Serie A Round 2 was done.
Napoli’s August fixtures were complete.
September loomed.
Two wins from two.
A perfect start.
Second in the table on goal difference, behind fellow two-win side Sampdoria and level with Juventus.
For a team that had lost its top scorer, Higuain, in the summer, it was a dream opening.
The catalyst for the transformation was undeniable.
The 17-year-old sensation, Luca.
Two matches.
Four assists.
An 80 percent pass completion rate.
Luca’s name sat atop the Serie A assist charts, ahead of established stars.
La Gazzetta dello Sport front page: “Napoli’s Youngster, Just a Meteor, No Worries!”
Corriere del Mezzogiorno: “Phenomenon!
17-Year-Old Assist King Born, He Makes San Paolo Forget Higuain!”
Tuttosport, forced to dial back its disdain: “Warning!
Southern Force Finds New Engine, Luca Becomes Serie A Phenomenon.”
Beyond Italy, Europe’s mainstream football media took notice.
England’s North London Sports ran a secondary piece: “Italian Talent Stuns Serie A.
Come to the Premier League, This Is the Top Stage.”
The article detailed Luca’s technical profile and subtly expressed regret.
Germany’s Kicker magazine: “A Commander with Vision, Injecting Fresh Blood into Serie A.”
France’s L’Equipe: “Genius Playmaker Luca Shows Football’s Beauty.”
On major football forums, Luca became a hot topic.
“Watched the highlights.
His vision and passing at 17?
Unreal.
So much intelligence.”
“Ceiling is hard to predict after two games.
But he looks like at least a Pirlo or Sneijder-level playmaker.”
“Age is his biggest asset!
Think about Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at 17.
Messi was already amazing at Barcelona.
Ronaldo was shining at Manchester United.
But Luca’s two games are not inferior to theirs at the same age!”
Come on.”
“I didn’t say he’s better than Messi!
I said at the same age!
Learn to read!”
The comment sections were always like this.
Comparisons.
Arguments.
Flare-ups.
But it proved one thing.
Luca was a talking point.
On Raiola’s advice, Luca officially registered and verified his YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Raiola’s words: “Listen, kid.
In this era, influence is part of your wealth.
You don’t need daily selfies.
But share some training clips, match thoughts, or even just your bike.
It makes you three-dimensional.
Brings fans closer.
You said you have an account?
Don’t be silly.
That’s your private one.
Every celebrity has one.
But the official accounts?
They must be professional.”
On verification day, Luca’s follower count exploded.
Past 100,000 in hours, climbing fast.
His first real capital of fame.
A taste of stardom.
North London, London Colney Training Centre, Manager’s Office.
Late at night.
Arsène Wenger sat alone at his desk, exhaustion etched on his face.
On his screen, the Napoli vs AC Milan highlights played.
Specifically, Luca’s rainbow outstep assist.
Arsenal’s August had been a nightmare.
Three Premier League matches.
One win, one draw, one loss.
Mid-table.
He felt a particular sting.
Early in the summer, his scouting network had flagged the Napoli youth midfielder.
The report’s words had captivated him.
“Excellent vision, imaginative passing, superior game reading.”
He had strongly recommended to the board that they move early, before Luca’s promotion and rise.
He had even proposed an initial offer.
The board’s hesitation and “let’s observe a bit longer” had cost them.
Now, Luca’s two performances had inflated his value and profile to a level Napoli would never sell.
Wenger watched the boy orchestrate, deliver the killer pass.
A gem that could have been Arsenal’s.
A decade of creativity in midfield.
Slipped through his fingers.
The regret was sharp in the quiet night.
A few million in the summer.
Now, impossible.
Wenger rubbed his temples and turned off the video.
No use in what-ifs.
He had to fix the current squad.
But the Italian boy would linger in his mind.
International break arrived.
Serie A paused for two weeks.
The Napoli squad got a holiday.
Before they left, Sarri warned them.
“Enjoy your break, gentlemen.
But watch your mouths.
And watch your legs.
I do not want to see weigh-in results after the break that make me think we signed a sumo wrestler.
You know the consequences.”
His gaze behind the glasses swept the room, lingering on a few players.
Luca returned to his routine.
A day and a half of full recovery and light activity, then back to strength and coordination work.
Unlike before, this match had not triggered a new system quest or immediate ability points.
“Seems debut and special event rewards are rare.
The norm is grinding, match by match.” Luca was calm.
The system accelerated him, but hard work was the foundation.
Over the two weeks, he became a fixture at the training ground.
Aside from rare personal errands, he lived in the gym and on the pitch.