Chapter Text
Lando Norris, Manchester United's supposed “savior”.
Lando Norris, “the prince” Will he ever become king?
The Guardian.
Lando Norris reached to the top of football, delighting all fans—regardless of which team they support—with his wonderful passes, touches, and goals, but above all with his charming personality. According to records, the now 25-year-old Englishman played in several championships with the English under-15, under-16 and under-17 football teams, with the latter winning the under-17 World Cup. After this glorious triumph, the world's biggest teams, such as Real Madrid, PSG, A.C. Milan and even Liverpool, offered him lucrative deals to sign the young striker after his exquisite performance in the championship.
The young player born in Bristol (United Kingdom), at just 18 years of age, surprised the whole world by finally signing for one of the most historic teams in the world, Manchester United. Club presidents Joel and Avram Glazer, together with the new signing (Lando Norris), gave a press conference in which all three were very smiling. The team's new star striker said he was “very happy because I had signed for the club of MY dreams, which I had watched and supported since I was a child, or else you would have to ask my parents, who were never very happy with me every time I watched a match”, causing laughter and loud giggles from both the president and the reporters.
Sports journalists from around the world interviewed fans who always said that Norris “was going to take them to the top of the world”. It was not difficult to guess the commotion that would be created once the striker's signing was announced, as within hours of the announcement, the official shops (both online and in-store) sold out of all the player's shirts. Everyone was excited about the Englishman, after his surprising career in the Bristol City Football Club youth academy and after the two goals that gave the English U17 football team victory in the 2017 Club World Cup.
Now, almost five years later, the excitement felt by United fans has gradually faded. Norris started his career with the team like a rocket, scoring 22 goals in his first season and leaving the whole country and the rest of the world speechless, but as time went by, injuries took their toll and his shots went wide and never found the back of the net. This sparked fury and anger across the internet, with some fans going so far as to call him “useless, who only knows how to get injured, give the ball away to the opposing team and shoot the ball into the stratosphere instead of the goal”.
The team's star player gave several interviews talking about his mental health, how all those injuries affected him, later the Covid pandemic, but above all, the hate messages on the internet. According to the young man, 'I care a lot about what people say about me. After a match where (I am aware) I haven't played very well, I always try to stay away from social media as much as possible, but often it's too late, and all those nasty, hateful comments stick in your mind. Because obviously you're always going to pay more attention to those who tell you you're useless than to those who support and encourage you'.
"I even considered quitting football. All that passion and happiness I felt every time I touched the ball, every time I scored a goal or every time I heard the crowd chanting my name as I entered or left the pitch was gradually fading away, you know? Because as I was getting ready to go out on the pitch, I felt anxiety creeping in and I couldn't stop thinking that I was going to play badly. And that's how it was a lot of the time."
Despite all the hate he received, the young man never lost his smile, always attentive to his fans and reporters. Even so, with each passing day, the footballer felt the weight of having so many eyes on him, knowing that not only did a football team need him, but also that the club was not going through its best moment, with many debts, fires and unable to bring in more players.
Last year, the 2024 Eurocup was held in Germany, where the English team did not make a very good impression at first, drawing in almost all of their matches and even going to penalties in some of them. Even so, the team managed to reach the final, which was played against the Spanish football team, which undoubtedly surprised all the fans. The Manchester United player did not have a great presence in the match, and as a result, he suffered another barrage of criticism.
A year later, after almost five years, Manchester United striker Lando Norris' contract is coming to an end. Throughout the season, but especially during the Eurocup, there were many rumours about the future of the young star, who initially joined the team to contribute and take the club to the top, nicknamed “the prince” from the outset. FC Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund were among the teams interested in signing him.
Now, with less than two weeks to go before the start of the 2025/2026 season, the rumours continue to swirl. Various offers come and go, but the future of football star Lando Norris remains uncertain.
Manchester United
@ManUtd
After so long, our player @LandoNorris bids farewell to the club and the fans. Thank you so much for everything, Lando! We wish you all the best at @FCBarcelona_es. Good luck!
FCBarcelona
@FCBarcelona_es
We announce this season's star signing. @LandoNorris signs a 4-year contract with us. Welcome Lando!
Fabrizio Romano
@FabrizioRomano
BREAKING: Lando Norris to FCBarcelona_es, here we go! Deal in place with Manchester United for free.