Chapter 346: Conquered

Chapter 346: Conquered

At exactly 9 PM, the loudspeakers at Old Trafford announced the beginning of the event.

Manchester United's owner and club chairman, Jassim, dressed in traditional Arabian attire, walked confidently onto the T-shaped stage. On behalf of the Manchester United board and management, he thanked all the United fans present tonight and proudly announced the official signing of superstar Bruno Fernandes from Udinese.

"Let's give a warm welcome to... Bruno!" With Jassim's invitation, the stadium erupted in deafening cheers and applause.

Bruno stood at the entrance of the players' tunnel, aware that live cameras were focused on him. At that moment, he felt a bit nervous. It wasn't just because tens of thousands of fans had gathered inside and outside the stadium, but also because countless fans worldwide were watching him. Tonight, he was finally wearing the red jersey of his dreams and stepping into Old Trafford.

He had often imagined himself donning this red jersey, leading Manchester United out of their slump and back to glory. Now, this dream had become reality. Though he was taking on this role in a different capacity, the excitement in his heart remained unchanged.

Being an experienced superstar, he wasn't easily overwhelmed by such scenes. After taking a deep breath to steady his emotions, Bruno smiled and quickly walked out of the players' tunnel, stepping onto the long red carpet and heading straight to the T-shaped stage. He waved to the fans around him.

The stadium, both inside and outside, went wild. The fans were fervently chanting Bruno's name. Everyone, including Jassim himself, was stunned and somewhat at a loss. Jassim tried to deliver his welcome speech several times, but each time the fans' cheers drowned out his voice.

Jassim was elated because he knew that betting on Bruno was the right decision. The passion of the fans, the excitement of the tens of thousands inside and outside the stadium, would become the talk of United fans for days, even years, to come.

It had been three years since Manchester United had fallen into a slump following Ferguson's retirement. United fans had been frustrated and disheartened for three years. Now, they had a new beacon of hope.

All United fans believed that Bruno, who led the underdog Udinese to the pinnacle of European football, could undoubtedly lead Manchester United back to the top. As a die-hard United fan himself, Jassim shared this belief.

The enthusiasm of the fans, the pride and satisfaction on their faces, was priceless. Bruno was the only superstar who could bring them this level of excitement.

The cheers and applause lasted over a minute before Jassim finally managed to welcome Bruno. But even his brief speech was repeatedly interrupted by the enthusiastic United fans.

Especially when Bruno took the microphone and raised his right hand towards the South Stand, saying, "Hello, everyone!"

He intended to introduce himself further, but the roar from the fans was so overwhelming that it drowned out his words. The entire stadium, inside and out, erupted again, with fans chanting "Bruno" at the top of their lungs.

Bruno was deeply moved. Tens of thousands of people were not there to watch him play but just to see him, to witness his joining Manchester United. It was such a profound gesture of love and support that he felt he must repay the fans, even if it cost him everything.

So, without saying much, he bowed to the fans around the stadium. This act sparked another wave of cheers and applause, with fans shouting themselves hoarse and many moved to tears.

Jassim stood aside, watching Bruno bow to the fans, hearing the thunderous cheers. He felt the sincerity in Bruno's actions. Only sincerity could make tens of thousands of fans cheer for Bruno, even without him finishing a sentence.

This wave of cheers lasted over two minutes, only subsiding when Bruno repeatedly raised his hand to calm the crowd.

"Thank you, everyone! I am very happy to be here. Wearing the Manchester United jersey has always been my dream and the proudest moment of my life. Thank you all for coming tonight. You are my motivation moving forward. I promise, for you and for Manchester United, I will give my all."

With that, Bruno sang United's anthem: "Glory Glory Man United!"

Finally, Bruno grabbed his jersey's crest and kissed it. He had always been someone who repaid kindness. The honor and pride the United fans bestowed upon him, he hoped to return on the pitch with all his strength.

The stadium erupted once again in thunderous applause and cheers, with everyone chanting his name.

Jassim was pleased. The event exceeded his expectations. Bruno did not disappoint, using his sincerity and actions to win over the United fans from his first appearance.

After his introduction, Manchester United legend and club honorary president Sir Bobby Charlton presented Bruno with the number 8 jersey. This number had originally belonged to Juan Mata, who voluntarily gave it up upon hearing of Bruno's arrival, opting for the vacant number 6.

Anthony Martial also relinquished his number 9 jersey to Zlatan Ibrahimović, who wore the number traditionally assigned to the lead striker. Wayne Rooney continued to wear his number 10 jersey.

Bruno's choice of number 8 was not only his preference but also supported by Manchester United and their sponsor Adidas, as it would maintain the popularity he had built at Udinese.

Bruno proudly displayed his number 8 jersey to the fans and showcased some freestyle football skills, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Following tradition, Bruno then made a lap around the stadium, interacting with and thanking the fans. As he passed each section, the fans responded with enthusiastic applause and cheers.

Some fans threw footballs onto the field, and Bruno, not one to refuse, took a pen from a staff member and signed the balls with his signature in elegant Chinese characters before kicking them back to the stands. Each time, he precisely kicked the ball to the section it came from, impressing fans with his skills.

(End of Chapter)

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