Signing David Beckham was never going to be a quiet affair.
New Manchester United had deliberately tried to keep the deal low-key, but it still attracted enormous media attention.
Newton Heath was surrounded by reporters.
Cameras were pointed at almost everyone entering or leaving the training ground.
For journalists covering the club, memorising the first-team squad had suddenly become essential.
Names.
Faces.
Habits.
Who arrived with whom.
Who spoke to whom.
Who ignored whom.
After all, they would need material for the inevitable stories about which players supposedly disliked Beckham, who resented his wages, or who was trying to freeze him out of the dressing room.
Some newspapers even began doing Ethan's transfer accounting for him.
Senna's move had brought in £6 million.
Juninho had joined Real Madrid for £14 million.
Hleb had gone to Barcelona for £15 million.
That meant £35 million in transfer income from three players.
What about spending?
Beckham had cost £18 million.
Maicon's transfer was reportedly worth only around £1 million, and that deal had effectively been arranged well in advance.
On paper, New Manchester United had actually made a substantial profit from their summer business so far.
With changes to Premier League transfer regulations allowing more clubs to structure deals in instalments, the newspapers began inventing targets for Ethan.
One of the names mentioned was Li Tie, who was involved in a transfer dispute with Everton.
The logic was simple enough.
Senna had left.
New Manchester United might therefore need another defensive midfielder.
The most persistent rumour, however, concerned Everton's Wayne Rooney.
At the same time, other newspapers went in the opposite direction.
They claimed that New Manchester United needed to raise money for the new stadium and would therefore be forced to sell more stars.
Kaká.
Curtis.
Terry.
Almost anyone important was suddenly linked with a move away.
The club refused to respond.
Ethan had long understood how those stories worked.
The more you denied them, the longer they survived.
Ignore them, and eventually the newspapers would move on to something else.
Unfortunately, the rumours still affected some of the players inside the club.
...
Ishmael Miller, Lionel Messi, John Obi Mikel, and Michael Johnson all lived near Newton Heath.
The youth team's preseason schedule began one day before the first team's, so the four of them arranged to arrive together early that morning.
They were among the most highly rated prospects in New Manchester United's academy.
Other clubs had already shown interest in all four.
None of them wanted to leave.
Ishmael and Messi, however, had become increasingly nervous because of the transfer rumours.
Both had made a handful of first-team appearances near the end of the previous season.
But that had been in the First Division.
Now New Manchester United were in the Premier League.
They had signed Beckham.
And the newspapers were claiming that Ethan was also pursuing Wayne Rooney, one of the most highly rated young players in England.
That inevitably created pressure.
Had the club changed its plans for them?
Would they still get opportunities?
"Look at this."
Ishmael glanced towards the mass of reporters outside the training ground.
"They're all here because of Beckham and Rooney."
There was a trace of bitterness in his voice.
He had made several first-team appearances the previous season and scored three goals.
That had made him believe he might become a permanent member of the senior squad.
He did not expect to start regularly.
He simply wanted enough minutes to keep developing.
But if New Manchester United really signed Rooney, Ishmael feared his path would disappear completely.
"Don't worry about it," Messi said.
"Mr. Yu always says the academy matters to the club.
"They're not just going to forget about us."
He was trying to reassure Ishmael.
In truth, Messi was worried too.
The reporters recognised them immediately.
Several photographers rushed closer.
Messi and the others were so startled that they hurried inside the reception building and disappeared towards the training facilities.
The academy's U19 squad was due to travel to Argentina for preseason training.
They would also play several friendlies against local clubs.
Messi had been looking forward to the trip for weeks.
It meant going home.
When they reached the academy dressing-room area, they found a squad list pinned beside the entrance.
It contained the names of every player selected for the Argentina trip.
Several academy players were already standing around it.
Some were delighted.
Others clearly disappointed.
Messi and Ishmael expected to see their names.
Both had been key academy players.
Both had already appeared for the first team.
Michael Johnson and Mikel expected to be selected too.
But as Messi scanned down the list, from goalkeepers to defenders, midfielders, and forwards, he froze.
His name wasn't there.
Neither was Ishmael's.
Michael Johnson had been selected.
So had Mikel.
"What?"
Messi stared at the sheet again.
"What's going on?"
He checked it twice.
Then a third time.
Still nothing.
Beside him, Ishmael's expression had also changed completely.
Only minutes earlier they had been talking about first-team opportunities.
Now both felt as though the ground had disappeared beneath them.
"Mr. Meulensteen said anyone who isn't on the list will stay here and train," one of the selected players explained.
Then another academy player lowered his voice.
"Maybe the transfer rumours are true.
"Maybe you're both being sold."
There had indeed been reports that several clubs had made approaches for Messi and Ishmael.
Could New Manchester United actually have accepted one?
"Don't listen to that," Michael Johnson said immediately.
"Leo, Ishmael, there's no way."
Mikel nodded.
"Exactly.
"Maybe they just left your names off by mistake."
At that moment, Curtis walked out from the first-team area.
He noticed the four of them gathered around the noticeboard and came over.
"What's wrong, Leo?"
Ishmael had never been especially close to Curtis despite the latter being vice-captain.
He merely snorted and looked away.
Michael Johnson answered instead.
"They weren't selected for Argentina."
Curtis looked surprised.
"Neither of them?"
Johnson shook his head.
"Leo's been looking forward to going back for weeks.
"Now both of them are staying here.
"Do you think..."
He stopped.
Nobody needed him to finish.
Sold?
Loaned out?
Curtis shook his head immediately.
"I haven't heard anything."
But he was only vice-captain.
He did not know every decision made by the club's management.
After thinking for a moment, Curtis decided there was only one sensible thing to do.
"Come on.
"I just saw the boss arrive.
"We'll ask him."
The younger players immediately followed.
Curtis often spoke with Ethan about first-team matters.
As vice-captain, he had gradually become one of the links between the dressing room and ownership.
Mourinho was normally involved in those discussions too.
Both Ethan and Curtis respected the manager's authority and never tried to go around him on football matters.
After checking with Ethan's secretary, Curtis knocked on the office door.
A voice told them to enter.
Curtis walked in with Messi, Ishmael, Michael Johnson, and Mikel behind him.
Ethan looked up.
His eyebrows rose.
"What's this?
"Why have all of you come to see me?"
He seemed to be in a good mood.
Curtis went straight to the desk.
"Boss, are you selling Leo and Ishmael?"
Ethan stared at him.
"What?"
Then he frowned.
"Who told you that?
"Those reporters outside?"
Nobody answered.
That was answer enough.
"Ridiculous."
Curtis immediately relaxed slightly.
"But then why aren't they going to Argentina?
"Michael and John are on the squad list.
"Leo and Ishmael aren't."
Now Ethan understood.
The list.
So that was what had caused all this.
He hid a smile.
Then deliberately adopted a reluctant expression.
"Fine.
"I suppose there's no point hiding it anymore.
"Yes, we're arranging transfers for Leo and Ishmael.
"And neither of them gets to refuse."
Curtis's expression changed instantly.
"What?"
He was genuinely angry now.
The club constantly talked about youth development.
About protecting academy players.
About building around talent produced at Newton Heath.
And now they were apparently selling two of their best prospects?
Had Messi and Ishmael not done enough?
Ethan sighed dramatically.
"I don't have a choice, Curtis.
"You have to understand."
Messi's face fell.
Ishmael looked furious.
Before either could speak, Ethan continued.
"We signed Beckham, yes.
"But we've also sold several first-team players.
"The senior squad is short of numbers.
"José told me he needed reinforcements.
"What was I supposed to do?"
He paused.
"So Leo and Ishmael are being transferred."
Then Ethan finally grinned.
"From the academy to the first team."
For several seconds, nobody reacted.
Messi blinked.
Ishmael stared at him.
Curtis looked completely lost.
Then it clicked.
"You..."
Ethan burst out laughing.
Curtis swore under his breath and started laughing too.
Messi and Ishmael were so excited they almost jumped.
Michael Johnson and Mikel stood beside them with obvious envy.
Although Messi and Ishmael had already made first-team appearances the previous season, they had still officially belonged to the academy.
Now that was changing.
They were being promoted permanently.
They would train with Mourinho's senior squad.
Travel to Ireland.
And begin the new season as first-team players.
Ethan looked at Messi.
"Although, Leo, I heard you were desperate to go back to Argentina.
"Maybe I should speak to José.
"We could let you travel with the academy instead and promote somebody else."
Messi's eyes widened.
He shook his head so quickly that everyone started laughing again.
"No!
"No, boss.
"I'm going to Ireland.
"I don't need to go to Argentina."
That only made the room laugh harder.
Once things settled down, Ethan looked at the four young players standing in front of him.
They represented the club's future.
Players developed inside Newton Heath.
Players growing up inside the tactical and technical system New Manchester United had spent years building.
Players who belonged to the club in a way no transfer signing ever completely could.
"You need to trust me," Ethan said.
"I've never broken a promise I've made to you.
"This academy is one of the most valuable things this club owns.
"And the players coming through it matter just as much."
He placed a hand on Messi's shoulder, then Ishmael's.
"You're still young.
"You still need time.
"You still need coaching.
"But we'll protect your development.
"This club is your home."
Then he looked towards Michael Johnson and Mikel.
"And that applies to you two as well.
"Keep working.
"Earn your chance.
"Get yourselves into the first team."
Both nodded immediately.
For all four teenagers, the message mattered.
The club had not forgotten them.
They were still part of the plan.
Whatever rumours appeared in the newspapers, Newton Heath still believed in its own players.
The weight that had been pressing on Messi and Ishmael disappeared completely.
Their futures had been settled.
Now all they wanted to do was train harder and prove that the promotion had been deserved.
Neither expected to become a regular starter immediately.
They understood that perfectly well.
They were only sixteen.
There was still a long road ahead.
And their futures were only beginning.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)