When Guti finished explaining, Jon felt as if a new door he had been struggling to open had finally swung wide before him.
He could vividly imagine the world Guti was describing. There was no doubt that the internet would make things easier and offer wider coverage.
Many people still didn't take the internet seriously, but if you thought about it carefully, it was undeniably a game changer.
At this point, neither of them cared about the game playing in the background.
Jon was taking his time absorbing the information dump he had received from Guti, while the latter observed Jon's reaction.
Guti knew that he couldn't waste time on business or anything outside football.
His original goal was to become a football giant, and he was sure he wouldn't have the energy to dwell too seriously on anything else.
Only after becoming Guti did he realize the toll a player takes. They practically have no time for themselves.
Even during their rare moments of free time, there is always something to do.
At this point, he couldn't help but think of 2025 and how UEFA was exploiting players.
It was simply too much, too many games, too little rest, but there was no way around it. Whether it was teams, players, or even leagues, they were all at the mercy of UEFA.
He remembered how players like Toni Kroos and Kevin De Bruyne, as well as coaches like Jürgen Klopp, had openly criticized the packed schedule. But in the end, decisions were driven by revenue.
"Okay, I must admit that your reasoning makes sense. But I wonder, what exactly is your plan?"
After Jon finished speaking, Guti snapped out of his thoughts about the future. His eyes refocused as he noticed the curiosity in Jon's expression.
From his tone, Guti could tell Jon was already 80% convinced. He just needed the final push. "My first and biggest step is to dominate the online shopping industry, or e-commerce, as it should be called."
Jon's eyes narrowed slightly. Guti had indeed mentioned the online shopping industry before, and it seemed he attached great importance to it.
Guti continued, his voice calm but full of confidence. "I'll use my influence to secure exclusive online sales rights for football clubs in Spain. "
"Once I have that, I'll create a platform where people can easily buy jerseys, customized, personalized, and delivered straight to their doors."
"And with me and my friends handling the publicity, I'm confident it will take off fast," Guti's eyes gleamed with certainty. "From there, I'll expand, first to all football-related gear, then all sports-related products, and eventually… a full-fledged online marketplace where people can buy anything."
"I'm very confident in my ability to obtain the necessary funds for investment at every stage, attract good investors who won't interfere, and much more."
To be honest, after initially hearing Guti's detailed plan, Jon had a doubt. If Guti had such a clear vision and was so confident, why did he need him at all?
He didn't hesitate to voice his concern. "I'm very impressed with your plan, and I feel that what you're saying makes sense. As long as you implement things as you described and don't encounter any unexpected setbacks, you have a big chance of succeeding."
"Since that's the case, why do you even need me in the first place?"
Guti smiled wryly. He couldn't just tell Jon, I know you're a very capable person who created a company on your own, handled all the roles, including customer service, took photos, and was one of the early visionaries who saw the potential of the internet. Right?
Instead, Guti exhaled and met Jon's eyes with a wry smile.
"You're right to ask that," he admitted. "To be honest, I could do this alone, but… let's be real, Jon. I'm a footballer first. My main priority and dream lie on the pitch, training, matches, traveling. I won't have the time to handle everything myself, nor do I have the skills to manage the day-to-day operations of a company."
Jon listened carefully, arms crossed, waiting for Guti to continue.
"I need someone who understands the business side of things, someone who can manage logistics, deal with suppliers, and handle the online platform while I focus on securing deals and using my influence to push the brand forward."
Guti leaned forward, his tone turning serious. "And that's where you come in, Jon. I know you're sharp, detail-oriented, and good with numbers. You have the patience to build something from the ground up, while I have the connections and the visibility to make it explode."
"I didn't choose you randomly. I spent the last five months checking out a group of people in the same situation as you, capable individuals, and in the end, you were my first choice. I really hope we can cooperate and create something big."
Jon took a deep breath. "Damn, I didn't expect you to have planned everything this thoroughly. So, how should we discuss the rules, shares, and everything else?"
Guti shook his head. "First of all, we need to set up the company. As for how we'll handle things like shares and responsibilities, I'll let my agent come and talk to you."
"Still, I hope you don't make things difficult for me. You know I'll be handling all the initial investment and securing most of the deals, so let's continue the discussion after officially signing the deal."
Although his words might have sounded a bit harsh, business was business.
He would rather find someone else if it didn't work out than have someone dominate his company. He had read too many novels to blindly trust anyone, let alone a person he had only just met.
Jon didn't take it personally. He had been in the business industry for a long time and knew exactly how things worked.
Someone like Guti didn't seem like the type to hesitate. He just hoped that Guti's agent wouldn't make things difficult for him. After all, what he cared about most was the excitement of bringing this idea to life.
It had been a long time since he had felt this excited.
"Fair enough. I appreciate the honesty," he said, sighing slightly before a small smirk formed on his lips. "I'll wait for your agent then. But let me make one thing clear, if we do this, I expect full trust on both sides. I'm not interested in being just some hired manager."
Guti chuckled, nodding. This was exactly what he wanted. "Of course. If I wasn't ready to trust you, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
"My agent will reach out by tomorrow," Guti said, rising from his seat. His posture was relaxed, his smile clear, he was happy with the outcome. "We'll draft a proposal that respects your role. You'll handle the foundation; I'll handle the spotlight. Also, I hope you understand, we need to move fast."
"Clubs are already drowning in outdated contracts. We need to strike before they realize what's happening, or before Adidas and Nike notice what's slipping through their fingers."
Jon stood as well, extending a hand. "Fast works for me. Just make sure your agent understands that we need to move quickly and don't have time to waste bargaining." His grip was firm, a businessman's handshake, but the spark in his eyes showed his excitement. "I'll start sketching the platform framework tonight. By the time the paperwork's signed, we'll hit the ground running."
.....
Too in hurry and didn't have time to edit carefully
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