Become A Football Legend Chapter 347: Introduction (2)

A ripple of amusement went through the attendees.

Then, with a natural ease, Marmoush draped an arm around Lukas's shoulder and began to steer him through the assembled group.

"Come," he invited, "I'll give you proper introductions."

The subsequent minutes became a swift montage of handshakes and cordial greetings.

Rayan Cherki was among the first of the recent additions to welcome him.

"Wild transfer," Cherki commented as they clasped hands. "Are you prepared for all of this?"

"We'll find out."

Next was Tijjani Reijnders.

Then Savinho.

Then Doku.

Then Rico Lewis and Nico O’Reilly.

It seemed wherever Lukas looked, another world-class footballer stood ready, offering a casual welcome as if he were already one of them.

Eventually, their path led them to Erling Haaland.

The formidable striker rose slowly from his seat, stepped forward, and clapped Lukas heartily on the back.

"I hope you're ready," Haaland declared with a wide grin. "This won't be a walk in the park."

Lukas returned the smile.

"I never anticipated it would be."

Haaland gave a single, approving nod.

"Good answer."

He then gestured briefly towards Marmoush.

"By the way, Omar's been singing your praises non-stop."

Marmoush immediately offered a defense.

"Because he's good."

"You talk about him like he's your little brother," joked Bernardo Silva from a nearby position.

This elicited another wave of laughter around the room.

With each passing moment, Lukas felt a sense of ease settling over him.

The initial tension began to dissipate.

The surreal atmosphere gradually transformed into pure excitement.

And standing there, surrounded by some of the planet's elite footballers while Omar Marmoush casually guided him from one introduction to the next—

Lukas finally began to feel as though he truly belonged.

After greeting what felt like a significant portion of the squad, Marmoush paused beside another player standing towards the back of the room.

Dark hair. A composed demeanor. A familiar face.

It was İlkay Gündoğan.

For a fleeting moment, Lukas felt a sense of oddness seeing him up close in a Manchester City training kit, rather than on a television screen.

An iconic figure in the history of Manchester City, and the most accomplished German player in English football.

Marmoush flashed a grin instantly.

"There," he announced dramatically, pointing between the two. "Germany is finally reunited."

A few players nearby chuckled at the remark.

Haaland immediately joined in the jest.

"Finally," he added. "Ilkay has another German compatriot. He's been lonely."

Gündoğan lightly rolled his eyes. "I was managing just fine."

"No," corrected Bernardo Silva, speaking from behind them. "You kept insisting we listen to German music in the gym."

"That happened only once."

"Three times," interjected Doku.

The room erupted in laughter once more.

Gündoğan then stepped forward, extending his hand towards Lukas.

"It’s good to finally meet you properly."

Lukas grasped his hand without hesitation.

"You too."

This marked their first genuine conversation, despite both now being German internationals. Gündoğan had not participated in the most recent national team gathering, so their paths had never truly crossed beyond brief acknowledgments in the media and football circles.

In person, Gündoğan carried himself precisely as Lukas had envisioned.

Calm. Astute. Deliberate.

He possessed an aura that instantly settled a room without any ostentatious display of dominance.

"You caused quite a bit of trouble for Portugal," Gündoğan remarked, a subtle smile playing on his lips.

Lukas let out a light laugh. "That match got a bit chaotic."

"A bit?"

Even Gündoğan's smile widened genuinely at that.

Marmoush was eventually summoned by a staff member and, after a final pat on Lukas's shoulder, departed.

"See you later," he called out. "Try not to get too roughed up on your first day."

"No promises," Savinho piped up immediately.

As the room began to gradually clear out, Gündoğan gestured towards the hallway.

"Come," he offered. "I'll escort you to your room."

Lukas walked alongside him, while João, Joanna, Aaron, and Javi remained behind for a short while, conversing with some of the staff.

The hotel corridor was significantly quieter now, a stark contrast to the boisterous conference room.

For a few moments, they walked in comfortable silence.

Then, Gündoğan broke the quiet.

"You made the correct decision by coming here."

Lukas turned his head slightly towards him.

"You believe so?"

"I know so."

His conviction was unwavering, without a trace of doubt.

Gündoğan kept his hands tucked into his pockets as they proceeded.

"This club..." he began slowly, searching for the precise words, "...it transforms players if they permit themselves to be transformed."

Lukas listened attentively.

"You already possess the talent," Gündoğan continued. "Everyone can see that. But here, particularly under Pep, you absorb nuances you never even knew existed."

He glanced briefly at Lukas.

"Positioning. Tempo. How you orient your body. When to make your decisions. Knowing when to accelerate and when to ease the pace. You'll start seeing it clearly within a few weeks."

Lukas absorbed his words, nodding slowly.

That was precisely the reason he had sought out this conversation.

Gündoğan, perceiving the look on Lukas's face, offered a faint smile.

"You're feeling excited, aren't you?"

Lukas chuckled softly. "A little bit."

"Just a little?" Gündoğan playfully echoed, his eyes twinkling with understanding.

Another laugh escaped Lukas at the gentle teasing.

Gündoğan's demeanor then shifted, becoming more candid.

"You realize," he began, "the pressure here is immense. Those outside the club often imagine it's effortless because City achieves frequent victories. But that very success is precisely what makes it so demanding. Every single match carries significant weight. A single misstep is dissected online, and any draw is immediately branded a crisis."

Lukas nodded, fully comprehending the sentiment.

Marco had indeed provided him with a similar warning previously.

"However, if you manage to endure it," Gündoğan continued, his voice filled with conviction, "you emerge from it stronger than you were before."

They continued walking, navigating another bend in the corridor.

"And truthfully," Gündoğan added, "Pep holds you in high regard. It's quite evident."

Lukas instinctively scratched the back of his neck, a subtle acknowledgment.

"I had a feeling," Lukas replied.

Gündoğan let out a quiet laugh.

"I haven't witnessed him discuss a young player with such enthusiasm in a very long time."

That particular statement resonated with Lukas more deeply than the preceding ones.

Eventually, they arrived at the level where Lukas's assigned room was located.

Before parting ways, Gündoğan paused near the door.

"We'll be training tomorrow morning," he informed Lukas. "You should come and observe, even though you're not cleared to play yet."

Lukas agreed without hesitation.

"Absolutely."

Gündoğan offered a final, encouraging pat on Lukas's shoulder.

"Excellent," he said. "Get some proper rest now. Welcome to Manchester City."

* * *

The following morning, on June 17th, the Manchester City team arrived at Lincoln Financial Field for their final, light training session in preparation for the opening Club World Cup fixture.

Even in the early hours, the heat in Philadelphia was palpable.

The sun already blazed high in the sky, casting its intense rays down upon the recently laid FIFA-standard grass, which had replaced the usual NFL turf specifically for the tournament. Groundskeeper personnel were still bustling around the periphery of the pitch, making final adjustments, while sprinklers intermittently misted sections of the field with fine arcs of water.

Lukas emerged from the tunnel with the rest of the squad, clad in the club's official training attire.

The sleeveless, sky-blue Puma training top fit snugly against his skin in the warmth, complemented by dark shorts and pristine white socks pulled up just below the knee. He briefly crouched down to adjust the laces on his football boots before standing upright again, taking in the full scope of the stadium.

Tier upon tier of empty seats rose around them.

Yet, even sparsely populated, the venue exuded an imposing scale.

A small contingent of journalists and club media personnel were positioned near the sidelines, while cameras whirred discreetly from a distance, capturing the scene.

This marked Lukas's inaugural training session as a member of Manchester City.