Meanwhile, at The Lowry Hotel in Manchester, Lukas was still laying on his back staring at the ceiling, his thoughts heavy and unfocused. His mind was still tangled in timelines and truths, in words like complications and adoption, in the strange weight of learning that his existence had altered more than he ever knew.
He felt drained. Not physically — emotionally. The kind of exhaustion that settles into the chest and refuses to move.
He had no idea.
No idea that in Manchester, executives were debating €85m decisions.
No idea that in Madrid, Simeone was replaying his defensive sprint over and over.
No idea that 2 clubs from 2 different parts of the continent were quietly setting plans into motion.
While he lay in a hotel room questioning his origins, the future of his career was being negotiated in boardrooms he had never stepped foot in.
And he was completely unaware.
* * *
Later that evening, the drive to the airport was silent.
