Some embraces tell a story better than any speech. Carlos Espí’s hug with José Mourinho after the striker rescued Real Madrid in the 90th minute against Espanyol was one of them. The Portuguese manager was waiting for him as Espí ran over, and the two embraced while the rest of the squad celebrated the first three points of a new era. It was more than a goal celebration; it was the first visible chapter of something that had been building for weeks at Valdebebas.

Espí arrived in Madrid with precisely this role in mind: to make an impact when matches become difficult, attack the box and, above all, score goals with the limited opportunities he receives. In his first official chance, he needed just one. A loose ball inside the area, a final touch and the instinct to be exactly where a natural number nine should be. The result was a goal that is beginning to turn Espí from an unknown prospect into a genuine alternative.

“I’m the happiest man in the world right now, for the three points and for having helped. When I saw it, I said, ‘I can’t believe it’s mine,’” he later told the club’s official media.

His words reflected the natural reaction of a player still processing everything that has happened to him over the past month, but they also showed the calmness of someone who feels ready for this opportunity.

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