He's Not That Long
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**Chapter 11: He's Not That Long...**
"Are you really going through with this retirement bet?" Several teammates clustered around Quaresma in the locker room of Porto's training ground, their expressions a mix of incredulity and concern.
Quaresma nodded nonchalantly as he continued to change into his training kit. Though a few of the guys seemed awkward while he undressed, he sat on a nearby bench without a care, challenging anyone to make an issue of his casual demeanor.
His teammates exchanged glances, taking in Quaresma's resolute expression and his unwavering commitment to the bet. They sighed deeply, as if trying to digest the bizarre notion that their talented teammate was wagering his career on a bet.
"You're really going all-in on this, Ricardo!"
"Yeah, you can't just joke about your future like that!"
"We shouldn't be indulging a journalist's nonsense!"
...
But seeing that Quaresma was unmoved by their concerns, they felt powerless once more.
"Now that the bet's been made, there's no turning back. I'm actually looking forward to seeing Geddes in full shock mode!" Quaresma remarked casually as he finished changing and stood up, exuding an air of confidence.
"Yeah, now that the wager's set, whatever they say doesn't matter. Let's focus on winning this bet," another teammate chimed in, trying to rally the group.
Fabiano, one of the team's most senior players, approached Quaresma hesitantly. His expression was conflicted, torn between admiration for Quaresma's boldness and concern for the consequences. After a long pause, he finally spoke up, "I'll take the penalties for you. Count on me to do my part."
Quaresma's eyes lit up with gratitude. Fabiano's offer meant more than just taking penalties; it was a gesture of solidarity and support from a respected teammate.
"Penalties, huh? That could work!" Quaresma replied with a hint of a smile, appreciating the significance of Fabiano's commitment.
"Then Ricardo, you better practice those penalties whenever you get the chance!" another teammate teased, trying to lighten the mood.
"As long as we can win a dozen penalties this season, and you maintain a good conversion rate, scoring ten goals should be a breeze!" another teammate chimed in, joining the banter.
"And when Geddes realizes what he's gotten himself into, he'll probably be crying in the bathroom, wondering how he ended up in this mess!" someone added, prompting laughter among the group.
...
Quaresma didn't particularly relish the idea of relying on penalties to reach his goal, but he couldn't deny that it gave him an advantage in the bet.
Of course, he didn't put too much stock in penalties; after all, scoring from the spot didn't truly reflect a player's overall skill.
As his teammates continued to discuss the potential outcomes of the bet, Quaresma listened quietly, occasionally joining in with a quip or a joke.
"The bet isn't fair, you know," one teammate remarked thoughtfully. "If Geddes loses and has to become a shemale, Ricardo should have to do something equally drastic!"
"Yeah, let him become a shemale and play women's football!" another teammate joked, eliciting laughter from the group.
"Ricardo might not be the best male player right now, but he could certainly be the top female star!" someone else added, joining in the teasing.
"I'm announcing it now: the Miss World Football title goes to him alone!" another teammate declared dramatically, earning more laughter.
"But I still want to see Ricardo's show..." another quipped mischievously, causing the group to erupt in laughter once more.
"I heard there's a type of ladyboy who can keep 'it' down. At night, they use 'it' like a drumstick. I think that role suits Ricardo!" someone teased, their words punctuated by more laughter.
"You're thinking too much. He's not that long..." Quaresma finally interjected, his face darkening slightly at the teasing from his teammates.
The group fell silent for a moment, sensing that they might have crossed a line. They exchanged sheepish glances, realizing that even among teammates, there were boundaries that shouldn't be crossed.
...
Finally, the new season was upon them.
Porto's first match wasn't just any Portuguese Super League fixture; it was the Portuguese Super Cup against their archrivals, Benfica.
As reigning Triple Crown winners, Porto faced Benfica, the runners-up of the Portuguese Cup, in a clash of titans. Porto, Benfica, and Atletico Lisbon—the three giants of Portuguese football—had a long-standing rivalry that added extra spice to every encounter.
Porto was under immense pressure to perform. Del Neri, still in the process of reshaping the team, had hastily assembled a squad for the occasion.
Quaresma had made the starting lineup, earning a coveted spot on the team sheet. Regardless of the Super Cup's significance in the grand scheme of things, it was a genuine title, and winning it would relieve some of the pressure on Del Neri.
Veteran goalkeeper Baia stood guard in Porto's goal, providing a stable presence in defense.
On the defensive flanks, Valent, a Portuguese international, occupied the left-back position, while the young and promising Bosingwa patrolled the right. In central defense, the experienced Ricardo Costa partnered with the newly acquired Pepe, forming a formidable barrier.
In midfield, Diego featured on the left, with Quaresma on the right wing. Merelles, who had underperformed in warm-up matches, found himself relegated to the bench, replaced by the veteran Costinha alongside Maniche, providing a solid defensive midfield partnership.
Upfront, Del Neri opted for Delle over Postiga to partner with Fabiano, the team's top scorer from the previous season.
Compared to the lineup from the previous season, Porto's starting eleven had undergone significant changes, with nearly half of the players being new additions or replacements.
In contrast, Benfica's lineup remained largely unchanged from the previous season. Apart from Portuguese players, their foreign contingent hailed predominantly from Brazil, ensuring seamless communication on the pitch.
This lack of continuity in Porto's squad explained why the outside world was generally not optimistic about their chances against Benfica.
...
In the player tunnel at Aveiro Stadium, Quaresma scanned the faces of Benfica's players, searching for familiar faces.
He recognized several of them from his previous life following the Portuguese national team—Petit, the Portuguese international midfielder; Simao, the future captain of the Portuguese national team; Nuno Gomez, the Portuguese international striker.
Now a professional player himself, Quaresma no longer sought autographs like a starstruck fan. Moreover, he had earned a place in Portugal's national squad for the season and had gotten to know several of these seasoned internationals personally.
But one player among Benfica's squad caught Quaresma's eye. Their gaze met briefly, and Quaresma sensed a hint of disdain mixed with an inexplicable intensity in the other player's stare.
Curious and somewhat intrigued, Quaresma decided to ask the most knowledgeable person he knew among the Porto ranks—veteran goalkeeper Baia.
"Do you recognize him?" Baia's look of disbelief was evident as he glanced at Quaresma.
Shrugging casually, Quaresma admitted, "I wasn't briefed on Benfica's players during Del Neri's tactical analysis yesterday."
"Well, he's Benfica's left-back. You'll be facing him directly out there. Oh, and he shares your first name—Ricardo Rocha."
Ah, so that's why the guy had eyed him critically. They were direct adversaries on the field!
Interesting!
Quaresma had always been irked by the media, and with no outlet for his frustrations, he might just have to take it out on Rocha if the left-back dared to provoke him.
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