Chapter 3: Back To The Grind Stone

So much time had passed since that fateful day when Mario ended up receiving this new system. In the time he used his off season to just learn more about his new ability and now he was getting quiet the hang of it. He was currently driving towards the Man City Training Center and it was a rather nice sunny day to drive around Manchester.

*Bzzt*Bzzt*

Mario's phone rang picking it up he put it on speaker.

"Ciao(Hello)," he greeted the caller. "Mario, it's Mino." the man was his agent and it was rather unperculiar for him to call the youngster so early in the morning. "Ah, Mino good morning to you too, I'm currently driving to practise. Where are you?" Mario asked.

"Am at practise and Mario, your late."

"What? What do you mean I'm late?"

"Mario, practise started 30 minutes ago." hearing this Mario looked shocked. "What?! But we always start at 8:00 AM!?"

"Well it's a new season so new time to start...just get your butt here already Mario, this kind of insolence will make it very hard for me to sway the club to resign you." Mino stated and when Mario heard this he just hardened. "Don't worry, Mino II'll get there in a flash."

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The fact that Mario had almost crashed into five cars on his way here was already out of his mind as the fact that he was late for training didn't sit well with him. The last thing he needed was getting on the wrong foot with the Man City brass...he still had work to do in the Prem and he wasn't ready to move on.

Running through the halls of the training center he ran passed a wet floor sign only for him to skid a bit and almost fall.

"Ehi!" Mario turned around expecting to apologise to the cleaner but no he was being called by his agent. "Do you know what's worse than being late for training? Ending your time with the club and possibily your career by getting injured!?" Mino shouted. "Mino!" Mario whinned. "There's no need to speak about my carelessness out loud so that everyone in the whole center can hear you." Mario replied.

"Why are you late anyway?"

"Well...I...I was busy...with some things."

"Things?"

"Yeah...things."

"What kind of things?" Mario wasn't ready to tell people about his new ability since he knew very well that when you tell one person the news would spread like fire in a dry forest so he decided to keep it to himself for now. Just to be safe.

"Personal things." he replied as Mino mused. "You weren't in the clubs last night were you Mario, knowing very well that you had practise the next day."

"Of course not Mino, how could you think so little of me, the last thing I need is getting more drama on me especially after all the things I did last season, almost everyone in England has had enough of me. Right now I just want to start of this season on good behaviour and hopefully with time people will forget the events they saw last season."

"Mhm." Mino replied still not convinced but Mario decided to change the subject. "Yeah so like have you gone to speak with the team yet?"

"Yes but with the way you finished last season buy giving Aguero that assist to make City win the league for the first timeover United was beautiful, I'm pretty sure your in their high praises." he stated.

"I mean like yeah...the pass was very STAGGERING after all."

"I wouldn't call it that since I'm pretty sure that was aimed for Sergio but hey you never know. Anyway about the my meeting with Al Mubarak well the board is having two minds with you."

"Two minds?! After the season I've had?! They can't think that! I'm 'The Man' at this club!" Mario declared. "Look Mario, I know you are and so do you but after all the media fuss you made last season they really aren't thinking off keeping you long term."

"But Miro."

"I know...I know you want to prove yourself here and I get that but your going to need to persuade the board. So for this season only our goal is to prove to everyone who Mario Balotelli is."

"Yeah...I like that...this season Mino...this is my season. And everyone should look out."

Mino just nodded when he heard this.

Going to the dressing room and quickly changing into his workout clothes. Mario ran up to the field where everyone was listening in to Roberto Mancini's talk.

"...so gentlemen because it is a new season, you will need to perform well onto that pitch every time you step on it. Starting right now as if we want to have another chance to go back-to-back with this title we need to be on peak fitness for the first game against Chelsea for the Community Shield on Sunday. Am I understood?" Mario walked up to the team as the team dispereced.

"Ah, there he is the man of the hour. Spent to much time on the beach there Mario? Where you working on your sun tan?" Roberto asked as he noticed the youngster.

"I don't have a sun tan coach and sorry for being late."

"Well better late than never...just make sure it's not a daily occurance Mario I would not want to dock your wages." Mario nodded as he understood he'd have to deal with some serious consequences.

"Anyway I hope you kept sharp over the break since were starting practise with a nice 11v11 90 minute scrimmage." he stated as Mario looked pumped since now he had a chance to work with his new system and see what it had to offer on the pitch. "I'm actually read to go when you are coach." he replied as Roberto smirked. "That's what I like to hear."

As Mario being part of the Starters he wore the green bib. The subs and reserves being combined wore orange that way there was no confusion. As Mario went towards the mid circle to kick off the scrimmage he noticed a screen pop up.

Manchester City vs Manchester City

Training Ground

The screen showed as the emblems were beside the team names. 'Oh so I was right this is FIFA...it has the same interphase as the game.' he thought as it was then replaced by four things. on the lower left side of his eye he saw his name and energy bar. The lower part he saw the pitch's map which seemed of good use to him as now he knew the location of both his teammates and opposition. 'I could actually use this to do vey key build up passes and support runs when needed.' he thought at all the things he could do with this feature. On the top right it was his name once more but this time with his match rating and on the top left it was the good old FIFA score board that showed the time and the score which was 0-0.

'This...is going to be fun.' he then kicked off the game as he passed to Sergio Aguero. The team was lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with him and Sergio as strike partners.