Leon Fischer, at just sixteen. His 'Current' rating, a staggering 82, glowed with a triumphant energy in his mind.

In the dressing room, the celebration was raucous. John McGinn (Current: 84) pulled him into a headlock. "You're a wizard, Leo! How did you know to tell Ollie to chip it?!"

Ollie Watkins (Current: 86), still buzzing from his two goals, clapped him on the shoulder.

"Seriously, mate, my instincts were telling me power. But then I heard your shout, and something just made me listen. Unbelievable finish!"

Leon just grinned, breathless. He couldn't explain the 'sight' fully, but they were starting to trust his instincts implicitly.

Coach Emery, though already focused on the next match, had given him a rare, beaming smile and a pat on the back. "Exceptional, Fischer. Exceptional. You show the way."

The next few days were a blur of media attention. Leon's phone buzzed constantly with notifications.

Highlights of the 4-3 thriller were everywhere, his name plastered across sports pages. Pundits raved about his vision, his composure, and that audacious assist to Watkins.

Leon was watching the morning news in the academy common room, eating a belated breakfast, when a segment about the FA Cup flashed on screen.

"And the magic of the FA Cup continues!" a cheerful presenter announced. "Manchester City, with their dominant display, cruised past Reading with a 4-0 victory! And making headlines is City's newest wonderkid, Byon, who scored a spectacular solo goal!"

Leon leaned forward, a thrill of excitement for his friend coursing through him. Byon!

The replay showed it: Byon (Current: 82) received the ball on the wing, deep in his own half.

He immediately exploded with pace, leaving two Reading defenders sprawling. He dribbled past a third with a dazzling feint

(Leon's 'sight' would have shown him the 'body feint' and 'quick acceleration' projections).

He surged into the box, cut inside, and unleashed a powerful shot that rocketed into the top corner.

BOOM! "Oh, a magnificent solo effort from Byon! What a run, what a finish! Manchester City have found themselves a gem!"

Leon cheered, pumping his fist. "YES, BYON!" He was so proud.

The pundits then started dissecting Byon's performance.

"He's got the flair, the speed, and now he's adding that end product. Pep Guardiola clearly sees something special in him. You can see why he chose City, the pathway there is direct."

Another pundit added: "And it reminds me of the incredible talent emerging in England right now. We've seen Leon Fischer at Aston Villa, just 16, dictating Premier League games. And then Byon here. The future of English football is looking incredibly bright."

Leon felt a blush, but also a surge of quiet satisfaction.

Then, the segment shifted. "And speaking of wonderkids, we can't forget Emre Demir! The Turkish sensation, only 17, who recently moved to Real Madrid, has been on fire! Six goals in his first two matches for the Castilla side! Here are some of his highlights!"

Leon leaned even closer to the screen. He saw Emre Demir (Potential: 94) weaving through defenses, his movements fluid, almost artistic.

Eighty-six, Leon thought, a jolt of surprise. He's already at 82, just two matches in! And his Potential is 93! He's growing even faster than I did at the start!

The realization hit him: the world of football wasn't just about his and Byon's journey; it was a global competition, constantly throwing up new, astonishing talents.

Emre Demir was a formidable rival, a benchmark of explosive growth.

The TV then cut back to analysis of Aston Villa's thrilling 4-3 win over Chelsea.

They replayed Leon's goal, his assist to Watkins, and even his last-minute block on Enzo Fernández.

"Fischer's vision for Watkins's second goal was phenomenal," a commentator raved.

"To tell him to chip it, in that moment, under that pressure... that's genius level. He truly sees the game differently."

"And his own goal! The dribble, the composure, the finish! At 16 years old, Leon Fischer is already operating at an elite level. His 'Current' ability, believed to be around 92 now, is simply staggering for his age."

Leon's mom, who had joined him, squeezed his arm.

"Look, Leon! They're talking about you again!

"Yeah, Mom," Leon said, a quiet sense of triumph in his voice.

He then looked at the Premier League table, which flashed on the screen:

Arsenal - 48 points

Manchester City - 47 points

Liverpool - 45 points

Tottenham - 42 points

Manchester United - 40 points

Chelsea - 38 points

Brighton - 35 points

Fulham - 34 points

Aston Villa - 33 points

Newcastle United - 30 points

"Ninth place," Leon murmured. "Still a lot of work to do." They were only two points behind Fulham and Brighton, and five points off Chelsea.

The European spots were within reach.

Later that evening, Leon was relaxing in his room when Byon video-called him.

Byon's grin was wider than ever.

"Leo! Did you see my goal?! I told you I'd score!"

"I saw it, mate! Brilliant! You're a proper goal machine now!" Leon laughed.

"And Emre Demir! Did you see him?" Byon asked, his tone a mix of awe and competitive excitement. "Six goals in two games!!"

"I saw," Leon said, a serious note in his voice. "His Potential is 94. He's going to be a problem."

"Yeah, but not for us, right?" Byon quipped. "We're the English boys! And hey, guess what else they were talking about on TV?"

Leon raised an eyebrow. "What now? My passing range?"

"Nah," Byon scoffed playfully. "Our new market values, after our recent performances." He leaned closer to the camera, a mischievous glint in his eye.

"They said you're now worth… £45 million."

Leon's jaw dropped. "Forty-five million?! Are you serious?!" That was a staggering jump from £31 million!

"Yep!" Byon crowed, pulling a face. "But me? After my FA Cup goal? They said I'm at… £48 million!"

Byon burst into a fit of laughter, literally howling with amusement.

"Hahahaha! See, Leo! That's because I'm in Manchester City! The champions! Always one step ahead! Looks like I'm still the more expensive one!"

Leon shook his head, a mixture of disbelief and genuine amusement bubbling up inside him.

"Oh, you just wait, Byon. That's a temporary boost. You just wait." He grinned, a playful challenge in his eyes. The friendly rivalry, fueled by their contrasting paths and soaring market values, had just intensified.

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A/N: Enjoyed this update? A brief comment would make my day.