World football system-Chapter 70: Legacy vs Limbo

Date: January 21, 2029

Location: Old Trafford, Manchester

Event: Manchester United vs Arsenal – Premier League Matchday 22

Weather: Freezing, light snow

Kick-Off: 4:30 PM

Attendance: 74,310

---

"Old Trafford," Ben White muttered beside him in the tunnel, blowing into his gloves. "Still smells like history."

Tobi nodded. But he wasn’t thinking about United. Or the banners. Or the pressure.

He was thinking about the decision.

Ten days left.

Ten days until everything changed—or didn’t.

---

> System Pulse:

Current Club: Arsenal

Decision Storm Status: 90% Global Awareness

Buffs Active: Emotional Ice, Leadership Aura, Chemistry Surge

Pressure Gauge: 87%

Objective: Win, Control Midfield, Deliver a Statement

---

Across from him stood Bruno Fernandes, watching him.

Rasmus Højlund bounced on his heels like a coiled spring. Marcus Rashford whispered something to Garnacho, who glanced at Tobi and scoffed.

It didn’t matter.

Not tonight.

---

1st Minute – Kick-Off

United started fast. freeweɓnovel~cѳm

Casemiro pressed. Mount followed.

Tobi barely touched the ball in the opening four minutes.

Then it came.

Saliba fed Ødegaard. Ødegaard laid it off.

Tobi turned, caressed the ball forward.

Dummied past Casemiro.

Gasps.

Even United fans leaned forward.

He switched the ball to Martinelli—perfect weight.

Arsenal surged into rhythm.

---

9th Minute – The First Warning

Bruno clipped a ball into Højlund.

The Danish striker bullied Tomiyasu, turned, fired.

Just wide.

"Wake up!" Raya screamed.

Tobi nodded. Slapped his thighs.

Back into it.

---

17th Minute – A Spark

Saka won a corner.

Tobi stepped up to take it, waving Ødegaard to the edge of the box.

He curled it near post.

Gabriel ghosted in—

Header!

GOAL!

Arsenal 1 – 0 Manchester United

Old Trafford groaned.

Arsenal fans in the top left corner of the stadium exploded.

Tobi ran to the corner flag, kissed the badge, but didn’t smile.

Focused.

Measured.

---

> System Update:

Assist #1

Match Rating: 8.1

Buff Gained: Early Control

Emotional Sync: Stable – Emilia Watching from Home

---

27th Minute – Rough Tackle

Casemiro lunged late. Cleats into Tobi’s ankle.

Yellow card. No hesitation.

Tobi stayed down for a moment, breathing hard, face in the grass.

He wasn’t hurt.

Just angry.

---

> System Alert:

Rage Meter: +12%

Focus Mode Triggered – Cold Zone

Tactical Vision Enhanced

---

He got up.

Didn’t retaliate.

Let his boots speak instead.

---

34th Minute – Masterclass

Dribble past Mount.

Spin past Eriksen.

One-two with Ødegaard.

Cutback to Nketiah.

Save by Onana!

Rebound—Tobi again!

Volley!

Off the bar!

So close.

Even Erik ten Hag winced on the touchline.

---

HALFTIME – United 0 – 1 Arsenal

Inside the tunnel, Bruno walked beside him.

"You’re not staying here," he muttered.

Tobi didn’t respond.

Bruno smirked. "Madrid would suit you."

He kept walking.

Emilia’s text buzzed quietly in his sock-rolled phone.

> "Brilliant half. You’re glowing. But don’t let them break you."

---

Second Half – Firestorm

United came out raging.

52nd minute – Rashford sent White spinning. Cross. Højlund—

GOAL.

1–1.

Old Trafford roared.

Raya punched the air in frustration.

Tobi grabbed the ball. Ran it back to the center circle.

Eyes dark.

---

58th Minute – Response

Ødegaard to Tobi.

He flicked it behind Casemiro. Ran on.

Outside boot pass to Saka.

Return ball—

Tobi opened his body.

Shot!

GOAL!

2–1 Arsenal

He didn’t celebrate.

Just stood. Arms out. Old Trafford silenced.

Only the traveling Gooners screamed.

---

> System Update:

Goal #1

Match Rating: 9.3

Scout Presence: Madrid, PSG, Bayern Confirmed

Arsenal Board Monitoring Live Feed

Buff Activated: "Legacy Flex"

---

70th Minute – Fightback

United threw everything forward.

Rashford missed by inches.

Antony hit the side net.

Mount fired a volley—blocked by Tomiyasu.

Tobi dropped deep, shielding. Blocking passing lanes. Running himself into the ground.

---

83rd Minute – Substitution Coming?

Arteta looked toward the bench.

Glanced at the monitor.

Then shook his head.

Tobi was staying.

For every minute.

---

88th Minute – Final Blow

Saka burst down the right.

Tobi ran behind him, dummying the defender.

Saka cut in, passed across the face—

Tobi let it run.

Ødegaard!

GOAL!

3–1 Arsenal

Game over.

Emilia texted again:

> "That’s not football. That’s art."

He finally smiled.

---

Full Time – Manchester United 1 – 3 Arsenal

Tobi collapsed at the whistle. Snowflakes on his cheeks.

As he walked toward the tunnel, he looked up.

One more message flashed across his system.

---

> SYSTEM ALERT – LEGACY DIVIDED

> Real Madrid Verbal Contract – 3 Days to Deadline

Arsenal Physical Contract – Awaiting Signature

Portugal National Team: Full Call-Up Rumors Circulating

Player Rating: 92

Form: Peak

---

Arteta hugged him in the tunnel. No words.

Just understanding.

Because whatever decision Tobi made next — it would shake Europe.

Absolutely — let’s dive straight into it.

Date: January 31, 2029

Location: London – Madrid – Cambridge

Event: Transfer Deadline Day

Theme: Choice, Legacy, and the Future

7:47 AM – Camden, London

The morning air felt heavier than usual. Not cold—just full.

Tobi sat alone on the edge of his balcony, his phone beside him, turned screen-down. No messages. No pings. No calls.

Just silence.

He watched the city wake up. The bakery down the street opened its shutters. A cyclist dodged a puddle. The day looked ordinary.

But everything about it was not.

System Status: Stasis Mode

Transfer Decision Imminent

Path Branching: Irreversible

Legacy Probability Tree Calculating...

Time Remaining: 14 Hours 13 Minutes

Flashback – 3 Days Earlier

Inside Emirates HQ, a boardroom glowing with oak and tension.

Edu leaned forward.

"We’ve given you everything, Tobi. The captaincy. The vision. The city."

Arteta added softly, "But we won’t trap you. If you’re going to fly, we want it to be on your wings."

Tobi didn’t reply then. He just nodded. Left the building. And walked into the rain.

10:15 AM – Cambridge, UK

Emilia stood near the old university quad, jacket zipped up, earbuds in. She had class at noon but couldn’t focus.

She kept refreshing Twitter.

#TobiOliveira was trending. Again. Of course.

Every five seconds, a new rumor.

"Tobi’s agent spotted in Madrid’s private terminal."

"Arsenal offering him 350k/w + legacy clause."

"Real Madrid players already following him on Insta."

She closed the app.

Opened her texts.

Still nothing.

She typed:

"Are you okay?"

And sent it.

System Sync Notification:

Message Received – Emilia Oliveira

Emotional Link Active

Buff Gained: Anchor Presence

Focus Penalty: -8%

12:32 PM – La Finca, Madrid

Carlo Ancelotti looked over the pitch.

Inside the manager’s suite, a digital board was glowing.

CAM – Tobi Oliveira (Pending)

He turned to the sporting director.

"Everything’s in place?"

"Everything. Private flight is grounded in Luton. He just needs to say yes."

Carlo sipped his espresso. Quiet.

"This kid... He’s not just a player. He’s a kingdom."

3:00 PM – London Colney

Training had ended, but Tobi stayed on the pitch.

One more free kick.

Then another.

Then five.

His legs ached.

He wanted them to.

Suddenly, a figure walked across the grass.

Leonor.

His sister, thirteen, dressed in her Valencia academy jacket.

"You didn’t think I’d let you decide without me?" she said, smirking.

He opened his arms. She ran into them.

System Buff Activated:

Family Support: Leonor – Focus Boost

Childhood Reminder – Morale Surge

She looked up at him.

"You know what I think?" she asked.

"What?"

"I think you’ve already decided. You’re just scared to say it."

6:12 PM – Arsenal Headquarters

Dário Cruz sat opposite Edu and Vinai Venkatesham.

"If he signs before 8 PM, he’s yours. If not..." He shrugged. "Plane’s waiting."

They handed him the final version of the contract.

A red velvet folder.

Legacy edition.

Unprecedented in Arsenal’s history.

8:44 PM – Camden Flat

The room was dark except for the glowing TV screen showing Sky Sports Deadline Day coverage.

"Still no word on Tobi Oliveira’s decision. Will he stay a Gunner or join the Galácticos?"

Tobi stared at the Arsenal pen in his left hand.

The Real Madrid iPad in his right.

Heart hammering.

Emilia entered the room silently, holding a mug of tea.

She sat beside him. Didn’t speak.

He handed her the Madrid iPad.

She held it like a burning match.

"Don’t do it for me," she said.

"I know," he replied.

"I mean it."

He turned toward her, his voice cracking.

"I don’t know who I am without this place."

Emilia smiled gently.

"You’re already someone. You don’t need Spain to become him."

System Pathway Flashing:

[ ] Sign for Real Madrid

[✓] Stay at Arsenal

Finalizing Decision...

9:01 PM – Emirates Stadium – Breaking News

Sky Sports:

"It’s official! Tobi Oliveira has REJECTED Real Madrid and signed a new 5-year deal with Arsenal Football Club! He becomes the highest-paid player in Arsenal history and is named club captain, effective immediately."

Twitter Explodes.

Arsenal Fans Chant His Name in the Streets.

Madrid Resets Its Transfer Targets.

10:12 PM – Back at Home

Tobi and Emilia lay side by side, not speaking. Just breathing.

"You good?" she finally whispered.

"No," he said. "I’m better."

She laughed softly. "You didn’t even tell me."

"I wanted to see your face when the world found out."

She kissed him.

The world outside screamed.

Inside, there was peace.

System Update:

Path Locked: Arsenal Legacy

Buff Gained: Immortal Gunner

Emilia Sync: 92%

Club Chemistry: 97

New Trait Unlocked: "Captain’s Will"

Future Pathway Activated: Champions of England?

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