Chapter 169: Welcome to Old Trafford
It was no longer rumor.
No longer whispers.No longer negotiation.
The deal was done.
The Numbers Behind the Storm
In the early hours, Manchester United's official channels posted a short, powerful message:
🔴 "𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗢 𝗚𝗢𝗡𝗭𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗭 𝗜𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗗." 🔴
Within minutes, it broke every engagement record the club had set.
But behind the red banners and fanfare lay the numbers:
💰 Transfer Fee: €120 million(Including performance-based add-ons and bonuses)
📄 Contract: 5 years + option for 1 more💸 Salary: €11 million annually🧠 Clause: Tactical freedom within attacking third👟 Shirt Number: To be revealed…
It was official:Mateo González was now the most expensive teenage transfer in Manchester United history.
And the most anticipated.
Arrival in England
As the private jet touched down at Manchester Airport,thousands of fans had already gathered outside the terminal.
Not just for a glimpse—but for a revelation.
"Mateo! Mateo!" they chanted.Red scarves waved.Drums pounded.
The young star stepped off the plane, dressed in black, calm but burning within.
He waved once.The roar shook the air.
He wasn't just joining a club.
He was entering a legacy.
Medical & Meetings
The medical was efficient, detailed, and intense.
Tests, imaging, motion analysis — all cleared.
Fitness rating: Elite.Injury risk: Minimal.Mental state: Focused.
Even the staff were impressed.
"He's recovered beyond projections," whispered one United physio."Stronger than before the injury."
Afterward, Mateo was escorted to Carrington, United's training complex.
There, he met:
The coaching staff
New teammates
Club executives
And Sir Alex Ferguson once again — who greeted him with nothing but a proud handshake and a whisper:
"Welcome home, lad."
The Unveiling
That afternoon, at Old Trafford, the stage was set.
The stadium was packed for a special live unveiling — a rare occurrence.
Mateo walked onto the pitch, flanked by club legends, a sea of red rising to their feet.
Cameras flashed.Banners soared.
Then… the moment:
📣 "We proudly present our new No. 7…"
The crowd erupted.
It was more than a number.
It was the weight of Beckham, Ronaldo, Cantona.
And now?
González.
The System Reacts
✅ Transfer Confirmed: Manchester United
🎖 Legacy Number Assigned: 7
Trait Activated: Inheritor's Pressure
● Increased expectations from fans, board, and media● All match ratings will weigh 15% heavier on overall development● Bonus fan loyalty gain from legacy performances
⚠ Performance must meet legacy standard to retain shirt number
Mateo stood in the center circle, No. 7 on his back.
Not smiling.
Not waving.
Just looking.
Focused.
"Let's build something unforgettable," he whispered.