Chapter 17- Good news/Bad news, You Pick!

We went into training that morning and were surprised to see Varane back on the pitch, he had been a sub for the past few matches due to a minor injury, either way, he was back and that helped us in wondrous ways, midfielders had more confidence in the backline and could press without worrying, the manager could be at ease, and training matches would be slightly more difficult with Raphael in the way... 

We decided to work today as a team, from my suggestion, on skill-based exercises, Bruno and I set up the cones in a box shape and then put some cones as gates in the box, each player had to do whatever skill, Bruno and I shout out, they also have to make it past whatever gate is in front of them, without losing control over the ball, everyone passed with flying colors and so did Bruno and I. 

Zonal training was of course, the chunkiest part of a day of training, each player had to learn the skills required for their position, and Ten Hag told me to train with the front line instead of the midfielders because of my new striker role in the team. For some reason, there was an increase in scouts and agents today at the pitch and people took note of many things. 

We finished zonal training and it was around 4 pm, we were doing individual-focused training, and I worked on increasing my stamina and acceleration if I was going to use that 99 pace, I needed the strength to keep going after using it. In previous matches, I've seen fatigue toward the end of the match, I needed to fix this straight away, to make sure that I could play in extra time for my team, whenever they needed me. 

After training, Bruno, Rasmus, Garnacho, Malacia, and I were invited into the Gaffer's office for a talk. 

Erik ten hag, sighed before talking...

"It seems there is interest for your services outside of United, Bruno you have a £150 million signing offer from Real Madrid, Rasmus, Juventus are offering £60 million for your signature, Alejandro, your recent form means that Barcelona wants you for £40 million, Tyler, AC Milan wants you for £75 million, and finally Adri, not a signing, Stoke are calling you back from the loan, most likely to sell you off, we'll try to buy you back, but we are low on funds, your market value right now, is similar to Bruno's £150 million."

"I... I mean, what the hell!" 

I looked at the players with me in the room, Bruno stood up and spoke, "I'm staying." "Me too!" harmonized, Rasmus, Alejandro, and Tyler, but what about me, how can I do it? 

"This is fucked up, gaffer, do what you can let me do what I can!" 

"Adri! Don't do anything rash lad!"

I walked off in a fit of rage and jumped into the car, I looked at my phone, 7 unread texts from Dad. Fuck!

<Adri, be patient we'll sort it out.>

<Dad United don't have the funds, and that shitty Stoke director's gonna sell me off, I know it, Steven wouldn't do this, he must've been forced!>

I drove up to the house and jumped out, collected my dad and rushed to the bet 365, and stormed in, "WHERE IS THAT SON OF A BITCH!?"

 "Adri, you've gotta calm down," Steven said as he tried to hold me back. 

"lad there's nothing you can do, You're already on the transfer list, you're gone!" Steven reaffirmed. 

"And just what should I do for the rest of the season you prick!"

"Adri calm down, we can't do anything, the old geezers already sold you, United tried but they came nowhere near, they've taken you, Real Madrid has bought you, £165 million, United offered £140 million, that's all they had!"

I turned and sobbed into my father's shoulder unable to do anything, amidst all this, I forgot that I was just eighteen years old, being tossed around because of money-hungry bastards!

"Son," my dad spoke reassuringly, "We have to let it go, trust me, as your father, as your agent, I promise you, you'll be back at Old Trafford in less than a few days.

2 days later... 

"Dad you are a legend!" 

"I know right, that greedy bastard forgot the rules of the loan agreement, there was no callback unless there was probable cause for concern, and there was none, you were having insane game time at United and you were happy, so they can't just call you back like that, it was in the clauses section of your agreement!"

"You're the best agent Dad!"

I dropped him back home but as he left, he turned and spoke to me, "Adri, but they can call you back at the end of the season unless United buys, you, in the new agreement we signed, the transaction had to be above £140 million, tell the club to get funds quick!" 

"Okay Dad, good night!" 

"And you Adri!"

I didn't know what I would do without the man, I wondered how sad I would've been playing for a club that I didn't want to play for, but I steeled my nerves, based on whether or not United had the funds, I would have to make a choice, leave or stay!

But now, I just wanted to sleep before tomorrow's match, it had been a chaotic weekend, and I don't want to live that again! I dreamt about scoring in Chelsea's goal and hoped it would come true tomorrow, and sleep washed over me...