Judge My Skills, Not Me

Chapter 12: Gameday Jitters

MAFIOSA by NATHY PELUSO & Press by Cardi B

"Diaz #17, I like it," Luis said as Cristina walked up to them from the women's dressing room. It was the first game of the season and Luis Enrique finally got an answer to what jersey number Cristina wanted to play with. 

The reason she gave during her number unveiling was 'I want the passing skills of a #10 with the scoring of a #7, but better than both,' receiving a laugh from her teammates. 

"Ney is just happy you didn't want his precious #11," Leo nudged Neymar as he walked up to the group. "I'm pretty sure coach likes her better than you anyways." 

"Hey! He likes me. I just don't run, or like following the diet regimen, and I may have a hard time getting to practice on time, but- yeah, she's definitely the favorite," Ney said lowering his head in fake sadness. 

The first game was held in the stadium of Athletic Bilbao. Since it was an away game, Cristina had some nerves going into the game. Everyone in the San Mames wanted her to fail, literally because of the home crowd but also with all the press around them. Luis Enrique tried to give the whole transfer a positive outlook for the press and news to eat up. Who wouldn't like a traditional male-dominated club to move from the ways of the past to a more progressive and inclusive agenda? Apparently, all the misogynistic male fans think 'women should stay out of their sport'. And whatever sold more papers, was what the press would side with and print. Cristina tried to avoid the papers and didn't look at anything negative regarding her decision to move to Barcelona, but it was hard. Every day after practice, herds of paparazzi and journalists stood around the training center and shouted absurd comments and invasive questions just to get a reaction out of her. One guy shouted to her during passing drills, "what's it like playing on your period?" for everyone to hear. Cristina ignored it and rolled her eyes, but a photographer caught it, and later that evening news outlets all over covered how 'The Papered Princess of Barcelona is Above Us All'. It got so bad that Joseph had to pull some strings to get the press to stay off the training grounds and only at the entrance of the facility, but that did little to actually help. 

The day Cristina finally announced her official jersey number to Camp Nao during the pre-season presentation, she started to feel a little better about her move. The stadium was filled with thousands of smiling faces that applauded her arrival. She gave a small speech about how happy she was to get to work and start the season. Cristina felt a tear in her eye as the team organized a youth girl's football team to join her all wearing her jersey. 'This was the right choice,' was all that ran through her head. 

"Nervous?" Leo said as they lined up in the tunnel. Cristina was playing with her necklace and adjusted her ponytail every couple of seconds. Leo knew the feeling of playing your first game of the season and just hoping everything turns out fine.

"Do you want the honest answer or a lie?" Cristina said bending down to tighten her laces one more time. 

"Nerves are good. That means you care," Leo said as the mascot kids started heading to them. Cristina just gave him a tight smile as she tried to shake the nervous jitters from her hands. 

Leo's mascot was a little boy that looked at him in pure awe. Cristina looked at them and felt better. Leo tried asking for the kid's name, but the boy was in pure shock that he didn't say a word. A small hand tugged her shirt and Cristina looked down at the small boy at her side. He looked about 6 years old with the cutest big brown eyes. "Hi sweetheart, what's your name?" 

"Manuel," the boy said while holding his hand to his mouth. 

Cristina gave him a soft smile, "You know, I have a brother named Emmanuel. You remind me a bit of him when he was your age," she said crouching down to his height.