In offices across Europe, executives, sporting directors, and agents were already making calls.
At Real Madrid, Florentino Pérez sat in a meeting with Juni Calafat and José Ángel Sánchez.
This was exactly the kind of opportunity they thrived on. A generational talent, Spanish, available and at just 16 years old?
It was too perfect. But there was a complication—Madrid's priority for the summer was Kylian Mbappé.
"His price will be high," Calafat remarked. "But if we wait, someone else will get to him first."
Pérez steepled his fingers, thinking. "Contact Valencia. Let's see what number they give us."
....
At Manchester City, Txiki Begiristain was already on the phone with Pep Guardiola.
City had been monitoring Izan for almost a year, and now he was on the market. The problem? They had just spent big on a winger the previous summer.
Money wasn't something to stop them but with the 115 charges on their neck, they had to be wary.
