Twelve days.
That's how long it had taken from the moment the System confirmed his quest completionto this moment:
Mateo González standing outside Bayern Munich's first-team training pitch, fully cleared.
His boots felt heavier today.Not from nerves — but from the weight of expectation.Of doubt.And a new kind of pressure.
Because today, he was under the eye of Ricardo Ferrera.
First Glance
Mateo entered the changing room quietly.Some players gave nods — Sané, Davies, Goretzka.
Others glanced at him as if wondering,"Is he ready?"
Mateo dressed in silence, tightening every strap with purpose.He wasn't here to make noise.
He was here to make impact.
On the Grass
The warm-up began.
Mateo's touches were sharp.His balance — perfect.He flowed through rondos and transitions with surprising fluidity for someone who'd been out for months.
He didn't look like he was returning from injury.He looked like he had never left.
The assistant coaches exchanged impressed glances.
Then Ferrera walked over.
The First Clash
Coach Ricardo Ferrera — tall, reserved, sharply dressed in black.
His eyes were cold and calculating as he stood in front of Mateo.
"You've recovered quickly," he said flatly.
Mateo nodded. "Yes, sir."
"I've reviewed your youth tapes, your World Cup. Talented."
A pause.
"But talent fades fast if it doesn't follow structure."
Mateo stiffened slightly.
Ferrera continued:
"Under me, everyone follows the system.No 'Messi runs'. No wild improvisation.You play where I need you. Not where you want."
Mateo kept his voice calm."Yes, Coach."
But inside, something simmered.
Tactical Drills
The players were divided into units.Mateo was placed as right midfield in a rigid 4-4-2 —a far cry from his usual free-attacking role.
The ball rarely came his way.
When it did, he passed simply. Efficiently.But not spectacularly.
And that's exactly what Ferrera seemed to want.
After a simple lay-off, Mateo made an aggressive overlapping run.
Ferrera's whistle cut through the air.
"González! I didn't call for you to drift. Hold the line. Follow instruction."
The whole team went quiet for a second.
Mateo nodded. "Yes, Coach."
But inside, his storm churned.
End of Session
After training, Mateo sat by the sideline tying his boots slowly.Sweat clung to his skin — but it wasn't the physical exhaustion that weighed on him.
It was the cage.
Klara texted him: How was it?
He stared at the screen a while before typing back:
Controlled. But I'm not meant to live in cages.