I AM the Football Star

Chapter 33: Chapter 14: From the Relegation Zone to the Promotion Zone, San Remo’s Golden Central Axis_2

But sometimes, the annual income of a superstar far exceeds that of all players of a team at the same level combined.

And his agent... naturally, profits handsomely as well.

”But why should I choose you, Mr. Arthas?” Lu Yang questioned Arthas.

Morici was dumbfounded.

Do we even get a choice?

This is Arthas we’re talking about!

He has significant influence in Italian Football, and he could even help us reach Serie B or even Serie A in a few years.

Lu Yang patted Morici’s head and said, ”I know what you’re thinking, and you’re wrong, Morici. Remember, the only thing that can take a player to the top tier league is the player’s own ability.”

”Otherwise, even if you get there, it will be a disaster.”

Arthas applauded, ”I completely agree with you, Lu Yang. In fact, if I hadn’t used my brother’s computer privately and seen all the game footage and related news about you, I wouldn’t have thought that there would be such a talented player in the Italian D League.”

”I see brilliance in both you and Morici.”

”Morici is very outstanding; he will definitely become an amazing midfielder. And on this, Coach Sotu and I have already agreed.”

”Because Morici’s style of play reminds us of a young Maniero.”

Morici was flattered.

Could he really be compared to Maniero?

”You are already playing in Maniero’s style, kid,” Sotu explained to Morici, ”You play as a defensive midfielder, responsible for organizing the midfield and creating offensive opportunities. You are the team’s core, the brain of San Remo.”

”Maybe you’re not as good as Maniero now, but at your age, he wasn’t as good as you either, because he couldn’t contribute defensively back then.”

Morici’s eyes almost reddened.

Whenever someone says that you are no less than your idol was at your age, it affects you this way.

”And you, Lu Yang,” Arthas said with a sharp gleam in his eyes, ”I cannot see your future because it holds infinite possibilities. I don’t think your final position on the pitch will be as a central defender. Of course, playing in this position for a while may not be a bad thing.”

”Every position on the pitch has its unique aspects. If you can understand all of this... you might become different from other players.”

Lu Yang nodded, took a sip of coffee, and said, ”Your ability to see my uniqueness is a bit closer than other agents. But I need a more direct reason or condition.”

Sotu looked at Arthas and Lu Yang, feeling like he was watching a corporate negotiation.

Can’t you guys keep it simple when you talk?

Why must every sentence be like a riddle, requiring people to guess like that rascal Maniero?

Isn’t it exhausting?

Arthas held out three fingers and said, ”What about this? I only take this percentage! Whether it’s a transfer fee or a commercial endorsement, I only take this percentage! And before you enter a lower-level league, I will provide you with free services!”

Three percent!

An exceptionally low percentage.

Normal football agents typically charge about ten percent of the transfer fee as a commission.

And for commercial contracts, they charge about fifteen percent.

Three percent!

It’s absolutely a bargain price.

No agent would agree to such a commission rate.

Unless... it’s an agent for a superstar player.

Because even at just three percent, a superstar player’s agent profits much more than the agent of an ordinary player and... their job complexity is entirely different.

Deals with superstars usually involve the other party seeking them out, offering the best treatment as long as you agree, and other conditions can be requested freely. Therefore, superstar agents mainly think about requests.

Collaborations with ordinary players involve many minutiae, requiring agents to fight hard for each term as if they were battling, truly earning every penny.

Arthas showed with actions that he indeed holds Lu Yang in high regard, in the way one would regard a potential superstar.

Only then did Lu Yang smile and extend his right hand, ”Perhaps in the coming years, people will marvel at how lucky I am to have met such a great agent like you. But I believe that many years later, you will marvel at how lucky you worked hard enough to not miss a player like me... Mr. Arthas, looking forward to working together.”

Arthas decisively extended his right hand, ”I look forward to that day you mentioned. By the way, since it’s a joint signing, to show my sincerity, I will also provide Morici with free services before he enters the lower leagues.”

Morici, still in a daze, stood up and shook hands with Arthas, not fully grasping what it meant.

”Is this really it?” Lu Yang smiled at Arthas, his gaze somewhat sharp.

Arthas smiled with difficulty, ”Alright, the commission terms are the same as Lu Yang’s.”

The difficulty comes from knowing that if Morici doesn’t become at least a star-level player, Arthas will undoubtedly make a loss.

As for Lu Yang, his remarkable shooting and the incredible thirty-three meter bicycle kick already gave Arthas inspiration.

A skilled player doesn’t lack hype, and with hype, an agent has plenty of ways to monetize it.

...

In the following month and a half, San Remo went on a tear, winning four and drawing two out of six matches, grabbing fourteen points!

Combined with the previous three consecutive victories, they are unbeaten in nine games!

So far into the second half of the season, just halfway through, San Remo has already secured twenty-three points.

Bear in mind, they only managed to earn twenty-five points in nineteen matches during the first half of the season.

What level of performance is this?

This unbeaten streak catapulted San Remo from fifteenth on the standings to seventh place.

From the relegation zone to not far from the promotion zone.

The Italian D Division grants three promotion slots and three relegation slots each season. The fourth and fifth, as well as the fifteenth and sixteenth, have to compete in playoffs for promotion and relegation, respectively.

San Remo isn’t far from fifth place.

This is undoubtedly the most sensational adventure in the Italian D League.

Even a script wouldn’t dare to be this outrageous.

The Last-Second Kid Lu Yang, the most aggressive central defender in Italian D history, San Remo’s legend wouldn’t have started without his magical performances.

In these six games, Lu Yang’s efficiency slightly decreased, achieving three goals and an assist.

Along with the first three games, in nine matches he has seven goals and three assists, averaging more than a goal contribution per game.

Corresponding to this are his defensive stats: averaging six tackles, three interceptions, and two point two clearances per game. Besides clearance stats, all other defensive stats top the Italian D Division.

Calling him the best central defender of the second half of the Italian D so far is truly deserved.

Both offensive and defensive skills!

But the surprises San Remo has given everyone don’t stop there.

Starting from the 24th round of the league, San Remo’s playing style underwent a qualitative change.

The well-coordinated Morici demonstrated the demeanor of a midfield commander, ”He has restored San Remo’s midfield on the field”!

He frequently created opportunities with various ingenious passes, which surprised everyone.

His number of threatening passes ranked first not only in San Remo but also in the entire Italian D League during this period.

In the nine matches he participated in, he racked up seven assists and scored two goals, averaging more than a goal contribution per game.

Finally, the biggest beneficiary of Morici and Lu Yang’s rise... was Vedian!

In the last six games, Vedian scored five goals and two assists, impressing everyone. In the second half of the season, a total of nine games, he scored seven goals and two assists, with efficiency, only second to Lu Yang, leading the Italian D League.

Moreover, compared to Lu Yang and Morici, the more eye-catching factor for Vedian is that his data from the first half of the season was already good, with twelve goals and five assists.

After starting the second half of the season, he now has nineteen goals, firmly at the top of the scoring list.

Five goals ahead of the third-ranked Arnold.

Yes, Arnold returned in the last league game but failed to score in two consecutive matches. His goal tally was surpassed, relegating him to third place.

Such explosive stats have thrilled the long-dormant Italian D League fans.

Everyone gave Lu Yang, Morici, and Vedian a resounding nickname—San Remo’s Golden Central Axis!

A forward, midfielder, and defender, each line with a talent that has surpassed the league’s level.

San Remo, should indeed challenge for the promotion spots!