Reincarnated As A Wonderkid
Chapter 109: New Underrated Player
The stadium was a cacophony of sound.
Whistles, jeers, cheers – all blending into a deafening roar as the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
Julián Álvarez lay on the ground for a moment, then slowly got up, rubbing his ankle.
The AC Milan players were still swarming the referee, their faces red with protest, but the decision stood.
Inter Milan's usual penalty taker was Lautaro Martínez (Current: 88).
Everyone knew it. The fans knew it, the players knew it, and certainly, AC Milan knew it.
Lautaro was already walking towards the spot, his gaze fixed on the ball, a picture of calm determination.
But then, Leon Fischer (Current: 84) felt a strange pull.
He looked at Lautaro, then at the goal, and then at Mike Maignan (Current: 85), the AC Milan goalkeeper.
His 'Vision' (95) seemed to sharpen, not just showing him the shimmering icons of future actions, but something more.
He could see angles, probabilities, the slightest twitch in Maignan's stance. It was as if the penalty kick, a moment of high pressure and split-second decisions, was laid bare before him. He knew, with an almost unsettling certainty, where Maignan would dive.
And he knew, with the same certainty, where to place the ball to score.
He walked over to Lautaro, who was already lining up the ball.
"Lautaro," Leon said, his voice calm despite the roaring crowd.
"Let me take it."
Lautaro paused, turning to look at Leon, his brow furrowed slightly. It was unusual for someone else to step up, especially in such a crucial moment.
"Are you sure, Leo?" he asked, his 'Current: 88' radiating a mix of surprise and trust.
Leon nodded, his gaze unwavering.
"I'm sure. I know where to put it."
Lautaro looked at him for a long moment, then a faint smile touched his lips.
He saw the quiet confidence in Leon's eyes, the unwavering certainty.
"Alright, Leo," he said, stepping back. "It's yours. Make it count."
A ripple of surprise went through the Inter players.
Coach Chivu on the sideline raised an eyebrow, but he didn't intervene.
He trusted Leon.
Leon walked to the penalty spot, the weight of the moment settling on his shoulders. The noise of the crowd seemed to fade, replaced by the thumping of his own heart.
He placed the ball carefully, then stepped back, taking a deep breath.
Maignan (Current: 85) stood on his line, a formidable presence. Leon looked at him, and saw the faint, shimmering diving save to the right icon appear above Maignan's body.
The keeper was going to dive to his right.
Leon took his run-up, a short, deliberate stride. He focused on the bottom left corner of the goal, the exact opposite of where Maignan was predicted to go.
He struck the ball with power and precision.
BOOM!
The ball flew, low and hard, into the net. Maignan dived, stretching every fiber of his being, but he went the wrong way, his fingertips brushing empty air.
GOOOAL!
The San Siro exploded! A tidal wave of black and blue joy washed over the stadium. Leon stood for a moment, arms raised, soaking in the thunderous applause.
It was 3-1 to Inter Milan in the 71st minute!
"Leon Fischer! He steps up and buries the penalty!" the commentator's voice was ecstatic.
"What nerves! What confidence! The wonderkid extends Inter's lead in the Derby!"
The goal seemed to deflate AC Milan for a few minutes, but they were a proud team.
Coach Stefano Pioli (Current: 89) immediately made a substitution.
On came Mohammed Kudus (Potential: 90, Current: 84), a new transfer, known for his explosive power and unpredictable dribbling.
Leon watched Kudus enter the field, and his eyes widened slightly. Kudus's 'Current: 84' was deceptively low for the impact he was about to make.
His 'Potential: 90' shimmered brightly, hinting at a player who was on the cusp of truly breaking out. He was an incredible, underrated player, Leon realized, a hidden gem.
Kudus immediately linked up with Xavi Simons (Current: 86).
The two young attackers seemed to have an instant understanding, their movements fluid and complementary.
Kudus's raw power and directness combined with Simons's intricate passing and vision created a new, dangerous dynamic for AC Milan.
In the 79th minute, the new duo struck.
Kudus received the ball on the right wing, his 'Current: 84' radiating raw power. Leon saw the leg and a powerful dribble icon, followed by a leg and a short pass. Kudus burst past Federico Dimarco (Current: 86) with ease, then laid off a quick pass to Simons just inside the box.
Simons, with his usual composure, took one touch, then unleashed a low shot.
WHISSSHH! The ball zipped past Handanović (Current: 85), who had no chance.
GOOOAL!
The red and black section of the stadium erupted. AC Milan had pulled one back! It was 3-2.
The tension was back, thicker than ever.
"Kudus and Simons combine!" the commentator roared.
"A brilliant piece of play from AC Milan's new attacking threat! Game on!"
Leon felt a surge of respect for Kudus.
He was truly impressive. But there was no time to dwell. Inter had to respond.
He looked at Julián Álvarez (Current: 87), who was known for his incredible speed and tireless running.
"Julián!" Leon called out, gesturing for him to push higher.
"Let's use your speed!"
Álvarez nodded.
He started making more darting runs, pulling defenders out of position.
Leon threaded passes into space for him, using his 'Vision' to anticipate where Álvarez would be.
Their combined speed and intelligence began to stretch the AC Milan defense.
The game became a frantic, end-to-end affair. Inter pushed for a fourth goal, while AC Milan desperately sought an equalizer. The clock was ticking, each minute feeling like an hour.
In the 84th minute, Inter won a throw-in deep in their own half.
The ball was launched down the line, but an AC Milan player intercepted it.
The ball was quickly played forward, a long, looping pass.
Suddenly, Leon saw it. The shimmering icons appeared above the players a leg and a long pass from an AC Milan midfielder, and then, terrifyingly, above Mohammed Kudus (Current: 84), a leg and a clear run.
Kudus was alone! He had slipped past the Inter defense, who were caught slightly out of position after the throw-in.
He was sprinting towards Handanović (Current: 85), with only the goalkeeper to beat.
The ball was dropping perfectly for him. The Derby della Madonnina was hanging by a thread.