Lukas had known for weeks this was coming, and it still looked wrong, like the town hall clock moved to the other side of the square. De Bruyne stood with his hands behind his back, wearing the same flat, unbothered expression he'd had through ten years of trophy lifts, as if this were any other Wednesday at work.
Bernardo got to him first and flicked him on the back of the neck. De Bruyne turned, saw who it was, and grinned. The handshake lasted about half a second before it turned into a hug. Bernardo said something in his ear, and De Bruyne laughed and shook his head.
After that it was a queue. Foden hugged him like a kid brother. Doku pumped his hand. Stones pulled him in and said something that got another smile. Dias held on a beat longer than anyone and didn't smile at all. Even the new signings, who'd never shared a dressing room with him, waited their turn.
Haaland nearly lifted him off the floor.
"You all right? How you doing?"
"Good, good." De Bruyne patted his back.
