Chapter 102: Bench Talks
David sank into the bench, still riding the high of being part of the matchday squad. His heart pounded with excitement, and a wide grin was plastered across his face. He sat near Odion Ighalo, Eric Bailly, Mason Greenwood, and Juan Mata, barely able to contain himself. His good foot tapped eagerly against the floor, and every now and then, he caught himself practically bouncing in place.
The second half kicked off with intensity. Manchester City came out with an aggressive press, pushing high up the pitch and flooding United’s half with waves of attacks. Without the usual roar of the Old Trafford faithful, the eerie silence of the empty stadium made every kick, every shout, and every tackle echo through the stands. On the touchline, Ole Gunnar Solskjær stood with arms crossed, tension evident in his stance. His eyes darted across the field, following every move as City continued their relentless push forward.
David clenched his fists, watching as United struggled to keep possession. Every clearance felt like a temporary reprieve, and every time City’s attackers surged forward, his stomach twisted with unease. He wanted to say something, anything, but his throat felt tight. He had never been this close to the action before without him being part of the action—he was seeing his dream play out in front of him, yet helpless to do anything about it.
"Wow, kid, you must really like United," came a voice beside him. The thick Nigerian accent was unmistakable.
David turned to see Ighalo smirking at him."Yeah, they’re my club," David said, his eyes shining with passion. "My dad got me into supporting them, but honestly, even without him, this would still be my team. There’s just something special about United."Ighalo let out a low whistle. "Wow, that’s serious love. Look at you—you’re all in," he said with a laugh.David nodded firmly. "Of course. Don’t you love them too? Isn’t that why you’re here?"Ighalo chuckled. "Yeah, man, United have always been my favorite team. That’s why I came here. But let’s be real—it’s also about the money."David’s head snapped toward him. "Excuse me?"
Ighalo laughed at his reaction. "What, kid? I’m just saying how it is. The pay is why I’m here. Yeah, it’s fun playing here and all—I’ve liked United ever since I was small. That’s mostly why I came here. But if the pay wasn’t good, I wouldn’t have come. Thank God my parent club is also paying me."
David frowned. "What parent club?"
"Shanghai Shenhua."
David blinked. "What? The Chinese league?"