The team cafeteria at the Brackel Training Centre buzzed with its usual morning energy as players filtered in for breakfast, but there was an undercurrent of tension that hadn't been there the day before.
On the large television mounted in the corner, Sky Sports Deutschland was running a breaking news banner: "GÖTZE COMPLETES BAYERN MUNICH TRANSFER."
The volume was low, but the images spoke volumes; Mario Götze in a Bayern Munich jersey, shaking hands with club officials, the inevitable press conference smile that accompanied such announcements.
Mateo glanced at the screen as he collected his breakfast tray, noting the resigned expressions on his teammates' faces. There were no dramatic reactions, no heated discussions or expressions of betrayal.