Chapter 9: Leaving Barcelona
"Sending me on loan to the Bundesliga?"
Enrique came out of his office when the training match was about to end.
As soon as he came out, he approached Luis with a serious face and informed him directly about the club's arrangement.
"Yes, I and the other members of the coaching staff all agree that you need to experience high-level matches to grow faster!"
Enrique said earnestly.
"There is currently no place for you in the first team, so we can only loan you out to another league."
Perhaps finding this explanation insufficiently convincing, he added:
"The positions in the youth team are also precious. We need to continue promoting and training new young players from the academy."
"You know, this is the longstanding tradition of Barcelona. We value youth development more than any other club!"
Luis naturally didn't believe his nonsense.
Rosell had just taken charge of the youth team, and now Enrique wanted to send him on loan.
If there were no ulterior motives behind this, he would write his name backward.
However, Luis did not oppose Enrique's decision to send him on loan.
Enrique was right to some extent; Luis indeed needed high-level matches to further improve his skills.
The recent training match with the first team had already proved that, after acquiring Messi's attributes at their peak, matches at the youth team level no longer provided much value in his development.
The Bundesliga had a shorter schedule and placed great importance on protecting and nurturing young players, making it a suitable environment for young talents to level up.
Therefore, Luis was satisfied with this arrangement.
However, he wouldn't let Enrique's scheme succeed easily.
So he deliberately spoke up, saying, "I'm quite happy at Barcelona. I'm not going anywhere!"
Upon hearing this, Enrique became anxious.
Rosell had instructed him to get rid of Luis, and he had assured Rosell that he would handle the matter properly.
If Luis didn't agree to the loan now, he would be in a difficult situation.
So, with a stern face, he threatened, "This is the club's decision. If you disagree, we have the right to terminate your contract!"
Facing Enrique's threat, Luis remained unfazed and asked, "Mr. Enrique, is this the club's decision or your personal choice?"
"Of course, it's the club's decision!"
"Oh, really? My father just resigned, and now the club is burning bridges. Is that how it is?"
"If that's really the case, I can go back and inform my father about the club's decision!"
"Of course not. The club definitely doesn't mean that. Your father is a respected coach of the team, and the club wouldn't do something as detrimental to its own interests!"
Enrique hurriedly explained.
"Oh? Since it's not the club's decision, then it's your personal choice as a coach, right?"
Spreading rumors about burning bridges and targeting Guardiola's family would be very ugly.
If this matter leaked and reached the media, it would create a big fuss in no time.
Moreover, Guardiola's status at Barcelona was much higher than his own. Many people believed that Guardiola had only temporarily left and would eventually return.
If it became known to the fans that a youth team coach had treated a club legend in such a manner, and if it completely infuriated Guardiola, causing him never to return, wouldn't the Barcelona fans devour him alive?
Even if he explained that it was the club's decision and President Rosell's order, it wouldn't matter.
It might even offend Rosell, who would certainly go all out against him.
Thinking of this, sweat started to form on Enrique's forehead. He had never felt so challenged by a 16-year-old brat before.
"Cough, it's not an order; it's just my personal suggestion. You don't have to go on loan if you don't want to. Let's not bother Coach Guardiola with this matter. He must be exhausted and needs rest..."
Enrique had to soften up; he couldn't push it any further.
The consequences of being pushy were already in front of him, and he couldn't bear that responsibility.
Seeing Enrique yielding, Luis felt a sense of relief and, with a smiling face, changed his tone:
"Well, thank you for your kind suggestion, Coach. Actually, I think going on loan to play high-level matches is a good idea!"
"Ah?"
Luis had just been vehemently arguing to stay at Barcelona and not leave. Why did he suddenly change his mind?
Enrique couldn't make sense of it and didn't know what was going on in Luis's mind.
"I personally agree to go on loan. However, since this is a significant matter, and I'm still young, I can't make the decision alone. I need to discuss it with my father and seek his opinion. What do you think, Coach?"
Enrique started to panic again. "No, no, there's no need for that. You can stay at Barcelona. It's not necessary to trouble Coach Guardiola with such a trivial matter. Forget what happened before!"
He was afraid that Luis would hold a grudge and report the incident to Guardiola.
He desperately tried to stop Luis.
But once Luis had made up his mind, it wouldn't be easily changed.
"How can that be? Since you, as the coach, have proposed such a good suggestion, I must express my gratitude. How about this, I'm still young, and I'm afraid I won't be able to explain this matter clearly when I go back. It might lead to misunderstandings. Why don't you take the trouble and personally explain your arrangement to my father?"
Luis emphasized the words "lead to misunderstandings," causing Enrique to panic.
"No need, no need. I have other matters to attend to. I won't go!"
Enrique was already regretting it. How could he be so unlucky as to provoke such a stubborn brat?
Telling Guardiola at his house that the club had discarded his foster son?
He wasn't a fool. He wouldn't engage in such a mockery.
His heart disease was about to flare up again!
Seeing Enrique flee in panic, Luis shrugged. How could he bear to let him escape so easily?
Shaking his head, he went back to the dressing room, took a shower, changed his clothes, packed his things, and left the training ground directly.
From this moment on, he completely cut off all ties with La Masia, Barcelona's youth academy, and the club.