The days after his father's burial were quiet and heavy. Khali trained with a deeper fire — every sprint felt like chasing the memory of a man who believed in him before anyone else did.
Then came two phone calls that would change his future forever.
Call #1 — The Nation Calls
Khali was heading out of the training ground when an unknown number flashed on his phone.
"Hello?"
"Assalamu Alaikum, Khali. This is the Nigerian Football Federation."
His heart froze — then thundered.
"We are proud to officially invite you to join the Super Eagles senior team for the upcoming international fixtures. Nigeria needs you."
Khali looked up at the Manchester sky, swallowing a wave of emotion.
"My father always dreamed of this," he whispered.
"And now his dream is yours to live," the official replied.
He dropped to his knees after the call, tears falling silently.
He was going to wear the green jersey.He was going to represent his people.
Call #2 — Blue vs Red
Later that night, Pep announced in the locker room:
"The Champions League semifinal is set. Two legs. Home and away."
The screen lit up:
Manchester City vs Manchester United
Every player reacted. Gasps. Excitement. Pressure.
Khali's heartbeat changed rhythm.
Bello.
His old friend.His rival.His mirror in red.
Haaland smirked. "Time to show him Manchester is BLUE."
Khali nodded…but inside, the rivalry wasn't just football anymore.It was a test of loyalty, love, and identity.
The First Battle — Etihad Stadium
The stands overflowed. Blue smoke curled into the air.Fans chanted Khali's name like a drumbeat of destiny.
He walked onto the pitch with Amira's voice in his head:
"Play for your father. Play for yourself."
United kicked off fast — Rashford, Bruno, and Bello pressing fiercely. Bello's eyes never left Khali.
Minutes later, Bello slid in with a challenge — clean, but hard — sending Khali tumbling. He stood and faced him.
"I'm not the boy you knew," Bello said.
Khali wiped his hands and replied,
"That makes two of us."
The Goal That Broke the Derby
67th minute.1–1.Tension sharper than a blade.
De Bruyne sent a through-ball.Khali exploded into space — a flash of Nigerian lightning.
Bello chased him, breath burning.Khali dropped a feint — Bello missed.One-on-one with the keeper…
A gentle chip.Silence in red.Eruption in blue.
GOOOAAAL!!Manchester City 2 – 1 Manchester United
Khali didn't celebrate wildly.He kissed his pendant, pointed upward…For Baba.
Bello watched — anger and respect mixing like fire and water.
The Second Leg — Old Trafford
The red half of Manchester welcomed him with boos and chanting his name twisted into insults.
Pressure?Yes.Fear?Never.
Early in the second half, United scored.The crowd erupted.Momentum flipped.
Then — the moment.
Bello outran City's defense and found himself alone with the keeper.He could score. He should score.
Instead…he paused.
He glanced at Khali — just behind him — and passed backward.
A bad decision.Intercepted.Chance gone.
The stadium groaned.Coaches screamed.
Bello had hesitated… because he saw his brother in front of him.And brothers are hard to destroy.
When Rivals Remember Love
After the match ended 1–1 (City advancing 3–2 on aggregate), Khali approached Bello outside the tunnel. Bello looked lost — torn between victory and defeat.
"You had the shot," Khali said softly.
Bello nodded, jaw tight."I couldn't do it. Not like that."
Khali put a hand on his shoulder.
"One day, you won't see me as someone you must beat. You'll see me as someone who made you stronger."
Bello's eyes glistened — only for a moment."Win it for both of us."
Khali smiled."I will."
They hugged — rival hearts still bound by their past.
Destino da Final — Istanbul
Pep gathered the squad in a silent, sacred moment.
Lights dimmed. Screen shining.
Champions League FinalManchester City vs Paris Saint-Germain
Haaland punched the air.De Bruyne nodded, eyes burning.The stadium they would play in displayed behind them:
🏟️ Atatürk Olympic Stadium — IstanbulThe place where legends are crowned.
Khali breathed slowly, voice steady:
"For Manchester. For Nigeria. For Baba."
The room erupted:
"FOR THE FINAL!!!"
Khali had climbed from dusty streets to world headlines.From grief to greatness.And now —
🌍 The world would watch him decide a Champions League trophy.