The Next Big Thing
Chapter 157: Massive change

Chapter 157: Massive change

While David was finally beginning to make a friend, his first one since that horrible falling out with Jason, his former friend and ex-teammate, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. It had been a while since he’d allowed someone into his life, especially after losing Jason, someone he had once trusted completely. But now, with the game on the screen in front of him, everything seemed to be going well. The laughter between him and his new friend filled the air as they bonded over the match.

Outside of their bubble, however, the coaching staff at Manchester United were in for a massive surprise, one that would shake up the footballing world — and this time, not even the fast-talking journalists had caught wind of it.

"We actually got Sancho," came the voice of Assistant Coach Brian, who was heavily involved in the attacking side of things.

Brian couldn’t believe it himself. Neither could the rest of the coaching staff. It had been a wild ride, and even as members of Manchester United — the biggest and most successful club in all of England — they had to admit that they hadn’t truly believed they could land a talent like Jadon Sancho. Despite the prestige of their club, they hadn’t been able to attract the kind of massive, world-class talents in recent years.

The club had found itself in somewhat of a rebuilding phase, investing heavily into their youth academy in a bid to cultivate fresh talent. This wasn’t just about making up for what had been lacking, but about creating a sustainable future for the team. Even with all their efforts, though, landing a star like Sancho seemed out of reach.

It wasn’t just Manchester United that had been linked with Sancho; the 20-year-old winger had been courted by some of the biggest clubs in the world. Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and even the Spanish giants, Real Madrid, were all rumored to be after his signature. But now, the unthinkable had happened — Sancho was heading to Manchester United.

At the time, Sancho was regarded as the brightest young talent in world football, a player whose potential seemed limitless. His stock had been on the rise for years, and many considered him to be above even the likes of his own teammates at Borussia Dortmund, such as Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland. The comparisons didn’t stop there, though.

Sancho was placed in a tier above some of the most promising young stars across Europe — Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, Atlético Madrid’s Joao Félix, Barcelona’s emerging academy talent Ansu Fati, and even the rising Brazilian sensation, Vinícius Júnior, had all been considered his peers.

But what really set Sancho apart, in the eyes of many, was the fact that he was seen as the number one young talent in the world at that time. The only player who could was clear ahead of him, was Kylian Mbappé — already being regarded as one of the very best players in the world at just 21 years old. But with Mbappé’s rise already firmly established, Sancho’s journey was just beginning, and everyone knew that.

So when one of the board members came to tell them, it got the board members into a frenzy. For someone of that caliber to join their team had not only astonished them, but also sent a resounding message to the rest of the world that Manchester United was serious and planning to regain its glory days.

But while they were all initially ecstatic, reality then set in as they realized what a signing like this truly meant. It wasn’t just about the immense talent and the immediate boost to the squad; signing a star youngster like Sancho meant significant benefits for the entire team. His creativity and flair would help elevate the attacking play, add depth to their offensive strategies, and potentially change the dynamic of every match they played. However, more than that, it meant one critical thing: another starting position in the three-man attacking line was suddenly at risk.

There was simply no way the club would chase after someone like Sancho throughout the transfer window and then allow him to sit on the bench. He would, without question, be given a starting position—and that was non-negotiable.

As the rest of the coaches realized this, they shrugged it off, agreeing that Sancho deserved the starting spot. However, there were three people in the room who disagreed with this outcome. The first was Mike Phelan, who wore a small frown on his face as he recalled the words of his former head coach and friend, Ole. Ole had always insisted that Mike should look out for David Jones, emphasizing that he was the future of Manchester United. Ole had even pointed out that since the board had missed his earlier suggestion of bringing in the Norwegian striker Haaland—one of Sancho’s teammates now making his name in Europe—this was their other opportunity to secure a world-class player, a player who could lead them forward.

After he saw the kid in training—watching how he played with unbelievable talent and impressive composure despite his young age—Mike began to believe in the potential of the youngster. Yet, he also understood the harsh reality of this signing: bringing in a very young star could end up being disastrous for someone like him. It might lead to considerably less recognition and far fewer opportunities in the highly competitive world of football, especially since both players vied for the same starting position.

He could very well kiss the starting position goodbye. The major concern was whether Jones would even get any minutes at all—since players as young as Sancho generally want to play in every match, whether it’s domestic cups, league games, or European fixtures. Unless Sancho was injured or in need of rest, Jones should simply forget about playing. Mike knew all too well how detrimental a lack of playing time could be, particularly for a hungry youngster.

While Mike was thinking along those lines, he didn’t factor in something—not because he couldn’t, but because he hadn’t even thought it a possibility.

The other two men did.

Mitchell, who was also hearing the news, didn’t smile like the other coaches. He simply looked to the side, and when he saw Erik ten Hag’s face—observing the unmistakable expression of his head coach—he immediately understood what the news meant.

Erik ten Hag, a coach whose dream had always been to have a young superstar coming his way, felt a mix of emotions at that moment. Although the arrival of such talent was every coach’s dream come true, he wasn’t happy. He knew that this signing would mean less game time for his chosen player—none other than Antony. Ten Hag was absolutely in love with Antony’s game. Earlier that day, he had started David over Antony in the first half, but that decision wasn’t meant to indicate a falling out; rather, it was simply a method of testing a kid who had performed very well. Antony, on his part, had also performed admirably, and throughout the season he had been planning on giving ample opportunities as both players were used. However, with Sancho’s arrival, all those arrangements were suddenly in jeopardy.

All those promises and talks of a guaranteed spot in his team now seemed to be nothing more than empty words. Ten Hag knew it was mostly just talk—just like he couldn’t touch Ronaldo, he realized that Sancho was guaranteed a starting position by the board, at least for now.

And as the weight of the situation settled in, Ten Hag couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t his team at all. Unlike Mike, who hadn’t yet thought through the full implications of the signing, Erik ten Hag was already deep in thought. With Sancho’s arrival, he was already thinking of that one more person would inevitably be dropped from the matchday squad lineup. In his mind, he knew that this extra drop wouldn’t be his own chosen player, Antony—a player whose development and playing time were so crucial to the future he had envisioned for his team.

At the exact moment Arsenal scored against Fulham, a cheer erupted from the room. "Goallll!" David shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice merging with Mohamed’s ecstatic exclamations. Their laughter and high-spirited banter filled the apartment, creating an atmosphere of pure, unfiltered joy. For a few blissful minutes, nothing mattered except the brilliant goal and the shared passion for the game.

In that instant, David felt invincible. He was already riding high on the belief that he had conquered the coach by securing a starting seat—a dream he had worked so hard for. Every training session, every moment spent proving his worth on the pitch, seemed to have led him to this triumphant point. David’s mind raced with the thought that his persistence had finally paid off and that the coach would never dare bench him again. In his eyes, the world was now his oyster, and he was ready to take on every challenge that lay ahead.

But even as the celebration continued and the echoes of "Goallll" still reverberated through the room, a subtle, almost imperceptible sense of foreboding began to creep into David’s thoughts. Deep down, amidst the laughter and the rush of adrenaline, a quiet voice warned him that the road ahead might not be as smooth as he imagined. Little did he know that this moment of euphoria would soon be overshadowed by a rude awakening—a harsh reminder that the path to greatness was often riddled with unexpected challenges and setbacks.

For now, though, in the warmth of his apartment, surrounded by the laughter of his friend and the jubilant cheers that followed the goal, David allowed himself to bask in the glory of the present moment, blissfully unaware of the trials that were quietly gathering on the horizon.

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