The press conference began.
Light pooled across the podium, soft but sharp beneath the lenses.
Rows of cameras lined the room—reporters poised, fingers ready, murmurs low but constant.
Julian stepped forward.
Each stride steady. Composed.
Behind him, the HSV backdrop shimmered with sponsor logos and the club's proud blue-and-white crest.
At the podium stood Merlin Polzin, head coach of Hamburger SV.
He extended a hand, his smile equal parts warmth and curiosity.
Julian clasped it firmly.
"Here's to a better future," Merlin said, voice calm yet carrying the weight of expectation.
Julian met his gaze. "Yes, Coach. I'll give everything I have."
The PR manager raised a hand. "Alright—photos!"
The room lit up in a storm of flashes.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Julian shifted through the standard poses—
a polite handshake,
the club scarf draped across his shoulders,
a football balanced in his hand,
and finally a thumbs-up toward the crowd.
