The Greatest of all Time

668  The Crucial Decision

The private booth at the luxurious Moscow hotel was a haven of privacy and comfort, adorned with rich wooden paneling and plush leather seats.

The soft hum of the air conditioner provided a gentle backdrop to the anticipation Zachary felt as he waited for Emily and Kristin to arrive. Moments later, the door swung open, and both women entered, their smiles lighting up the room.

Emily was her usual epitome of professionalism, with her long brown hair tied into a neat ponytail. Her blue lady's suit, perfectly tailored, matched the striking color of her eyes.

Kristin, on the other hand, exuded a more casual elegance. Her blonde hair cascaded down her face like a waterfall, framing her features beautifully. She wore a flower-patterned white dress that accentuated her lean yet gorgeous figure.

As they stepped in, their enchanting smiles brought an immediate warmth to the booth. Zachary stood up from the sofa, greeting them with warm hugs. Their congratulations flowed freely, celebrating his monumental achievements: winning the World Cup, the Golden Boot, and the Golden Ball.

"Where are your awards, by the way? I want to touch them and bask in your glory," Kristin teased, smiling warmheartedly.

Zachary chuckled, shaking his head. "I don't have them with me. It would be a joke if I kept them on my person and then ended up losing them to a thief in a hotel. I gave them to the hotel management for safekeeping in their safe."

Kristin nodded, understanding. "That makes sense, but you must let me touch them at some point."

"Of course," Zachary promised, still smiling.

Suddenly, a beautiful Russian girl clad in a captivating waitress uniform entered the booth. She did a double-take upon noticing Zachary, her professional composure momentarily slipping. But she quickly collected herself and took their orders. They each asked for juice and a few snacks, and the waitress hurried off, leaving the room once more private.

Emily leaned back with a teasing glint in her eye. "That waitress was clearly smitten by you, Zach. You should consider getting her number."

Zachary laughed. "When did you switch from being my agent to my wingman?"

They shared a few more laughs, their friendship evident and comforting. But soon, Emily's expression turned solemn. She locked eyes with Zachary and placed five files on the table between them.

"I've analyzed all the offers coming in from the Premier League," she began, her tone professional and focused. "These are the most attractive, fitting your status and career goals."

Zachary's gaze shifted to the files. The names of the clubs were printed on the covers, each representing a potential future. Emily's seriousness mirrored the weight of the decision before him.

"Which of these clubs will you consider?" Emily asked, her voice solemn.

Zachary took a deep breath, his mind racing as he surveyed the files Emily placed on the table. The labels were clear: Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Tottenham—the titans of the English Premier League.

With her usual poise, Emily commented that the offers from all the clubs were almost identical, given that Zachary was a free agent. She then fell silent, waiting for him to make his decision.

Zachary immediately dismissed Manchester City. Joining a club that dominated the league every year would not present the kind of challenge he sought.

Moreover, the World Cup had taught him that the system rewarded him more for achieving the seemingly impossible. Easy victories would not yield the SSS-grade elixirs and Technique Upgrade tokens he desired to push his skills to the GOAT level.

His gaze then passed over the files for Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham, but none of those clubs felt right to him.

When he reached the file for Manchester United, he hesitated. The club's history and struggles made it an intriguing option, offering the best challenge. Yet, the issues at United seemed deeply rooted in their management and structure—problems that even his presence might not solve. With a sigh, he set the file aside.

His eyes finally settled on Liverpool's file, and his face lit up. Liverpool had built a formidable team and had a coach known for extracting the best from his players. Additionally, partnering with Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah tickled his anticipation, as they would create a lethal attacking trio if he joined Liverpool.

Now came the question of potential system missions. Although Liverpool was destined to win the UEFA Champions League the following season, leaving no chance for an immediate system mission with SSS-grade rewards, there were still the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the Premier League to conquer. He could challenge for those in his first season.

Emily, sensing his indecision, cut in gently. "Are you finding it hard to decide?"

Zachary didn't reply. Instead, he picked up the Liverpool file. Emily and Kristin exchanged knowing glances, their smiles indicating they had anticipated this choice. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Emily quickly gathered the other files and tucked them into her oversized handbag, leaving only Liverpool's on the table. She opened it and pulled out two sheets of paper, handing them to Zachary.

"These summarize the offers from Liverpool's representatives," Emily explained. "Read through them, and let me know if I should proceed with negotiations."

Zachary nodded, acknowledging her words, and picked up the papers. The first sheet detailed the financial aspects of Liverpool's offer. He quickly skimmed through the figures, noting the impressive terms:

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Wages

Weekly Salary: £350,000

Signing Bonus

Signing Bonus: £20 million

Performance Bonuses

Goal Bonus: £20,000 per goal

Assist Bonus: £10,000 per goal-assist

Appearance Bonus per Game: £20,000 per appearance

Match Winning Bonus per Game: £50,000 per game the team wins

Achievement Bonuses

Champions League Victory Bonus: £1.5 million

Premier League Title Bonus: £1 million

FA Cup Victory Bonus: £500,000

EFL Cup Victory Bonus: £300,000

Ballon d'Or Win Bonus: £1 million

Team of the Year Bonus: £500,000

Player of the Month Bonus: £25,000

Player of the Season Bonus: £100,000

League Top Scorer Bonus: £100,000

Image Rights and Sponsorships

Percentage of Image Rights: 60%

Exclusive Club Sponsorship Deals: Additional earnings from club-specific sponsorship deals.

Welfare and Lifestyle Offers

Luxury Housing: A high-end property in Liverpool. It will be fully paid for by the club.

Car Allowance: Three luxury cars provided by the club.

Private Jet Access: Limited access to a private jet for personal use.

Personal Staff: Provision for a personal chef, driver, and security detail.

Relocation Assistance: Comprehensive support for relocating Zachary's immediate family and subordinates to Liverpool, including schooling for children, if applicable.

Health and Fitness

08:15

Medical Coverage: Full medical and dental coverage for Zachary and his immediate family.

Personal Physio and Fitness Trainer: Dedicated personal physio and fitness trainer provided by the club.

Recovery Facilities: Access to the latest recovery technology and facilities, including cryotherapy chambers and state-of-the-art gym equipment.

Contract Length and Extension Options

Initial Contract Length: 4 years, with an option to extend the contract an additional year.

Automatic Extension Clause: Automatic one-year extension triggered by performance metrics (e.g., number of appearances or goals).

Release Clause: £150 million

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Zachary's eyes sparkled as he scanned the pages before him. The numbers were dazzling—English clubs certainly knew how to entice players with comprehensive bonuses for almost every conceivable achievement. Excited, he looked up at Emily and asked for her professional opinion.

Emily leaned back slightly, her expression thoughtful as she began. "Let's start with the weekly wage. They're offering £350,000, which is fantastic and according to the top standards of Premier League clubs. Of course, I'll push for the highest possible figure during the final negotiations."

Zachary nodded, appreciating her frankness. Emily moved on to the signing bonus. "They're offering £20 million, which is a strong figure, especially since you're a free agent who just won the World Cup and is a strong contender for the Ballon d'Or. However, given your status, I strongly believe we can negotiate this up to at least £30 million."

Zachary's excitement grew. A signing bonus of £30 million would be monumental.

Emily continued, addressing the performance bonuses. "These are very generous. Premier League clubs typically offer such bonuses, and they don't usually budge on these, so there's no need to push for more here. The same applies to the achievement bonuses—they're already quite substantial."

She paused, glancing at the next section of the contract. "Now, about the Image Rights. Liverpool is offering you 60%. This is good, but I strongly believe we can push for at least 70%."

Zachary cut in, curiosity piqued. "Can you explain the Image Rights and Sponsorship section?"

Emily smiled, nodding. "Of course. Image rights pertain to the commercial use of your likeness—your name, image, and other personal attributes in advertising and promotional materials carried out by the club. Essentially, it's about how much control you have over your personal brand and how much revenue you earn from it."

"If you control a higher percentage of your image rights, you get a larger share of the profits from endorsements and sponsorship deals offered to the club under your banner. Sponsorships are agreements where brands pay the club and you to promote their products or services. Having a higher percentage means more income from these deals."

Understanding dawned on Zachary's face, and he nodded. Emily moved on to the other benefits. "The benefits they have offered are pretty standard—luxurious housing, state-of-the-art training facilities, personal physiotherapists, and comprehensive medical care. We won't push for more here. However, we need to address the Release Clause of £150 million."

Emily's tone turned serious. "I've already spoken to Liverpool's representatives. They're adamant about the release clause. The club wants to ensure they don't lose players to other clubs after investing so heavily in them."

Zachary understood the importance of the release clause. It was a safeguard for Liverpool, ensuring that only a club willing to pay a substantial fee could lure him away. "That makes sense. I'm okay with the release clause."

Emily nodded, her eyes gleaming with determination. "Excellent. I'll proceed with the negotiations and aim to secure the best possible terms for you."

Zachary felt a wave of gratitude towards Emily. Her expertise and dedication were invaluable, as always. "Thank you, Emily. I trust you completely."

Kristin, who had been quietly observing, chimed in with a warm smile. "You're in good hands, Zach. Emily will make sure you get the best deal possible."

Emily gathered the papers, slipping them back into the file. "I'll get started on this immediately. We should have a finalized contract soon."