The Next Big Thing
Chapter 99: Internet frenzy

Chapter 99: Internet frenzy

David stepped into the stadium, his eyes immediately flicking to the scoreboard. A grin spread across his face. Yes! Manchester United is winning! The thought filled him with excitement as he shifted his gaze to the pitch below.

But the moment he did, his heart plummeted.

Sergio Agüero had just dribbled past De Gea. And now—no, no, no, no!—Agüero was staring at an open net.

David’s breath hitched. His grip on the railing tightened as his good leg wobbled slightly beneath him. He could already see the ball hitting the back of the net, the celebrations, the heartbreak—this can’t be happening.

Then, out of nowhere, a blur of red sprinted across the box. David’s pulse pounded in his ears as he leaned forward, barely breathing.

Who—?

Harry Maguire. The captain.

With perfect timing, Maguire launched into a desperate slide, his right leg stretching out—come on, come on!—and just before the ball could cross the line, he cleared it away.

For a split second, silence.

Then David exploded.

"FUCK YEAH!" he roared, his voice raw, filled with every ounce of relief and exhilaration surging through him.

David remained glued to the action, his eyes tracking the ball as it soared into the air before landing safely in David De Gea’s hands. The goalkeeper had just picked himself up after that humiliating dribble by Agüero, but instead of slowing the game down, he immediately launched a counter.

With a sharp throw, De Gea sent the ball straight to the middle, where Paul Pogba controlled it effortlessly. The moment the ball touched Pogba’s feet, Rashford and Martial took off, sprinting forward—they already knew what was coming. Pogba had a knack for splitting defenses apart, sometimes even better than Bruno Fernandes, who had made the first incisive pass.

And Pogba didn’t disappoint.

Without hesitation, he struck the ball with power, sending it soaring through the air. It was moving fast—really fast. David’s eyes snapped to Rashford, who had made a perfectly timed run, completely free.

Where’s the left-back? The thought barely had time to form before excitement took over. Yes, Rashford! This is your goal. Just control it, move forward a little, dribble past their keeper, and slot it in—avenge De Gea!

David could already picture exactly what he would have done in Rashford’s position. But instead of taking a touch, Rashford went for the spectacular.

A first-time volley.

David leaned forward, his pulse hammering as the ball rocketed toward the goal.

Please—

Ederson reacted just in time, punching the ball away for a corner.

"Shit... fuck," David muttered under his breath, his frustration clear as he bowed his head, running his hands through his hair. He had almost celebrated too early.

Bruno Fernandes stepped up to take the corner, whipping the ball into the box. Nemanja Matić rose highest, meeting it with a strong header—but the ball fell straight into Ederson’s hands.

The game’s tempo shifted. City slowed things down, passing the ball around to regain control while United pressed hard, trying to win it back.

David finally took a seat in the stands, a wide grin spreading across his face. He had always been emotional about football—not just playing it, but watching it too. He loved the game. And this? This was football at its best.

In just three minutes, he had witnessed an open-net shot, a goal-line clearance, a lightning-fast counterattack, a stunning volley, and an incredible save. And the best part? It was his club—Manchester United—playing. Winning.

But United wasn’t just the club he supported anymore.

It was his team now.

Very soon, he saw himself wearing that same jersey, running down those same flanks. The thought sent a surge of excitement through him.

I can’t wait.

David sat there, completely oblivious to the chaos he had just sparked online.

Meanwhile, in the commentary booth, Peter Drury had just finished a quick conversation with his producers and broadcast team. Adjusting his headset, he spoke with his signature poetic flair.

"What an incredible volley from Marcus Rashford! And what an even more incredible save from Ederson! This match is turning into a classic—both teams refusing to let the other breathe."

He took a sip from his water bottle before continuing.

"But now, it seems Manchester City has decided to slow things down, taking the sting out of the game, playing at their own tempo instead of engaging in the end-to-end frenzy we’ve seen so far."

Then, as new information trickled into his earpiece, his voice took on a note of intrigue.

"Also, we’ve just gotten confirmation—do you see that young man in the stands? Yes, the kid right there. That is David Jones, one of Manchester United’s summer signings from Derby County. The very same Derby County coached by former Manchester United captain and legend, Wayne Rooney—a man many speculate played a key role in facilitating the transfer."

"Jones is just 16 years old, and despite carrying an injury from his last match—where he scored twice in the first half against Millwall—he’s here, supporting his new team."

Drury let the moment linger before adding,

"And if you watched Manchester United’s last FA Cup fixture here at Old Trafford, you might already be familiar with him. That night, playing for his former club, Derby County, he scored and won a penalty against United—a performance that surely caught the eye of those at Carrington."

His tone grew even more animated.

"A highly talented youngster, United reportedly paid £13.5 million ($18 million at the time) to secure his signature. With 14 goals and 7 assists in just 15 professional matches, you can see why they were willing to invest. That fee makes him the second most expensive 16-year-old signing in European football history, just behind Pietro Pellegri’s €25 million ($28.5 million) move to AS Monaco in 2018. But in England? He’s the most expensive teenager in his age bracket, surpassing Liverpool’s signing of Harvey Elliott for £4.5 million in 2019."

A slight pause, then Drury chuckled.

The camera zoomed in on David, capturing the exact moment he reacted comically to yet another stunning save from Ederson. The Brazilian keeper seemed unstoppable tonight, and David, fully immersed in the game, couldn’t help but express his disbelief in an exaggerated fashion.

Drury smiled. "Well, if there’s one thing you can’t doubt, it’s his passion for the team."

While Drury continued breaking down David’s background, the internet was already ablaze.