"Luis, are you crazy? Give him a bonus ten times larger, almost reaching the level of a first-team substitute player!" Zubizaretta angrily demanded after Lucas left.
..
.
Enrique didn't take it seriously and responded with a smile, saying, "Mr. Zubizarreta, please don't get so worked up.
Lucas played as a midfielder in the youth team, not as a forward. Scoring goals is not easy for players in that position.
Although his statistics were impressive last year, they were only for the youth team.
When he enters a high-level league like the Bundesliga, he may struggle to secure playing time, let alone achieve remarkable results."
"Moreover, Werder Bremen is a declining team now. They face financial difficulties, and many key players are leaving.
They lack competitiveness in the Bundesliga, and it's challenging for them to score many goals in a season. Consequently, there are limited opportunities for goals, assists, and winning accolades. Most of these awards have no connection to him. Even if we increase the bonus slightly, it wouldn't make much difference."
Zubizaretta calmed down after hearing Enrique's explanation. "So, you've painted him a beautiful but unattainable picture, haven't you?"
..
.
Enrique laughed triumphantly.
"Hehe, you can't say that. In case he delivers a phenomenal performance, he naturally deserves these bonuses. So, the key factor lies in whether he has this ability!"
"Haha, do you believe that?" Zubizarreta, being a former professional player, found it hard to believe. How can a young player under the age of seventeen lead a struggling team to achieve good results? Even Messi didn't possess such strength at that age, let alone an ordinary player.
It might be possible to deceive an ignorant child with these words, but it's far from fooling an experienced individual like Zubizarreta.
Enrique nodded and remarked, "Lucas is too young. I'm afraid he doesn't grasp the cruel nature of the professional arena!"
Both of them resorted to their career experiences to manipulate a young player. Their actions lacked integrity.
However, having fulfilled the task assigned by the club chairman, they immediately felt a sense of relief.
Therefore, Enrique suggested, "How about going out to relax after work today? I know a few great places..."
After signing the loan contract, Lucas went to bid farewell to several friends from the youth team.
...
..
.
Deulofeu was initially reluctant to part ways with his friend, but a tinge of envy crept in when he discovered that Lucas had been loaned to a Bundesliga team.
"Damn it, why doesn't the team show interest in me? Am I not talented enough?"
Having made a few appearances for the first team, Deulofeu believed he should be more renowned than Lucas. However, with Lucas being sent on loan without much fanfare, Deulofeu found himself perplexed.
"Gerard, if you truly want to go on loan, you can submit an application to the club. I believe they would allow it!"
Barcelona is open to letting young players, who are currently unable to secure first-team opportunities, go out on loan for valuable experience.
Moreover, Deulofeu is a promising player whom Barcelona holds high hopes for. If he were to take the initiative and apply, Barcelona would have no reason to refuse.
"Then again, perhaps I should just stay. After all, playing for Barcelona, donning the red and blue jersey, has always been my lifelong dream..."
Upon hearing Lucas's remark, Deulofeu hesitated momentarily. It became apparent that he was merely voicing his thoughts and, deep down, he didn't truly desire to leave Barcelona, even if he currently lacked playing time.
Lucas shook his head helplessly, recognizing that Barcelona had a plethora of choices when it came to the winger position.
Messi, Sanchez, Pedro, and even Villa, who could play as a winger, made it highly unlikely for young Deulofeu to displace them.
...
As the current season neared its end, preparations for the new season typically commenced with training sessions in July.
..
"I'm a little concerned about you going to Germany alone," Serra expressed at dinner with a touch of worry. "I've heard that the weather in Germany is very cold, and the eating habits are completely different from ours.
You might find it difficult to adjust to the new living environment and unfamiliar food.
Moreover, I'm worried about the possibility of you getting injured if you start playing for the senior team so early..."
Serra glanced at Guardiola with some reproach, as if blaming him for deciding to rent out Lucas without prior discussion.
As the saying goes, "A son travels thousands of miles, and the mother worries."
This is Lucas's first trip to a foreign country thousands of miles away, which has naturally made his adoptive mother extremely concerned.
Guardiola coughed awkwardly, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
In truth, the decision was not made by him, but by Lucas himself.
"I also have acquaintances in Germany. I will make sure to reach out to them and ask for their support in taking care of Lucas. Please don't worry!" Guardiola assured.
After Guardiola announced his resignation from Barcelona, he received numerous coaching offers from various clubs, including several Bundesliga teams, even the reigning Bundesliga champions, Bayern Munich.
Consequently, he has built connections with the management of many Bundesliga clubs.
Whenever he asks for assistance, these individuals are more than willing to help.
Serra, having known Guardiola for many years, has complete faith in his network of connections.
However, despite hearing Guardiola's reassurance, she remained somewhat apprehensive.
"Can we trust these people? What if they make empty promises and don't actually provide any assistance?" she questioned with lingering doubt.
..
.
"Uh... Guardiola was at a loss for words, unsure of how to respond to that statement,"
Guardiola admitted. He couldn't guarantee that those individuals would truly fulfill their promises.
Observing the worried expression on his lover's face, Guardiola had no other option but to continue, "Well, once this season concludes, we will travel to Germany together. We'll assist Lucas in organizing matters there and also drop by Werder Bremen.
We'll greet the senior club executives and request them to take care of you. What do you think about this plan?"
Upon hearing Guardiola's arrangement, Serra finally displayed a contented smile on her face.
"That sounds like a good plan, Lucas. What are your thoughts on Pep's proposal?" Serra asked Lucas.
Lucas nodded eagerly, understanding that Guardiola had taken personal action, leaving little room for disagreement.
As soon as Guardiola's eldest daughter, 11-year-old Maria, learned about their upcoming trip to Germany, her eyes sparkled with excitement. She immediately began insisting on going skiing in the Alps.
The Alps offer Europe's premier ski resorts, making it an excellent choice for a summer getaway to beat the heat and enjoy a vacation.
Thus, the family joyfully devised their travel plan to Germany.
Twenty days later, Barcelona secured a 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao at the Calderon Stadium, clinching the Copa del Rey. Goals from Pedro and Messi contributed to this triumph.
This marked Guardiola's fourteenth championship trophy after coaching Barcelona and also served as his final one.
After the season concluded, while the global media speculated about Guardiola's next coaching destination, the entire family discreetly boarded a plane and arrived in Bremen, a city in northwestern Germany.
(End of this chapter)