Original subtitles

[tranquil instrumental music playing]

[dramatic sting]

[tense music playing]

[deep exhale echoes]

[music builds]

- [soundscape fading in] - [breathing heavily]

[crowd chanting] Diego! Diego!

Diego! Diego!

Diego! Diego!

Diego! Diego!

- Diego! Diego! - [exhales deeply]

[crowd] Diego! Diego!

[music swells]

- [huffs] - [music stops]

[crowd groans]

- [dramatic music plays] - [clock ticking]

[muffled shouting]

[player] Stay close to him!

- Hey, Diego! - [grunts]

[opponent 1 shouts]

- [referee blows whistle] - Hey! Fuck off!

[opponent 2] Foul, ref! That was a foul!

- [crowd protesting] - Yeah, a red.

[Diego] A red card? What are you talking about?

- [referee] Get off the pitch. - [Diego] Red card?

- Hey, hey, hey! - Fuck's sake! Come here! Let go of me!

- Fuck! - [crowd jeers, whistles]

Come here and say that! Suck my cock!

Go on! Come and suck my cock! Come on now!

- Leave me alone. - You're just like always.

Get the fuck off, fuck's sake!

[players chattering]

- Leave me alone, for fuck's sake! - Diego!

- Stop acting like a twat. - What?

Stop acting shit-hot. You're not.

I'm blazing hot.

Yeah, but you're as thick as pig shit.

- [grunts] - Go fuck yourself!

- Now what? Now what? - You're crazy! What are you doing?

- You can't do this! - Picking on me all game, the prick.

- Hey! Hey! - What?

Calm down! Take it easy!

[clamouring]

- I'm press. I can film if I want. - Don't you dare fucking film me! Out!

[music fading out]

THE CHAMPION

[reporter] Atleti's new champion...

DIEGO 6 YEARS OLD

...started out just like any other small-town boy.

Thanks to his talent...

DIEGO 15 YEARS OLD

...and his father's support,

Diego shone until he caught the attention of the nation's most important clubs.

TITO GONZÁLEZ DIEGO'S FATHER

Fantastic! Come here!

Amazing, son. That's my boy. You smashed it. You're a star.

[reporter] At the start of the season, at just 18,

he fulfilled his dream of signing with Atlético Madrid.

But today, with only three matches left in the La Liga season,

their polarizing star is embroiled in controversy.

Atleti has issued a statement

accepting the two-game ban imposed on Diego by the Federation.

They're also evaluating internally if he should be banned for another game,

since the victim of the attack was the red-and-white team's captain.

- Now what? Now what? - You're crazy! What are you doing?

[reporter] This statement has stirred controversy

among the Mattress Makers' fans,

because, should the third-match ban on Diego be confirmed,

we would reach the decisive final game of the season

with the team's top scorer on the sidelines.

We don't wanna lose Diego for the last match of the season...

HÉCTOR HERNÁNDEZ COACH OF ATLÉTICO DE MADRID

- ...but it won't be at any price. - [laughs] No way!

[girls laugh]

You better not check Twitter. [chuckles]

- [man 1] What? Is it still trending then? - Yeah, totally. [laughs]

[Diego] Oh, let 'em go for it. They'll soon come crawling back. [sighs]

- Diego. - [Diego] What is it, my queen?

- Come on. - [Diego] No way.

- But they're waiting. - So what? Let them wait.

Yeah, but you screwed up. Come on, honey. Now deal with it.

[Diego] Fuck this!

[sighs]

They don't give a shit.

[woman] If it's getting too much, take some time off.

And do what?

Huh?

[growls]

What're you playing at?

- What do you think our house is? A hotel? - [all laugh]

[man 1] We're his mates. We gotta back him up.

- Diego doesn't mind. He owns this place. - Uh-huh.

- [man 1] Yeah, he owns everything. - [both laughing]

- Now, pass us a lager. - [sarcastically] Oh, course.

You want a cold one?

- [man 2] Yeah. - There you are.

- Enjoy. - What was that for?

- That's crazy! You stupid or what? - [girls laugh]

- Now what? Now... - Is this what we want? It's gotta stop.

Well, I dunno. It's your call.

He should represent the club's values.

Scored 11 goals in his first season for you.

- Without discipline, he's done. - [man 3] Calm down.

Now, all of us want the best for him, don't we?

Diego's a Ferrari, and his engine's about to explode.

He just needs a pit stop.

A media detox.

Elaborate.

- He needs a new image. - So what are you saying?

Well, to start with, you are going to say sorry.

What? Really?

- Yeah. Sorry. Yeah. - [scoffs]

- What if I don't want to? - Well...

Do as your agent says or your season's over, you hear?

What the fuck are you on about? This season, I'm the top scorer.

- And I decide whether you play or not. - [scoffs]

You're getting a two-match suspension.

- You decide if it's three. - [Diego] Okay.

[mobile phone ringing, vibrating]

There's no room on this team for hooligans.

- [ringing] - [chuckles]

- [Tito] Hmm. - [chuckling]

[man 4] Yeah. What's up? Yeah, I just talked to him.

What the actual fuck's a hooligan?

[man 5] What does it take to be a genius?

- [projector whirs] - In the words of Charles Baudelaire...

[slides shuffle]

"Genius is no less than infancy recovered at will."

So then, can anyone offer me another definition?

- [projector beeps] - [student coughs]

[professor] Okay.

[inhales deeply]

So psychology allows us to catalogue different factors in personality

typical in geniuses in today's world, and so...

[train approaching]

[woman, over PA] The train now arriving is for Villaverde Bajo.

Please stand back from the edge of the platform.

May we also remind you that, for your safety,

it is forbidden to cross the tracks.

Please use the available crossings.

Excuse me.

So you're still scared of everyone then?

[door alert beeping]

[train whirs]

[chuckles]

Alex! Hey, Alex!

Hey.

Slow down.

I looked for you at the uni, tried phoning you.

- You ignored my WhatsApp. - Don't use WhatsApp.

But I gave you a mobile.

- Yeah, and I don't know why. - What d'you mean?

So we can chat and catch up.

To see how you are, you know.

[sighs]

So what is this?

Relax. Huh?

Man, huh, just look at you.

I have a solution to your problems.

- The solution's leaving me be. - There's zero risk to you.

You work ten hours a week for a month,

and keep your house.

- I wasn't planning... - You are.

I've seen it for sale online, and way below market value.

What do you care?

Alex,

that house is all you've got left of mum.

And I'm offering you the cash you need.

Listen to me. It's easy.

Super legal, hey. Super legal.

Right up your street.

What is my street?

I'll tell you on the way. We don't have much time.

- Juanma. - Come on. I won't go over 80.

Let's go.

METROPOLITANO STADIUM

ATLETI HOME GROUND

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

[Juanma] Hi. Can you let me through?

- [man 1] No problem, sir. - [Juanma] Thanks. Excuse me.

[indistinct chatter]

- Juanma. Juanma. - Huh?

What's this all about?

It's a media conference. Can't you see?

No, I'm not going in there. It's jam-packed.

You are. We're going in.

And I'll protect you. Come on.

No, no, get off me. You know I don't like being touched.

[intriguing music playing]

[Juanma] You sit down here. There you go.

What's going on here?

- Diego is gonna give a statement. - Ah...

Who's Diego?

[chuckles]

All set then? Let's go, champ. Come on.

- No, I'm not coming. I won't say sorry. - You just gotta read it.

To read?

On the table out there, there's a statement we wrote.

Why didn't I know this?

Because I read it, and it's okay, son.

Go out there and watch what you say. It's gonna be fine.

[camera shutters clicking]

[reporters chattering]

[Diego sighs]

Morning, all.

Thanks for coming.

[chatter subsides]

[sighs]

"I've come... here today to say sorry."

"And I say to you all now, pub... lic..." [grunts softly]

"...publicly here that..." [gulps]

"...that I will start taking a course

of in... tensive..."

- [reporters murmuring frenziedly] - "...classes to complete..."

- "...the education that I gave up to..." - [reporter 1] He's going back to school?

"...pur... to pur..."

- "...to pursue a career in football." - [reporters chatter]

What the hell is this?

To support Diego in this decision,

that the whole club celebrates, uh,

we've engaged the help of one of the best educational psychologists.

[whispering]

Alejandro Castro.

- [reporter 2] What? Alejandro Castro? - [reporter 3] Alejandro? Alejandro Castro?

- [reporters clamouring] - [reporter 4] What'll the classes be like?

Will they have a positive impact on the team's performance?

[Juanma] Hey, wait up!

[inhales deeply] Look, Juanma, I don't know how I fit into all of this.

You've done the tricky bit. Now, go and do your thing.

Two things. Firstly, I'm not a psychologist.

- I'm a researcher. - And so what?

Alex, you're perfect for this role.

The only issue here is you don't sell yourself.

And secondly, I hate football.

No.

- You hate our old man. - Wow.

Come on now. You've never been offered an opportunity like this ever.

And we can see each other more. It's a win-win.

The truth is, we're better off if we live our lives separately.

- You could do with the money. - [inhales]

Not everything's about money, you know? Okay? It's not all about money.

- [man] No, no. It's difficult. - [woman] Right.

[indistinct chatter]

[whispers] Sorry. Hey, look.

Hey. Isn't that... Isn't that the teacher dude? Diego's.

It is. Yes, I'm sure. It's... It's that guy.

I read an interview with him the other day,

and it's definitely him.

[indistinct overlapping chatter]

ALEJANDRO CASTRO, NEW PROFESSOR FOR THE SOCCER PLAYER

Look, it's him. That guy on the TV, he's standing right there. It's him.

[overlapping whispering]

[tense music playing]

[soundscape muffles]

["Just Breathe" by Eddie Vedder plays over earphones]

[music drowns out background]

♪ Yes, I understand That every life must end ♪

♪ Uh-huh ♪

♪ As we sit alone I know someday we must go ♪

♪ Uh-huh ♪

♪ Yeah, I'm a lucky man ♪

♪ To count on both hands the ones I love ♪

♪ Some folks, they got none Yeah, others they got just one, uh-huh ♪

♪ Stay with me ♪

♪ Oh, and let's just breathe ♪

♪ Just breathe ♪

[acoustic guitar strumming]

FOR SALE

[music ends abruptly]

- [boys giggling] - [Alex groans]

Yago, Rodrigo, will you come here and say sorry?

[Yago] Come on!

- Is it Alejandro? - Yeah, yeah.

- [groans, sighs] - Eh, Luismi, it's the owner.

We did say three o'clock. [tuts]

- Hmm. - [Luismi] God's sake.

- It's my decision, Álvaro. It's final. - [Yago] Rodrigo, come on, let's go inside!

- [Luismi] Telling you, we have no margin. - Oh. It's a bit small, isn't it?

What? The stock price has fallen by 5%. I'm telling you we can't sell now.

It has potential. Don't you think?

No way, Álvaro. That'll destroy our profits.

We could always knock through.

- Uh, no, that's a load-bearing wall. - Well, what about that one?

No offense. It feels dated and old-fashioned a bit.

- [Luismi] Yeah, that's how it works. - [Rodrigo] See? It works now.

[object clatters]

Hey. Sorry, but, uh, you really can't touch this.

- Yes, I can. - No, you can't. It's my house.

Not anymore it isn't. My dad's buying it.

[Alex sighs]

Sorry, could you please not touch my computer?

You have photos of kids on your screen, don't you?

- These books are boring. - [Rodrigo] Are there any comics?

Please, I already said don't touch anything.

Please, just don't, okay? Alright? Just...

Hey, Yago, you've messed it all up.

Listen, Alejandro, we've thought it over, and, uh, we're gonna take it.

[distorting] All the dusty books and old furniture will have to go, okay?

- [soundscape fades out] - [breathing heavily]

[car engine starts]

[car departing]

[exhales]

[sombre music playing]

[mobile vibrating]

[sighs]

[suspenseful music building]

[players chattering]

[player 1 groans]

[chatter continues]

- [Héctor] Diego, come on! - What?

- [Héctor] Keep on playing. Hey! Come on! - Fuck's sake.

- [Diego] Yes! Yes! - [player 2] Go back! Go back! Whoa, whoa!

[Héctor] Good, good!

[overlapping chatter continues]

I'm gonna need real commitment from the boy.

You pay on the first of the month.

- [player 3] Nice touch! - [player 4 shouts]

Take, take, take, take, but you don't have the courtesy to say hi.

You did the right thing, Alex.

What would our prick of a dad say

if he could see us working together like this?

Huh? Such handsome lads.

- Let's grab a selfie. - Juanma, uh...

- Oh, yeah. Smile. - Don't touch me, Juanma. Please.

[Diego] Fuck's sake!

You're such a twat! What was that?

- [Adán] What's your problem? - [Diego] Where you going? Fuck's sake!

- Come here! - [Héctor] Diego, easy! Hit the showers.

- [Diego] Why me? - [Héctor] Take a shower. Go calm down.

- Alright, guys, show's over. - Jesus fucking Christ!

He's nuts, Juanma. How am I gonna handle that?

Yep, he's a thug, but he's worth a fortune.

Millions.

He needs a brain in his head, not a teacher.

[trainer chattering]

[tense sombre music playing]

[grunts irately]

[breathing heavily]

Oh, fuck it!

Argh!

[grunting, yells]

Announcing your lessons worked like an absolute dream,

making a real impact.

Just what we wanted.

The sponsors, the press, eating out of our hands.

- Right, champ? - Yes, son.

This is gonna do wonders for your image. Won't it?

And now, no one cares about that headbutt.

We're gonna sell this like a championship match.

And Alejandro will help. Right, Alex?

Excuse me. Bathroom.

- [Diego clears throat] - [fly unzips]

What's your problem? You like me or what?

Excuse me?

You've been watching me the whole fucking meal.

You're opposite me.

- I don't like being looked at. - [scoffs] Then you picked the wrong job.

I don't like your face.

[sighs] Well, you have no choice, so you just gotta suck it up for a while.

[chuckles] Yeah, we'll see.

I do whatever the fuck I want. Understood?

Not really.

Everyone speaks for you.

[breathes irritatedly]

Fuck!

Motherfucking...

[tuts]

It's better if you put your hands under it.

Now, listen. I pay you, so gimme respect. Got that?

- Got it. - So now piss off, will ya?

Shit.

[Alex] Your flies are undone.

[exhales frustratedly]

- [door closes] - This is such bullshit.

["only wanna dance" by almost monday playing]

[sighs]

- We're on our marks, 'kay? - [chuckles] Yeah.

You ready now?

Set?

Fuck off!

- [all laughing, shouting] - [music continues]

[Diego] Yeah, we're winning!

- That's it! That's it! Come on! Run! - [girl] Woo!

Get it in there, Maca, for God's sake.

Go! Go! [laughs]

[all laughing]

♪ Leave the party We could call it quits ♪

- ♪ So come on, baby, we should go ♪ - Shh, shh!

- [Diego] Get it in! - [Maca laughs]

♪ Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh ♪

♪ Tie your shoes up tight ♪

- ♪ We're gonna go all night ♪ - [Diego] Whoa!

- ♪ Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh ♪ - [Maca laughs]

♪ Till the sun comes up I only wanna dance with ♪

♪ You-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh ♪

[shouting and laughter continues]

Let's go! Come on!

[sculpture shatters]

What's going on?

- ♪ I only wanna dance with you ♪ - The champion!

- Oh, shit! - [Maca laughing]

♪ I only wanna dance with you ♪

- [music ends] - [Diego huffs]

- [girls laughing] - [Benja grunts]

[Maca] Oh!

[Teo] Cannonball!

[all laughing]

- Hey! - [Diego] Whoa, Ceci!

[Benja] Whoa!

- [Diego] Ceci, whoa, whoa! - [water splashing]

- [Teo] Whoa. - Ceci.

Get out!

- Whoa, Ceci. Calm down. - I don't want them here, Diego.

- Ugh. Jesus! - [men] Whoaaaa. Wahey!

- Darling, calm down, will you? - Can't you see he'll get hurt, Tito?

Look what he's doing. It's not normal.

He can't play. He's gotta burn his energy somehow.

- [girls laughing] - He's not burning any with you, is he?

- [Teo] Aw, come on, man. Cut it out. - [Diego] Hey, it's my pool, Teo.

- I will do what I want. - [Teo] Diego, cheer up.

- Ceci! Ceci, don't be mad. - [girl] Hey! Ooh!

If I catch you screwing around like that again,

you'll be in deep shit.

You got that?

[downcast piano music playing]

We're nearly there.

I advise you to close your window.

Cars stress me out. I need the air.

- Hmm. Suit yourself. - [man] Alejandro!

[reporters clamouring]

[reporter 1] Stop! Professor! How d'you think the first day will go?

Do you have experience with elite athletes?

- [reporter 2] Is Diego almost illiterate? - [all] Professor. Professor.

- [tyres screech] - [reporters, overlapping] Professor!

- [reporter 3] Get the shot. - I did warn you.

[gate squeals, clangs]

- [Tito] Nuno. - Morning.

[handbrake clacks]

[engine stops]

You came, Professor.

- Good morning. - Morning.

- Welcome. - [Alex] Thank you.

- All good? - [Alex] Yep. Thank you.

Follow me.

[opera music playing in background]

- Fanny, hang that up in my room. - [Fanny] Yes, sir.

Thank you.

This works like a business. We employ over 20 people here.

It might sound easy,

but I spend all day running around, organising everything.

[vacuum cleaner whirring]

If you could just sign this, sir.

- All in order? - Yeah, all good.

Thank you. Professor, come.

Do you like kale?

Antioxidants stimulate the libido.

No, thank you. My libido's... okay.

[chuckles]

[indistinct chatter]

Care for some coffee?

No.

I want to start the class now. It's ten o'clock.

- Where is he? - [Tito] Downstairs.

- [Benja] Yeah, yeah. Ay! - [Tito] Nice one, boys.

- Good work. Good work. - Morning, Tito.

- [Tito] Good morning. - Looking good, man.

[reggaeton music playing]

Kale juice, honey.

- Mm. Lovely. - Tasty, right? Good morning.

Alright?

- Good morning. - Hi.

Careful how you go with the stairs, okay?

They're tricky.

You wouldn't be the first to fall, but don't worry about it.

So we got everything ready. Look.

Jackets, tops, vests, and sports shoes, all your size.

Take whatever you want.

I've brought my own clothes with me, thanks.

Of course you have, little bro.

We just want you to look your absolute best though. Right, Tito?

- Look, what you see is what you get. - Yeah, you're not wrong. Sarai, darling.

How's my champ doing?

- He's nearly done. - Perfect. When you're done, do this guy.

- Okay. - Great.

Forget it. No way.

Oh, no, Sarai's marvellous.

You're gonna look ten years younger. You'll see.

Very nice. But you know perfectly well that I don't like being touched.

Okay.

Alex, relax, yeah?

This is just for the media circus. Don't worry. Won't be like this tomorrow.

You do your job, we do ours. Okay?

- Alright. - 'Kay.

- But I'm not doing that. - Oh, but you are.

See, artistic decisions are in the contract...

- [mobile vibrating] - ...Alejandro.

Hold on. It's Steve.

- [mobile beeps] - Hey, Steve, my friend.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Of course.

- You know I'm always here. - Hey there, honey.

Let's try and cheer you up now. Come on.

- Have a seat. Get comfy. - [Tito] Okay, son. Everything's ready.

- You okay? Ready? - [Diego] Yeah. Great.

After I get banned, you book this guy. Great.

- And I ordered a Monster three hours ago. - They're morons.

Alright, get him a Monster. Come on. Move it. What are you waiting for?

- What a bunch of morons. - Come on, Dad, do I really have to do it?

You gotta do it. Come on, man up now.

- Don't embarrass me. - [Diego] Fucking hell.

[crew chattering indistinctly]

[Diego] What's that?

A book.

Yeah, but I don't even like books.

Yeah, that's evident.

- Don't you ever make fun of me. - No, I'm not making fun of you.

I'm not an idiot, you know.

Excusatio non petita, accusatio manifesta.

What the hell was that? Cut the fancy lingo.

I won't look stupid in front of everyone. You got it?

But you'll look stupid in a stadium?

Remember, ignore the camera, 'kay?

Gotta act like it's not even there. Yeah?

[softly] Oh.

Yeah, Alex. Forget the camera.

- Sarai. - It's not there.

[man 1, in Spanish] Quiet!

[in English] There. Touch-up his forehead? It's too shiny.

- [man 2] Come on. Quiet, please. - Ah. You look great. Good luck.

[Diego] Your brother's a fucking genius, you know?

And you are really not.

He's a snake,

not a genius.

- That right? - [Alex] Yeah.

A genius is someone most like himself.

[Juanma] Come on. We're going live.

And what do you mean by that?

In five minutes, on the radio.

- Radio? - Radio Marca.

- [radio chatter over mobile] - No, I'm not doing that.

It's in your contract.

[radio host] ...the honour of being granted exclusive access

to the first lesson with his teacher, Alejandro.

[Diego chuckles]

- We will take a fly-on-the-wall look... - What's he doing?

Hey!

- [radio host] Alejandro? - [Juanma] Excuse me.

- Alejandro! - [Diego laughs]

Maestro, you forgot this though! Ah-ha!

You can't leave like this, Alex. You can't do this to me...

- You cannot treat me like a show monkey. - It's just an interview.

Tomorrow at ten o'clock in my house.

No cameras, no mobile, no makeup, and no papa.

And if possible, without you there.

[reporter 1] Professor Castro!

[reporter 2] How did it go? Was he a good student?

[all clamouring]

Good luck, brother.

- [crowd cheers on TV] - Nearly...

[joystick clacking]

- Come on! Oh yeah. - [crowd roars]

D'you see that awesome goal though?

Honey.

- What are you doing? - Your homework.

- [game pauses] - You're not, are you?

- I shouldn't be. - [Diego tuts]

- A bed isn't for reading. - [Ceci sighs]

- A bed's for other things. - [sighs]

Why don't you at least try, Diego?

Because I don't need to. I don't need to read a fucking book.

You could listen to me though, for once in your life.

But you live like a queen. What else do you want?

I want you.

And I'm right here.

I want the old Diego.

Ah, you got him.

Only better.

[sultry reggaeton music playing]

[lyrics in Spanish]

- [Diego growls] - [Ceci giggles]

[music continues on car stereo]

[car approaching]

[music volume increases]

[engine idling]

[music stops]

[birds chirping]

Watch out, kid. Tsk.

[melodic electronic music plays]

- [whistles] - [music fades out]

What a cool house you got here. Got pure flow, huh?

What the fuck is this?

- [door closes] - Bloody hell.

How'd you like the book?

Don't like it. Print's too small.

[Alex] Hmm.

How much d'you say you make a month?

Hmm. Probably what I blow on my dinner.

- So, do you write books? - [camera shutter snaps]

- [Alex] I've written a book. - Hmm.

- How many you sell? - [camera shutter snaps]

- Stop recording me, would you? - I want to put it on Instagram. Chill out.

Okay, no mobile, no chewing, take off headphones,

and have a seat, please.

So, geniuses...

WHAT MAKES A GENIUS?

...that your thing?

That's not important.

We're here to tackle your shortcomings.

- My what? - Issues.

Insufficiencies, shortcomings.

Hey. Nothing short here.

You have other issues.

You have a limited vocabulary.

- Say again. - Vocabulary.

One requires a minimum of at least a thousand words

to communicate sufficiently.

Average people use around 5,000.

I estimate you

use less than 10%.

Here.

Read. Don't rush.

Read each complete word in your head

and say it only when you're sure.

[exhales]

"I fell in love with football

just like

later on, I would fall in love

with women."

[grunts softly]

"Se... sedden..."

"Sedden..."

Suddenly.

"Suddenly,

with... with... without..." [exhales]

"...expal... a-an-an explanay... tss..."

- Explanation. - Fuck. Do you want me to read this or not?

Diego,

you need to know that each word

in a sentence

means something.

You visualise it, and then when you know how to...

Okay!

[Alex exhales]

Okay, I got it.

[Alex] Go on.

"Without explanation

and without

thinking about the..." [exhales]

"...about the nape..."

"...pain and... and... and the...", um,

uh, "...buh-bread..."

"...and the berk..." "...and..."

[inhales sharply] "...and the berkdowns..."

- Now look at it again. - [Diego] "...ber..."

[grunts] Fuck this!

I give up, alright?

Fuck this!

- [huffs frustratedly] - You give up, but there is a problem.

What problem?

[smacks lips] You're dyslexic.

[gritted teeth] You're so gonna get a smack.

You confuse words and mix up letters.

- You can't focus your attention. - [cracks knuckles]

It's dyslexia.

One out of ten kids has it.

[downcast ambient music playing]

No one noticed at school?

Everyone always laughed at me.

But you know what they do now?

They fuckin' park my car when I go out. That's what they do now.

[puzzle clacking]

And this thing I got...

[puzzle clacking]

...no cure?

[Alex inhales]

No. [exhales]

But... there's no reason for it to interfere with your life

if you do the right cognitive training.

So,

try again.

I'll never use that fucking word in my whole life, okay?

Look.

You have developed this pattern of avoidance.

You have to face it.

Don't give a shit.

- Stop acting like you don't care. - Care about what?

Improving, learning.

But I don't.

- That's not true. - I don't give a fuck what you think.

Oh yes, you do.

And you are ashamed.

I'd be ashamed if I was a poor loser just like you.

Now that'd be really embarrassing.

[Alex] Read.

[Diego groans frustratedly]

You're a pain in the arse. [exhales]

[huffs, trills lips]

Come on, try again.

You're really doing my head in.

"And without thinking about the pain,

the pain and..."

[suspenseful music playing]

[hesitantly] "And all the breakdowns."

"Breakdowns." "Breakdowns!" "Breakdowns!"

[grunting victoriously]

See?

That's much better than headbutting people, hmm?

[doorbell chimes]

- [children giggle] - [boy 1] Pass it.

- Here, here. Pass! - [Diego] Whoa.

[boy 2] Diego!

- [children chatter, giggle] - [Diego grunts]

- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! - [boy 3] I can score.

[boy 4 giggling]

[Diego] Oh!

- Yeah! [giggles] - Good, good! Good boy!

- [boy 2] We won! - [parents clapping]

- Thank you, Diego. - [boy 3] When are you coming back?

Alright, boys, I gotta go.

It was a hell of a game. Come on, give it to me!

Wahey! There you are.

- See ya, guys. - [boy 1] Bye!

[boy 4] Bye!

- Come here, you beautiful man! - [boy 3] I got his autograph.

- You are the best, Diego! - [children chatter excitedly]

[Alex sighs] Okay, let's keep at it.

The lesson finishes at one.

Yeah, but you spent the whole class playing.

And so what?

What will your neighbours think of me, hmm?

A hooligan? [laughs]

I'll give you some homework to prepare for next time.

No time for any of that.

You've been suspended. You got loads of time.

[groans] Okay, maestro, okay.

But

before I go, if you don't mind, gonna take a dump.

Charming.

Okay, next class, I want you to bring me five new words

that you've never used before.

Okay?

[bathroom door slams]

- [engine revving] - [children shouting cheerily]

[engine distancing]

[shouts subsiding]

[birds chirping]

- [fans cheering] - [rain pelting]

[rhythmic drumming]

[crowd roars]

[commentator chatters indistinctly on TV]

[Diego] Go, go, go! Guys, come on!

Adán! Fuck it!

They're gonna steal the ball. Wake up!

- Fuck it, Adán! - [fans cheer on TV]

What are you doing? What is this?

Well, go on then! Mark his arse! What are you waiting for?

What's going on? We're gonna lose the league.

Calm down now, son. Relax, will you?

- Relax? Bloody hell. Fuck this shit! - [glass shatters]

- [wine trickling] - Sorry about that.

Not now, Diego. Cool it.

Fuck!

Diego.

Time you call this? It's nearly full time.

Come watch. [chuckles]

[fans cheering, whistling in distance]

[crowd roars abruptly]

[Alex] No, no, no.

- No. - Come on. They won't bite.

No, Juanma. I-I can't.

- It's just people having a laugh. - It is thousands of maniacs shouting.

Thousands of people having fun, feeling like kids.

What football's all about.

- No. No, no way. I can't. I can't. No. - [crowd cheers]

It's just a photoshoot.

For Marca. Teacher and pupil watching a match.

- It's in your contract. - Yeah, I know.

I know it's in the contract.

You know how handsome you are when you listen to me, hmm?

Mwah! Okay.

- [crowd cheers] - Come on. Let's go.

Will you listen to me?

What now?

Diego has dyslexia.

[scoffs] What are you saying?

What I'm saying is that Diego has dyslexia.

And it's not something you can treat overnight.

Okay, come on. It's not a big deal.

Yes, it is a big deal.

He needs a specialist.

It'll be ongoing.

Alright, Alex. Concentrate.

We give the press what they want, and we keep going.

That won't change anything.

Exactly.

When he plays, his dad's alright.

I get paid and you as well.

And that's it.

Diego's esteem is on the floor.

He thinks he's king of the world. Give it a rest.

[crowd roars thunderously]

- I don't know what I'm doing here. - Alex.

- [horns blowing] - [crowd cheering, whistling]

[drums pounding rhythmically]

[Juanma] Shit.

[crowd roars, applauding]

Fuck!

I just wanna get on the fucking field!

It's all I want, to kick a football. So why won't they let me play?

- You'll be on again in two weeks. - Yeah? Yeah.

Tell that to that wanker Delgado. Tell it to him!

Come on, sweetie. It'll be alright. It really will.

I know I'm as thick as pig shit, and everyone can see that.

And if they don't see it now, they soon will. For fuck's sake!

Oh, come on. You're not an idiot. Really. The professor knows that.

You think so? Seen how he looks at me?

Like my English teacher at school, the one who called me a halfwit.

- A halfwit! I'm a fucking halfwit! - Come on, stop that!

- Come on, Diego! No! - [Diego] A moron!

[Ceci stamping]

Is this what you want? You'll screw it all up, Diego!

Okay? I'm sick of it! Hate it!

[melancholy music playing]

[door opens]

- [Diego exhales] - [door closes]

[breath trembles]

Baby!

Baby, wait!

Ceci, don't give up on me.

Don't give up on you, Diego.

Learn, so you'll have a life when you don't play anymore.

Don't do it for your father or me.

- Do it for you. - Ceci...

You can do it.

[music continues]

Hey. How d'you get outta here?

- What are you doing here? - Well, I was looking for the exit.

- [doors clang] - [fans chattering]

- We gotta go. Now! - Okay. What's wrong?

Shit, shit, shit.

They see me. We're gonna get mobbed.

- Me too? - Go, go, go! Go, go!

[Héctor] We only have two games left. At this rate, we're gonna lose the title.

Do none of you realise what went wrong out there? Huh?

Well, you think about it.

- [player 1] Yes, boss. - [player 2] That was a crap game.

- [player 3] Come on, guys. At this rate... - [player 4 chatters in Spanish]

[in English] Hey, you wait here. Or go out that way. Alright?

- [player 5]...play like that. - [player 6] Crazy.

- I mean, couldn't keep up with them. - [player 7] I don't even know what to say.

[Diego] Come on, guys. Don't fall apart. We got two games to go.

Get off our case, Diego.

"Never stop believing."

- That's our motto. And you're captain, no? - Yeah, but at least I played the game.

- [player 6] Oh, come on, lads. Leave it. - So? Your point is?

[player 6] This is the last thing we need.

[player 1] Calm down. It's unnecessary.

- [Diego] Guys. - [claps]

Why aren't you playing how we normally do?

They took the play to the left, and what did we do?

We left a huge fucking gap on the right.

That's why number seven keeps sneaking up on you, Águila.

Yeah, the whole game, he drove me crazy.

Hey, Paquito, you should have been right up his arse the whole time.

[player 2] You have to move, guys. Have to move.

But a bigger problem that we have

was that everyone could see you were losing your defence.

Don't you lecture us!

- You could see it a mile away. - Get the fuck out.

- Ha-ha. - [player 3] He's not wrong.

Seriously though, guys, I saw it all very clearly from where I was sat.

If Ferrera takes the ball down the line

and Bonilla steps ahead,

well, then Romain has space on the left and he can cross to Adán...

- Yeah. - ...to take a shot on goal.

Adán is there to take the pass, but the fucking defender is behind him,

watching him.

Now he's had problems in every move in today's game.

The issue is that he was waiting for Bonilla's pass.

And when it came, he turned, approached the ball.

But he was already fucked. Game over.

[player 5] Yeah, we know. We've talked about it.

- But then every problem has a solution. - [rousing music playing]

The first thing we have to do is lose the marker.

If you shake him off, he doesn't know whether to look at you or the ball.

He gets confused.

Bonilla receives, look, he is gonna pass it,

and I split the defence.

Ripping apart the defence means I gotta slip through the midfield.

You confuse both of them. They don't know who to chase.

And when you receive the ball, you're in position.

Then you take the ball. You're on goal.

Now there's only one thing to do.

- You all know what that is? - [all] Yeah.

You kick that fucking ball right through the back of the net. Fuck yeah!

[music swells]

- [music fades out] - [players cheer, clap]

[Diego] Come on, lads! You got this!

[overlapping shouting]

Hey.

And so, you are?

Uh, no one. Uh, I got lost.

I was looking for the exit. Where is it?

- There. - Right. Thanks.

- [players chant] Atleti! - [Diego] Hey!

- [tyres screech] - [engine revs]

[over voicemail] Hey, it's Uncle Israel. Look, uh, your dad said you're very busy.

But you know, our festival starts on the 23rd,

and we miss you and Ceci a lot.

If you could come and play in our little game,

that'd be great, yeah? [chuckles]

- See you soon, big guy. - [mobile beeps]

[car approaching]

[engine idling]

[Diego] Maestro! What's up?

Are you lost?

Come on. Get in.

[engine roars]

Look at that bastard.

- [engine revving] - [tyres screech]

- [engine revs] - [exhaust racketing]

- Are you crazy or what? - Oi, you got me in the shit with Ceci.

- I wanna get out, okay? - She wants me to focus on the lessons.

- Girlfriend? - [Diego] Yeah. Ceci.

She wants me to learn.

[engines revving]

[tyres screech]

[engines roar]

What do you think you're doing?

- Dribbling down the line. - What do you mean?

You push me, I push back.

- [engines rev] - [tyres screech]

You're gonna get us killed, you know.

[engine roars]

- [tyres screech] - [car horn honks]

- Now hold tight. - [gear shifts]

[accelerating roar]

Fuck's sake!

[laughing]

[exhales]

- [engine idling] - How do you do it?

Look, I get mad, so if you dick around...

- No, no, no, no, no. - ...I'm gonna blow you away.

I mean, um...

how you visualise all those spaces,

um, your responses and movements,

your reflexes,

what you just did with your car and in the changing room,

um, what you did with the Rubik's cube,

it's... it's... it's all in your head somehow.

How do you do it?

[inhales deeply]

Don't know. [exhales]

[gears shifting]

[engine revs]

- [cork pops] - [grunts] There.

She said, "You're obsessed, honey." [clears throat]

"You're so crazy about football, you're fouling things up."

Her husband says, "Foul? What foul? I never touched you."

[group laughing]

- Pour the teacher some wine. - Uh, no, no. No, thanks.

On medication for... anxiety.

We all have anxiety issues, so just have a...

No. Really, it's okay.

- [chuckles anxiously] - Come on, Maestro. Just one toast.

- Just a little. - [murmurs]

So then, let's all drink to the future.

[all] To the future!

[woman chuckles]

[Alex] There are seven kinds of intelligence.

There is linguistic intelligence,

logical intelligence,

uh, mathematical.

There's physical, musical, and spatial.

There's interpersonal intelligence and intrapersonal.

[inhales]

And Diego has delevop...

- Pff. [clears throat] - [guests chuckle]

Sorry.

He has now developed four but not all.

What hasn't he got?

Uh, please. It looks like that wine is affecting your medication. Give it...

No, no, no, no. It's not affecting my medication at all.

I see that.

- He's not anxious at all. - [all laugh]

He has, uh, no intelligence, uh, linguistically.

And neither has he intrapersonal or interpersonal intelligence.

And you, teacher, are as drunk as a skunk.

- [all laughing] - [Alex chuckles]

All that being said, Diego's intelligence spatially

is genius.

He's like a genie. The genie in the lamp, Diego.

- You can have three wishes. - Shut it, shut it, and shut it.

[all chuckling]

I think we should change the method used in class,

so we can make the most of...

- [grunts] - Easy, Maestro! Whoa!

- Sorry. - You okay?

To make the most of your potential.

Uh... hang on.

Permit me.

Diego, watch.

- [object clatters] - This is you, okay? This here.

And these two are your teammates.

Observation

and critical thinking, language.

And what is the goal?

It's knowledge.

This is what happens

if it all fits.

- Goal! - [all laugh]

- Oh! - [Diego] Yes, mate.

- [Benja] Aye yai yai. He's a genius. - [woman] Oh! Someone's getting cosy.

Hey, you alright?

- [woman] I smell chemistry. - [Benja] Know what I mean?

Yeah, yeah. [chuckles]

- [Benja] Finally. - [woman] Maybe they suit.

[birds chirping]

[soft ambient music playing]

[exhales]

[whimsical music playing]

[sighs]

[whispers] Alex.

Ceci, what's happened to all of my clothes?

[whispers] Alex, Diego can't sign. You really have gotta help me. Will you?

What's he signing?

Your brother and Tito, I don't know what it is they're up to.

- [breathes nervously] - [sighs]

Maestro! You sly dog!

How are ya?

Good morning.

Hey, don't panic. My dad's got some old clothes that you can borrow.

Yours are gone now. You threw them on the barbecue.

- I did? - Imelda, get him some clothes.

Yeah, the race. Benja? Teo? You beat us all. What, you've no idea?

- No, I don't recall. - Hey. Do you go to the gym?

So strong. Muscley.

Good morning, darlin'.

Hey.

Uh, what time is it? Uh...

And where's my watch gone?

Listen, Diego, I've been sent your schedule for the week ahead.

- And it is chock-full. - [trills lips]

And the agency called to have a go.

- What's going on? - You what?

They said you haven't updated Instagram.

[tuts] Cool it, Dad. I'll post one right now.

- Maestro, say cheese. - [camera shutter snaps]

- Have a drink. Fix your hangover. - Listen.

Training, commercial, then medical.

Then down to Seville to watch the match against Betis.

- And, uh... - Shut up, Diego.

We got your PR makeover. Got that?

Visit a hospital, and a charity game at the foundation.

Okay. What about the village game, you know, for the festival?

- What d'you wanna do that for? - For Uncle Isra.

No, no. You can't do that. There's no time. I'll talk to your uncle.

You can do that next year.

- I can do it next year. - Yeah.

Oh... and-and I need two signatures.

- So here and here. - Kids' foundation stuff.

You mustn't sign it before you've read it all.

It just concerns the foundation.

- Jesus. - Shit.

[laughing]

Sorry. I-I was reaching for the fruit.

Relax, Dad. We'll print another one.

[laughing]

- [chuckling] - [woman] Mornin', professor.

Good linguistic lesson.

[Diego snorts]

Thank you.

[car approaching]

[engine stops]

- [indistinct chatter] - Whoa.

Good morning.

So, this is where you work? Not bad.

- [camera shutter snaps] - Wanna come in?

- Me? [chuckles] - Yeah.

- You could sit in today. - Gotta train.

[camera shutters snapping]

Okay.

[camera shutter snaps]

Good morning.

- [projector slide clacks] - [Alex] "I felt possessed."

- [projector clacks] - "I heard a calling."

"I was absolutely certain I had been born to dance."

That is the description of the epiphany of Nureyev

after he snuck into a performance of Swan Lake

when he was seven years old.

He was born in a train carriage.

He grew up in the utmost poverty.

The Soviet dictatorship tried to use him as a propaganda tool

to titillate the masses.

Until, in 1961, while on a tour in France,

he managed to flee the tyranny that held him prisoner.

And only then could he embrace what he cared about the most.

- Dancing freely and untethered. - [projector clacks]

How did he stand up to the power that controlled him,

the accumulation of expectations placed heavily upon him?

EPIFANY - TIRANY - ACUMULATION

He faced the risks

and chose to be free.

[projector clacks]

If it weren't for his bravery,

the world would have missed out on the best ballet dancer in history.

A genius

is someone who most resembles himself.

A genius makes his own decisions.

[hip-hop ringtone plays on mobile]

[students chatter indistinctly]

DAD

[ringtone ends]

- [whispering] - Pff...

[camera shutter snaps]

[students clamouring]

[Diego] Okay.

- [camera shutters snapping] - Okay. Okay, okay. Alright.

Maestro, here. Start the car.

[camera shutters snapping]

There you go.

- Okay. - [overlapping chatter]

Cheers.

Hello.

Alright.

Okay. Alright. Guys, guys, you gotta excuse me.

I'm really sorry, but I have an accumulation of stuff to do.

Um... Uh... Really, really sorry, okay?

Thanks so much, everyone. See ya!

- [indistinct clamouring] - [girl] Please, Diego!

- Drive! - Okay, okay, okay.

- Drive, Maestro. They'll eat us alive. - Put your seatbelt on.

[dance music thumping on stereo]

Eh... See you. See ya.

Drive, Maestro. Drive.

See ya. See ya.

- [students cheering] - Oh, wow.

Come on. They're catching us up.

Drive, Maestro.

- Good. - [girls squeal excitedly]

- [engine revs] - [dance music continues]

[lyrics in Spanish]

Ah, you love this car, huh?

[chuckles]

[mobile phone vibrating]

DAD

[Diego] Guarantee?

Guarantee, yes.

It protects you against any kind of risk.

Like money.

Or honesty.

Mmm... monogamy.

Exclusivity sexually.

You never fuck?

Maybe, but if you do, just one person.

Mmm.

So you use complicated words

to say normal things.

I use vocabulary that's, um, suitable for the occasion.

Another word?

"Appropriate."

- [laughs] - [Alex chuckles]

[dance music continues]

How can you live all by yourself?

No family, no wife. You don't want kids?

No. No kids. No way.

Why not?

Wouldn't be a good dad.

I think you would.

I know I wouldn't.

To carry such a heavy burden my whole life?

No, no. No way.

But everybody does.

Yeah, but they carry it the wrong way.

- Come on, Alex. You worry too much. - No, it's not that.

I see things the way they are.

No way. You're just too negative. You know?

I want at least four kids minimum.

I mean it. I... I'll give 'em everything. You know?

Buy 'em a nice house,

feed 'em loads, and lovely food, dress 'em in nice clothes.

I'll even buy 'em some vocabulary, Alex.

- [laughs] - [Alex chuckles]

Look, I like you a lot, but I hate seeing you so lonely.

Back in a mo.

Diego. Hey, Diego!

Relax. Yeah?

I'm gonna get you a little som'ing.

[dance music continues]

[anxious underscore drones]

- [soundscape muffling] - [breathing heavily]

[Diego] Oi, Alex!

What's wrong? What is it? What, you don't like those girls?

- We'll get others. - Diego.

- What? - [inhales] People aren't presents, okay?

- Uh... Hey, I was just flirting. - [Alex] No.

No, no, no. You were buying them.

- Hey, I was buying nothing. They like me. - You buy everything.

But you can't see it.

Hey, hey, hey. You're not here with me for free either, Alex.

[Alex] Exactly.

You bought me as well.

Now listen to me.

[breathless] I teach you, and you learn.

And it begins and ends there. Got it?

[breathes anxiously]

No personal implications.

Get it in your head.

[breathing heavily]

Hey, dude. What's happening?

Diego! Hey! You're Diego, aren't you?

- You're my favourite. Hey, it's Diego! - [laboured breaths]

- Diego, I'm a fan. I'm a fan. - Hey, Diego.

- I'm a fan. Let's get a picture. - I can't right now. I got something on.

I'll do whatever you want, kiss your feet. A quick selfie.

- [Diego] Not now. - [man 1] What do you mean?

- I just wanna selfie for my old man. - Not now. No pictures. No. Don't touch me.

- Don't touch me. What is your problem? - [Alex sighs]

- Get back! - Whatcha think you're doin'?

- What d'you mean by that? - Listen, just leave him alone.

- Who the fuck are you? - Show some respect, dude, alright?

- Please leave. - You his dad?

- No, I'm not his... Hey! - Fuck off!

Come on then! [grunts]

- [all grunting] - [electronic music plays]

- [overlapping shouting] - [bouncer] Get off him! Hey!

Get off!

[lights clank]

[music fades out]

[approaching footsteps echo]

- Eusebio, thanks a lot, yeah? - Anything for you.

Half an hour, yeah? All I can do.

No worries.

- Hey, go on. - [grumbles]

- [chuckles] - [Eusebio] This is your home. Go, Atleti!

[Diego] Go, Atleti!

Hey. Where are you going?

My first time in a stadium, I sat in section 45. Like here.

My dad was an Atlético fan.

When we were born, he got us membership.

Me and my brother.

[nostalgic piano music playing]

- It was the cup final against Real. - [Diego exhales]

- [whistle echoes] - [crowd cheering faintly]

Minute 77.

Paolo Futre was like a man possessed.

[ball thumping]

Taking on the goalkeeper.

But the defender was right on him.

[crowd roars]

He cut back, and...

and outside the area...

[chuckles softly]

...he just shot a bullet.

- [ball thumps] - [laughs]

It shook the back of the net.

- [Diego exhales] - Paco Buyo didn't even see it.

- [crowd roars] - [whistle blows]

Imagine it, the whole stadium,

it just went crazy.

[chuckles softly]

I looked at my brother,

and we hugged.

[crowd chanting]

And we started the chant. "Atleti!"

[chuckles] "Atleti!"

[Diego chuckles]

I wanted to give my father a big hug, but he, uh...

- [poignant music playing] - [chanting fading out]

He was gone.

[swallows]

[inhales deeply]

I noticed then that he'd put in my pocket...

[inhales deeply]...a thousand pesetas...

and a note for my mother.

[sniffs]

[swallows]

What then?

When I got back home, I locked myself in my room.

And I tore down my poster of Futre.

[Alex breathing softly]

[exhales] When I was a kid,

my dad took me to every match.

Dreamed of joining Atleti,

best team in the world.

I dreamed that we won the League title.

And look, here I am.

And I'll stay here till I retire.

When my mum died,

now, we swore I'd go on until I was number one,

until I was the best in the world

for her.

But...

[sighs]

...I ain't got what it takes.

- And what does it take? - [gulps, exhales]

I don't know,

but I ain't got it.

[exhales]

And you? You always wanna be a teacher?

[chuckles]

[inhales] I didn't, no.

I wanted to be a rock star.

[both laugh]

A rock star, huh?

- Mm-hmm. - [Diego grunts]

[can clatters]

[Alex] Come on, I'll take it.

[distant indistinct chattering]

- [Diego] Oh! - [Alex chuckles]

- [Diego] Okay. Right. - [Alex] Do it again.

- [Diego] Come on. - [Alex] I've still got it.

[indistinct chatter]

[Alex grunting]

- [Diego] Ooooh. Ay! Yes! - [Alex] No, no, no, no!

- [Diego] Foul! - [Alex groans]

- Hey, that's a penalty, man. - Eh.

- Get in goal. - Okay, okay. Okay.

[exhales]

I screwed this up last time.

Come on. It's all in your head, Diego. Go.

[sniffs]

[suspenseful music playing]

[huffs]

[knuckles cracking]

[suspenseful music building]

- Get in! [chuckles] - [Alex sighs] Hmm.

Look, if I'm back in the team Sunday, come and see me play.

No, no, impossible.

Oh, come on. Section 45.

I'll score you a goal.

Do it for me, not for you.

Look, I want you to rediscover football.

I want to help you love it again. Come on.

- Tell me yes. - No.

- I can't... - [lights clanking]

[mobile vibrating, chiming]

[reggaeton ringtone plays]

- [keypad clacks] - [ringing ends]

[drowsily] Hey.

[Diego] Baby! [chuckles]

- Diego, where are you? - [Diego] Look out the window.

- What are you doing out there? - [Diego chuckling]

Listen, your dad's well pissed off.

You skipped the commercial shoot and the practice too.

We've got something important to do.

- ["Good Thing" by Barns Courtney playing] - ♪ Finally I get to stand on my own feet ♪

♪ Lordy be I'm getting tired of getting beat ♪

♪ Follow me through rivers wide And valleys deep ♪

♪ 'Cause I've got to, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Ah, come on... ♪

FAIR AND FESTIVAL OF ROSARIO MAY 15TH - 19TH

♪...down and out ♪

♪ I've been black and blue And breaking my bones ♪

♪ Ah, come on, I'm lonely ♪

♪ I've been down and out ♪

♪ I've been black and blue And breaking my... ♪

♪ Ay, ay, ay, ay, hey, hey ♪

♪ I've got that good thing Good thing, good thing ♪

♪ I've got that good thing for you ♪

♪ I've got that good thing Good thing, good thing ♪

- ♪ I've got that good thing for you ♪ - [engine revs]

♪ Ah-ah-ah, hey, hey, hey ♪

♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh ♪

♪ Ah-ah-ah, hey, hey, hey ♪

- ♪ I've got that good thing for you ♪ - ♪ Ah-ah-ah, hey, hey... ♪

Have you seen how nice it looks? Huh?

[girl 1] Please, my little brother makes that much better.

[girl 2] What are you talking about? Look.

- [girl 1] Ceci! - [Ceci squeals]

- Hey! Hey! - [girl 1] I can't believe it!

- Oh, it's been so long, babe. - So good to see you.

- [man] Dieguito! - You look great.

- Uncle Isra! - What are you doing here?

The ogre know you're here?

- Snuck out. [chuckles] - Well done, lad. Well done.

[both grunt]

- Your mum would be so happy you're here. - [Ceci] Oh, yeah.

- I'll tell everyone. - Go on then.

- [chuckles] - [Diego] Nice.

[girl 2] Girls, let's get a photo.

- [girl 1] Yeah! - [Ceci] Oh, yes. Can you take it, Alex?

Diego, sit in your old chair.

On three, say "football star."

One, two, three.

- [girls] Football star! - [camera shutter snapping]

- Let's see. - Let's see how it came out.

Oh, give it here.

- We look so pretty! - It's really nice.

I love it so much. [giggles]

You preferred it out there, right?

[band playing festive music]

[whistle blows]

[indistinct shouting]

[Diego grunting]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

- [Ceci] Oy! - [crowd groans]

[band continues playing]

[laughing]

[whistle blows]

[crowd cheering]

Yeah.

- [Ceci] Come on, come on, come on! Yeah! - [crowd] Come on!

Goal!

- [Diego] Yeah! - [whistle blows]

[crowd cheering]

[all] Yeah!

[Israel laughing]

- [Ceci] Woo! - [Diego] Come here, honey!

[crowd whistling, cheering]

- [drums pounding rhythmically] - [crowd chanting]

This is a fucking disaster.

We agreed with the club he'd always be here.

- Don't worry. The campaign's working. - Sure. Sure, sure.

- Mm. - It's working fucking wonders.

DIEGO GONE FOR GOOD?

- [Tito] When I find him, I'll kill him. - [Juanma] Let's not overreact.

It's a tiny setback, okay?

- Tiny setback? - Mm.

We have absolutely no fucking idea where my son is!

[clears throat] We are gonna get the deal done, Tito.

Mm. We better.

[Ferrari engine revs]

[engine stops]

OPEN 24 HOURS

[Diego yawns]

Wow. What an awesome day.

We're gonna get bollocked when we get back. Won't we, Ceci?

Hey. Another word for "bollocked"?

"Reprimanded."

Ah. Cool.

Look at him.

Haven't seen him this happy in ages.

[Alex chuckles softly]

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

[Alex] Look, I'm only giving him some tools.

It's you who's really helping him.

Well... [inhales]

- [door opens] - ...that's not really true.

Phwoar. Look, the guy at the till was wearing my shirt.

You shoulda seen his face when he saw me.

[laughs, sighs]

I'm serious, today was...

Well, it was... an epiphany.

- [scoffs] Heard it all now. - [chuckling]

- [keys clatter in lock] - [hushed giggling]

[Ceci giggles softly]

Come on. Bed.

[Tito] Hey.

[Diego grunts]

- [exhales] - [Tito] Never again. You got it?

Never ignore my phone calls, boy.

Ceci, go.

- [softly] No. - Now, please.

[breathing heavily]

You can't do whatever you fucking want.

So I always gotta do whatever you fucking want, do I?

You will not insult me like that again.

What about me?

I want some respect from you too, you know?

[cries] Where's my bloody respect?

[inhales, sighs]

So, is that how you pay me back then?

- [door slams] - [sighs]

- [children giggle, chatter] - [Diego] Go, go, go! That's it.

- You got it. - [boy] Take the shot!

- Yeah! [laughs] - [crowd cheering]

[applauding]

[Diego] That's what I'm talking about. Great goal. Well done.

[Tito] Hey, Professor.

How are the lessons?

- Well... - [man 1] Come on now, smile.

- He's making a lot of progress. - Uh-huh.

I didn't know they included field trips.

[Diego] Good game, guys. Good game.

So we're not gonna have any more lessons.

- What? - He doesn't really have a studying brain.

He was just born to do this.

- Nuno will take you home. - [boy 2] Thanks, Diego!

[man 2] Yeah, what an opportunity.

- You're sacking me? - [chuckles]

[inhales]

I don't want you around him anymore.

Hmm? Never again.

[melancholy music playing]

[Diego] Guys, I'll see you in a minute. I'll see you outside the changing rooms.

[inhales deeply]

Time to go, Professor.

Yes! I'm playing again! I'm gonna play!

Alex! This is the moment, yeah?

You're gonna see me play!

- [reporters clamour] - I'm a hooligan no longer!

- [grunts] - Let's go.

Come on.

[Diego] I don't know if the club forgave me or what.

All I can say is that Atleti is gonna win the La Liga title.

[man 2, over microphone] Let's give the best surprise in the world

to the best player in the world.

Diego!

- [pounding dance music plays] - [crowd cheering]

[crowd chanting] Diego! Diego! Diego! Diego!

Diego! Diego! Diego! Diego!

[dance music continues]

Hey, lads.

Ah! You twats are so cool. Look, I love you so much, boys.

- No worries, yeah? Have a drink. - Thank you. Thank you. [laughs]

- Yeah! - Phwoar!

So, is Ceci not here?

Now, mate, you forget her.

Bro, don't let her spoil your night. Get them down ya.

So, boys...

I'll be right back.

[both laughing]

[clubbers] Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!

[muffled dance music continues]

Darlin', this is great. They all adore me.

Diego, you've got a match tomorrow.

And I'll be in bed by midnight, like Cinderella.

I'll do it.

Wow! [sniffs]

It suits you. Hot.

- Yeah? - [chuckles]

You know what else looks good on me? Come here. You look good on me.

- I won't argue with that. - Yeah, the best in the house.

By the way,

I can't forget this.

- Shit. Got no pockets. - I'll take it for you.

- Ah. Thanks, darlin'. - [Ceci chuckles]

[bass thumping]

["Pepas" by Farruko playing]

[lyrics in Spanish]

This is about your brother, don't bother, okay?

- No, no. It's not that. - Okay. What is it?

- You wanna join him then? - I closed the deal with Manchester City.

- You serious? - [chuckles]

- You did? - We'll sign it all after the game.

- That's bloody great! - [chuckles]

- Hey, Juanma, nice one. You did it! - Yeah.

Fuck yeah!

- Tito... - Diego mustn't know about it just yet.

- So keep it secret. - Okay.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

Bloody good work.

- You bastard. Well done! - So, partner, go have a drink, relax.

[music continues]

[inaudible]

[Alex] I have to talk to him.

- [Nuno] I don't care. - No, Nuno, leave me alone. Don't touch me.

- What's going on? - Your brother.

- Hey, hey, hey! - Wait, wait, wait.

What are you doing?

What's going on? You won't pick up the phone.

You can talk. It sucks, yeah. You're not part of this anymore.

If I'm not going to teach him anymore, I wanna tell him personally.

- Alejandro, wait. Where are you going? - To talk to Diego, like I said.

- [loud dance music playing] - [Juanma] Just leave him.

[Alex grunts]

[breathing heavily]

[soundscape muffles, distorts]

[Juanma] Nuno, don't worry about him. I'll handle it.

[echoing] Alex.

[Alex breathing heavily]

[Juanma] Hey. Are you okay?

This was all a sham, right?

What are you saying?

You've all just used me.

And Diego.

Alex, you're supposed to be the sensible one.

And?

Who cares about the lessons?

[Alex] Diego.

- Diego cares about them. - No.

The kid wants to be number one, the best in the world.

He's wanted that since he was five, yeah?

- How do you know that is what he wants? - I represent players all over Europe.

And I know these kids.

They have a dream.

They are winning horses who bet it all on one race.

They just want the fame and the glory, power, all the money, you know?

[sighs] And you know what?

I can put it all within their reach,

because I am the best out there.

Alex, my life is going just great.

Winning isn't everything.

- You have a shitty life. It's pathetic. - Mm-mm.

And you're using him to make up for that, aren't you?

[breathing heavily]

Diego's moving to Manchester, Manchester City.

And that means he'll reach the top at the age of 20.

What kid his age wouldn't give his life for an opportunity like this?

His life.

[sighs]

Diego's dream is to play for Atleti.

I know what he wants. Trust me.

[inhales, hesitates]

And deep down, you know it.

[breathes heavily]

I wanna help him.

Get off his back.

Help him by disappearing quietly.

Diego needs to focus.

[pop music playing in background]

Nuno,

show my brother out.

It's better if he doesn't see you here.

Alex, here's your fee.

Go home.

Rest, pay your mortgage, write another book.

Get laid, whatever.

But leave the kid alone, and let him be a kickass football star.

And tomorrow, he'll have forgotten about you.

[exhales shakily]

[Diego] Maestro! Maestro, where are you going?

- Going home. - So soon?

Yeah, you know, I...

My head's bursting.

[scoffs] My dad said there won't be any more lessons.

- We can't talk about this now. - No?

He said he paid you a hundred grand, and now you're going.

[inhales agitatedly]

What's wrong? Can't you talk about that either?

[splutters]

[choking sobs]

It was all a fucking lie.

You take the money and you run, like everyone else.

- Fuck! You're a fucking traitor! - Just drive.

[grunting]

- [ankle cracks] - [yelps]

[Ceci] Diego!

- [Diego wailing] - [ignition starts]

- [engine revs] - [groans]

- [wailing in agony] - [Teo] What's wrong with him?

Leave me!

Leave me the fuck alone, all of you! Fuck!

- Leave me alone! - [Ceci] What's going on? Diego!

- Are you okay? - [onlookers chatter indistinctly]

Hold onto me, yeah?

Out of the way!

- Okay, calm down. - [Diego groans]

[melancholy piano music playing]

- [music fading out] - [ringing tone]

[pulsating suspenseful music plays]

- [ringing tone] - [line clicks, beeps]

- [Tito] Juanma, Diego's on his way. - [Juanma] How's his ankle?

[Tito] In bad shape, but don't worry. He's not gonna play today.

[Juanma] Tito, this is important.

If City find out his foot's injured, we're in deep trouble.

[Tito] No way. My son won't be on the pitch today.

[Juanma] Nobody wants a crippled star. The contract's at stake.

[Tito] I know. He's not gonna play. Don't worry.

- [Juanma] Tito... - [Tito] Get the contract ready.

- We're gonna sign it. - [mobile beeps]

- [engine rumbling] - [brakes hiss]

[suspenseful music continues]

- [Tito] Hey. - Hey, Dad.

- Look, I'm going on. - No.

No, you're not. Not a chance in hell.

At least can you let Arsenio look at my ankle?

No fucking way. Can't risk your career for one game.

What are we?

- A team. - [camera shutters clicking]

What's our goal?

- Gonna be a champion. - You're damn right.

Now, son, I'll never let you down.

Mwah! Attaboy.

[camera shutters clicking]

[reporters clamouring]

He just can't play. Sorry.

[Héctor sighs]

The only option is an injection.

The Cortisone will give a little relief, but it won't last very long.

But the injury could get worse. Seriously.

It's your choice.

[Diego breathing anxiously]

[Héctor] Let's go, gentlemen. Let's forget about Diego.

- Everything's at stake here. Everything! - [overlapping chatter]

[players clapping]

[Diego grunting]

[groaning sigh]

[doorbell chimes]

WHAT MAKES A GENIUS?

[doorbell chimes]

[dog barking]

Alex... what's going on?

They cancelled the contract.

Diego wrote this.

Thanks.

Go on, or you'll be late.

[inhales shakily]

[man 1, on TV] We're so privileged to be able to enjoy it here at home.

Eh. It's really very exciting.

[man 2] Tonight, Atlético Madrid can save their season

by winning the La Liga title at home.

Let's remember that a draw isn't enough.

They have to win the game to take the La Liga title home.

[Alex] How much, please?

[Héctor] ...with a lot of excitement, a lot of energy, and I said to the lads,

"Who'd have thought, last summer,

that we'd be playing the last game of the championship

with the possibility..."

- Uh. How much do I owe you? - "...of winning the league title?"

I'm confident in how the team's worked.

- Eh, 4.50. - I hope it continues to the very end,

and we can celebrate with our fans at home

and give them the joy they so much deserve.

[man 2] And at last, for this game, Diego is making his return to the team

after his dramatic two-week suspension,

during which the team faced two unforgivable losses.

The losing streak may come to an end tonight.

That's what the fans and Diego himself are hoping for.

We were able to talk to him briefly before he went into the changing room.

[reporters clamour]

Uh, so, starting the match on the pitch isn't up to me.

You know, it's up to the coach. Of course, I'd really love to.

And I'd also love to live up to the, um,

accumulation of expectations that the fans have placed on me.

Thank you.

[reporter] Diego, how's your relationship with the team?

[dramatic music playing]

[panting]

[sighs]

- [breathing heavily] - [train whirring]

- Excuse me. Are you free? - [man 1] Yeah.

- Yeah? - Get in.

- See ya. - Talk to you later.

Buckle up, please. [grunts]

- [Alex] Atleti stadium, please. - Okay.

Let's go.

[dramatic music continues]

[sparse chatter]

[chatter increasing]

[muffled announcer chattering]

- [man 2] He's a great talent. - Yeah, I agree.

- [Delgado] How are you, chaps? - Alright?

- So, you doing good then? - I'm good. You?

Yeah, I'm good.

Let's wait and see.

Alright? Hi.

Hello. Hi.

- You okay? - Ceci.

- We're gonna win. - Hope so.

Yeah. You alright?

[crowd chanting in distance]

[Atlético de Madrid anthem playing]

[crowd, in Spanish] ♪ Atleti, Atleti ♪

♪ Atlético de Madrid ♪

♪ Atleti, Atleti ♪

♪ Atlético de Madrid ♪

♪ Playing, winning ♪

♪ You fight like the best ♪

♪ Fans will shake with passion ♪

♪ When you become the champion ♪

♪ And you see a real team Before the ball ♪

♪ And this afternoon It will bring cheer to us all ♪

[crowd cheering]

[crowd chanting] Diego! Diego! Diego! Diego!

- [referee blows whistle] - [Adán, in English] Let's go!

[crowd chanting] Diego! Diego! Diego!

[chanting continues]

[suspenseful music playing]

[commentator 1, on radio] Tonight, Atletico will play for the La Liga title.

Only a victory for the red and whites will win them the championship.

[commentator 2] And we have news from the bench. Diego is not playing.

This will be controversial, I'm sure, particularly amongst his fans.

- [scoffs] - There are many who feel that...

Why on earth have Diego there? They really are a bunch of imbeciles.

[commentator 2] ...Beato in goal behind a five-line defence.

Tejerida, Nikita, Joaquin...

[tense music playing]

[crowd chanting indistinctly]

[players shouting indistinctly]

[Héctor whistles, shouts]

[man] Nice.

[mobile vibrating]

- It's Man City. - [vibrating]

They'll want to know why he's not on.

- [vibrating] - Sort it out.

- On it. - [vibrating]

[vibrating]

Steve. Hey.

Yeah, yeah.

- [commentator 1] It's a stunning strike... - [Alex breathes anxiously]

- [commentator 2] Things get crazy! - [commentator 1] Valencia scored!

First-class here tonight!

What an incredible goal!

[commentator 2] It looks like Atlético is losing the league title at home.

They really need to respond to this and respond quickly.

[Alex] Thank you.

[commentator 2] Atletico need to score two goals, two goals to win the title.

[drums pounding in distance]

METRO METROPOLITANO STADIUM

[panting]

[turnstile beeps]

- [music fades out] - [crowd cheering in distance]

[breathing heavily]

[man 1] Can I help you, mate?

Section 45, by the bar. Over there.

Thank you.

[breathing heavily]

[tense music playing]

[air horn blares in distance]

[flags flutter, whoosh noisily]

[breathing anxiously]

- [soundscape distorts, ringing] - [breaths echoing]

[breathing softening]

[tense music building slowly]

[breathes heavily]

- [soundscape fading in] - [crowd shouting, cheering]

- [crowd roaring] - [drums pounding]

[tense music swells]

[thunderous roars, whistling]

[crowd groans loudly]

[whistling]

[indistinct chatter]

[man 2] Come on! What was that?

[overlapping irate shouting]

[man 2] What are you doing?

[woman shouting in Spanish]

[man 3, in English] Put Diego on! We need him!

[suspenseful music playing]

What was that? What are you playing at?

You complete prick! Fuck you! Hey, ref!

[overlapping angry shouting]

- He fouled there! - [whistle blows]

[suspenseful music obscures background]

[suspenseful music intensifies]

[blowing]

Hey!

Hey!

Hey!

Hey!

Hey!

Hey!

Hey!

[rousing music plays]

[whistle blows]

[crowd cheering, applauding]

- I've gotta go on. - What was that?

I've gotta go on!

- No. Sit back down. - I can win this, okay?

[man 4] Shit! Diego wants to go on!

Play now!

- Diego! - [cheering loudly]

[crowd chanting] Diego! Diego! Diego! Diego!

- Why won't you put me on? - Cover your mouth.

- Put me on! - You should be on the bench, not here.

[crowd chants] Diego!

Diego!

Diego!

Diego!

Diego!

Diego!

Diego!

Diego!

Diego!

Diego!

Diego!

Diego!

Diego!

- Diego! - This is fucking crazy!

[man 5] Aw, come on! Put him on! Put him on! Come on!

He's going away.

Diego is gonna be sold.

Where'd you hear that? That's crazy.

They're selling him to Manchester. Yeah, it's a done deal.

Transfer's gonna go through. He's gonna leave the club.

- That's bullshit. - [man 4] That's his teacher.

- I know it is. I swear. - [man 5] Bullshit.

- Diego's off to Manchester! - [man 5] What are you talking about?

- [man 4] He said they've sold him! - [man 5] A disgrace. We can't lose him!

He's our best player! Tell me this isn't true!

He's gotta stay and play every game.

- I don't know. - This can't happen. I am telling ya!

Diego's not for sale!

- Diego's not for sale! - Not for sale!

Diego's not for sale!

Diego's not for sale!

Diego's not for sale!

Diego's not for sale!

Diego's not for sale!

Diego's not for sale!

Diego's not for sale!

Diego's not for sale!

[chanting reverberates throughout stadium]

[tense music playing]

- What is happening? - [crowd] Diego's not for sale!

Diego's not...

- [Tito grunts] - [Juanma] Tito!

Diego's not for sale!

Diego's not for sale!

Diego's not for sale!

Diego's not for sale!

Diego's not for sale!

[chanting continues]

But do you hear them?

Get on the bench, okay?

What are they talking about?

[chanting continues]

[rousing music continues]

[referee blows whistle]

[music fades out]

[footsteps approaching rapidly]

Out of the way! What the hell is going on?

- I said no injecting! - Hey!

- What is this? You can't be here. - He's not going on.

- I wanna go on. - Over my dead body you are.

[breathes heavily] Diego... come on now.

- Do as you're told. - No.

- No. - [player 1] What's he doin'?

You got something to tell me?

- Your son is off to Manchester. Huh? - That's a lie, you motherfucker!

- That's a lie! - [Héctor] Stop!

- Get off of me! - [Héctor] Calm down or get out!

[breathes irately]

Now, look here, son. [exhales]

These guys don't like you. They're jealous of you.

And they wanna screw you.

[breathing slows]

Go and get your things, and come with me.

[tense music playing softly]

[Diego exhales]

[tense music builds]

[exhales] You know something?

- You're as thick as pig shit, boy! - [player 2] Hey! It's his choice.

You can't even spell your own name.

- Leave him, okay? - You think you know what you're doing?

You'd be nobody without me!

- You'd be a fucking beggar, boy! Got that? - Listen... Hey!

- [player 3] Leave him alone! - [Tito] Fuck!

How can he play with his ankle like that?

- Call security... - [Tito] It's insanity!

- Get the fuck out of here! - I'm gonna sue ya! Stupid prick!

Diego, come with me!

- [player 3] Get out! - [Tito] Get off me! He's my son! Diego!

- Arsenio. - [syringe cap clacks]

[suspenseful music resumes]

[Diego groans]

[inhales shakily]

[sighs]

[suspenseful music continues]

[crowd chanting]

[whistle blows]

- [crowd chanting] Diego! Diego! - [man 6] There's Diego!

[crowd chanting] Diego! Diego!

Diego! Diego! Diego!

Diego! Diego! Diego! Diego!

Diego! Diego! Diego! Diego!

- [chanting subsides] - [crowd applauding]

[poignant music plays]

[cheering]

- What happened? - He's gonna screw it all.

Fuck me.

- [breathes anxiously] - [grunts] Shit!

- [dramatic music playing] - [players chatter indistinctly]

Come on, come on, come on!

[Diego huffing]

- [grunts] - [teammate shouts]

[crowd cheers]

[Diego] Aah!

[groans]

[grunts]

- [Héctor] Diego! - [exhales]

Diego!

[women] Come on, Diego!

- [man 6] Yeah, come on! - I'm good.

Okay? Good. Come on!

Come on, Diego. Come on.

He fucks his ankle, contract's dead. Hmm?

- [dramatic music continues] - [muffled shouting]

[Diego] Bring it wide! To me! To me! Go here!

Yes! Yes, yes, yes! Come on! Come on!

[crowd roars]

Goal!

Goal!

[stirring music plays]

[tender music plays]

[crowd chanting] Diego! Diego!

Diego! Diego! Diego!

- [dramatic music resumes] - [both grunt]

- [ankle crunches] - Aah!

[player 1] Come on! Come on, come on! Move, move!

[Diego grunts]

Aah!

Hey! Get him outta this, you shit!

[man 5] Goal! Goal now! Come on now!

[indistinct chatter]

[player 2 grunting]

[Diego grunting]

- [crowd cheers] - Yes! Down there!

[indistinct shouting]

[player 3] Get back!

[Diego grunts]

[huffing, grunts]

- [Héctor] Pass it back, Diego! - [Adán] On your left! On your left!

- [opponent shouts] - [crowd roars]

[Alex] Goal!

[stirring music playing]

[crowd chants] Atleti! Atleti!

- [Tito, faintly] Héctor! - [crowd] Atleti!

Héctor! Hello! Héctor!

Héctor!

- Héctor, for God's sake! Listen to me! - [metal clangs]

Héctor, he can't play anymore.

You're in deep shit, motherfucker.

You won't get away with it! He's a piece of shit!

I'm gonna sue your arse! He's injured!

Diego! Diego!

- Can you play? You good? - Yeah, I'm good.

- You sure? - Sure, sure. Yeah, I can play.

[Tito] Héctor!

Don't do this!

[cheering]

- [mobile vibrating continuously] - [suspenseful music continues]

Take him off the pitch!

Fuck off, Tito! Shut the fuck up!

- [mobile continues vibrating] - [crowd chanting] Diego! Diego!

- Diego! Diego! Diego! Diego! - [poignant music playing]

- Diego! Diego! Diego! - [mobile continues vibrating]

- [mobile beeps] - [vibrating ends]

Diego! Diego! Diego!

Diego! Diego!

- [air horn blares] - [dramatic music resumes]

[pants]

[grunts]

[music swells]

[grunts, yelps]

- Hey! - [fans roar irately]

- Hey! - [team shouting]

Aah!

- Aah! [whimpers] - [referee blows whistle]

[Diego groaning in agony]

Aah!

Aah!

This can't be happening to me! Come on!

Come on, come on, come on!

- [whimpers] - [Adán] Bro.

[overlapping irate shouting]

[groaning]

[Adán] On three. One, two, three. Come on.

[Diego grunts]

You're good. Yeah, you're good. Come on, let's go.

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Really.

[groans]

[grunts]

[Héctor] Diego!

I'll score!

I'll score!

Come on, come on, come on! Come on, come on!

[grunting]

I'll take it, Adán.

- You've earned this. You can do this. - We're gonna win. Thank you, Adán.

[tense music continues]

[music drowns out background]

[exhales]

[music intensifying]

[knuckles crack]

[music swells]

[music crescendoes]

[music fades out]

[sighs]

[ambient music playing]

[music fades out]