At the hotel, his eyes were busy reading carefully about the club's history, their playing philosophy, and the players who had developed there.
Each name that appeared made him realize just how big this opportunity was.
Benfica was not just any club.
If Porto was the giant of Portugal, then Benfica was a far greater historical monument.
However, one thing he didn't realize was the role of someone behind the scenes who had opened this path for him.
Jorge Mendes!! Super agent Jorge Mendes.
A name that had never crossed his mind.
For Arghana, the only person who could potentially be his agent was Mas Alen, someone who once said he would take a sports agent course.
Even if Arghana knew that someone like Mendes had given him this glimmer of hope, he might not understand how significant it was.
What he knew was that there was a second chance before him. And this time, he couldn't afford to waste it.
===
That morning, Arghana departed for Lisbon, the city that was home to one of the most historic clubs in Portugal—SL Benfica.
Compared to Porto, which was more classic and calm, Lisbon felt busier, more cosmopolitan.
The city stood atop seven hills, with views of the expansive Tagus River.
As the train he was on entered the station, he could see the characteristic architecture of the city—old buildings adorned with blue-and-white azulejos tiles, radiating a Southern European vibe.
Upon arriving at the trial venue, the atmosphere immediately reminded him of Porto.
Both filled with young players of Portuguese and Latin American descent, each carrying their own ambitions.
Language remained a barrier.
There weren't many words exchanged, only polite nods and evaluative glances between one player and another.
The competition in the air felt thicker than the oxygen he was breathing.
Without wasting time, Arghana quickly got ready and joined the training session.
As usual, he applied the breathing method from Dr. Annelies, repeating it over and over like a mantra.
Inhale deeply, exhale slowly. Repeat. And repeat.
He spent two full days with high intensity, preparing for the final trial match at Benfica.
On the first day, he mostly observed, soaking in the rhythm of the training, learning the team's playing style, and the technical standards applied by the coach.
On the second day, he began to adjust.
His body could still hold up thanks to the breathing control he had practiced all this time, but technically and tactically? He still felt he had to catch up.
In between training sessions, there was a moment when he felt déjà vu.
This situation reminded him of his training sessions at Go Ahead Eagles—where he had to work even harder just to get the ball.
The difference here was that the pressure was much higher.
Every pass that was even slightly late was immediately intercepted by another player.
Every physical duel, despite the increased strength of his body, still felt like a collision between rock and wood.
He wasn't the weakest player, but he wasn't the strongest either.
Yet, he persevered. Quietly, with hard work, pushing all the doubts out of his head.
These two days weren't about proving himself to others, but proving to himself that he belonged here.
Then, the third day arrived. The final trial match at Benfica was waiting for him.