Chapter 11 : 14 Year-Old

Back at home, Nico sat at the dining table with his grandparents, Johan Cruyff and Danny Coster. The warm glow of the chandelier illuminated the room as the delicious aroma of home-cooked food filled the air.

Danny placed a generous portion of food on Nico's plate, smiling as she watched him eat.

"You were incredible today, my love," she said, her eyes full of pride. "My little Nico, scoring two goals in his debut. I almost had a heart attack when that second one went in!"

Johan chuckled, shaking his head. "Almost? I think you did. You squeezed my arm so tight I thought it was going to fall off."

Nico grinned, taking a bite of his food. "It felt amazing. When I saw the ball go in, and the crowd went crazy… I don't think I'll ever forget that feeling."

Johan leaned back in his chair, watching his grandson closely. "That was a world-class goal, Nico. The way you read the play, the way you executed it… That's not something you see from a 14-year-old. But you know what impressed me the most?"

Nico tilted his head, curious. "What?"

Johan smiled. "Your composure. A lot of players would have panicked or tried to force something. But you were calm. You saw the moment, and you took it. That's the sign of a great player."

Danny reached over, gently brushing Nico's hair back. "But promise me one thing, sweetheart. Take care of yourself. I don't want you getting hurt."

Nico nodded. "I will, Grandma. I promise."

Johan smirked. "You say that, but I know how you play. You won't hold back, will you?"

Nico grinned. "Of course not."

Johan laughed, shaking his head. "That's what I thought."

____________

January 6, 2015

The winter air was crisp at Ciudad Deportiva Luis del Sol, but the energy on the training ground was lively as the Real Betis squad prepared for their upcoming match against AD Alcorcón. Pepe Mel, ever the tactician, had his team running drills focused on breaking down Alcorcón's compact defensive structure.

As the players went through their passing patterns and attacking movements, Mel blew his whistle and clapped his hands.

"¡Vamos, vamos! Faster transitions! Alcorcón will park the bus like their lives depend on it!" he shouted.

Nico, still getting used to the team's dynamic, was moving between the lines, making quick touches to help unlock the defense. That's when Rubén Castro, Betis' star forward, called out to him.

"Oye, niño, take it easy on us! You're making us look bad in training!" he joked, panting slightly after failing to keep up with Nico's movement.

Jorge Molina, another Betis veteran, laughed. "I thought we signed a kid, not a magician! Are we sure he's 14 and not a time traveler from 2025?"

Nico smirked, rolling the ball under his foot before flicking it over to Castro.

"Don't worry, Rubén. I'll make sure to assist you instead of embarrassing you," he teased, earning a round of laughter from the squad.

Pepe Mel grinned at the banter but quickly brought them back to focus.

"Alright, enough jokes. If you all put in as much effort into scoring goals as you do talking, we'd have won the league already!"

The players chuckled but immediately sharpened up, running their drills with renewed intensity. Nico, eager to make his mark, continued weaving through the defense, exchanging quick passes and creating openings.

As training wrapped up, Dani Ceballos, one of Betis' young midfielders, nudged Nico.

"You better score again, Cruyffito. I've got money on you getting another goal."

Nico raised an eyebrow. "Money? You're betting on me now?"

Ceballos shrugged. "Not real money, just a bet with the physios. They think your debut was beginner's luck. I told them you'd do it again."

Nico smirked. "Then you better get ready to collect."

___________

January 10, 2015

The Estadio Santo Domingo was buzzing with anticipation as the Real Betis team bus pulled up outside the stadium. The players stepped off one by one, dressed in their green and white tracksuits, their expressions focused. Fans and reporters gathered near the entrance, cameras flashing as they spotted the youngest player in the squad.

Inside the locker room, the atmosphere was intense. Pepe Mel stood in front of the whiteboard, emphasizing the tactical setup for the game.

"Listen up," he said, clapping his hands to get everyone's attention. "Alcorcón is not going to give us space. They defend deep, and they'll be aggressive in midfield. We need quick passing, movement between the lines, and someone who can unlock their defense."****"That's where you come in, Nico."

All eyes turned to Nico, who nodded, tying his boots with a calm expression.

"You're playing at attacking midfield today," Mel continued. "I want you to find pockets of space and dictate the tempo. If you see an opening, take the shot. And remember—spread the play, pull their defenders out of position. We create, we finish. Understood?"

The team responded with a collective "Sí, míster!" before going back to their final preparations.

Meanwhile, in the stands, the Betis fans were engaged in excited discussion.

"That kid is starting again? I thought he'd be coming off the bench!" one supporter said, adjusting his green and white scarf.

"He's only 14, man! No way he can keep up with these grown men every week," another fan added, shaking his head.

"Did you see his free kick last match? The boy hits the ball like Juninho! If he does that again today, we might actually have something special," a more optimistic supporter countered.

Another chuckled. "They say he's a Cruyff. Maybe he's got magic in his blood."

The conversations in the stands continued, some fans skeptical, others hopeful. All of them, however, were waiting to see if Nico Cruyff could prove himself again.

______________

The players stepped onto the pitch, the bright floodlights illuminating Estadio Santo Domingo as the roar of the crowd echoed around the stadium. The teams lined up, shaking hands as the commentators began analyzing the starting lineups.

"And here we go, matchday action from the Segunda División! Let's take a look at the starting lineups, beginning with the visitors, Real Betis."

The camera zoomed in on the graphic displaying Betis' XI.

"Pepe Mel has made a few changes to his lineup today. In goal, we have Adán. The back four consists of Molinero, Bruno, Jordi Figueras, and Varela. In midfield, Lolo Reyes and N'Diaye will provide stability, while on the flanks, Pacheco and Kadir will look to stretch the play. Up front, Rennella leads the line… but the real story is the young man playing just behind him—14-year-old Nico Cruyff."

The second commentator took over, his voice filled with intrigue.

"That's right. Nico Cruyff, making his second appearance for Betis, starts as the attacking midfielder today. He made headlines on his debut against Tenerife, scoring a stunning free kick and a long-range goal to seal the win. But let's be honest, there are a lot of questions about whether he can handle the physicality at this level. He's only 14! The youngest player to ever debut for Real Betis!"

"It's unheard of at this level," the first commentator added. "You don't see kids this young playing professional football, let alone in a key creative role. But clearly, Pepe Mel sees something in him."

The camera panned to Nico as he took his position, looking calm despite the pressure.

"He's got a famous last name," the second commentator continued. "The grandson of Johan Cruyff, one of the greatest footballers of all time. But football isn't about names—it's about performances. Can he deliver again today?"

With the analysis done, the referee blew his whistle, signaling the start of the match.

________

Both teams approached the game cautiously, prioritizing controlled possession over reckless attacking. Betis, as expected, tried to impose their style of play, patiently circulating the ball in search of gaps. Alcorcón, on the other hand, remained disciplined in their defensive shape, waiting for an opportunity to counterattack. The opening minutes were a tactical chess match, with neither side willing to take early risks.

Despite the slow start, one player stood out—Nico Cruyff. The 14-year-old was already making his presence felt, his movement between the lines causing problems for Alcorcón's midfield. Every time he received the ball, he looked to make something happen. He was threading passes into dangerous areas, switching play with pinpoint accuracy, and occasionally testing the goalkeeper with powerful long-range shots.

In the 17th minute, Betis found their breakthrough. Varela, the left-back, spotted Nico making a clever run into space between the opposition's midfield and defensive line. Wasting no time, he played a beautifully weighted long pass toward the youngster.

Nico tracked the ball's flight and positioned himself perfectly. With a deft first touch, he brought it under control before swiftly nutmegging his marker, drawing a loud reaction from the crowd. Without hesitation, he accelerated forward, his speed forcing two Alcorcón defenders to close in on him.

As they lunged, Nico showcased his skill. With rapid footwork, he executed the Pendulum, shifting the ball left and right in quick succession, throwing the defenders off balance. The moment they hesitated, he smoothly followed up with a Cruyff Turn, spinning away from their grasp and bursting into open space.

Now approaching the edge of the box, he glanced up and saw Rennella making a perfectly timed run between the center-backs. Without breaking stride, Nico played an exquisite through ball, the pass cutting a precise arc across the grass, slicing through Alcorcón's defensive line like a knife through butter.

The timing of the ball was flawless. Rennella barely needed to adjust his stride. He took a single touch to set himself before calmly slotting the ball past the goalkeeper into the bottom corner of the net.

The stadium erupted in celebration. The Betis players rushed toward Rennella, congratulating him on the goal, but the striker quickly turned and pointed at Nico. Everyone knew who deserved the real credit for the goal.

Nico jogged over with a small smirk on his face, receiving pats on the back from his teammates.

The commentators were in awe.

"That is sheer genius from Nico Cruyff! The composure, the skill, and the vision—it's hard to believe he's only 14!"

"This kid is something special. That wasn't just a good pass; that was an artist at work. The weight, the precision—absolutely world-class!"

The Betis fans in the stands were ecstatic. Many had come to see what the hype was about, and in just 17 minutes, Nico had shown them why there was so much excitement surrounding his name.

After taking the lead, Betis adjusted their approach, opting for a more defensive, counter-attacking strategy. They allowed Alcorcón to have more of the ball while staying compact, waiting for the right moment to break forward.

Alcorcón, now desperate for an equalizer, pushed their players higher up the pitch, trying to find openings. Their midfielders exchanged quick passes, probing for weaknesses in Betis' defensive setup, but the home side remained disciplined.

In the 37th minute, an Alcorcón player attempted a risky pass across the midfield, but it was intercepted by Bruno. Without hesitation, the Betis midfielder lifted his head and launched a long, accurate pass toward Nico, who was positioned just past the halfway line.

Nico adjusted his body, controlling the ball with a perfect first touch to stop its momentum. The moment the defender stepped forward to challenge him, he exploded into acceleration, instantly gaining a step on his marker.

The defender desperately tried to recover, lunging in, but Nico had already nutmegged him with a swift flick of the ball between his legs. The stadium roared as Nico raced past, now surging toward the final third.

Just as he was about to cut inside, another Alcorcón defender clattered into him, sending him tumbling to the ground. The referee wasted no time, blowing his whistle and pointing to the spot where the foul occurred—28 meters from goal.

The defender was shown a yellow card, and the Alcorcón players protested, but the decision was final. Meanwhile, Nico picked himself up and calmly walked over to the ball, placing it carefully on the grass.

There was a murmur in the crowd. The Betis fans knew what he was capable of from set-pieces, but this distance was a challenge.

The commentators voiced their doubts.

"It's a long way out, around 28 meters. The goalkeeper will fancy his chances here."

"Still, we've seen Nico hit some outrageous free kicks. Can he do it again?"

Nico took a deep breath and stepped back, carefully measuring his run-up. His eyes were locked on the goal, analyzing the positioning of the goalkeeper and the defensive wall.

The referee blew the whistle.

Nico began his run-up, approaching the ball with his signature striking technique. The moment his foot made contact, it was clear—this was something special.

The ball soared into the air, initially rising as if it were going too high. But then, just as it reached its peak, it suddenly dipped at an unnatural speed.

It was an elevator ball—a technique only the very best could master. The goalkeeper jumped, stretching desperately, but he could only watch as the ball kissed the underside of the crossbar before bouncing into the net.

Goal!

The stadium erupted. The Betis fans leapt from their seats, screaming in disbelief. Even the commentators were momentarily stunned.

"Oh my word! That is simply out of this world!"

"Nico Cruyff, take a bow! That was absolutely perfect—just under the crossbar, no chance for the goalkeeper!"

Nico, ice-cold as always, ran towards the corner flag, where he raised his hands and pointed to the sky—his signature celebration.

His teammates swarmed him, patting him on the back, shaking their heads in disbelief. At just 14 years old, he was already scoring world-class goals.

The camera panned to the Alcorcón players, some standing with their hands on their hips, others looking towards their bench, wondering how they were supposed to stop him.

At the post-match press conference, the media wasted no time focusing on one player—Nico Cruyff.

One journalist leaned into the microphone.

"Coach, another spectacular performance from Nico. At just 14 years old, he already has three goals and two assists in two matches. How do you even describe his impact?"

The Betis coach smiled and shook his head, clearly impressed.

"Well, I don't want to put too much pressure on the boy, but I think we all saw it today. He has an incredible talent, a natural feel for the game, and the ability to decide matches at such a young age. That free kick? That's not normal. Not even for experienced professionals."

Another journalist quickly followed up.

"With three goals and two assists in just two matches, do you think Nico is already one of the best players in the squad?"

The coach let out a small chuckle before responding.

"Look, football isn't just about numbers. But yes, he's been decisive. He's creating goals, scoring them, and making a difference every time he's on the pitch. That's what top players do. And Nico? He's showing signs of being one."

A third journalist jumped in.

"With performances like this, how do you plan on managing him? Surely, bigger clubs will start watching."

The coach nodded.

"Of course, we have to be smart. He's young, and we don't want to rush his development. He's playing because he's earned it, but we'll make sure to protect him. He has a long career ahead of him."

Another journalist leaned forward, clearly intrigued.

"The way he strikes the ball… his free kicks, his vision… some are already comparing him to legends. Do you think he has the potential to reach that level?"

The coach exhaled and smiled.

"Comparisons are for the media and the fans. What I know is that he has something special. He works hard, he listens, and he plays with the confidence of someone far beyond his years. If he keeps this up, who knows where he'll end up?"

The questions kept coming—about his talent, his potential, and what it meant for Betis to have such a prodigy in their squad.

One thing was certain: Nico Cruyff was no ordinary 14-year-old.