The city of Manchester felt different from Igualada. The streets were busier, the football culture was everywhere, and Daniel was still adjusting to life in England, he remembered all that his teachers said about England.
It had been a few weeks since his debut for Manchester City U21s. The match against Liverpool had earned him a strong reputation, and now, every training session felt like an audition for the senior team.
But football wasn't the only thing on his mind.
One morning, as Daniel arrived at the Etihad Campus, he noticed something unusual. Instead of heading to the U21 training pitch, he was told to report to the senior team's facility.
His heartbeat quickened.
As he walked onto the field, he saw Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, and the rest of the first-team stars.
"You're with us today, Carter," one of the assistant coaches said.
Daniel swallowed his nerves. This was it.
Training was on another level. The speed, physicality, and precision of the senior players were miles ahead of anything he had faced before.
At one point, Haaland jogged up to him, grinning.
"You play fast, but can you score under pressure?" the Norwegian striker challenged.
Daniel smirked. "Let's find out."
That evening, Daniel returned to his apartment, exhausted but thrilled. As he checked his phone, he saw a message from Uncle Mateo.
"Proud of you, kid. Keep pushing."
Daniel smiled. He missed Mateo, Miguel, Luis, and even Coach Morales. Manchester was incredible, but Igualada still felt like home.
Another message popped up.
Sofia: "How's are you doing? Hope you're not getting too famous to reply. "
Daniel chuckled. He typed back, "Still the same Carter. Just with better weather than Igualada. "
He hesitated for a moment before adding, "Miss seeing you around."
A few minutes later, her reply came in.
"Same here. Maybe I'll visit when I get a break. Coffee's still on you, remember?"
His heart skipped a beat.
A few days later, Daniel was back on the pitch for Manchester City U21 vs Arsenal U21.
This was another big test. Arsenal's youth team was known for its attacking style, and Daniel was eager to prove himself again.
As the match began, Arsenal dominated possession. Their midfield was sharp, moving the ball with speed.
Then, in the 20th minute, they struck. A quick passing move led to a goal. 1-0 Arsenal.
City fought back, and just before halftime, Daniel won the ball in midfield, sprinted past two defenders, and fired a low shot into the net.
1-1.
In the second half, Daniel played a crucial role again. He set up the winning goal with a perfect assist, and City secured a 2-1 victory.
As he walked off the pitch, the senior team's assistant coach gave him a nod of approval.
"Keep this up, and Pep will have to notice you."
Daniel grinned. He was one step closer.