Five minutes went by like nothing.
And soon, a staff member gestured toward the coach, mouthing that it was time.
Arteta gave a small whistle and waved a hand.
"Alright, lads, let's go," he called, his voice firm but not sharp.
"And thank you for coming to watch us," he said to the fans beyond the players before gesturing to his men to enter the bus.
One by one, the players broke off from the line, leaving the fans with a few last selfies, a couple of signed shirts, before turning back toward the waiting coaches.
The fans cheered louder as they climbed aboard, the sound following them all the way to the doors.
Izan was one of the last to get on, still smiling from a final photo with a young Madrid supporter who had swapped his white scarf for a red one.
Then the doors shut with a hiss, the engine rumbled to life, and the coaches began to roll away into the night.
.....
