The dormitory room was bathed in the soft glow of Lukas's laptop screen as the two roommates settled in for their evening routine.

It was September 3rd, 2013, and the euphoria of Dortmund's rise to the top of the Bundesliga table was still fresh in their minds.

The victory over Frankfurt three days earlier had not only secured three crucial points but had also announced to the football world that this young Dortmund side was a force to be reckoned with.

Lukas Piszczek's younger brother had become more than just a roommate to Mateo; he had evolved into a confidant, a cultural translator, and most importantly, a genuine friend who understood the unique pressures that came with being a professional footballer's family member.

Tonight, their ritual was familiar and comforting: watching football highlights, discussing tactics, and catching up on the day's news from across the football world.

"Environmental conditions optimal for relaxation and information processing," the System observed as Mateo settled onto his bed with a cup of tea. "Stress levels minimal, cognitive function enhanced. Ideal state for receiving and processing significant information."

"Look at this," Lukas said in his improving English, pointing to the laptop screen where highlights from various European leagues were playing. "Real Madrid scored five goals today. Benzema got a hat-trick. And look, Barcelona won 4-0, but they're saying Neymar is still adapting to Spanish football."

Mateo nodded, his attention drawn to the Barcelona footage despite himself.

Seeing his former club always stirred complex emotions, a mixture of vindication for his current success and lingering curiosity about what might have been. But those feelings were tempered now by the certainty that he was exactly where he belonged.

The evening news transitioned to international football, and both young men leaned forward with increased interest. International breaks always brought speculation about call-ups, debuts, and the ever-changing dynamics of national team selection.

"Spain plays Finland next week," Lukas observed, reading from the screen. "World Cup qualifier. They need to win to stay on track for Brazil 2014."

The Spanish national team had been a distant dream for Mateo, something that seemed impossibly far away despite his rapid rise in German football. At sixteen, he was still considered too young for senior international football, though his performances had begun to attract attention from various youth levels.

Vicente del Bosque's Spain was the reigning World Cup and European Championship winner, a team built around the Barcelona and Real Madrid superstars who had dominated world football for the past decade.

The idea that a teenager playing in Germany could break into such an established hierarchy seemed fantastical, even to someone who had already achieved the seemingly impossible.

The news anchor's voice filled the room as footage of Spain's training session played on screen. "La Roja prepares for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Finland and a friendly against Chile, with coach Vicente del Bosque expected to announce his squad tomorrow morning..."

Mateo's phone, which had been charging silently on his desk, suddenly buzzed with an incoming call. The display showed Sarah's number, which was unusual for this time of evening. Their professional relationship had evolved into genuine friendship, but she rarely called outside of working hours unless something significant had occurred.

"Sarah?" Mateo wrote quickly in his notepad, showing it to Lukas, who answered the phone and put it on speaker.

"Mateo, are you sitting down?" Sarah's voice carried an excitement that was barely contained, her words tumbling over each other in her haste to deliver her message. "I just received a call from the Spanish Football Federation. You need to check your email immediately."

Lukas and Mateo exchanged glances, the younger man's eyes widening as the implications of Sarah's words began to sink in. With trembling fingers, Mateo opened his laptop and navigated to his email account, his heart rate increasing with each passing second.

"Physiological indicators suggest elevated stress response," the System noted. "Heart rate: 105 BPM and climbing. Adrenaline levels spiking. Recommendation: maintain calm breathing patterns to optimize cognitive function."

The email was there, sitting at the top of his inbox with the official seal of the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The subject line was simple but earth-shattering: "Convocatoria Selección Española - Mateo Álvarez."

With hands that shook slightly, Mateo clicked on the message and began to read. The formal Spanish text was clear and unambiguous: he had been called up to the senior Spanish national team for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Finland and the friendly match against Chile.

For a moment, the room fell completely silent. Lukas stared at the screen in disbelief, Sarah's excited breathing was audible through the phone speaker, and Mateo felt as though time had stopped entirely.

"¡What!" Sarah's voice finally broke the silence. "Mateo, do you understand what this means? You're going to represent Spain! At sixteen years old! This is unprecedented!"

Lukas, whose German was much stronger than his English, began speaking rapidly in his native language before catching himself and switching back to English. "This is... this is incredible! You're going to play for Spain! The World Cup winners!"

Mateo's response was written with hands that trembled with emotion: "I can't believe this is real. Six months ago, Barcelona didn't think I was good enough for their reserve team. Now Spain wants me to represent my country."

The phone call that followed with Sarah was a whirlwind of practical information and emotional support. She had already been contacted by the Spanish Federation's media department, who wanted to coordinate Mateo's travel arrangements and prepare for the inevitable media attention that would follow his call-up.

"You'll need to report to the Spanish training camp on September 4th," Sarah explained, her voice now more composed as she shifted into professional mode. "That's tomorrow. The federation has arranged for a private jet to transport you from Dortmund to Madrid. They understand the unique circumstances of your communication needs and have requested that I accompany you as your official interpreter."

The logistics were overwhelming, but it was the emotional weight of the moment that truly struck Mateo. This wasn't just about football it was about representing his country, about wearing the jersey that had been worn by his heroes, about potentially playing in matches that could help Spain qualify for the World Cup in Brazil.

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