From Arsenal to the Ball God

”First, let’s confirm one thing.”

Mendes still wanted to gain the upper hand in the negotiation, and he made a request: ”All discussions should be based on the premise of a 1-year extension, making the total contract duration 4 years. The player values this aspect highly.”

”It’s not that he’s considering leaving; he just wants to leave some room for himself. He believes he can perform even better in the future and continually earn similar pay raises.”

Wenger nodded in understanding. He wasn’t adamant about the contract duration, and for a player like Ma’el with great talent and potential, leaving some room was beneficial.

Otherwise, when there’s no possibility for an extension, the player might be unhappy with the salary but lacks the bargaining chips.

At that point, making demands from the club could easily strain the relationship with no room for maneuver.

”Let’s finalize it today.”

Wenger expressed his intention, not wanting to drag things out any longer. ”Let’s discuss each item one by one, starting with the release clause.”

”My thoughts remain consistent with before.”

Mendes, with clear logic, spoke slowly: ”After Cristiano’s £80 million transfer to Real Madrid, I expect transfers of this price to become frequent in the future.

”Of course, this doesn’t mean I consider other agents’ players to be on the same level as Cristiano.

”Therefore, if you see potential in the player and want to set a high release clause, I have no objections. But you must offer a comparable price to make us readily accept this proposal.”

”But you repeatedly rejected £70 million and £65 million.” Wenger spread his hands, bringing up the previous unpleasant negotiations.

”That’s obvious.”

Mendes showed a bright smile, saying: ”I think Arsenal’s salary structure can’t offer corresponding salaries to young players.”

Wenger’s mouth twitched slightly. After some thought, he said: ”My bottom line is £60 million, and I wish to set it at this price.”

Mendes remained silent, just looking at him, waiting for him to continue.

”The player’s value has increased, and the release clause price has been reduced. I think the two have counterbalanced each other.”

With a low voice, Wenger expressed his thought: ”Plus, with my sincerity towards the player and you, I can accept your previous offer of a £50k weekly salary and a £650,000 signing bonus.”

Mendes nodded, puffed on his cigar, and slowly said: ”The increased player value, I don’t think reducing the release clause by just £5 million can offset it. These are different concepts.

”But truthfully, your offer is not far from what I anticipated.”

”£52k weekly salary.”

Wenger raised the offer, unwilling to continue tangling with Mendes. ”Everything else remains unchanged.”

”If Mr. Wenger can raise the signing bonus to £750,000...”

”Agreed.” Wenger pressed his tongue against his palate, somewhat reluctantly agreeing directly.

Beside him, Hans silently sucked in a breath of cold air. Both the salary and extending for one more year with a signing bonus were well above the Premier League average.

Offering such a deal to a Championship player indicated the depth of the professor’s admiration.

Considering Ma’el’s performance, it made sense. It was just surprising because they’ve never encountered such a player before.

”Now, let’s discuss the bonuses.” Mendes, smiling broadly, initiated the new topic, having completed the crucial part of the negotiation, and it was faster than he’d imagined.

He essentially dominated this negotiation; none of the people Wenger brought could speak up.

”I’ve designed it.”

Wenger reached towards Philip, who quickly handed over a contract to Mendes.

Mendes took it and began to go through it. It was apparent that this was genuinely a carefully designed bonus contract, filled with uniqueness.

Firstly, there’s an attendance bonus of £600,000 per season based on the player’s attendance percentage.

Basically, for every match the player appears in, he earns a bonus of £10,000, including substitute appearances.

Next is the special attendance bonus. For example, in the UEFA Champions League, an additional £200,000 was set up, with another £100,000 for warm-up matches, and a final £100,000 for League Cup and FA Cup matches.

Still depending on attendance, full attendance allows you to take the entire bonus, totaling a generous £1 million in attendance bonuses.

The second item is bonuses for winning championships at the club. There are seven items: Champions League, Premier League, Club World Cup, European Super Cup, FA Cup, League Cup, and Community Shield Cup.

The bonuses are £2 million, £1 million, £800,000, £800,000, £700,000, £250,000, and £250,000 respectively.

Totaling £5.8 million.

”Oh...” Mendes suddenly noticed, below these, there were two more bonuses for entering the top four in the Premier League and advancing past the Champions League group stage.

£500,000 each, totaling £1 million.

This is more practical. Championship bonuses are high, but difficult to achieve... mostly you can only look at them.

Next, are bonuses for goals and assists, with different competitions having different weights, which represent different prices.

In this category, the European and Premier League are classified as first-tier weight, with the Club World Cup, European Super Cup, FA Cup, and Community Shield Cup as second-tier weight, and all other matches as third-tier.

For first-tier weight, goals have a £20,000 bonus, assists £15,000, each tier reducing by £5,000.

Additionally, there are all sorts of miscellaneous target bonuses like scoring 30 goals, 100 goals, appearing in 50 matches, 100 matches, and so on, dazzling the eyes.

”I have no objections.”

Mendes recognized the sincerity in this contract, knowing that based on the club’s financial status, it was the highest bonus contract the professor could carefully devise.

After all, bonuses are different from salaries. When a player earns a bonus, there’s a high chance the club will laugh along with him.

”This is just for the individual.”

Wenger, with diminished aversion towards Mendes, added: ”The rest of the team’s overall bonuses will also be distributed together.”

”If, in the future, we want to modify this bonus contract, would Arsenal agree to negotiations?”

Mendes asked his final question, needing confirmation: ”Only agreeing to negotiate, not saying agreeing to modify.”

”Before the season, yes.”

With a light smile, Wenger replied: ”During the season, of course, no, especially before finals.”

”Hahaha...” Laughter finally broke the heavy atmosphere, and many at the scene smiled.

”Ma’el expresses his gratitude to you.”

Mendes beamed, stood up, and extended his right hand, ”Pleasant cooperation, wishing Arsenal all the best.”

”Pleasant cooperation.”

Wenger stood up and shook his hand, while the others also stood up together and came to their side.

Hans felt it wasn’t appropriate for him to go over, so since no one was taking photos, he took a few shots and saved them in the album, capturing the moment.

After the signing date was confirmed, Mendes left the office, seemingly having more things to do.

Wenger sat back on the sofa, his expression neutral.

”Did we get a good deal?” Philip asked him, noticing that the final confirmed price wasn’t what Wenger initially told them.

”I don’t know.”

Wenger shook his head, stared blankly for a while, and then replied, ”It doesn’t seem so now. Ultimately, it depends on the player when he comes back; he is the sole factor to judge if we got a good deal, not the money.”

”Agreed.”

Hans, though not intending to speak earlier, was holding back after sitting silently for too long, ”Mendes is very forceful. This is the first time I’ve seen him.”

”Mr. Wenger is actually strong-willed too.”

Philip glanced at him and explained, ”It’s just that he wanted Mendes and the player side to feel that they won. Maybe Mendes saw through it in the end, maybe he didn’t.”

...

On January 1st, the winter transfer window officially opened, and Europe’s football giants immediately took action in the transfer market.

Among them, the Premier League was the most frenzied.

On the morning the transfer window opened, Manchester United announced the joining of 21-year-old super-talented defender Smolin, and the official website released a photo of the Old Lord with him.

Liverpool was not to be outdone, signing the Argentinian powerhouse Rodriguez from Atletico Madrid, and even Arsenal, which hadn’t made any significant signings for a long time, announced that Campbell would return to the team!

The Championship teams did not act as quickly, and they were mostly preparing for that day’s league matches.

At 1:30 PM, the 24th round of the Championship kicked off with Sheffield United visiting Burnley away.

Gilbert and Steven, regular mainstays in the lineup, were rotated, and Britton and Williamson took to the field.

”Evans! In the 9th minute of the match, he took the lead for the team! Showcasing individual skill! After intercepting an opponent’s pass, he dribbled past two players and sent the ball into the net! I don’t understand, why isn’t he in the best starting lineup?”

”.....”

”It’s him again! Evans scores a brace! Sheffield United is leading two-nil! This time it was assisted by Ward!”

”.....”

”Iglesias painstakingly pulled one back for Burnley. He used both his head and feet, with two consecutive shots blocked or saved until finally heading the ball into the net on the rebound!

”Sheffield United’s defenders are still prone to lapses in concentration, and their reaction abilities are mediocre.”

”.....”

”Britton’s pass, Evans breaks into the flank again, will he complete a hat-trick?! It’s saved by the goalkeeper!

”From outside the box, Ma’el takes a long shot on the rebound!! It’s powerful with great momentum, a world-class goal!! It’s in! Three to one!!”

At Burnley’s home, Moya Stadium, Ma’el laughed as he ran towards the sidelines, looking back at Evans, teasing him about missing a hat-trick opportunity.

”Damn it!”

Evans was both frustrated and amused as he made his way to Ma’el’s side, shaking his head and sighing, ”I guess I’m destined not to have a hat-trick this match.”

He guessed right.

”Sheffield United won three to one away at Burnley! Evans scored twice, and Ma’el scored his 16th league goal, bringing the total to over 30 goals!” — London Evening Paper

...

On January 2nd, Ma’el spent his last day with his family shopping in Sheffield City. That evening, they were set to leave.

The reluctance of parting welled up that day as he took his family around numerous clothing stores and sampled various international snacks in the city center.

Taking advantage of his wealth, Ma’el went on a shopping spree, buying everything from clothes to shoes, bags to toys, and spent over 7,000 pounds, having everything packed and ready for them.

Seizing this opportunity, he bought himself some items too, as he usually had no time to tidy up, and it seemed a waste to have such a face and figure.

”Alright, alright.”

”Wow!”

Clément’s family of five had never spent like this before, feeling both uneasy and excited as they each carried large bags.

Ma’el knew he would likely sign a new contract this month, and before parting, he gave each of the three children a 5,000-pound red envelope.

He was afraid his uncle and aunt would feel embarrassed accepting it upfront, so he used this method to give it to them.

At three in the afternoon, he called the club’s business car to take them to Manchester International Airport, where the family fit perfectly in.

On the way, whether due to the sadness and bitterness of parting or simply from being tired from shopping, they spoke very little to each other.

Even Eva, who was usually lively, was quiet and dejected, occasionally sniffing and wiping her eyes.

The silence persisted as they entered the airport, walked into the terminal, and finally stood at the dividing point, the moment of their official farewell arrived.

Clément stood at the front with a bag, the dream journey had ended. Looking at his nephew’s figure, he couldn’t put his feelings into words, only felt a bit of stinging at the corners of his eyes.

He gave up, picked up several suitcases, and headed to the check-in counter on the other side, ”I’ll go check-in the luggage.”

The three children stood behind Betty, whose eyes were already red, each with a different posture and expression.

The eldest sister, Maki, didn’t dare to look this way, the second brother kept a stiff face, and Eva burst out crying with a ’wah,’ with no one comforting her.

”Ma’el, work hard!”

Finally, the one who used to least support him playing football, Betty, with red eyes forced a smile, waved at him, and said, ”We’re all waiting for you to become the best player.”

She might not understand what being the best player entails, but she still held that hope.

”See you next time in London.”

Ma’el waved at them with a smile that wasn’t entirely genuine, ”Bring them all when you come, bye!”