Chapter 639: The Summer Transfer Storm Sparked by Ronaldo
When Bruno arrived back in Manchester, Miss Vanessa Heisler was thrilled to see him. She was smart enough to realize that causing a scene over his recent controversy would only lead to one outcome: a breakup. Instead, she chose to act as though nothing had happened. She believed that, given Bruno's personality and their years of relationship, he wouldn't choose to leave her.
Her greatest advantage was being constantly by his side.
For Bruno, life in Manchester returned to its usual rhythm, though the number of reporters increased significantly. This was expected, given that he had helped Manchester United achieve a quadruple last season and led Portugal to World Cup glory in the summer.
Bruno's return coincided with Manchester United completing their preseason tour in the United States. The team returned to prepare for the upcoming Community Shield match.
The new season was set to kick off on the evening of August 10, with defending champions Manchester United facing Leicester City. The Community Shield, a preseason match, was scheduled for August 5, pitting Manchester United, the Premier League and FA Cup winners, against league runners-up Manchester City.
Bruno noticed an increasing number of reporters outside the training ground, including unfamiliar faces and many from Eastern media outlets. Initially, he thought this was a result of his World Cup and club triumphs. However, he soon realized the true reason when he was mobbed by reporters after training.
A Sudden Onslaught
"Bruno, recent reports claim you were spotted in Beijing with Chinese actress Liu Yimei, walking and engaging in intimate behavior. Is this true?"
"Do you know Liu Yimei?"
"There are claims that you are Liu Yimei's boyfriend. Is this accurate?"
"How did you and Liu Yimei meet?"
...
These entertainment reporters, more aggressive than sports journalists, stunned everyone present, including Bruno himself.
He was baffled by their presence and their questions. How did they find out? Were we photographed?
If the rumors were true, how should he respond? Calling Liu Yimei now for clarification was impossible with the chaos surrounding him. The shouting reporters were drawing an ever-growing crowd, including his curious teammates.
Unwilling to become a public spectacle, Bruno devised a simple excuse: "I only answer questions about football. No comments on anything else!"
He then lowered his head and tried to push his way out.
Outrunning the Paparazzi
The reporters were relentless, refusing to let him go without an answer. They thrust microphones, recorders, and phones toward him, demanding clarification about his relationship with Liu Yimei.
Unwilling to fuel the fire, Bruno relied on his fitness. He ran.
Jogging at a steady pace, Bruno led the reporters on a circuit around Carrington Training Ground. The sight of a mob chasing the star midfielder became a spectacle.
After one lap, most reporters were exhausted. Bruno's elite fitness—he averaged 13 kilometers per match, far surpassing most players—left them far behind.
As the crowd thinned, Bruno sprinted to the locker room, leaving the reporters breathless and staring at his retreating figure. Though they got no answers, they realized that neither of the subjects in this romance scandal would be easy to handle.
A Tough Conversation
Later, Bruno messaged Liu Yimei to understand the situation. When she called back, he finally pieced together the story.
Their public intimacy in Beijing had drawn attention, and they had been photographed by someone familiar with Liu Yimei. While such moments were common in Beijing, their celebrity status made it significant.
Bruno didn't blame Liu Yimei for publicly acknowledging their relationship. She was unaware of his engagement to Vanessa. The fault, he knew, lay with himself. If he had controlled his impulses or been upfront about his relationship status, none of this would have happened.
Feeling overwhelmed, Bruno decided to bury his head in the sand: "One day at a time."
The Community Shield
While Bruno grappled with his personal drama, Manchester United prepared for their season opener: the Community Shield against rivals Manchester City.
Both teams were familiar with each other, and neither had undergone significant changes over the summer. Manchester United, after two years of heavy spending, had stabilized, while Pep Guardiola's Manchester City had also solidified their squad.
Last season, Manchester City had an impressive 97 points in the Premier League—a tally that would win in most seasons. In the Champions League, they reached the semifinals. However, Manchester United's extraordinary campaign denied them trophies, leaving City empty-handed for two seasons.
Despite this, City's management retained faith in Guardiola. They avoided extravagant spending, making only one major signing: Paul Pogba from Juventus.
Pogba's Move
Pogba's transfer was part of a chain reaction. The biggest story of the summer was Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from Real Madrid after nine years.
At 33, Ronaldo's relationship with Madrid's president Florentino Pérez had soured, and the club refused to meet his wage demands, even after he led Portugal to World Cup glory.
Ronaldo hoped to return to Manchester United but could not agree on terms. United were unwilling to compromise Bruno's position as captain and star player.
Bruno avoided the controversy by retreating to the East. Ironically, his trip reignited his relationship with Liu Yimei, leading to his current predicament.
Juventus, unable to afford two superstars, sold Pogba to City for €110 million after acquiring Ronaldo for €120 million. Ronaldo's move made him the most expensive player over 30 in football history, though few were surprised given his status as the newly crowned "King of Football."
The Match
The Community Shield match at Wembley saw Pogba watching from the stands, as he had only just signed with City.
Bruno captained United, delivering a stellar performance with a goal and an assist. United narrowly won 3-2 in an intense match, claiming their fifth trophy of 2018 and starting the new season with a bang.
The team now set their sights on achieving an unprecedented seven-trophy haul for the calendar year.
In just two short minutes, Manchester United's seemingly secure lead evaporated.
Sensing trouble, Mourinho acted swiftly, substituting Fred for N'Golo Kanté to bolster the defense. With Kanté's presence, Manchester United managed to regain their composure, preventing further goals. The match entered a stalemate, with neither side scoring for an extended period.
Then, in the 84th minute, Christian Eriksen delivered a pinpoint pass that split United's defense. Lucas Moura surged past Chris Smalling and slotted the ball into the net from 12 yards out, giving Tottenham the lead.
As United's 42-game winning streak seemed destined to end, Bruno stepped up when it mattered most.
Bruno to the Rescue
In the second minute of stoppage time, with just a minute left on the clock, Manchester United launched a desperate attack. Luke Shaw, just past midfield, passed the ball to Bruno in the center.
Standing more than 30 meters from Tottenham's goal, Bruno was left with some space due to lax defending. Dribbling forward, he suddenly unleashed a powerful shot from distance.
The ball rocketed towards Tottenham's goal like a cannonball. With his view partially blocked by defenders, goalkeeper Hugo Lloris reacted too late. The ball soared past him and into the net.
3-3!
Bruno's incredible goal salvaged a draw for Manchester United, ensuring their unbeaten streak remained intact.
UEFA Awards Night
After the grueling match against Tottenham, several Manchester United players, along with Mourinho and management staff including Gianni Giaretta, traveled to Monaco for the 2017-2018 UEFA Awards Ceremony and the Champions League Group Stage Draw on August 30.
Having secured an unprecedented quadruple—winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and League Cup—Manchester United were undoubtedly the most dominant team of the 2017-2018 season. Naturally, they were also the biggest winners at the awards.
Out of five major categories—Best Goalkeeper, Best Defender, Best Midfielder, Best Forward, and Best Player—United clinched four. The only exception was Best Forward, which went to former Real Madrid star and new Juventus signing Cristiano Ronaldo.
Manchester United Dominates
Best Goalkeeper: David de Gea
De Gea's exceptional shot-stopping and consistency were crucial in United's historic quadruple. Despite having Argentina's Romero as backup, De Gea's position as the starting goalkeeper was unshakable.Best Defender: Harry Maguire
Maguire, United's stalwart center-back, edged out teammate Virgil van Dijk and Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos to claim the award. Maguire's contributions extended beyond club success; his performances were instrumental in England's run to the World Cup semifinals in Russia.Best Midfielder: Bruno
This award was a foregone conclusion. As United's creative hub, Bruno led not only his team but all of Europe in goals and assists last season. Nearly half of Manchester United's offensive output could be directly attributed to him.
His influence extended to the international stage, where he captained Portugal to their first-ever World Cup victory. Bruno's performances earned him the World Cup Golden Boot and Best Player honors.
Bruno's Growing Legacy
In recent months, a narrative has emerged in the football world: Cristiano Ronaldo is the new "King of Football," but Bruno is the man behind the throne. Many argue that without Bruno's contributions, Ronaldo could not have claimed the throne.
Some even believe that Bruno himself deserves the title of "King of Football." At just 24 years old, Bruno has already amassed a trophy cabinet most players can only dream of:
Team Honors: World Cup, European Championship, Confederations Cup, Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Super Cup, Serie A, Premier League, Coppa Italia, FA Cup, League Cup, Italian Super Cup, Community Shield, FIFA Club World CupIndividual Honors: A complete sweep, including Best Player and Golden Boot awards at the club and international levels
Given his unparalleled success at such a young age, Bruno is seen as a strong contender for the Ballon d'Or and FIFA Best Player Award, both of which he is shortlisted for alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
UEFA Best Player Award
Unsurprisingly, Bruno was named UEFA Best Player, ending Ronaldo's two-year hold on the award.
With this accolade, Bruno has bolstered his chances of claiming the Ballon d'Or and FIFA Best Player titles, potentially reclaiming the top spot in global football.
Champions League Group Stage Draw
As a top seed, Manchester United's group draw was challenging but manageable. They were placed alongside:
Hoffenheim (Germany's surprise package)Lyon (former French champions)Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukrainian powerhouse)
While these teams posed a challenge, United's strength made them favorites to advance as group winners.
With the new season underway, Bruno and Manchester United remained focused on their quest for more silverware, continuing their dominance in England and Europe.
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