The World Cup was over.
The celebrations were over.
The trophy had been lifted.
And now Devin was back where everything had started.
Seville.
Real Betis.
The training ground was packed with reporters.
Cameras flashed as Devin stepped out of his car.
Around his neck was his World Cup medal.
He had returned to Betis as a champion of the world.
But there was something different about the club.
It wasn't just Devin.
The board had spent the summer strengthening the squad.
Fran García had arrived from Real Madrid.
Facundo Bernal had arrived from Fluminense.
Diego Conde had joined from Villarreal.
Troy Parrott had also arrived from AZ Alkmaar.
And more importantly, Betis still had Max.
The two England teammates were back together.
The manager wanted more.
Much more.
THE DRESSING ROOM
Devin walked into the dressing room.
Max was already sitting there.
"Finally," Max said.
Devin dropped his bag.
"What?"
"You've been gone for five minutes."
"I was talking to the reporters."
Max laughed.
"World Cup winner now."
Devin smiled.
"Still the same player."
"Yeah?"
Max pointed at the medal.
"That says otherwise."
Before Devin could answer, Isco walked in.
He looked at Devin.
"Champion."
Devin smiled.
"Isco."
They shook hands.
Then Fran García entered.
"Morning."
Devin looked over.
"Welcome to Betis."
Fran smiled.
"Feels good."
One by one, the squad filled the dressing room.
Then the manager walked in.
Everyone became silent.
He had a tactics board under his arm.
He placed it on the table.
"Last season was special."
He looked at Devin.
"World Cup winner."
Then Max.
"World Cup winner."
Then the rest of the squad.
"But that season is finished."
He turned the board around.
There was a formation on it.
A 4-3-3.
The manager pointed at the defence.
"We defend better."
He pointed at the midfield.
"We control games."
He pointed at the wings.
"We attack faster."
Then he circled one position.
Devin's.
"And we have one more rule."
Max started smiling.
The manager looked at him.
"Don't laugh."
Max tried to stop.
The manager wrote two words on the board.
PASS TO DEVIN.
The room erupted.
Devin looked at the board.
"Boss..."
The manager raised his hand.
"I'm serious."
He pointed toward Bernal.
"When you win the ball, look for Devin."
Then Isco.
"When you have space, find Devin."
Then Max.
"When you're one-on-one, if Devin has a better position..."
Max nodded.
"Pass to Devin."
Everyone laughed.
The manager smiled.
"Exactly."
He turned back to the board.
"But understand the tactic."
He circled Max.
"If everyone focuses on Devin, Max gets space."
He circled Isco.
"If they focus on Max, Isco gets space."
He circled Bernal.
"If they press the attackers, Bernal controls the midfield."
Then he pointed toward Fran García.
"And if everyone pushes forward..."
Fran smiled.
"I'll run behind them."
The manager nodded.
"Exactly."
He stepped back.
"That's the system."
Devin stared at the board.
It was simple.
Almost too simple.
But it could be devastating.
The manager looked directly at him.
"You have the talent."
He paused.
"Now we're going to give you the ball."
MATCHDAY 1
VALENCIA vs REAL BETIS
LA LIGA TABLE BEFORE KICK-OFF
Pos
Team
Pts
GD
1
Barcelona
3
+2
2
Real Madrid
3
+2
3
Atlético Madrid
3
+1
4
Valencia
0
-1
5
Real Betis
0
0
The opening match was away from home.
Mestalla.
Valencia's supporters were already making noise when the Betis bus arrived.
Devin stepped out.
Max followed.
Fran García looked around.
"That's loud."
Max laughed.
"Wait until kick-off."
Inside the stadium, Valencia's players were warming up.
Hugo Duro was leading the attack.
Javi Guerra was controlling the midfield.
Devin looked around the pitch.
He could feel it.
The season had finally begun.
6'
Bernal received the ball.
He looked forward.
Devin was already moving.
Bernal played the pass.
PASS TO DEVIN.
Devin controlled it.
A defender immediately closed him down.
Devin turned.
The crowd booed.
He smiled.
Then accelerated.
The defender couldn't keep up.
Devin crossed.
Max attacked the ball.
HEADER!
Saved.
The goalkeeper pushed it over.
Max looked at Devin.
"Good ball."
Devin nodded.
"Next one."
19'
Valencia attacked.
Javi Guerra received the ball outside the box.
He shot.
Saved by Diego Conde.
The new Betis goalkeeper had immediately shown why the club had signed him.
Fran García cleared the rebound.
Isco collected the ball.
He turned.
Devin was running.
Isco didn't even look twice.
He passed.
Devin took one touch.
Then another.
He entered the box.
The defender slid.
Devin pulled the ball back.
The defender missed.
Devin shot.
GOAL!
VALENCIA 0–1 REAL BETIS.
The away supporters exploded.
Devin sprinted toward the corner.
Max jumped onto his back.
"You've started already!"
Devin laughed.
"That's the tactic!"
41'
Valencia equalised.
Hugo Duro finished a quick attack.
1–1.
The stadium erupted.
Devin walked back toward the centre circle.
Max came beside him.
"We're fine."
Devin nodded.
"Yeah."
62'
Fran García made his first major contribution.
He flew down the left wing.
A Valencia defender tried to stop him.
Fran crossed.
Devin was waiting.
He could shoot.
Instead, he left it.
The ball reached Max.
Max smashed it.
GOAL!
1–2.
Max sprinted toward Fran.
"Welcome to Betis!"
Fran laughed.
78'
Valencia pushed forward.
Betis defended.
Bernal made a huge tackle.
He won the ball.
Immediately—
He looked for Devin.
The manager shouted from the touchline:
"PASS TO DEVIN!"
Bernal played it.
Devin ran into space.
One defender.
Two.
Devin cut inside.
He saw Max.
But this time he didn't pass.
He shot from 25 yards.
The ball curled into the corner.
GOAL!
1–3.
The match was over.
Final whistle.
Valencia 1–3 Real Betis.
Devin
2 goals
Max
1 goal, 1 assist
Betis
3 points
MATCHDAY 2
REAL BETIS vs REAL SOCIEDAD
TABLE BEFORE KICK-OFF
Pos
Team
Pts
GD
1
Barcelona
6
+4
2
Real Madrid
6
+4
3
Real Betis
3
+2
4
Atlético Madrid
3
+1
5
Real Sociedad
3
0
The next match was at home.
The stadium was full.
Devin walked onto the pitch and immediately heard the supporters.
"DEVIN! DEVIN! DEVIN!"
Max laughed.
"You're famous."
Devin shook his head.
"Focus."
Real Sociedad had Mikel Oyarzabal and Takefusa Kubo ready to attack.
This wasn't going to be easy.
12'
Kubo received the ball.
He went past Fran García.
Fran recovered quickly and blocked the cross.
Corner.
The ball came in.
Pau Torres cleared it.
Betis immediately countered.
Bernal passed to Isco.
Isco found Max.
Max carried the ball.
Devin made a run.
Max crossed.
Devin jumped.
HEADER!
Saved.
The goalkeeper got down quickly.
Devin slapped his hands together.
"Again!"
27'
Isco received the ball in midfield.
He was surrounded.
He somehow escaped.
Then he saw Devin.
The pass was perfect.
Devin entered the box.
A defender grabbed his shirt.
Devin stayed on his feet.
The goalkeeper came out.
Devin lifted the ball over him.
GOAL!
1–0.
Devin ran toward the supporters.
Max followed.
52'
Real Sociedad equalised.
Kubo crossed.
Oyarzabal finished.
1–1.
The game became tense.
70'
The manager made a tactical change.
He moved Max closer to Devin.
"Stay near him."
Max nodded.
The next attack began.
Bernal won possession.
He passed to Isco.
Isco passed to Max.
Max immediately gave it to Devin.
Devin returned it.
One-two.
Devin was through.
He shot.
Saved.
The rebound fell to Max.
GOAL!
2–1.
89'
Real Sociedad pushed for an equaliser.
Devin dropped deep.
He won the ball himself.
Then he ran.
He passed to Fran García.
Fran crossed.
Devin was inside the box.
But three defenders surrounded him.
He jumped.
Instead of shooting, he headed the ball backward.
Max was there.
VOLLEY!
GOAL!
3–1.
The stadium erupted.
Final whistle.
Real Betis 3–1 Real Sociedad.
Devin
1 goal, 1 assist
Max
2 goals
After 2 matches
Devin: 3 goals, 1 assist
Max: 3 goals, 1 assist
Betis: 6 points
AFTER THE MATCH
Devin walked out of the stadium.
He saw Sofia waiting near the entrance.
She smiled.
"Good game."
Devin smiled.
"You came."
"Of course."
She looked at his shirt.
"Three goals already?"
"Three."
"And the season just started."
"Yeah."
She smiled.
"You're going to break another record, aren't you?"
Devin laughed.
"That's the plan."
She looked at him for a second.
Then said:
"Maybe I'll be there when you do."
Devin smiled.
"I'd like that."
Max suddenly appeared behind him.
"Am I interrupting something?"
Devin turned around.
"Max!"
Sofia laughed.
Max smiled.
"Come on, superstar. Training tomorrow."
Devin shook his head.
"I'll see you later, Sofia."
She smiled.
"See you."
As Devin walked away, Max looked at him.
"You like her."
Devin said nothing.
Max laughed.
"I knew it."
MATCHDAY 3
REAL BETIS vs ATHLETIC CLUB
TABLE BEFORE KICK-OFF
Pos
Team
Pts
GD
1
Barcelona
9
+5
2
Real Madrid
9
+4
3
Real Betis
6
+4
4
Atlético Madrid
6
+2
5
Athletic Club
4
+1
The third match was against Athletic Club.
And Devin remembered their previous battles.
Nico Williams was still one of the most dangerous players in Spain.
He stood across from Devin during the warm-up.
Nico smiled.
"You again."
Devin smiled.
"Always."
Nico laughed.
"This time I'm winning."
"We'll see."
8'
Nico immediately attacked.
He flew past Fran García.
Cross.
Pau Torres cleared.
The ball went to Max.
Max passed to Devin.
Devin sprinted.
Nico chased him.
The two raced toward the box.
Devin reached the ball first.
He crossed.
Max arrived.
GOAL!
1–0.
Devin turned toward Nico.
He smiled.
Nico laughed.
"Okay."
33'
Athletic equalised.
Nico Williams provided the assist.
1–1.
The match was wide open.
45+2'
Betis won a free kick.
Isco stood over it.
Devin was inside the box.
Isco crossed.
Pau Torres jumped.
The ball came off his head and fell behind him.
Devin reacted instantly.
He threw himself backward.
His legs rose into the air.
The entire stadium gasped.
BICYCLE KICK!
The ball flew into the top corner.
GOAL!
2–1!
Devin landed on his back.
For a moment he just stared at the sky.
Then the stadium exploded.
Max sprinted toward him.
"WHAT WAS THAT?!"
Devin laughed.
"I don't know!"
Isco grabbed him.
"World Cup winner!"
The crowd was screaming.
68'
Athletic attacked again.
Nico received the ball.
He cut inside.
Shot.
Diego Conde saved.
The rebound fell loose.
Laporte cleared it.
Betis survived.
83'
Devin received the ball from Bernal.
He looked toward Max.
Max was making a run.
Devin passed.
Max crossed.
Devin attacked the ball.
HEADER!
3–1.
His second goal.
The manager stood on the sideline smiling.
The tactic was working.
Final whistle.
Real Betis 3–1 Athletic Club.
Devin
2 goals, 1 assist
Max
1 goal
After 3 matches
Devin — 5 goals, 2 assists
Max — 4 goals, 2 assists
Betis — 9 points
The league table was beginning to change.
Pos
Team
Pts
GD
1
Real Madrid
9
+6
2
Real Betis
9
+6
3
Barcelona
9
+5
4
Atlético Madrid
7
+2
5
Villarreal
7
+2
Betis were second.
Only goal difference separated them from Real Madrid.
And Devin?
He was already leading the scoring charts.
But three matches were only the beginning.
Because the next chapter would bring a much bigger challenge.
The first Champions League night of the season.
And waiting for Betis...
was Inter Milan.