Chapter 1 – Last Breaths and Rebirth
The room was silent, except for the faint beeping of the monitors. He lay there, feeling every beat of his heart falter. At 30 years old, after years trying to become a coach, traveling, analyzing games, and sleepless nights, he had failed. As he stared at the ceiling, he remembered the idols who had marked his era: José Mourinho commanding Chelsea, Pep Guardiola transforming City, Klopp igniting Liverpool. He wanted to be great like them, but fate had other plans.
As his body weakened, his mind remained awake, reflecting on life and his choices. He thought of every decision, every mistake, every missed opportunity. The ambition driving him was undeniable, but time had shown him that knowledge without action was empty. He finally understood that football wasn't just about results, but about passion, study, and the ability to change lives through every training session, every play, and every word spoken to a young athlete. The awareness of life's fleeting nature struck him painfully, and an absolute silence filled the room, broken only by the irregular beating of his heart.
Then darkness came — along with it, the sensation of floating, of leaving behind everything he had known.
When he opened his eyes again, there was no daylight, only the dimness of a locked room. An intense headache pierced his skull as memories of his past life flooded in, overwhelming him with recollections from 2030: analyzed matches, mistakes made, the faces of the coaches he admired, every failure, and every dream that had never been realized. He held himself steady, taking a deep breath, trying to understand what had happened.
The mirror reflected a new body: light brown hair shining, deep green eyes, features blending Italian, Spanish, and Brazilian heritage, and the vibrant energy of a 15-year-old teenager. Confusion was total, but inside, his mind remained intact — aware that somehow, a new chance had begun.
Suddenly, the pain intensified as if his brain were being crushed by all the memories of the future at once. He gasped, clutched his head, and let out a scream that echoed through the room. Everything spun around him, lights and shadows blending, until consciousness abandoned him.
Silence returned, heavy and absolute, leaving only the promise of a new beginning yet to come.
His grandmother, Alessandra, 69 years old, woke startled by the scream. Her eyes widened, and she rose immediately, walking quickly down the hallway toward her grandson's room. Her racing heart and trembling hands did not lessen her determination to see what had happened.
Alessandra opened the door slowly, her heart pounding. The dim light barely revealed anything, but when her eyes reached the floor, the body of her grandson, lying motionless, made fear rise in her throat.
— "Diego! Diego!" — she shouted, her voice a mix of panic and urgency.
Without wasting a moment, she ran to the corridor and called out loudly:
— "Maria! Come quickly, something happened to Diego!"
The maid appeared within seconds, startled, and Alessandra quickly guided her steps to the room. Together, they approached the boy. Diego, still unconscious, was pale, hands over his head as if trying to shield himself from the intense pain he had just felt.
Alessandra held her grandson's hands, feeling his small body tremble beneath her fingers. Her voice was steady, trying to calm not only herself but also the boy who somehow seemed different from anyone she had ever known.
— "Stay with me, Diego… stay with me!" — she repeated, while Maria helped lift the boy and place him safely on the bed.
The night remained silent, except for Diego's sighs and groans. Alessandra watched closely, unaware that this awakening was only the beginning of something extraordinary — the start of a new life for a young boy carrying the knowledge of the future and the ambition to become a football legend.