Wanted

@FootballAnalyst101 tweeted: "Umm guys, I think we need to have a proper conversation about Luka Zorić. These stats are not normal. No player has performed like this at his age.

18 games, 14 goals, 19 assists

Bundesliga: 9 games, 5 goals, 8 assists

Champions League: 3 games, 0 goals, 4 assists

DFB-Pokal: 1 game, 1 goal, 2 assists

World Cup Qualifiers: 4 games, 7 goals, 4 assists

Even if we take away his World Cup qualifier stats, Zorić's numbers are insane: 14 games, 7 goals, 15 assists That's still 1.57 goal contributions per game."

@FootballDaily responded: "People are calling him the new R9, but that's not accurate. If we're truly comparing Luka to any player, we need to look at his overall game. His ability to drop deep, his heat map, his unpredictability - it's unique.

Drops deep like a playmaker (85% pass completion in own half)

Dribbling success rate of 81% (highest in top 5 leagues)

4.7 key passes per 90 (1st in Bundesliga)

89% shot accuracy"

His dribbling isn't just for show like Ronaldinho's or Neymar's can be. Every move has a purpose. His decision-making in the final third is off the charts for a 17-year-old.

His weakest traits are strength and finishing, but he's improving rapidly. His finishing is already better than many established strikers."

All in all I'd say Zorić is difficult to compare to any player, his versatility and proficiency reminds me of Messi but with the added flair… I'd say he's simply incomparable to any, one player. And if he stays on this path, we're looking at the heir to Messi and Ronaldo. Mbappé and Haaland will need to step up, or this will be the Luka Zorić era. "

…

All the while Luka paced the length of his apartment, his sock-clad feet sinking into the plush carpet.

October had been a rollercoaster. With Croatia, everything was good. But Dortmund... He frowned, the reduced game time, no chance at the player of the month award…

Nevermind that, they were in November now , a chance to renew themselves, their next match loomed large. Ajax again, this time away from home. If they lost again, they'd drop below Sporting to third.

There was also the Puma deal, still under legal review. Soon, he'd have millions in his account, the biggest deal any youngster had ever signed. The thought made his head spin.

"I'm seventeen," he murmured to the empty room, "with the abilities to classify myself as one of the best of all time."

Could he improve more? Maintain his skills? He was already working hard. But was it enough?

Restlessness gnawed at him, an itch he couldn't scratch. Being in Germany had been... well, boring. He'd tried to deny it, to embrace the cultural differences and the new experiences. But the truth was inescapable. Sometimes he'd go over to Jude's place, the two of them laughing over FIFA matches or swapping stories about life back home. But even that couldn't make up for the long, lonely hours in this apartment.

He toyed with the idea of going out, of experiencing the Dortmund nightlife. But reality quickly asserted itself. No security, and with COVID still lurking, it wasn't worth the risk. His career, his future, was too precious to gamble with a night on the town.

"A hobby," he said aloud, the sound of his own voice startling in the quiet apartment. "I need a hobby."

Luka grabbed his laptop, settling onto the couch as he began to search. Cooking classes? He grimaced, remembering the last time he'd attempted to make anything more complicated than pasta. Music? Good shout actually.

His eyes fell on the balance of his bank account, €56,000 sitting there, waiting to be used. It was a drop in the ocean compared to what was coming, but it was still a lot.

A notification popped up on his phone - another Invis interview request. He swiped it away, but not before catching sight of his follower count. 650,000 now.

On a whim, he opened Twitter, fingers hovering over the keys before he typed: "Bored and looking for a new hobby. Any suggestions?😅"

The response was instant, his notifications exploding.

Buy a racehorse.

Start a YouTube channel.

Luka chuckled, imagining the headlines if he suddenly became a vlogger.

As he scrolled, a few ideas caught his eye. Photography appealed to him. He could certainly afford top-of-the-line equipment. Or maybe painting?

Then, buried in the replies, a suggestion that made him pause: "Why not start a charity? Use your platform for good!"

It was already part of the plan with Puma, but the idea of getting a head start on it appealed to him. He could begin laying the groundwork now, combining it with his lessons in investment and finance.

"Why wait?" he murmured to himself, opening a new tab to jot down some initial ideas. This could be the perfect way to channel his energy.

The next morning, Luka arrived at training feeling more energized than he had in weeks. The session flew by, his touches crisp, his passes laser-focused. As he jogged off the pitch, he caught Jude's eye, both of them grinning. It had been a good day.

Meanwhile, across the channel, a very different conversation was taking place...

---

The autumn chill nipped at Pep Guardiola's ears as he paced the sidelines of Manchester City's training ground. The metronome-like thud of boots striking balls provided a backbeat to the scene, punctuated by occasional shouts and the shrill blast of whistles. He pulled his coat tighter around him, his eyes never leaving the training session unfolding before him.

But despite that Pep's mind was elsewhere. It had been for weeks now, ever since he'd first laid eyes on the young phenom lighting up the Bundesliga. Luka Zorić. The name alone was enough to set his mind running.

"Penny for your thoughts, Pep?"

The voice startled him. Khaldoon Al Mubarak had approached silently, a steaming cup of coffee in each hand. He offered one to Pep, who took it gratefully.

"Ah, Khaldoon," Pep said, a small smile playing on his lips. "Just watching the lads. De Bruyne's looking sharp today, don't you think?"

Khaldoon chuckled, seeing right through the deflection. "Come now, Pep. We both know where your mind's been lately. Did Ferran receive any word from Puma?"

Pep's face fell slightly. "No luck there, I'm afraid. They're not willing to risk their relationship with Dortmund or the player."

"Shame," Khaldoon mused, taking a sip of his coffee. "But not unexpected. These things are delicate."

They stood in companionable silence for a moment, watching as Riyad Mahrez dribbled through cones.

"You know," Khaldoon began, his tone careful, "I've been meaning to ask you something, Pep."

"Oh?" Pep raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued.

"This Zorić boy... why are you so set on him? Don't get me wrong, his numbers are impressive, insane actually. But he's not exactly your typical player, is he? All that flair, the creative freedom. It's a far cry from your usual system."

Pep couldn't help but laugh. "Ah, Khaldoon, my friend. That's where you're wrong. Luka is exactly the type of player I've always coveted."

He turned to face Khaldoon fully, his eyes alight with passion. "Think back to my Barcelona days. Messi, Iniesta, Xavi. Or Bayern - Ribéry, Robben. What did they all have in common?"

Khaldoon considered for a moment. "Exceptional technical ability, certainly. Vision. Football intelligence."

"Exactly!" Pep exclaimed, his voice rising with excitement. "But more than that, they were players who understood the importance of the collective. They had the individual brilliance to change a game, yes, but they also knew how to use that brilliance within the framework of a larger system."

He began to pace, his words coming faster now. "Luka... he's cut from the same cloth. Have you watched him play? Really watched him?"

Khaldoon nodded. "I've seen the highlight reels, of course."

Pep waved a dismissive hand. "Highlight reels don't do him justice. It's the little things. The way he moves off the ball. The passes he makes before the assist. The space he creates for his teammates. At 17, he already has a instinctive understanding of the game that some players never achieve in their entire careers."

"But surely," Khaldoon interjected, "players like that are difficult to integrate into a system as... specific as yours?"

Pep's eyes twinkled. "That's the beauty of it, Khaldoon. My system, as you call it, it's not a cage. It's a framework. A foundation. And with a player like Luka, we could build something truly special."

He turned back to the training session, his gaze distant, a layer of controlled insanity forming. "Imagine him on the left, cutting inside. Foden dropping deep to create space. De Bruyne making those late runs into the box. The possibilities..."

Khaldoon nodded slowly, beginning to see the vision Pep was painting. "And you think he'd fit in here? Culturally, I mean."

"That's the other thing," Pep said, his voice softening. "He was with United's youth setup, he understands English football, the pressures, the expectations. Bu from what Mendes has told me he hasn't... how do you say it? Indoctrinated into their way of thinking. We can mold him, help him reach his full potential."

"Speaking of United," Khaldoon said, his tone careful, "that buy option in his loan agreement with Dortmund... €2 million, was it? Seems like quite an oversight on their part."

Pep couldn't help but chuckle. "An opportunity for us, my friend. But we're not the only ones who've noticed. Every big club in Europe is after him now. It's going to be a fight."

"And you think we can win that fight?" Khaldoon asked, his eyebrow raised.

"I think we can offer him something unique," Pep replied, his voice firm. "A clear path to greatness. World-class facilities, a stable environment, and a style of play that will challenge him to grow while showcasing his abilities."

He paused, watching as Phil Foden executed a perfect through ball. "I've never seen any player with his level of talent since Messi and Foden, trust me Khaldoon, we'll be investing in a future Ballon d'Or winner."

Khaldoon nodded thoughtfully. "It's certainly an intriguing prospect. But what about our current squad? Who makes way for him?"

Pep sighed, running a hand through his hair. "That's the difficult part, isn't it? Sterling's future is... uncertain. And Grealish, well, he's been good, but..."

"But Zorić offers something different?" Khaldoon finished for him.

"Exactly," Pep nodded. "A new dimension to our attack. And at his age, we'd be securing our future for years to come."

They fell into silence for a moment, both lost in thought. The training session was winding down now, players beginning to jog towards the sidelines.

"You know," Khaldoon said finally, "when you first came to us, you talked about building something lasting. A legacy."

Pep nodded, remembering those early conversations. "I meant every word."

"I believe you did," Khaldoon smiled. "And I think this... this could be a key part of that legacy. A player like Zorić, shaped by your philosophy from such a young age like Foden... it's an exciting prospect."

Pep's eyes lit up. "So you're on board?"

Khaldoon held up a hand, chuckling. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. There's still a lot to consider. The financials, the logistics of the transfer... not to mention the small matter of convincing the player himself."

"Of course, of course," Pep nodded, trying to temper his excitement. "But it's a start, no?"

"It's a start," Khaldoon agreed. "Now, why don't you walk me through exactly how you see him fitting into our setup? Tactically, I mean."

Pep's face broke into a wide grin. "Ah, now you're speaking my language, my friend. Come, let's go to my office. I have some diagrams I want to show you..."

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New story: A Quiet Place Day One