Team Bus — Back To Hotel
11:15 PM
The team bus back to The Lowry Hotel had players on their phones now because match obligations were done and the protocol allowed device use, and the bus was quieter than usual because fatigue from a match plus the release of tension created different energy.
Demien unlocked his phone and airplane mode went off.
412 notifications.
Instagram showed 999 and Twitter ntions had stopped counting sowhere past five hundred.
He opened Twitter first because Twitter showed the shape faster than other platforms.
The official England account had posted at ninety plus four:
SIX OF THE BEST! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁
Dominant performance at Old Trafford!
⚽️ Kane 12’
⚽️ Saka 31’
⚽️ Rashford 52’
⚽️ Saka 72’ (Walter assist 🎯)
⚽️ Walter 81’ 🚀
⚽️ Walter 88’ ⚡️
#ThreeLions #ENGNMK
573,000 likes in thirty minutes.
Second post was a photo carousel showing his Marseille Roulette, the dipping shot entering the net, his knee-slide celebration, and the team celebration.
Man of the Match 🌟 @demienwalter with two stunning goals and one assist! 25 minutes of magic at the Theatre of Dreams! 👏 #YoungLion
The comnts were overwhelming:
@England:SPECIAL TALENT 🌟
@ManUtd:😍
@LFC:🔴👀
@Atalanta_BC:Orgogliosi di te Demien! 🖤💙🏴
Romano had posted at ninety plus six:
Demien Walter: 2 goals, 1 assist in 25 minutes vs North Macedonia at Old Trafford. Liverpool DoF Julian Ward and Man United TD Darren Fletcher both present and imdiately contacted representatives post-match. Player’s valuation now £75-80M. etings Thursday/Friday confird. Both clubs preparing improved offers. 🔴⚪️ #LFC #MUFC
Gary Lineker’s account:
Demien Walter - two SENSATIONAL goals at Old Trafford. That Marseille Roulette before the first was pure silk. This lad is box office. Two caps: 3 goals, 2 assists. Ridiculous numbers.
Rio Ferdinand:
Walter just did THAT at Old Trafford. In front of 75,000. With both Liverpool and United watching. That’s how you handle pressure. Special player. United need to sign him. NOW.
Jamie Carragher:
That assist to Saka was Gerrard-esque. The vision, the execution. And then two world-class finishes. Liverpool are reportedly front-runners but after tonight’s performance Klopp needs to move FAST.
He scrolled through Italian coverage briefly and Gazzetta dello Sport had posted a full article with the headline translating to "The Italian Jewel Conquers Old Trafford" with photos and analysis.
DiMarzio had posted:
Demien Walter show a Old Trafford: doppietta e assist in 25 minuti. Liverpool e Manchester United pronti ad auntare offerte. Valutazione sale a 75-80 milioni di euro. Incontri giovedì e venerdì. #Calciorcato
He locked the phone and set it face-down because the information was too much to process properly on a bus twenty minutes after full ti.
Eze from across the aisle looked up from his own phone. "You broke the internet again."
"Apparently," Demien said.
"Two goals in seven minutes as a substitute," Eze said. "That’s FIFA career mode statistics."
"Just worked out that way," Demien said.
Phillips chuckled from the front seat. "That Marseille Roulette though. Never seen you do that in training."
"Saved it for the right mont," Demien said.
The bus pulled into The Lowry Hotel and players disembarked heading toward their rooms, and so were being released tomorrow while others would stay for recovery protocol.
Room 412
11:50 PM
Phillips went straight to the shower and Demien sat on his bed with the phone in his hand because the calls were owed and avoiding them would be rude to people who deserved better.
Isabella — 11:52 PM
She answered before the first ring finished and the sound that ca through was crying mixed with Italian mixed with English mixed with pure joy.
"DUE GOL! A OLD TRAFFORD! Demien, tutto Settignano ha guardato!"
Everyone in Settignano had watched. The entire neighborhood. She described how they’d gathered at the local bar and how fifteen neighbors had crowded around the television and how when the first goal went in people had scread and when the second goal went in people had stood on chairs.
He let her talk for eight minutes because she needed to release the emotion and interrupting would only extend it, and eventually her voice steadied and the crying stopped and she beca more coherent.
"Your father would have been so proud," she said, and her voice broke slightly on the words.
That hit differently than the rest. "I know, mamma."
They talked five more minutes about the upcoming week and the transfer etings and choosing wisely, and she reminded him to trust Marco and trust himself and make the decision that was right for his career rather than what was romantic or convenient.
"Ti amo, campione. Dormi bene."
"Ti amo, mamma."
The call ended.
Sophia — 12:04 AM
FaceTi connected and she appeared on screen in her Milan apartnt with her hair up and no makeup and the natural beauty that ca without effort.
"TWO GOALS!" she said, and she wasn’t crying but her smile was enormous. "The whole bar went INSANE when you scored the first one. Then the second? Demien, people were literally standing on tables!"
She described watching with her friends and how Italian television had spent ten minutes analyzing both goals and showing replays from every angle, and how her father had texted asking if Demien was definitely moving to England because Italy needed players like that.
They talked twelve minutes and she asked about his physical state and whether he had any knocks or soreness, and he told her he was fine and she reminded him that Thursday and Friday were huge etings and the decision had to co by the weekend.
"Choose what’s right for YOU," she emphasized. "Not what’s romantic. Not what’s convenient for us. What’s right for your career. We’ll handle the distance however we need to."
"I know," he said.
"I an it, Demien. Liverpool, United, doesn’t matter to . Choose the better fit for your football. That’s what matters."
"I will. I love you."
"I love you too. Now get so sleep. You’ve earned it."
The call ended.
Marco — Text Only — 12:18 AM
Marco didn’t call because he knew better than to have extended conversations at midnight after matches, and his text said everything necessary.
Outstanding performance. Both clubs called before you left the pitch. Thursday 2 PM - Liverpool at Rosewood London. Friday 11 AM - Man United at their London office. Both preparing SIGNIFICANTLY improved offers post-tonight. Your leverage tripled in twenty-five minutes. Rest tomorrow. We’ll talk Wednesday morning before etings to prepare strategy. Congratulations on an exceptional performance. Very proud. - M
Professional. Direct. Clear.
Demien didn’t reply because Marco wasn’t expecting one and the ssage had been received.
Luca — Voice Note — 12:22 AM
The voice note started with Luca screaming.
"FRATELLO!!!!! DOPPIETTA A OLD TRAFFORD!!! The entire Braga squad watched the second half! The coach paused our tactical video session to put your match on! Everyone was going crazy! You’re a LEGEND here! Call tomorrow! FORZA DEMIEN!!!"
Pure joy and genuine excitent from his best friend.
Demien sent a quick text back: Grazie fratello. Talk tomorrow.
De Roon — 12:26 AM
Watched with the team at dinner tonight. Gasperini watched both goals, nodded once, and said "bene, molto bene." That’s basically him declaring you world-class in Gasperini language. Everyone at Atalanta is proud of you. We all knew you had this in you. Congratulations Demi. You’ve earned everything coming your way. - Marten
He read it twice because Gasperini’s approval mattered and De Roon’s support mattered and Atalanta’s pride mattered.
He typed back: Thank you Marten. Atalanta made who I am. Will always be grateful. Talk soon.
Phillips erged from the shower. "You done with phone duty?"
"Yeah," Demien said.
"Good. Get so sleep. Tomorrow’s recovery day and you’re probably being released from camp. Big week ahead."
He set the phone face-down on the nightstand.
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