From Arsenal to the Ball God

He was taken aback for a moment, then turned his head and asked, ”These shoes, which pair are they? Are they the ones I signed before?”

Just as he was about to take the shoes back, Hans suddenly waved his hand and said with a smile, ”How could they be? That pair of shoes are my family heirloom, I’ve already said, even if you ask for them, I won’t give them to you.

”These are the ’lm7’ shoes with handwritten blessings from our whole family, representing our congratulations to you.”

”Oh.” Ma’el smiled, took them out for a look, and found indeed many handwritten blessings on them. After reading them carefully, he felt a warmth in his heart.

”When you started, I could only lend you a pair of shoes, because at that time I was also in a period of struggle and couldn’t do more.”

Hans placed a hand on Ma’el’s shoulder, his eyes filled with emotion, ”Now you have achieved success and fame, and I have also achieved some success because of you. I hope to give you a pair of shoes to represent my friendship and respect for you.

”You are destined to reach greater heights, maybe one day you’ll suddenly forget me, but I’ll always remember that our bond began with a pair of shoes.”

Ma’el nodded emotionally, squeezing Hans’ shoulder, ”I’ll always remember too, shoes have always had an important significance to me, and recently I’ve accomplished some meaningful things with them.”

After a light hug with Hans, he put the shoes back in the bag and, with a joyful heart, walked into the administration building accompanied by everyone.

”Boom boom.....!”

As soon as he entered, two receptionists in professional attire turned the confetti canons on their ends, releasing streams of fireworks that brilliantly bloomed over Ma’el’s head.

Startled, Ma’el instinctively turned his head to see the two young women leaning backward to launch the firework.

They seemed quite afraid too, but quickly congratulated him with excitement and joy, ”Welcome home, European champion! We, representing all the staff, extend to you our most heartfelt congratulations.

”Thank you for the honor you brought to Arsenal on the European Cup stage, we are always with you.”

Looking at their adorable expressions, Ma’el smiled, swiping away the fireworks near his head, nodded to them, and then saw two ladies in cleaning uniforms approaching with bouquets of flowers.

”Welcome home.....!” Apart from their enthusiastic expressions, they showed no other emotion, apparently sincerely happy to welcome him.

Other staff members quickly came forward with their own gifts, mostly posters of him and some precious photos taken from different angles during training.

Ma’el’s hands soon overflowed with gifts and bouquets, so he had to call Gilbert for help.

These items filled not only his hands but also his heart, and he eagerly looked forward to embarking on a new season’s journey of conquest with everyone here.

After signing his name at the reception, he and everyone else headed to the locker room, where they would take group photos to commemorate this simple reporting and welcome ceremony.

Upon arriving at the locker room, Ma’el sat in his familiar spot, behind him hung an Arsenal home red and white ’number 7’ jersey, and he smiled and gave a double thumbs-up for the photos.

”Come on, come on!”

”Group photo time!”

Soon, everyone was clamoring to gather together, crowding around him to stand in the middle for a big group photo.

At this moment, Wenger and Van Persie exchanged a glance and then nodded, as if confirming something.

Ma’el stood there grinning foolishly in the center, unsure of what pose to strike, so he just raised his hands and led everyone in shouting, ”Cheese...!”

”Click click!” He saw the camera flashing continuously, taking photos for a long time, yet the surrounding players showed no intention of leaving.

Confusion gradually appeared on his face, wasn’t that enough photos.....don’t tell me the club’s website needs a whole collage for the return photo?

Just as he was joking in his mind, he suddenly felt someone holding his left arm.

In surprise, he turned his head to see the Dutch God Striker, Van Persie, next to him, smiling as he placed a green armband with a ’C’ mark on him.

That was.....the captain’s armband!

Ma’el’s heart was constantly flooded with surprise after surprise today, and happiness spread across his face, ”What does this mean?!”

Of course, he knew what it meant, he just instinctively asked.

”You will become the captain for the new season.”

Van Persie raised his head, without the slightest discomfort on his face, just blessings, ”Congratulations, young captain, you are now the dual captain of the France team and Arsenal.

”I believe you will lead us in new directions, be sure to work hard, or else I’ll take it back.”

”Haha.....!” As he finished, he laughed, patting Ma’el’s shoulder a few times, as if passing on the responsibility of this century-old club’s captaincy to him.

Ma’el indeed felt a sense of weight, he intensely stared at Van Persie, trying to see some complexity on his face, but found nothing.

Scenes of Wenger and Van Persie discussing the captaincy transfer gradually emerged in his mind. The Dutch forward must have quickly agreed and even offered to complete the handover himself, to avoid Ma’el feeling any insincerity or bitterness on his side.

Ma’el understood everything, he didn’t refuse, just told himself in his heart not to let down those who put aside their own interests and pinned their hopes on him.

Just like Van Persie, who was now putting the armband on him, said, he needed to lead this club’s members to greater heights!