As Izan stepped inside, the corridors were alive with the usual pre-training chatter, but today, there was an undercurrent of something more—anticipation, curiosity, and perhaps even concern.
As he made his way towards the locker room, familiar voices echoed down the hallway.
"Look who finally decided to grace us with his presence," Bukayo Saka teased, a wide grin spreading across his face as he spotted Izan.
Izan rolled his eyes, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Oh, shut up, Bukayo."
Saka chuckled, holding up his phone.
"You see this?"
He played the clip of Florentino Pérez's interview, the now-infamous quote ringing out:
"Izan is the kind of player you build a decade around. And I won't make the same mistake twice."
"Big words from the big man himself," Saka said, nudging Izan playfully.
Izan sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"It's just talk, Bukayo. You know how these things go."
Before Saka could respond, Mikel Arteta's voice cut through the banter.
