God Of football

Chapter 147: Speculation

Fweee fweee fweeeee,

The final whistle echoed across the Camp Nou, signalling the end of a hard-fought match.

”Its all over here at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. They tried but couldn’t.

Valencia, under the charge of Izan, who had just returned from his injury, tried to level the score, but Barcelona’s defensive effort in the last minutes of the game saved them.

It’s a loss for them, but Valencia will be proud as they were the most threatening even when they weren’t without Izan.

They will have some pointers to take from this game.

All in all its Barcelona 2, Valencia 1”

Barcelona had edged out Valencia with a narrow 2-1 victory, but the travelling Valencia fans, packed into their corner of the stadium, were far from disheartened.

Instead of filtering out, they stood in unison, their scarves raised high, voices unbroken. Their applause began softly, a rhythmic clap that gradually swelled into a thunderous ovation.

”Valencia! Valencia!” they chanted, their pride undimmed by defeat. It wasn’t just a cheer; it was a message—a testament to their unwavering support.

On the pitch, the Valencia players paused. The sting of the loss was still fresh, but they couldn’t ignore the sea of orange and white roaring in their honour.

One by one, they turned toward their fans, clapping in gratitude. Some players even walked closer, giving their shirts away, waving and nodding in acknowledgement of the loyalty that followed them miles from home.

Not wanting to be outdone, the Barcelona faithful began their own applause. It started hesitantly but soon grew louder as they paid homage to their team’s performance.

The Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys resonated with mixed sounds of clapping and chants, creating an atmosphere that was both electric and awkward.

For a moment, the two sets of fans seemed to compete, their cheers overlapping in a cacophony of pride and rivalry.

Barcelona players, caught in the middle, gestured their thanks to their supporters while sneaking glances at the Valencia fans who had turned a loss into a celebration of resilience.

In that peculiar mix of emotions—victory and defeat, pride and sportsmanship—the stadium became a rare stage.

After the game ended, players of both teams went around shaking hands. Izan, who was still in the opponent’s half, got a lot of hands coming his way.

He finally got to Pedri but the two stood and talked for a while. While talking with Pedri, the latter called Lamine Yamal over, Deciding to introduce the two since they were the same age.

The two immediately hit it off but they couldn’t talk for long as Valencia decided to leave early.

[Conference]

The press room buzzed with anticipation as reporters jostled for the best spots, their cameras trained on the door.

Ruben Baraja, Valencia’s head coach, entered first, followed closely by José Luis Gayà, the team captain.

The two men wore expressions of professional composure, though the wear and tear of the game was visible in their body language.

The Valencia contingent of reporters offered polite applause, but it was clear where the room’s energy was directed.

Everyone had hoped for Izan. The teenager’s dazzling performance, even in defeat, had left a mark on the footballing world, and many were eager to hear his thoughts.

But instead, they had to settle for Gayà, Valencia’s reliable yet overshadowed captain, who was now stepping in to face a barrage of questions clearly meant for someone else.

After the obligatory pleasantries and an initial question about the team’s performance, the inevitable shift came.

”Ruben, can you comment on Izan’s performance tonight? Despite the loss, he was electric,” one reporter began.

Baraja nodded, his tone measured. ”Izan is a special talent, no doubt. He just turned 16 years old, and he continues to show maturity beyond his years.

Tonight, he was fearless—taking on defenders, creating chances, and even recovering defensively. He’s an incredible asset for us.”

The room leaned forward as microphones captured every word. Another reporter jumped in, directing the conversation to Gayà.

”José, as the captain, what’s it like playing alongside a talent like Izan? Do you think he’s ready for the spotlight at such a young age?”

Gayà smiled, his pride evident. ”Izan is a fantastic player and an even better teammate. He listens, works hard, and never lets the pressure get to him.

I’ve told him to enjoy the game and take everything step by step. If the other matches didn’t show it, then the matches against the top clubs like Real Madrid, this one against Barcelona as well as Atlético Madrid is an indication that he has a very bright future ahead.”

The questions kept circling back to Izan—his future, his development, and his incredible composure under pressure.

Even as Baraja and Gayà tried to steer the conversation toward the team’s collective effort, it was clear who the real headline of the night was.

The energy in the room shifted again when Barcelona’s coach, Xavi Hernandez, took his place at the podium.

Fresh from a victory, Xavi looked relaxed but professional. It didn’t take long for the conversation to circle back to Izan.

”Xavi, Izan was a standout tonight despite Valencia’s loss. As someone who values young talent, do you see him as a player that fits Barcelona’s style?”

Xavi chuckled softly, his diplomatic side taking over. ”Izan is an extraordinary talent, no question. It’s rare to see someone his age play with such confidence and intelligence. Valencia has done a fantastic job nurturing him, and he’s clearly in the right environment to grow.”

But the reporters weren’t satisfied with a neutral answer. A bolder question followed:

”Would you like to see Izan at Barcelona one day? Is he the kind of player you’d want to bring to your squad?”

The room fell silent, the weight of the question hanging in the air. Xavi hesitated for a fraction of a second before responding carefully.

”Barcelona always looks for players who understand the game and have the right mentality, but Izan is a Valencia player. I respect that, and right now, it’s about letting him develop without unnecessary pressure.”

The answer was measured, yet it ignited speculation. The idea of Barcelona’s interest in Izan was a tantalizing prospect for the media, and they latched onto it immediately.

Within hours, social media platforms were ablaze with discussion. Headlines screamed: ”Xavi Drops Hint About Izan,” and ”Barcelona Interested in Valencia Wonderkid?”

Fans dissected Xavi’s every word, some interpreting his comments as a direct admission of interest.

On Twitter, the hashtag #IzanToBarça trended globally. Barcelona fans who started getting fantasies of the youngster playing for their team showed their approval, while Valencia supporters rallied to defend their prodigy, insisting he was integral to their future.

Memes, fan edits, and speculative lineups featuring Izan alongside Barcelona’s brightest stars flooded timelines.

Players, too, weighed in. Some of Izan’s Valencia teammates tweeted their support:

André Almeida: ”Hands off, @FCBarcelona! Izan is ours! ”

Lewandowski: ”Kid’s a star. Proud to have him on our team.”

Pedri: Told you we’d come for you!!

Not only players, but pundits also gave their approval.

Graham Hunter (Spanish football analyst): ”It’s no surprise that Barcelona would admire Izan. He’s tailor-made for their system. But Valencia must hold on to him—they have something truly special.”

Sid Lowe: ”This could be dangerous for Izan. At 16, the last thing he needs is speculation about transfers. Let the boy play.”

The divide between fanbases grew sharper. Barcelona supporters flooded forums with excitement:

”Can you imagine Izan linking up with Pedri and Gavi? Pure magic!”

”If Barca doesn’t sign him, Real Madrid will. Act fast!”

”I’m just looking at the IzanXYamal duo. Pure talent”

Valencia fans, however, were defiant:

”He’s one of us. Stop trying to poach our talent!”

”Izan will lead Valencia to glory. No need for him to go to Barcelona.”

Neutral fans were simply in awe of the drama, sharing gifs and jokes about the growing frenzy.

Interestingly, Izan himself stayed silent throughout the chaos. Neither he nor anyone close commented publicly, adding to the mystery surrounding his thoughts.

Many fans flooded his social media handles with questions, but all his handles such as his Instagram remained untouched, save for a post celebrating the team’s effort with a simple caption: ”Tough game, but we keep fighting. Força Valencia!”

The post-match conference had inadvertently become a flashpoint for one of football’s hottest debates: the future of Izan.

While Valencia worked to shield their young star from distractions while the footballing world was already envisioning him in different colours.

For now, the speculation was just that—speculation. But the events of the night had set something in motion.

Whether Izan would stay loyal to Valencia or succumb to the allure of Barcelona, the upcoming transfer window was a story still unwritten, and the world waited eagerly for the next chapter.

They waited to see what the youngster would do in the face of a big money move should it happen. That was all they could do, just Wait!

A/n: 1st Chapter of the day. Have fun and have a nice Carol’s night should you partake.