the step

🏨 AT THE HOTEL, THE NIGHT BEFORE THE FIRST MATCH

You're in the common room, sprawled on the couch, everyone scattered around. Nobody's talking about football, they're just laughing their heads off at each other.

Leandro Paredes:
—The water runs over you and you sit down like a sack of potatoes. —Hey, what are you doing up? I thought you'd slept until next year. With how lazy you are...

Julian Alvarez:
—He collapses into the armchair next to him, laughing—"Hahaha, yes! It's awful, he won't get up even if you throw a bucket of water on him. Yesterday your dad had to call you three times to get you to eat breakfast."

Lautaro Martínez:
—She hits them both with a pillow. —Well, don't mess with her, she gets in a bad mood and then gives us a dirty look all day.

Emiliano "Dibu" Martínez:
—She appears out of nowhere with a ridiculous hat on her head—Leave her alone! She's just jealous of my new hat. Look how cute it is, doesn't it make you want to steal it?

Rodrigo De Paul:
—He starts doing weird dance moves in the middle of the room—Don't pay any attention to any of them! The thing is, they don't know how to have fun.

Lionel Scaloni (your dad):
—He walks by with a bottle in his hand, looks at them and lets out a laugh—Hey, idiots, lower your voices or they'll kick us out of the hotel. And you—he points at you—don't hang out with these guys so much or you'll come back anyway.

Lionel Messi:
He's lying on the floor looking at his phone, he looks up and says quietly, "If you guys hang out with me, you'd better. I don't do as much stupid shit as these three."

Ángel Di María:
—Throws a pillow at Leo— You liar! The other day you grabbed the remote and hid in the bathroom so nobody could change the channel. You're the worst of all!