The meeting room at Carrington felt less like a conference space and more like an execution chamber. A long oval table gleamed under fluorescent lights, surrounded by solemn faces and half-full water glasses. At the head sat Ethan Cross, flanked by Erik ten Hag on his right and Ellie Greenwood on his left. Behind them, Ibrahim leaned against the wall, arms crossed, looking amused—and perhaps a little pleased—with the tension in the air.
Ethan cleared his throat. "Morning. Today, we do an audit. Brutal honesty. We find out who's with us… and who isn't."
Ellie nodded. She tapped a tablet, projecting a spreadsheet onto the screen behind them: hundreds of names, columns of data—age, appearances, wage, injury record, "attitude score." The latter looked less quantified and more like Ellie's personal notes: "Too much Instagram," "Calls in sick after full-moon."
Ten Hag leaned forward. "We'll review each position group. Then decide: keep, sell, loan, or release."
1. Goalkeepers
"Onana—non-negotiable," Ten Hag said. "Commanding, reliable, saves are art."
"Heaton—backup. Experience is fine. But he's 35, high wages. Loan to Championship?" Ellie suggested.
Ibrahim quirked an eyebrow. "He might enjoy that—win 50–0 on a Wednesday."
Ethan chuckled. "Fine, Heaton goes on loan. If he wins Player of the Month there, he can keep his big contract."
2. Full-Backs
"Shaw and Dalot are both strong. We keep them." Ten Hag scanned the list. "Perišić—loan or exit. Doesn't fit our pressing ethos."
Ellie tapped Perišić's "attitude" note: "Plays tennis with wags on off-days."
Ethan smirked. "No more racket sports—sorry, Ivan. Either help us defend or help someone else."
3. Center-Backs
"Varane and Maguire—stable," Ten Hag said. His tone suggested he wasn't convinced about Maguire's consistency. He tapped Maguire's "fitness" column—three injuries this season.
Ellie offered, "We keep Maguire but bring in a younger partner."
Ethan nodded. "Tender in, guard out. Got it."
4. Midfield
This was where it got messy.
"Casemiro—warrior." Ten Hag didn't need to say more.
"Mainoo—the future." Ethan's eyes lit up.
Then Ellie flicked to Pogba. The cell turned bright red. Behind them, Ibrahim suppressed a grin.
"Paul's under contract," Ellie said, "but hasn't kicked a ball in months. Wages are massive. Recommendation: mutual termination or fat loan fee."
Ethan's jaw clenched. "Let's talk privately—last thing we need is a social media meltdown."
5. Attacking Midfield & Wingers
Bruno's name came up first. "Captain material," Ten Hag stated. No debate.
Then Antony. "Seven grand fouls," Ten Hag said, "for every assist."
Ellie's note read: "Attitude good… on days when mood is good."
Antony would be on thin ice.
Next: McCabe—Jayden's "attitude" was now "see last match." Which was code for: he'd shown up. He'd exploded. He'd earned a reprieve.
"Jayden stays," Ethan declared. "But every day is provisional."
6. Strikers
"Rashford—goal threat, leadership," the manager said.
"Martial—potential, but injured." Ellie recommended a loan to regain fitness and form.
Ethan sighed. "Fine. Anthony finds a temporary home—preferably one with fewer backyard brawls."
After the Meeting
The executives filed out, leaving Ethan, Ten Hag, Ellie, and Ibrahim alone. The tension in the room was replaced by a different kind of energy—determination.
Ethan exhaled. "That felt like therapy for a disaster."
Ten Hag cracked a rare smile. "Actually, it felt like honesty. Hard to argue with data."
Ellie tapped her tablet. "I'll start negotiations immediately. Some deals can be done by Friday."
Ibrahim stretched. "And I'll quietly inform the culled players their last training is tomorrow—make sure it's not dramatic. We don't need more tabloid fuel."
Ethan nodded. "Good. Let's get to work."
The Training Ground Fallout
Word of the audit spread like wildfire. By mid-afternoon, the Carrington pitches buzzed with speculation.
In the players' lounge, Mason Greenwood—who had quietly impressed during cameo appearances—raised an eyebrow when someone mentioned loans. "Glad I wasn't mentioned," he quipped, flipping through game highlights on his phone.
Across the table, Victor Lindelöf tapped his foot nervously. "Did you hear? They want someone younger at CB." He looked at Maguire across the room. Maguire shot him a weary shrug.
In the corridor, Pogba's agent stormed past Ellie's office, phone pressed to his ear. "No, I know what 'mutual termination' means! Call the press! Call your mother!"
Down in the physio room, Martial popped his head out of an ice bath. "Loan? Again? What did I do this time?"
Rashford chuckled. "At least you get to play somewhere. I got a stern look from the owner."
Jayden McCabe, warming down, sent Ethan a selfie: sweaty, disheveled, thumbs-up. Caption: "Audit survivor."
Ibrahim found it amusing. Ethan found it… reassuring.
Evening Debrief
Back in his office, Ethan watched the day's events ripple through team chats and social feeds. Most players texted relief. A few threatened mutiny. One or two quietly packed bags.
Ellie walked in, briefing papers under her arm. "First deals done. Heaton agreed a season-long loan to Leicester. Martial to AC Milan on 6-month terms. Pogba's agent is… lobbying."
Ethan rubbed his temples. "Sounds like a circus."
Ellie smiled. "But one that's getting organized. Trust me."
Ethan glanced at the photo of his younger self in a Rooney shirt, framed on his desk. He whispered, "This is for you, mate. For all the kids who dream."
He closed his eyes, feeling the weight—of expectations, of history, of responsibility.
Then he opened them, steel returning to his gaze.
"We keep the heat on," he said. "No more complacency. The blueprint's in motion."
And as the lights dimmed outside Carrington, he felt the first real tremors of a revolution—one that would reshape Manchester United from the dressing room to the boardroom, one honest audit at a time.