"First, let's confirm one thing."
Mendes still wanted to seize the initiative in the negotiation, and he made a request, "All negotiations are based on the premise of a 1-year extension, with a total contract term of 4 years. The player values this aspect.
"It's not that he's considering leaving, it's that he wants to leave himself some room. He believes he can perform even better in the future and continuously obtain similar salary increase contracts."
Wenger nodded to show his understanding. He didn't insist on the term. For players like Maël with great talent and potential, it was good to leave him some room.
Otherwise, when there's no room for renewal and the player is dissatisfied with the salary but has no corresponding leverage.
At this time, making demands to the club can easily strain the relationship between the two parties, leaving no room for maneuver.
"It needs to be finalized today."
Wenger expressed his opinion, he didn't want to delay any longer, "Let's go through it one by one, starting with the release clause."
"My idea is the same as before."
Mendes' logic was clear, and he slowed down his tone, saying, "After Cristiano's £80 million transfer to Real Madrid, I expect transfers at this price to occur frequently in the future.
"Of course, this doesn't mean I think other agents' players are at the same level as Cristiano.
"So, if you're optimistic about the player's future and want to set a high release clause for the player, I have no objection, but you must pay the corresponding price to make us feel at ease accepting this proposal."
"But you continuously rejected £70 million and £65 million." Wenger spread his hands, bringing up the unpleasantness of their previous negotiations.
"Obviously."
Mendes revealed a row of white teeth, and smiled, "I don't think Arsenal's salary structure can provide young players with a corresponding salary."
Wenger's mouth twitched slightly, and after considering it, he said, "My lower limit is £60 million, and I want to set this price like this."
Mendes didn't speak, just kept looking at him, waiting for him to continue.
"The player's value has increased, and the release clause price has decreased. I think the two have canceled each other out."
Wenger's voice was low as he spoke his thoughts, "Plus my sincerity towards the player and you, I can accept your previous offer of a 50k weekly salary and a £650,000 signing fee."
Mendes nodded, took a few puffs of his cigar, and said slowly, "I don't think the player's increased value can be offset by just lowering the release clause by £5 million. These are different concepts.
"But to be honest, your offer is not far from my expected price."
"52k weekly salary."
Wenger raised the price, he didn't want to continue fighting with Mendes, "Everything else remains the same."
"If Mr. Wenger can increase the signing fee to 750,000..."
"Okay." Wenger's tongue pressed hard against his upper palate, and he agreed directly and decisively with a hint of helplessness.
Hans on the side secretly gasped, both the salary and the signing fee for a 1-year extension were much higher than the Premier League average.
To give an EFL Championship player such treatment shows how much the Professor loves him.
But thinking about Maël's data performance, it's normal. It's just surprising, as he had never encountered this type of player before.
"Then let's talk about bonuses." Mendes smiled and started a new topic. The important negotiations had been completed, and much faster than he had imagined.
He basically dominated this negotiation. Wenger brought several people over today, but none of them could get a word in.
"I've designed it."
Wenger reached out to Philip next to him, who quickly brought a contract and handed it to Mendes.
Mendes took it and started flipping through it. It was clear that this was a carefully designed bonus contract, full of special features.
First is the attendance bonus, which is £600,000 per season, awarded based on the player's attendance percentage.
Basically, the player can get a £10,000 bonus for each game played, including substitute appearances.
Secondly, there is a special attendance bonus. For example, the Champions League has an additional £200,000, pre-season friendlies have an additional £100,000, and the last £100,000 is for the League Cup and FA Cup.
It's still based on attendance rate, with full attendance taking it all, for a total attendance bonus of £1 million, which is very generous.
The second item is the bonus for winning championships with the club, which includes seven items: Champions League title, Premier League title, FIFA Club World Cup title, UEFA Super Cup title, FA Cup title, League Cup title, and Community Shield Cup title.
The bonuses are £2 million, £1 million, £800,000, £800,000, £700,000, £250,000, and £250,000 respectively.
A total of 5.8 million pounds.
"Oh," Mendes suddenly noticed that below these, there were two more bonuses, one for finishing in the Premier League top four and the other for Champions League group stage qualification.
500,000 pounds each, totaling 1 million pounds.
This is more practical; the champion's bonus is high, but hard to get. Mostly, you can only stare at it.
After that, there are bonuses for goals and assists, with different weights for different competitions, and different weights representing different prices.
In this category, the Champions League and Premier League are classified as Tier 1, the FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup, and Community Shield Cup are Tier 2, and all other competitions are Tier 3.
For Tier 1, a goal earns a bonus of 20,000 pounds, and an assist earns 15,000 pounds. Tier 2 is reduced by 5,000 pounds each, and Tier 3 is reduced by another 5,000 pounds.
In addition, there are various target bonuses, such as scoring 30 goals, 100 goals, making 50 appearances, 100 appearances, and so on, which are dazzling.
"I have no objections."
Mendes saw the sincerity contained in this contract and knew that these were the highest bonus contracts that Professor had meticulously made based on the club's financial situation.
After all, bonuses are different from wages. When players receive bonuses, the club is likely to be laughing along with them.
"This is just for the individual."
Wenger dispelled some of his aversion to Mendes and added, "The overall team bonus for the rest of the team will also be distributed together."
"If we want to modify this bonus contract in the future, will Arsenal accept negotiations?"
Mendes asked his last question, he had to confirm: "Just accept negotiations, not necessarily accept modifications."
"Before the season, yes."
Wenger smiled faintly and replied, "Of course not during the season, especially before the final."
"Hahaha," a burst of laughter finally rang out in the heavy atmosphere, and many people on the scene smiled.
"Express my gratitude to Maël for me."
Mendes was beaming with joy, stood up and extended his right hand: "Happy cooperation, and wish Arsenal all the best."
"Happy cooperation."
Wenger got up and shook hands with him, and the others all stood up and came to the two of them.
Hans felt that he was not suitable to go over, and seeing that no one was taking pictures, he took a few and saved them in the album, recording this moment.
After confirming the signing date, Mendes left the office, seemingly with other things to attend to.
Wenger sat back on the sofa, his face neither happy nor sad.
"Did we get a good deal?" Philip asked him from the side, the final price was not what Wenger had told them at the beginning.
"I don't know."
Wenger shook his head, spaced out for a while, and then replied, "It doesn't seem like it now. Specifically, we'll have to see when the player comes back. He is the only factor in judging whether we got a good deal or not, not the money."
"Agreed."
Although Hans didn't want to speak in that situation just now, he had been holding it in for a long time, "Mendes is too strong, it's the first time I've met him."
"Mr. Wenger is also strong."
Philip glanced at him and explained, "It's just that he wants Mendes and the player's side to feel that they won. Mendes may have seen it in the end, or maybe not."
...
On January 1st, the winter transfer window officially opened, and major European powerhouses immediately took action in the transfer window.
Among them, the Premier League was the most frantic.
On the morning of the transfer window opening, Manchester United officially announced the signing of 21-year-old super-new star defender Smalling, and the official website released a photo of Old Sir with him.
Liverpool was not to be outdone, acquiring Argentine fierce general Rodríguez from Atlético Madrid, and even Arsenal, who had not had any major signings for a long time, announced that Campbell was about to return to the team!
...
EFL Championship teams were not so quick to act; they were more focused on preparing for the league games taking place that day.
At 1:30 PM, the 24th round of the EFL Championship kicked off with Sheffield United playing away against Burnley.
Gilbert and Steven, who were in the regular starting lineup, were rotated, and Britton and Williamson were newly on the field.
"Evans! Scores for the team in the 9th minute of the match! A display of individual ability! After intercepting the opponent's pass back, he dribbled past two players and sent the ball into the opponent's net! I don't understand why he didn't make it into the best lineup?"
"It's him again! Evans with a brace! Sheffield United leading two-nil! This time it's an assist from Ward!"
...
"Iglez laboriously pulls one back for Burnley, heading and kicking, two consecutive shots, blocked or saved, finally heading the ball into the net!
"Sheffield United's defense is still prone to lapses in concentration, and their reaction ability is average."
...
"Britton's pass, Evans breaks into the inside channel again, is he going to complete a hat-trick?! Saved by the goalkeeper!
"Outside the penalty area, Maël's long shot follow-up!! Powerful and heavy, a worldie!! Goal! Three-one!!"
Inside Burnley's home ground, Turf Moor, Maël smiled as he ran towards the sideline, looking back at Evans, mocking him for not seizing the opportunity for a hat-trick.
"Damn it!"
Evans was both annoyed and amused all the way, and after arriving next to Maël, he shook his head and sighed, "I guess I'm destined not to score a hat-trick in this game."
He guessed right.
"Sheffield United defeated Burnley three-one away! Evans with a brace, Maël scored his 16th league goal, creating a goal tally exceeding 30!" - London Evening Standard
On January 2nd, Maël accompanied his family for the last time to stroll around Sheffield City. Tonight, they would be leaving.
The reluctance of parting surged in his heart on this day. He took his family to many clothing stores and ate all kinds of international snacks in the city center.
Relying on his wealth, Maël just kept buying, buying, buying all the way, from clothes to shoes, from bags to toys, buying all sorts of things worth more than seven thousand pounds, all packed up for them.
Taking this opportunity, he also bought some things for himself. He usually didn't have time to take care of himself, and he found it troublesome, which was a bit of a waste of his face and figure.
"Alright, alright."
"Oh dear!"
The Clermont family of five had never spent money like this before, and they were both uneasy and excited along the way, each carrying large and small bags.
Maël knew that he would most likely sign a new contract this month, and before parting, he gave each of the three children a red envelope of 5,000 pounds.
Actually, he was afraid that his aunt and uncle would be embarrassed to accept it directly, so he gave it to them in a different way.
At three o'clock in the afternoon, he called the club's business car and sent them to Manchester International Airport, where the family just sat down.
Along the way, whether it was the sadness and bitterness of parting or the exhaustion from shopping, they said very little to each other.
Even the always active Ava lowered her head alone, looking very depressed, occasionally sniffing and wiping the corners of her eyes.
They silently entered the airport, entered the terminal, and finally stood across the aisle, ushering in the official moment of parting.
Clermont stood at the front with his bag. The dream trip was over. He looked at his nephew's figure and still couldn't speak, only feeling a little sour in the corners of his eyes.
He gave up and picked up a few suitcases to walk to the other side of the check-in counter, "I'm going to check in the luggage."
The three children stood behind Betty, whose eyes were already red, in different postures and expressions.
The eldest daughter, Maqi, didn't dare to look this way, the second brother kept a straight face, and Ava burst into tears, but no one comforted her.
"Maël, work hard!"
In the end, Betty, who once opposed him playing football the most, squeezed out a smile with red eyes and waved to him, "We are all waiting for you to become the most outstanding player."
She may not understand what the most outstanding player is like, but she still has this expectation.
"See you in London next time."
Maël waved to them, his smile also not entirely genuine, "Bring them along, bye-bye!"
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