In the small stands facing the pitch, several men in formal suits exchanged glances with each other.
One of them, a bespectacled man with thinning hair, took a long breath as he folded his arms across his chest.
"Well... that was something," he murmured.
A man beside him, who had been jotting notes in a small book, nodded slowly.
"He's better than we thought.
In the last fifteen minutes, he didn't just defend. He read the game on a deeper level.
The positions he took, how he utilized the open space... that's not just instinct, that's a mature understanding."
"But look at him now," the bespectacled man gestured toward Arghana, who was still struggling to stand, his chest heaving uncontrollably, his hands gripping the grass.
"His physical management is still far from ideal.
He knows how to read the game, but he has to learn how to control his energy throughout the match."
"That's the big question, isn't it?" replied the man with the notebook, before closing it with a soft tap.
"But one thing's for sure. This kid has something. Something that can't be taught."
They all looked down at Arghana, still struggling to stand, his breath labored, but his eyes still burning with determination that hadn't dimmed.
"Are you sure?" asked the bespectacled man, his voice barely audible.
A small smile appeared at the corner of the note-taker's lips. "Sure enough not to ignore him."
===
The match ended shortly after Arghana scored.
Since it wasn't an official match, he didn't continue playing.
The Benfica youth team substituted him with an academy player for the remainder of the match.
Just like in FC Porto, after the match, the trial participants were asked to leave the field.
The selection results would be announced later that afternoon.
===
Arghana slowly walked toward the locker room, feeling exhaustion mixed with a strange sensation he didn't fully understand yet.
He clutched his small book tightly, to jot down what he had experienced before his HFM kicked in.
The match was over, but for Arghana, his mind was still trapped in the moment that had just occurred.
His chest rose and fell, not only from fatigue, but also from the remnants of adrenaline still flowing through his body.
This time was different.
In the FC Porto trial, he was also forced to be in extreme physical conditions, but there was no significant change.
He remained in a focus phase, but never reached that HFM state.
But in this match, something had happened.
What triggered that change?
Previously, he had assumed that extreme physical exhaustion could be the trigger, but this time, there was something else.
Something that pushed him beyond his physical limits and into that state.
He wrote down every emotion he felt before HFM activated.
Frustration, disappointment, the urge to win, and the anger that burned from within.
But that wasn't something new—he had felt it in the Porto trial as well. So what was different this time?
Arghana closed his eyes, trying to recall the moments before the shift occurred.
Something had changed in his mind, but he couldn't figure out what. Panic? Despair? The desire not to lose? He was still wondering, searching for the answer.
Was there a deeper reason? He bit his lip, writing down every possible trigger—realizing this would be the main topic for his discussion with Dr. Annelies.
If he could find this pattern, find the trigger, then he could control it.
And if he could control it, then he could use HFM whenever he wanted.
====
"So, how did our trial go?" one of the Benfica recruitment staff asked as he watched the match footage.
"We've decided to take two players," said the Benfica youth team coach. "One of them is Arghana."
"Arghana clearly has something unique," added the analyst team.
"His playing instincts are sharp, and he has an instinct for making the right decisions at critical moments.
He's not just quick, but also smart in reading the opponent's movements. That's a skill that's hard to teach."
"I agree, but we also need to look at his physical condition.
He still needs to improve his stamina.
However, with the system we have, that can be fixed," the Benfica youth coach added.
"So, what about the second player?"
"We've chosen Rafael Duarte, an attacking midfielder.
Technically, he might not be the best, but there's something in the way he controls the game tempo that caught our attention.
He has a mature ball distribution ability, and his confidence is evident in the way he makes decisions."
"Duarte is indeed calm under pressure," the analyst team agreed.
"While Arghana moves quickly looking for space and attacking opportunities, Duarte controls the game from the center and creates chances for his teammates.
Their combination could be very interesting if developed further."
"Okay, we'll go with this decision. Let's give them the opportunity to prove themselves in the next stage."
The announcement would be made soon.
Arghana and Rafael Duarte were now on the early path to a greater journey.
The head of Benfica's scouting department closed the trial file for the day, looking at the screen showing clips from the last match.
He sighed, then finally made his decision.
Two names had been chosen. No more doubt.
===
This afternoon, the announcement would be made. Two young players, two different paths, but one common goal—surviving at the highest level.
However, there was one thing that still needed to be sorted out before Arghana could officially join.
He was still under contract with Go Ahead Eagles.
Benfica would need to send a representative to complete the paperwork and negotiate his release.
A club agent had been assigned to meet with Go Ahead Eagles' management, ensuring the transfer went smoothly.
This afternoon, the decisions on the pitch had been made.
But behind the negotiation table, the game had only just begun.