Soccer: I became Bruno Fernandes.

Chapter 309: Where is Bruno Going?

Bruno called his teammates over to the sidelines to acknowledge the Udinese fans, thanking everyone who came to support the team. This was a routine gesture for the team.

The fans at the stadium seemed to sense that Bruno was saying goodbye, and there was a touch of sadness in the air. Some fans even faintly called for him to stay, but those voices quickly faded. They all loved Bruno and wanted him to move on to a bigger stage to prove himself. Although this made them sad, it was the reality.

Udinese's stage was too small to keep an eagle destined to soar the skies. The only consolation for them was that Bruno left behind a valuable legacy. This wasn't just the transfer fee that would surely break the Serie A transfer record, but also the golden championship trophies in Udinese's honor room!

Especially the two Serie A championships, one Champions League, and one Europa League, which would greatly enhance Udinese's prestige, transforming them from a small, obscure team in Italian football to one of Italy's top clubs.

Many fans choked up, some even covering their faces and crying. Others held up banners, and one that touched Bruno the most read: "This will always be your home, please come back often to visit us!"

Seeing this banner, Bruno felt a lump in his throat, and tears almost fell. He blinked hard to maintain his composure, but he would never forget these lovely fans.

...

It had been three years since Bruno transferred from Novara to Udinese in the summer of 2013. Over the past three years, he had become familiar with and accustomed to everything about Udinese. Sometimes he even thought that staying in Italy, staying at Udinese, would be quite pleasant. But he had his own dreams to pursue, and to achieve them, he had to leave.

Bruno walked to the coaching area and hugged head coach Francesco Guidolin tightly. "Thank you, coach. Thank you for trusting, taking care of, and nurturing me these past three years," Bruno said emotionally.

Even the seasoned Guidolin, who was used to farewells, was moved. He looked deeply into Bruno's eyes and said, "Kid, let me give you one last piece of advice." Bruno stood solemnly before Guidolin and nodded seriously.

"You are very strong. You already have the strength to play for any team in the four major leagues. Have confidence in yourself. Don't doubt yourself. Believe me, as long as you keep working hard and continue as you have for the past three years, I believe you will become the best player in the world."

Bruno nodded heavily and hugged Guidolin again.

In fact, this match was not just Bruno's farewell game. It was also the farewell game for Di Natale and Guidolin. This soon-to-be 61-year-old coach would officially retire after this season, not just leaving Udinese but retiring from coaching entirely. After this season, the football world would no longer see "Little General."

...

In the 2015-2016 season, Udinese defeated Carpi 4-1 at the Friuli Stadium in the 38th round of Serie A, winning the league title for the second consecutive year. Over the past three seasons, Udinese won the Italian Cup and the Europa League in the 2013-2014 season, the Serie A, Champions League, European Super Cup, and Italian Super Cup in the 2014-2015 season. This season, they won the Serie A, Italian Super Cup, European Super Cup, and Club World Cup, and they reached the Champions League quarter-finals. Udinese's achievements were remarkable, catching the attention of the entire Italian and even European football scene.

As for Bruno himself, his personal statistics were astounding. In three years in Serie A, Bruno played 108 league games for Udinese, scoring 82 goals and providing 72 assists, both the highest in Serie A during that period. In the just-concluded 2015-2016 season, Bruno achieved 39 goals and 29 assists, setting new Serie A records.

Not only in Serie A, but Bruno's performance in European competitions was also impressive. In the 2013-2014 season, he was the Europa League top scorer and assist leader. In the 2014-2015 season, he became the Champions League top scorer and assist leader, surpassing superstars like Ronaldo and Messi. Even in the just-concluded 2015-2016 season, he was the second top scorer in the Champions League with 14 goals, just behind Ronaldo's 16 goals.

In three years at Udinese, Bruno played 157 official matches, scoring 145 goals and providing 104 assists. During the same period, his goal tally was second only to Ronaldo, who scored 163 goals for Real Madrid, and surpassed Messi's 140 goals for Barcelona. As for assists, Bruno was undoubtedly the assist king over the past three years, with 40 more assists than Messi.

...

But the scene at the Friuli Stadium made everyone realize that Bruno was about to leave. The news of Bruno's departure even overshadowed Udinese's Serie A championship, becoming the focus of Italian and European media attention. Everyone believed that in his last game, Bruno was saying goodbye to his teammates and the coaching staff with his actions.

"La Gazzetta dello Sport" even wrote an article stating that Bruno had almost decided to leave! Even Udinese's management no longer avoided the topic. Club president Giampaolo Pozzo, in an interview with the media, said that while Bruno's departure was not final, the team was prepared for it.

"Undoubtedly, Bruno has been the most important player for the team over the past three seasons. He has led the team to outstanding achievements with his unexpected performance and left a deep impression on the pitch. But Udinese has never been about just one player. In our club's century-long history, we have developed countless outstanding stars, and we firmly believe that after Bruno, we can still develop very talented players."

Regarding the team's plans for the next season, Pozzo said that no final decisions had been made.

...

Although the media dared not make an official announcement, it was clear to everyone that Bruno's departure was a done deal. The only question was which team he would join next.

The French Ligue 1, Serie A, and the German Bundesliga were unlikely destinations for Bruno. The reason was simple: moving to these leagues wouldn't help him improve his skills. Portugal's national team coach, Santos, said that the best leagues for Bruno to develop further were La Liga and the Premier League. He should prove himself in these two leagues.

Many initially saw Bruno joining Real Madrid in La Liga to team up with Ronaldo and Pepe, his national team teammates, with whom he had excellent chemistry. But after Bruno won the last FIFA Ballon d'Or earlier this year, beating Ronaldo and Messi, the chances of him joining Real Madrid became very slim.

Two tigers cannot live on the same mountain; this saying applies both in the East and the West. The same logic applies to Barcelona, where Messi reigns. As the new Ballon d'Or winner, Bruno is now considered one of the top three footballers in the world, alongside Ronaldo and Messi. Like Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic in tennis, he is now a football giant.

Given Bruno's current status, it's unthinkable for him to join Real Madrid or Barcelona as a secondary player to Ronaldo or Messi. Therefore, the Premier League seemed the most likely destination, especially considering the wealthy Manchester clubs, which were the bookmakers' favorites to land Bruno.

...

Pep Guardiola, who was already working at Manchester City, said that despite the team having top-class playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, they would still go all out to sign Bruno. He believed that Bruno was not just the best playmaker but also a lethal scorer, and his presence would not conflict with De Bruyne's role. Guardiola also mentioned that the over €100 million transfer fee would not be an issue for Manchester City.

Newly appointed Manchester United manager José Mourinho had been eyeing Bruno for a long time. Even during his tenure at Chelsea, he wanted to sign Bruno. Now, Mourinho realized that this summer might be his last chance to get Bruno. If Bruno joined another top club, it would be almost impossible for Manchester United to sign him later. Especially if he joined Real Madrid, other clubs could forget about signing him.

Besides the Manchester clubs, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Klopp's Liverpool were also in the race to sign Bruno. Although Bruno's transfer fee would set a new record, possibly exceeding €150 million, Chelsea could afford it. Even Arsenal's Wenger and Liverpool's Klopp could stretch their budgets to make it happen. For Arsenal and Wenger, who hadn't won a title in years, signing Bruno could be their last hope for winning the Premier League or the Champions League.

(End of Chapter)

Friends, if you want to read chapters in advance, subscribe to my patreon.

You can also buy the book if you are only interested in reading the novel.