From Arsenal to the Ball God

”Then congratulations to Ma’el for winning the Best Player of the Final!”

David Dein didn’t keep them guessing. He gestured to the hostess beside him and once she came up, he took a more exquisite small trophy and handed it to Ma’el.

”Aahh...!” An even more intense cheer erupted as everyone gave Ma’el the highest respect.

Ma’el playfully stuck out his tongue, holding the top scorer award in his left hand and the best player of the final award in his right hand.

With one million pounds in hand, the base endorsement fee rose to 2.85 million pounds!

This brought a satisfactory conclusion to the event, as he collected everything there was to collect!

David Dein then put down the microphone and came to Ma’el’s side, spreading his arms, ”Come here, kid. Although you’ve joined the team, I’ve been away from it for over four years, but I’ve always kept an eye on it.

”You carry all the hopes of Arsenal’s revival, I can say that.

”Seeing a player like you in the team, helping my old friend Wenger to achieve glory again, makes me indescribably happy.”

Ma’el stepped forward to hug him and nodded in acknowledgment, politely saying, ”I hope that when I leave Arsenal, I’ll have achievements like yours.”

”Oh.” David Dein immediately broke into a broad smile, waved his hand, ”If your achievements are only like mine, you wouldn’t receive so much love and attention. Rest assured, kid, you’ll excel even more.”

The two embraced again, and this time Ma’el joked in his ear, ”Actually, I think so too.”

”Haha....” David Dein laughed and pointed at Ma’el, then gestured for him to proceed.

Ma’el returned the gesture, and with this, the award ceremony phase ended as they both exited the stage from different sides.

”Let’s go, let’s go!”

”Get up there!”

Next, the players pushed and shoved each other playfully as they headed to the stage. Before long, all of them stood centrally on the podium.

Ma’el followed the crowd up as soon as he got off the stage, intentionally finding himself pushed to the most central spot, half-crouching at the forefront.

”Where’s Mr. Wenger?”

Van Persie was right next to him, asking, ”Is he at the back?”

”Seems like it.” Ma’el glanced back but couldn’t spot Mr. Wenger.

Van Persie thought to call him over but thought Mr. Wenger probably had his reasons for staying back, so he said, ”Forget it, let’s lift the cup first. After we lift it, let’s all go over and toss him up!”

”Alright.” Ma’el chuckled, unable to hold back at the thought of how Mr. Wenger would look in a bit.

Feeling the moment to lift the first major trophy drawing nearer, his breathing quickened, and he constantly looked around.

Glancing to his right, he saw Henry standing there, smiling contentedly at the stadium.

”Hey, kid.” Henry noticed him looking and turned to glance at him, then resumed happily surveying the stadium, ”Feels pretty good, right? There’s even better to come, though I can’t experience it with you.

”But it’s fortunate, having come back for just over two months, to lift the trophy with the team once.

”For that, I have to thank you, and I hope you achieve even greater things with this team in the future.”

Henry patted his shoulder in conclusion, ”Remember what I said, help this team win the Champions League in the future.”

”Of course, I will.” Ma’el nodded to him and then turned to look for Kyle Walker, curious about the new recruit’s reaction.

Kyle Walker was standing right behind him, smiling foolishly, not noticing him turning around.

”What are you thinking?” Ma’el asked but seeing no reaction, poked him.

”Huh?” Kyle Walker actually heard Ma’el but didn’t react in time. Coming to his senses, he smiled, ”I was thinking, as long as I follow your lead, will winning trophies be easy?”

He seemed quite pleased, having joined Arsenal mid-season and lifting a trophy a month later.

”Haha.....” Ma’el chuckled, patting his belly, ”Pleasure working with you.”

”Pleasure working with you.” Kyle Walker dodged back nimbly, then spoke seriously, ”I hope to do the dirty work for you from the back.”

”I hope so too.”

Ma’el winked at him with his right eye, then teasingly added, ”If you take the attitude of doing other kinds of behind-the-scenes dirty work in real life, I believe you can hold the right-back position.”

Kyle Walker’s romantic escapades weren’t a secret within the team, and he often joked about it in the locker room.

”Hahaha.” His laughter was deep and unrestrained, giving Ma’el a gentle push.

Ma’el didn’t continue joking with him. He noticed everyone seemed ready, and Van Persie was on his way up to receive the English League Cup trophy from the podium.

Looking at Van Persie’s back, for a moment, he also felt the urge to become the team captain.

But speaking of it now was too early; he was too young. Competing for captaincy would likely disrupt his relationships with Van Persie and other teammates.

He’d wait for the right opportunity; he believed a great chance would eventually come.

Under the watchful eyes of over fifty thousand Arsenal fans, and the impatient waiting of Arsenal players and coaching staff... Van Persie took the trophy, kissed it, and then turned towards the podium.

After climbing the steps, he stopped at one side of the podium, ”Come here, Ma’el! Come!”

Ma’el was momentarily stunned, as a familiar feeling swept over him. Was Van Persie also inviting him to lift the cup together?