(^Hey guys sorry, I've been out for ages...^) throw me some powerstones and please write a review too!!!
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The next few weeks were a blur as club meetings and exasperating training sessions continued ravaging my headspace. Stoke were accepting offers left, right, and center, it was clear that they weren't giving much of a toss about me as a player, more so about the massive price tag I came with...
The roads were as quiet as usual in Stoke on Trent, and my G wagon thundered along the A50, preparing myself to meet club reps of a large English club, it was all so sudden for me to grasp the situation in its entirety, but this transfer could be real for me, perhaps a shot at redemption as a player.
I pulled up at "Feasted," a fancy restaurant in Stoke, perhaps the fanciest. The G wagon revved to a stop, and I got out for the most surprising meeting of the last few weeks. I rejected the obvious Real Madrid transfer, and the number of superstars in that team... they wouldn't even play me in the cup. The red half of San Siro came for me, but I didn't think the slow-paced, defensive style of the Serie A was for me. This meeting would be the first transfer offer I've received from a premier league team.
The offer got me thinking that I wouldn't want to move to another country right now, at least not yet. I'm only nineteen, after all. Manchester was out of the question. United couldn't afford me, and I wouldn't ever play for City. Despite my indifference and preferences, I was at some point willing to move to any other Big Six club, but this offer wasn't even from a Big Six club.
The designer suit oddly clung to my body, the act of getting out of this car and going into this restaurant had become quite usual for me. I sat myself down in the ten-person-oriented restaurant and waited for this club's rep to arrive.
The man looked to be in his fifties, with greying and slightly thinning hair, his hairline flicking upwards at the corners, a formal manner in his stride, and a regal sense in the way he sat down shaking my hand, a firm grip meeting another.
"Mr. Adrian Randin, my name is Jeremy Showalter, pleased to meet you." he introduced himself politely, "Pleased to meet you, Jeremy, please call me Adrian."
The man smiled and shook my hand once again before saying, "In that case Adrian, call me Jezza."
"Will do Jezza," the change in mood was soothing and soon after some chit-chat and dinner, we talked about the offer.
"So Jezza, the uhh offer and all."
"Ah yes Adrian, it is quite nice talking with you, nearly forgot that I had business to attend to."
Of course, this was probably just a method of buttering me up, but the man was nice enough.
"Your club must have spoken to my dad, who also happens to be my agent, he laid out your initial wage offers to me which were I must say, out of sheer open nature, not close to any other offer I've received, it is quite low."
"Well Adrian, you are certainly no cheap player to afford, of the transfer value alone, and we can't completely afford to make you our singular signing this window, hence the wage restriction on our behalf, but there might be a slight bit of wriggle room," his eyes glinted at this and waited for me to speak.
"Well Jezza, your initial offer of £25,000 monthly is simply not enough, other players my age are earning twice as much, take Alejandro Garnacho as an example, he earns £50,000 per week at United, I want to make that as a minimum, Im sorry but that's the minimum, my desired wage is £55,000."
Jezza looked tense and there was a slight tension in the room...
An hour earlier...
Jeremy Showalter was driving up the M6 to reach Stoke on Trent in time for his meeting with the potential star signing of the season, Adrian Randin. He cruised comfortably at seventy miles an hour and was listening to Arctic Monkeys when his phone rang, still connected to the car via Bluetooth.
Jeremy hit the answer button seeing the caller and waited.
"Hey, Jezza, you in Stoke yet?"
"Nearly there, Mr Emery."
"Well Jezza, don't forget, this transfer is crucial for our club, but he isn't the only player we need this window, so make sure to keep a tight hold on wages, don't let him go over 50, you get me?"
"Sure sir, I can try to get him to settle at 50 for a week, but I'll lowball him first."
"Whatever you see fit mate."
Back to the present...
"Adrian, of course, you'd be a valuable addition to our side right now and we definitely could use a top talent like you since we just achieved champion league football, but fifty per week is the absolute cap for us."
I thought for a while and thought of what I could perhaps do at this club, it's not like it is a massive club either, just recently bought by a company in Qatar, so the oil money is rolling in... (that last bit wasn't factual don't sue me but its part of the story).
"Look Jezza, I need to give it some thought, you'll hear from my da- agent soon."
"Okay mate, I hope you'll give it a fair thought."
"Will do mate," we shook hands and parted ways outside the restaurant, a cozy £500 gone from my wallet I sat in my car and started it up, making a phone call simultaneously.
"Hey, Dad."
"Enjoy dinner?"
"Somewhat, they've capped their offer at 50k a week."
Dad hummed into the phone and his contemplative nature was contagious.
"I think this is the right move for you son."
"Really?"
"It's a club that did fairly well last year son, they achieved Champions League, but they won't go far without a star player you know..."
"Tell them to pen a contract agent Dad."
"I'll get to it tomorrow mate, for now, come home, and let's have a beer."
"Okay, Dad."
The drive home had me excited and after a couple of drinks with Dad, I was back in my old room, where it all started, for the first time in a while, I felt like that kid again, the one that was so passionate... I probably still am... hopefully.
After a few minutes of nostalgic tossing and turning, my phone vibrated on the bedside table and I picked it up expecting some random email or something, but it was Nell.
<^Hey bb, what you doing 😉">
I probably should've said something creative but I went with...
<^Nothing really... you? 💘^>
The three wavy dots appeared for a few seconds before another message pinged through.
<^Just over here worrying about you^>
<^Maybe you dont have to anymore...^>
I needed to tell someone that I can stay, even if this move is going to be nothing like it was, playing for United, that i'd be able to stay in the Prem, and continue my career.
<^I got a new club...^>
<^🥺 It won't be anywhere near Manchester would it?^>
<^Not far off baby, its a Brummy club.^>
<^Is it _____ _____?^>
<^Yeah, ill tell you more when we get the contract, ill come visit you.^>
<^Can't wait... xx, love youuu.^>
I froze for a moment, a weird fluttering on my stomcah, heart and head at the same time.
<^Love you too... 💖^>
I drfited to sleep, with sweet dreams of me and her, lying in a green pasture, with stars shaped like footballs bouncing off each other.