Marco left to handle the notifications while Demien packed essentials in his travel bag, and when the packing was finished he sent a text to Sophia.
Made my decision. United. Flying to Manchester this afternoon.
Her reply ca within two minutes.
Proud of you. Call when you land.
He sent brief ssages to Isabella and Luca, and both replied quickly with congratulations before the car arrived at eleven-thirty.
Luca walked into the apartnt as Demien was carrying his bag to the door, and he stopped when he saw the packed bag and understood what it ant.
"United," Luca said.
"Yeah," Demien confird. "Car’s coming now."
Luca walked to the couch and they sat for a mont without speaking, and the silence held the weight of a year spent as roommates and teammates.
"Good luck," Luca finally said, and they embraced briefly before pulling back. "Don’t forget us when you’re scoring at Old Trafford."
"Not possible," Demien replied.
The car arrived and Demien climbed in beside Marco while Bergamo disappeared behind them, and the drive to Milan took forty minutes before they reached Linate Airport where the Manchester United jet was waiting.
Manchester United Training Complex, Carrington
6:00 PM BST
The private jet landed at Manchester Airport at five-thirty PM and United’s driver t them at the tarmac before taking them directly to Carrington Training Complex, and the drive lasted fifteen minutes through suburban Manchester until the facility appeared with its multiple pitches and modern buildings.
Erik ten Hag, John Murtough, Darren Fletcher, and United’s legal team were waiting in the main conference room when Demien and Marco arrived, and handshakes went around the table before everyone took seats.
"Welco to Manchester United," Ten Hag said, and his Dutch accent made the words sound clipped. "We’re very pleased you chose us."
Murtough slid contract docunts across the table. "Five-year deal as discussed. Two hundred twenty thousand pounds per week base salary, rising to two hundred fifty thousand by year five. Twelve million pound signing bonus paid in two installnts. Image rights structure as outlined. Standard Premier League contract terms."
The lawyer walked through each section while Demien asked three clarifying questions about exit clause language and image rights, and Marco took notes before everyone was satisfied with the terms.
Murtough slid the signature pages across at six PM. "If you’re satisfied, we can proceed."
Demien signed four copies of the contract while Marco witnessed, and then Murtough and Fletcher signed on behalf of Manchester United before the lawyer notarized each docunt.
The final signature was applied at six-twenty PM BST and the deal was complete.
Fletcher stood and shook Demien’s hand with both hands clasped. "dical’s scheduled for nine AM Monday morning. Full examination takes about four hours. Assuming everything clears, we announce at two PM with photos and interview."
Ten Hag added his thoughts. "You’ll et the squad Tuesday. Pre-season tour to United States starts Wednesday. Enjoy tonight, rest tomorrow, then we begin work. Welco to the club."
The driver took them to the Lowry Hotel where United had booked rooms, and Demien checked in before going to his seventh-floor room and sitting on the bed.
The system panel appeared privately in his peripheral vision.
「MAJOR DECISION COMPLETE」
「Club Selected: Manchester United」
「Contract Signed: 5 years, £220k/week」
「Transfer Fee: €62M (Atalanta to Manchester United)」
「dical Scheduled: Monday, July 16, 2023 — 9:00 AM」
「NEW MISSION AVAILABLE」
「MISSION: Pass dical Examination」
「REQUIRENTS: Clear all dical tests」
「REWARDS: 100 TP 5 SP 200 MP」
「TRANSFER MISSION COMPLETE」
「REWARDS: 300 SP」
「UPDATED BALANCE」
「405 TP | 323 SP | 483 MP」
The panel faded and Demien lay back on the hotel bed while processing that he was officially a Manchester United player pending Monday’s dical.
He called Sophia and Isabella that evening and kept both conversations brief, then ordered room service before setting an alarm for seven AM.
Tomorrow would make it official.
Saturday Night
Twitter/Instagram
8:15 PM BST onwards
Sky Sports News broke the story at eight PM and within minutes social dia exploded with reactions from journalists and pundits and fans across multiple platforms.
Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano):
🚨🔴 Demien Walter to Manchester United, HERE WE GO! Agreent completed for €62m from Atalanta. Five-year contract signed tonight. dical scheduled Monday morning. 19-year-old English-Italian midfielder chose #MUFC over Liverpool and Chelsea. ✅🤝
David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein):
Manchester United have completed the signing of Demien Walter from Atalanta. €62m add-ons. 5-year deal. dical Monday. Significant coup for ten Hag, beating Liverpool & Chelsea to highly-rated teenager. #MUFC
Manchester United (@ManUtd):
We can confirm an agreent has been reached with Atalanta for the transfer of Demien Walter, subject to dical. Further details to follow. 🔴 #MUFC
Liverpool FC News (@LFCNewsdia):
Disappointed to miss out on Demien Walter to Manchester United. Club were confident after strong pitch from Klopp. United’s imdiate playing ti offer proved decisive. #LFC will move to alternative midfield targets.
Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker):
Huge signing for Man United. Demien Walter is the real deal. Watched him closely during England qualifiers last month. Technical quality, tactical intelligence, goal threat from midfield. Exactly what ten Hag needs. Brilliant business.
Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5):
YESSSS! @ManUtd welco @DemienWalter9! This kid is special. Can play as an 8, can play deeper, scores goals, works hard. Perfect modern midfielder. Can’t wait to see him in the red shirt. Statent signing! 🔴🔥
Jamie Carragher (@Carra23):
Fair play to United, they’ve got a top player. Liverpool wanted him badly but United moved quicker with the playing ti guarantee. Walter’s got everything to succeed in the Premier League. Will be interesting to see how he adapts.
Fan Account (@UtdFaithfuls):
DEMIEN WALTER IS A RED! 🔴🔴🔴 19 years old, Serie A proven, England international, €62m, 5-year deal. TEN HAG’S REBUILD CONTINUES! This is the signing we needed. Midfield sorted for the next decade! #MUFC #WalterIsRed
Fan Account (@AnfieldEdition):
Gutted we missed out on Walter. He would’ve been perfect for our system. United offering imdiate starts vs Klopp’s patient plan made the difference. Hope we have a Plan B because midfield still needs reinforcents. #LFC
Fan Account (@ChelseaYouth):
Would’ve loved Walter at Chelsea with Enzo and Caicedo but understand why he chose United. Playing ti guarantee at Old Trafford is huge. Fair play. We move on to other targets. #CFC
Italian Football Journalist (@SerieANewsroom):
Atalanta sell Demien Walter to Manchester United for €62m just one year after signing him. Incredible profit. Gasperini loses another key player but this is the Atalanta model. Develop young talent, sell high, reinvest. Walter was special in his limited ti.
England Fans (@EnglandFansPage):
Demien Walter to Man United! Two goals on his second England cap last month and now joining one of the biggest clubs in the world at 19. The future of England’s midfield is bright. Can’t wait to see him develop under ten Hag. 🏴🔴
Demien scrolled through the reactions from his hotel room and saw the mix of excitent from United fans and disappointnt from Liverpool and Chelsea supporters and praise from pundits, and he didn’t reply to any of it because observing was enough.
Tomorrow was rest before Monday’s dical, and then everything would beco official.
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