brother's name inked there.
Liam's fist clenched on the bench as he watched. That should've been him.
Goal Ajax 1-0.
44'. Long ball. Kai controlled it on his chest. Femi recovered, blocked the shot. Kai tugged at his crown pendant, fingers trembling.
Halftime
Ajax led. Bakker's voice cracked. "They'll double it now. Lock it down."
He eyed Femi. "Kai's coming through you. Don't give him daylight."
Femi's smirk was sharp. "Yes, boss."
Liam slumped, breathing ragged. Bakker made the call.
"Off, Liam. We'll need you fit."
Liam gripped Femi's arm. "Finish this."
Second Half
48'. Arsenal blitzed them right off the bat. Kai dropped deep, threaded Barnes through. Barnes struck past Visser.
1-1.
53'. Kai controlled a diagonal ball. Femi met him shoulder-to-shoulder, forcing a turnover.
"Not scared of you."
Kai's eyes flickered.
68'. A flash of brilliance — Kai's stepover, nutmeg on Femi. The cross found Kavanagh. His shot cannoned off the post.
Kai muttered, "How're we meant to win if no one finishes?"
Femi clenched his fists. Arsenal cracked but didn't break.
74'. Kai cut inside again. Femi anticipated, a perfect sliding tackle, ball spilling wide. He was learning.
Femi sprang up, lofted a long diagonal ball.
85'. Souleymane met it. Twisting, skipping past Boakye. A soft touch around the keeper. Calm finish.
Goal Ajax 2-1.
Souleymane pointed skyward. Redemption written in every step.
90'–95'. Arsenal poured forward.
Dekker's confidence frayed. Legs trembling, he leaned on Femi after a clearance.
"Hold the line," Femi barked.
Kai's last chance. A bouncing ball, 93rd minute. Brilliant control, a swivel, past Willems and Dekker. His curling shot bent toward the corner.
Femi slid, deflecting it off the line. Booted clear.
Whistle. Full Time
The stadium erupted.
Femi collapsed, fist raised. "Done it."
Kai stormed past, refusing handshakes.
Josip roared. "Stay humble, prince!"
Bakker lifted Femi's hand. "Captain's work."
Souleymane grabbed him. "We're not done yet."
In the stands, Elias Rikken stood silent, murmuring, "They're coming."
A flash of memory hit Femi — Elias outclassing him in last year's final. Although they won that final, Rikken is only remembered by Femi as,
"A ghost in white."
Femi's gaze found him now. No words. Just history.
Later, Femi texted Lars. We're through.