Chapter 2

Leo was discharged from the hospital after a few days of recovery. He was told that he had been adopted by a wealthy and kind couple, who had found him unconscious on the street and brought him to the hospital. They had no children of their own and wanted to give Leo a new home and a new life.

Leo was grateful and happy for their generosity and kindness. He felt like he had been given a second chance at life. He moved in with them and settled in their luxurious mansion. He was given his own room, his own clothes, his own gadgets, and his own money. He was treated like a son and a prince.

He enrolled in a prestigious school, where he met new friends and teachers. He was popular and well-liked by everyone. He was smart and talented in many subjects, especially languages and mathematics. He learned English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Chinese with ease. He solved complex equations and problems with speed and accuracy.

He enjoyed his new life, but he never forgot his old passion: football. He wanted to pursue his dream of becoming a football star. He wanted to use the system's gifts and guidance to improve his skills and abilities. He wanted to play in the big leagues and compete with the best players in the world.

He asked the system for advice on how to start his football career.

The system replied.

"Leo, there are many ways to start your football career, but the most common and effective one is to join a football club or academy. There, you will receive professional training and coaching, as well as opportunities to play in matches and tournaments. You will also be scouted by scouts and agents, who will help you find better clubs or teams to join. You will also be exposed to the media and the public, who will follow your progress and achievements."

Leo asked the system.

"Where can I find a football club or academy to join?"

The system replied.

"There are many football clubs and academies in your city, but not all of them are suitable for you. You should look for one that matches your level, your style, your goals, and your personality. You should also consider the reputation, the facilities, the staff, the players, and the fees of each club or academy. The system can help you find some suitable options for you."

The system searched the web for some football clubs and academies in Leo's city. It displayed a list of results on Leo's smartphone screen.

Leo looked at the list and saw that there were many options to choose from. Some were famous and prestigious, some were unknown and obscure. Some were expensive and exclusive, some were cheap and accessible. Some were specialized and focused, some were general and diverse.

He asked the system.

"Which one do you recommend?"

The system replied.

"Leo, the system cannot make this decision for you. You have to choose for yourself based on your own preferences and criteria. However, the system can give you some suggestions based on its analysis of each option."

The system highlighted some options on the list that it thought were suitable for Leo.

Leo looked at the highlighted options and saw that they were:

FC Barcelona Academy: The official academy of FC Barcelona, one of the best clubs in the world. It offers high-quality training and coaching based on the club's philosophy of "tiki-taka", which emphasizes possession, passing, movement, creativity, and teamwork. It also provides excellent facilities, equipment, education, health care, accommodation, and transportation for its students. It has produced many famous players such as Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, etc.

Real Madrid Academy: The official academy of Real Madrid, another one of the best clubs in the world. It offers high-quality training and coaching based on the club's philosophy of "galacticos", which emphasizes speed, power, skill, flair, and individuality. It also provides excellent facilities, equipment, education, health care, accommodation, and transportation for its students. It has produced many famous players such as Cristiano Ronaldo (Leo's idol), Zinedine Zidane (Leo's coach), Sergio Ramos (Leo's captain), Karim Benzema (Leo's striker), etc.

Manchester United Academy: The official academy of Manchester United (MU), one of the best clubs in England (and Europe). It offers high-quality training and coaching based on the club's philosophy of "the United way", which emphasizes attack ing football with pace, passion, and courage. It also provides excellent facilities, equipment, education, health care, accommodation, and transportation for its students. It has produced many famous players such as David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney, Marcus Rashford, etc.

Ajax Amsterdam Academy: The official academy of Ajax Amsterdam, one of the best clubs in Netherlands (and Europe). It offers high-quality training and coaching based on the club's philosophy of "total football", which emphasizes versatility, adaptability, intelligence, and teamwork. It also provides excellent facilities, equipment, education, health care, accommodation, and transportation for its students. It has produced many famous players such as Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Dennis Bergkamp, Frank Rijkaard, Edwin van der Sar, etc.

Santos FC Academy: The official academy of Santos FC, one of the best clubs in Brazil (and South America). It offers high-quality training and coaching based on the club's philosophy of "joga bonito", which emphasizes beauty, joy, and creativity. It also provides excellent facilities, equipment, education, health care, accommodation, and transportation for its students. It has produced many famous players such as Pele (Leo's idol), Neymar Jr. (Leo's friend), Robinho (Leo's mentor), Diego (Leo's partner), etc.

Leo was impressed by the options that the system had suggested. He felt that any of them would be a great choice for him. He wondered which one he should pick.

He asked the system.

"System, can you tell me the pros and cons of each option?"

The system replied.

"Sure, Leo. Here are some pros and cons of each option:

FC Barcelona Academy:

Pros: You will learn from one of the best clubs in the world, with a proven philosophy and a rich history. You will have access to world-class facilities and coaches, as well as a supportive and friendly environment. You will have a chance to play with and against some of the best young talents in the world, as well as some of the senior players of FC Barcelona. You will also have a chance to visit and play in Spain, one of the most beautiful and culturally diverse countries in Europe.

Cons: You will face a lot of competition and pressure, as there are many students who want to join and succeed in the academy. You will also have to adapt to a different culture and language, which may be challenging and stressful. You will also have to deal with the rivalry and hostility from other clubs and fans, especially from Real Madrid, who are FC Barcelona's arch-enemies.

Real Madrid Academy:

Pros: You will learn from another one of the best clubs in the world, with a proven philosophy and a rich history. You will have access to world-class facilities and coaches, as well as a prestigious and glamorous environment. You will have a chance to play with and against some of the best young talents in the world, as well as some of the senior players of Real Madrid. You will also have a chance to visit and play in Spain, one of the most beautiful and culturally diverse countries in Europe.

Cons: You will face a lot of competition and pressure, as there are many students who want to join and succeed in the academy. You will also have to adapt to a different culture and language, which may be challenging and stressful. You will also have to deal with the rivalry and hostility from other clubs and fans, especially from FC Barcelona, who are Real Madrid's arch-enemies.

Manchester United Academy:

Pros: You will learn from one of the best clubs in England (and Europe), with a proven philosophy and a rich history. You will have access to world-class facilities and coaches, as well as a passionate and loyal environment. You will have a chance to play with and against some of the best young talents in England (and Europe), as well as some of the senior players of Manchester United. You will also have a chance to visit and play in England, one of the most influential and diverse countries in Europe.

Cons: You will face a lot of competition and pressure, as there are many students who want to join and succeed in the academy. You will also have to adapt to a different culture and language, which may be challenging and stressful. You will also have to deal with the weather and food, which may be cold and bland compared to your home country. You will also have to deal with the rivalry and hostility from other clubs and fans, especially from Liverpool, who are Manchester United's arch-enemies.

Ajax Amsterdam Academy:

Pros: You will learn from one of the best clubs in Netherlands (and Europe), with a proven philosophy and a rich history. You will have access to world-class facilities and coaches, as well as an innovative and progressive environment. You will have a chance to play with and against some of the best young talents in Netherlands (and Europe), as well as some of the senior players of Ajax Amsterdam. You will also have a chance to visit and play in Netherlands, one of the most tolerant and liberal countries in Europe.

Cons: You will face a lot of competition and pressure as there are many students who want to join and succeed in the in the world of football