Transfer Window

Declan Rice is a finally a gunner. You gerrit? If you don’t gerrit, furget abourrit – this one is not for you. Moving on, Cameroon national Andre Onana already set foot in Manchester. Lionel Messi left Paris for Miami, reuniting with his old friend Sergio Busquets. Wonder kid Jude Bellingham signed for Los Blancos. Karim Benzema, Ngolo Kante, Jordan Henderson, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane, Marcelo Brozovic, Kalidou Koilibaly, Edouard Mendy and Roberto Firmino have all left Europe to join the GOAT in Saudi Arabia. And a ton of other players have changed their workstations. Some are following the money. Some have outgrown their current environments and need to optimise their potential elsewhere. Others have their best years behind them and have no option but to retire gracefully. No matter their reasons for leaving, they have a whole adventure ahead of them. It is always exciting to be in a new place. Joining a new team. Occupying a new space. Meeting new people. Experiencing change.

Sometimes change leads to disaster. Like Alexis Sanchez leaving Arsenal at his peak, only to score three Premier League goals at Manchester United in thirty two appearances. Sometimes change rejects you. Like Eden Hazard leaving Chelsea at his prime, only to suffer countless injuries at Real Madrid. Sometimes change embraces you. Like Erling Haaland breaking the Premier League record by scoring a staggering thirty six goals in thirty five appearances during his debut season at Manchester City. Change can be scary. Unpredictable. More questions than answers. What if it doesn’t work out? Will I regret this? What will people say? Fortunately, there is a way to find out. By actually changing.

Speaking of change, why is your WhatsApp profile picture the same one you took during Christmas? And why are you still living in the same neighbourhood you moved into when you first came to the city? There are bedsitters within your budget elsewhere you know. Why are you still with that boyfriend of yours who is clearly never going to marry you? There are dozens of other men you can be with. Or women. Why do you always make the same food over and over? There are countless recipes available online, for free. Why do you always shave a taper fade? Maybe an afro would suit you. Or a high fade. Or even dreadlocks. Why do you hang with the same three friends you went to school with? Meet new people, they don’t bite you know. Why is your life so predictable? Why have you plateaued?

The world is your playground. Play, mate. Mutate. Metamorphosize. Make your move, before the transfer window is closed. Everything around you is changing. So should you. Change. Because the only constant thing in life, is change.