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***
It had been three days since the photos of Adriano and Kate at the airport were published, and one day since his interview with the Manchester Evening News. Still, the media hadn't let up. If anything, it had only grown louder.
British tabloids ran the story in loops. One day it was about the kiss, the next it was speculation about whether Kate would move to England or if Adriano was considering a future in the U.S. Headlines blurred the line between curiosity and fiction—"Wedding Bells Soon?"
"Manchester's Star to Swap Pitch for Red Carpet?"
"Kate Upton's Secret UK Hideaway?"
TV shows picked it up too. Morning talk shows brought on pundits who had no connection to football but had plenty to say about celebrity culture. Adriano's name, once dominating the back pages for his goals and game intelligence, now filled gossip columns and clickbait titles.
Online, it was even more chaotic. Twitter trended with their names side by side, while football forums debated whether his personal life would become a distraction. Some fans showed their support, saying he deserved happiness and commending his honesty in the interview. Others mocked it, calling it a "PR move" or throwing jabs about his past relationships.
Inside the Manchester City dressing room, though, the atmosphere was different.
The players knew Adriano better than the media ever would. They'd seen how serious he was in training, how committed he was to the club. And most of them had already known about Kate long before the press did. Still, they didn't waste the opportunity to joke.
"Just make sure she doesn't turn up with a Netflix crew," Joe Hart had quipped when Adriano arrived that morning.
"Relax," Silva added with a smirk. "He's already given The Sun enough material."
The teasing was lighthearted. It wasn't cruel—it was how the team showed camaraderie. They'd all been in the spotlight at some point. They knew laughter was one of the only ways to keep the pressure at bay.
Adriano smiled at their comments, nodded, sometimes threw a playful jab back, but mostly stayed quiet. He wasn't in a bad mood. He wasn't angry. But something about the whole situation weighed on him.
It wasn't the relationship. That was solid. Kate had handled everything with calm, even telling him on the phone that morning, "Let them talk. At least now we don't have to sneak around like spies."
What bothered him wasn't being seen with her—it was losing control over what parts of his life were now being picked apart. He had always kept his private life low-key. But now, every expression, every moment, was frozen and turned into headlines. There was no context, no privacy, and no slowing it down.
During training, his form hadn't slipped. He still hit every target in shooting drills. His movement was sharp, decision-making on point. But he wasn't his usual self. He didn't joke with Salah the way he usually did, didn't call out tactical shifts during scrimmage, didn't linger on the pitch afterward for extra touches.
Pellegrini had noticed.
He stood at the edge of the session, arms crossed, observing. He had managed plenty of stars in his time. He knew what it looked like when a player was off—not in ability, but in rhythm.
After the final drill, as the players made their way toward the tunnel, Pellegrini called out.
"Adriano. Walk with me."
The forward paused, nodded, and jogged over. They began walking the length of the touchline, the wind cool but steady.
"You look fine in training," Pellegrini said calmly.
"I am," Adriano replied, avoiding eye contact.
"But you're not the same."
Adriano stayed quiet for a moment. Then he sighed.
"It's just… nonstop," he said. "Every time I open my phone, there's a new headline. Something ridiculous. And people start believing it."
Pellegrini nodded, not interrupting.
"I didn't mind the attention when it was about football," Adriano continued. "But now it's about everything else. Stuff that's personal. Stuff that's not anyone's business."
Pellegrini stopped walking. "You knew this would come with the fame."
"Yeah. I just didn't think it would spread like this. They talk like they know me. Like they know her. They make up timelines, stories. Some of it's so far off it's laughable. But it still spreads."
"Does it bother you what they say?" Pellegrini asked.
"No. Not exactly. I can handle people talking," Adriano said. "But it's exhausting having to pretend it doesn't exist. Like there's no break from it. Even here."
Pellegrini looked at him for a long moment.
"Then don't pretend. Acknowledge it, deal with it, and move on. The more energy you spend trying to ignore it, the more it pulls you in."
Adriano nodded, quietly taking that in.
Pellegrini softened his tone and looked away, "You know, I have watched over you ever since you started playing for Malaga. I saw the potential to be a great player in you. And every time I thought this is your limit, you have surpassed them again and again.
We are all humans Adriano, we all make mistakes, we all have emotions and desires. It's okay to be not at your best sometimes, specially if it's something beyond you. But always try to figure out if it's worth it or not.
I remember how you were after your last breakup, and I never questioned you about it, just accepted your leave because I knew you were just a kid experiencing new emotions. That's what the world forgets sometimes because you show so much maturity. I have always tried to support and guide you to become the great player you are now. And I can say for certain, I am proud of you, my boy. You can shut down all the noise with your performance, that's my faith in you. " He patted Adriano on the shoulder with a smile.
Adriano was touched, he could feel the sincerety in Pellegrini's words. He smiled and replied, " Thanks coach. For always looking after me, and believing in me. I was a kid with no name when I joined Malaga. I wouldn't have even got the chance until I shouted I could replace Isco.
Even when I started to play, you gave me stage. You let me play how I like, and even trusted me enough to center your strategy around me. I probably would have never gotten so much attention if not for you letting me show my potential. I will always be grateful for the care and support you have shown me ."
"She's good at it, you know," he added after a while. "Kate. She doesn't care about the noise although it effects her. She jokes through it. She says we'll outlast the gossip."
"She sounds grounded," Pellegrini said.
"She is," Adriano replied. "She gets it. I just… I don't want this to change things. For me. For the team. I don't want people thinking I'm distracted."
"Are you?"
Adriano looked the manager in the eyes.
"No."
"Then nothing else matters," Pellegrini said. "Keep showing up. Keep doing what you do. The rest will fade."
Adriano nodded again. "Thanks."
Pellegrini then joked, " And try not to lose this one , yeah? I'm running out of motivation speeches for heartbroken teens."
Adriano chuckled and replied, " Got it boss. No regrets."
They walked back toward the tunnel in silence. Pellegrini didn't need to say more. Adriano understood.
Back in the dressing room, the noise had settled. Some players were already in the showers. Aguero was playing music from his phone, something in Spanish. Salah was still taping his ankles, chatting with De Bruyne about dinner plans.
Adriano sat down at his spot, pulled off his boots, and finally let himself take a breath.
He didn't have control over the outside world. But in here, in this building, on this pitch—he knew who he was.
And that wouldn't change.
***
Matchday had arrived. Manchester City returned to the Etihad to face CSKA Moskva in the fourth group-stage match of the Champions League. The stakes were clear: a win tonight, and City would almost certainly progress to the knockout stages with two games to spare.
The Etihad was packed to capacity. It was a cool, still evening, perfect for European football. The pitch looked pristine under the floodlights. Fans filtered in long before kickoff, waving scarves, singing songs, and buzzing with anticipation. Despite the media storm around Adriano that week, the mood inside the stadium was upbeat and focused. Supporters weren't there for the gossip. They were there to watch City win.
As the teams lined up in the tunnel, Martin Tyler's voice rang out from the commentary box.
"Adriano starts again tonight, amid the backdrop of a tabloid storm. He'll want to let his feet do the talking."
Alan Smith added calmly, "He's handled pressure brilliantly so far. But this kind of noise—it's different. Not about form. It's about the man himself. Let's see how he handles it."
Pellegrini went with his standard 4-2-3-1 setup. Joe Hart started in goal. Kompany and Hummels partnered in central defence, with Zabaleta and Kolarov as fullbacks. De Bruyne and Silva operated as the deep midfield playmakers, while Hazard and Salah took up the flanks. Adriano was deployed in his usual free role behind Harry Kane, who was given another start up front after solid recent form.
CSKA set up cautiously with a 4-5-1 formation. They were compact, determined to make the middle of the pitch congested. Their plan was clear: sit deep, frustrate City, and look to spring Musa and Tosic on the counterattack.
From the first whistle, City took control. Their opening movements were crisp and measured, with Silva and De Bruyne seeing plenty of the ball. They passed side to side, slowly trying to shift CSKA's tight block and open spaces in wide areas. CSKA, meanwhile, defended in two lines of five and four, closing gaps and leaving only a single striker up top.
Early on, Hazard found joy down the left. In the twelfth minute, he beat his fullback with a sudden burst of pace and drilled a low ball into the box. Kane got a touch on it, but the ball was straight at Akinfeev.
"Good intent from City," Martin Tyler commented. "Hazard's directness will be important tonight, especially with how narrow CSKA are sitting."
Adriano had a quiet opening. Every time he received the ball, he was quickly surrounded by red shirts. CSKA weren't interested in letting him turn or dribble. But Adriano adapted. He dropped deeper, drifting into the half-spaces to find more time on the ball. His intelligence began to show.
In the 19th minute, he received a quick pass from De Bruyne near the centre circle, spun past his marker, and spotted Salah making a diagonal run. Adriano floated a perfectly weighted ball over the defence. Salah brought it down with his first touch and tried to finish across goal—but his effort curled just wide of the far post.
"Lovely vision from Adriano," said Alan Smith. "The movement's there, but City need to start converting those chances."
CSKA had a brief spell of hope midway through the half. A hopeful clearance turned into a counter when Musa used his speed to get behind Kolarov. The winger darted toward the penalty area and cut inside to shoot, but Kompany slid in with a superbly timed block that sent the ball out for a corner.
"Outstanding defending," Martin Tyler praised. "Kompany showing all his experience."
From that point on, City pushed harder. The tempo increased. De Bruyne and Silva began pulling more strings. Zabaleta pushed higher up the pitch to support Salah, while Hazard began swapping flanks to disrupt CSKA's rhythm.
In the 28th minute, De Bruyne earned a free kick near the left edge of the area after being clipped by Dzagoev. Silva whipped the ball in dangerously. Hummels rose above his marker and met it solidly—but the header flew just over the bar. The crowd groaned.
Adriano kept probing. His influence was subtle but effective. He'd begun dragging defenders out of position with clever movement, opening pockets for others to exploit.
Finally, the breakthrough came in the 32nd minute.
It started with a patient build-up from the back. Kompany passed to Silva, who shifted it wide to Kolarov. The left-back advanced, found Adriano between the lines, and played it into his feet. Adriano turned into space, drew two defenders, then slid the ball to Silva arriving at the edge of the box.
One touch. A calm, curling shot toward the far corner.
GOAL ANNOUNCER: "GOOOOOAAAALLLL! DAVID SILVA! MANCHESTER CITY TAKE THE LEAD!"
The Etihad roared. Silva ran toward the corner flag, arms outstretched. Adriano jogged behind him, clapping lightly, but didn't celebrate loudly. It was a subdued moment from him, almost as if his mind was still processing more than just the football.
Alan Smith noted it. "That was brilliant link-up play. But look at Adriano—he's not celebrating much. He's clearly tuned in, but there's something weighing on him."
Before play resumed, Hazard jogged over to Adriano. He leaned in and said something that made Adriano crack a brief smile. Kane followed with a quick slap on the back. The team knew the pressure on their playmaker. They were backing him in more ways than one.
City kept their foot on the gas. In the 37th minute, Salah had another opportunity after latching onto a deflected ball, but his shot was blocked by a sliding defender. A corner followed. De Bruyne's delivery found Hummels again, and this time the header was on target—but Akinfeev made a strong stop low to his right.
Another chance came and went in the 41st minute. Kane held up the ball at the top of the box and laid it off to Hazard, whose quick one-two with Adriano opened space. Hazard's shot skimmed the side netting. The crowd applauded the buildup but groaned at the miss.
CSKA tried to slow the game down in the final few minutes of the half. They took their time on goal kicks and looked to regain composure. Their aim now was clear—get to halftime without further damage.
City remained patient. They didn't force things, just kept the ball moving, stretching the defensive lines, probing for gaps. Adriano took fewer risks but stayed involved, helping to dictate the rhythm from just behind Kane.
The referee blew the whistle soon after a final passing sequence fizzled out. The first half ended with Manchester City leading 1–0.
As the players walked off, Martin Tyler summed up the half.
"City have been in control, but they'll know the job's not done. CSKA are still in this. But so far, they've shown maturity—especially Adriano, who's responded to a difficult week with real focus."
Alan Smith agreed. "He's not been the flashiest player on the pitch—but he's made the difference. That pass for Silva's goal—that's the moment that separates games at this level."
The Etihad crowd stood and applauded the team off. It hadn't been easy, but the lead was deserved. Still, there was more work to do. And everyone inside the ground knew it.
***
In the dressing room, Pellegrini gathered the team.
"They're tired. Their shape is narrow. Get it wide and move it quickly. More cutbacks. More one-twos around the box. Be patient. They'll crack."
He turned to Adriano.
"You're pulling them apart. Keep doing it. If you see a gap, take it."
Adriano just nodded. Quietly.
Silva came over. "Ignore the cameras, yeah? Just us on the pitch. That's all that matters."
***
The players returned to the pitch for the second half with City in control. The 1–0 lead gave them momentum, but everyone inside the Etihad knew the next goal would decide the match. Pellegrini hadn't made any substitutions during the break. The message was clear: keep the tempo high, stay patient, and put the game to bed.
Martin Tyler picked up where he left off. "Manchester City were dominant in the first half. But CSKA won't just roll over. A second goal is essential."
Alan Smith replied, "Absolutely. This is the kind of match where one lapse can bring the opposition back into it. But City look sharp, and Adriano's influence is growing."
And City wasted no time making a statement.
Just two minutes into the second half, Hazard received the ball on the left wing and tried to drive at his marker. He shifted inside and was brought down just outside the penalty area. The foul was clear. The referee blew his whistle and pointed to the spot—right on the edge of the D.
It was the perfect angle for a right-footed player. De Bruyne stood near the ball at first, but it was Adriano who stepped forward. He didn't speak. He didn't gesture. He simply placed the ball down, adjusted his stance, and stared at the top corner.
The crowd responded. Thousands of phones were held up to capture the moment. Akinfeev adjusted his wall and shouted instructions, trying to narrow the angle.
Adriano took a few steps back. He waited for the referee's whistle. When it came, he approached the ball with a calm rhythm and struck it cleanly. The ball curled up and over the wall, bending away from the goalkeeper and dipping just beneath the crossbar into the top left corner.
It was unstoppable.
GOAL ANNOUNCER: "GOOOOOAAALLL! ADRIANO! ABSOLUTE CLASS! TWO–NIL TO MANCHESTER CITY!"
The Etihad exploded into celebration. The sound reverberated around the ground. Adriano didn't go to the fans. Instead, he turned and pumped his fist toward the bench, then pointed toward Pellegrini. Silva and De Bruyne rushed to him, followed by Hazard and Kane.
Martin Tyler didn't try to overstate it. "That's what he does. On the biggest stages. When the noise is loudest."
Alan Smith followed, "A perfect free kick. That's technique, confidence, and composure. The headlines might talk about other things, but this is the story—Adriano delivering when it matters."
CSKA now had no choice but to open up. Their previously conservative shape loosened slightly. The midfield began to push forward more often, which created opportunities for City to exploit on the counter.
In the 55th minute, Salah intercepted a loose pass and darted forward. He slipped a through ball to Kane, who took one touch to spin past his marker and unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box. It beat the keeper—but not the bar. The ball clipped the top of the woodwork and bounced out.
"City nearly with a third," Tyler said. "That's better from Kane. He's doing the dirty work tonight, holding up play, pressing defenders, and now nearly scores one himself."
Still, CSKA weren't done. Around the hour mark, they had their best spell of the match. Musa, their most dangerous player on the night, found space behind Zabaleta for the first time. He accelerated down the flank and sent in a low, fast cross that looked destined for the foot of Tosic at the back post. But Hart read it early, came off his line, and collected it cleanly.
"Joe Hart alert," Alan Smith said. "That's exactly the kind of moment CSKA were hoping for—a break, a cross, maybe a goal. But City defended it well."
City quickly regained control. De Bruyne and Silva continued to dictate the rhythm, controlling possession and slowing the pace when needed. Kompany was vocal at the back, organizing the line and calling for focus after CSKA's near-chance.
In the 69th minute, the third goal came—and it was crafted with patience and precision.
It started with a switch of play. De Bruyne spotted space on the far left and lofted a perfect diagonal ball to Kolarov, who brought it down with one touch and surged forward. Without hesitating, he drilled a low ball across the face of goal.
Kane stepped over it—intentionally, drawing the defenders—and let the ball roll through.
Adriano, arriving late into the box, met it cleanly with a first-time side-foot finish, guiding it into the bottom corner past Akinfeev.
GOAL ANNOUNCER: "ADRIANO AGAIN! THREE–NIL TO MANCHESTER CITY!"
The stadium shook. Flags waved. Scarves twirled. The fans in the South Stand jumped in unison.
Adriano didn't hold back this time. He sprinted toward the corner flag, dropped to his knees, and slid across the grass. When he rose, he made a heart with his hands, lifting them toward the crowd.
In the stands, fans held up signs: "THE KING STAYS" and "#INADRIANOWETRUST." Others simply applauded and chanted his name.
Alan Smith summed it up. "He needed that. Not just the goals—the release. After everything that's been said about him this week, he's let his football answer it."
City made a couple of substitutions after that. Fernandinho came on for De Bruyne to provide defensive stability. Later, Aguero replaced Salah to stretch the tired CSKA defence further.
Then, in the 78th minute, Pellegrini made the final change—he called Adriano off and replaced him with Toure.. The stadium stood as one. Every section applauded. Some fans took videos. Others waved.
Adriano clapped slowly towards all four sides of the stadium as he walked off, exchanging a brief handshake and a hug with Pellegrini and Toure, before taking his seat on the bench. He looked Slightly tired—but satisfied.
Martin Tyler spoke over the applause. "A night that could've gone so many ways for Adriano. But he's delivered another performance of pure quality.
You know what Alan, I'm just gonna stop underestimating him , as should the fans. He's not a shooting star that will burn out, he is like the sun, blazing and constant. He will rule the next decade of Europe."
Alan Smith smiled and shook his head, " He's got the magic of Messi, and the composure and efforts of Ronaldo. I think we can safely put him above Neymar as the the 3rd best Footballer of this era already. Maybe even the best if he keeps this up."
The final ten minutes saw City manage the game professionally. They kept the ball, probed cautiously, and didn't allow CSKA any real chance to build momentum. Kompany and Hummels mopped up any long balls.
Fernandinho dropped deep when needed. Hazard and Navas drew fouls and kept possession high up the pitch.
By the time the referee blew the final whistle, the scoreline remained 3–0. A clean sheet. Three points. And the qualification for the second round secured with 2 matches left.
The announcer confirmed the result: "FULL TIME—MANCHESTER CITY THREE, CSKA MOSKVA NIL."
As the players walked around the pitch clapping the fans, there was only one name being chanted.
"Ad-ri-a-no! Ad-ri-a-no!"
It hadn't just been a win. It had been a performance. The kind that silenced headlines, refocused narratives, and reminded everyone—when Adriano plays, City play a different game.
***
The full-time whistle hadn't been blown for more than a minute before the cameras cut to Pellegrini and his bench staff exchanging brief handshakes. Calm, as usual. It had been a professional performance. Nothing flashy, nothing reckless—just City at their disciplined best.
Adriano, back in his track jacket, remained on the bench for a few moments before standing. He didn't rush out to wave or gesture. He clapped slowly, hands above his head, acknowledging all four stands. Some fans near the tunnel shouted his name again, and he gave them a quick nod on his way in.
Inside the dressing room, the mood was relaxed. No over-celebrating. Just quiet satisfaction. Kane had his boots off early, laughing with Hazard over a mis-hit pass that ended up in Row Z.
Kompany sat next to Hart, already reviewing clips on a tablet with the goalkeeping coach. Adriano remained mostly quiet, sipping from a water bottle, a towel over his shoulders. He was drained, but composed.
Pellegrini didn't speak right away. He waited until the squad settled.
"Well done," he said simply. "Clean. Professional. The way we play. That's what I want every time. Focus. No distraction."
He didn't mention Adriano by name—but he didn't have to.
The press conference was scheduled quickly. European match nights brought a flood of media, especially after a win like this. And with Adriano's name still dominating headlines off the pitch, there was never any doubt who the reporters wanted to speak to.
Pellegrini arrived first, as usual, and kept his responses short. When asked about the team's performance, he was concise: "We played with control. We didn't let them break our rhythm. We were patient, and we took our chances."
A few minutes later, Adriano was brought in for a short post-match interview in the mixed zone. The backdrop was plastered with Champions League branding, and the press box lights were harsh. Still in full kit, boots off, hair slightly damp from the post-match rinse, Adriano stepped up to the mic with a neutral expression.
First question came fast.
"Adriano, two goals and an assist tonight. Given everything going on off the pitch—was this performance a statement?"
He paused, adjusting the collar of his jacket slightly.
"No, I don't think it was about making a statement," he said. "It's about doing my job. It's football. We had a plan. We knew CSKA would sit deep. We moved the ball well and created chances. That's all I focused on."
"You seemed emotional after the second goal. You pointed to the bench. What did that mean?"
He nodded slowly. "That was for the staff. For the people behind the scenes who help us every day. I've had a tough week, yeah—but inside this club, I've had nothing but support."
"Did the criticism, the coverage this week…did it affect you mentally going into the match?"
A brief pause again.
"I'm human. Of course I see it. But once you're on the pitch, everything else disappears. The ball's at your feet, your teammates are around you—that's the only place I feel calm."
That was all he said about the off-field drama. No names mentioned. No quotes to fuel speculation.
Back in the press room, the post-match comments filtered quickly across social media. Clips of his free kick were already trending. Fans uploaded homemade edits of the goal with tags like 'calm through chaos' and 'Adriano silences the noise.' Even some pundits who'd been critical of him during the week gave him credit on air.
One said during the late-night roundtable: "You have to give him credit. All that speculation, the photos, the headlines—he turned up and delivered. Again. That's not just talent. That's mental strength."
Another added, "His post-match comments—mature, grounded. That's the kind of leadership fans want to see."
Online fan forums lit up, mostly positive. Some debated whether Pellegrini should build the team even more around Adriano now. Others focused on the chemistry between him, Silva, and De Bruyne. A few still questioned the media attention, but it didn't stick the way it had earlier in the week.
The club's official account posted highlights before midnight. The caption was short: "Focus. Class. Results." Below it, two images—Adriano's free kick in mid-air, and his heart celebration after the third goal.
Kate's name trended briefly too—largely from fans in the comments tagging her with congratulations. Some simply wrote: "He's playing like he has nothing to prove, but everything to protect."
Inside the team hotel, where players stayed after European nights, there were no wild celebrations. A few players gathered in the lounge, watching highlights on the big screen. Adriano didn't join them. He stayed in his room, answered a quick call from his parents, then checked a message from Kate—just a photo of the TV screen with him celebrating and a heart emoji.
He smiled faintly and put the phone down. No words needed.
By the time he went to sleep that night, the interviews had already been clipped, subtitled, and reposted across several languages. But none of it mattered as much as the three points.
He'd done what he came to do. Let his football speak. Shut the noise out for ninety minutes. And remind everyone—he was still locked in.
***
Kate had just wrapped up a long day of shooting in Los Angeles. Back in the quiet of her rented Penthouse apartment, she had kicked off her heels, made a cup of tea, and turned on the City match. It was streaming live, late in the afternoon local time.
She sat on the couch, blanket pulled over her knees, watching the second half unfold.
When Adriano stepped up to take the free kick, she instinctively leaned forward. She'd seen him do it a hundred times in training videos, on highlight reels. Still, it always amazed her—how calm he looked.
And then—top corner.
Kate smiled to herself as the crowd at the Etihad exploded. No flashy celebration. Just a nod to his teammates, and that subtle look he always had—like he was checking a box rather than basking in applause.
She admired that about him. He didn't feed off attention, even when the whole world tried to pull him into it.
When the third goal went in and he slid into the corner, making a heart gesture to the fans, she felt it. It wasn't for the press. It wasn't performative. That was Adriano finally letting go a bit. Releasing the tension that had built over the last week.
She picked up her phone, shot him a quick message: "Great match babe. I'm so Proud of you. Keep playing like you always do."
He didn't respond right away, probably still in post-match protocol. But she knew he'd see it. And she knew he'd appreciate it.
****
Current Stats of Adriano
Premier League
Matches: 11
Goals: 12
Assists: 10
Current top scorer of Premier League and top Assists list.
Champions League
Matches: 4
Goals: 11
Assists: 2
Current top scorer.