The cameras had stopped flashing, the reporters had packed up, and the initial whirlwind of the press conference had settled.
Leon walked through the bustling Inter Milan training center, his new No. 10 jersey feeling light and powerful on his shoulders. He exchanged smiles with Cole Palmer (Current: 85) and Julián Álvarez (Current: 87), feeling the immediate camaraderie of their shared ambition.
As they walked past Coach Cristian Chivu's (Current: 90) office, the manager stepped out, a warm smile on his face. He exchanged a few words with Palmer and Álvarez, then his gaze settled on Leon.
"Leon," Chivu said, his voice calm, "can you spare a moment? After everyone else has left, perhaps we could talk in my office?"
Leon nodded, a flicker of curiosity in his mind. "Of course, Mr. Chivu."
He spent the next hour exploring the training facilities, meeting some of the other players and staff. He felt a sense of belonging already, the vibrant energy of the club infectious.
Finally, the training center began to empty. Leon made his way to Chivu's office. He knocked gently, and Chivu's voice invited him in.
The office was spacious and modern, with a large tactical board dominating one wall. Chivu sat behind a sleek desk, a few notebooks open before him. He gestured for Leon to sit in a comfortable chair opposite him.
"Thank you for coming, Leon," Chivu began, his gaze intense, yet friendly. "I wanted to speak with you privately. About your role. About our team. And about your... unique abilities."
Leon's heart gave a little thump. His 'sight'. Did Chivu know?
"Your vision, Leon," Chivu continued, his eyes gleaming. "It's extraordinary. I've watched your games at Aston Villa. The way you see passes that no one else does, the way you anticipate plays, the way you seem to know what will happen before it happens... it's truly remarkable. It's why I wanted you here. You are the brain of this team. You are the one who can unlock defenses, who can create something from nothing."
Leon felt a blush creep up his neck, but also a surge of pride. Chivu saw it. He truly understood.
"Before you arrived, Leon," Chivu explained, gesturing to the tactical board, "Inter was primarily playing a 5-3-2 formation. It was a solid, defensive setup, but sometimes, it lacked creativity, that cutting edge in attack." He picked up a marker and drew on the board.
"It was effective, but with the players we have now... with you, with Cole Palmer (Current: 85), with Julián Álvarez (Current: 87)... I think we should play differently."
Leon leaned forward. This was exciting. This was what he wanted.
Chivu drew a new formation on the board. "I'm thinking a 4-4-2. A more attacking, more fluid system. And this is where you come in, Leon." He pointed to the left wing position. "I will make you the left winger."
Leon blinked. Left wing? He was a central midfielder, a playmaker. His 'Vision' and 'Passing' were his highest stats. His 'Dribbling' was excellent, but his 'Pace' was 85, not 90 like Byon's.
Chivu continued, pointing to the right wing. "Cole Palmer will be the right winger. He has the creativity, the dribbling, the ability to cut inside and shoot. And up front, as our two strikers, Lautaro Martínez (Current: 88) and Julián Álvarez. Lautaro's finishing, Álvarez's movement and clinical touch... it will be a devastating partnership."
Leon's mind immediately went to his 'Analyze Player Stats' feature. He quickly pulled up his own stats in his mind:
Shooting 81, Passing 89, Vision 95, Dribbling 87, Pace 85, Physicality 66, Defending 60, Composure 93.
Left wing? he thought. His 'Pace' was 85, good, but not elite for a winger.
His 'Defending' at 80 was decent, but wingers needed to track back. His 'Physicality' at 66 was a concern for the wide areas. His 'Vision' at 95, his highest stat, felt almost wasted out on the wing, where he'd have less central influence.
He also thought about Chivu's 'Current: 90' rating. He knew Chivu was a great manager, but Leon's 'sight' was constantly analyzing, constantly looking for optimal solutions.
He had no "coaching stats" at all, of course, but his unique 'sight' gave him a different kind of tactical understanding.
Why is he thinking of this? Leon mused internally.
A 4-4-2 is good, but putting me on the wing... is it to utilize my dribbling? Or to stretch the play?
He considered it from Chivu's perspective. Perhaps Chivu saw his 'Dribbling' at 87 and thought he could be a more direct threat from the wing, cutting inside, or providing crosses.
Maybe he wanted his 'Vision' to come from wide areas, hitting diagonal passes.
Leon quickly ran a mental simulation, using his 'sight' to project how a 4-4-2 with him on the left wing would work. He saw the 'ghosted runs' of Lautaro and Álvarez, the 'overlapping runs' of the left-back, the 'spaces' created by Palmer on the other wing.
He saw how his 'Vision' could still be used effectively, hitting pinpoint crosses, or cutting inside to play through balls. He also saw how his 'Defending' could be useful in tracking back.
It wasn't his natural position, but with his 'Vision' and 'Dribbling', he could adapt. And with Palmer and Álvarez, they would have an incredibly dynamic attack. It was a bold move, an unconventional one for him, but it had potential. It was a challenge.
"Mr. Chivu," Leon said, a confident smile on his face. "I think that's a very good tactic."
Chivu's eyes lit up. "You do? Even with you on the wing?"
"Yes," Leon confirmed. "It's bold. It's different. But with Cole's creativity on the right, and Julián and Lautaro up front... and my ability to cut inside, to find passes from wide areas... I think it could be devastating. It will give us a lot of attacking options. I'm excited to try it."
Chivu leaned back, a wide, satisfied grin on his face. "Excellent, Leon! I knew you would see it! Your tactical understanding is truly beyond your years.
This is why I wanted you here. We will work on this in pre-season. It will take time, but I believe this formation, with you in that role, can take us to the very top."
Inter Milan. The No. 10. The left wing.