The opening theme music of La Liga Analysis Tonight faded as the studio lights brightened.
Three pundits sat around a sleek glass table, their names and titles appearing on the screen: Carlos Ruiz (Former Spanish International), Elena Torres (Football Journalist), and Luis Mateo (Analyst and Statistician).
On the screen behind them, a highlight reel played of Izanâs recent exploits against RCD Mallorca. The footage of his goalâa dazzling solo effort finished with a strike into the top cornerâreplayed in slow motion.
Host: "Welcome back to La Liga Analysis Tonight. The name on everyoneâs lips is Izan Hernandez, Valenciaâs 15-year-old prodigy.
His performance against RCD Mallorca has sparked a whirlwind of attention. But can he live up to the hype?
And how will he fare in this weekendâs clash with Athletic Bilbao, a team known for their physicality and high press? Letâs get right into it. Carlos, you first. What do you think of Izanâs potential?"
Carlos leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his face.
Carlos Ruiz: "Look, thereâs no denying the kid is talented. That goal was sensational, and heâs got great instincts.
But letâs not get carried away. Heâs 15. One great game doesnât make him the next Messi or Ronaldo. Athletic Bilbao will be a much tougher testâphysically and tactically. Iâm not sure heâs ready."
Elena Torres: "Come on, Carlos. Give the boy some credit. One game, Huh, Carlos? This boy dismantled Atlético Madrid.
I donât know if you saw that match but in pre-season, he did the same with Tottenham.
Once again in this match, what impressed me most wasnât just the goal but his composure and decision-making.
He didnât shy away from the big moment, and thatâs rare at his age. Athletic Bilbao will be a challenge, sure, but this is a chance for him to prove himself against a tougher opponent."
Luis, the analyst, gestured toward the screen where Izanâs stats were displayed.
Luis Mateo: "Letâs bring some data into the conversation. In his last match, Izan completed 91% of his passes, created three chances, and had five successful dribbles.
Not forgetting, this kid now tops Laliga in both Goals and assists. This has never happened. The teams he met on the way to accomplishing this task werenât ordinary.
Real Sociedad, Atlético and Sevilla among others.
For a player his age, those numbers are extraordinary. However, Carlos is also right about Athleticâs physicality.
Theyâll target him. If he can handle that pressure, we might be looking at a generational talent and I think he can do it.
If he did it with Atlético Madrid, why not against Bilbao".
Carlos Ruiz: "Thatâs a big âif,â Luis. Kids like Izan often crumble under the weight of expectations.
Heâs suddenly the centre of media attention, and Bilbaoâs defenders will make sure he feels every tackle. Itâs too soon to call him a generational talent."
Elena Torres: "I disagree. Football is about moments, and Izan has already shown he can deliver when it counts. Yes, heâs young, but sometimes youth brings fearlessness. I think heâll rise to the occasion."
The host interjected, his voice tinged with amusement.
Host: "So, Carlos thinks heâll struggle, Elena sees him shining, and Luis is cautiously optimistic. Letâs see how this unfolds on Sunday.
Meanwhile, social media is buzzing with opinions. Letâs take a look at what the fans are saying."
---
On Twitter, the hashtag #Izan Hernandez was trending, with fans and critics sharing their opinions in droves.
(@ValenciaDieHard):
"Izan is the future of Valencia. Forget the hatersâthis kidâs got it all. Canât wait to see him tear Bilbao apart! #AmuntValencia"
(@BilbaoArmy):
"Bilbaoâs defence is going to eat this kid alive. Heâs not ready for the big leagues. Stay in your lane, Izan. #AthleticBilbao"
(@FootballNeutral):
"15 years old and already making headlines? Izan MartĂnez is a joy to watch. Letâs hope the pressure doesnât crush him. #LaLigaWonderkid"
(@CriticCentral):
"The mediaâs overhyping another teenager. Weâve seen this story before. Give it a few months, and heâll disappear like so many others. #IzanMiura"
---
Izan, lying on his bed with his phone in hand, scrolled through the tweets. "If only they knew," he said with a smile.
For Izan, this match was just another means to stamp his name in the minds of the crowd. With the system, coupled with his efforts, Izan couldnât fail even if he wanted to.
A direct message notification popped up. It was from a fan.
DM from @YoungValenciaFan:
"Hi Izan, I just wanted to say youâre my hero. Watching you play gives me hope that I can make it, too, someday. Donât let the critics get to you. We believe in you!"
Izan smiled. He typed a quick reply:
"Thanks for the kind words. Iâll do my best on Sunday!"
...
The next morning, another popular football show, Tactical Talk, aired an in-depth analysis of Izanâs upcoming match against Athletic Bilbao.
The analyst pointed to a heatmap of Izanâs movements against RCD Mallorca.
Analyst 1: "This is where Izan excelsâfinding pockets of space between the lines and exploiting them.
However, Bilbaoâs midfield will be far more disciplined, and their defence is known for closing down space quickly."
Analyst 2: "Agreed, but itâs also worth noting how calm Izan is under pressure. Watch this clip from his last game."
The screen showed Izan receiving the ball with two defenders closing in. A quick flick of his foot took him past both before he delivered a pinpoint pass to a teammate.
Analyst 1: "If he can replicate this level of composure, he could unlock Bilbaoâs defence. But the question remains: Can he handle the physical challenges theyâll throw at him?"
...
On YouTube, a group of Valencia fans hosted a livestream discussing Izanâs potential.
Host: "Alright, chat, letâs talk about Izan Hernandez Is he ready for Bilbao, or are we setting him up to fail?"
The chat exploded with comments:
"Izanâs got the talent. He just needs to keep his head down and play his game."
"Bilbaoâs defence will humble him. Mark my words."
"Heâs 15! Why are we putting so much pressure on him already?"
"Pressure makes diamonds. Izan will shine!"
The host chuckled. "Seems like the opinions are as divided as the punditsâ. I think heâll do well. But even if he struggles, heâs young. This is just the beginning for him."
.....
The training session had ended, but the adrenaline still pulsed through Izanâs veins. The scrimmage match had been intense, but he had thrived under the pressure.
Two goals, an assist, and a flick that left a Cenk Ozkacar in his wake had his teammates talking. A few, like Pietro and Sosa, also stood laughing at Cenk, who always bodied Pietro in training.
"He was able to beat me. Why donât you try?" Cenk said with a smirk, but Pietro just turned and walked away. "Coward" the former said while getting up.
As the players dispersed, some patted him on the back. The players hadnât jumped to anyoneâs side during Izanâs scuffle with the club because they didnât know what had gone on.
To them, there was nothing wrong as none of the nonsense the media spewed had gone on.
So when the smoke was cleared, they finally understood what had gone on.
Izan was bending down to tie his laces when he heard footsteps crunching on the grass.
Looking up, he saw Coach Ruben Baraja walking toward him, his hands tucked into the pockets of his black Valencia jacket.
Baraja stopped a few feet away, his piercing gaze softened by the faintest hint of a smile. For a moment, he didnât say anything, letting the silence settle.
"You were brilliant out there today, Izan," Baraja said finally, his voice calm but firm. "Confident. Sharp.
That second goalâtaking on two defenders and finishing like that? Thatâs the kind of football we need this weekend."
Izan straightened, his chest swelling with pride. Being praised was always good."Thank you, Coach. Iâve been working on staying calm in front of goal."
Baraja nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I can see that. But itâs not just about the goals. Your movement, your visionâitâs like youâre reading the game a second ahead of everyone else. Thatâs special, Izan. Not many players have that."
A loud silence descended after Baraja finished speaking. "Haaaah, Iâm so sorry, Izan. The greed of the club almost created havoc. Now, on orders of the chairman, I can use you how I want and I hope youâre ready" Baraja broke the silence.
Izan felt a surge of warmth at Barajaâs words. "I understand, Coach, and itâs okay; I just want to help the team, Coach. Whatever it takes."
Baraja studied him for a moment, then stepped closer, his tone lowering slightly. "How are you feeling, Izan? Not just physicallyâbut mentally.
Thereâs a lot of noise around you right now. The media, the fans, the critics. Are you ready for whatâs coming?"
Izan hesitated, caught off guard by the question. He looked down at his boots, scuffed from the session, then back at Baraja. "Itâs... a lot," he admitted. "But Iâm trying to block it out. Focus on my game."
Barajaâs smile widened, faint but genuine. "Good. Well, since youâre good, then Iâm starting you against Athletic Bilbao."
Izanâs smiled at his words before saying a curt "thank you".
Baraja nodded "Bilbao will be toughâtheyâll press hard, theyâll be physical, and theyâll try to intimidate you. But I believe you can handle it. And I need you to believe it too."
"I do," Izan said, his voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside him. "I wonât let you down, Coach."
Baraja placed a hand on his shoulder, his grip firm but reassuring. "I know you wonât. Rememberâstay calm, trust your instincts, and play your game. The rest will take care of itself."
As Baraja turned to leave, he called over his shoulder, "Get some rest, Izan. Sundayâs your stage. Make it count."
Izan stood there for a moment, watching his coach walk away. The weight of the opportunity pressed down on him, but so did the thrill. This was his chanceânot just to play but to prove he belonged.
Clenching his fists, Izan whispered to himself, "Ooh, Iâmma bout to make for myself"[ Bro turned into the Gambit]
A/n: 1st Bonus chapter. Courtesy of Harith_TM. Have fun reading