NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14: Chapter 14: The First Contract and the Second One!
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Chapter 14: The First Contract and the Second One!
Maël walked for over ten minutes before finally reaching the Administrative Building of the Youth Training Center.
As he approached Coach Hans's office, a staff member who had been waiting there stopped him, "Wait a moment, there's someone inside."
Maël nodded. Soon, he saw a Trial Player who had been playing in midfield today walk out, his face beaming with joy.
"Brother, congratulations."
The other person was very happy, and naturally, this happiness was contagious to Maël.
"You too."
Maël smiled slightly, took a deep breath, and then entered the office.
About a month ago, he had been here once. At that time, Coach Hans had taken care of him, lending him a pair of football boots.
After today, it was time to return those boots.
However, the favor he owed was definitely not something that could be repaid by just returning a pair of boots.
"You look good."
Hans couldn't help but smile when he saw Maël, "It seems you know something good is about to happen."
"Of course, staying here is very important to me."
Maël didn't argue, stepped forward, and sat down opposite Hans, "For me right now, there's nothing better than this."
Hans, a large and imposing figure, couldn't resist teasing Maël, "Aren't you at all worried that I called you here to say goodbye and offer some comforting words?"
Maël raised his eyebrows, his expression confident, clearly indicating that he wasn't worried.
"Alright."
Hans took out a contract from under the table and handed it to Maël, "Take a look at the contract the team is offering you."
Maël took the contract and started flipping through it.
Hans watched him turn the pages while explaining, "It's not the Arsenal Club signing you, but the Arsenal Youth Academy. You can think of it as a youth training contract, but many of the terms are the same as those for the First Team.
"If you manage to join the Arsenal First Team in the future, the person sitting opposite you won't be me, but Mr. Wenger.
Hans smiled, paused, and continued, "A weekly salary of 800 pounds, which is the top salary in the youth team. In addition, there are appearance fees, goal bonuses, and other incentives for the Youth League. There will also be bonuses for promotion to the First Team.
"In short, Arsenal Club ensures everything for young players. As long as you make progress, the club will reward you with bonuses."
Maël flipped to the next page and asked, "Why am I getting the top salary?"
He knew Hans wasn't lying. He had discussed it with Gilbert before, and the top salary for the youth team was indeed 800 pounds.
Compared to the First Team, this amount wasn't much.
But in the real world, a young man under 17 earning over a hundred pounds a day by playing football was indeed quite good.
At the very least, Maël no longer had to worry about football boots. If he wanted, he could buy a pair every week until he had the entire series!
He wouldn't have to live in the mediocre dormitory anymore. If he wanted, he could rent a small house in the London suburbs and decorate it to his liking!
"Because of the potential you've shown recently and your age."
Hans explained calmly, not forgetting to add a bit of encouragement, "Actually, you're already quite old to be getting a contract.
"If you only earned a few hundred pounds, we'd be worried that you'd struggle with living expenses and conditions, and couldn't focus.
"So, this definitely can't be your endpoint. I hope you'll continue to move forward."
Maël nodded to show he understood, flipped through a few more pages, and then put the contract down, "I have no objections."
Hans stood up from his seat and extended his hand, "Pleasure to work with you."
"Pleasure to work with you."
Maël shook his hand and then, under Hans's guidance, signed his name in several places, leaving his bank account details.
A few minutes later, he left the office.
Tomorrow, he would take some official photos and promotional pictures in the team's media room, and he would officially join Arsenal U17! It was a small step in his career, but a big step forward.
Stepping out of the Administrative Building and breathing in the fresh air outside, Maël felt everything was so beautiful, even the air seemed to be filled with a sweet scent.
He wanted to shout to release his emotions, but there were too many people around, and he was afraid of being seen as a lunatic.
"Uncle."
Dialing his uncle's number, Maël was filled with emotion, as if he had endless things to say: "I'm staying, with a weekly salary of 800 pounds. I won't be coming back for a while, only during the winter break.
"The first paycheck, I'll buy some clothes for my little sister and some things for you all. Remember to check for them."
The voice on the other end was noticeably higher than usual, "Really? 800 pounds, more than I earn. Maël, you've really made it, congratulations, congratulations."
There were footsteps, and it sounded like Uncle had moved to another place, the phone a bit farther away, "Maël is staying, earning 800 pounds a week!"
There was a commotion on the other end, with Aunt's surprised voice and the excited noise of the younger siblings jumping around.
Maël listened and couldn't help but smile. His facial muscles felt a bit sore from all the smiling today.
"Hey! Hey!!"
Suddenly, an urgent voice came from behind, "Maël, don't leave yet!"
Maël turned around and saw Hans chasing after him with a phone in hand, his expression both anxious and excited, with a hint of complexity.
Ten minutes later, in Hans's office.
Hans sat in front of the computer, constantly moving the mouse to print the contract, while the printer kept spitting out paper.
Maël and Gilbert sat opposite him, looking at each other in a daze, as if the whole world was spinning, feeling incredibly unreal.
The Championship team Sheffield United, which almost made it to the Premier League last season, wanted to borrow them both?
Club Sports Director and Mr. Wenger had spoken and agreed to their loan request?
Maël really didn't know what to say. He had just signed his first contract, and now he was about to sign his second.
Although he had anticipated this and had similar daydreams before, it all happened too suddenly.
"Thud! Thud!"
Hans straightened the printed contract and then shook his head helplessly, "No matter what, this is the situation.
"The club now needs to sign a new contract with you. This time, it's a professional contract with the Arsenal Club First Team. Your weekly salary will increase to 2500 pounds, the contract period is 3 years, and the breach fee is 5 million pounds."
Maël and Gilbert exchanged glances, then numbly took the contract and started flipping through it.
Hans didn't stop, printing another contract while explaining, "If you agree to the loan, this salary will be fully covered by Sheffield United, and there will be additional salary and bonus clauses.
"For example, if you make 10 appearances for the club, your weekly salary will increase to 8000 pounds; 20 appearances will raise it to 20,000 pounds; for the team to win 3 points, 3000 pounds; for 1 point, 1000 pounds; 2500 pounds for a goal, 1500 pounds for an assist."
As soon as he finished speaking, the two opposite him swallowed hard, "Agreed." *2
Hans was taken aback, realizing he didn't need to say much more, just get the contract signed.
Indeed, the bonus standards and training value of a professional team were highly attractive to these young players.
Was it a Championship team?
It was a great place to boost market value, a mountain of pounds stacked up in cash!