England's Greatest

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January 27th, 2014

With only a few days remaining until the close of the European winter transfer window, the buzz around English football is palpable. While Juan Mata's record-breaking transfer to Manchester United for £37 million has dominated headlines, and Chelsea's signing of Basel winger Salah as the first Egyptian player in the club's history is noteworthy, the real intrigue lies with Tristan Hale, the rising star of England. Fans and media alike are captivated by the question: where will Tristan go?

The frenzy around "Where is Tristan going?" has drawn media personnel and transfer reporters of all stripes into the fray. Some claim, based on "reliable intelligence" from dubious sources, that Tristan has landed in London and is poised to strike a personal agreement with Arsenal. Others speculate that he's heading to Chelsea instead, particularly after Mourinho's recent acquisition of winger Salah, who previously helped Basel defeat Chelsea twice in the Champions League group stage. It seems logical for Chelsea to target Tristan, given he played a crucial role in Leicester City's victory over them in the FA Cup. As the saying goes, if you can't beat them, buy their key players.

Such maneuvers are nothing new in the world of football, yet they have left Leicester City fans on edge, fearing the next news could be an official announcement of Tristan's departure. In response, supporters have taken to the club's website and social media to urge management to secure a new contract with him as swiftly as possible.

Among the most fervent supporters are members of Leicester City's largest fan organization, the "Fox Club." Rather than passively watching Tristan potentially leave, they decided to take action. Early in the morning, nearly fifty fans donned in Foxes jerseys gathered outside the Belvoir base, brandishing homemade banners. Their mission was clear: to express their solidarity with Tristan and encourage him to stay.

As the first-team players returned from their holiday and arrived at the training base, they were taken aback by the sight of fans holding signs proclaiming "Tristan, don't go!" and "Tristan, stay!" It was hard not to feel a pang of envy. In less than a month, Tristan had endeared himself to the supporters, raising the question of whether the fans would rally for any of their players faced with transfer rumors.

When asked about the situation, the players, seemingly unaware of the details, merely shook their heads, insisting they had no information. Only Mahrez, who was privy to the inside scoop, managed to suppress a knowing smile, maintaining an expression of ignorance.

After signing jerseys for a few enthusiastic fans, Mahrez slowly made his way into the base. Meanwhile, Bob, engrossed in his phone and the latest transfer news, turned to William and said, "I just saw a tweet from a sports reporter claiming someone spotted Tristan at the London airport."

William, clad in a blue woolen hat adorned with the Leicester City logo and sporting a nose slightly reddened by the cold, responded with disbelief: "Impossible! Tristan is far too polite and affectionate to leave like this!"

"But there's a photo of him at the airport," Bob insisted.

As their conversation unfolded, a black Land Rover approached. The unfamiliar bald man at the wheel caused the fans to pause. They had no inkTristan that the distinguished figure seated in the back was none other than Mendes—the renowned agent Tristan had just signed with.

At the same time, in a meeting room at Belvoir Base, the club's sports director, Rudkin, and head coach, Pearson, sat anxiously in their chairs. They frequently glanced at the door, waiting for an important figure to arrive.

"Why hasn't he come yet?" Rudkin asked, his concern evident.

"He should be here soon. The guard mentioned that his agent has already arrived at the base," Pearson replied.

Moments later, the door swung open, and Mendes walked into the room. Both Rudkin and Pearson were taken aback by the presence of the renowned agent.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen," Mendes greeted them in English, his slight Portuguese accent unmistakable.

Recognition dawned on Rudkin, his eyes widening in disbelief. The football tycoon, who represented numerous stars, had walked into their meeting. Shock coursed through him—Tristan's agent was none other than Mendes! When had Tristan signed with him?

As the introductions unfolded and everyone shook hands, Mendes wasted no time and took the lead in the negotiations.

"Gentlemen, I must be straightforward," he began. "Premier League clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal, and Crystal Palace have all made generous offers to my client. Even Mr. Wenger of Arsenal has personally called him."

Pearson's frown deepened. "But Tristan told me just yesterday that he wasn't going anywhere!"

"That's true; my client wants to stay and fight for Premier League qualification with the team," Mendes replied. "However, you must understand that he has multiple options. Therefore, my client expects to see the club's sincerity. A new contract with reasonable terms is essential—that's why I'm here."

Rudkin and Pearson exchanged glances, taken aback by Mendes' assertive stance. They had anticipated that the famed agent would demand a high price, but they were also aware that they couldn't afford to be taken advantage of. Losing Tristan with a mere million-pound buyout clause would have significant repercussions for the club, both in reputation and financial terms. Securing his future with a new contract was critical, especially since his potential promised a substantial transfer fee down the line.

"We must keep Tristan at all costs!" was the conclusion the Leicester City executives had reached in an emergency meeting the night before. Thus, when Mendes laid out his request, Rudkin responded without hesitation.

"Of course, we are sincere in our desire to renew Tristan's contract," he stated. "We aim to develop him as the future of the team. He is our youth player, a product of the club, and both the club and fans hope he can remain here for a long time."

Mendes smiled at Rudkin's words. "Very good. Then let's discuss the details of the new contract."

With one party eager to negotiate and the other keen to meet their demands, the discussions progressed smoothly. Mendes quickly secured a new contract for Tristan, filled with generous benefits. His weekly salary skyrocketed from £100 to £15,000—a staggering increase of 150 times! While this was still modest compared to the tens of thousands or even over £100,000 earned by many Premier League players, it was a significant step forward for Tristan.

Thanks to excellent commercial strategies, the broadcasting revenues of the Premier League were astonishingly high, providing the clubs with ample resources to invest in their players.

The broadcast revenue of Premier League teams is divided into three parts: 50%, 25%, and 25%, with each part allocated to the clubs according to different standards.

Firstly, 50% of the domestic broadcast revenue is shared equally among the 20 clubs, averaging about £34 million per club. This substantial amount is one of the main reasons why clubs strive for promotion to the Premier League.

In addition, 25 percent of the broadcast revenue is distributed based on the number of broadcast games. Teams with more televised matches receive a larger share. The final 25 percent is allocated according to ranking, with each place worth £1.7 million. Consequently, the last-placed team gets £1.7 million, while the top team can earn up to £35 million.

The financial windfall associated with promotion has sparked fierce competition among clubs in the English Championship, all eager to secure their spot in the Premier League. In stark contrast, Championship teams receive around £3 million in broadcasting income, creating a vast disparity in revenue that contributes to the gulf in salary levels between Premier League and Championship players.

Top players in the Championship earn between £15,000 and £30,000 weekly, with Tristan being offered a staggering £15,000—already the highest salary on his team. Most players earn less than £10,000 a week, with even the captain, Morgan, and goalkeeper Schmeichel pulling in only £12,000. This underscores the club's determination to retain Tristan, how valuable they consider him.

Beyond the basic salary, the contract includes various bonuses to incentivize performance: £20,000 for winning the Championship Player of the Month, £30,000 for being the assists leader or best player of the season, and a substantial £50,000 for helping the team win the English Championship. Each bonus is designed to motivate Tristan to elevate his game and lead the team to victory.

Additionally, his contract includes a clause for a 30% salary increase if he helps Leicester City secure promotion to the Premier League this season. However, there were disagreements regarding a termination clause. Unlike in La Liga, where buyout clauses are common, Premier League clubs typically do not include them when renewing contracts.

But Mendes, Tristan's agent, firmly believes that Leicester City can serve as a springboard for his career. He argues that a buyout clause would simplify future transfers, ensuring the club doesn't keep Tristan against his will if he wishes to move on. Despite Rudkin's reluctance—fearing they would lose money if Tristan's value skyrockets—the sports director eventually compromises, agreeing to a £30 million termination fee over a five-year contract.

Once both parties finalize the contract details, it's time for Tristan to sign. Mendes steps out of the meeting room and calls Tristan.

"Tristan, it's me," he says, his voice steady.

"Mr. Mendes, what's going on?" Tristan replies, a mix of excitement and nervousness.

"The negotiations are over; you can come to the club to sign."

"Okay, thank you very much."

Half an hour later, Tristan rides his beloved bicycle to the Belvoir base, anticipation building with each pedal stroke.

As he arrives, he is met by a throng of fans outside the base, who call out his name with fervor.

"Tristan! Don't leave!"

"Tristan, you won't leave, right?"

"Tristan, we need you!"

FeeTristan the warmth of their support, Tristan's heart swells. These fans have been his steadfast allies, both on and off the field. Facing their hopeful expressions, he smiles and responds confidently, "Don't worry, guys, this is my home; I won't leave!"

Yet, beneath his reassuring words, he silently thinks, At least not now!

Relieved cheers erupt from the crowd as they hear his promise. A familiar voice breaks through, calTristan out, "Good job! Tristan! I knew you wouldn't betray us!"

Tristan spots Big William, a fan he remembers fondly.

"Hey, you're Big William?"

William beams, "Haha, you still remember me?!"

"Of course! You were the first to ask me for an autograph!"

"We didn't take a photo last time; let's snap one now!"

After taking pictures and signing autographs for fans, Tristan finally rides his bike into the base, where the excitement of the impending contract signing begins to settle in.

Inside the conference room, he carefully reviews the terms of his new contract, impressed by Mendes's negotiation prowess. As expected of you!

With lawyers from both sides present, Tristan signs his name on the new contract. Rudkin breathes a sigh of relief, clearly relieved to finalize the deal.

After signing, Tristan is escorted to the press room for a photo op. In front of a large Leicester City logo, he sits at a table, pen in hand, looking up at the cameras with a bright smile.

With a "click," the moment is captured, freezing the excitement of the day. The club quickly uploads the photo to its official website and social media, announcing: "We have renewed our contract with the future of the team!"

With Leicester City officially announcing the contract renewal with Tristan, the transfer storm of "Where will Tristan go?" has finally come to an end. The club's official website and social media became a hub for fans to express their joy and excitement:

"Nice! Thumbs up for the club!"

"Great renewal!"

"I knew Tristan would stay!"

"Well done!"

As the number of likes and comments on the official announcement skyrocketed, breaking 100,000 in just one hour, the club recognized that this contract renewal was a wise choice. This agreement represented a win-win for everyone involved. The club retained Tristan, a young player with extraordinary potential, while also keeping the door open for future lucrative transfer fees. Fans felt even more supportive seeing their homegrown talent stay with the team, and Tristan himself was content with a satisfactory salary, motivated to give his all for Leicester City.

The only losers in this renewal were the other Premier League clubs that missed out on signing him.

After finalizing the contract, Tristan expressed his gratitude to Mendes, his agent. "Thank you very much for your service, Mr. Mendes."

"You're welcome. This is my job. From now on, it depends on your performance on the pitch," Mendes replied.

In addition to the generous contract benefits, Mendes also secured a signing bonus of £100,000 for Tristan. This was a substantial sum, especially considering his previous weekly salary of just £100. At that rate, it would take him 1000 weeks to earn that much. Even with a significant salary increase to £15,000 per week, he would still need about 3.33 weeks to reach the signing bonus.

However, despite this newfound wealth, Tristan didn't feel like he had suddenly become rich; he was focused on the season ahead and helping his team succeed.

Since Tristan did not have a personal bank account, his weekly salary was always deposited into his mother's account. He planned to set up his own bank account when he had the time but intended to transfer half of his earnings to his mom every time he received a paycheck. He had learned this financial strategy from the school of Hakimi, just in case any unexpected situations arose.

So, when the club transferred the £100,000 signing bonus into Julia's account, she was shocked to see the amount reflected in her mobile banking app. After discussing it with Ling, she immediately called her son.

"Mom, that wasn't a mistake. It's the signing fee the club gave me."

"What kind of signing fee is this? It's actually £100,000?!"

"Mr. Mendes helped me secure it. This is standard practice for professional players when signing new contracts."

After explaining, Tristan shared the good news about his contract renewal and salary increase with his parents. Ling and Julia were thrilled about their son's decision to stay with Leicester City. After agreeing to celebrate together that evening, Tristan hung up the phone.

Checking the time, he changed into his sneakers and headed to the team locker room to prepare for training. As he trotted toward the first-team training ground, all the first-team players turned to look at him, their faces a mix of surprise, confusion, and relief. Some teammates had expected Tristan to transfer, given the interest from prestigious Premier League clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea, which offered better treatment and opportunities.

However, Tristan's decision to stay was a positive development for everyone. With him on the team, their chances of promotion to the Premier League improved, which meant higher salaries for all. Of course, to ensure they remained in the team and competed in the Premier League, they needed to train hard and perform at their best on the field.

Facing the curious stares, Tristan remained calm. He trotted over to Coach Pearson and greeted him. "Coach!"

"Great! Let's head to the offensive team!"

"Okay!"

Following Pearson's guidance, Tristan joined the offensive group, where he warmed up alongside Mahrez, Vardy, and the others. After a while, Mahrez approached him quietly and asked in a low voice, "Done?"

"Nailed it," Tristan replied.

At that moment, Vardy, who had been listening nearby, couldn't help but join in, asking, "What's done?"

Tristan flashed a mysterious smile and said, "You'll find out when you check your phone later."

Since it was mid-season and they had just played a match the day before, the team focused less on physical training and more on reviewing tactics from the previous FA Cup game. Their set-piece strategies had proven effective in breaking through Chelsea's defense, prompting Pearson to add specialized training on set-piece tactics. He outlined specific landing points for corner kicks and free kicks, as well as potential scoring candidates.

Set pieces were vital for teams that struggled to create opportunities during matches. Improving their effectiveness would enrich their offensive tactics, benefiting them against both strong and weak league opponents.

During the training, Pearson publicly announced that Tristan would be the team's first choice for free kicks and corner kicks. Neither Drinkwater, the previous first-choice taker, nor any other players objected; Tristan's passing skills were unmatched on the team.

After completing their training and heading to the cafeteria for a well-deserved meal, the team confirmed through the club's official announcement that Tristan had signed a five-year contract. Captain Morgan was the first to congratulate him, giving him a warm hug. "Congratulations on your contract extension, young man!"

"Thank you, Captain."

Next, vice-captain Schmeichel and veteran players like Andy King and Vardy came over to bump fists with him. Vardy playfully punched Tristan lightly on the chest and teased, "So this is what you meant by getting it done!"

Mahrez, who had the closest relationship with Tristan, chimed in with a grin, "Tristan, you can't escape this time—you have to treat us!"

"No problem!" Tristan agreed eagerly.

Standing up, he opened his arms and announced to the cafeteria, "Guys, I have an announcement! To celebrate my contract renewal, after we defeat Birmingham the day after tomorrow, I will treat everyone to dinner."