From Arsenal to the Ball God

Chapter 113: Chapter 35: Breaking the Championship Goal Record! Wait, Do You Really Have That Much Money? [4/5]

The player who demanded an explanation changed his expression and immediately ran away without any hesitation, sprinting all the way across the cleats to the player tunnel, even slipping and falling hard because it was too slippery.

When he snapped back to his senses, the coaching staff and players had already come back, and not a single person was left outside.

They leaned against the wall, listening to the noises outside, not daring to go out again.

......

”What did I say?!”

On the side of the stands, Sector A, the old man beside Kevin Strom waved both hands in celebration, ”What did I say, he always manages to do it!”

”It was a brilliant play!”

As an American, Kevin Strom found it difficult to experience the joys that football brings from childhood, as they usually engage more in baseball, rugby, basketball, and similar sports.

This was the first time he felt such surging emotions within a football stadium, naturally making it a lifelong unforgettable experience.

The spectacle of football does not need saying; aerial strikes, scissor kicks, crescent moon dipping shots, all give people a violent beauty of enjoying art.

Even people who usually don’t watch football can feel this passion at this moment.

”It’s almost turning into a fight!”

Mike suddenly pointed at a place on the field where some fans were already rushing out, making him very excited: ”Oh....! Should we also rush down there?”

Kevin Strom helplessly glanced at him, wondering if they were here to watch the match or to witness conflicts.

”Don’t look at me like that.”

Mike remained unchanged, saying, ”I know what’s important; after coming all the way here and witnessing a match too, I am already aware of his influence in this region—he’s fine.”

Kevin Strom didn’t reply, already completely engrossed in this exciting match, turning to ask the old man beside him: ”What now?”

”Wait for the referee’s notice.”

The old man pointed to the referee and fourth official who were about to enter the tunnel and said, ”There are many ways to handle this, but I hope they declare us the winners since we are already leading three to one, and they started the trouble first.”

Kevin Strom nodded, crossed his hands at his face, anxiously waiting.

After a long while, the main referee walked out from the player tunnel, holding a whistle, blowing three long whistles, pointing at the sky: ”Beep! Beep! Beep——!!”

The match ended early, meaning it’s over with the current score!

Sheffield United, after experiencing some twists and turns at home, eventually defeated the opponent with a score of three to one!

”Ohh....!!” Another round of cheers drowned Bramall Lane Stadium, and the police in the city soon arrived to control some fans who had rushed over the security line and flipped over advertisement boards; they will receive certain punishments.

”We won!”

Kevin Strom initially did not realize it; looking at the old man beside him raising both hands in applause, he finally smiled: ”Not easy, the match was fragmented, yet still very entertaining.”

”Ma’el! Ma’el! Ma’el.....!” The old man didn’t have time to respond to them but followed the increasingly loud waves calling out Ma’el’s name; he had become today’s hero again.

Moreover, today was also an important day for him as he achieved a significant milestone!

This honor belongs not only to him but also to Sheffield United, because the record will state he achieved this honor in Sheffield!

This will make Sheffield United fans feel immensely proud, after all..... when anyone tries to boast about their team’s players, they can bring up Ma’el right away.

—”Uh.... the player you mentioned is good, but he should go break the Championship single-season goal record.”

—”Ah.... forgot to tell you, that was completed by our team’s player Ma’el in the 10-11 season.”

Others might fantasize like this because they used to be frequently mocked by other team fans for this point and suffered from not having a player from their own team to boast about.

Kevin Strom exchanged a glance with Mike, seeing shock and amazement in each other’s eyes.

The two didn’t stay long at the stadium, contacting Ma’el; hoping to meet this little king of Sheffield today itself.

......

At the familiar old place, still the same restaurant where Mendes first brought Ma’el; the three sat together.

”1.5% of the shares.”

Kevin Strom proposed his terms, explaining: ”That’s the maximum we can offer, and not all at once. We need to create a stock incentive plan based on the kind of promotional effect you achieve, to determine how much shares you receive.

”I hope you won’t be angry saying this, in the latest round of valuation, we already have a market value of 30 million US Dollars.”

”Yes.”

Mike nodded beside him, adding: ”In terms of conversion, you can treat it as a contract worth 450,000 US Dollars, which I believe is very attractive for young players like you.”

Kevin Strom, worried Ma’el wouldn’t believe, opened his phone, pulling up a news page: ”Look, our valuation really is 30 million US Dollars, recently we are planning to get financing.

”Offering 25% of shares to get 7.5 million US Dollars, that’s a sky-high price, maybe you don’t quite understand now.”

Ma’el listened till they finished speaking, nodded a bit—it truly felt like crossing industries is like crossing mountains, information isn’t fluent anymore and there were mutual misreading.

He chuckled lightly asking, ”Are you smoothly getting financing? Do you still need new capital to enter?”

”It’s going okay.”

Kevin Strom confusedly thought Ma’el misunderstood, ”This is also a type of investment, but... it’s purely joining with resources, and we need partners like you.”

”So, you mean I am worth 1.5%?”

Ma’el didn’t expect his evaluation from them quite high, but taking just 1.5 surely isn’t aligning with his expectations, he continued: ”How about you give me 10%, only count 1% as resource equity, I’ll take the rest at your pricing.”

If a trade wants to progress forward, it’s better to take a step back first to increase success rate and persuasiveness, paying an extra 0.5% was not a problem for him.

”Haha.”

Kevin Strom laughed outwardly, internally lowering his opinion of Ma’el a bit, thinking he was greedy, ”There may be a misunderstanding. The 25% is all for financing, not for negotiation with you.

”We need money, without it we can’t operate servers, recruit employees, sustain the company.”

Mike suddenly patted him slightly, causing him to get a bit angry, ready to erupt when the other said: ”Didn’t you hear, he wants to invest?”

”Investment?”

Kevin Strom was surprised again, holding back agitation to explain for a long time: ”Ma’el.... a simple quick calculation would reveal, if 25% is 7.5 million US Dollars, 1% alone is 300,000 US Dollars.

”Your ask for 10%, excluding personal influence addition of 1%, totaling 9%, requiring 2.7 million US Dollars.”

”I have it.” Ma’el didn’t wait for him to finish talking, responded.

In these times, the US Dollar’s strength wasn’t very prominent, with the Pound conversion rate approximately 1.64; meaning taking out about 1.65 million Pounds would yield 2.7 million US Dollars.

He calculated before coming, he could manage close enough to this limit, just seeing if the opposite party would agree.

”2.7 million US Dollars, need... let me see today’s exchange rate.”

Kevin Strom said that and opened his phone to search for the exchange rate, his brain finally reacting to what Ma’el just mentioned, he suddenly lifted his head: ”What did you say?!”

Mike heard clearly, slightly opening his mouth, unsure if Ma’el was tricking them or if they really underestimated this kid.

After the meal, they came to a self-service ATM, Ma’el inserted his card; a clear number appeared before them.

[1784651.49]

Two weeks passed, another post-tax 60,000 Pounds or so salary reached his account, Ma’el’s savings approached 1.8 million Pounds, converting to US Dollars—close to 3 million.

”Oh....!”

Mike, being straight-forward, immediately held his head and turned, somewhat worried about attracting robbers, pursing his lips forcefully lowering his voice, ”It’s terrifying, terrifying.”

Kevin Strom stood stunned in place, not saying anything, the rest of the way was lost in thought; seemingly having his soul taken away, unable to speak more.

...

ps: The Championship concludes within the week.