Daniel woke up in his new apartment in Manchester, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling. The sounds of the city were different from those in Igualada—louder, busier, and far from the warmth of home. The realization hit him again. He was no longer in Spain. He was in England, playing for Manchester City on loan.
As he got up and prepared for his first full day at the club, his phone buzzed. A message from Sofia.
Sofia: "Hey, superstar. How's England?"
A small smile formed on his lips.
Daniel: "Cold. Really cold. And different."
Sofia: "Haha. You'll get used to it. Don't forget about us, okay?"
Daniel hesitated before typing.
Daniel: "Never."
It was only a few words, but they carried more weight than he wanted to admit. He missed her already.
Arriving at Etihad Campus, Daniel felt the pressure of being in a club of this magnitude. Unlike CF Igualada, where he was one of the best players, here, he was just another young talent trying to prove himself. The Manchester City Under-21 squad had some of the best prospects in England.
He stepped onto the training pitch, where the coaching staff had already begun setting up drills. The head coach of the youth team, Brian Dunne, called everyone in.
"Alright, lads! We've got a new face today. Daniel Carter, our new loanee from Spain. Treat him like family—but don't go easy on him!"
Some players nodded, while others eyed him curiously. A few were welcoming, while others clearly saw him as competition.
"Let's see if the Spanish kid can handle the English game," one of the defenders muttered under his breath.
Daniel smirked. He wasn't backing down.
The session was intense. The speed, the physicality—it was on a different level from what he was used to. The passes were quicker, the pressing more aggressive, and the decision-making had to be instant.
In a small-sided game, Daniel received the ball under pressure. An opponent came charging in—bigger, stronger, ready to push him off balance. But Daniel's time-perception ability kicked in. Everything slowed.
He flicked the ball between the defender's legs and sprinted past him, leaving his opponent stunned.
"¡Vamos!" he shouted instinctively, before realizing no one around him spoke Spanish.
A few teammates laughed, and one clapped him on the back. "That was class, mate."
It was only training, but Daniel had made his first impression.
Meeting the Senior Players
Later that day, Daniel was invited to watch the first-team training. He stood on the sidelines as Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and Jack Grealish moved effortlessly across the pitch.
Coach Pep Guardiola walked up beside him.
"Do you know why we brought you here, Daniel?"
Daniel nodded. "To improve."
Guardiola smiled. "Yes. But also because we see something special in you. Football isn't just about talent—it's about adapting, thinking ahead, making the right decisions. You have a gift. Now, show us what you can do with it."
Daniel felt a surge of determination. This wasn't just a loan move. It was a test.
And he had no intention of failing.