From Reject to Legend

The sun hung high over Manchester, casting a rare golden light across the city. For once, the clouds had stepped aside—as if they, too, knew something special was happening. The Etihad Stadium stood gleaming in the sunlight, its curved frame humming with energy. It wasn't a match day, but the atmosphere said otherwise.

Every seat in the stadium was filled. Fans—young, old, long-time supporters and newcomers—were packed shoulder to shoulder, waving flags, holding signs, and chanting with a unified rhythm.

The air buzzed with anticipation. Today wasn't about points or trophies. It was about a statement. Manchester City was changing the balance of football, and the world was here to witness it.

This was the presentation of Adriano Riveiro.

The giant screen above the stands flashed clips of his goals, his assists, his iconic moments in La Liga and the World Cup.

Each highlight was followed by a growing roar from the crowd. Commentators from Sky Sports, BBC, and international outlets spoke excitedly over the live broadcast, building the hype with every word.

Then the stadium lights dimmed slightly, and a single spotlight lit up the tunnel entrance. Chants started low, then rose in volume and tempo.

"Adriano! Adriano!", "Our King is Here", "All hail the King!" and many other chants erupted from the audience.

Then, out of the tunnel, he emerged.

Wearing the full Manchester City home kit—the unmistakable sky blue shirt tucked into white shorts, socks pulled high, and boots gleaming beneath—the number *10* printed in bold on his back.

But it was the detail above the "i" in his name that everyone noticed—a small golden crown. A subtle mark, yet already symbolic. The crowd erupted into thunder.

Adriano stepped onto the pitch slowly, his expression calm and focused. He raised one hand to wave and was met with a deafening wall of sound. Thousands of fans jumped, clapped, and whistled in unison. Flashbulbs lit the stadium as photographers scrambled to capture every angle.

Standing at midfield, Adriano looked around the packed stands. A ball was rolled to him from the sideline. He stopped it with a gentle touch, then picked it up. The crowd grew quiet, almost holding its breath.

And then, he started.

With the ball at his feet, Adriano went to work. A quick step over. Then a flick behind his heel. He popped it up and began juggling effortlessly—thigh, foot, shoulder, then back to his feet. He kept it going as he walked forward, barely looking down.

A rainbow flick over an imaginary defender drew a collective gasp. He followed it with a no-look flick that had the ball curling behind his back before catching it on the tip of his boot. Then came a spinning heel flick—smooth and controlled. It wasn't just showboating; it was art in motion.

The fans responded with wave after wave of cheers, some clapping, some shouting his name, others simply filming every second. He finished the sequence by tossing the ball up and striking it with a rabona—crossing one leg behind the other—sending it cleanly into the net. The moment it hit the back of the goal, the stadium erupted again.

Adriano simply smiled and nodded, acknowledging the crowd's energy. His calm demeanor in the face of such attention only made the fans love him more.

Soon after, a group of children in City kits was ushered onto the pitch. They lined up near the sideline, each one holding posters, jerseys, or footballs. Some were bouncing on their heels, others frozen in place, stunned by the moment.

Adriano walked over to them without hesitation. He knelt down, signing whatever they offered, pausing to pose for pictures. He ruffled the hair of a boy who could barely get his words out, the child's lower lip trembling as he tried to thank him. One girl hugged him around the waist. Adriano smiled and returned the gesture gently.

The crowd watched it all, cheering even louder than they had during the skills display. For many, this was the true highlight—seeing the superstar take his time with fans, especially the youngest ones.

Up in the stands, the club's media team captured everything. Within minutes, clips were already being uploaded to social platforms—Instagram, Twitter, YouTube. The headlines wrote themselves:

**"A King's Arrival: Adriano Unveiled at the Etihad."**

**"From Malaga to Manchester—Adriano's First Steps in Sky Blue."**

**"The Crowned Prince of Manchester: Adriano Riveiro Stuns Fans at Presentation."**

Across England, watch parties and live broadcasts played the event in pubs, homes, and stores. Every major outlet had a piece running, either on live TV or online. It wasn't just a football story—it was national news.

In London, rival fans grumbled. In Liverpool, there was silence. In Manchester, blue painted the city in full, covering the red.

For Adriano, the noise faded once he stepped off the pitch. As he disappeared down the tunnel again, his heart pounded—not from nerves, but from the weight of everything ahead.

The welcome was over. Now came the hard part.

---

After a final wave to the euphoric crowd, Adriano stepped off the Etihad turf and into the cool tunnel. The cheers behind him faded into a hum as he walked through the corridor, only for a voice to stop him in his tracks.

"Mi chico."

Adriano turned and smiled wide. Manuel Pellegrini stood there, arms open, his usually composed face lit up with warmth.

"You finally made it," Pellegrini said, pulling him in for a hug. "Now I can sleep easy. My lucky charm is here."

"I just hope I'm still lucky for you," Adriano laughed.

Pellegrini stepped back and gave him a firm pat on the shoulder. "You were never just luck. You're a player who makes others better—by being who you are. Now go in there and let them know who you are."

Minutes later, Adriano was seated between Khaldoon Al Mubarak and Pellegrini in a press room packed with over a hundred journalists from across the footballing world. Camera shutters clicked rhythmically. Reporters were hunched over recorders, tablets, and notepads—waiting.

Al Mubarak began with a brief statement about the significance of the transfer and the club's long-term vision. Then, the questions came.

A journalist from Sky Sports led the charge.

"Adriano, welcome to England. Let's start with the big question—why Manchester City?"

Adriano leaned into the mic, his voice clear and measured.

"Because they didn't just offer a contract—they offered a vision. From the first meeting, it was obvious this club is building something special. They're not thinking about just one season—they're thinking five, ten years ahead. I've played at clubs with history.

But here, I saw a chance to help *create* history. That excites me. They didn't just want me to fit into a system—they want to build one around ambition. That's what drew me in. Not to mention my desire to create something new. As I told my agent Mendes—sometimes an empty canvas can provide more than a finished masterpiece."

**The Guardian** followed.

"There's no ignoring the number: €150 million—world-record territory. How do you handle the pressure of that price tag?"

Adriano nodded slowly, already expecting the question.

"I get it. It's a massive number, and with it comes expectation. But the fee wasn't my decision—it's a result of market dynamics and what the club values me at. I didn't ask for the price tag.

What I *can* control is how I work, how I perform, and how I carry myself. My pressure comes from within, not from the numbers on a report. I want to justify the trust the club put in me—and that's the only thing on my mind."

**L'Équipe** pressed him next.

"You've played in Spain. Now, you're stepping into a more physical, faster-paced Premier League. How do you plan to adapt?"

Adriano didn't blink.

"Adaptation is part of evolution. You don't grow unless you step outside your comfort zone. I've been training to handle the intensity, studying the rhythm of the Premier League, and talking with coaches who know it well.

I've added some muscle, refined my defensive awareness, and worked on my timing in tighter spaces. But more than that—it's mental. You need to embrace the chaos, not fear it. That's what I'm here to do."

**A reporter from The Times** jumped in.

"City has invested heavily over the years, but their European track record has fallen short. Is that part of your mission here?"

Adriano's gaze sharpened slightly.

"Yes, absolutely. This club deserves to be respected in Europe—not just domestically. That's not something that happens overnight, but it starts with belief. And consistency. City has come close, but now it's about pushing further. I came here not just to compete, but to win. And the Champions League? That's on everyone's mind. It's one of the reasons I'm here."

A hand from **ESPN** went up.

"There's a lot of hype around you—some calling you the future Ballon d'Or winner, others labeling you the next Ronaldo or Messi. Do you believe you can live up to it?"

A pause. Then Adriano spoke, slower this time.

"Comparisons are natural in football, but I'm not here to *be* the next anyone. I'm Adriano. That's all. I admire what Messi and Ronaldo have done—they set standards we all dream of. But I focus on writing my own story.

Living up to the hype? That depends on the work I do *after* the cameras stop rolling. I'm still 18. There's so much to learn. But I back myself. I believe in the people around me. And I'm ready to prove myself, step by step."

**Marca** followed up from the Spanish press row.

"You left Spain when many thought you'd go to Madrid or stay in La Liga. Some fans feel it was a betrayal. Was the decision hard?"

Adriano gave a small, respectful nod.

"Spain is my second home. It gave me my first chance. I'll always be grateful. But this decision wasn't about loyalty—it was about opportunity. I needed something different.

A new league, new challenges, a new environment. I didn't leave to disrespect anyone. I left to grow. And I believe that growth will help me return stronger one day—wherever my path leads."

Then came the question that changed the mood.

A tabloid journalist, already infamous in the room, asked the one personal question everyone had tiptoed around.

"Adriano, there are photos of you and Kate Upton—dinners, flights, the hotel . Can we confirm that you're in a relationship?"

The room fell quiet. Flashbulbs flickered.

Adriano looked at the reporter calmly, without annoyance, but with finality.

"I understand the curiosity. I really do. But I'm here as a footballer. My personal life is private, and I want to keep it that way. What I do on the pitch is what I want to be judged on. I hope you can respect that boundary."

Before the tension could grow, Al Mubarak leaned in and cleared his throat politely.

"That will be all for today. Thank you all for coming."

As Adriano stood, cameras exploded once more. He shook hands with Al Mubarak and exchanged a few quiet words with Pellegrini. Then he followed the staff out of the room, through a private corridor where the noise from the outside world dimmed again.

But he knew the headlines were already being written.

He wasn't just a new signing. He was the biggest signing in history.

And the next chapter was already waiting. He found a call from Mendes who gave him the step by step instructions. " I'm sorry for not being able to make it Adriano. I have already assembled a new team to deal with your day to operations and anything you might need.

They will help you with anything you require, maybe even hide a body if needed," He joked.

Adriano just laughed and replied it was alright and he was hoping to see him soon.

Outside the media room, Kate waited near the executive lounge, her sunglasses still on. Her expression was a mix of pride and exhaustion. Though she had sat far from the spotlight, the energy, noise, and eyes had taken their toll.

Adriano walked up, gently reaching for her hand. "You okay?"

She nodded with a soft smile. "It's… a lot. But you were amazing."

"I know it can be overwhelming," he said, pulling her in gently. "Just hang in there a bit longer, alright? I have to meet with Mubarak and the squad staff for a quick talk."

"I better go home and rest, then start preparing dinner, babe. You have fun." She gave him a quick hug.

"You sure you'll be okay?" Adriano asked with concern.

"I'll be fine," she said. "Don't worry about me."

He kissed her gently and signaled one of the club assistants. "Can you please take her home? Make sure she's comfortable and gets her rest, and buy and deliver whatever she asks for. I'll be back home soon."

The assistant nodded, leading Kate away toward the waiting car. Adriano watched until she disappeared from sight, then turned and headed down the corridor, adjusting the hem of his new jersey.

There was still work to be done.

***

The door to the executive meeting room shut quietly behind Adriano as he stepped inside. The atmosphere was more subdued now—no roaring fans, no flashing cameras, just the cool hum of an air-conditioned space and the quiet shuffling of papers. This was where the real work began.

Khaldoon Al Mubarak sat at the head of the long glass table, his expression calm but focused. Next to him was Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain, already leaning over a tactical board laid out in front of them.

Manuel Pellegrini stood near the window, arms crossed, watching Adriano enter with the same kind of quiet confidence he'd always had.

Adriano took a seat without needing to be asked. There were no formalities here—just purpose.

Begiristain tapped a pen on a stack of documents. "We've drafted a tailored integration plan for you," he began.

"Two weeks of focused sessions—fitness, tactical drills, and positional work. One-on-one sessions with our physio and coaching staff. The idea is to bring you in step-by-step without changing things more than we already have."

Adriano leaned forward, studying the tactical board. Diagrams of player movements, formation lines, and passing channels were marked in different colors. His name was written in red ink just behind the striker's position, floating between the midfield and forward lines.

"You'll be rotating into light squad training by next Monday," Begiristain continued, "but the expectation is to see you starting by match week two or three. So we'll move quickly."

"I'm ready," Adriano said without hesitation. "Tell me where I'm needed."

Pellegrini stepped away from the window and moved closer, gesturing to the formation on the board. "We'll run a 4-2-3-1 as our primary shape this season. But the key difference—what we're building around—is fluidity. You won't be locked to a fixed spot."

He pointed to the space behind the striker.

"You'll have freedom here, between the lines. You can drift wide, drop deep, attack space. The others will adapt around you. Silva, De Bruyne, Hazard—they're all intelligent players. They'll follow your movement. We want you pulling strings and creating chaos."

Adriano studied the board silently for a moment, then looked up.

"What about pressing structure? Do I track deep, or stay higher?"

Pellegrini smiled faintly. He liked that question.

"You'll press situationally. We're not asking you to chase every ball into the back line, but we *will* want you to initiate triggers. You set the tone. When you close down, others follow."

Al Mubarak leaned forward now, folding his hands.

"This isn't about putting pressure on you, Adriano. But we want you to know the truth—this is a squad built to win now. And you're the centerpiece. Not just the face of the brand—but the engine of the team. The signings we've made, the changes in strategy… it's all aligned with what we believe you can bring."

Adriano nodded once, slowly.

"I understand. I didn't come here to coast. I came to lead."

The room fell quiet for a moment, the weight of those words hanging in the air.

Pellegrini broke it with a half-smile. "There'll be an internal match later this week. Closed doors. We'll put you in for 45 minutes. Nothing too heavy—but enough to test chemistry. After that, we'll start mapping your minutes."

"Who's coordinating the drills?" Adriano asked.

"Enzo Maresca and Carlos Vicens," Begiristain answered. "They'll rotate with you. We have also got some pointer from Guardiola himself."

Adriano's brows rose slightly. "Guardiola?"

Al Mubarak nodded. "He's not officially here yet, but we value his input. And you'll find he's very invested in your development."

The discussion continued for another ten minutes—scheduling, medical protocols, diet routines. Details that would shape the weeks ahead.

When it was over, Adriano stood, shaking hands with each of them.

Pellegrini gave him one last look before he left.

"Everything we've built this summer, every plan we've made—it all begins now. Welcome to Manchester, Adriano. Time to show them what we've been waiting for."

Adriano nodded again, not as a gesture of thanks—but of readiness. The fanfare was over. The applause had faded. Now came the grind.

"Now," Al Mubarak said after the initial briefing on the training and integration plan was complete, "let's talk about the real issue: the squad, the system, the season."

He pressed a button on the table, and the screen behind him lit up with the club's summer transfer movements—an ambitious, aggressive window that had sent shockwaves across Europe.

"Around Three hundred million euros," Txiki said, glancing around the room. "That's what we've spent this summer. Half of that, of course, was for you, Adriano. The other half… was to build the team around you as per your recommendations."

Adriano leaned forward slightly, his eyes drawn to the screen. This was the first time he'd seen the entire transfer plan laid out, all the pieces coming together like a grand chess game. And many of those pieces had been his suggestions.

Pellegrini stepped in. "Let's start from the back."

Goalkeeper: Joe Hart—still the undisputed number one. Experienced, commanding, and homegrown. A natural leader from the back.

Center-backs: Vincent Kompany and Mats Hummels—The Belgian captain was already a rock in City's defense, but now he had a partner worthy of his stature. The acquisition of Mats Hummels from Borussia Dortmund for €28 million was a master stroke.

"His ball-playing ability," Pellegrini said, pointing to Hummels' name on the board, "complements Kompany's power perfectly. We tried for a while offering high salary , and thanks to the player's desire to join, we finally closed it. Dortmund didn't want to sell for less than 30 million —but he forced their hand."

Fullbacks: Zabaleta and Kolarov—dependable, hardworking veterans who offered both defensive solidity and offensive support. Pellegrini didn't plan to replace them yet.

Midfield Pivot: De Bruyne and David Silva—the room shifted its attention as Txiki spoke next.

"Signing Kevin De Bruyne was quite tricky " he said. "Wolfsburg didn't want to lose him, and there were other clubs circling. Bayern were sniffing, but Kevin was swayed by the idea of joining a team built for Champions League glory, not to mention rumours that you might also join."

"And David Silva?" Adriano asked.

"Untouchable for now ," Pellegrini replied. "He'll be your partner in midfield with De Bruyne as you guys switch around the position . Think of him and De Bruyne as the conductor while you create chaos in the spaces."

Casemiro—the €10 million acquisition from São Paulo was a gamble, but a calculated one.

"We spotted him early after your suggestion ," Txiki added. "Real Madrid hesitated to raise price. We didn't. He'll rotate in when we need some steel defense in midfield."

Attacking Trio: Salah, Adriano, Hazard—it was surreal seeing it on paper.

Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian dynamo, was brought in from Basel for €12 million.

He was a relatively unknown quantity to most Premier League fans, but the scouting team believed in his raw pace, work rate, and finishing.

"He's a bit of a work in progress project," Pellegrini admitted. "But the potential is massive. I don't know how you even noticed him."

Eden Hazard had been a surprise addition. We were not certain he would join us over Chelsea. After a frustrating season at Lille, he'd made it clear he wanted a new challenge.

The deal had gone under the radar for a while—Hazard had supposedly agreed to terms with Chelsea—but City swooped in late with a higher bid and the promise of immediate Champions League football, not to mention the opportunity to play alongside you.

"Convincing Lille was hard," Txiki said, "but convincing Hazard was harder—until we revealed we might be signing you as well ."

Adriano smiled. With Hazard in the wing, it will be easier for him on the centre.

Striker: Sergio Agüero, with Harry Kane as rotation and substitute .

The swap deal with Tottenham had been controversial. Edin Džeko, a proven scorer, and a 15% sell-on clause, in exchange for Harry Kane, a rising but untested English striker. The €10 million Tottenham gave was nothing more than chump change.

"Tottenham thought we were mad," Al Mubarak said with a chuckle. "But we saw Kane's hunger. He's raw, yes—but he's relentless. And now he'll learn from Agüero and Yourself ."

Pellegrini added, "This season, we'll run a 4-2-3-1. Agüero leads the line, but Kane will get many games—especially in domestic cups and easier league fixtures."

He tapped the tactical board, revealing the formation:

4-2-3-1 Formation:

GK – Joe Hart

RB – Zabaleta

CBs – Kompany, Hummels

LB – Kolarov

CMs – De Bruyne, Silva (with Casemiro and Toure rotating)

RW – Salah

CAM – Adriano

LW – Hazard

ST – Agüero (with Kane rotating)

"And the rest of the squad will cover as needed," Pellegrini continued. " Yaya Toure, Fernandinho are still here for depth—though they might move in next summer depending on fitness and form."

Then Txiki brought up the last slide—three names under the category: "Development Loans to Málaga CF."

Paulo Dybala – signed from Palermo for €25 million

John Stones – from Everton for €10 million

Virgil van Dijk – from Celtic for €7 million

"They're not ready for first-team minutes yet," he explained. "But they're huge for our long-term project. Dybala especially—we expect him to explode in La Liga."

But I'm not sure about the other Kids you insisted on getting, as they were still very young, so They are signed for our Academy. Marcus Rashford, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ruben Diaz, Jaden Sancho, Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe. All of them showed promise to be good players.

Seriously Adriano, how did you even find these guys! - Pellegrini laughed and asked in Curiousity.

" I guess I just have an eye for these things. Although whether they can reach their full potential is another matter entirely." Adriano replied with a nervous laugh.

Not like I can tell you I poached a generation of future stars using my future knowledge as transmigrator ' He thought to himself . ( 🤷🏼‍♂️)

Adriano leaned back in his chair, eyes scanning the formation one more time. It was exactly what they had discussed weeks ago—now made real.

He turned to Al Mubarak. "Thank you. For believing in this. For going all-in."

Al Mubarak met his gaze. "We didn't just sign players, Adriano. We signed an idea, anphilosophy for future development. You gave us the vision—we gave you the canvas. Now it's time to paint something unforgettable."

Pellegrini added with a rare smile, "You're not just our number ten. You're the cornerstone of what comes next. It'll depend on you and your teammates to show you are capable of greatness."

Adriano stood and shook each of their hands. "We'll prove they're all worth it. Every euro was worth it."

"You better," Begiristain said with a dry chuckle. "Because half of England hates us already."

"They'll hate us more when we start winning." Adriano replied with a confident grin.

There was a moment of silence, thick with a quiet intensity. Everyone in the room could feel it—the shift. The gravity of what they could look forward to.

Al Mubarak clapped his hands and stood up. "Alright. Let's get to work. We don't want a show off team—we want a team that makes history."

As the meeting wrapped up, Al Mubarak stood and extended a hand. "Welcome to our club again, Adriano. You've won their hearts today. Now, win their respect."

Adriano shook his hand firmly. "I will."

***

Later that evening, as the sun dipped beneath the Manchester skyline, Adriano returned to the mansion. The soft lights inside greeted him with warmth, and Kate was curled up on the couch, a glass of wine in hand, her heels tossed aside.

She looked up and smiled as he walked in.

"Hey there handsome superstar, mind sparing a moment for me?."

Adriano dropped beside her and let out a tired sigh, resting his head against her shoulder.

" I'll Always have time for you babe. I think today was the most tiring day of my life," he muttered.

Kate laughed. "Well, get used to it. You're England's new obsession."

He smirked. "As long as I'm still yours."

"Always." She rested her head on his shoulder and hugged him.

And in that quiet moment, as the city continued buzzing outside, the boy with the crown finally felt at home.

When the curtain finally lifted on Adriano's jaw-dropping presentation at the Etihad, the footballing world stood still. Not since the unveiling of Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid or Ronaldinho's cheeky grin on a dusty Barcelona stage had an arrival felt quite so theatrical.

The golden crown above the "i" on his shirt might've drawn a chuckle from the cynics, but for fans of the Premier League and Malaga fans who witnessed his magic last season , this was no jest—it was the beginning of a new era.

But while Manchester City fans were planning parades, others weren't quite as thrilled.

Wayne Rooney (Manchester United captain)

Tweeted: "Big talent, no doubt. But he'll need more than a crown on his shirt to handle Manchester derbies. Welcome to the Premier league ."

Arsène Wenger (Arsenal Manager)

In a pre season post-match interview, Wenger was asked about City's new signing. With a smile equal parts admiration and passive-aggressive academic disdain, he responded:

"He is very talented, no? But it is always better to judge a player after he has played a cold Wednesday night in Stoke. The Premier League is not just a circus of presentations, it is a school of resilience."

José Mourinho (Chelsea Manager)

Mourinho was visibly unimpressed and even bitter about failing to sign Adriano . In a classic Mourinho soundbite that would be replayed across all sports channels:

"If I want show, I go to Broadway. If I want trophies, I go to Chelsea. Let's talk in May after the season stats come in. ."

Steven Gerrard (Liverpool captain)

Gerrard, still heartbroken from the world cup failure, was trying not to let the Adriano spectacle distract him.

"He looks the part. Hopefully he brings more competition to the league. That's what we need, not media circus."

Zlatan Ibrahimović

Zlatan remarked during an interview, "I have seen many players come and go, but Adriano's unveiling was more than a mere transfer announcement—it was a major event. If he can keep up with my standards, he might, just might, be a worthy adversary on the pitch."

Zlatan's comment was both a challenge and a compliment, and it sparked a flurry of memes featuring his notorious smirk and typical Zlatan comments.

In Sky Sports Panel, the analysts argued about the event, and trying to pour doubts over Adriano's capabilities in Premier League .

Gary Neville:

"He's got flair, sure, but I want to see what he does when he's kicked three times in the first ten minutes. Can he keep his head? Can he track back?"

Jamie Carragher:

"Forget tracking back, Gary. Did you see that volley? Lads like that don't track back. They make defenders cry."

Graeme Souness:

"Doesn't matter how fancy he is, he won't last if he doesn't put in a shift. We'll see if he's still smiling after Tony Pulis gets a go at him."

Premier league fans also reacted in their own way. If Adriano's arrival shook the media, it straight-up detonated Football Twitter. The memes, the debates, the tribal banter—it was all part of the pre-match warm-up now. Crown or no crown, the boy was officially in the lion's den.

And Premier League fans? They were sharpening their tweets like pitchforks.

@RedDevilRant (United fan):

"Fantastic. Another £100 million+ samba showpony for City to bench in February for injury. Can't wait for the Amazon Prime doc: 'Adriano—From Crown to Carabao Cup.'"

@GoonerGreg (Arsenal fan):

"Why do City get Adriano and we get links to 'the next Adriano' who plays in the Bulgarian third division and has asthma?"

@KopKid97 (Liverpool fan):

"Looks electric. But so did our toaster before it caught fire. Let's wait until he's played Liverpool away before we build a statue."

@TrueBlueTrev (City fan):

"Just watched his presentation for the 12th time. Cried. Laughed. Proposed to my telly. This is our Roman Empire moment, lads.

@SpursPain (Tottenham fan):

"It's okay. He might have a crown, but we've got Richarlison… who wears a chicken hat and cries after scoring in the 87th minute. Balance, innit?"

@WolvesWanderer:

"Can we just touch him? Like, borrow him for 30 minutes? One half. A warm-up? Please?"

@ToffeeTears (Everton fan):

"He's got the flair, the feet, the face. We've got Ashley Young at left-back. Life's fair, innit."

@GeordieJoeNUFC (Newcastle fan):

"I give him three weeks before Dan Burn clatters him into the fifth row. Let's see how royal he feels then."

@PalaceVibes (Crystal Palace fan):

"He's good, sure. But can he do it at Selhurst on a drizzly Tuesday while Zaha's having one of his spiritual awakenings?"

@RelegationRob (Leeds fan):

"They said we'd never see flair like Cantona again. Then this lad rocks up doing pirouettes and launching volleys. I'm both in love and mildly offended."

@StokeThePain (Stoke fan):

"Cute tricks, sunshine. Wait till Charlie Adam's ghost greets you at the halfway line with a two-footed welcome to England."

@BantersaurusRex (General chaos merchant):

"Just put him in a cage with Roy Keane and Paul Scholes and film what happens. I'd pay pay-per-view money."

As the world buzzed with the aftermath of the announcement, along with full transfer list of Manchester City, Adriano slept quietly in his home ignoring the drama. The gossips, speculations or comments didn't change anything. His goal was still the same.

He was here to rule the Premier league, and show the world, that this era belongs to him.