Chapter 79: Volume 1, - 79: The Vote
The blinds in Meeting Room B were pulled halfway down to block the afternoon glare from the pitch outside. On the long wooden table lay five tablet screens, printed player dossiers, medical updates, attendance registers from the club’s educational department and a scatter of paper cups.
For three hours, the panel had been working through the Under-16 age group, player by player, determining who would receive standard retention, who would be moved into developmental groups, and who would be advised to seek regular minutes elsewhere.
Tavares had spent the afternoon watching familiar names turn into different pathways. One player had been placed directly into the primary U17 group, another retained for slower development, and another advised to find a club where regular minutes were more realistic. None of the decisions felt simple, even when the paperwork made them look clean.
Marta Nunes, the academy director, tapped her pen against the margin of a squad-planning grid.
"Let’s settle the central defenders first," Marta said, looking across at Tavares. "Afonso Carvalho is straightforward. His medical and education reports are clear, and the staff agree he is ready for primary U17 preseason. What about Duarte Lopes?"
"Physically, he’s ready," Tavares said, leaning back in his chair. "He needs to improve his line management against higher blocks, but he belongs in the main squad for preseason."
"Agreed," Álvaro Pires, the recruitment and retention coordinator, said as he marked a green tick next to Duarte Lopes’s name. "And Tiago Silva?"
"Primary group," Tavares replied. "His movement has improved, he works harder without the ball, and his physical profile is ready for the next level."
"Good," Marta said. "Now, wide players. We have three files left in this group: Duarte Faria, Bernardo Rocha and Rayan El Mansouri."
Álvaro opened Duarte Faria’s folder first.
"Duarte is our most complete natural winger," Álvaro said, reviewing his notes. "He creates separation more consistently than the others and handles isolated one-on-one situations well."
"He also forces individual actions when three defenders are set," Luís Neto, the assistant coach, pointed out. "Against compact blocks, his decision-making slows down. When his first move is covered, he tends to attack alone rather than release."
"It’s a discipline issue, not a talent gap," Tavares said. "Duarte needs higher defensive concentration and faster distribution under pressure, but his trajectory is clear. He goes into the primary U17 preseason group."
Marta nodded, writing down the decision. "Bernardo Rocha next."
"Bernardo gives us balance," Luís Neto said. "He can play on either flank, understands tactical assignments instantly, and his physical metrics are completely stable. He doesn’t require a team to adapt to him."
"Does he create enough separation against elite full-backs?" Álvaro asked. "He’s dependable as a rotation option, but in high-tempo U17 matches, his ceiling might be limited compared to others in his position."
"He doesn’t lose us matches," Tavares said. "He works hard, executes instructions reliably and maintains his standards whether he starts or comes off the bench. He belongs in the primary preseason squad, but he will have to fight for starting minutes."
Marta recorded Bernardo’s outcome and took a sip of water. She pulled the final wide-player folder to the centre of the table.
"Rayan’s file needs the full review," Marta said. "Start with the concerns."
Álvaro opened Rayan’s disciplinary record.
"Months ago, this boy was a major concern," Álvaro said. "Low engagement, poor attitude in training, a suspension following a physical altercation at school and severe emotional volatility when he was left out of matchday squads. His physical development was behind the group, particularly his strength, contact resistance and overall maturity."
"There was also the calf injury," Luís Neto added. "He concealed pain from Dr. Fonseca to avoid being dropped, which damaged medical trust. His left foot is weak, he struggles in crowded central spaces, and historically, he’s shown a dependence on immediate, visible validation."
"If we evaluated him purely on his first four months, this would be an easy decision," Álvaro said. "Is a six-week spike in performance enough to overlook half a season of volatility?"
"Look at the full record," Tavares said, gesturing to André Falcão, the performance analyst. "André, show the clips."
André hit a key on his laptop, displaying a split-screen video feed on the wall monitor.
"On the left is Rayan from March against Estoril," André said, pointing to the screen. "He receives the ball wide, immediately tries to force a dribble into two set defenders, loses possession, stops tracking back and turns to look at the bench."
André tapped the keyboard, playing a sequence on the right side of the monitor.
"This is from last Saturday against Casa Pia. He receives in a similar position. The inside route is blocked. Instead of forcing the dribble, he releases the ball backwards to Nuno, moves five metres into the central half-space, receives the return pass from Matias and creates a central penetration."
André shifted to another clip from the second half of the same match.
"Here, he faces the exact same double-team. He uses a left-shoulder body feint to shift Vasco Teles half a step, cuts inside before Isaac can reset, and delivers a low cutback for Tiago Silva to score."
"He also responds differently after mistakes," Luís Neto said. "He takes the correction, returns to the drill and doesn’t need someone managing every reaction. When he was substituted against Casa Pia, he came off properly and stayed engaged."
"Since returning to full training, his attendance and punctuality at required sessions have been consistent," Tavares said. "He reports physical problems, follows Dr. Fonseca’s programme and takes the education work more seriously."
"Official total: one goal and four assists," Tavares added. "But the numbers aren’t the main point."
"He isn’t first choice now," Tavares said. "But he learns quickly enough to justify the next environment."
Marta reviewed the notes silently, checking the academic reports and coaching assessments.
"The school recovery is moving, family communication has improved and there are no current safeguarding blocks," Marta said. "But the conditions remain part of the decision."
She looked around the table. "This is primary U17 preseason exposure, not a permanent place," Marta said. "There is no guaranteed start, no professional contract and no Sporting B or first-team promise. School, behaviour and medical compliance remain conditions."
She paused, looking at her staff. "My recommendation is retention and primary U17 preseason. Any reason we cannot support that?"
Álvaro looked at the video clip still paused on the wall screen, then checked his squad list. "No objection. The evidence justifies the spot."
Luís Neto nodded. "Agreed."
Marta drew a neat green line next to Rayan’s name on the master sheet.
"Rayan El Mansouri is retained," Marta said. "Primary U17 preseason group."
She closed the file, picked up the next folder from the stack and looked back at her staff. "Next player: Tomás Veiga."
Outside in the quiet corridor, Rayan sat on a wooden bench beside his mother, Sofia.
The distant hum of traffic from the highway drifted through the open windows at the far end of the hallway. Rayan stared down at his hands, his thumbs repeatedly tracing the seam of his dark trousers. Every time a door opened down the hall or footsteps echoed on the linoleum floor, his eyes darted up, attempting to read the expression on every passing staff member.
Sofia sat beside him, her handbag resting on her lap. She didn’t look at her phone.
"Stop moving your legs, Rayan," Sofia said softly, her voice calm and steady in the empty corridor.
Rayan stopped his feet, forcing his hands flat against his knees. He took a slow breath, looking at the heavy oak door of Meeting Room B.
A moment later, the door clicked open.
Coach João Tavares stepped out into the hallway, holding a thin blue folder in his hand. He looked down the corridor, his face unreadable, and caught Rayan’s eye.
"Rayan," Tavares called out. "Dona Sofia. Come in."