The Internet Erupts
The morning after the match, Luca woke up to the buzzing of his phone.
He rolled over in bed, eyes squinting against the screen's brightness. Notifications were stacked like a mountain.
Twitter (X), Instagram, TikTok… all flooded.
Clips of his goal, the assist, and especially the nutmeg moment had gone viral.
@BarcaBlaugrana24: "LUCA HERRERA. WHO IS THIS KID?!🔥 One goal, one assist, one Ronaldinho flick. Insane debut."
@LaMasiaTalent: "Another gem rising. Remember the name. Luca Herrera. 16 years old. Born for the big stage."
@ESPNFC: "Barça B's comeback yesterday powered by this teenage magician. Ronaldinho vibes.👀"
@blaugrana_analysis: "His vision, balance, first touch… all elite for his age. Pure La Masia DNA."
Even former players and pundits chimed in.
Andrés Iniesta, via Instagram story:"Beautiful football. #LaMasia"
Thierry Henry, on a French podcast:"That kid Herrera… wow. He's got something. He's got sauce."
Luca smiled, heart beating faster. But he didn't let it go to his head. Not for long, at least.
"One good game isn't the destination. It's just the first step."
Later That Day – The Apartment
Luca stood outside a sunlit, clean modern building in the heart of Sant Joan Despí, just minutes from Ciutat Esportiva.
The new apartment wasn't huge, but it was perfect: two bedrooms, an open kitchen, a balcony, and a clear view of the mountains.
His father stepped out of the moving truck with one of the final boxes. Sweat on his brow, but a soft smile on his face.
"This place is nice, huh?" Mateo said, glancing around.
Luca placed a hand on his dad's shoulder.
"It's more than nice. It's home. Our home."
They walked inside, unboxed slowly, built furniture, laughed at crooked cabinets, and by sunset, the space started to feel lived in.
Later that night, as they sat on the balcony eating sandwiches and looking out over the city lights, Luca turned serious.
"Dad," he said, "I want you to stop working."
Mateo blinked.
"What?""I'm serious. With what I'm earning now… you don't need to work anymore. You've done enough. It's my turn."
Mateo shook his head at first, resisting like any proud father would.
"I don't want you to feel like you owe me—""I don't," Luca interrupted. "I just want you to live. Rest. Read. Travel if you want. Be happy."
Silence settled between them, thick with emotion.
Finally, Mateo exhaled.
"Alright," he said. "But only because you asked."
They clinked their soda cans together in quiet celebration.
Next Day – Back to Work
Back at Ciutat Esportiva, Luca was the first one to arrive for training.
He jogged quietly around the training pitch, headphones in, going through his mental routine.
When Coach Rafa Márquez showed up, he nodded with quiet approval.
"Early bird," he said."Every day," Luca replied.
Practice began — high tempo, sharp drills, intense focus.
Noah Darvich gave Luca a playful nudge after a slick passing sequence.
"Someone's famous now," he teased."Shut up and pass me the ball," Luca grinned.
Throughout the session, Luca worked harder than ever. His passes were sharper, movements cleaner, pressure heavier. The coaching staff noticed.
Afterward, Márquez gathered the squad.
"Next match — away against SD Logroñés. They're tough, compact. We need discipline, patience, and a spark."
Luca's eyes narrowed.He was ready to be that spark again.
System Notification
[Apartment Unlocked: Your Own Space]➤ Mentality +1➤ Recovery Speed +1➤ Father's stress levels reduced.
New Objective:– Contribute in the next 3 league games.– Maintain starting spot.
💡 "The pressure is real. But now I know who I'm doing this for."