"Little monster in Liverpool?"
At the training ground, the Manchester United U18 players were jogging to warm up.
Alessandro knew the next match was a big one—an away clash against Liverpool U18 in the FA Youth Cup. The winner would move on to the quarter-finals.
During training, he overheard a familiar name.
"Don't you know? That guy is insane! I think he's even better than Lingard!" Januzaj said, running beside Alessandro.
"Better than Lingard?" Alessandro raised a brow.
"That's nothing! Lingard is our dribbling king!" Januzaj declared proudly.
"Dribbling king?" Alessandro was surprised. Was Lingard that dominant in the youth team?
In truth, Alessandro had his own opinions about youth players. Many of them looked like world-beaters at this level. Lingard, for instance, looked unstoppable in youth matches. But the real test came when stepping up to the first team—that's where many stars faded.
To be fair, Lingard making it to Manchester United's first team, even for a while, was no small feat.
"Who's this 'little monster' from Liverpool, anyway?" Alessandro asked.
"Raheem Sterling!"
Januzaj inhaled deeply as he said the name.
"Oh, that guy!" Alessandro realized.
The "prince," as fans called him—the one who famously missed open goals three times in a single match—Sterling was fast, flashy, and sometimes frustrating.
Alessandro chuckled. Sterling might be a standout among British prospects, but calling him a monster felt like a stretch.
"You've heard of him then?"
"I've heard of him, yeah."
"You don't know how good he is?" Januzaj's eyes lit up. "He moved to Liverpool for £2 million at just 16."
"Two million? That's serious money."
"Fourteen goals in his last four Youth Cup matches."
"Fourteen?!" Alessandro blinked. "That's over three goals per game!"
Impressive… but still youth football. Alessandro didn't let stats shake him too much.
"Everyone's saying it'll be tough to stop him," Januzaj added.
"It's fine," Alessandro said calmly. "Leave him to me. I'll handle it."
---
The day before the game...
Alessandro's confidence earned him a very specific mission.
In the conference room, Coach McGuinness pulled up a video of Sterling's highlights.
"Your task is simple," he said. "Shut him down. Can you handle that?"
Alessandro smirked at the footage. "Don't worry, coach. I'll make sure he knows this road is closed."
"Good!" McGuinness nodded. "If we limit him, the rest is manageable. We need to create more set pieces—corners, free kicks—and make them count."
The squad nodded.
All eyes turned to Alessandro.
In just a few weeks with the club, he had already earned the coach's trust in both defense and set-piece strategy. He wasn't just another player—he was already the tactical core.
And nobody in the squad felt jealous. Alessandro's work ethic was impossible to ignore.
---
Matchday – Melwood Training Ground, Liverpool
Manchester United vs. Liverpool. One of the fiercest rivalries in football history—even at the youth level, the intensity never faded.
The modest stands at Melwood, which typically held no more than a thousand people, were overflowing. Fans, family, and curious locals crowded in.
As United's squad walked onto the pitch, the booing began immediately.
Alessandro felt the scorn from the stands—spit-laced insults, middle fingers, and pure hostility.
And this was just Melwood.
He wondered what kind of pressure awaited at Anfield one day. The thought made him smile. That's the kind of stage I want.
His gaze swept the crowd and locked onto the Liverpool players.
They were looking back.
"Who's that tall guy?" one of the Liverpool players muttered.
"A new signing? Looks tough..."
"Looks like he's not from around here."
"Yeah. Heard United brought in a Spanish-Chinese guy."
Near Sterling, another Liverpool player whispered, "Raheem, that guy looks like a beast."
Sterling narrowed his eyes at Alessandro. He was broad-shouldered, well-built, and stood out among the rest.
He felt a flicker of doubt.
But he quickly brushed it off. At seventeen, Sterling was fearless. He was the pride of Liverpool's youth system.
"Relax," he said loudly enough for everyone to hear. "I'll test him out early. Doesn't matter how strong he is. I've gone past stronger defenders."
He needed to show confidence. No way could Liverpool's "little monster" back down now.
Alessandro overheard and glanced at Januzaj.
"Hey Sandro," Januzaj grinned, "someone's already writing you off."
Alessandro chuckled and patted his friend on the shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll teach him some respect."
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