Rise of a Football God-Chapter 290: Barcelona

The PFA Awards ceremony was just one segment of Sam’s life, a closed segment of his life that was tied to England.

Attending the PFA Awards ceremony was him saying goodbye to the English premier league, its fans, including his old teammates and old rivals.

Sam spent just 1 and half seasons in the English premier league but to a lot of premier league fans, it felt like he was playing in the league for 7 years already.

His impact in just 1 and half season was more than the impact that most premier league legends achieve in a decade!

This was how highly rated Sam was in England.

But Sam already put all of that behind him.

After 3 seasons since he became a professional football player, at the age of 20, he finally made the switch to his dream club. A club playing in the elite competition of Europe, the UEFA champions league.

This club was FC Barcelona.

Sam’s life and career was about to experience a crazy change but he was ready for it. At the very least, he was determined to face any challenge and obstacle that creeps up with an unyielding defiance.

After the PFA Awards, he bid farewell to England as he returned to Spain, finally settling into the mansion that he bought in the city of Barcelona.

…

Barcelona, the vibrant capital of Catalonia in Northeastern Spain…

The city of Barcelona was unlike Fulham where Sam had spent the last year and half of his life. Barcelona is a city where history, culture, and modernity blend seamlessly, far more than Fulham was.

Situated along the Mediterranean coast, it boasts a unique character defined by its architectural wonders, artistic heritage, and lively atmosphere.

When Sam first arrived in Barcelona, the first thing he did was something that he always wanted to do, he went on a tour around the historic city.

Barcelona is framed by the Serra de Collserola Mountain range to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the east, offering a picturesque mix of urban and natural landscapes.

The city enjoys a Mediterranean climate with mild winters, hot summers, and abundant sunshine year-round.

Barcelona is renowned for its architectural brilliance, particularly the works of Antoni Gaudi, the Catalan architect and designer known as the greatest exponent of Catalan Modernism.

Sam left nothing untouched, he toured everything.

The city’s skyline is adorned with the legendary architect’s masterpieces such as the La Sagrada Familia, an iconic basilica that remains under construction, showcasing intricate, otherworldly designs.

There is the Park Guell, a whimsical park filled with colorful mosaics, organic shapes, and panoramic views of the city.

And then the Casa Batllo and Casa Mila, stunning modernist buildings on Passeig de Gracia. Also the Gothic Quarter with its narrow medieval streets, Roman walls, and historic churches which reflects Barcelona’s ancient past.

Born and bred in Nigeria, used to the African culture and architecture already, Sam’s eyes were exposed to a treat different from the one he experienced at first on arriving in London.

The culture and lifestyle in Barcelona were also an exuberant one. The city was well-known as a cultural powerhouse, famous for its art, music, and cuisine.

Museums like the Picasso Museum and the Joan Miro Foundation, and venues like the Palau de la Musica Catalana, all of them presented an eye feast for Sam even as he could not visit everywhere that he wanted to visit.

As for its cuisines, the city offers a culinary feast from traditional tapas to avant-garde dishes. Local specialties include pa amb tomaquet, calcots, and seafood paella.

The dump of new information was overwhelming for Sam at some point.

’I feel like a baby again’. He thought.

Coming to Barcelona presented such a drastically different world view and culture from what he was used to that he felt like a child learning everything anew.

’I wonder how mom will react to all these food’. He thought, and then he grimaced as he could already imagine her reaction.

"That woman!" He chuckled.

"I wonder if they have an African restaurant where I can eat around here".

Sam continued his tour.

Barcelona also had a vibrant urban life. The ancient city pulsed with energy, from bustling markets like La Boqueria to the nightlife in neighborhoods like El Raval and Gracia. Its blend of cosmopolitan flair and deep-rooted traditions mesmerized Sam, it was an unforgettable experience for him the first time.

Despite all these myriad aspects that makes the city unique, a perfect tourist location, in the end, Barcelona was synonymous with one thing, sports.

More precisely, Barcelona is synonymous with football, home to FC Barcelona and the iconic Spotify Camp Nou stadium.

Most people don’t know about Barcelona but they know about FC Barcelona.

That was how popular the city’s main football club was. Enjoy exclusive content from novelbuddy

The Spotify Camp Nou…

Located in the Les Corts district of Barcelona, the Spotify Camp Nou is the largest stadium in all of Europe and an architectural symbol of football culture.

It was a stadium that was well-known by most football fans across the world.

And of course, it was a stadium that Sam was extremely familiar with despite the fact that he only visited it for the first time after signing for FC Barcelona.

For Catalans in the city of Barcelona, the Spotify Camp Nou goes beyond just football; the stadium is a symbol of Catalan identity and pride, often hosting significant cultural and political events.

The stadium was a giant structure of architectural excellence.

Its iconic bowl-like structure ensures excellent visibility from all seats. And after the renovation that was completed just a few months ago, the stadium now had a retractable roof, integrating cutting-edge technology in its design.

During his unveiling a week earlier, Sam visited the stadium facilities, most memorably the Barca Museum that showcased the club’s illustrious history.

Th𝓮 most uptodate nov𝑒ls are publish𝒆d on ƒreewebηoveℓ.com.

There, he got to admire all the trophies that FC Barcelona had won in its history.

Unlike Fulham, FC Barcelona’s trophy cabinet was star-studded.

Ranging from multiple champions league trophies to countless La Liga titles, it created a rich and impactful display to any tourist but none of the trophies in display impacted Sam as much as those of a certain type.

He was most impacted by the Ballon D’or trophies in display.

The Ballon D’or award trophy…, it was the most recognized and respected individual award in the world of football.

There were 7 Ballon D’or trophies in the FC Barcelona Museum, and all of them were won by a certain FC Barcelona legend.

’Lionel Messi’. Sam lingered, looking at the trophies with longing.

14 years ago, as a 6-year-old, Sam watched the iconic FC Barcelona team anchored by the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez, and Andres Iniesta take to the pitch in Wembley Stadium, demolishing a frightening Manchester United side.

To think that he would be standing in this stadium now, looking at the trophies of that FC Barcelona side, admiring their achievements so closely.

’I’m living the dream!’ Sam thought, feeling emotional.

He focused on the Ballon D’or trophies again.

Last season, after what he managed to achieve with Fulham, a lot of avid Fulham fans endorsed him for the Ballon D’or award but Sam was realistic.

Yes, he had a record-breaking season.

Yes, he won trophies but the fact remains that he didn’t play in the elite competition of European clubs, the UEFA champions league which always plays a big role in who wins the Ballon D’or award every year.

’I can always go again this season’. He clenched his fist, feeling pumped.

He turned to follow his guide, continuing the tour round the stadium even as he thought. ’I’ll carve my own legacy in this club!’

Apart from the Barca Museum, he visited other facilities of the stadium like the VIP lounges, the restaurants, merchandise stores where he signed autographs for excited FC Barcelona fans.

And then, he entered one of the state-of-the-art locker rooms where locker rooms of legendary FC Barcelona players were archived.

There, he saw the locker rooms of FC Barcelona legends like Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Neymar Jnr, Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandex, Andres Iniesta, Jordi Alba, Dani Alves, Sergio Busquests and others.

It was a locker room filled with lockers of legendary football players.

’I wonder if my own locker will be here someday’.

By the end of the tour, Sam felt fulfilled like a man who achieved everything in life. He felt immense satisfaction.

The 2025/2026 La Liga season in Spain already started and FC Barcelona already played their first game of the season, taking on Celta Vigo in an away game where they totally demolished the home side 5-1.

Sam didn’t play that game.

But after the PFA Awards in England, after touring Barcelona and retreating to his mansion in the city, Sam slept early with satisfaction.

He slept early so he could wake up early the next day.

…

Ding! Ding!

Sam’s alarm woke him the next day in Barcelona.

Waking up, he brought his age-old tradition to Barcelona, quickly brushing his teeth, wearing his work-out clothes and jogging out of his mansion and through the streets of Barcelona.

He completed his mentality monster daily system quest.

As soon as he was done, Sam took his bath, getting ready on time as he drove to his first training session in the Spotify Camp Nou.

He arrived 35 minutes before time, he was the 2nd player to arrive.

A player arrived before him, the Polish striker, Robert Lewandowski.

"Hola". Lewandowski waved at him.