The Next Step
Training had become Daniel's life. At Manchester City, everything moved at lightning speed—the drills, the tactical adjustments, the expectations. Every session felt like an exam, and he pushed himself harder than ever.
Haaland had taken a special interest in him, sometimes staying back after training to go over finishing techniques. "You have speed, you have skill," he told Daniel one evening. "Now you just need to be ruthless."
Daniel listened, absorbed everything. The Premier League was tougher than anything he had ever experienced. But he was learning. He was growing.
Making an Impact
In his next match, against West Ham, Daniel started on the bench again. But in the second half, with City struggling to break through, the coach called him over.
"Go out there and make something happen."
The moment he stepped on the pitch, he felt the intensity. West Ham's defense was tight, physical. But Daniel was used to this. He waited for his moment—then it came.
In the 78th minute, he received the ball on the right wing, took a quick glance, and darted forward. One defender came at him. He feinted left, then exploded right. The crowd reacted as he cut inside and curled a pass toward Haaland, who buried it into the net.
Assist for Daniel. Goal for Haaland.
As the game ended in a 1-0 win, the crowd chanted his name. He was making his mark.
Late-Night Thoughts
That night, Daniel sat in his apartment, staring out at the Manchester skyline. He had done well, but his thoughts drifted to Spain—to Uncle Mateo, to Miguel and Luis, and to Sofia.
He picked up his phone. Sofia had sent a message.
Sofia: Saw your assist. Looks like you don't need us anymore.
Daniel smiled. He needed them more than ever.
Daniel: I'll be back before you know it.
Sofia: I'll hold you to that.
He sighed, setting his phone down. He had come so far, but one thing remained true—Igualada was still home.
Daniel Carter was rising. But the journey was far from over.