Two weeks later...
The apartment was silent.
Rain tapped softly against the floor-to-ceiling windows as Lukas sat alone on the living-room sofa, elbows resting on his knees, staring blankly at the television.
The screen showed Sky Sports.
Bright red graphics flashed across the bottom.
BRIGHTON 2-1 MANCHESTER CITY
CITY LOSE SECOND GAME IN THREE
Only days earlier, Tottenham had beaten Manchester City 2-0 at the Etihad.
Now Brighton had followed with a 2-1 victory of their own.
The studio discussion wasn't focused on City's defending.
Nor Pep Guardiola's tactics.
It was focused on him.
The next graphic appeared.
£77 MILLION LUKAS BRANDT... STILL WITHOUT A PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL OR ASSIST.
Lukas didn't move.
He simply watched the headline linger across the screen in silence.
He already knew what was coming. He had seen the headlines online all afternoon. Seeing them on television somehow made them feel heavier.
