The Next Big Thing
Chapter 129: Internet Crashes

Chapter 129: Internet Crashes

The footballing world had been set ablaze. Just days after parting ways with their former coach, Manchester United remained the most talked-about club on the planet. The dust hadn’t even settled on their managerial shake-up when they sent shockwaves through the sport yet again. Earlier today, they made their first major move—appointing Ajax’s brilliant mastermind, Erik ten Hag, a serial winner, as their new head coach.

That alone was news big enough to dominate headlines for weeks. But before the footballing world could even digest it, Manchester United shook the foundations of the sport once more.

A breaking story, almost too surreal to believe.

Manchester United were considering a move for their old legend.

Not just any legend. The last man to win a Ballon d’Or for Manchester United. The last player to bring that golden trophy back to the Premier League. A player whose name was etched into footballing history. A man who wasn’t just a superstar but an era-defining phenomenon.

The goal machine himself—Cristiano Ronaldo.

There are very few names in the world that carry weight, names that resonate whether you follow their field or not. Names so powerful that even those with no connection to the sport know them.

Cristiano Ronaldo was one of those names.

You can know football and not know its rules. You can know football and not know every player. But you cannot know football and not know Ronaldo.

In fact, you could know Ronaldo and not even know football—that’s how big he was.

And now, his name was being linked with one of the biggest clubs in England, one of the biggest clubs in the world. But this wasn’t just any big club. It wasn’t just another transfer rumor.

This was Manchester United.

Not just any club in Ronaldo’s journey, but the club that made him.

To the casual fan, his legacy may be tied to Real Madrid, where he reached superhuman levels, where he shattered records, where he lifted multiple Champions League trophies and became the all-time top scorer for the most decorated club in football history.

To some nostalgic ones, it could be Sporting CP, the club that first unleashed him on the world, the place where his raw talent was first seen.

But those who truly understand Cristiano Ronaldo’s story, those who have followed him since the beginning, know that Manchester United was where Cristiano Ronaldo was forged.

It was under the watchful eye of Sir Alex Ferguson that he transformed from a raw, dazzling teenager into a lethal goal-scoring phenomenon. It was in the red of United that he learned discipline, where his dribbling, his power, his mentality were refined. It was at Old Trafford where he won everything, where he first conquered the Premier League, where he became a household name.

And now, years later, the possibility of his return was bigger than anything else happening in the world at that moment.

Social media? Taken over. News outlets? Engulfed. Debates, discussions, theories—every conversation in the football world had turned to one question.

Could Cristiano Ronaldo really be coming back to Manchester United?

The sheer possibility of it was enough to send the football universe into chaos.

This wasn’t just a transfer rumor. This was history in the making.

On Twitter, the sheer magnitude of the news was undeniable. The first ten trending topics all revolved around one name:

Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo

Manchester United

Return

Transfer

Is it true?

Fabrizio Romano

Coming Home

Welcome Back

Please Come to United

The frenzy was unreal. Even the appointment of Erik ten Hag, Manchester United’s new head coach—a decision that was supposed to be the headline of the week—had been shoved down to 11th place.

The world wasn’t talking about politics. The world wasn’t talking about COVID-19. The buzz surrounding the U.S. presidential election had all but drowned in the noise.

Football had taken over.

And at the heart of it all was one man.

A name so powerful that, in an instant, it shifted global conversations. A name so legendary that, with just a single transfer rumor, it eclipsed world events.

Cristiano Ronaldo.

And amidst the chaos, one page on Twitter was getting more traffic than any other—the page belonging to the man who broke the story.

Fabrizio Romano.

The Italian journalist, Fabrizo Romano, was no stranger to football transfer news. Over the years, he had established himself as one of the foremost authorities on the subject, becoming a go-to figure for fans, players, agents, and clubs alike. His deep knowledge, quick reporting, and unmatched accuracy had made him a household name in the football world. But today? Today was different.

As one of the most prominent figures in the industry, Fabrizo had built a reputation for himself not only by breaking news first but also by doing so with a level of excitement and anticipation that kept fans constantly refreshing his page. Football fans across the globe waited with bated breath for his updates, and during the transfer windows, his page became a hub of activity, traffic surging to unimaginable heights. The demand was relentless—so much so that he found himself regularly working on just a few hours of sleep. Some days, he hardly slept at all, working late into the night, scrolling through Twitter, checking sources, and preparing to break the next big story.

But today, the traffic was overwhelming, and Fabrizo found himself facing an unprecedented crisis. His high-end laptop, one of the best on the market with immense computing and processing power, had frozen. He stared at the screen in disbelief. This was his lifeline, the tool he relied on for work, the instrument that allowed him to break news as it happened. But now, it was useless. The screen was frozen, and not even the most powerful tech available could unfreeze it.

"Francesco, what’s happening? I need to log in now! Is the laptop still not working?" Fabrizo’s voice cut through the chaos of the apartment. The normally organized space was now scattered with papers, phones, and laptops, all buzzing with activity. Fabrizo turned to Francesco, one of the most tech-savvy members of his team, who had been called in to help.

"Sorry, boss," Francesco said, shaking his head. "The laptop is gone for now. Too much overload. It’s not responding at all."

Fabrizo’s frustration was palpable as he paced back and forth in his apartment. The normally calm and composed journalist was visibly on edge, his mind racing. This wasn’t just another day. This was huge—bigger than anything he had ever experienced. The transfer news he had just posted, about Cristiano Ronaldo potentially returning to Manchester United, had exploded on his page. The level of engagement was beyond anything he could have imagined. It wasn’t just about numbers; it was about being at the forefront of a story that was captivating the entire footballing world.

"OOO Lord, what are we going to do now? This is the biggest we’ve ever been! We need to capitalize on this fast," he muttered under his breath, his anxiety growing with each passing second. He had to be ahead of the competition. His mind raced as he tried to think of a solution.

Isabella, his trusted assistant, who had been quietly standing to the side on the phone, caught his attention. "Isabella, what about the news? Have you called our guys? Is it confirmed? Have they sent a contract to him?" Fabrizo’s voice was firm, trying to remain in control despite the overwhelming situation. He looked at her intently, waiting for an update.

"No, not yet," Isabella replied, still focused on her phone. "I’m still on the line with him. The latest we’ve heard is that the board, especially the top person, wants him badly. They are going all out to make it happen."

Fabrizo’s eyes narrowed. This was exactly the kind of story that could push him even further into the spotlight. "Well, we need to be ahead. Keep asking when they want to send the contract, and don’t forget to ask if we can get any details about the deal. We have to make sure we’re ahead of everyone else. We can’t fall behind."

He quickly turned to Francesco. "And you, Francesco? Try everything you can. Get the account back. We need to be ready. If any new updates come through, we need to be in a position to post them immediately."

Both of them responded with a firm "Okay, boss," before quickly darting off to execute his orders.

The room, filled with the hustle and bustle of the team, seemed like a whirlwind. It was like a war zone of technology and information. People were darting from one place to the next, all trying to do their part to ensure that Fabrizo remained at the forefront of breaking news.

Fabrizo, despite his growing sense of urgency, remained focused. He knew that he couldn’t let the Ronaldo news overshadow everything. Yes, it was massive, but there were other deals going on. Other stories waiting to be uncovered. He wasn’t going to let the competition get the jump on him. His mind was already working on the next big update. While he was doing that something entered his thought again

"Luca, come here. Bring your phone. I want to check something," Fabrizo said, pointing to one of his staff members, who had been working on another update. Luca, who was hunched over his desk, looked up quickly, his eyes wide as he scrambled to grab his phone. The apartment, which was supposed to be a quiet, focused work environment, was now chaotic Completely disregarding Italian covid and lockdown rules. People were talking over each other, phones ringing, laptops beeping, and somewhere in the background, a coffee machine hissed, trying to keep up with the madness of the situation.

Luca hurried over to Fabrizo and handed him his phone. "Here’s my phone, boss," Luca said, voice a bit shaky, but eager to help in any way he could.

"That’s good, help me open it and open your Twitter. Go to my page. I want to see what people are saying," Fabrizo instructed, his focus already shifting to the screen. While he was active on a number of platforms, Twitter was where he dominated. It was his main platform, the place where he broke news first. And right now, it was buzzing.

Luca, without hesitation, did exactly as asked. He quickly unlocked his phone, navigated to Twitter, and opened Fabrizo’s page. Fabrizo took the phone from him, muttering a quick "Thanks, you can go back to what you were doing. Remember, also help me call Mendes. Let’s see if we can get news on that front. And you can promise him a good post on any of his other clients," he said, already formulating the next strategy. Mendes, the Portuguese agent, was always a crucial contact, and if he could get some exclusive details about his client Ronaldo, it would help him stay ahead of the curve.

Fabrizo’s mind was already whirring with ideas for how to leverage his next post. He had always been good at positioning himself as the go-to source for football news, but today, it was more than just about being fast—it was about being smart, being strategic, and making sure no one could outpace him.

Finally, his eyes locked onto the phone’s screen as he scrolled through the latest activity on his page. The comments were pouring in faster than he could read them, the retweets multiplying at an astonishing rate. Fans, journalists, and even players were all sharing their thoughts on the potential Ronaldo transfer. He smiled to himself, eager to see just how crazy the engagements would get.

The traffic had crashed his laptop, but that was a small price to pay for being at the center of it all.

Special shoutout to none other than MizuKen, who sent me another Golden Ticket! You guys don’t play—24 already this month, which is three times as many as last month! Thank you so much, MizuKen, you’re the best!

If you want to support me, please consider donating Power Stones, Golden Tickets, or even gifts. They all play a huge role and mean so much to me. Thanks again for your incredible support!