Chapter 14: Locker Room Storm
July 3, 2017 – Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, First-Team Facility
The morning after Barcelona's win over Nice should have been quiet.
Recovery day. Light stretching. Ice baths.
But tension crackled through the halls of the training ground.
The players were divided.
Some praised the system.
Others—especially those benched or subbed—began to question their place in the new world Marlowe was building.
At the heart of it stood Ivan Rakitic.
And across from him?
Noah Marlowe—ready to make the toughest decision of his tenure so far.
08:13 AM – Gym Room, Ciutat Esportiva
Rakitic was mid set on the rowing machine when Aleix Vidal walked in, shaking his head.
"Coach didn't even glance at me yesterday," Vidal muttered. "I was warming up for 20 minutes and nothing."
Rakitic pulled the handles sharply.
"You think he's interested in loyalty? He's building a system, not a team."
Vidal nodded. "Feels like we're just… numbers."
"You're not wrong," Rakitic said, sweat dripping down his jaw. "But if he wants a war, we'll give him one."
Neither noticed the La Masia staffer passing by—recording everything in silence.
10:00 AM – Tactical Review Meeting
The squad sat quietly in the tactical room.
Noah entered with his assistant coaches and calmly tapped the AI Tactical System to project data from the Nice match.
Success Zones:
• Midfield compression: 86%
• Positional adaptation: 91%
• Match control (last 30 mins): Complete
He began to speak, but Rakitic cut in.
"With all this data, did the system tell you how to win a locker room?"
Everyone froze.
Messi looked over.
Busquets sighed.
Luis Suárez muttered, "Not again…"
Noah tilted his head.
"You think this is about the locker room?"
"I think football is more than numbers," Rakitic snapped. "You're killing the heartbeat of this team."
Noah stepped forward. Calm.
"And yet the heartbeat failed to stop PSG last season. Failed to win La Liga. Failed to adapt."
Rakitic stood.
"Say it to my face, then. I don't belong in your system, do I?"
Noah didn't hesitate.
"You don't right now."
Boom.
The room went silent.
Private Meeting – Noah and the Captains
An hour later, Noah sat with Messi, Busquets, and Piqué.
"Do I lose the room if I drop him completely?" Noah asked plainly.
Piqué exhaled. "You might. Temporarily."
Busquets added, "He's respected. But stubborn. You give him one shot—just one—he might get it."
Messi nodded. "Raki's pride won't let him quit. He needs clarity, not exile."
Noah thought for a moment. "Alright. I'll set the terms. If he breaks them, he's out."
Elsewhere – Secret Scouting Meeting
Meanwhile, in a closed office at the Barcelona headquarters, technical director Robert Fernández met with a young French agent.
A name was circled on the scouting report:
Kylian Mbappé – AS Monaco
Age: 18
Role: Wide forward / striker
Traits: Explosive acceleration, positional instinct, ice-cold finishing
Value: €12–15M (rising quickly)
"Coach Marlowe asked for two affordable pieces who can shape the future," Robert said. "Mbappé fits both timelines. And we strike before PSG or Real even blink."
The agent nodded. "He won't start every match."
"Exactly," Robert said. "He doesn't have to."
13:00 PM – On the Pitch
Noah had set up a private drill. No ball. No system overlays.
Just Rakitic and a 30-minute solo run under the July sun. Sprinting. Turning. Accelerating.
When he stopped, Noah walked over.
"You want your place back?"
Rakitic nodded, breathing hard.
"Then learn the system better than anyone else."
"What if I disagree with it?"
"Then beat it. Break it. Prove it wrong."
Rakitic stared at him.
"That's the test?"
"That's the only test."
July 4 – Announcement Released
OFFICIAL: FC Barcelona signs Kylian Mbappé from AS Monaco
The 18-year-old joins as part of a long-term development plan under Coach Marlowe.
The media laughed at first.
"A teenager?"
"He's no Neymar."
"More hype than impact."
Noah said nothing publicly.
Privately, he opened the tactical system and assigned Mbappé's first role:
Status: Impact Sub (60th min+ in selected fixtures)
Special Usage: Cup rotation starter, counterattack unlocker
Projected debut: Supercopa de Catalunya
July 5 – Mbappé's First Day at Camp Nou
Kylian entered the training pitch humbly, eyes wide, cleats clicking across the tunnel floor.
Messi was the first to greet him.
"You fast?" he asked with a smirk.
"Fast enough," Kylian grinned.
Noah watched quietly as the squad sized him up. No welcome speeches. No cameras. Just quiet, careful tests in passing drills, small-sided games, and decision trees.
Afternoon Session – Private with Noah
Later, Mbappé met Noah in his office.
"You won't start many matches this year," Noah said bluntly.
Kylian nodded. "I know."
"You'll come in cold. Against tired legs. Under pressure. And when you do—I expect impact."
Kylian didn't hesitate. "Give me ten minutes. I'll give you a goal."
Noah smiled.
"You're going to fit in just fine."
Final Scene – Tactical System Night Report
Internal Tension: Calmed (Rakitic under review)
Mbappé Arrival Impact: Positive morale boost
Next Fixture: Supercopa Friendly vs. Villarreal
Tactical Experimentation Phase Begins
Objective: Test layered substitutions + vertical overloads
The system pulsed one last message:
"The room is no longer divided. It's transforming."
Noah closed the screen, stepped into the hallway, and looked out toward the night-lit Camp Nou.
The locker room had cracked.
Now it was healing.
Through pressure.
Through clarity.
Through fire.