[Football] The Little Bird Makes a Grand Entrance

Dad is Manchester United’s head coach, and Mom owns the club. Joao Mourinho was born the true prince of Manchester United! He inherited his mother’s superhuman physical prowess and his father’s genius for tactics. Joao felt he was the chosen one, tailor-made for the football pitch! He was determined to focus on football and become a legendary center-forward, bringing the first World Cup trophy home to Portugal for his father, the Portuguese Wolf! But when she heard his bold declaration... “Son, focus on football? Does that mean you don’t want to study anymore? Didn’t we agree that even if you played football, you’d still finish university and graduate? I still have a recording of you saying so.” His mother said this. How could a recording from when he was eight count as evidence! Besides, he really couldn’t keep studying! Joao was furious that she’d seen right through him. He was about to finish high school! Wasn’t graduating high school enough? Plenty of people in football hadn’t even finished primary school. He was already highly educated by comparison! If his mother wouldn’t agree... He’d run away from home! And his father, who ranked low in the family pecking order, secretly hinted that he’d give Joao some money for the road and told him to be brave. How moving! His dad even had secret savings! So, with his father’s promise of a loving subsidy, Joao set out without looking back. But he never imagined that one step would take him all the way to 2008. Penniless, alone, and so hungry his belly was touching his spine, Joao caught sight of a familiar figure on the streets of Milan. It was his young dad, who had just arrived to coach Inter Milan! Joao’s eyes reddened. He ran over, grabbed his young dad’s leg, and wailed, “Dad! Your son is starving to death!” Mourinho: “???” He looked down at the boy, who was almost a carbon copy of his younger self, clutching his leg and calling him Dad. He fell into the deepest philosophical contemplation of his life. Who am I? Where am I? When did I get a son? How come I don’t know about it? Reader’s guide: 1. This is an IF storyline for [Football] Manchester United’s Bird-Raising Diary, but you can enjoy it without reading the original. 2. The story is all about a loving father and a filial son. 3. Inter Milan → Real Madrid. 4. The bird’s name has been changed back to the Portuguese pronunciation, Jose, to keep the pronunciation consistent with Joao, since Joao → Jose. Theme: Strive toward a “bright” future.