From Arsenal to the Ball God

He could only follow Ma’el’s lead and try to chat a bit more, ”After you left, he changed, especially after your goal in the Championship League, his personality greatly shifted. He became silent, disciplined, and strict with himself.

”His form on the field gradually improved. Although he wasn’t picked by Mr. Wenger for the first team, he was signed by an English First Division team soon after.

”I’ve been keeping an eye on him, and this season he’s already appeared 9 times.”

”Truly, things have changed,” Ma’el also felt sentimental; this might be considered a butterfly effect since his arrival.

”Are those shoes still around?” He looked at Hans and brought it up with a smile.

”They are.”

Hans had a smile on his face. He took a bag from his wife, ”I specifically brought them today, hoping you’d sign them as a memento for the house.”

Ma’el took the shoes out of the bag and couldn’t help but recall his first extra practice on long shots.

He saw a pen in the bag, apparently prepared in advance. He picked it up and signed his name, ”I was just about to ask you for them.”

”No.”

Hans shook his head and laughed, ”I don’t want to give them to you, and even if I did, it wouldn’t be what I truly wanted.”

”Hahaha.”

After signing his name, Ma’el laughed twice and added ’Represents a new beginning’ on the shoes, signifying they marked the start of his professional career.

Hans’s old kindness is something he would never forget. When one is in a low point, they always clearly remember those who offer help.

He will repay Hans in the future, without losing the bond of friendship.

Seeing these letters, Hans trembled all over, quickly put them away, and said excitedly, ”Mr. Wenger is waiting for you in the media room, you’d better go.”

Ma’el nodded and headed to the media room first, while Gilbert lingered a bit longer. He’s no longer a young lad; he knows that many things can no longer be handled as he used to.

......

In the media room, more than a dozen cameras were set up behind, and shooting had already begun.

Wenger sat in the main seat and noticed the shooting might disturb his private talk with the player, so he stood up, ”I’ll wait outside. Please hold on. He should be here any moment.”

He walked all the way to the entrance of the administrative building and stood there waiting.

”Mr. Wenger.”

The girl at the front desk immediately brought him a chair, afraid he would stand for too long.

”No need.”

Wenger waved his hand to decline, nodded in thanks, and began pacing on the spot with his arms crossed.

Soon, he saw a figure approaching from afar, but being highly nearsighted and without his glasses, he couldn’t be sure. His heart began to race.

His intuition told him this was Ma’el, and the posture confirmed it.

Ma’el finally got a close-up view of this legendary coach. He was wearing an eye-catching red tie, performing his habitual gesture, and his suit seemed a bit thin for the season.

He was very tall, exuding an elegant aura that didn’t convey weakness but rather suggested he was someone who had weathered many storms.

And indeed, he was such a person.

”Sir, you should wear more.”

Ma’el climbed the stairs to the administrative building, came up to him, and shook hands, embracing him.

”It’s an important day.”

Wenger smiled, unable to hide his appreciation for Ma’el, ”It doesn’t matter if I’m cold for a bit; there are winter clothes in the office.”

”Mendes couldn’t make it.”

Ma’el explained to him, having learned this news a couple of days ago, ”His uncle passed away. Unfortunately, today was precisely the funeral.”

Wenger made a regretful expression, half-jokingly and half-seriously saying, ”I should be glad he’s not coming, although we should mourn his uncle.”

He led Ma’el towards the media room, walking very slowly, as if wanting to chat more privately: ”From the moment you first played, I’ve been paying attention to you, all the way until now.

”Initially, I just read the scouting reports on your matches, then I watched the scout-edited videos, and now, I almost find time to watch your entire games.

”This fact my wife knows, of course, I won’t bring her to the club to clarify with you.”

”Hahaha...” Ma’el and Wenger smiled together. The first encounter seemed pleasant, possibly partly due to the filter he had for this veteran coach in his heart.

”Have you adapted to Sheffield?”

Wenger looked at him, not wanting to talk only about football on such a day, ”I mean in life. Have you found a girlfriend?”

”It’s been alright.”

Ma’el nodded first, then smiled and shook his head, ”I haven’t found a girlfriend yet, been too busy, with little social life.”

”Then there’s no rush.”

Wenger raised his eyebrows, giving his take on the matter, ”Girls in London are better. I’ve been here for more than a decade and can confirm they’re the most enthusiastic in All England.”

”Sir, you have a lot of experience.” Ma’el noted, joking in a cryptic tone.

”I’m a loyal person.”

Wenger wasn’t in a hurry to prove himself, speaking calmly, ”Whether to the team or to my family.”

Ma’el instantly believed him; no way around it, he mentioned the team, and given the reality, it’s hard not to be convinced.

Except for the very first sentence, Wenger didn’t express how much he valued Ma’el, nor did the latter express his thoughts about the club or him personally.

But both had a feeling they were likely well-matched; they had an unspoken understanding where just a look could convey much without saying it all out loud.

”Please, come in.”

Upon reaching the media room, Wenger gestured for Ma’el to enter first, and the flashlights began to flash from that moment.

The two sat down, opened the two contracts on the table, pretended to look them over, and then picked up the pens nearby, signing their names in multiple places on the contracts.

With that, they were officially signed!

Ma’el exhaled deeply; this was an important moment for him. He had secured his first fairly substantial contract.

From the moment he wrote his name, he received a £750,000 signing bonus, and from then on, he would earn approximately over £5 per minute, £310 per hour, and £7,440 per day.

”We eagerly anticipate your arrival.”

Wenger stood from his seat, extended his hand towards him, and said expectantly with a smile, ”I hope our collaboration will be not only pleasant but also great.”

This represented his highest expectations, and he didn’t mind saying this in front of the media because he believed in Ma’el’s future.

”I hope so too.”

As Ma’el shook hands with him, they then lifted an unnumbered Arsenal jersey, gazing forward to capture this precious commemorative image.

After exiting the media room, the two made their way to the entrance of the administrative building.

”There’s a league match tomorrow.”

Wenger was very busy, having made time specifically for this signing today, ”So I won’t keep you for dinner and chat; you’re still in season too.

This rushed occasion, I believe, is just temporary. At the end of this season, we will definitely have numerous opportunities to get to know each other better.

”Do your best; your current goal is very clear. If you can achieve it, I will personally come to your current ground to congratulate you.”

Ma’el wanted to say that in some way, he knew him better than he knew himself, but thinking about it, this wasn’t accurate. Confidently, he said, ”I will; then wait for Mr. Wenger in Sheffield City.”

The two parted ways, seemingly knowing that Mr. Wenger would be watching him as he walked away, Ma’el did not look back and kept walking forward.

The first meeting ended like this, but he believed the bond between them had just begun and was far from over.

Finish this season well, and someday, return here in a grand manner with greater poise, to forge a new football epic with him!