The wings of kostiç

Chapter 9: The Call

Chris had always dreamed of the moment he’d receive that phone call. The one that would change everything—the one that would finally prove that all his hard work had been worth it. The call that could potentially lead him to his breakthrough. He’d pictured it so many times, replaying the scenarios over and over in his mind: the excitement, the disbelief, the overwhelming sense of accomplishment.

But as he sat in his modest apartment in Belgrade, after a long day of training, the phone rang in a way that made his heart skip. It was an international number. He picked it up immediately.

"Hello?" Chris answered, his voice a little shaky, despite his best efforts to sound calm.

There was a slight pause before the voice on the other end spoke. It was a deep, serious tone—one that immediately got his attention.

"Hi, is this Chris Kostić?"

"This is Chris," he said, sitting up straighter, his senses heightening.

"My name is Milan Jovanović. I’m calling on behalf of Juventus Football Club. We’ve been watching your performances, and we’re impressed with your progress."

Chris's heart raced, his breath hitching. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

"We’d like to invite you to a trial with the first team," Milan continued. "We’ve seen enough to know you have potential, but we want to see how you perform under pressure. Are you available to fly to Turin next week?"

The words swirled in Chris’s head. A trial. With Juventus. It was happening. It was real.

"Of course," Chris managed to say, barely able to contain the rush of emotions. "I’ll be there."

Milan gave him the details, instructing him to pack his bags, bring his best game, and prepare for a series of grueling sessions. "We’ll arrange your flight and accommodations," Milan added. "We’re looking forward to seeing you in action."

After they ended the call, Chris sat there for a moment, his phone still pressed to his ear. Everything seemed to slow down around him. The rush of excitement, the overwhelming realization that this was the opportunity he had worked for since he first kicked a ball. Juventus—the team that had once seemed so distant, a dream for any young player—was now a potential reality for him.

He felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. A trial with one of the biggest clubs in the world. He was ready. He had to be. But as he glanced around his small apartment, the reality of the situation began to set in. This wasn’t just a chance to play at a bigger club—it was his chance to prove himself on the global stage. His life was about to change.

The next few days passed in a blur. Chris could hardly focus on anything else. Every moment, every training session, every conversation seemed to be leading up to this one pivotal moment. But even though he had always been the type to focus solely on his football, he knew this wasn’t just about athletic ability anymore. It was about mentality, preparation, and how he handled the pressure.

He spent every waking hour running through drills, working on his skills, visualizing himself at the trial, in front of the coaches and the scouts. He would need to be perfect, and he knew it. This was the opportunity of a lifetime.

The night before his flight, Chris lay awake in his bed, staring at the ceiling. The nerves were starting to settle in, but he wasn’t scared. He was determined. He had come so far, and this was just another challenge—one he was ready to face head-on.

The following morning, he packed his bag with everything he might need: his boots, training gear, a few extra clothes, and most importantly, the confidence that he had put in the hours to prepare for this moment.

The flight to Turin was long, but Chris barely noticed the time passing. He was consumed by thoughts of the trial, what it would be like to step onto the pitch with Juventus’s senior players, and what he would need to do to prove himself. Would he be able to keep up with their pace? Would he be able to show that he belonged?

The moment he arrived at the airport in Italy, the gravity of the situation hit him. This was real. He was here. It wasn’t a dream.

An agent from Juventus was waiting for him with a sign that read "Kostić." The agent led him to a car, and they drove through the city toward the Juventus training facility. As the car passed the famous stadium, Chris couldn’t help but be in awe. He had watched countless Juventus matches on TV, idolized players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala, and now he was about to walk onto the same turf.

The training complex was even more impressive up close, a sprawling state-of-the-art facility, a world away from the academy fields back in Belgrade. Chris was shown to the locker room, where he found his gear already set up with his name on it.

"Get yourself ready," the agent said, giving him a nod before leaving. "The coaches will meet you soon."

Chris’s palms were sweaty as he dressed in his training kit. He couldn’t help but feel like everything he had worked for in his career had led him to this one moment. This was the pinnacle—the chance to become a part of something far bigger than himself.

He wasn’t the only one who had been invited for the trial. As he entered the training field, he noticed several other young players stretching and warming up. Some of them were already chatting with the senior players, laughing, joking around. Chris felt out of place for a moment, unsure of how to approach the situation, but he quickly reminded himself that he belonged here, just as much as anyone else.

After a few minutes, Coach Gianluigi arrived. The legendary Juventus coach gave Chris a brief look before nodding toward him. "Ready?" he asked, his voice calm but commanding.

Chris swallowed hard and nodded. "I’m ready."

The session began with a warm-up, but Chris was already in full focus. He felt the eyes of the coaches on him as he dribbled, passed, and shot. Every touch had to be perfect. Every decision had to be sharp. The pressure was immense, but Chris blocked everything out. This was his moment to shine.

As the session progressed, Chris could feel himself slipping into the zone. His movements were smooth, instinctive, and before long, he found himself matching the pace of the senior players. He was quick, but more importantly, he was aware. His vision was on point, and he felt the rhythm of the game settle around him. He had done this before—just not in front of this many people.

By the end of the session, Coach Gianluigi approached him again, his expression unreadable.

"You’ve got good potential, Kostić," he said. "But we need to see more. Tomorrow, we’ll push you harder. Stay focused."

Chris nodded, the weight of the coach's words sinking in. He had made it this far. Now, it was up to him to

show them just how much he was willing to give to reach the top.