February 3, 2015 – Enfield Training Centre, London
The ball rolled across the pitch as I jogged into position, trying to ignore the electric tingle in my calves.
"Team C, yellow bibs!" the coach shouted.
I caught the vest mid-air and slipped it on. The material felt rough—cheaper than I remembered. Then again, I'd worn too many designer kits since.
Across from me, Harry Kane cracked a joke with Ryan Mason. Christian Eriksen adjusted his socks, laser-focused. No tattoos, no rumors—just pure talent and belief. The squad was raw, young… hungry.
Just like me.
But I wasn't the same.
Coach blew the whistle. Five-a-side. No keepers. One-touch max in the final third.
I scanned the pitch in seconds. Kane drifted left. Walker overlapped on the right. Eriksen moved into the half-space—
Wait. Why am I seeing all this so clearly?
🧠 [Passive Skill: Retain Past Life Memory – Active]⚡ [Sync Bonus: Son Heung-Min – Acceleration & Positioning]
The ball was passed to me. Instinct took over.
I let it roll across my body, then darted forward—three quick steps and I was past Mason before he could blink. I didn't even think. My feet moved on their own.
"Oi, where'd that come from?" Kyle Walker shouted, chasing me down.
I cut inside, saw Kane peeling off to the left, but I faked the pass. Defender shifted. I shifted again. Right foot, toe poke—
Post.
"Unlucky, Dele!" someone called out.
But they noticed.
Eyes turned toward me. Not in judgment. In surprise.
That wasn't the same kid from last week. Or the week before. That was... something else.
We rotated. Short rest. I sipped water, heart pounding—not from effort, but adrenaline. I wasn't just playing better. I was calculating. Reading. Controlling space like I'd watched hundreds of times on Sky Sports after my fall.
"Where the hell'd you learn to turn like that?" Mason asked, plopping down beside me.
I forced a grin. "Been... watching a lot of Son Heung-Min videos."
He laughed. "Who?"
Right. Son wouldn't join until August.
"Never mind," I muttered.
The session ended. I was the last to leave the pitch, my mind already buzzing.
This team had potential. Real potential.
In two months, Kane would explode. Eriksen would start pulling strings. Walker would become a beast. And I… I'd fall in love with the fame more than the football.
But not this time.
[SYSTEM PROMPT – Weekly Sync Available in: 6 Days, 21 Hours]
I had time. But I needed a plan.
I had the memories, the hindsight, and a second chance.
Next match: U21 fixture vs Fulham – February 9.
That's where I'd make my first statement.
No more hype. No more talk.
Just results.