As Manchester City players received their Premier League medals and waited for Ilkay Gundogan to lift the trophy, Pep Guardiola put his arms around Rico Lewis in the middle of the Etihad like a proud dad would.
We don't know what was said, if anything, but the message was: 'Enjoy this'. Lewis had come from only a handful of under-21 appearances last year, practically bypassing the Elite Development Squad, and did enough to impress Guardiola in pre-season that he had a place in the team.
Lewis took his opportunity and ran with it, Guardiola crediting him with transforming City's season by playing so well that Kyle Walker, Joao Cancelo and John Stones all had to up their games significantly.
Two of those players rose to the challenge, the other was shipped out, and City lost once in their last 28 games - a dead rubber against Brentford. Now another of that senior trio may be leaving: Walker.
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Lewis understandably didn't play many of the crucial games during the run-in, or the FA Cup and Champions League finals. He had played enough of a role to know he has fully earned those medals, though.
In Istanbul, as Lewis allowed other senior players to get their hands on the Champions League trophy, he looked like a kid whose dreams had all come true when it was his turn. He would look behind him, and Guardiola was there again, offering a hug, a kiss on the cheek, and that same beaming smile.
Guardiola has a history of developing young talents, just look at Phil Foden, and he knows when the right time is to throw them in. He will have a plan set out for Lewis - but reports this week that Walker is in talks with Bayern Munich over a transfer away from City in a move that may test those plans.
If Walker was to leave, there are merits for club and player. He was overlooked in the Champions League final for a centre-back, and has found himself benched over the course of the season for Lewis, Stones and Manu Akanji. His place in the team is no longer guaranteed, and with a year left on his City contract, the 33-year-old will naturally be thinking of the final years of his career. Would he get the chance to move to a club like Bayern in 12 months after another season in and out of the City team? Unlikely.
With Euro 2024 next summer, Walker may feel that another season like the one just gone could jeopardise his England place, especially with Keiran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James in competition. Stones, too, has shown his attributes as a full-back. If he can get regular games at Bayern, having proven everything he needs to in England, Walker could cement his place as the best right-back England have ever produced.
City would also benefit from a fee, which they may not get next summer when Walker is out of contract. They would probably want to avoid a situation like the one with Ilkay Gundogan this season where he has technically been released until a new contract can be agreed. Walker gave an inspirational speech after learning he wouldn't start the Champions League final - but will he put up with more snubs next year?
On the other hand, though, Walker leaving would put Lewis as the only recognised right-back in the squad, assuming Joao Cancelo also exits this summer. Stones bossed the Champions League final from right-back, and Manu Akanji has played there too.
City's new-look back three in possession has made Walker's role less vital, but having a traditional right-back still has its merits. Walker's nullifying of Vinicius Jr in the Champions League semi-final was as important to their success as Stones' masterclass in Istanbul.
If Guardiola wanted to keep developing Lewis, taking him out of the spotlight at times, then keeping Walker would help in that role significantly. That's not to say a replacement wouldn't come in to allow Lewis the time he needs, or that Stones and Akanji can fill in until Lewis is ready to make right-back his own.
Guardiola's reactions during the title and Champions League show he probably feels that Lewis is a key part of City's future. Whether it's too early to be City's first-choice right-back next season will perhaps be tested if Walker does move on.
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