The return to competitive football after the accident had been both triumphant and challenging for Mateo.
While his enhanced abilities through the System had elevated his play to extraordinary levels, the practical reality of being unable to speak presented daily obstacles that required creative solutions.
Communication, the lifeblood of team sports, had to be completely reimagined.
CF Barceloneta's training ground buzzed with nervous energy as the team prepared for their most important match of the season, the regional cup final against FC Barcelona's youth academy.
The prospect of facing La Masia's prospects had generated enormous excitement throughout the club, but it also brought pressure that some of the younger players were struggling to handle.
Mateo arrived early, as had become his custom, carrying his football and a small notebook that had become an essential tool for communication.
Sister María Elena had suggested the notebook as a way to bridge the gap between his thoughts and his teammates' understanding, and it had proven invaluable during tactical discussions and complex explanations.
"Morning, Mateo," Álex called out as he jogged onto the pitch. The captain had become increasingly comfortable with Mateo's silence, learning to read the subtle cues and gestures that conveyed more information than many players expressed with words.
Mateo nodded and smiled, then pointed to the goal and held up five fingers.
The message was clear: he wanted to practice shooting, and he intended to score five consecutive goals from different positions. It was a routine they had established over the past few weeks, with Mateo setting increasingly difficult challenges for himself while his teammates watched in amazement.
As the other players arrived and began their warm-up routines, Mateo started his shooting practice.
The System's guidance was constant and precise, helping him calculate the exact angle, power, and spin needed for each attempt.
His first shot curled around an imaginary wall and nestled in the top corner. His second was a low drive that skimmed the grass before finding the bottom corner. His third was a delicate chip that floated over Marc's outstretched hands.
Perfect technique, the System observed. Your shooting accuracy has improved by 23% since we began working together.
By the time Señor Vásquez called the team together for tactical preparation, Mateo had completed his shooting routine with characteristic precision. All five attempts had found the net, each one demonstrating a different aspect of his technical ability.
"Alright, boys," Señor Vásquez began, his voice carrying the weight of the occasion. "Today we face Barcelona's academy. They're talented, well-coached, and they'll expect to beat us easily. But we have something they don't have."
He paused, looking directly at Mateo. "We have a player who sees the game differently than anyone else. Mateo, show them what we discussed."
Mateo nodded and moved to the tactical board that Señor Vásquez had set up on the sideline.
Using a combination of gestures, positioning, and quick sketches in his notebook, he began to demonstrate the strategy they had developed for countering Barcelona's expected approach.
The communication was remarkably effective despite the absence of words.
Mateo pointed to different areas of the pitch, showing how Barcelona's players would likely position themselves during different phases of play. He used his hands to indicate the timing of runs, the direction of passes, and the spaces that would open up as the game developed.
When he wanted to show how Barcelona's fullbacks would push forward during attacks, he positioned himself wide and made overlapping runs.
When he demonstrated their midfield pressing, he moved quickly between different positions, showing how the space would compress and expand. His teammates watched intently, understanding the tactical concepts through pure visual demonstration.
"Do you see?" Álex asked David, who was nodding thoughtfully. "He's showing us exactly how they'll play, and how we can exploit it."
The most impressive part of Mateo's presentation came when he began to demonstrate the counter-attacking opportunities that would arise.
Using his notebook, he sketched quick diagrams showing how Barcelona's high defensive line could be beaten with precise timing and movement.
Then he acted out the scenarios, showing his teammates exactly where they needed to be and when they needed to make their runs.
They understand, the System confirmed. Your non-verbal communication is more effective than most coaches achieve with hours of verbal instruction.
The observation was accurate. Mateo's teammates had learned to read his body language, his positioning, and his subtle gestures with remarkable precision.
They understood that when he pointed to a specific area of the pitch, it meant they should focus their attention there.
When he made eye contact and nodded, it was a signal to begin a predetermined movement. When he held up his hand, it meant they should wait for the optimal moment to act.
As the training session progressed, the team worked on implementing the tactical plan that Mateo had outlined. The System provided constant feedback, helping him refine the timing and positioning that would be crucial against Barcelona's sophisticated approach.
Their left-back tends to drift inside when defending crosses, the System noted during a practice scenario. If Sergi makes his run two seconds later, he'll find space behind the defensive line.
Mateo immediately communicated this adjustment to Sergi through a combination of gestures and positioning.
He pointed to the left wing, held up two fingers to indicate the timing delay, then made a curved run to show the path Sergi should take. The winger understood immediately, and when they repeated the drill, the improvement was obvious.
The level of tactical sophistication that Mateo could convey without words was remarkable. He had developed an entire vocabulary of gestures, expressions, and movements that allowed him to communicate complex ideas with startling clarity.
His teammates had become fluent in this silent language, responding to his instructions with the precision of a well-rehearsed orchestra.
But it was during the actual match against Barcelona that the true effectiveness of Mateo's communication style became apparent.
The young La Masia players arrived with the confidence of a team accustomed to victory, their technical skills evident from the moment they began their warm-up routine.
"They're good," Pau observed nervously, watching Barcelona's players demonstrate the kind of ball control and passing accuracy that had made their academy famous worldwide.
Mateo nodded in agreement, but his expression remained calm and focused. The System was already analyzing Barcelona's warm-up patterns, identifying the tactical preferences and individual characteristics that would influence the match.
Their central midfielder favors his right foot and tends to drift toward the touchline when under pressure, the System noted. Their striker makes early runs but struggles with balls played behind him. Their fullbacks are technically excellent but can be caught out of position during quick transitions.
The information was invaluable, and Mateo immediately began communicating it to his teammates through their established system of signals.
A tap on his right foot indicated which side a player preferred. A gesture toward the touchline showed their movement tendencies. A quick backward motion demonstrated their weaknesses when defending in behind.