Contrary to what fans might think, after the season ends, the players don't immediately go on vacation—at least that's the case for Real Madrid.
Since the team won the Spanish league title, there will naturally be a parade in the city, sponsor events, and an official celebration organized by the club.
After that, Del Bosque likes to hold an end-of-season meeting to discuss the team's performance during the season. Then, most players have to undergo medical exams or follow specific protocols. Finally, some players meet with their agents or the management to discuss their future, including potential transfers or contract extensions.
Unfortunately, even after all that, if an international competition is taking place, the selected players get a maximum of 3 to 7 days of rest before joining their national teams.
Thankfully, the World Cup is happening next year, or I'd be completely exhausted even at the start of the season.
At the same time, I have to meet with my agent now. Normally, the world knows that Raúl and I are players who would like to end our careers at Madrid, no matter what.
Even Marco Kirdemir, my agent, had no idea I wanted to leave Madrid. He came to me as a friend and to talk about my contract extension with the team.
"I've spoken with Florentino. Since there are only two years left on your contract with the team, it's natural that discussions about an extension would start."
I nodded. Indeed, there were only two years left on my contract. I looked at Marco before taking a deep breath. "I've decided to leave the team after next season."
Marco, who had just taken a sip of water, choked violently, coughing as his body shook. He quickly set his glass down. "Leave Madrid? José, are you joking?"
In fact, I know Marco wasn't completely opposed to my departure. He's an agent, after all, and I'm his biggest star. He was probably just shocked.
"I'm serious, Marco. I've made up my mind. With Florentino's return and his superstar policy, I feel like the club is heading into chaos."
"I love this club with all my heart, but I don't think I can abandon it when it's going through tough times. It's better to leave next year before they tell me to go."
How many princes of Real Madrid under Florentino have been cast aside? Even if he managed to redeem himself in the future, his mistakes during that period are hard to erase. In the future, once he returned to the throne of Madrid, the first thing he did was exclude players like Raúl, Casillas, and Guti, who had always been loyal to the club.
Marco was still staring at me, searching my expression for any sign that I was joking. But there was none. I was serious.
He wiped his mouth with his sleeve before letting out a deep sigh.
"José, you know what this means, don't you? Leaving Madrid isn't a decision you make on a whim. You've been here since your debut. You're a symbol of the club."
I knew that better than anyone. But I also knew that the club's history was merciless. Those who thought they were untouchable often ended up leaving in general indifference, sometimes even in humiliation.
"I don't want a forced exit, Marco. I want to leave with my head held high, while I still have the choice."
He nodded slowly, his expression growing more serious.
"Do you already have an idea of where you want to go?"
That was the key question. I didn't have a specific destination in mind yet, but one thing was certain: I would only go to a club where I would be the protagonist, the main character, and where I would once again become the symbol of the team.
"I have a few ideas in mind, like F.C. Porto, Borussia Dortmund, AS Monaco in France, and Villarreal, which just finished its second season in the top division this year."
Marco still looked as surprised as when I had told him I wanted to leave Madrid. At the same time, it's understandable—the clubs I mentioned are quite problematic.
F.C. Porto isn't even in the top 5 European leagues, although they regularly participate in the Champions League. Borussia Dortmund is undoubtedly a big club, but every football expert knows they're in turmoil due to financial issues and could even go bankrupt.
As for AS Monaco, it's a big French club that has produced stars like Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet, but even they fled the team. Last year, Monaco finished 15th in the French league. And Villarreal? Just a club that played in the first division for the first time in 1998 before being relegated the following year. It was only this past season that they returned and even reached 8th place, but regardless, it's still a small club that could be relegated at any moment.
Marco stared at me with wide eyes, then slowly shook his head, as if trying to figure out if I was serious or if I had just made the most absurd joke of my career.
"José… Are you telling me you want to leave Real Madrid to go to… I don't even know, these small teams?"
To be honest, his expression was funny. Imagine a big, excited man who can't calm down—that's exactly what he looked like.
"Nothing's decided yet. It's just my plan, but to make it happen, they'll have to accept certain conditions, even though I think it's unlikely they will. But hey, we're in no rush. Maybe I'll achieve something during the upcoming season."
Marco finally seemed to calm down. No matter what, he's my agent, and he obviously has his skills—accepting things quickly is one of them.
He sighed, just as I had at the beginning of our conversation. "Then listen carefully, José. If you want to leave in a year and go to one of these clubs, we'll have to manage your exit intelligently. We can't just tell Florentino you want to leave for Porto or Villarreal. He'll think we're crazy and try to sell you somewhere else."
I smiled slightly.
"So, we wait for the right moment. We play the extension card, we discuss, we pretend to be interested… and at the end of the season, we leave on our own terms."
Marco nodded slowly, then raised his glass.
"To your last challenge with Madrid."
I clinked my glass against his, a mix of excitement and apprehension washing over me.
Next year would be the last. But before leaving, I had to make history one final time with Real Madrid.
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Author here very confused, I was kinda confident in my story but up to now, only 33 collections, is it really not that good?