The next afternoon, the Santiago sun filtered softly through the clouds.Mateo adjusted the strap of his crutch while Klara helped him down a cobbled sidewalk.
They approached a quiet café just outside Parque Bicentenario.Not flashy. Not staged.
Just real.
And there—waiting by a shaded table in dark glasses, an open shirt, and unmistakable mohawk—
Was Arturo Vidal.
The First Meeting
"¡Hermano!" (Brother!) Vidal stood with a wide grin, arms open.
Mateo, still stunned, hobbled over.
They hugged — briefly but firmly.A warrior's welcome.
"You're even younger than you look on TV," Vidal laughed.
"You're taller in person," Mateo said, grinning.
"Y más guapo también," (And better-looking too,) Arturo added with a wink.
They sat.
Klara gave them space, ordering drinks from inside while the two midfielders faced each other.
Mutual Respect
"Te vi," (I saw you,) Arturo said, pointing at him.
"Te vi jugar como si te fueras a morir en la cancha."(I saw you play like you were ready to die on that field.)
Mateo lowered his gaze humbly. "No podía rendirme."(I couldn't give up.)
"Eso no es rendirse," (That's not giving up,) Vidal said."Eso es sangre de campeón."(That's champion's blood.)
He leaned forward.
"Yo he jugado finales de Champions con la rodilla hinchada como un balón."(I've played Champions League finals with my knee swollen like a balloon.)"He entrenado con el alma rota después de derrotas de Copa América…"(I've trained with a broken soul after Copa América defeats…)"Pero lo tuyo, hermano…"(But what you did, brother…)
He pointed at Mateo's cast.
"Eso fue otra cosa."(That was something else.)
Lessons from a Legend
They talked for an hour.
Not about trophies.
But about pain.Resilience.The silence of rehab.The nights where the body aches and the doubt creeps in.
Arturo spoke of Bayern.Of the demands. The mentality.
"En Alemania no hay espacio para las excusas,"(In Germany, there's no room for excuses,) he said."Pero cuando uno cae, si se levanta con el corazón… te hacen inmortal."(But when someone falls and gets up with heart… they make you immortal.)
Mateo listened, every word like a mirror.
The Challenge
Then, as the plates were cleared, Vidal leaned back.
"You know what I see in you?"
Mateo shook his head.
"El próximo líder." (The next leader.)"Not just del Bayern." (Not just of Bayern.)"Del fútbol." (Of football.)
Mateo blinked.
"¿En serio…?" (Really…?)
Vidal nodded.
"But not if you stay quiet.Not if you let este yeso definir tu historia."(Not if you let this cast define your story.)
He stood and extended a hand.
"Prométeme que vuelves más fuerte."(Promise me you'll come back stronger.)
Mateo looked at his cast… then took the hand.
"Lo prometo." (I promise.)
Before They Parted
Vidal smiled.
"Oh—one more thing."
He reached into his gym bag and pulled out a jersey.Bayern Munich.Number 23.
His.
He handed it to Mateo.
"Cuando vuelvas al Allianz… que lo hagas con esta en tu mochila."(When you return to the Allianz… let it be with this in your bag.)"Pa' que sepas que uno de nosotros ya cree en ti."(So you'll know one of us already believes in you.)
Mateo took it with trembling hands.
"Gracias… de verdad."(Thank you… really.)
Vidal smiled.