From Arsenal to the Ball God

Sitting on the sofa, the family seemed a bit uneasy as they had scarcely interacted with wealthy people like McCabe in their lives.

Clément poured a glass of red wine and clinked glasses with McCabe, trying to appear as composed as possible, not wanting to embarrass Ma’el.

”Cheers.”

McCabe could see their thoughts and could only quietly think of a way to bring them closer, not for anything else, just for Ma’el.

He switched to another language, speaking in French: ”I spent four years in France in my early years, I hope you won’t make fun of my accent.”

Actually, he was here today with his own agenda.

After hearing from Jorson about Ma’el’s family arriving in Sheffield City, he realized this could be an opportunity.

By winning over Ma’el’s family, he might indirectly affect Ma’el’s stay or departure.

Even though there were internal rumors that Ma’el was prepared to finish this season, at such a critical time, anything was still uncertain.

If he suddenly withdraws, what would happen to Sheffield United?

He needed to make the team have some risk resistance ability and strive within his own capacity.

”The game is on.”

McCabe smiled and pointed to the field as he heard a relatively soothing league theme song start playing, indicating that the players from both sides were about to come out of the tunnel.

”Ma’el should be the last one to stand.”

He shared the story, trying to engage the conversation atmosphere, ”I heard Garrispeed say that Gilbert once told him, Ma’el’s move was to get more broadcast cameras.

”Haha... He has this awareness, which is rare at his age.”

At the bottom of the player tunnel, the players from both sides walked out with ball boys, just as McCabe mentioned, Ma’el was the last to walk out from Sheffield United.

The Clément family’s faces all showed smiles, they could relate to Ma’el’s emotions, feeling a sense of pride welling up from their hearts.

”It’s great.”

Bruno, the second brother who spoke the least, was the first to speak up, feeling the strongest envy towards Ma’el as they were of the same age.

Taking the field under the cheers of tens of thousands of people every week, attracting everyone’s attention, living for what he loved.

If he had heard the story of a distant eastern peasant uprising leader, he might have repeated in French a saying of his — a true man should be like this.

”I envy them too.”

McCabe took out a box of cigars, offering one to Clément and only lighting one for himself after seeing the other light up, ”Youthful, full of life, respected both on and off the field.

”Unlike us businessmen, apart from partners, few people like us anymore.”

He wasn’t self-deprecating but leading into his next words, ”After the 2008 financial crisis, I was affected, reducing my investment in the club.

”But after the first half of this year, I saw hope for the team to return to the Premier League, I’m ready to grittily increase investment, repaying what I owe the team through transfer funds and bonuses.

”I can first share with you that I will set up a promotion bonus of 6 million pounds for the team.”

With such a staggering number uttered, the Clément family seemed choked, some coughed twice, others suddenly held their breath.

The five of them cannot earn so much money in a lifetime even if they work tirelessly, and this is just the bonus he is providing for a single season.

”Besides that.”

McCabe glances around and whispers, ”I heard Mendes has already signed an agency contract with Ma’el, I will contact him to set up various bonus terms around 1.5 million pounds specifically for Ma’el.”

”Really?” Betty asked with trembling lips, afraid McCabe was joking with them.

”Absolutely.”

McCabe nodded, expressing his perspective, ”Players will eventually return to London, to Emirates Stadium, I hope this season isn’t fruitless for him, be it in honor or wealth.

”Since he brought us such strong competitiveness, we naturally should give back accordingly, the essence of business is exchange.

”It’s all benefits and no harm for the player, if he truly leads the team to promotion, not only can he return to London full of honor, but he can also complete his initial financial accumulation at 18, enabling him to purchase premium properties in London.”

After speaking, he picked up his wine glass, gazing at the field below, ”It’s about to start, let’s watch the game.”

Clément and Betty glanced deeply at each other and raised their glasses, maybe the children couldn’t understand what this meant to their brother, but they had an idea.

This means that their nephew might earn what they can earn in a lifetime in just one season.

......

”Beep!!”

On the field, the referee blew the whistle for the first half of the game, Evans kicked off the ball for Sheffield United from the center circle.

Hull City, playing away today, fielded a 3-5-2 formation, appearing to fall back and play counter-attacks, but actually started very aggressively.

The two wing-midfielders, or wing-backs, pushed very far forward, and with their attacking midfielder pushing up, the whole formation from a visual perspective looked more like a 3-2-3-2.

Clearly, they wanted to seize the initiative early, no one would want to match Sheffield United’s slow pace.

They knew well that if both teams started the regular back-and-forth, then Sheffield United, with its star players, was more likely to create absolute opportunities.

”Hello everyone! It’s an honor to commentate on this crucial match with you all on this day!”

In the commentary booth, the voice from Sky Sports was powerful and passionate: ”We see the match between both sides has already started, Hull City’s pressing is very strong, Sheffield United keeps passing back!

”Passed to the goalkeeper! Careful... nearly intercepted! Robert kicks the ball out of the sidelines!

”Thrown in a sideline ball, Hull City invests a lot in attack, except for the three center-backs, everyone is pressing over the halfway line.

”Need to watch out for Sheffield United’s counterattack! Kilbane’s through ball! Luton’s sliding tackle interception, the ball lands at Janu’s feet!

”A long pass to the wing! The danger erupts right after kickoff, the backfield of Hull City is unguarded, Ma’el is incredibly fast, here’s the counterattack opportunity!”

On the field, a high ball flies toward the sideline of Hull City’s backfield, and there’s a conspicuous gap there.

”Thump... Thump!”

Ma’el bursts into action, covering seven or eight steps to reach the ball’s path, receives it, and moves forward as he sees an opposing side-back moving in to defend.

The opponent’s midfielders definitely won’t be able to catch up in a short time, and the other two defenders are busy marking Evans and Bolodanovich.

As he considers how to handle the ball, he spots a red and white figure entering the penalty area.

It’s Gilbert, who had sprinted to join the counterattack from Luton’s tackle, reaching there first.

”Bang!!”

Without hesitation, Ma’el sends the ball to the open space ahead of Gilbert from a certain distance from the goal line.

A 45-degree bomb!

He chooses not to dribble past the opponent, as even if he succeeded, it would waste time and slow down the attack.

It was better to trust his teammate with a high-altitude bomb!

”Ma’el! The pass is extremely precise, Hull City’s former goalkeeper Manone readies to come out, but reconsiders and stays put!

The Sky Sports commentator rises from his seat, gazing toward the penalty area: ”Gilbert! Show everyone your heading skills! Diving header!!”

”Bang!!” As if transforming himself into an arrow piercing the net, Gilbert extends his body, powerfully directing the ball toward the goal.

It’s a header with force comparable to a volley, the goalkeeper is helpless, and the ball hits the side netting!

”Oh...!! Gilbert!! With a diving header, he puts the team ahead, Sheffield United delivers the ball into the net effortlessly with a simple 45-degree pass!

”Hull City might regret this, as their defense voids, they attempted high pressing, and immediately paid the price, thanks to Ma’el’s precise pass!!”

On the field, Gilbert gets up and rushes towards the corner flag near Ma’el, shouting and looking his way jubilantly.

Ma’el arrives shortly, and the two leap to the highest height, waving their right arms toward the Sheffield United fans in the stands.

”Yeah.....!!” The fans quickly respond with the loudest cheers, countless arms wave in the stands, and those closest to them even try to reach out and touch them.

A frenzy unfolds in the stands, fans squeeze towards the front barriers, moving closer to the two players.

”Fack!”

Gilbert looks up and shouts, then slaps hands with Ma’el, ”How did you pass? I just leapt and scored. It was perfect!”

Ma’el chuckles without saying anything, naturally not revealing that his crossing has made great improvement again.

He then looks toward the box area of the stadium, waving towards that row of boxes.

He knows his family is seated there, cheering wildly for his splendid assist.

......

”Oh....!”

In the private box, Clément is the first to widen his eyes and stand up, seeing his wife rise, and tightly embracing her.

”It’s in!”

”So beautiful!!”

Seeing a nephew’s assist and his run to celebrate with the fans live is a completely different feeling from watching it on TV.

The deafening cheers, the emotional peaks of tens of thousands, make them clearly realize how brilliant Ma’el’s recent strike was.

”Goal, goal!”

Eva really doesn’t understand the complexities of a soccer match, but seeing her brother celebrating makes her happy, ”Brother scored!”

”It was an assist.”

Her brother Bruno explains, he understands the game, ”But the brilliance of that pass should account for at least 50% of the goal’s credit.”

”I think it’s 70%.” McCabe says indulgently, his team’s goal also reflects on his face, shining brightly, ”Cheers to him!”

”Cheers.”

Clément and Betty sit down, clinking glasses with McCabe, then look back to the pitch, wanting to catch their nephew’s every move.

Just then, Ma’el turns his gaze toward their area, making a waving gesture.

”He’s greeting us.”

Clément beams, this special gesture leaves him unable to calm his excitement, ”Amazing, we should have come to see his game sooner.”

”Yes indeed.”

Betty, cheeks flushed, feels how lucky they are to receive a special gesture from the focus of the stadium’s attention.

Even if that person is her nephew, whom she raised from a young age, she feels a sense of being surprisingly honored.

”What a wonderful journey.”

Maki says, eating snacks with a smile, ”In the future, when I’m grown up, even if you don’t come, I’ll come to see his games on my own.”

Without a doubt, in just a few minutes after the start, they have already fallen deeply in love with this feeling, utterly infatuated with experiencing Ma’el’s game live.