Chapter 43 : Interview(1)

As Nico and Maria sat watching TV, his phone suddenly rang, breaking the comfortable silence. He glanced at the screen—Jorge Mendes.

Maria shifted slightly as he picked up the call. "Hey, Jorge."

"Nico, my star!" Jorge's voice came through the speaker, full of energy. "First of all, fantastic performance lately. You're making it look effortless out there."

Nico chuckled. "Thanks, Jorge."

"But listen, I've got something for you," Jorge continued. "GQ Sports wants to do an interview with you. Nothing too intense—just some casual questions so the fans can get to know you better. Oh, and there's a segment where you talk about ten things you can't live without."

Nico raised an eyebrow. "GQ, huh? Sounds interesting."

"Of course, it is! This is just another step toward making you a global icon," Jorge said. "It's an easy shoot, nothing stressful. Just be yourself."

Nico leaned back into the couch. "Alright, when's the shoot?"

"They'll fly to Manchester in two days. You're free then, right?"

Nico nodded to himself. "Yeah, should be fine."

"Perfect. I'll handle everything," Jorge assured him. "Oh, and start thinking about those ten things—you don't want to look unprepared."

Nico chuckled. "Got it, Jorge."

"Alright, I'll send you the details soon. Enjoy your rest day, kid."

As the call ended, Maria looked at him curiously. "What was that about?"

Nico stretched his arms. "GQ Sports wants to interview me. Some casual questions and a segment where I talk about ten things I can't live without."

Maria's eyes lit up. "Oh, that sounds fun! What are you gonna say?"

Nico smirked. "No idea yet, but I have two days to figure it out."

Maria nudged him playfully. "Well, I better be on that list."

Nico laughed. "We'll see."

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On the 15th of December, Nico stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the crisp black shirt he was wearing. It was paired with a white overcoat that added a touch of sophistication, balanced out by a simple denim pair. The whole outfit was a perfect reflection of his effortless style, thanks to Yves Saint Laurent, the luxury brand he now represented.

His necklace, with a small pendant in the shape of the Barcelona logo, caught the light just right. His black watch with dark green straps complemented the outfit, giving it a sleek and polished look. Nico combed his hair, making sure everything was in place.

Feeling good about the way he looked, he made his way to the living room. As he entered, the warmth of the familiar surroundings hit him—his second home with the Guardiola family. Everyone was gathered around, watching TV, casually talking about the latest match highlights.

Maria looked up first, her eyes widening slightly at how good Nico looked. "Wow," she said, her smile a little too bright, "you look... amazing."

Nico grinned back at her. "Thanks, Maria. Got to look good for the camera, right?" he said with a playful wink.

Guardiola turned to him, a small smirk appearing on his face. "Looking sharp, Nico. You're about to break the internet with that look."

Valentina, as usual, was on Nico's lap, fiddling with his necklace. "You look like one of those movie stars, Nico," she said innocently, staring at the pendant.

Nico laughed, ruffling her hair. "You think so, Val? Maybe I should get a part in a movie next."

"Not the first one, though," Maria added, nudging him playfully. "I think you're more cut out for the pitch."

Nico shrugged, looking down at his outfit. "We'll see how the interview goes first. But I'll always be a footballer at heart."

As they laughed and joked, the atmosphere felt comfortable, just like always. But Nico knew today was different—he was about to represent not just himself, but the brands that believed in him. It was another step in his journey

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Nico sat in the backseat of the sleek car, the engine humming quietly as the city passed by. He pulled out his phone, his fingers hovering over the screen before he pressed dial. It rang twice before Jorge, his agent, answered with his usual, confident tone.

"Hey, Nico. What's up?"

Nico leaned back in the seat, glancing out the window as he spoke. "Hey, Jorge. So, I've been thinking... The GQ interview—do you think it's okay if I mention that Maria's my girlfriend?"

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line before Jorge responded, his voice thoughtful. "Ah, you're making it official, huh? Well, to be honest, it's entirely up to you. If you feel comfortable with it, you can share it. The fans are curious, and they do look up to you for not just your game, but also your personal life. But it's important to keep the focus on your career as well."

Nico nodded even though Jorge couldn't see it. "Yeah, I get that. I've just kept it pretty private so far. But I think it's time. Maria means a lot to me."

Jorge chuckled softly. "Sounds like you've made up your mind then. It's good you're ready for that next step. Just be mindful of how much you share. Fans love the mystery, but they also love seeing the real you."

Nico smiled at the sound of Jorge's reassurance. "Thanks, Jorge. I appreciate it. I'll just be myself in the interview."

"Good, good," Jorge replied. "And don't forget—there's always a balance between being open and keeping some things private. Do what feels right."

With that, they wrapped up the conversation, and Nico slipped the phone back into his pocket. He settled back in the seat, mentally preparing for the interview ahead. It wasn't just about football anymore—it was about him as a person, and he was finally ready to share more of that with the world.

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Nico stepped into the studio, the bright lights and buzzing energy instantly surrounding him. He adjusted his outfit—a black shirt with a white overcoat, denim, and his signature black watch with green straps—looking effortlessly stylish as always. He could feel the eyes of the crew on him, but he stayed calm, offering a warm smile as he walked further into the room.

"Hey, everyone!" Nico greeted the staff, his voice light but confident. He gave a nod to the camera operators and other crew members, who returned his greeting with nods and smiles.

As he approached the interviewer, a woman in her early 30s who was standing by a set of chairs, she extended her hand to him with a smile.

"Hi, Nico! It's so great to finally meet you in person. I'm Emma Carter, and I'll be interviewing you today. We're all really excited to have you here," she said, shaking his hand warmly.

Nico smiled back, shaking her hand firmly. "Pleasure's mine, Emma. Thanks for having me. I'm looking forward to it."

Emma motioned for him to take a seat on the comfortable chair set up across from her. Nico took a seat, adjusting himself and getting comfortable. The cameras were already rolling, and the atmosphere in the room had that professional yet relaxed vibe that put him at ease.

"Shall we get started?" Emma asked, her smile wide as she prepared to dive into the interview.

"Absolutely," Nico replied, giving her a nod as the crew prepared for the first question.

_______

Emma Carter, the interviewer, smiled warmly as she turned to the camera.

"Good afternoon, everyone! Welcome to GQ Sports. I'm Emma Carter, and today we are in for a very special interview with one of the brightest young talents in football. A player who, at just 15 years old, has already taken the footballing world by storm. He's an exceptional young talent with a career already filled with impressive achievements. 

"Today, we're here with none other than Nico Cruyff. Now, you might already know him for his time with Real Betis in the Segunda Division, where at just 14, he played half a season, racking up 23 matches, 29 goals, and 14 assists. After that, he moved to Manchester City on loan from Barcelona, where he's continued to impress. 

"To date, Nico has played 20 matches across all competitions for Manchester City, scoring 25 goals—six of those coming in the Champions League—and assisting 23, with seven of those assists also in the Champions League. At just 15, Nico Cruyff is now one of the top contenders for this year's prestigious Golden Boy award."

She looked at Nico with a warm smile, her eyes shining with curiosity. "Nico, thank you so much for joining us today. It's not every day we get to sit down with such a rising star in world football."

Nico gave a small smile, leaning forward slightly, already feeling at ease in the atmosphere.

"It's my pleasure, Emma. Thanks for having me."

Emma smiled, and the interview began.

"So, Nico, tell us how you do it. The numbers you're putting up—what most players would do in their prime—at just 15, you're taking the Premier League by storm. How do you manage it all?"

Nico looked at her for a moment, then leaned forward slightly, his expression thoughtful.

"Well, it's honestly a bit surreal. At 15, I never imagined I'd be playing at this level, but it's all about putting in the work and having the right support around you. From a young age, my grandfather always told me that talent is important, but it's the dedication, focus, and mindset that make the biggest difference. That's something I've tried to carry with me, on and off the pitch."

He paused briefly, then continued.

"Training at La Masia shaped me a lot. That's where I learned a lot of the fundamentals of the game and the mentality needed to succeed. The coaches and teammates I had there helped me develop my skills, and now at Manchester City, I'm able to keep growing every day. With Pep Guardiola's guidance, I feel like I'm constantly improving and pushing myself to be better."

Nico smiled modestly as he finished.

"All I focus on is getting better every day, being a good teammate, and doing my best to help the team win. If I keep doing that, I think everything else will fall into place."

___________

"Nico, the fans want to know—are you actually an Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) ambassador? We see you wearing their clothes all the time, but we haven't seen any official photoshoots or promotions for it yet."

Nico chuckled softly, clearly amused by the question. 

"Well, yes, I am actually YSL's brand ambassador," he said with a grin. "We've completed a photoshoot for it, and the release will be coming in the beginning of January. I'm really excited for everyone to see it. It's a bit surreal to be a part of such an iconic brand, but it's been an amazing experience so far." 

He shrugged, still smiling.

"It's funny because, you know, a few years ago I never imagined I'd be doing something like this—sports and fashion, they don't always go hand in hand, but I'm lucky to be part of something special."

__________

Emma leaned forward with a playful grin, clearly about to ask a question that was on everyone's mind.

"Alright, Nico, for the most important question of the day—the one all your fans want to know: Do you have a girlfriend?"

Nico chuckled softly, giving Emma a knowing smile before he answered.

"Yes, I do have a girlfriend," he said, his tone light but genuine.

Emma's eyes widened with mock surprise as she leaned back in her chair. "Ah, there we go! La Masia's crown jewel is officially taken. A heartbreak for all your female fans out there!"

Nico laughed, shaking his head. Emma's next question came quickly.

"So, can we know who it is?"

Nico paused for a second, a smile tugging at his lips, before answering, "It's Maria Guardiola."

Emma raised her eyebrows, clearly impressed. "Well, well, looks like you didn't just conquer Pep Guardiola on the pitch, you also conquered his daughter!" she teased, her tone light and playful. 

Nico grinned, shrugging modestly. "I guess you could say that," he said, clearly enjoying the banter.

____________

Emma's expression softened slightly as she asked the final question. "So, Nico, for the last question—before we wrap up the interview—we spoke to a few of your coaches at La Masia, and they all mentioned that you're the best talent La Masia has ever produced. Even Messi admitted that in an interview. You've scored over 800 goals and provided 300+ assists in the youth leagues there. How did you make that happen? And how much does Barcelona really mean to you?"

Nico sat back for a moment, his expression thoughtful. He wasn't one to boast about his achievements, especially not in front of the cameras. He took a breath before responding, his voice calm but sincere.

"Well, Emma, I don't really think of myself as the greatest talent La Masia has ever produced, or will ever produce. There are many excellent youngsters in La Masia, and many players have the potential to do great things. I recently visited my coaches, and they told me that many players in La Masia look up to me, which makes me happy to hear, but I think there are many who could do just as well, if not better, than me."

He paused, his gaze shifting slightly, clearly reflecting on his journey and his place at the club.

"As for Barcelona... my grandfather, Johan Cruyff, played for the club, so you could say it's in my blood. Barcelona is my home. I don't think I need to say much more than that to express how much I love the club. It's not just where I trained, but where I grew as a person, both on and off the field." 

His voice softened a little as he spoke the last part, a sense of deep affection for the club and its history clearly present in his words. "Barcelona means everything to me."

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