The first week of pre-season had flown by. Leon felt completely at home at Inter Milan.
He'd bonded with Cole Palmer and Julián Álvarez, found a rhythm with his new midfield partners Nicolò Barella and Hakan Çalhanoğlu, and adapted well to Coach Chivu's new 4-4-2 formation, even on the left wing.
Today was the first real test: an intra-squad friendly match. The first team, with Leon, Palmer, and Álvarez, would play against Inter's U18 team.
it was a chance for Chivu to see his new tactics in action, and for Leon to start earning those elusive Skill Points.
The U18 team, eager to prove themselves, lined up with fierce determination. Leon recognized a few faces from his initial tour of the academy, their 'Potential' ratings glowing brightly, even if their 'Current' ratings were lower.
Coach Chivu stood on the sidelines, observing keenly. He had implemented his 4-4-2, with Leon on the left wing, Palmer on the right, and Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez up front.
The referee blew his whistle.
The match began with a Slow, Cautious Start. Both sides were feeling each other out, passing the ball around, trying to establish rhythm.
The U18s, perhaps intimidated by the first-team stars, sat deep, forming a compact defensive shape. Leon, on the left wing, found space, but the passes were conservative, probing.
"The U18s are disciplined. Their 'Defending' attributes are surprisingly high for their age. They're trying to deny us central space. I need to find a way to break their lines."
Leon received the ball from Federico Dimarco on the left flank.
He saw the 'ghosted outstretched leg' of the U18 right-back, anticipating his move. Leon pulled off a quick 'body feint' and then a sharp 'cut inside', leaving the young defender scrambling.
SWISH! He drove towards the box, but the U18 center-back quickly closed him down. Leon laid it off to Lautaro.
Around the 10th minute, the U18s almost shocked the first team. They launched a Rapid Counter-Attack, catching the defense off guard. A quick pass from their central midfielder found their striker, a speedy young forward with a 'Pace' rating of 80. He burst through, clean on goal!
"Their striker's 'Pace' is good! Pavard is tracking back, but he's got a step on him!"
The U18 striker unleashed a powerful shot! Leon watched, his 'sight' showing the 'leg-and-ball' projection, the ball heading towards the top corner.
The shot flew inches wide! A collective sigh of relief from the first team.
"Phew! Close one!" Denzel Dumfries (Current: 84) yelled from the right-back position.
Leon felt a flicker of admiration for the U18s. They were hungry.
The first team slowly started to assert their dominance. Leon, operating on the left wing, began to find his rhythm. He combined well with Dimarco, making overlapping runs, and cutting inside to link up with Barella (Current: 88) and Çalhanoğlu (Current: 86).
Around the 20th minute, Inter opened the scoring with a moment of pure brilliance. The ball was cleared from the U18 box, falling to Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Current: 86) about 25 yards out.
Çalhanoğlu took one touch, then unleashed a STUNNING VOLLEY FROM OUTSIDE THE BOX!
"Çalhanoğlu's 'Long Shots' are excellent! This is going to be a rocket!"
BOOOOM! The ball rocketed into the top corner, leaving the U18 goalkeeper rooted to the spot!
GOOOAL! Inter Milan 1 - Inter Milan U18 0!
The first team players cheered, high-fiving Çalhanoğlu. Leon clapped, impressed. That was a beauty.
A few minutes later, Inter extended their lead with a classic counter-attack.
The U18s pushed too high, and Nicolò Barella (Current: 88) won the ball in midfield with a fierce tackle. He immediately launched a long pass forward, finding Julián Álvarez (Current: 87).
Álvarez, with his incredible 'Movement' and 'Finishing', surged towards goal, one-on-one with the advancing U18 keeper. He showed incredible composure, calmly slotting the ball past the keeper with a CALM FINISH PAST THE ADVANCING KEEPER.
GOOOAL! Inter Milan 2 - Inter Milan U18 0!
"YES, JULIÁN!" Leon yelled, pumping his fist. That was clinical.
The game continued with the first team dominating possession. Leon, from his left wing position, was constantly looking for opportunities to create. He hit a curling cross that Lautaro Martínez (Current: 88) headed just wide. He tried a daring through ball to Barella, but it was intercepted.
Around the 35th minute, the U18s were awarded a penalty! A clumsy challenge from Benjamin Pavard in the box. The U18s had a chance to get back into the game.
Their young striker stepped up, his face a mixture of nerves and determination. He struck the ball powerfully!
But Josep Martínez, Inter's goalkeeper, made a brilliant LAST-MINUTE PENALTY SAVE! He dived to his left, pushing the ball wide!
"Martínez's 'Reflexes' are 84! What a save! He's denied them!"
The first team players rushed to congratulate Martínez, a surge of relief washing over them. It was a crucial save, maintaining their two-goal lead.
The half-time whistle blew, and the score was 2-0 to the first team. Leon walked off the pitch, feeling good. He hadn't scored or assisted yet, but he felt he was impacting the game. He was adapting to the left wing, finding spaces, linking up with his new teammates. He was still waiting for that "unique action" to earn a Skill Point, but he knew it would come.