God Of football

Chapter 168: Off-Pitch Business

Miranda, adjusted the pearl brooch on her tailored navy blazer, a subtle display of confidence as she prepared to make the call that could define Izan’s off-pitch career.

She paced her office, a space that exuded understated elegance with its clean lines, warm wood tones, and a panoramic view of Madrid’s skyline.

The sun cast golden streaks across her glass desk, illuminating a neatly organized stack of contracts and an open laptop displaying YSL’s latest campaign visuals.

Her phone sat on the desk, screen lit with the number of YSL’s Paris headquarters. The deal on the table—a short-term collaboration featuring Izan—was a golden opportunity, but it needed finesse to seal.

Miranda inhaled deeply, steeling herself as she pressed the call button.

”Bonjour, YSL Headquarters,” a smooth voice answered after a few rings.

”Bonjour,” Miranda replied, her French crisp and professional. ”This is Miranda Delgado. I represent Izan Hernández, and I’d like to speak with Henri Duval regarding the proposed collaboration.”

”Oh, Ms. Delgado, One moment, please,” the receptionist said.

As the hold music filled the air, Miranda glanced at a photo on her desk—a candid shot of Izan with his mother and sister with her behind them, all smiles.

It reminded her of what was at stake: ensuring Izan’s meteoric rise was balanced with thoughtful branding that preserved his authenticity.

”Ms. Miranda,” a deep voice interrupted her thoughts. ”This is Henri Duval.”

”Mr. Duval,” Miranda greeted warmly, ”thank you for taking the time to speak with me. I wanted to discuss the short-term collaboration you’ve proposed for Izan Hernandez.”

Henri’s tone was polite but guarded. ”Of course Ms. Miranda. We’re very impressed with Izan’s achievements in his career.

Although he hasn’t played for long, his meteoric rise proves the influence he can hold and we believe he aligns well with YSL’s vision. How do you see this partnership benefiting both parties?”

Miranda’s lips curved into a confident smile. ”Izan represents the essence of youth: dynamic, aspirational, and relatable.

Pairing him with YSL creates a narrative that resonates with younger audiences. We can craft a limited-edition capsule collection inspired by his journey, accompanied by a sleek digital campaign.

Picture it: a blend of high-fashion elegance and the raw energy of the football world.”

Henri chuckled softly. ”That’s an intriguing pitch, Ms. Olivo. I must admit, it’s a bold move to merge these two worlds. But boldness suits YSL.”

”Exactly,” Miranda pressed. ”This is more than a sponsorship; it’s a cultural moment. With Izan’s authenticity and your brand’s legacy, we can set a new trend. And let’s be real here, not to brag but his face would woo a lot of following to your brand”

After Miranda’s words, there was a loud silence on the phone followed by Henri breaking into laughter.

”Guess you’re right. Very well,” Henri said after a pause. ”Let’s proceed with a meeting to iron out the details. My team will prepare some preliminary concepts.”

Miranda felt a surge of triumph. ”I look forward to it, Mr. Duval. Thank you for your time.”

As the call ended, Miranda allowed herself a brief smile before jotting down notes. Another step forward in Izan’s journey to becoming a global icon.

.....

The soft hum of the television filled the living room of the Hernández household as Izan settled into the plush couch beside his younger sister, Hori.

Valencia CF was facing Almería, and though Izan wasn’t on the pitch, his heart was deeply invested in the game.

Atlético had drawn the previous day so a win here would put them on the same points but Valencia would go ahead of the Madrid-based club because of the Head-to-head results.

The room was cosy and filled with little personal touches—family photos on the walls, a vase of fresh flowers on the coffee table, and the faint aroma of spices wafting from the kitchen where Komi, their mother, was cooking dinner.

Hori, dressed in an oversized Valencia jersey that nearly swallowed her petite frame, sat cross-legged with a bowl of cookies on her lap.

She was as animated as ever, her sharp commentary on every play making Izan grin.

”That pass was terrible!” she exclaimed, stuffing a handful of popcorn into her mouth. ”Who does he think he is, trying to pull that off?”

”Relax, coach,” Izan teased, nudging her playfully. ”You’d probably trip over the ball if you were out there. Not to mention, that pass wasn’t bad but the interception was good”.

Hori shot him a glare but couldn’t suppress a giggle. ”Says the guy who nearly missed all his shots against Barcelona.”

”Ouch,” Izan said, clutching his chest dramatically. ”Low blow.” Hori laughed, turning her attention to the match while Izan glanced into the kitchen.

The match was in full swing, and Valencia were dominating possession, their players moving fluidly across the field.

Izan’s eyes were glued to the screen, analyzing every movement, every pass, and every decision.

His mind worked like a metronome, silently noting what he would have done in those situations.

From the kitchen, Komi’s voice called out. ”What’s the score now?”

”Still nil-nil,” Hori replied, her eyes never leaving the screen.

Komi emerged a moment later, wiping her hands on a dish towel. Her hair was tied back, and she wore a simple apron over her floral dress.

She leaned against the doorway, watching as Valencia’s midfielder broke through Almería’s defence.

”That boy, Sosa, is playing well,” she said, her tone proud. ”Isn’t he your friend, Izan?” Komi asked after the Camera panned to Sosa on the field after coming on earlier.

”He’s doing great,” Izan said with a smile. ”They’ve been giving him more time on the pitch after his stint in the Copa del Rey and with the reserves and he’s making the most of it.”

”Good,” Komi said, nodding. ”Tell him I said to keep it up when you see him next.”

Hori snorted. ”Yeah, because Sosa’s going to take football advice from you, Mom.”

Komi who was leaving stopped and threw a napkin at her daughter’s face. ”Just because I’m not on the field doesn’t mean I don’t know a thing or two about the game.”

”Yeah. Miranda has been teaching her a lot of things lately. I think they were chanting in her room the last time she was here” Izan said teasingly, Hori taking the napkin off her face and laughing at Izan’s remark.

Komi who couldn’t retort, took another cloth and hurled it at Izan’s face before walking off to the kitchen.

As the match continued, Komi returned to the kitchen, the clatter of pots and pans mixing with the excited commentary from the television.

A tense moment unfolded as Valencia’s forward took a shot at goal, only for the Almería goalkeeper to make an incredible save.

Hori groaned. ”Come on! That should’ve been a goal!”

”It was a good save,” Izan said, though the disappointment in his voice was evident.

A few minutes later, Valencia finally broke the deadlock with a well-placed header from a corner kick. The living room erupted in cheers.

”Yes!” Hori shouted, nearly spilling her popcorn.

Komi hurried back into the room, her eyes lighting up as she saw the replay on the screen. ”Who scored?”

”Pietro,” Izan said, grinning. ”Right where he needed to be.”

Komi clapped her hands together. ”I always liked that boy. Tell him I said congratulations, too.”

”Sure thing, Mom,” Izan said with a laugh while Hori rolled her eyes.

As the match progressed, Komi would occasionally peek in, offering her thoughts on the game while keeping an eye on the simmering pot in the kitchen.

By the time the final whistle blew, Valencia had secured a 2-0 victory after Fran Pérez scored.

Hori threw her arms in the air in celebration while Izan leaned back, a satisfied smile on his face.

”They’re looking good,” he said, more to himself than anyone else.

The post-match analysis had barely begun when Izan’s phone buzzed on the coffee table.

He glanced at the screen and saw Miranda’s name flashing. Picking it up, he stood and stepped into the hallway for some privacy.

”Hey, Miranda,” he greeted, his tone curious.

”Hi, Izan,” Miranda replied, her voice tinged with excitement. ”I wanted to update you on the YSL deal.”

Izan leaned against the wall, his interest piqued. ”What’s the news?”

”It’s moving forward faster than I expected,” Miranda said. ”Henri Duval and his team are on board with the campaign concept we discussed.

They’re finalizing the details for the capsule collection, and I think it’s going to be huge.”

Izan ran a hand through his hair, a mix of excitement and disbelief washing over him. ”That’s… wow. That’s amazing. Thank you, Miranda.”

”This is all you, Izan,” she said warmly. ”Your talent and story are what’s driving this. But I’ll make sure the deal is perfect before you sign anything. We’re in the home stretch.”

”Sounds good,” Izan said. ”keep me updated”

”Will do. Enjoy the rest of your evening and tell Komi I said I’ll call her,”

”Call her yourself, ugh” Izan said feigning disgust but smiled after and hang up.

Izan returned to the living room, his mind buzzing. Hori looked up at him, curiosity etched on her face.

”Who was that?” she asked.

”Just Miranda,” Izan said, sitting back down. ”She had some good news about the deal with YSL.”

”Oh that’s great then. I’m guessing I’ll be getting a lot of free bags and stuff since I’m your sister and all” Hori said.

”I’m going to be their ambassador, not you,” Izan said as he flicked her forehead with his finger.

Hori clutching her forehead took the napkin Komi had thrown earlier and hurled it at Izan. [What is it with this Family and throwing napkins]

Komi appeared moments later with a tray of steaming plates, setting them on the coffee table.

”Dinner’s ready,” she announced. ”Let’s eat before it gets cold.”

A/n: Help push this novel up with your Golden Tickets. Thank you guys for reading