c12 - I Will Definitely Surpass These Stars
Although Langley firmly believed in Vardy's potential, the reality was that he had never received structured professional training before. Given that, securing this initial contract and salary was already an achievement.
Vardy quickly calculated in his head. In England, an annual income exceeding £37,400 is taxed at 40%. His weekly wage of £2,000 would be reduced to approximately £1,200 after taxes. Once social insurance and other deductions were factored in, he would take home around £1,100 per week. That was already more than the average working-class salary.
However, compared to the true footballing elites, his earnings were almost insignificant. Established stars like Roy Keane and Ruud van Nistelrooy were making upwards of £90,000 per week, and even younger players like Darren Fletcher were earning considerably more. Some of these top-tier players could earn more in a single appearance bonus than Vardy would in a year.
But he wasn't worried about money right now. He hadn't yet proven himself. Until he did, there was no point in negotiating.
When he turned to the contract length, he saw it clearly stated: Four years. This meant that, barring any unexpected events, he would belong to Manchester United for the next four seasons.
Vardy wasn't particularly concerned about this term either. A four-year deal was fairly standard it signaled that the club believed in his potential but also hedged against uncertainty. If he had been a widely recognized prodigy, like Wayne Rooney or Cristiano Ronaldo, the club would likely have locked him into a six-to-eight-year contract.
The final buyout clause of £5 million didn't bother Vardy. At least with this stipulation, if he ever parted ways with United, his departure wouldn't be completely free. A club interested in him would have to pay up.
With no real reason to haggle, Vardy signed his name on the contract without hesitation.
"Welcome to the Carrington family! I hope you enjoy your time here, and I hope Carrington can one day be proud of producing another star." Kirshaw was in high spirits. He had seen too many young players arrive with agents and lawyers, making negotiations a hassle. Vardy, by contrast, was refreshingly straightforward.
Vardy responded with a half-smile, "Of course."
It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the warm welcome. It was just that, the moment he signed his name, a notification from his system appeared, and he was far too excited to focus on anything else.
> System Notification: Mission 'Join a Major Youth Academy' Completed. Rewards Distributed Please Check!
System Notification: Full Version of 'Big Star Prank System' Activated. Please Familiarize Yourself with the Interface.
As they left Carrington, Vardy was still dazed. From Kirshaw's perspective, he was simply overwhelmed with excitement after signing with Manchester United. The head of youth development couldn't help but wonder—was this boy's mentality strong enough to handle the pressure of top-level football?
---
"Come stay at my house tonight," Langley offered as he drove. "Once the club finds a suitable boarding house for you, you can move in."
Vardy's mind immediately flashed back to Langley's comment from a few days ago about his daughter—200 pounds. He shuddered.
"Uh… I wouldn't want to impose, especially since you have family at home," Vardy quickly responded. "It'd be better if you helped me find a hotel nearby."
Langley assumed the boy was simply being polite. "Don't worry about that. Since I brought you to Manchester, I'll look after you until you settle in. The club will find accommodation for you soon enough, and honestly, we'd be happy to have you in our home."
Sometimes, enthusiasm could be overwhelming. Right now, Vardy had no idea how to turn down Langley without sounding rude.
"I'm just not great at living with people I don't know well," Vardy lied, grasping for an excuse. "I wouldn't want to make things awkward for your family."
Langley shot him a sideways glance, clearly trying to figure out whether he was being honest.
"If that's really your personality, you need to work on it. Football isn't a solo sport. Even Ronaldo needs teammates to succeed. If you can't integrate into the squad, you'll struggle to make an impact."
Vardy nodded along, pretending to listen while internally sighing in relief.
"Alright, if you insist," Langley finally relented. "I'll take you to a family-run hotel near my place. The owner is a good friend of mine, and he'll look after you."
That was music to Vardy's ears. At least he wouldn't have to meet Uncle Sloppy's 200-pound daughter.
---
Langley parked outside a modest-looking red-brick building, a small bed-and-breakfast near the heart of the town. "This is it," he announced.
"Hey, old man, I'm dropping off a new Carrington recruit!" Langley greeted the hotel owner with a friendly punch to the chest. "Make sure to get his autograph—you never know, he might be the next Roy Keane!"
Vardy watched in stunned silence as the middle-aged man, sporting a receding hairline and a noticeable belly, rubbed his chest and grimaced.
"If you weren't in a hurry, I'd deflate your tires," the hotel owner grumbled before turning to Vardy.
"Carrington lad, eh? Welcome! Treat this place like home. I'm United's biggest fan!" The man clapped Vardy on the back with surprising force, making him wince. He was almost certain a handprint had been left behind.
"Thanks, I appreciate it," Vardy managed, resisting the urge to rub his back.
"Before you head up, one thing!" The hotel owner rummaged behind the counter and pulled out a leather-bound notebook. "Sign this. It's got every United star's autograph—Giggs, Scholes, Keane… even Beckham before he ran off to Madrid. If Langley thinks you've got talent, I want your name in here too!"
Vardy opened the book carefully. Sure enough, the pages were filled with the signatures of United legends. Seeing those names sent a thrill through him. These weren't just any players—they were the backbone of the club's success.
Taking the pen, he carefully wrote his name. It wasn't the best signature, but it was his first official one. He looked at it with a quiet sense of satisfaction.
"I'll make sure my name is worthy of this book." Vardy's voice was steady as he handed it back.
But what he didn't say,what he truly believed was this:
"One day, I'll surpass all of them."