"Ding! You have obtained the special drop: Champion Predator!"
"Champion Predator Medal (Bronze): Can be equipped without occupying a slot. Upgradable. Current level: Bronze. Each time you win a championship, all personal attributes increase by 3%. After the increase, the maximum individual stat cap is 75. Any single stat exceeding 75 will not receive further bonus."
Kai's body trembled.
Holy shit.
This was practically an all-attribute boost.
A real champion's medal.
Win trophies → get stronger.
Get stronger → win more trophies.
And it didn't even take up an equipment slot.
This was only Bronze.
If it upgraded in the future, the stat cap would definitely rise.
This wasn't just good.
This was a lifelong cheat code.
Kai muttered to himself, "Are you sure this isn't broken? This medal is insane."
"Sporting CP U15 Dominate the Season — Five Individual Awards Collected!"
"Cristiano Ronaldo Crowned Best Player! CR Shines!"
'Midfield Caesar Emerges — Bayern Munich Fans Demand a Transfer Bid!'
"Bayern Officially Deny Interest in Kai!"
"Kai and Ronaldo Far Above U15 Level — Should Jump Directly to U17!"
"Sporting Talent Explosion — Multiple Players Selected by Violante!"
"Portugal U16 Preliminary List Announced by António Violante!"
"Analysis of Portugal U16 50-Man Squad: Ricardo Quaresma Leads Attack Over Hélder Postiga! Hugo Viana Beats Raúl Meireles in Midfield! Ronaldo, Kai, Almeida, Igor, Rúben Amorim and More Rising Stars!"
With the league concluded, national youth team selections began.
At Sporting's request, coach António Violante decided to delay the final 23-man announcement until after the UEFA Youth League final, so as not to disrupt the team's form.
Spain had no such concerns.
The Spanish FA announced its 23-man squad for the European Junior Championship early.
Atlético Madrid U15 had two players selected.
Most of the rest came from Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Atlético's two standouts were:
Fernando Torres — team ace
Gabi — all-around midfield engine
Manchester United defeated Newcastle United 2–0.
Second trophy of the season.
Premier League + FA Cup.
A domestic double.
At the ceremony, Sir Alex Ferguson smiled at the cameras:
"I know my boys are good. Every single one of them."
"And of course, thank you to the fans. Without your support, we wouldn't be here."
"We've faced many difficulties this year — but now isn't the time to talk about them."
"Because we still have one last hurdle."
"The Champions League."
Manchester United postponed their parade for five days.
If everything went to plan—
They would be Treble winners.
A risky move.
Because if they failed in the final, they'd lose the emotional peak of the first two trophies.
Ask Liverpool fans from 2021–22 how that feels.
During the interview, Ferguson also responded to Kai:
"Kai, thank you for teaching us how to win. But now we have two trophies."
"You taught us once. Now it's our turn to teach you."
"Are you watching carefully?"
The crowd laughed and applauded.
The atmosphere was electric.
Kai quickly responded in an interview:
"No, no, no. The FA Cup was incidental. My lesson was about winning the league."
"The Champions League is true love."
"Next, I'll perform again in the UEFA Youth League final. Watch carefully."
"Bayern Munich aren't pushovers. If you don't have the determination, you won't take the Big Ears Cup from Camp Nou."
The 1998–99 Champions League final would be held at Camp Nou in Barcelona.
Kai's comments went viral.
Spain was furious.
He hadn't shown Atlético Madrid U15 any respect.
Even though:
Kai had 10 Youth League goals
Cristiano Ronaldo had 9
Fernando Torres also had 9
And Gabi was a complete box-to-box midfielder.
Diego Simeone — then playing for Inter Milan and formerly a beloved Atlético Madrid player — publicly criticized Kai.
Simeone was still bitter.
Inter had been eliminated by Manchester United in the Champions League knockout stage.
He didn't like English football much at that moment.
Simeone said:
"Atlético Madrid will win. Fernando Torres is the most talented striker I have ever seen. He scores better than that Ronaldo."
Before boarding the flight to Madrid, Kai smiled during a media interview:
"Sorry, Simeone. It's rare to see someone make two knowledge mistakes in one sentence."
"First — Atlético Madrid are an excellent club. But regarding the Champions League trophy… they've never won it before. And they never will."
"Second — Torres is very good. But I believe in Ronaldo."
"If you ever meet him in the future, you'll understand how terrifying his scoring ability truly is."
The media exploded.
This match attracted massive attention.
Not just because of Kai's war of words with Ferguson and Simeone.
But because it was the penultimate match of Europe's season.
The final warm-up before the Champions League final.
The Champions League final would be at Camp Nou.
The Youth League final was also in Spain.
In Madrid.
The only good news for Sporting?
It wasn't at Atlético's home stadium.
It was at the home of their rival:
Santiago Bernabéu.
Real Madrid's fortress.
Commentators laughed:
"There have never been so many Atlético Madrid fans inside the Santiago Bernabéu."
"Kai really pissed them off."
"But here's the funny part — the only color competing with Atlético's red and white tonight… is Manchester United red."
"United fans are here supporting Kai."
"So now Atlético fans and Manchester United fans are louder than everyone else."
"Bayern Munich and Real Madrid supporters nearby look completely helpless."
"According to official data — attendance tonight is nearly 80,000."
"Almost a full house!"
Some were fans who had tickets for tomorrow's Manchester United vs Bayern Munich final.
They arrived early to soak in the atmosphere.
Others couldn't afford Champions League final tickets.
Compared to that, Youth League tickets were a bargain.
Many football legends and celebrities who would attend tomorrow's final were also present tonight.
Even Lorenzo Sanz, then-president of Real Madrid, appeared in the VIP box.
Over there, Manchester United stars Roy Keane and Paul Scholes were in the stands.
Both suspended for the Champions League final due to accumulated yellow cards.
That absence—
Was what worried Manchester United fans the most.
Tomorrow would be war.
But tonight?
The future of football was about to take center stage.
And Kai—
Was ready to light the Bernabéu on fire.
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