Chapter 22 : Youngest Ever

August 9, 2015. 

Morning had settled over Manchester, and inside the training facility, Nico sat among his teammates, casually chatting as they awaited the coach's arrival. The atmosphere was calm, but there was an undercurrent of anticipation—it was the first match of the season. 

As Pep Guardiola entered the room, the conversations quieted, and all eyes turned to him. He walked to the front, holding the lineup sheet, and after a brief pause, he began reading out the starting eleven for their match against West Bromwich Albion. 

"Joe Hart in goal," he started. "Backline of Sagna, Kompany, Mangala, and Kolarov. In midfield, we have Yaya Touré and Fernandinho. The attacking midfielders—Silva on the left, Nico as the central attacking midfielder, and Sterling on the right. Up top, Agüero." 

The room remained silent for a moment before small murmurs broke out. Starting as an attacking midfielder in his Premier League debut—it was a huge show of faith from Guardiola. Nico remained composed, nodding as his name was called, but he could feel the weight of responsibility. 

Pep's sharp eyes scanned the room. "I trust all of you. We've trained hard, we know what we have to do—go out there and execute. Nico," he said, looking at him, "play your game. I don't need you to force anything. Let it flow." 

Nico gave a small smile and nodded. "Understood, Coach." 

The team listened as Pep continued outlining the tactical approach for the match. The Premier League debut was just hours away.

_____________

The locker room buzzed with energy as the players continued talking, some joking around, others getting into the zone. Nico, sitting between David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne, took a deep breath, absorbing the atmosphere. It had been a month since he joined Manchester City, and now, he was about to step onto the pitch for his first-ever Premier League match. 

David Silva, noticing Nico's calm demeanor, smirked. "You don't look nervous at all." 

Nico shrugged. "I've played big games before. But yeah, the Premier League is different. More physical, faster. I'll have to adapt quickly." 

Kevin De Bruyne nodded. "You'll do fine. You already play at our level in training, and you see the game differently. Just stay composed." 

Yaya Touré, stretching his legs, smirked. "You better not try to take my midfield spot, kid." The room filled with laughter. 

Raheem Sterling leaned in. "Nah, he's already taken your free kicks. What's next, captain?" He glanced at Vincent Kompany with a grin. 

Kompany chuckled, shaking his head. "He'd have to grow a few inches for that." 

Nico laughed along with them. He liked the team's energy. They were competitive, but they looked out for each other. That was the kind of environment he thrived in. 

Sergio Agüero, who had been tying his boots, finally spoke up. "Just give me the ball near the box, and we'll be good." His tone was casual, but everyone knew he was dead serious. 

Nico smirked. "You don't have to tell me twice." 

Fernandinho, ever the quiet leader, stood up and clapped his hands. "Alright, let's stay focused. We know how Pep wants us to play. Let's show everyone what we can do." 

The atmosphere shifted slightly—still relaxed but with a sharp edge of determination. The team was ready. 

Nico leaned back for a moment, staring at his jersey hanging in the locker. "Nico 14." It was finally happening.

He reached out and ran his fingers over the fabric, feeling the weight of the moment settle in. This wasn't just any debut—it was the beginning of his journey in the Premier League, the most intense and demanding league in the world.

David Silva nudged him. "You good?"

Nico smirked. "Yeah. Just taking it in."

Kevin De Bruyne chuckled. "Better take it in fast. Once the whistle blows, there's no time for that."

Yaya Touré stretched and grinned. "You're playing ACM, right? Make sure you don't slow us down, kid."

Nico leaned back, unfazed. "As long as you can keep up with me, big man."

The whole locker room erupted in laughter. Even Kompany cracked a grin.

"Alright, alright," Fernandinho interrupted with a smirk. "Let's get serious now. First game of the season—we start strong."

The mood shifted again, focused but ready. Nico stood up, rolling his shoulders, feeling the adrenaline slowly kicking in.

He was ready.

__________________

After dinner, Nico found himself settling onto the couch, a habit that had developed ever since Maria had taken him on a tour of Manchester. It had become their routine—just the two of them, sitting and talking about anything and everything.

Maria walked in and sat beside him, tucking her legs beneath her. "So, ready for your first Premier League match tomorrow?"

Nico leaned back, stretching his arms. "Yeah. I've trained hard for this. It's time to put it all to use."

Maria nodded, playing with a loose thread on her sleeve. "You'll do great. I mean, you're basically a machine on the field."

He chuckled. "I hope that's a compliment."

She smirked. "It is. You're different from most footballers. You're serious, but you're not arrogant. You actually care about getting better, not just showing off."

He shrugged. "It's just how I am. If you want to be the best, there's no other way."

Maria rested her chin on her palm, watching him as he spoke. Over the past month, she had come to admire him—not just as a footballer but as a person. He was disciplined, kind, and surprisingly easy to talk to. She liked being around him, even if he was completely unaware of her feelings.

Nico turned to Maria and asked, "Will you be watching the game tomorrow?"

Maria scoffed playfully. "Of course. You think I'd miss your Premier League debut?"

He smirked. "Good. I'll be looking for you in the stands."

She raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So if you score, are you going to do some special celebration just for me?"

Nico chuckled. "No promises. But maybe I'll point to the stands, and you can pretend it's for you."

Maria rolled her eyes but smiled. "I'll take what I can get."

He smiled. "Then I can't lose."

Maria smiled softly. If only you could hear what my heart is saying right now…

_____________________

August 10, 2015 – The Hawthorns

The Manchester City team bus pulled into The Hawthorns, the home of West Bromwich Albion. Fans lined up outside, holding up scarves and banners as they cheered for the players. The cameras flashed as the doors opened, and one by one, the City players stepped off the bus, dressed in their club suits. Nico Cruyff, making his way down the steps, was immediately noticed.

The 15-year-old wonderkid, starting in his first-ever Premier League match, had the entire football world watching. His name had dominated headlines ever since Pep Guardiola decided to give him a place in the starting XI.

As he walked into the tunnel alongside his teammates, the fans in the stands were already deep in discussion.

"I can't believe Pep is starting a 15-year-old in a Premier League game," one fan said, shaking his head.

Another fan shrugged. "If he's good enough, he's old enough. Besides, have you seen his highlights? The kid is special."

A group of young supporters, who had followed Nico's rise through social media and youth clips, were more optimistic. "He destroyed La Liga 2 with Betis. If he can handle that, he can handle West Brom."

Some skeptics weren't as convinced. "This isn't Spain. This is the Premier League. It's faster, tougher. Let's see if he can survive a full 90 minutes."

Among the crowd, a group of female fans was buzzing with excitement.

"He's even better-looking in person," one of them giggled, holding up a sign that read Nico 14. "Imagine him scoring and pointing to the stands."

__________

In the locker room, Pep Guardiola stood in the center, his sharp eyes scanning each player. The atmosphere was intense yet focused, the sound of studs clicking against the tiled floor and the occasional deep breath filling the space. 

He began giving instructions to each player, detailing their roles and emphasizing key tactical points. 

"Kompany," he said, looking at his captain. "Keep the backline organized. Don't let them hit us on the counter. Be vocal." 

"Yaya," he continued, turning to Touré. "Control the midfield, dictate the tempo. If you see space, drive forward." 

Then, his eyes fell on Nico. The room was silent as the players turned to see what Pep had to say to the 15-year-old making his debut. 

"Nico," Guardiola said, his voice calm but firm. "You have the freedom to move between the lines. Find the spaces, link up with Silva and Sterling. Don't hesitate to take your chances—if you see an opening, use it." 

Nico nodded, his expression composed, though inside, he felt a fire ignite. 

"Most importantly," Pep concluded, looking at everyone, "play our football. Control the game. Trust yourselves. Trust each other." 

With that, he clapped his hands together. "Alright, let's go!" 

The players stood up, ready to step out onto the pitch.

______________

In the West Bromwich Albion locker room, Tony Pulis stood in front of his players, his trademark cap on as he addressed them with a stern expression. The room was filled with the sound of players adjusting their shin pads and lacing their boots, the tension building before kickoff.

"Alright, listen up," Pulis said, his voice firm. "We know what we're up against today. Man City have talent all over the pitch, but they've got a weak point."

He turned to the tactics board, where the starting XI was displayed. His finger tapped on one name in particular—Nico Cruyff, the 15-year-old making his debut.

"This kid," Pulis said, looking around the room. "Fifteen years old. FIFTEEN. Talented? Sure, but this ain't La Liga, and this ain't some youth match. This is the Premier League. You don't let him play his game. You swarm him the second he gets the ball—make him feel what English football is about."

Jonny Evans and Claudio Yacob nodded, their expressions serious.

"If he drops deep, one of you midfielders go with him," Pulis continued, looking at Yacob, Fletcher, and Morrison. "If he turns, hit him. Nothing reckless, nothing stupid, but let him know he's in a real game. We're not here to let a kid run the show at The Hawthorns."

He then addressed his center-backs, Gareth McAuley and Jonas Olsson.

"If he gets into the final third, be physical. Don't let him move freely. Shoulder him off the ball, press him hard—see how he handles it. If he starts to struggle, he'll disappear. And if we rattle him early, he won't be a problem."

Turning to his wingers, Callum McManaman and James McClean, Pulis added, "Make their fullbacks work. If we can push them back, their buildup will suffer. And if we get set-pieces, we punish them. Use our height advantage."

Finally, he clapped his hands together, looking at Salomón Rondón, their main striker.

"City will have the ball, we know that. But when we win it back, we go direct. Play through the channels, get crosses in, and force them into a battle."

His gaze swept across the room one last time. "This is our home. Make them work for everything. Now let's get out there and give them hell."

With that, the West Brom players stood up, ready to take the fight to Manchester City.

________________

As the players emerged from the tunnel onto the lush green pitch of The Hawthorns, the atmosphere was electric. The West Brom fans were in full voice, ready to back their team, while the traveling Manchester City supporters eagerly anticipated the debut of the teenage sensation, Nico Cruyff.

In the commentary booth, Peter Drury and Martin Tyler were on duty, their voices filled with excitement as they went through the team lineups.

Peter Drury: "Ladies and gentlemen, history is about to be made tonight at The Hawthorns. The youngest-ever debutant in Premier League history takes to the field for Manchester City—just fifteen years old, and already the football world is watching. Nico Cruyff. A name that carries enormous weight, a name that has been spoken in reverence for decades, and tonight, a new chapter begins."

Martin Tyler: "And Pep Guardiola has thrown him straight into the fire, starting him as an attacking midfielder in this Manchester City side. A bold decision, but Guardiola is a man of conviction—if he believes Nico is ready, who are we to doubt?"

The broadcast displayed the starting XIs as they continued their discussion.

West Bromwich Albion XI (4-2-3-1)

GK: Ben FosterRB: Craig DawsonCB: Gareth McAuleyCB: Jonas OlssonLB: Chris BruntCDM: Claudio YacobCDM: Darren Fletcher (C)RW: Callum McManamanCAM: James MorrisonLW: James McCleanST: Salomón Rondón

Manchester City XI (4-3-3)

GK: Joe HartRB: Bacary SagnaCB: Vincent Kompany (C)CB: Eliaquim MangalaLB: Aleksandar KolarovCDM: Yaya TouréCM: David SilvaCAM: Nico CruyffRW: Raheem SterlingLW: Jesús NavasST: Sergio Agüero

Peter Drury: "A strong Manchester City lineup, but all eyes will be on that number 14, Nico Cruyff. He has dazzled at every level he has played, and his pre-season performances have been nothing short of breathtaking. But this is the Premier League. This is where legends are truly made."

Martin Tyler: "And standing in his way is a well-drilled West Brom side under Tony Pulis. You can bet they've been instructed to test Nico's physicality from the first whistle. The likes of Yacob, Fletcher, and the two center-backs will make life as difficult as possible for the teenager. This will be a baptism of fire."

As the players took their positions, the camera zoomed in on Nico Cruyff, his face calm and composed, emerald-green eyes scanning the pitch.

The referee blew the whistle, signaling the start of the match. A historic night was about to unfold.