Chapter 19: Madrid Shadows
July 25, 2017 – Camp Nou, War Room
The countdown had begun—not to the next match, but to the season itself.
The real campaign.
La Liga 2017–18 was just weeks away, and Noah Marlowe wasn't preparing for fireworks—he was preparing for a long, calculated war.
At the end of that road stood the Santiago Bernabéu.
The first El Clásico was still months away, scheduled for December, as per the official fixture list. But Noah wasn't waiting until then to prepare.
Because Madrid was already watching.
07:00 AM – Internal Briefing: Season Planning Phase I
Inside the strategy room, the tactical system projected Real Madrid's current 4-3-1-2 diamond, but this wasn't about next week—it was about December.
• Ronaldo pressing from wide left
• Benzema dragging central zones
• Modrić and Kroos controlling rhythm
• Casemiro the hammer
• Isco between chaos and magic
Noah circled three names in red:
Casemiro (system breaker)
Modrić (tempo distorter)
Marcelo (overload disruptor)
"We won't face them for four months," he said. "Which means we'll spend the next four months becoming unrecognizable to them."
He paused.
"We evolve week by week. Not to win in August. But to destroy them in December."
Squad Planning – Youth Integration Report
Later that morning, Noah met with Barcelona's developmental staff.
"Puig is already tested," he said. "Now I want another brain."
He tapped a profile on the system.
PEDRI GONZÁLEZ – Age: 15 – Las Palmas Youth
Traits: Vision, composure, off-ball IQ
Projection: Advanced tempo controller
Target Timeline: Fall friendly call-up, winter rotation trial
"He won't debut in La Liga this year," Noah said. "But I want him breathing the same air as the first team."
The staff nodded.
"Use the Girona friendly in August as his entry point."
Camp Nou – Tactical Evolution Phase Begins
While preseason matches continued, Noah shifted the focus to system layering.
• August–October: Blueprint Alpha (Controlled Chaos)
• October–November: Begin transition to Blueprint Omega
• December: Messi Axis fully active for El Clásico
Messi would start the season in a hybrid creator role, but his central dominance would build week by week.
Mbappé, Riqui Puig, and Pedri would be introduced gradually, timed to maximize freshness and tactical surprise.
Training Session – Messi Awakens
Noah monitored a closed practice scrimmage:
Messi, Suárez, Mbappé vs. Umtiti, Roberto, Alba.
In one moment, Messi dropped into midfield, received, and skipped past two players before dinking a lofted assist to Mbappé.
The finish was clean.
But all eyes were on the magician.
"He's warming up," said one coach.
"No," Noah replied. "He's building the storm."
Meanwhile – Valdebebas, Madrid HQ
Zinedine Zidane reviewed Barça's preseason footage with his analyst.
They watched Suárez struggle for rhythm.
Watched Messi start wide and drift central.
Watched Noah's odd rotations.
"It's not fully formed yet," the analyst said.
"No," Zidane agreed. "But it's dangerous. And it's building toward something."
He tapped the Clásico date on the board.
"By then—it'll be too late to stop it."
July 30 – Girona Friendly Confirmed
Barcelona announced a domestic friendly against Girona FC on August 8.
Low stakes. Closed media. Perfect test ground.
Noah quietly approved Pedri's invitation.
"No debuts. Just shadows," he said. "Let him watch. Learn the rhythm."
Final System Log – Tactical Readiness Summary
Messi Axis Activation: Delayed until October
Mbappé Impact Role: Confirmed
Riqui Puig: Light La Liga rotation (Sept–Nov)
Pedri: Training and exposure only (no matches yet)
Tactical Layering: On Schedule
Clásico Preparation: Phase I Locked
The system pulsed:
"Madrid watches. We evolve. The calendar will not change—but the outcome will."
Noah stared at the December date.
The season hadn't even started.
But the shadows of Madrid were already falling across Camp Nou.