Chapter 380: Chatterboxes
The Manchester City bench rose together, applauding as Lukas simply raised a hand toward his teammates before jogging back into his own half.
There was no wild celebration.
It was only pre-season.
But the quality of the strike drew applause from both sets of supporters.
"That’s a player enjoying himself," the co-commentator laughed. "He’s making these things look far too easy."
Just 2 minutes later, City struck again.
Lukas received possession near the center circle before spinning away from his marker with his first touch. Reijnders immediately recognized the opening, bursting through the inside-right channel.
Lukas needed only a glance.
His through ball split Palermo’s back line perfectly.
Reijnders collected it in stride, entered the penalty area and calmly fired a low finish across Alfred Gomis into the far corner.
"Brilliant football."
"And brilliant vision again from Lukas Brandt."
"Two contributions already since coming on."
Pep Guardiola clapped once from the touchline before quietly returning to his seat.
Exactly the kind of football he wanted.
Palermo’s resistance was fading.
City were circulating possession effortlessly now, forcing the home side to chase shadows.
Then, in the 82nd minute, Lukas produced another moment of quality.
Receiving the ball on the left edge of the penalty area, he paused just long enough to draw 2 defenders toward him before slipping a disguised reverse pass into the path of Reijnders, who had arrived completely unnoticed from midfield.
The Dutchman didn’t break stride.
One touch, low finish.
4-0.
Reijnders pointed immediately toward Lukas before the 2 embraced briefly near the corner flag.
"That is another superb assist."
"Brandt has changed this game since coming on."
"You can already see the understanding developing between those 2."
As the match drifted into stoppage time, City almost added a fifth.
Lukas collected the ball wide on the right before accelerating toward the byline. Just as the Palermo defender committed himself, he slipped a perfectly weighted pass between center-back and goalkeeper.
Reijnders timed his run to perfection.
He rounded Alfred Gomis.
The goal was empty.
The hat-trick seemed inevitable.
But as he prepared to roll the ball home, his standing foot slipped awkwardly on the turf.
He stumbled.
The ball ran away from him and the chance was gone.
The Dutchman burst into laughter before covering his face with both hands.
Lukas stopped near the edge of the area, hands on his hips, unable to believe it himself.
"You’ve got to score that!" Bernardo Silva shouted with a grin from midfield.
"My fault! My fault!" Reijnders said as he put his hands in the air and smiled while looking apologetically toward Lukas.
Lukas laughed and waved it away.
"You owe me an assist next time."
The referee’s whistle sounded moments later.
Manchester City completed an emphatic 4-0 victory over Palermo to lift the inaugural Anglo Palermitan Trophy, finishing their pre-season preparations in style.
* * *
Monday Afternoon, City Football Academy
Lunch had always been one of the quieter parts of the day.
The tactical session had only just ended, with Pep Guardiola spending nearly an hour drilling the squad on defensive positioning, pressing triggers and how he wanted the midfield to react once possession was lost. It hadn’t been an especially intense session physically, but mentally it had left everyone exhausted.
The players filtered into the dining area in small groups, collecting their meals before spreading themselves across the room.
Lukas grabbed a tray with grilled chicken, rice, vegetables and a bottle of water before scanning the room.
"Lukas."
He turned.
Erling Haaland waved him over.
Lukas sat down beside him just as Haaland shifted his phone slightly across the table.
"You watching something?"
"The Overlap," Haaland replied. "Season predictions."
He propped the phone against a glass jar in the middle of the table so they could both see it while eating.
On the screen sat Gary Neville in the middle, with Jamie Carragher and Paul Scholes beside him. Around them were the usual fan representatives, including Rory Jennings for Chelsea and Luke, the Manchester City fan.
Gary Neville smiled.
"Right then, gentlemen. Premier League predictions. Champions first."
One after another they gave their answers.
"Liverpool."
"Liverpool."
"Arsenal."
"Liverpool."
Another.
"Liverpool."
Rory Jennings leaned forward confidently.
"I’m going Chelsea. I think they’ve got the momentum after winning the Club World Cup, Enzo Maresca has them playing brilliant football, and I honestly think Manchester City won’t even finish in the top 3."
Lukas quietly continued eating.
Rory wasn’t finished.
"And while we’re at it, I’ll make another prediction. Lukas Brandt will be the flop of the season."
Luke, Man City fan on the panel, immediately turned toward him.
"Oh, Rory, here we go."
"No, hear me out," Rory replied. "I actually think he’ll become a very good player one day. I genuinely do. But just not this season."
Luke folded his arms.
"You’ve said this before."
"I have."
"You remember what you said about Haaland?"
Rory laughed.
"That’s completely different. Haaland arrived after scoring goals everywhere. Molde. Salzburg. Dortmund. Every single place he went, he was already a goalscoring machine."
He pointed toward the screen beside them that had Lukas celebrating his goal in the club world cup.
"This kid is 16. Do you honestly believe Pep Guardiola is going to hand the keys of Manchester City’s attack to a 16-year-old?"
Gary Neville nodded thoughtfully.
"It’s a fair question."
Rory continued.
"And another thing. How do you spend nearly £77 million on someone who’s played 6 months of senior football? I watched the Club World Cup. The first time he came up against a proper Premier League side, Chelsea shut him down."
Luke almost laughed.
"Did they?"
"Yes."
"Ask Adam."
He pointed toward Adam McKola, the Manchester United representative.
"Ask him what happened in the Europa League semi-final."
Adam chuckled.
"I’m staying out of this one."
Rory waved a hand dismissively.
"With all due respect, Manchester United finished 15th. I’m talking about top Premier League teams. Liverpool. Arsenal. Chelsea. Those teams won’t give him the freedom he had in Germany."
"I think he’ll become a very good player, I don’t think he’s worth €90 million, and I don’t think he’s ready for the Premier League. I think he’ll mostly come off the bench this season. And no, before anyone says it, I don’t think he’s Lamine Yamal."
Luke smiled.
"I agree."
Rory looked pleased for about half a second.
Luke continued. "I don’t think he’s Lamine Yamal either, I think he’s better than Yamal."
The other fans on the panel burst out laughing.
Even Gary Neville smiled.
Jamie Carragher eventually stepped in.
"I’m actually closer to Rory on this one."
He leaned back in his chair.
"Look, £77 million for a 16-year-old is an enormous amount of money. Forget the talent. Forget the highlights. There’s pressure like never before, there’ll be expectation like never before. There’s the physicality of the Premier League, he’s not mature enough to handle it. I think he’ll eventually become a very good player. I just think the move has come a little too early."
Paul Scholes shook his head.
"I’m not convinced. When Rooney broke through at Everton, he was 16. Owen was playing regularly for Liverpool as a teenager. If you’re good enough, you’re old enough."
He shrugged.
"Do I think Lukas is going to put up the same numbers he had in Germany? No.
But I absolutely think he’ll become an important player for Pep this season."
Gary Neville looked across.
"So you’re backing him for Young Player of the Season?"