After the 2-0 win over Aston Villa, the mood around Manchester City was light and celebratory. With the Premier League title all but secured and the second leg against Dortmund still a few days away, Pellegrini gave the squad a rare two-day break. Most of the players disappeared to London, Ibiza, or back to their hometowns. But Adriano had no intention of leaving Manchester.
He had other plans.
It started with breakfast in bed — a lazy, sunlit morning where he brought up fresh coffee, pancakes, and fruit to the master bedroom. Kate, still tangled in the sheets and half-asleep, peeked at the tray.
"I thought we were taking it easy," she mumbled.
"We are," he replied, grinning. "That's why I didn't burn anything this time."
Kate chuckled and sat up, wrapping herself in the blanket like a queen surveying her realm. "I'm impressed. No fire alarms, no emergency calls. Did you order this from the kitchen downstairs?"
Adriano placed a hand over his heart in mock offense. "I slaved over that stove."
"Sure you did."
Later that afternoon, the mood shifted from cozy to competitive. Adriano's friend and fellow geek-in-secret, Henry Cavill, dropped by, arms full of miniature figures, dice, paints, and a massive case of custom terrain. The front door hadn't even closed behind him before he was already setting up their Warhammer 40K table in Adriano's game room.
"Hope you're ready to be crushed," Henry said, carefully unpacking his Custodes army.
"I've got the Emperor's Children locked and loaded," Adriano replied, already reaching for his Chaos miniatures. "You're going down faster than DC's last reboot."
Kate walked by carrying two glasses of wine, pausing in the doorway. "You two need to stop pretending this is just a hobby. This is war. And I want no part of it."
Henry grinned. "Fair enough. We'll keep the chaos contained."
She raised a brow. "Just don't forget to eat dinner. Last time you both played for five hours straight and forgot food existed."
Adriano shrugged. "We were in the middle of a siege. Priorities."
Kate rolled her eyes but smiled. "I'll leave you nerds to it."
An hour into the game, with dice clattering and rulebooks open across the table, the conversation turned from tactics to gossip. Specifically, to Henry's surprising frequency of texts with someone Adriano hadn't expected.
"So," Adriano said casually while measuring movement distances, "What's going on between you and Sophia?"
Henry didn't look up. "What about her?"
"You've been talking to her a lot lately."
Henry smiled faintly. "She's funny. Smart. Quick with sarcasm."
Adriano narrowed his eyes. "So… Superman's got a crush?"
Henry finally looked up. "Did I say that?"
"You didn't deny it," Adriano said triumphantly. "This is about the birthday party and you guys hanging out later, isn't it?"
Henry leaned back. "She was cool. We've kept in touch."
Adriano grinned wide. "You dog. You've been playing 4D chess this whole time."
"Is this coming from the guy who hasn't even proposed yet?"
Adriano's mouth opened. Then closed. Then opened again. "That's different."
"How?" Henry leaned forward, elbows on the table, clearly enjoying himself now. "Kate's basically been your rock through this whole season. She puts up with your schedule, your moods, your injuries… and even your Chaos Marines."
Adriano muttered, "Et tu, Brutus?"
"You're dodging the question."
"I'm not dodging—"
"You are."
Kate's voice floated in from the hallway, "Are you two plotting world domination again or just talking about me?"
"Both!" Henry called back, laughing.
Adriano looked toward the door and sighed. "It's not that I don't want to. I just… I want it to be perfect."
Henry softened. "It doesn't have to be perfect. Just real. She's already all in."
Adriano nodded slowly, staring down at the table. "I know."
The game continued for another hour, with Henry eventually pulling off a narrow victory — which he made sure to remind Adriano of at least three times during dinner.
By the time the evening sun dipped low and the lights dimmed in the dining room, all three of them sat around the table, plates cleared, glasses half full. The conversation flowed easily — film projects, training stories, the weirdest fan requests they'd gotten that month.
Kate leaned back in her chair, content. "It's nice to just have a quiet day. No press, no flights, no deadlines."
"Agreed," Henry said. "You forget how rare it is."
Adriano looked between the two of them, smiling. "You two should go out with us sometime. Double date or something."
Henry smirked. "If you're trying to play matchmaker, at least be subtle about it."
Kate gave Adriano a knowing look. "He's never subtle."
"I try," Adriano defended himself.
"No, you really don't," Henry and Kate said in unison.
The three of them burst into laughter.
Later that night, with Henry gone and the house quiet again, Adriano and Kate sat in the lounge with soft music playing in the background. She rested her head on his shoulder, legs curled under her on the couch.
"You okay?" she asked softly.
"Yeah," he said. "Just thinking."
"About?"
He hesitated. "You. Us. This season. Everything."
Kate turned to face him. "You've been amazing this season. You deserve this peace."
"I want more than the trophies," he said after a pause. "I want more days like this. With you. Without the world getting in the way."
She smiled. "Then don't let it."
They sat there in silence again — the kind of silence where everything was said, and nothing else needed to be.
****
Matchday 35, Premier League 2014–15 Season
Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City
Venue: White Hart Lane
It was a grey, heavy-skied late afternoon in North London—the sort that felt soaked with significance before a ball had even been kicked. White Hart Lane was packed to the rafters, crackling with tension and anticipation. Tottenham Hotspur still had everything to play for—scrapping for a Europa League place, their fans hopeful and defiant. But the visitors? Manchester City had already sealed the Premier League title with games to spare. What they were chasing now was legacy.
And at the centre of it all was one name on every fan's lips—Adriano.
The 19-year-old Portuguese sensation had lit up English football like a bolt of divine intervention. With 58 goals and 38 assists across all competitions, he had turned City's already world-class squad into a juggernaut. Today, he sat on 32 Premier League goals, just two shy of Alan Shearer and Andy Cole's joint record of 34 in a single season. That record had stood untouched since the 90s. But this wasn't just another game for Adriano—this was destiny knocking.
As kickoff neared, White Hart Lane trembled with noise. The home supporters waved flags, sang the Spurs anthem with all the emotion of a must-win clash. Blue smoke from the away end floated toward the pitch—City's traveling fans were in party mode, singing chants for Adriano, Aguero, and their manager, Manuel Pellegrini.
🎙️ Martin Tyler (on broadcast):"We've had history written here before—White Hart Lane has witnessed legends rise. But today, it may host a different kind of magic. Manchester City, unbeaten in 16 matches, face a Spurs side with everything to prove. But the spotlight... the spotlight is on a 19-year-old phenom. Adriano—32 goals, 38 assists, an all-time Champions League scoring record, and today… chasing Premier League immortality."
🎙️ Alan Smith:"He's got everything. Balance, speed, strength, creativity, finishing. He plays like a seasoned veteran, not someone who only just got their driver's license. But he's up against a hungry Tottenham side. Mauricio Pochettino has organized them well—Mason and Bentaleb will sit deep, Kane will be dangerous on the counter, and Eriksen can split defences. City won't have it easy."
LINEUPS AND TACTICAL SETUP
Manchester City (4-3-3):Joe Hart; Joshua Kimmich, Vincent Kompany, Mats Hummels, Andrew Robertson; Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva; Adriano; Mohamed Salah, Sergio Aguero, Eden Hazard
Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1):Hugo Lloris; Kyle Walker, Jan Vertonghen, Federico Fazio, Danny Rose; Ryan Mason, Nabil Bentaleb; Erik Lamela, Christian Eriksen, Nacer Chadli; Harry Kane
🎙️ Alan Smith:"City going with their strongest possible eleven. No rotation from Pellegrini. Adriano will operate between the lines just behind Aguero, drifting into those half-spaces between Spurs' midfield and defence. Hazard and Salah keep the width. Silva and De Bruyne are going to push high and look for passing channels. And at the back, it's steel and composure in Kompany and Hummels."
🎙️ Martin Tyler:"For Spurs, it's all about compactness. Mason and Bentaleb will shield that back four, but the question is—can they stop City's combinations in the final third? That midfield triangle of Silva, De Bruyne, and Adriano has torn defences apart all season."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Adriano:
58 goals, 38 assists this season in all competitions
32 Premier League goals (2 away from the record)
Top scorer in both Premier League and Champions League
Scored in every round of the UCL except one so far
24 man-of-the-match awards
Averaging 3.1 key passes and 14.6 dribbles per match
🎙️ Alan Smith:"Adriano's numbers don't even tell the full story. It's his movement. His intelligence. His unselfishness. That's what's made City unplayable at times this season. Spurs have to deny him space—but how do you contain a player who floats?"
🎙️ Martin Tyler:"It's not just about the record. This is a player redefining what a number 10 can be. And today, with Spurs needing a win, we'll see whether he delivers on the biggest of personal stages."
As players emerged from the tunnel, Adriano was met with whistles from Spurs fans—clear signs of respect disguised as hostility. He jogged toward the centre circle, high-fived Salah and Hazard, exchanged a nod with Aguero, and cracked his knuckles. The camera caught him briefly mouthing something to De Bruyne.
Adriano (to De Bruyne):"One goal before half, one after. Let's make it clean."
De Bruyne chuckled.
De Bruyne:"I'll deliver the first. You owe me the celebration."
In the background, Pellegrini remained stone-faced but confident, knowing this was not just about numbers. It was about sending a message across Europe—City weren't slowing down.
White Hart Lane buzzed, cameras flashed, and chants from both ends clashed like drums of war. As referee Michael Oliver checked his watch and raised the whistle to his lips, you could feel it in the air.
A record could be broken.A legacy could be written.And a 19-year-old might just stamp his name into Premier League folklore.
Kickoff was moments away.
****
The whistle pierced the overcast London air, and under the thick grey clouds of White Hart Lane, the match erupted into immediate urgency. The stakes were unmistakable—Tottenham, fighting for European football, and Manchester City, already crowned champions, chasing history. All eyes were on one man: Adriano, the 19-year-old prodigy just two goals away from breaking the Premier League's all-time single-season scoring record.
🎙️ Martin Tyler:"Off we go then. White Hart Lane rocking, City unbeaten in sixteen, and Adriano just two away from footballing immortality."
Right from the first touch, Spurs came flying out of the traps. Mauricio Pochettino had clearly told his players to press high and hit fast. Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb set the tone in midfield, snapping into challenges and compressing the central third. Hugo Lloris barked instructions from the back, urging his defensive line to push higher.
Inside five minutes, City were forced long twice—Joe Hart clearing under pressure as Soldado lurked on Kompany's shoulder. In the 7th minute, a hopeful diagonal from Eriksen found Soldado's chest just inside the area. The Spanish striker turned swiftly and fired low—but Kompany was already sliding, absorbing the shot with a crunching block.
🎙️ Alan Smith:"Soldado's no pushover, Martin. That turn was sharp, but Kompany read it like a veteran librarian."
In the 14th minute, Tottenham had their first real chance. Eriksen, ever the puppet master, dropped deep to collect, then ghosted forward unmarked. He turned and found Chadli darting in from the left. The Belgian winger's first touch was clean, and his second—a driven low shot—seemed destined for the near post until Joe Hart dove low and strong, pushing it away with his right glove.
The Spurs faithful roared.
🎙️ Alan Smith:"That was close, Martin. Spurs showing early that they're here to fight for everything. Chadli's shot had sting."
City responded quickly. Just three minutes later, De Bruyne floated a delicate ball over the top to Mohamed Salah, who timed his run and dinked it over the onrushing Lloris. But the linesman's flag was up immediately.
🎙️ Martin Tyler:"Ah, the flag's up. Salah was just off. Only by a step, but a step too much."
📺 Replay showed Salah half a boot ahead of Vertonghen.
In the 24th minute, City found the breakthrough—and what a goal it was.
David Silva received the ball under pressure, tight on the touchline with Mason breathing down his neck. He spun effortlessly, shrugging the midfielder off and driving into space. One glance left and he picked out Eden Hazard. Hazard, in one flowing motion, brought the ball under control, burst past Kyle Walker with a burst of pace, cut inside at the top of the box—and let fly with a gorgeous curling effort.
The strike arced toward the far post, beyond Lloris' full-stretched fingers, and nestled into the side netting.
📣 Stadium Announcer:"GOAL FOR MANCHESTER CITY! SCORED BY NUMBER 7 — EDEN HAZARD!"
Hazard pointed both fingers to the sky, kissed his wristband, then jogged toward Silva and hugged him tightly. Behind them, the travelling City supporters exploded into noise.
🎙️ Martin Tyler:"Vintage Eden Hazard! That's artistry. Left the defender for dead and stroked it home like it was a training ground finish."
🎙️ Alan Smith:"He's had a quieter season by his standards, but that's why he still starts these big matches. That was pure class."
Tottenham looked rattled. In the 31st minute, Bentaleb let his frustration show with a reckless late slide on De Bruyne near the City bench. Michael Oliver wasted no time flashing a yellow card.
🎙️ Alan Smith:"You could see that coming. Spurs midfield is losing its grip, and City are starting to enjoy themselves."
From the resulting free kick, De Bruyne whipped in a devilish ball that found Hummels at the far post. The German centre-back rose highest but couldn't keep his header down, landing it just over the crossbar.
Six minutes later, City nearly doubled their lead. Salah, who had been drifting dangerously between the lines, took on Rose down the right. Cutting inside onto his stronger left foot, he bent a shot toward the top corner. Lloris launched himself and got just enough of a hand to palm it away.
The warning signs were piling up.
In the 42nd minute, City turned a Tottenham corner into a lightning-fast counterattack. Hazard headed clear to Silva, who flicked it with a backheel to De Bruyne. The Belgian sprinted 40 yards into space and found Salah streaking down the right. Salah took one touch before firing a low, teasing cross into the box.
Adriano appeared like a phantom.
Timing his run with surgeon's precision, he let the ball roll slightly across his body before rifling it into the bottom-left corner with his left foot. No hesitation. No touch wasted.
📣 Stadium Announcer:"GOAL FOR MANCHESTER CITY! SCORED BY NUMBER 10 — ADRIANO!"
🎙️ Martin Tyler:"There it is! Goal number 33 in the league for the teenage sensation!"
🎙️ Alan Smith:"He doesn't just score. He hunts goals. That anticipation, that movement—it's all instinct. And that finish? Lethal."
Adriano dropped to his knees near the corner flag, arms raised in the air. De Bruyne caught up with him and embraced him from behind, ruffling his hair.
De Bruyne (grinning):"One more. Just one more."
Adriano (between breaths):"And it'll come. It always does."
Silva gave him a soft pat on the back. Hummels and Kompany jogged forward to join the celebration, clapping the teenager on the head. In the away end, fans held up a homemade banner: "A.D.R.I.A.N.O. = All Dreams Realised In A New Order."
White Hart Lane sat stunned. Tottenham had started well—but City's class had surged through, and Adriano's inevitable brilliance had struck again.
The whistle for halftime blew seconds later.
📣 HALF-TIME: TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0 – 2 MANCHESTER CITY
🎙️ Martin Tyler:"City aren't just champions—they're chasing greatness. And Adriano is one goal away from rewriting Premier League history."
🎙️ Alan Smith:"Spurs gave it a real go in the first 15, but City have too many weapons. Hazard opened the door. Adriano is halfway through kicking it off its hinges."
The players walked off into the tunnel—Tottenham weary, Manchester City focused.
Adriano, jersey damp, hair dripping, offered a quiet fist bump to Hazard as they disappeared from view.
One more. Just one more.
****
The second half began under the fading North London sky, the floodlights casting long shadows over the pitch at White Hart Lane. The scoreboard read Tottenham 0 – 2 Manchester City, but the script was far from finished. All eyes remained on Adriano, who stood just one goal away from breaking the Premier League's all-time single-season scoring record. The atmosphere was electric—anticipation simmered beneath every touch of the ball.
🎙️ Martin Tyler:"We're back underway. Spurs have reshaped—deeper lines, compact midfield. Sherwood trying to limit the damage... but that may just invite more of it."
Sherwood had indeed dropped the defensive block. Bentaleb and Mason sat tight, while Soldado operated on the shoulder of Kompany, hoping to snatch something on the break. But City—confident, composed—settled into rhythm almost immediately.
In the 48th minute, Kimmich timed a challenge perfectly on Rose, stepping in on the halfway line before threading a fast, low ball to Aguero. The Argentine forward took it in stride, shifted onto his right foot just outside the box and pulled the trigger.
The ball skidded across the turf, low and venomous, but flashed just wide of the far post.
🎙️ Alan Smith:"So close! Spurs living dangerously. Aguero's movement—still sharp, even with a semi-rotated side around him."
City's grip tightened.
Two minutes later, Silva took a whack near the centre circle. Mason, frustrated by City's dominance, lunged in clumsily and brought down the Spaniard. Michael Oliver blew quickly for the foul. Silva stayed down a beat longer than usual.
Silva (to Mason, rising slowly):"Easy, mate. It's not a street fight."
The resulting free-kick yielded a corner, but Fazio managed to rise above everyone and clear.
In the 60th minute, Sherwood threw on Andros Townsend for Lamela. The idea was clear: pace, directness, stretch the fullbacks. But Kompany and Hummels stood like a concrete wall. Every long ball was met with a thudding header, every attempted dribble was smothered.
And then… the moment the entire stadium felt was coming arrived.
67th minute. A murmur rolled through the stands as Kevin De Bruyne picked up the ball near the edge of the final third. He took a touch, glanced up—and split the lines with a pinpoint pass. It was like threading a needle.
The ball met Adriano in full stride, nestled right between Fazio and Vertonghen.
🎙️ Martin Tyler:"Here it comes… Adriano in space… history awaits!"
Adriano didn't rush. One touch to kill the pass, a graceful shimmy to slide past Fazio—he opened up his body and rolled the ball past Lloris into the far corner with the ease of a man who knew exactly what he was doing.
The net rippled. The stadium erupted.
📣 PA Announcer:"GOAL FOR MANCHESTER CITY! SCORED BY NUMBER 10 — ADRIANO! THAT'S 34 GOALS IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE THIS SEASON—HE EQUALS THE RECORD!"
The City bench exploded. Pellegrini pumped his fist quietly, while assistant manager Brian Kidd roared and embraced the coaching staff.
Adriano stood frozen for a second at the corner flag. Then he raised both hands to his ears, as if to say "Let me hear it". He tapped the City badge on his chest and kissed his fingers before turning toward the away end.
Hazard sprinted over, grabbing him by the shoulders.Hazard (grinning):"You've tied it, kid. One more and they'll rewrite the rulebook."
De Bruyne arrived seconds later, arms wide:"Brother! You just matched Shearer—what now, king?"
Adriano (breathing hard):"Now we break it."
🎙️ Alan Smith:"I've said it before—he's 19 years old. Nineteen. He plays like he's been here ten years. The control, the calm... that's not just a striker, that's an artist. And he's already breaking records like taking candy from babies. Take a bow for the King of Manchester!"
🎙️ Martin tyler: " I'm at loss for words Alan! I knew this was coming but it still feels unbelievable ! Adriano Riveiro, the 19 year old has turned football history upside down. Winning the World Cup and Golden Ball at 18, then going on to show he's still far from his peak! Goal number 60 this season, and They have 5 more matches to play if they reach Champions League Finals. What a performance!"
Even the Spurs fans couldn't help but applaud. A respectful murmur echoed around the ground—football fans recognising greatness, even in defeat.
Tottenham tried to stir something. In the 72nd minute, Soldado fired from the edge of the area but saw his shot blocked expertly by Kompany. Townsend then skipped past Robertson and whipped a cross into the six-yard box—no white shirt there to meet it.
🎙️ Martin Tyler:"Still some energy in this Tottenham side, but no finish. It's all too little, too late."
80th minute, the board went up: Adriano OFF, Milner ON. Aguero OFF, Kane ON.
City fans stood in unison.
Adriano jogged toward the sideline, clapping all sides of the stadium—including the Tottenham faithful, who gave a few appreciative claps of their own. Kane, now a City player, received a mixture of cheers and muted groans as he stepped on to face his old club.
🎙️ Alan Smith:"That's good management from Pellegrini. Adriano wanted one more, no doubt—but there's a semi-final in Germany to think about. And Kane—well, what a season he's had too. 14 goals, 5 assists, and he's only just breaking in."
Rose let some of his frustration boil over in the 84th minute, lunging into Hazard as the Belgian flicked the ball over his foot. Tactical foul. Easy yellow. The resulting free kick was cleared, but Spurs were running on fumes.
Into stoppage time, and Milner nearly made it 4–0. Driving from midfield, he unleashed a swerving effort from 20 yards. Lloris reacted sharply, tipping it just around the post. City took the corner short, ran the clock.
📣 Three blasts of the whistle. Full-time.
📣 PA Announcer:"FULL-TIME AT WHITE HART LANE! TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0 — MANCHESTER CITY 3!"
🎙️ Martin Tyler:"A masterclass from the champions. Adriano equals Shearer's record, and Manchester City march on. The football is fluid, the hunger still burning—even with the title wrapped up."
🎙️ Alan Smith:"Spurs weren't poor, but they just couldn't live with the quality. And Adriano—well, we've run out of words for him. One more goal, and history will be all his."
City fans didn't leave immediately. They chanted, waving banners: "Adriano: Born to Rule". Flags danced in the away end, shirts came off, chants echoed into the twilight.
Martin Tyler:"Another clinical display. A clean sheet. Three goals. Adriano equals the record. What else can you ask for?"
Alan Smith:"They look sharp, Martin. Dortmund won't be looking forward to that second leg. And Adriano — one goal from immortality."
Pellegrini walked off with a small smile. The mission was accomplished. And the next chapter — the semifinal in Europe — was now waiting.
And down in the tunnel, Adriano took a deep breath, towel draped around his shoulders.
Adriano (to Kane):"Etihad next weekend?"Kane (smiling):"Let's finish it."
The king was one goal away from the throne.
****
The press room beneath White Hart Lane buzzed with anticipation, even after the stands had emptied and the floodlights dimmed. City's 3–0 dismantling of Tottenham had already made headlines across the globe, but the focus now shifted from the pitch to the podium. Dozens of journalists, analysts, and camera crews packed into the narrow media suite, elbowing for space, microphones extended like bayonets toward the long desk at the front.
Manuel Pellegrini entered first—composed as ever, dark suit pressed and posture rigid despite the long evening. Behind him came Adriano, still in his training jacket, hair slicked back, expression unreadable. The room's volume rose a notch. Flashbulbs popped.
📸 Click. Click. Click.
Press Officer:"We'll begin with questions for the manager. Please raise your hands, identify your outlet."
A correspondent from Sky Sports jumped in first.
Sky Sports Reporter:"Manuel, another comprehensive victory. Sixteen games unbeaten. You've clinched the league, and now you're one step from a Champions League final. What's driving this team to keep performing at this level even with the domestic title secured?"
Pellegrini (nodding lightly):"Motivation comes from within. These players understand what it means to wear this shirt. Yes, the Premier League is ours, but we are not satisfied. When you have leaders like Kompany, Silva, De Bruyne, and a talent like Adriano driving forward—it keeps the whole squad hungry. We are writing history together."
BT Sport Journalist:"You rested Adriano for Aston Villa, but today he was back—two goals, and he's now equaled the Premier League record. Was that planned for today? Or did you sense he had something to prove?"
Pellegrini (smiling faintly):"Adriano doesn't need motivation from us. He creates his own. We rested him because we trust the squad. But when he plays, he plays with one purpose—excellence. And he delivered again."
The Guardian Reporter:"You're heading into the Champions League semi-final second leg against Dortmund with an away goal advantage. Given the history of the club, what would it mean to reach the final?"
Pellegrini (pausing briefly):"It would mean everything. This club has come far in a short time. But we don't celebrate semi-finals. Our objective is the final in Berlin. Dortmund are strong, but so are we. If we stay focused, we'll have our moment."
The attention shifted visibly now. A wave of murmurs ran through the room as the press officer gestured toward Adriano, now leaning forward, arms crossed on the table, calm but alert.
ESPN Journalist:"Adriano, two goals tonight. That's 34 league goals—equaling Alan Shearer's record. What does that achievement mean to you, personally?"
Adriano looked up, blinking under the overhead lights. His voice was calm, steady.
Adriano:"It's an honour. Shearer is a legend—one of the greatest to ever play in this league. To stand beside that number means something. But records are meant to be broken, and I'm not done yet. I want more—not just goals, but trophies."
L'Équipe Reporter:"You now have 60 goals and 38 assists in all competitions this season, across just 37 matches. You're the top scorer in the Premier League, and in the Champions League as well. Did you expect this kind of season when you first arrived in England?"
Adriano (smirking lightly):"No. I didn't expect it—but I worked hard for it. I had to bulk up a little before the season and adjust to the new body shape. I knew if I could adapt to the speed and physicality of the Premier League, I could thrive. But this—this has been special. I owe it to the people around me—Silva, Kevin, Kun, Hazard, the staff. They trust me, and I try to give it back every time I step on the pitch."
TalkSport Journalist:"You're one win away from reaching a Champions League final—possibly with a domestic crown already secured. Is this the best team in Europe right now?"
Adriano glanced at Pellegrini before answering.
Adriano:"I don't like to say that. Let our football decide. But I will say—we're ready. Every player in that dressing room believes. We've beaten Barcelona. We've won in Dortmund. We've proven ourselves. Now it's about finishing what we started." He then paused and added,"And if we reach the final and lift the trophy, won't we already have proven we're the best team in Europe?" The journalist frantaically scribbled down his words.
BBC Football Reporter:"One more goal and you break the record outright. You'll do it at home next week in front of the Etihad crowd. Have you thought about that moment? The celebration?"
Adriano leaned back in his chair, a grin slowly forming.
Adriano:"Of course I've thought about it. But only for a second. The goal is just a number. The win is what matters. If I break the record and we lose the match, I won't celebrate it. I want the treble. League. Europe. Legacy. Records are part of it—but not all of it."
There was a brief pause—then a quiet, collective murmur of admiration rippled through the journalists. Everyone recognized the weight of the moment. This wasn't just another precocious talent. This was a 19-year-old phenom with the maturity of a veteran and the ambition of a legend in the making.
Press Officer:"One final question."
Marca Journalist:"Adriano, what message do you have for the fans back in Manchester? Those who've followed your journey this season?"
Adriano (smiling now, looking directly into the cameras):"To the City fans—you've made Manchester feel like home. Every chant, every flag, every away trip... I carry that on the pitch with me. You believed in me before I even believed in myself. So thank you. We're not done yet. Dortmund next. Then Berlin. Let's make it happen together."
The press officer stood and thanked the room. Pellegrini rose and patted Adriano on the back before both exited through the side door.
Back in the Etihad's dressing room, Adriano's locker was quiet, untouched—boots still neatly placed, kit folded. But soon, it would be the stage for something even bigger.
The record was within reach.The Champions League final within sight.And the boy from Portugal, crowned in sky blue, stood on the edge of greatness.
****
Current Stats of Adriano:
Premier League
Matches: 25
Goals: 34
Assists: 26
Current top scorer of the Premier League, and top on the assists list.
*
Champions League
Matches: 11
Goals: 24
Assists: 10
Current top scorer and top on Assists list together with De Bruyne.
*
FA Cup
Matches: 1
Goals: 2
Assists: 2