By Henry Vinter | 23 November 2055
In football, a manager’s job is usually about managing scarcity. You hide your weaknesses, patch up the holes in your squad, and pray your key men stay fit. But at the Drogba Arena, Calin Dimario is playing a different game entirely. He is managing an excess of riches that is frankly bordering on unfair.
As Chelsea prepare for a heavyweight Champions League clash against Olympique Lyonnais, the debate isn’t about who is fit to play left-back. The debate is which World Cup winner gets the bad news.
The £85 Million Question
On one hand, you have Luca D’Urso. The Italian arrived this summer carrying the hefty price tag of £86 million and the swagger of a man who anchored his nation to glory in the 2054 World Cup.
His performance against Bournemouth on Sunday was a masterclass in modern fullback play. He wasn’t just a defender; he was the team’s primary creative outlet. One goal, three assists, and a level of technical arrogance that made the opposition look like they were wading through treacle. He is, on current form, arguably the finest player in Europe.
The Unmovable Object
On the other hand, you have Luther Banton. At 30 years old, he is the living embodiment of Chelsea’s golden era. He was lifting the World Cup with England back in 2050, before D’Urso had even become a household name.
Critics whisper that age might catch up with him, but watch Banton run and you see a supreme athlete who seems immune to the passage of time. His recovery pace remains electric, his reading of the game is flawless, and his trophy cabinet tells the story of a serial winner. This is a man who has lifted the Champions League eight years in a row. You don’t just drop a player like that; you have to dethrone him.
The Reunion
Tomorrow night adds extra spice to this Cold War. Chelsea face Lyon, the club D’Urso captained and conquered France with before his move to London. The narrative demands that the Italian starts against his former employers. He knows their secrets, and after his display at the weekend, he has earned the shirt.
But Banton’s shadow looms large. He represents the defensive solidity and experience that wins ugly knockout games in April and May. D’Urso offers the flair to destroy teams in the group stages.
For Dimario, it is the ultimate luxury problem. For the rest of the world, it is a terrifying reminder of Chelsea’s depth. They have the 2050 World Champion on one shoulder and the 2054 World Champion on the other. Whoever plays, the opposition loses.