Sae preparing for a potential La Liga debut
The media storm beginning to swirl around him
La Masia rivals like Carles Aleñá and other 2014 youth talents noticing his rise
Early interest from Japan's national team scouts, and hints of conflict about where he belongs
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Chapter 6: The World Tilts Toward a Prodigy
Madrid, November 2014.
After Sae's dazzling Copa del Rey debut, nothing felt the same.
He could sense it—how conversations stopped when he entered a room, how Castilla players now deferred to him, how Zidane observed him a little longer during drills. The locker room once filled with silent envy now echoed with uncertain respect.
He was still only 17.
But the capital had started to murmur his name.
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The Call That Changed His Training
It was a crisp Wednesday morning when Zidane called him over after Castilla training.
"You'll be training with the first team full-time for the next few weeks."
Sae simply nodded.
Zidane studied him. "You're not surprised?"
"I would've been if you waited another week," he replied.
A flicker of a smile touched the Frenchman's lips. "You might be called for the next Liga match. Granada at home. It's not official—yet."
That word.
Yet.
It echoed in Sae's mind as he packed his gear and left the training grounds.
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Between Castilla and the Crown
The next few days became a tightrope walk.
Sae trained with the first team in the mornings—absorbing instructions from Ancelotti, tracking Modrić's movements, and keeping pace with Ronaldo's relentless tempo. In the afternoons, he returned to Castilla to review film and lead internal sessions.
This double life sharpened him.
He began playing faster, thinking three steps ahead. Watching Kroos scan the pitch before every touch taught him how to control space before controlling the ball.
Even Modrić approached him one evening after training.
"You see the pass before the movement, don't you?"
Sae didn't answer. But his gaze confirmed it.
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Buzz in the Capital
Spanish newspapers began to speculate.
> "La nueva joya blanca: ¿Quién es Itoshi Sae?"
(The new white jewel: Who is Itoshi Sae?)
> "Madrid has its next midfield conductor in the making."
Japanese media caught wind too.
> "Japanese-born midfielder stuns Bernabéu—FIFA eligibility unclear."
Sae's name trended on Twitter in both Spain and Japan. Clips of his Copa performance went viral on YouTube.
In the offices of the Japan Football Association, scouts began quietly pulling footage.
"Is this kid even eligible?" one murmured.
"He was never part of the national youth squads," another added.
"But... we should at least talk to him."
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Tension in the Air
Within Real Madrid, the praise brought friction.
Illarramendi, who had underperformed the past few weeks, now watched his minutes disappear. Jesé, once the golden boy, looked away whenever Sae was mentioned.
In Castilla, even Carlos—once won over—had started to keep his distance again.
But Sae didn't care.
He hadn't been reincarnated to make friends.
He was here to take the game's soul—and reshape it in his image.
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Eyes from Catalonia
The noise wasn't confined to Madrid.
In La Masia, Carles Aleñá, one of Barcelona's brightest midfield talents, watched the Copa highlights in the training lounge.
"Another prodigy?" a teammate joked.
Aleñá didn't laugh. He watched Sae's pass tempo, his manipulations of body angle, his quiet arrogance.
"He's not playing like a 17-year-old."
Another teammate added, "He'll crumble in the Clásico."
Aleñá just muttered, "We'll see."
The war between La Masia and Madrid's cantera had always been fierce. But now, it felt personal.
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The Bernabéu Whispers
November 22, 2014. Real Madrid vs. Granada.
Carlo Ancelotti called Sae to the locker room early.
"You won't start. But you'll be on the bench. If we control the match, I'll bring you in."
Sae nodded. Not disappointed. Just calculating.
Ronaldo, lacing up beside him, gave him a glance.
"You ready for La Liga?"
"I've been ready for years."
Ronaldo chuckled. "You've got balls."
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Matchday Chaos and Calm
The Bernabéu was alive with anticipation. The crowd had heard the rumors. Fans held banners that read:
> "¡Saelito Maestro!"
"The New Zidane?"
"Japan's Silent Ten!"
Real Madrid took early control. By the 60th minute, it was 3–0. Ancelotti looked toward the bench.
"Go. Take over for Isco."
Sae stepped onto the pitch, La Liga ball at his feet.
The moment was surreal. But his mind was ice.
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17 Minutes of Genius
In the 68th minute, he dropped deep, collected the ball under pressure, and escaped with a pirouette that sent two defenders chasing shadows.
The crowd gasped.
In the 74th, he launched a no-look, side-spun diagonal ball to Bale in stride—cutting out three defenders.
Commentators raved:
> "This is not normal. This boy… is something else."
In the 84th, he almost scored with a clever backheel flick that hit the post.
The match ended 4–0.
But the headlines wrote themselves.
> "Sae's Liga Debut: 17 Minutes, 1 Assist, Eternal Hype."
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The Aftermath
In the locker room, Ancelotti clapped once.
"Welcome to La Liga."
Ronaldo gave him a nod of approval. "You'll need to do more to impress me."
Kroos raised an eyebrow. "You're already better than most we play."
Modrić simply said: "Don't slow down."
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Phone Calls from Home
That night, in his apartment, Sae received a call.
"Is this Sae Itoshi?"
The voice was Japanese. Calm. Formal.
"We're calling from the JFA. We'd like to discuss your football future."
Sae stared at the wall.
"I'm not interested."
The voice hesitated. "You… you are Japanese, aren't you?"
"I was," he said. "Now, I'm a footballer."
He ended the call.
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Ego in Bloom
The next morning, he walked into training with a new edge to his stride. Everyone noticed it.
He had stepped into La Liga without flinching.
Now, the world was watching.
Sae Itoshi—once a ghost of Japan's football dreams—was now Madrid's living prophecy.
But deep inside, a dangerous truth was beginning to take shape.
This wasn't enough.
Castilla. Copa. One Liga cameo.
He wanted the Champions League. He wanted the Clasico. He wanted to break the order of football history.
And for that, no one could be allowed to stand beside him.
Only behind.
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End of Chapter 6