From Reject to Legend

With the score locked at 1–1, the atmosphere inside the Etihad remained tense and electric. The goal from Adriano had shifted momentum toward Manchester City, but United weren't backing down. Both managers stood on the edge of their technical areas, shouting instructions, aware that one lapse—or one moment of brilliance—could decide everything.

In the 55th minute, Moyes made his first move.

Juan Mata, who had shown flashes of creativity in the first half but had drifted in and out of the game, was withdrawn. On came Radamel Falcao, the Colombian striker hoping to use his pace and instinct to stretch the game.

United now lined up in a more aggressive 4-4-2, with Rooney dropping into midfield alongside Herrera, while Di Maria and Young supported Falcao and Van Persie up front.

Pellegrini quickly responded.

Casemiro, who had worked hard defensively but picked up a knock, made way for David Silva. The Spaniard received a loud cheer from the City fans, having passed a late fitness test to make the bench. With Silva slotting in, Adriano dropped slightly deeper into a dual playmaker role—both creators now orchestrating the flow of City's attack from just behind Aguero.

The change immediately brought a shift in rhythm.

In the 57th minute, City built a crisp passing sequence down the left. Silva, finding space between the lines, fed Eden Hazard with a sharp diagonal pass. Hazard darted past Antonio Valencia with a quick step-over and burst of pace, reaching the byline.

He whipped in a low, dangerous ball across the six-yard box.

Aguero lunged, trying to redirect it with his left foot—but the ball skipped under him. He took an extra touch, trying to recover, but by then Jonny Evans had scrambled back and cleared. The crowd groaned in unison.

Martin Tyler: "Hazard did everything right… and Aguero, you'd back him to score there nine times out of ten. Just didn't sort his feet out."

Alan Smith: "You can feel City growing, though. That front four is starting to click—Adriano's finding pockets of space, Silva's seeing the angles. Even the unknown Salah is showing promise, It's dangerous for United."

From the restart, United responded with urgency.

Di Maria collected the ball just inside his own half and turned quickly, surging forward. He skipped past Silva, then evaded Kolarov with a drop of the shoulder. In open space now, he played a quick one-two with Rooney and drove straight down the center.

City's defense scrambled to close him down. Kompany stepped up—but Di Maria had already released the ball, slipping a clever pass to Van Persie just outside the box.

Van Persie, with a single touch, dinked a perfect through ball between Hummels and Kolarov.

Ander Herrera raced onto it and hit it first time with his right foot, aiming low and hard toward the near post.

Martin Tyler: " Dangerous through ball. Herrera with a chance—!"

Joe Hart dove to his right at full stretch, getting a strong glove to the ball and pushing it wide. The rebound fell to Falcao, but Kolarov reached it first, poking it out for a corner.

Martin Tyler: "JOE HART AGAIN! Another Tremendous save from him Keeps City level!"

Alan Smith: "That's three big saves tonight already. You can't understate his role in keeping United at bay. That's why he's still here after massive overhaul of squad."

United fans roared in the away section, holding their heads in disbelief. Falcao looked up at the sky, arms raised in frustration. On the sidelines, Moyes clenched his jaw, muttering to Giggs.

The corner was taken quickly, Di Maria floating it to the far post. Chris Smalling met it with a looping header, but it sailed over the bar.

The game was now played at a frenetic pace. End to end.

City took the lead in attack in the 59th minute after another quick break. Silva again found Adriano in space on the right. Adriano waited for Zabaleta's overlap and fed him perfectly down the wing. Zabaleta, without breaking stride, crossed into the middle.

Aguero and Silva both attacked it. The ball glanced off Silva's shoulder, falling awkwardly in front of Adriano again, who tried a half-volley from 18 yards—but it clipped Herrera and went just wide.

Corner for City.

The Etihad crowd was rising to its feet with every forward movement, voices building with expectation. In the directors' box, Khaldoon Al Mubarak leaned forward, tapping his fingers against the railing. Kate stood frozen in the VIP box, hands clasped, eyes never leaving Adriano.

The corner was delivered in the box by De Bruyne, but cleared away by De Gea who rushed forward. The crowd gasped in disappointment.

On the other end, United remained dangerous.

In the 60th minute, with City pressing high, United tried to launch a quick counter.

Di Maria again was the outlet, taking a pass from Rooney in midfield and turning upfield. But this time, before he could pick his head up, Kompany flew in with a sliding challenge near the halfway line.

THUD.

Di Maria went down hard. The ball was poked away cleanly, but the follow-through caught Di Maria's ankle. United players swarmed the referee.

Wayne Rooney was livid, yelling at the fourth official. Ashley Young got in the ref's face. Herrera waved an imaginary card. Kompany stood firm, hands on hips, calmly explaining it was ball first.

The referee reached into his pocket and showed yellow.

Martin Tyler: "That's going to be yellow for Kompany. It was strong… maybe too strong."

Alan Smith: "He got the ball, no doubt—but the force was excessive. You make contact like that with the trailing leg, you give the referee a decision."

Di Maria limped to his feet after treatment, wincing but able to continue.

The yellow card ignited both sets of fans.

United supporters booed every City touch for the next two minutes. The home crowd responded with loud chants of "Come on City!" every time they regained possession.

From the free kick, United nearly carved another chance. Rooney floated the ball toward Falcao at the edge of the box. The Colombian rose above Demichelis, flicking it backwards into Van Persie's path—but his touch was too heavy, and Hart was quick off his line to smother.

In the 63rd minute, City surged forward once more. The match had become a mixture of noise and tension, and the pressure was building with every pass. Adriano, now floating in the space between midfield and attack, was pulling the strings like a seasoned maestro.

He dropped deeper to collect a short pass from Casemiro, took one glance over his shoulder, and flicked a delicious outside-foot ball down the left channel. It curved perfectly into the path of Silva.

The crowd rose with expectation.

Silva wasted no time. He cut inside sharply, breezing past Rafael with a trademark shift of weight that left the fullback stumbling. He drove toward the box, drew Smalling forward, and threaded a low pass across the face of goal.

Hazard ran over the ball with a brilliant dummy, freezing Phil Jones and wrong-footing De Gea.

Aguero arrived on cue.

He took it in stride and tried to wrap his right foot around the shot—but Smalling lunged across and got just enough of a block to deflect it wide. The ball spun up awkwardly, bouncing out toward the top of the penalty area.

The Etihad collectively held its breath.

Adriano was there.

He had timed his run perfectly, arriving late at the edge of the box with no marker in sight. As the ball came his way, he let it bounce once. Then he struck it clean, first-time—right foot, rising shot.

The connection was pure.

The ball whistled over the bar by mere inches.

Gasps echoed across the stadium.

Alan Smith: "He's running everywhere, isn't he? Adriano's influence is growing by the minute. Always in the right place."

Martin Tyler: "You just feel it—another moment is coming in this match. Neither side wants to settle. This is more than just a match now. It's a battle for pride… and showing their might."

United restarted quickly, but it was clear—City were taking over the tempo.

The pace of the match reached a new level. Players flew into tackles. The midfield turned into a minefield—every step came with a collision. Rooney and Casemiro had a brief shove after a rough challenge. Di Maria was clipped twice in a span of a minute.

Referee Michael Oliver let most of it go, sensing the crowd wanted the fire to keep burning.

The Etihad shook with every movement. The noise never dropped. Flags waved in the stands. Fans yelled instructions like they were on the touchline.

Then came the moment.

In the 67th minute, It began with a misplayed pass from Rooney, too heavy for Herrera. Silva was quickest—he pounced, slid in, and won the ball cleanly, sending Herrera sprawling.

The ball rolled straight to Adriano.

He didn't even pause.

With one touch, he turned, head up, and accelerated.

Shouts erupted from the United bench.

Herrera lunged to recover—but it was too late. Adriano stepped right through his challenge. Shaw stepped up next, trying to block his angle. Adriano shifted the ball across with a little flick and twist,and kept moving as if they were invisible. Fans stood up in anticipation, sensing something waa coming.

Aguero made the run just ahead of him.

Adriano slid it square to his feet—one-two.

Aguero knocked it to Hazard on the left. Hazard had just enough room to lay it off first-time, curling it back toward the middle.

Adriano was there again , right at the Edge of the box. The Ball rolling into his path with No one within reach. He gently dodged De Gea who rushed ahead and it was only an open post. But rather than tapping it in, Adriano turned around, shifting the ball to back of his feet. Some United fans closed their eyes in pain, already knowing what was coming.

He took one touch to set it. Another to shoot.

A Low Driven, Clinical back heel. One similar to his goal against Germany in world cup.

The ball skidded across the turf and lasered into the bottom right corner. De Gea dove desperately at his feet again, full stretch—but it was gone before he could reach it.

The stadium erupted in cheers that shook the foundation of it.

GOAAAAALLLL!!! 2–1 to Manchester City!

Once again, Adriano has scored for City to turn this match around! He has scored in style!

Martin Tyler (voice rising):"ADRIANO! AGAIN! He's only been on the pitch about fifteen minutes—and he's flipped the derby on its head! The fan in Etihad are losing their mind! What a goal! Almost poetic as the one one he scored in Brazil world cup. That stare down as he basically declared 'I'm about to score, and there's nothing you can do to stop me' gave me shivers Alan."

Alan Smith (in disbelief):"That's just elite level composure, Martin. That's cold-blooded and ruthless finishing, while still displaying elegance. You give him a half-chance, and he buries it. He's on another level. No wonder he's being considered as the the face of the next generation."

Adriano turned, arms wide, with a small grin, as his teammates rushed toward him. He sprinted to the corner flag, dropped to his knees in the turf, sliding across the grass with his arms stretched like wings.

Then—he reached up with both hands, grabbed an imaginary crown from his head… and tossed it into the roaring crowd.

The response was instant.

The Etihad exploded.

Hazard tackled him from the side. De Bruyne followed, leaping on his back. Aguero yelled, " You showed them alright!" In his ear, laughing. Even Kompany and Hummels jogged up from center-back, clapping, giving him a firm slap on the shoulder and muttering something that made Adriano grin.

On the sidelines, Pellegrini stood still. Calm as ever. But his lips curled into a proud, approving smile. He turned to his bench and muttered something under his breath—but it was his eyes that gave him away. They gleamed.

In the gallery, Kate stood with both hands covering her mouth, wide-eyed, overwhelmed. Then she smiled, wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, and clapped slowly. The noise was deafening, but for a moment, it all felt personal.

The fans took over. A chant roared from every corner of the stadium—clear, powerful, and full of belief.

"THE KING HAS ARRIVED!"

Over and over.

They didn't care it was only his debut. They didn't care he'd only just come on. They saw what they needed to see. And so did the rest of the world.

At the 70th minute, Pellegrini decided to gamble and replace Aguero with the young Harry Kane. Kane burst into the pitch with raw energy, eagerly chasing the ball, determined to make his mark.

Then, in the 74th minute, it happened again.

Another magical moment.Another flash of brilliance from the man who had already set the night ablaze.

Manchester City were holding possession patiently, probing United's lines for an opening. The game had slowed for just a few seconds—just enough for everyone to catch their breath. Zabaleta played it square to Kompany, who sent a calm diagonal to Adriano, positioned in a central pocket nearly 35 yards from goal.

He controlled it instantly, soft touch off the instep, and turned into space.

No one stepped up immediately.Carrick hesitated. Herrera waited.

Adriano didn't.

He feinted left, then sliced right—his movement fluid, gliding more than running. Carrick lunged, but was left clutching air. Herrera stepped up, only to be danced around with a smooth body feint and a quick drop of the shoulder.

The Etihad sensed something. The crowd leaned forward.

Now Smalling and Rojo stepped forward from the backline, eyes on the ball, both trying to close the angle. But Adriano had already scanned the field. He knew exactly where Kane was, lingering just off the shoulder of the last defender.

And then—out of nowhere—a flash of genius.

Adriano slipped the ball through the narrowest of channels, threading it between Rojo's trailing leg and Smalling's boot. It wasn't just a pass—it was Surgical. Weighted to perfection.

The kind of ball that is just begging to be scored.

Kane burst through the gap, latched onto it in stride, and faced De Gea.

No hesitation. No second touch.

Just composure.

He spotted the keeper coming out, and with a delicate flick of his right foot, lifted it over him—soft, cold, perfect.

The ball floated in an arc.

Time slowed. De Gea twisted in mid-air, reaching backwards helplessly.

And then…

The net rippled.

Gooooaaalllll! 3–1 to Manchester City ! Harry Kane puts City in the absolute advantage!

The Etihad exploded. Again.

Martin Tyler (voice full of awe):"Harry Kane! That's a wonderful finish from the youngster who also scored in his his debut, and That assist… that vision… was otherworldly. Adriano reminds us once again he is not just a goal scorer, he's equally deadly in setting them up! Manchester City has discovered so many hidden gems aside from their high spending superstars."

Alan Smith (chuckling in disbelief):"You see a pass like that once a season, Martin. Once. Maybe. And we're seeing it here… on opening night. This lad is on a different plane. Congratulations to Young Harry Kane, who has just come on and turned the game the upside down."

Kane didn't sprint to the crowd this time.

He stood near the byline, facing the South Stand, and smiled.

Then, with exaggerated flair, he raised both hands to his head and mimed placing a crown.

Just like Adriano had.

The crowd roared with laughter, clapping, some even mimicking it themselves.

Kane pointed straight back at the man in the middle of it all—Adriano, still standing near the top of the box, hands on hips, chest rising and falling with calm pride. He yelled, " I kept my promise." And grinned, making Adriano chuckle and come forward to give him a hug.

Hazard ran up to hug Kane, laughing as he joined the celebration. De Bruyne jogged over, yelling something in Flemish before switching to English just to say: "That was fire, mate! Absolute Fire!" Salah joined from the other side, grinning, " You made your mark alright."

Even on the United bench, Ryan Giggs shook his head slightly, eyes narrowed, whispering something to Moyes.

But it was Pellegrini who said nothing and everything at once. He simply turned to Brian Kidd on the bench and nodded with a smile.

No words needed.

In the stands, fans were singing now—louder, freer. The nervous tension from earlier was gone. What remained was belief. Joy. A sense of witnessing something special.

A star was rising—and he wasn't just fitting in.

He was leading.

After the third goal, the game didn't slow. If anything, it shifted into a new gear.

Manchester United, stunned but not broken, threw everything they had left into the attack.

Moyes waved them forward from the sideline, barking instructions. Falcao pushed higher. Di Maria drifted centrally, desperate to get more touches. Even Shaw began overlapping with real urgency, throwing caution to the wind.

But City were ready.

They dropped deeper, compacting the midfield. Kompany and Hummels barked orders, moving as one. Casemiro dug in at the base of midfield like a trench soldier, intercepting loose balls, timing his tackles. Zabaleta, bloodied and bruised from an earlier knock, charged every loose ball like it was his last.

The Etihad was boiling with excitement.

United passed and pressed, trying to find a gap. But there were none.

Not without risk.

Because every time they pushed bodies forward, one man waited. One man they feared more than anyone else on that pitch.

Adriano.

Now marked tightly, doubled even. Rojo clung to his side. Carrick shadowed him like a ghost. But still—he managed to find his way. Always thinking, always scanning. Dropping deeper to touch the ball. Popping up wide to create space. Flicks, feints, shoulder drops—he never stood still. The crowd cheered each time he touched the ball.

In the 80th minute, he almost broke through once again.

De Bruyne fed him with a clever pass near the halfway line. Adriano turned, accelerated. Rojo grabbed his shirt. Carrick clipped his heel. Both fouled him—and still he surged forward by cleverly jumping over them.

His sudden twist made Rojo fall towards Carrick, who awkwardly moved away to avoid the collision. Adriano slipped by by them like they were youth academy players.

He slipped the ball to Hazard on the left, kept running into space. Hazard returned the pass.

Adriano was through the line again.

The Etihad held its breath.

But Smalling lunged with a desperate sliding tackle at the edge of the box. He got a toe on it—just enough to deflect Adriano's shot wide.

Martin Tyler:"He's still breaking them open! They know he's coming and they still can't stop him! Despite looking more sturdy than his previous lean built, he hasn't lost his speed at all."

Alan Smith:"They're just fouling him now, Martin. They're terrified. The moment he turns… they panic. And his body is durable enough to withstand their tackles. I wonder what this means for the rest of the league."

By now, Adriano had become more than a player.

He was a presence.

Every time he touched the ball, everyone could feel the electricity. The murmurs, the rising pitch in the crowd. Even the United fans sat in silence, watching him like a storm they couldn't predict.

And then, in the 85th minute, the stadium nearly exploded again.

Hazard collected a clearance and danced around Rafael. He laid it off to Silva, who chipped a delicate ball over the top.

Adriano timed his run to perfection.

One touch to control it mid-air. Another to set.

And then—he let fly.

A low, venomous drive toward the far post.

De Gea moved—full stretch, diagonal dive.His fingers barely tapped the ball.

Saved!

The ball deflected wide, glancing the post.

Adriano stood with hands on his hips and shook his head with a wry smile, then gave a small nod. Respect. He knew that was close.

Alan Smith (amazed):"My word. That's the save of the season already. De Gea has been excellent tonight despite the 3 goals conceded . This goes to show dangerous City's attack has become."

Martin Tyler:"How's he kept that out?! De Gea—world class. Absolutely world class. He has stopped Adriano's hat-trick on his debut. Even Adriano gave him a nod of respect."

United had some life left. But barely. Time was draining out fast—and they knew it. They needed to pull another classic Manchestar United comeback.

In the 90th minute, Di Maria, almost out of options, took matters into his own hands. He picked up the ball near the left flank, cut inside past Zabaleta, then let fly from 30 yards.

The crowd gasped.

But the ball rose—just over.

Joe Hart tracked it with wide eyes, thankful to see it miss.

United weren't done.

In the 93rd minute, their last breath.

Valencia surged down the right, whipped in a hopeful cross. Falcao leapt over Hummels, connected the header. But it was too soft.

Joe Hart moved to his left, caught it comfortably. Not enough power. No miracle.

He fell on the ball , spending some valuable seconds. And as he stood up and punted it long.....

The referee brought the whistle to his lips, a sharp blast piercing through the night air.

Full time.

Martin Tyler (voice ringing with emotion):

"That's it! Full-time at the Etihad! Manchester City 3, Manchester United 1! A storming performance from the home side—and Adriano, the debutant, has just written his name into derby folklore! The King has arrived—and the Blue Moon Galacticos are officially here."

The stadium erupted.

Not just in sound—but in movement, in color, in sheer emotion. The Etihad shook as 50,000 fans roared in unison, some jumping out of their seats, others waving flags with both hands. Blue and white scarves spun above heads like helicopter blades. Flares lit up behind the North Stand, casting a faint blue haze across the lower tier. Fans hugged, strangers clapped each other's backs, and chants broke out across all four corners of the ground:

"The King! The King! The King!"

Alan Smith (his voice filled with admiration):

"That was one of those matches, Martin. Goals, drama, a touch of chaos—and a moment of brilliance that changed everything. Adriano didn't just play well. He dictated the tempo, controlled the emotion, and punished mistakes. A derby debut like that? You'll struggle to find many better."

Down on the pitch, the players were a mix of exhaustion and euphoria.

Aguero, arms raised high, soaked in the applause from the South Stand. He looked up, grinning like a child, and blew a kiss toward the fans before turning to embrace Adriano once again.

De Bruyne pointed up to the second tier with both hands, clapping rhythmically above his head as fans chanted his name. Kane was running around in excitement, soaking in the praise. Scoring on his debut in Manchester Derby, he was no longer someone considered as stupid gamble by Manchester City.

Kompany, still catching his breath, limped over to Mats Hummels and pulled him into a tight embrace—two warriors acknowledging the battle they'd just endured. Then, turning toward the fans, Kompany pounded his chest and raised a single fist into the sky.

Yaya Touré, who had played fewer minutes, raised both arms in celebration before casually tossing his training bib into the crowd, where a young fan caught it and screamed with joy.

From the technical area, the bench had emptied. Pellegrini, ever the composed tactician, allowed himself a long, contented smile. He shook hands with his assistants and gave Adriano a standing ovation when he walked past. The Chilean manager wasn't one for theatrics—but tonight, even he knew what he'd just witnessed.

In the director's box, Txiki Begiristain—normally a stone wall of executive calm—leaned forward, clapped firmly, and exchanged a rare grin with Khaldoon Al Mubarak, who stood applauding, his suit immaculate, his expression that of a man who'd just watched an investment explode into stardom.

Alan Smith : "You look at this City side, Martin—Hazard on one wing, De Bruyne pulling strings, A promising forward like Kane, Aguero being Aguero—and then you drop Adriano into the middle of it all? That's terrifying. They looked like an ongoing project before. Now, they look like a plan in motion."

Martin Tyler :"You're right. And what's more, it's not just flair. It's structure. The movement, the pressing, the shape off the ball. Although their sync was still not perfect, Pellegrini will be thrilled with that. But the story—today, the story was Adriano."

The cameras cut to Adriano, standing alone for a moment at the center circle. He slowly turned around, eyes scanning the stadium like a general surveying his battlefield. The chants rolled over him like waves. He looked up at the sky, then down at the turf, before walking forward toward the stands. Kate watched from the stands as He gave her a small wink, which made her smile.

As he reached the touchline, he raised both arms, acknowledging the fans who now idolized him. They responded with a thunderous ovation.

A chant arose , simple, booming, and unmistakable.

"ADRIANO! The King! ADRIANO! THE KING"

It rolled like thunder, building in volume, sweeping through the tiers like a wave of fire.

Adriano closed his eyes.

For a brief moment, the world felt silent—just him, the lights, and 55,000 voices singing his name.

He opened his eyes, lifted his head—and smiled.

Then, with calm confidence, he jogged toward the touchline. Arms lifted in appreciation, hands clapping back toward the crowd.

Hazard wrapped an arm around his shoulders. De Bruyne gave him a nudge to the ribs. Kompany approached, pulling him into a proud embrace. Pellegrini offered a firm handshake—quiet, meaningful.

Across the stadium, phones were raised. Fans recorded every second. Kids in the front rows mimicked the crown gesture he had done earlier. Banners with his name had already been raised hastily with marker pens on spare pieces of cardboard.

Even some United fans—those who remained—stood watching with conflicted expressions. They had seen greatness. And they knew it.

On the massive screen above the South Stand, the final score still gleamed:

MANCHESTER CITY 3 – 1 MANCHESTER UNITED

Van Persie (30')

Adriano (54', 67')

Kane (74')

The camera panned to Adriano once more, still clapping, still surrounded by teammates.

And then it froze—replaying the moment from earlier. That goal celebration. That slide. And that imaginary crown, pulled from his head and tossed to the heavens.

One image. One symbol.Burned into memory.

A crown, flying through the air—cast into the crowd, claimed by destiny.

This wasn't just a night for Manchester City.

This was the start of their new era.

***

Post-Match Press Conference – Etihad Stadium, Media Room

Manchester City 3 – 1 Manchester United

The media room was buzzing even before anyone stepped in. Journalists from all corners of the globe—Sky Sports, BBC, Marca, L'Équipe, Globo, ESPN, and even a few influencers from the world of social media—were shoulder to shoulder, waiting for one man.

The double doors opened.

Adriano entered first, dressed in the club's navy-blue training kit, with a slight smirk playing on his face. There was no arrogance—just a man who knew he'd delivered.

Manuel Pellegrini followed close behind, calm as ever, hands in pockets. The Manchester City press officer guided them to the front table as the room flashed alive with camera clicks and microphone movements.

The press conference began.

Press Officer: "Thank you all for joining us. We'll begin with comments from the manager, then we'll open the floor to questions."

Pellegrini leaned forward, speaking in his measured tone.

Pellegrini: "Today was a very important result for us. Manchester United are a strong team, well organized, and we knew it would be difficult. But our players showed quality, personality, and great discipline. I am very proud of the performances - Hazard, Hart, Kane, De Bruyne, Kompany, and especially of this young man here." (he glanced toward Adriano) "For a debut, it was… exceptional."

A few claps echoed around the room.

Then rose the first hand.

Sky Sports Reporter: "Adriano, two goals and an assist in your Premier League debut against Manchester United. Did you expect this kind of impact on your first day?"

Adriano: (chuckles) "I didn't expect to score twice, to be honest. My goal was to help the team win, connect the midfield with the attack, and enjoy the moment. But when you see the fans, feel that energy… it's impossible not to rise with it. It felt like I'd been here for years."

BBC Journalist: "That free-kick—bending it into the opposite corner like that… was that intentional or just instinct?"

Adriano: (smiling) "I wish I could say I planned it like that! I saw De Gea shifting slightly, expected him to anticipate the right corner. So I struck it hard and tried to create late dip. When I saw it curve the other way… I surprised myself too."

Pellegrini: (laughing) "He's being humble. He's practiced that shot all week. We've seen it in training."

Spanish Journalist – Marca: "You seemed to control the tempo of the game once you came on. Was that a tactical instruction from Pellegrini, or did you just follow your instincts?"

Adriano: "The gaffer gave me freedom. We have worked together before. He told me to be smart, move between the lines, and pull defenders out. Once I felt how United were defending, I started drifting deeper to connect with Silva and De Bruyne. It was instinct, yes—but also confidence from the staff."

TalkSport: "Manuel, how do you plan to integrate Adriano into a team already filled with stars and promising youngsters ? Silva, Kane, Aguero, De Bruyne, Hazard… how do you guys balance it all?"

Pellegrini: "It's not about individuals—it's about chemistry. Adriano adds something we didn't have: control under pressure, creativity in tight spaces. He is the core of our team.

He makes others better. And that's what great players do. Not to mention the huge price tag scares away most defenders." He chuckled, making everyone laugh.

Portueguese Reporter – Globo: "Adriano, the world is buzzing. People are already calling you the true heir to the number 10. What do you make of that?"

Adriano: (grinning) "I'm flattered. But I've just played one match. Let's not get carried away. Football has a long history of brilliant playmakers and attackers. I just want to keep growing and be someone the fans can believe in. But I'm definitely going to reach that level one day."

Football365: "How did it feel when the crowd chanted 'The King is here'? That celebration went viral."

Adriano: (nods slowly) "That… gave me chills. Honestly. It reminded me of my Malaga days.

I grew up watching top leagues, dreaming about moments like that. To hear a packed stadium singing for me—it's hard to describe. That's why I bowed, why I tossed the crown. It wasn't me claiming to be a king… it was me thanking them for making me feel like one."

L'Équipe (France): "The way you linked up with Hazard and De Bruyne was seamless. How did you build that chemistry so quickly?"

Adriano: "We've been working hard in training. Those guys are top-class. When you play with people who see the game a second ahead, it's easier to connect. We speak the same football language."

Press Officer: "Two more questions."

Goal.com: "There's already talk of this being the start of a new City era. How do you feel about that kind of pressure?"

Adriano: (serious now) "Pressure is a privilege. I didn't come here to play safe. I came to compete, to win titles, and make history with this club. If people are talking about a new era… good. But we have to earn that talk with results—every single week."

Manchester Evening News: "Manuel, final question. What does this win mean in terms of momentum for the season?"

Pellegrini: "It's one match. Important, yes—but we must remain humble. We have depth, we have quality, and now we have a new heartbeat in midfield. Our synergy isn't perfect yet, but it will with time. We will grow stronger, and we will chase every title available. That's our goal."

Press Officer: "Thank you, everyone. That's all for today."

Applause erupted—not common in these rooms, but deserved.

As Adriano stood, one reporter from ESPN was heard muttering, "He's got the aura already. You can feel it."

By the time Adriano exited the media room, the internet had already exploded.

Clips of his dribbles, the free-kick, and his second goal were trending worldwide on Twitter and Instagram. Memes of him wearing a golden crown, fan edits with thrones, and freeze-frames of his pass to Aguero were everywhere.

A Brazilian streamer posted a live reaction screaming "É O NOVO REI!" as the second goal went in. A fan page uploaded a graphic:

"Adriano Riveiro – 1 Game, 2 Goals, 1 Assist, 1 Reign."

Sky Sports declared him "Man of the Match" with a rating of 9.8/10. They joked that anything less than a hat trick is Adriano being above average.

Football Daily hosted a live segment titled "Adriano's Arrival: Did We Just Witness the Birth of a Premier League Legend?"

Gary Neville, on Monday Night Football, admitted: "I've never seen Manchester United this rattled after one player's debut. That was frightening. I hope they can bounce back at Old Trafford."

Even Roy Keane nodded on air and said, "The kid's got fire. He's not soft as we expected, and he's not afraid to charge amidst the tackles. That's what I like to see in a player.."

Fans poured out of the Etihad singing:

"He flies through the Pitch

Like a floating Dream

Adriano Riveiro

He's our King!"

The City store had already sold out of Adriano shirts they just restocked by the end of the night. The club's social media team posted a slow-motion replay of the free-kick with the caption:

"The King has arrived. 👑"

Adriano recieved some congratulations messages from his Malaga teammates, one from Even Ronaldo, congratulating him on his great start, and to watch out for tackles. His parents called him and praised their son, also informing they will be here before the next match.

***

Football Fans also took to the internet with their own comments.

Twitter/X:

🗡️ @SirDripALot

Adriano didn't just debut. He walked onto the pitch, slapped United across the face, and said "This is my city now."

👑 @MCFC_Memes

BREAKING: Etihad Stadium officially renamed "Adriano's Summer Home" after today's events.

🧙‍♂️ @FootballWizard

Adriano plays football like he's got cheat codes. Man unlocked Level 99 stats and we're only in Week 1.

🍿 @NeutralFC

This man really dropped a 2G1A combo like it's FIFA Career Mode on Beginner difficulty. Chill bro, it's real life.

⚰️ @RedDevilTears

My United shirt tried to crawl off me and burn itself after that second goal. I just watched my soul get nutmegged.

Instagram:

💬 @cityzen4life

Silva: "I'm the magician."De Bruyne: "I'm the engine."Hazard: "I'm the dribbler."Adriano: "Yes. I'll take all that."

💬 @brazilian_ballerz

Neymar watching Adriano right now like: 👀👀 "Wait, is that my replacement?"

💬 @soccersoup

Kane blowing kisses and doing Adriano's crown celebration was the bromance I didn't know I needed.

Reddit – r/soccer:

🧵 u/ManCityMyBeloved

Adriano plays like Zidane, looks like Kaka, and celebrates like he's in Game of Thrones. Inject it into my veins.

🧵 u/LividRedFan

We used to bully City fans. Now they've got their own anime protagonist with a theme song. What happened to us, bro?

🧵 u/TheCrownPrinceMCFC

Adriano didn't even break a sweat. Bro looked like he was playing in a 3rd Division match, not a Manchester Derby.

YoutubeComments under a highlight video of Adriano's goal:

@footballeditsforever

The ball wasn't shot. It was commanded.

@united_fan_but_crying

I respect him but I also fear him as a Manchester United fan. I am emotionally conflicted.

@footybanterdaily

Adriano = Andres Iniesta + Bruno Mars + divine intervention.

@katefanclub001

Kate definitely whispered "remind them who you are" before he subbed in. Did any of you see her cheering in the gallery?

***

Back in the locker room, as players cheered, Pellegrini walked over, placing a hand on Adriano's shoulder.

"You made the people believe," he said quietly. "Now keep making them dream."

Adriano smiled.

This wasn't just about football anymore.

It was about legacy.

And this was just the beginning.

*** When latest chapter receives at least 100 votes, next chapter will be released. After spending hours to write something daily with decent quality, I believe that's a fair ask. My time is limited as I have been getting extra training for the promotion. I am also having chapters saved up for Patreon opening.

Or , I can just cut the chapters in half and upload half of it once a day, lowering the effort and time spent. Upto you guys . I'm honestly confused lol when see the praises on improvement, then I see no votes and rankings going down xD 💀 That's confusing ***