The bus ride back from San Sebastián was heavy with silence. No one spoke; even the music players were muted. Chidi sat by the window, his reflection flickering against the dark Spanish night. Two goals, yet defeat.
He clenched his fists. Next time, I'll make them dance.
Back at Training
The next day, the mood at Sevilla's training ground was tense. Coach Mendilibar gathered the squad, his tone cold and sharp.
> "Real Sociedad made us look ordinary. We lost the midfield, the rhythm, and our fight. That changes today."
Then his eyes found Chidi.
> "You scored twice, but your dribbling needs purpose. Show control, not chaos."
The words stung—but they ignited something inside him.
During drills, Chidi activated his System Mode. A faint blue HUD flickered before his eyes—visible only to him.
[Skill Analysis: Dribbling Efficiency – 72%]
[Recommended Techniques: La Croqueta (Quick shift), Reverse Elastico, Body Feint + Drop Shoulder Combo]
He began practicing—slowly at first.
He executed La Croqueta, sliding the ball from right to left between his feet to evade cones, just like Iniesta in his prime. Then he added a Reverse Elastico—a flick outward and quick snap inward, sharp enough to leave imaginary defenders frozen.
Rakitić watched from the side, smiling.
> "You've got that African rhythm, Chidi. Keep that fire but add calm. Like a lion hunting—fast only when needed."
By the end of training, Chidi was drenched in sweat but glowing with confidence.
Press and Promise
Later that evening, his phone buzzed with a Canal+ interview request.
> "Chidi, Sevilla's struggling. Any message for the fans before the Champions League opener?"
He smiled faintly.
> "We fell, but we rise. I'll give everything on the pitch. The Naija spirit doesn't quit."
That clip spread fast. Fans dubbed him "Naija Prodigy."
---
Champions League Night: Sevilla vs Ajax
The stadium was thunderous. Red flares, flags, and chants shook the air. As the anthem echoed, Chidi closed his eyes—he could almost hear the dusty fields of Lagos, where he first learned to dribble barefoot against older boys.
From kickoff, Ajax pressed aggressively, swarming every Sevilla player. But Chidi was calm.
In the 18th minute, he received the ball near the halfway line, two Ajax midfielders closing in. He dropped his shoulder, faked right, and slipped between them with a Body Feint + Croqueta combo. The crowd gasped.
He surged forward, cut inside another defender using a Step-over and Reverse Elastico, then unleashed a low drive from distance.
GOAL!
1–0 Sevilla.
The stadium exploded. Mendilibar punched the air. Chidi's teammates mobbed him.
Ajax fought back, equalizing before halftime, but the rhythm of the game had changed. Chidi was in full flow—his dribbles unpredictable, his tempo mesmerizing.
Second half, 84th minute—still 1–1.
Suso lofted a ball toward the box. Chidi took it on his chest, flicked it over the onrushing defender with a Rainbow Touch, and chipped the keeper with cold precision.
2–1 Sevilla.
He sprinted to the corner flag, crossed his arms over his chest, and roared.
The crowd chanted his name:
> "Chi-di! Chi-di! Chi-di!"
When the whistle blew, he knelt, whispering a quiet prayer. The defeat against Sociedad had carved something deeper in him—a hunger not just to score, but to control the game with his art.
As he walked off the pitch, Rakitić patted his shoulder.
> "Now that's dribbling with purpose."
And Chidi smiled. He was no longer just a goal scorer. He was becoming a maestro of movement, a fusion of Nigerian street flair and European precision.
The Naija Prodigy had truly arrived.