Chapter 27: Another Two Years of Development
The second half had only just begun, yet the tempo inside the stadium was already rising again.
Santos, trailing by one goal at home, had no intention of accepting defeat quietly. Their players pushed higher up the pitch, pressing aggressively, while the home fans responded with waves of chants that rolled across the stands like thunder.
Ken stood near the midfield line, glancing repeatedly toward his own defensive half. He could clearly sense the shift in momentum. The first half had belonged to São Paulo, but the match was far from over.
52nd Minute
Santos attacked down the flank again. Cicero sprinted toward the byline and whipped a fast cross into the penalty area. Willian José reacted sharply, slipping ahead of his marker and meeting the ball with a powerful header.
The entire stadium held its breath.
The ball skimmed just above the crossbar.
Ken exhaled slowly. Too close.
On the sidelines, São Paulo head coach Ramalho gestured urgently, calling for the midfield line to drop deeper. Santos' pressure was beginning to stretch the defensive shape.
58th Minute
Another Santos attack.
Montillo cut inside from the left after escaping Rodrigo's challenge and rolled the ball toward the edge of the penalty area. Cicero followed up with a first-time strike that forced veteran goalkeeper Rogério Ceni to dive full length to his right.
The crowd gasped as Ceni pushed the ball wide with the tip of his glove.
Even at forty, the legendary goalkeeper was still the team's final line of certainty.
Ken jogged back into position, clapping his hands loudly.
"Stay compact! Don't let them turn in the middle!"
His voice carried clearly across the pitch. Teammates nodded, tightening the formation.
65th Minute
Under sustained pressure, São Paulo finally found a moment to breathe.
Denílson intercepted a pass in midfield and quickly fed the ball forward to Ken. Without hesitation, Ken accelerated into open space, driving through the center before slipping a pass to the right.
The counterattack looked promising—but Fabiano's shot struck a defender and deflected wide.
Ken placed his hands on his hips for a moment, then jogged back calmly. There was no frustration on his face—only focus. The next opportunity would come.
Tactical Adjustment
Recognizing the need for fresh energy up front, Ramalho made a substitution in the 68th minute, bringing on Aloísio. The powerful striker immediately added physical presence to the attack, battling defenders with relentless intensity.
With Aloísio occupying the center-backs, Ken gained slightly more room to operate between the lines. The change was subtle, but effective.
75th Minute
Another chance emerged.
Receiving a short pass from Denílson, Ken turned smoothly in midfield and surged forward, slipping past one defender before drawing a second. Just as the defensive line collapsed toward him, he released a perfectly timed through ball to Aloísio on the left.
Aloísio powered toward the byline and delivered a low cross into the six-yard box.
Ken sprinted forward, launching into a diving header.
The goalkeeper reacted instantly, stretching one arm to deflect the ball wide.
Ken rolled to his feet and clapped once again. "Good play—keep going!"
Even the opposing defenders exchanged glances. The young forward's movement without the ball was relentless; he never stopped searching for space.
81st Minute
Santos earned a dangerous free kick just outside the penalty area after Lúcio committed a foul. For a moment, the home crowd roared with renewed hope.
Cicero stepped up, adjusted the ball, and struck—
High. Over the stands.
A wave of disappointed groans echoed around the stadium.
Ken quietly signaled his teammates to stay composed. Only minutes remained.
Final Defensive Push
As the clock ticked toward full time, Santos committed more players forward, launching cross after cross into the penalty area. São Paulo responded by dropping deeper, defending with discipline. Even Ken tracked back repeatedly, helping close passing lanes and pressing opponents from behind.
Aloísio, meanwhile, acted as the lone outlet for counterattacks, holding the ball up whenever possible to relieve pressure.
In stoppage time, Santos launched one final desperate attack, but the defensive line held firm.
93rd minute — the final whistle.
São Paulo secured a hard-fought 2–1 away victory, extending their winning streak once again.
Ken, whose first-half goals had made the difference, was named Man of the Match.
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After the Match
Near the touchline, Neymar stepped onto the pitch after greeting former teammates and walked toward Ken with a broad smile.
"Great performance," he said, offering a handshake that turned into a quick embrace.
Ken laughed softly. "Thanks. It wasn't easy today."
They exchanged a few quiet words before heading toward the tunnel. Outside the stadium later that night, Neymar insisted on driving Ken back to the training base.
"You're still turning down invitations, huh?" Neymar joked. "One day you'll have to relax a little."
Ken leaned back in the passenger seat, smiling. "Maybe someday. For now, I'd rather keep my focus."
The red sports car rolled through the city streets, the noise of the stadium gradually fading behind them.
Before parting, Neymar gave his friend one last pat on the shoulder.
"Keep improving. Europe won't be far away."
Ken nodded. "And you take care too."
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Back to Routine
The following morning, training resumed as usual.
While rumors about European clubs continued to circulate, Ken's routine remained unchanged: early fitness sessions, technical drills, and additional practice after official training ended. Coaches noticed that despite the growing attention from abroad, the young forward showed no signs of distraction.
Wagner later informed him that negotiations with several European clubs had stalled. Many teams were interested, but few were willing to guarantee immediate playing time.
Ken simply nodded.
"That's fine. I'm not in a hurry."
To him, development mattered more than a premature transfer. Another one or two seasons of consistent matches in Brazil would strengthen both his experience and physical readiness.
For now, the path was clear: keep playing, keep improving, and let performance decide the future.
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Next Match
A few days later, São Paulo hosted Bahia. Ken started once again and, although he did not score, he provided two assists that helped the team secure a convincing 3–0 victory.
After the match, a veteran teammate joked in the locker room,
"Looks like you've upgraded from scorer to playmaker now."
Ken laughed. "Whatever helps the team win."
Inside, however, he knew something important had changed. Opponents were beginning to defend him more aggressively, forcing him to adapt—passing earlier, moving smarter, and influencing the game beyond goals alone.
Growth was happening, step by step.
And if everything continued on this trajectory, staying another two years might not be a delay at all—it might be the foundation for something far greater.