"If the national team contacted you, would you return to play for them?"
The question came from a Chinese journalist, and the moment the words left his mouth, the air in the room shifted.
Several reporters winced.
Everyone knew about the rift between Alessandro and the Chinese Football Association.
And up to this point, it had been an unspoken rule to avoid the subject.
Keep it quiet. Let the tension fade over time.
But this young reporter had just blown the door wide open.
---
The cameras turned toward Alessandro.
Some reporters hoped he'd show restraint—maybe say something diplomatic for the sake of the fans.
But that's not what they got.
Alessandro gave a soft, dry smile.
"I heard Guo Chao's back working inside the association," he said calmly. "You tell me—can that kind of leadership fix Chinese football?"
The room went silent.
"This is the same team official who tried to extort players—and all he got was a slap on the wrist. Three drinks and he's back in charge? You think I'm going to play for that kind of system?"
He didn't raise his voice.
But every word landed like a punch.
"I have a career to protect," Alessandro said, eyes steady. "If they ever clean house and build something worthy of representing our country, then yes—I'll be there. But until then... I'm not interested in symbolism. I'm interested in change."
Then he turned and walked off.
Leaving the press stunned.
---
The Chinese reporters didn't argue.
They couldn't.
They'd seen this all before.
Every few years, someone tried to challenge the rot at the core of their football system. Every time, a few scapegoats were sacrificed, but the structure stayed the same.
For Alessandro to return, it would take a full reset. New leadership. Transparency.
In other words: impossible.
---
Inside the Chinese Football Association offices, the interview made its way to the top within hours.
Program Yuan, the general manager of the CFA, was livid.
"This is insubordination!" he barked.
"Calling out the Association on live television—this is absolutely unacceptable!"
To him, players were meant to obey. To follow orders. Not to question authority.
"He'll never wear the national team shirt again," Program Yuan said coldly. "As long as I'm in charge—he's done."
And for the foreseeable future, the Association played dead. No public response. No press releases. Just silence.
And Alessandro?
Blacklisted.
But that was all for another day.
---
Back in Manchester, assistant coach Mike Phelan raised an eyebrow.
"You let him go in front of the press?"
Ferguson smirked as they walked toward the tunnel.
"Didn't need to stop him," he said. "He handled it better than half the politicians I've seen."
"No need to babysit him?"
Ferguson laughed.
"That one doesn't need protection," he said. "He needs a football."
And with that, the boss was back to business.
"Next up: Liverpool."
Ferguson's voice lost all amusement.
That was the one fixture he never took lightly.
The Double Red.
Manchester United vs. Liverpool.
And he hated losing to them more than anyone.
---
That night, the team boarded their flight back to England.
Midair, Alessandro finally had a moment to breathe—and to check the system.
A small overlay flashed across his vision:
[Main Task Completed – Match Rating: S]
→ Reward: Basic Ball Control Upgrade
Ball control. The cornerstone of everything.
Dribbling. First touch. Protecting the ball. Navigating pressure.
Alessandro could already feel it—his sense of weight and contact had subtly improved. His feet moved just a little cleaner, a little tighter.
He also received two free attribute points.
He applied both to explosiveness.
His endurance and strength were already stable enough for midfield battles. But with faster acceleration, quicker reactions, and sharper bursts, his anticipation edge would grow even deadlier.
Because his greatest weapon wasn't physical.
It was mental.
The predictive engine running inside his head was already elite.
And explosiveness?
That just made it even more dangerous.
---
Then the system chimed again.
[New Main Task Unlocked: Basic Skill Enhancement]
→ Requirement: Raise Ball Control, Passing, and Shooting to Level 4
→ At least one must reach Level 5
→ Reward: Graded by performance
Alessandro narrowed his eyes.
That wouldn't be easy.
Skill upgrades required performance under pressure—not just practice. Executing in real matches, under real weight.
It would take time.
---
But then, another notification popped up:
[Side Mission Unlocked: Shine in the Double Red Derby]
→ Requirement: Get minutes against Liverpool and perform well
→ Reward: Based on match rating
Alessandro's mouth curved into a small grin.
The biggest rivalry in English football.
Old Trafford vs. Anfield.
Red vs. red.
And he might get his shot.
A seventeen-year-old midfielder, fresh off one historic night in Amsterdam—preparing to walk into Anfield.
---