From Arsenal to the Ball God

February 13th, inside the mansion.

”Time flies.”

After completing speed training with Davis, Ma’el came to the schedule chart and casually crossed out the first 3 matches of the month with a pen.

Of the 7 matches this month, only 4 remain, and the championship battle at the end of the month is very close.

He looked at the words ’English League Cup Final’ and the match venue ’Wembley Stadium,’ and couldn’t help but feel a mix of nervousness and excitement.

This is his first championship battle in a top-tier event, and also his first cup competition!

As long as he wins the English League Cup, his debut season in the top league will boast a guaranteed significant honor.

If he can lift the Premier League trophy at the end of the season, it would be a Double Crown!

This would definitely be a dazzling start—a loud declaration to the football world of his arrival, symbolizing his official entry into the competition for ’the best’!

Even though he has come this far, to the final critical stage,

the word ’retreat’ isn’t in Ma’el’s dictionary. He needs to stay composed, strive to overcome all difficulties, and ultimately accomplish his vision.

”I have an idea.”

Beside him, Davis smiled as he watched the flickering desire in Ma’el’s eyes, ”Is it because you performed so well in your debut season at 17 in the Championship, so you hope to always be just as good afterward?

”To continue following this path that has already set an ’unusual’ tone, not settling for mediocrity?”

Ma’el nodded and turned towards the living room, ”You could say that.”

”Isn’t this putting too much pressure on yourself?” Davis followed behind him, continuing, ”This means you have to perform better than the previous season every single year, achieving more.

”Hardly any player can do that; even top stars have fluctuating conditions, though more stable than average players.”

After reaching the living room, Ma’el sat on the sofa with a slight smile. ”You’re right, but I’m clearly still on the rise; this is far from my limit.

”As long as I persist in training, making myself surpass the previous day’s performance every day, and always keep progressing and growing, I will surely offset the fluctuations in form.”

He closed one eye, his right index finger moving up continuously from a point in front of him, ”At that time, even if there are monthly fluctuations, from a broad perspective, I am still moving upward.

”You can see this from the increase in my valuation: 8m-20m-30m-45m-70m.

”Maybe between each update, I experience fluctuations in form, but I never stop climbing upward.”

He spoke a lot today, stemming from the continual accumulation of positive feedback from different lines, which gave him confidence and happiness.

Sometimes people suddenly become full of enthusiasm and the urge to speak, feeling like everything is getting better.

”You’re very confident.” Davis looked at Ma’el with an aunt-like smile. Those around him admire and love this sunny young man.

”Yes,” Ma’el readily admitted, smiling brightly, ”I’ve always been confident.”

...

That evening, his good friend Gilbert couldn’t contain himself after the latest valuation update and came from Sheffield to London.

Ma’el, arm in arm with Isabella, looked down from a window in a private room at a high-end restaurant, searching for Gilbert’s figure.

They also wanted to see how well-known he was in London and if anyone recognized him.

”You two.....”

A voice sounded from behind them, startling them. Turning around, they found Gilbert had already come up.

He looked at the two with a bewildered expression, but soon started smiling mischievously, ”What’s your relationship now?”

”Didn’t see you?”

Ma’el didn’t rush to answer his question, moving from the window to the table to sit down, ”Invisible? Is this a skill you honed on the pitch?”

Gilbert paused, realized, then shrugged and waved his hand, ”Get lost!”

Isabella giggled beside him, then turned to glance at Ma’el, and took the initiative to answer Gilbert’s previous question, ”Companion, some describe my relationship with him this way.”

Gilbert’s gaze shifted over their faces; not finding anything unusual, he called the waiter to order.

”I’ll treat today.” He seemed in a good mood, glowing with joy: ”Don’t underestimate me; I’m about to get a pay raise.”

”Alright.” Ma’el looked at his good friend’s demeanor, feeling happy for him as well, ”Then let’s celebrate properly today, how about a little drink?”

”Sure.”

Gilbert rose to get drinks outside, soon returning with a 1.5-liter craft beer keg, ”Drink it all this time; next time will be at season’s end, hopefully celebrating staying up.”

”Same for me.” Ma’el nodded with a smile, ”I hope by then it’ll be celebrating a Double Crown.”

Pouring the beer, Gilbert shrugged without saying much, seemingly not wanting anymore to lament their differing speeds of growth and the current gap.

For this valuation update, his valuation has reached 25 million Euro, but the gap with Ma’el only grows, already at 45m.

”But.....” Suddenly remembering something, he lifted his head again, ”Ma’el, do you remember the first valuation update for both of us?

”At that time, I was 3.5 million, you were 8 million. Our gap was 4.5 million.

”Now, over a year later, our valuations have nearly increased tenfold... and the gap also tenfold, indicating that my growth rate isn’t weaker than yours.”