The roar of Old Trafford was deafening.
Red banners rippled across the stands.Cameras flashed in every direction.Chants of "Mateo! Mateo!" echoed like thunder.
And there he stood —in the center circle,wearing the legendary Manchester United No. 7 jersey for the first time.
A storm in red.
But just as the spotlight found him…his mind drifted.
A Surge of Memory
The crowd blurred.
The chants faded.
And suddenly, Mateo was no longer in Manchester—he was surrounded by the memories of all he'd left behind.
Flashback: The Final Walk Through Säbener Straße
One week earlier.
His final morning in Munich.
The halls of Bayern's training center had never felt so long.So empty.So final.
As he stepped into the locker room, his teammates looked up.
And everything paused.
Lukas was first to break the silence.
"So it's true…"
Mateo nodded.
Lukas pulled him into a hug —no jokes this time, just heart.
"Go light up the world, hermano."
Jonas, Musiala, and even veterans like Sané and Kimmich followed, offering handshakes, embraces, and words that carried more weight than any applause.
Even the assistant coach who had quietly believed in him appeared at the exit.
"You weren't too much, Mateo.They were just too small."
Flashback: Home
Back at the apartment, his mother folded his final Bayern jersey.
Her hands trembled as she held it up, tears glistening.
"Your father would be proud," she said."And I am too. Always."
Mateo wrapped her in his arms.She didn't cry loudly —she just held him tightly.
"Wherever you go, mi hijo… never forget what's inside you."
Flashback: Klara
The airport was crowded, but time felt still.
Klara stood beside him, red scarf wrapped tight, eyes swollen with held-back emotion.
She smiled —but just barely.
"Promise me something."
"Anything," Mateo whispered.
"Don't lose that fire.Don't change to fit in.Make them rise to meet you."
He kissed her forehead, then her lips.
"You're my anchor," he said."Always."
Back to the Present – Old Trafford
The crowd came back into focus.
The storm returned to his body.
The weight of the No. 7 shirt pressed into his shoulders —not as a burden,but as a promise.
The System pulsed gently:
✅ Emotional Anchor Linked
Legacy Path: Red Rebuild
Motivation Boost: ActiveFan Expectation Level: 🔥🔥🔥
"You are not stepping into a role.You are forging a throne."
Mateo raised one hand to the fans.
And smiled.