The training ground crackled with intensity, but Ronald Araújo remained calm—watchful. As his teammates bantered around him, he tied his boots with ritualistic focus, eyes already scanning the pitch.

“Ronald, you always this serious before training?” asked Gavi, nudging him with a grin.

Araújo chuckled softly. “If you want to win every duel, you’ve got to prepare like it’s a final.”

Moments later, a long ball soared through the air. Araújo timed his leap perfectly, outjumping two strikers to head it clear. Coach Xavi clapped from the sideline.

“That’s not defending,” someone muttered on the bench. “That’s domination.”