Leon saw Jude Bellingham (Current: 89) and Kylian Mbappé (Current: 91) embracing, their faces etched with the pure ecstasy of victory.
And there, celebrating with them, was Emre Demir (Current: 86), the young wonderkid Leon had first noticed.
"That's it, Leo," Byon (Current: 85) whispered beside him, his voice hoarse from cheering. "That's the dream. That's what we're aiming for."
Leon nodded, his gaze fixed on the trophy. He imagined himself there, on that stage, lifting that very cup. He thought about Real Madrid's offer, the €50 million bid that had seemed surprisingly low. Was it a test? Did they expect him to chase them? Or were they just confident that their name alone was enough?
He closed his eyes for a moment, the image of the trophy burning in his mind. He was at their level, his 'Current: 84' was proof of that. But the path to that trophy, to being the best in the world, was still uncertain.
Later that night, back in his hotel room, the euphoria of the final slowly faded, replaced by the weight of his impending decision. The three transfer offers – Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, and AC Milan – loomed large in his mind.
He pulled out his phone, scrolling through the emails from Mr. Davies again. Real Madrid's €50 million offer still felt like a puzzle. Atlético's €80 million was a huge statement. AC Milan's €75 million was also very strong.
Real Madrid wants me, but just that price? he thought, a flicker of irritation mixed with confusion. It felt like they were testing his loyalty, or perhaps his desperation.
He wasn't desperate. He had just led Aston Villa to the Champions League. He was the Premier League's top assist provider. He was a 'Current: 84' player at sixteen. He deserved to be valued.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. This was harder than any tactical problem on the pitch.
Suddenly, a familiar shimmer appeared in his vision, a translucent overlay of the System.
[HELP SYSTEM - NEW QUEST!]
Quest: Ensure your next club is an Italian team.
Leon stared, dumbfounded. An Italian team? He blinked, re-reading the quest.
Ensure going to an Italian team. This was completely unexpected. He had been weighing Real Madrid, Atlético... and then there was AC Milan, with their €75 million offer.
But then, another thought sparked in his mind.
Inter Milan coach also said to him but didn't give him an actual offer.
Cristian Chivu. The legendary defender, now the new manager of Inter. He had approached Leon personally, in that cafe in Birmingham, talking about building a team around wonderkids, about Leon being the "cornerstone" of his project. He hadn't given an official offer, but his words had been incredibly compelling.
Italian? Milan gave him an offer, but Inter Milan coach also said to him...
Leon's mind raced. The System wanted him to go to an Italian team. AC Milan had made a concrete offer. But Inter... Inter had Chivu, a manager who had sought him out personally, who had spoken to him about a vision that truly resonated with Leon's own desire to lead, to build.
He thought about the Champions League final he had just witnessed. Inter Milan had been in the quarter-finals. They were a big club, a rival to AC Milan. If he went to Inter, he wouldn't just be joining a team; he'd be joining a project, a challenge to bring them back to the very top.
This is it, Leon thought, a new kind of excitement building within him. The System wasn't just giving him quests; it was guiding his career, pushing him towards specific paths. And this path, to Italy, to a new challenge, felt exhilarating.
He thought about AC Milan's offer. It was strong. But Chivu's words, his personal approach, felt more genuine, more aligned with his 'Help System' goals. He wanted to be the cornerstone, the leader.
Okay, Leon decided, a fierce resolve hardening his gaze. I will go like the System wants. I will go to an Italian team. And I will choose the one where I can make the biggest impact, where I can truly lead.
He picked up his phone, his fingers hovering over Mr. Davies's contact. No. He wouldn't go through his agent for this. Not yet. This was personal. This was about the vision.
He scrolled through his contacts, finding the number Cristian Chivu had given him in the cafe. He took a deep breath. It was late in Japan, but it would be late morning in Italy.
He dialed. The phone rang a couple of times, then a smooth, familiar voice answered.
"Mr. Chivu?" Leon asked, his voice clear and confident. "This is Leon Fischer."
There was a brief pause on the other end, then a surprised, delighted chuckle. "Leon! I wasn't expecting your call so soon! How was the final?"
"Incredible, Mr. Chivu," Leon replied. "Absolutely incredible. It solidified a lot of things for me." He took another breath, then plunged in. "I've been thinking about what you said. About building a team around wonderkids. About me being the cornerstone of your project at Inter Milan."
Chivu's voice immediately became more intense. "And?"
"And I'm interested, Mr. Chivu," Leon said. "Very interested. I want to be part of that project. I want to help you build Inter Milan back to the top of Europe. I want to lead from the front. But I need to know the details. The offer. The plan."
There was a moment of silence on Chivu's end, then a triumphant laugh. "Leon! This is fantastic news! I knew you had that fire! I knew you were the one! We will prepare a formal offer immediately. A strong one.. We will make sure Aston Villa understands how serious we are."
"I look forward to seeing it, Mr. Chivu," Leon said, a thrill running through him. This was it. The unexpected path. The System's guidance. The chance to build something truly special.
"You won't be disappointed, Leon," Chivu promised, his voice filled with excitement. "Welcome to the future of Inter Milan. Welcome to Italy. We will conquer Europe together."
Leon hung up, a wide grin on his face. Inter Milan. Italy. A new challenge.. The journey to become the best in the world was taking him in directions he never could have predicted.