Colney Training Base entrance, the players who had been promoted to the Arsenal U18 Team were waiting.
Not only them, but also some players from lower-level youth training teams mixed in, their eyes full of anticipation, completely different from when they had seen the two off.
"They're here."
Hans saw a business car approaching and adjusted the tie at his collar. He was still appearing in his best condition today, even bringing his wife along.
"Not this car, right?"
His wife stood beside him, somewhat doubtful. She had been dragged out by her husband today and even took a half-day off.
"They probably don't have driver's licenses."
Hans explained, worried that his wife would look down on Maël and Gilbert, adding, "If they did, they would definitely be driving luxury cars back."
Don't underestimate him as the coach of the Arsenal U18 Team, he usually trains with the First Team at the same base.
But to be honest, the youth training coaches of wealthy clubs are often not as good as the First Team players of wealthy clubs, not only in terms of salary and fame, but also in terms of status.
It's difficult for him to get to know the First Team stars, let alone bring his wife to show off a bit of borrowed prestige. Those stars would mostly just nod to him.
"Captain!"
"They're getting out, they're getting out!"
"Captain."
In front of the business car, Gilbert got out first, and the Arsenal U18 players quickly became excited.
However, some people could still call out 'Captain', while others were in a complicated mood and couldn't bring themselves to say it.
Gilbert, who had 6 goals and 3 assists in the EFL Championship this season, with his goal contributions about to break 10, the gap between him and them was no longer just the difference between a teammate and a captain.
"Hello, everyone."
After getting out of the car, Gilbert greeted everyone with his head held high, he smiled brightly, "Long time no see, did you miss me?"
However, most people just smiled at him, and even those who used to have a good relationship with him found it difficult to answer him with confidence.
In the eyes of the Arsenal players, Gilbert now had a different temperament, a calm aura honed by countless intense professional games, and the confidence bred by a multi-million pound valuation.
"Long time no see."
Hans walked forward with mixed feelings. He had only been with Maël for 6 months, but with Gilbert for 5 years.
He stepped forward and patted Gilbert on the shoulder, sighing, "You've changed a lot, you look stronger than on TV, you've been doing extra training with Maël, haven't you?"
"Yeah."
Gilbert saw the old coach and was also filled with emotion, stepping forward to give him a hug, both of them heavily patting each other's backs.
At this moment, Maël and Joelson got out of the car together, side by side, and closed the door.
"Maël."
"The King of Long Shots of EFL Championship, I came here to see him!"
"I heard that he's back this time, and after signing a new contract, his Weekly Salary is almost the same as some First Team players."
"Supernova, some people say he's the new Henry, even more amazing than Gilbert."
"That's him, I'll take a photo with him later!"
In an instant, a burst of noise erupted in front of the base gate, all from the younger children, who didn't know Maël.
The Arsenal U18 members who knew Maël were in an even more complicated mood than before.
They watched Maël and Gilbert's games every week and had long ago reached a consensus - it was a matter of pride to have been teammates with such players, it was their glory.
Before they left, they had also expressed encouragement and congratulations to Maël, without any contempt or indifference towards him.
Logically, they should at least treat Maël the way they had just treated Gilbert.
But no, most of them, although breathing rapidly, looked around and made eye contact with others, but no one spoke.
The change in status was too great! If Gilbert had widened the gap between them in the past six months, making them feel out of reach.
Maël, it was as if he had ascended like a rocket, arriving in their midst and making them feel as insignificant as fireflies before the bright moon.
"Brothers, long time no see."
Maël greeted them, especially searching for Ian's figure, only to find that he was no longer in the team.
The U18 Team members merely smiled and waved at him, then awkwardly placed their hands on their heads, as if scratching them, creating a somewhat embarrassing scene.
"Maël, can we take a photo together?"
"I brought a pen and paper, can you sign an autograph for me!"
"Me too!"
Thankfully, the young players came to the rescue, surrounding Maël and chattering noisily, livening up the atmosphere.
Maël enjoyed the fun of being besieged by the kids, something he had experienced at Sheffield United, but without the feeling of returning home in glory like today.
He agreed to their requests one by one, not missing a single one.
When that was over, Hans came to his side, smiling with excitement.
He had been looking forward to this day for a long time, finally being able to meet Maël.
"This is my wife."
As if unsure how to start, he pointed to the woman beside him and introduced her, before bringing the topic back around, "If you go to the First Team to play in the future, I will bring her to watch your games every week."
"It would be an honor."
Maël said politely, shaking hands with the somewhat uneasy woman beside him, and then hugging Hans.
Seeing that Hans wasn't speaking, he asked proactively, "Where's Ian? I didn't see him, did he leave?"
"Yes."
Hans nodded, looking at Maël, who already possessed the aura of a star, knowing that their status and positions had reversed, and even their relationship would not return to what it once was.
He could only follow Maël's words, trying to chat a little more, "After you guys left, he changed, especially after you scored in the EFL Championship. His personality underwent a great reversal, becoming taciturn and strict with himself.
"His match form also slowly improved. Although he wasn't selected into the First Team by Mr. Wenger, he was quickly signed by an EFL League One team.
"I've also been following him, and he's already made 9 appearances this season."
"Things really have changed." Maël was also quite sentimental, this should be considered a butterfly effect after his arrival.
"Do you still have those shoes?" He looked at Hans, smiling as he brought up the matter.
"I do."
A smile appeared on Hans' face as he took a bag from his wife, "I brought them specifically today, wanting you to sign them, to keep them at home as a memento."
Maël took the shoes out of the bag, and couldn't help but recall the first time he practiced Long Shots.
He saw a pen in the bag, which must have been prepared in advance, and after picking it up, he signed his name, "I was still thinking of asking you for them."
"No."
Hans shook his head and smiled, "I don't want to give them to you, even if I did, it wouldn't be my intention."
"Hahaha."
After signing his name, Maël laughed twice, then added a sentence on the shoes, 'Represents a new beginning', indicating that the shoes represented the beginning of his career.
He would never forget Hans' old friendship, people always remember those who offer charcoal in the snow when they are at their lowest.
He would repay Hans well in the future, he couldn't lose that friendship.
After seeing the line of letters, Hans trembled all over, quickly put them away, and said excitedly, "Mr. Wenger is waiting for you in the Media Room, go quickly."
Maël nodded and went to the Media Room first, while Gilbert lingered in place for a while longer. He was no longer a greenhorn and knew that many things could no longer be done like before, always together.
In the Media Room, more than a dozen cameras were set up in the back, and the previous filming had already begun.
Wenger, sitting in the main seat, realized that the filming might disturb his private conversation with the player, stood up and said, "I'll go out and wait, everyone please wait a moment, he should be here soon."
He went all the way to the entrance of the Administration Building and stood there waiting.
"Mr. Wenger."
The girl at the front desk immediately brought him a stool, afraid he would stand there for too long.
"No need."
Wenger waved his hand in refusal, nodded his thanks, and paced back and forth with his arms folded.
Soon, he saw a figure approaching from a distance. Due to his severe nearsightedness and not wearing glasses, he couldn't quite make out who it was, but his heart rate quickened.
His intuition told him that it was Maël, judging from the figure.
Maël finally saw the legendary manager up close. He was wearing a conspicuous red tie, making his usual gesture, and the suit he wore seemed a bit thin for the season.
He was very tall, giving off a refined air, but not in a way that made him seem weak, only that he must be someone who had weathered countless storms.
And he truly was.
"Sir should wear more."
Maël walked up the steps of the Administration Building, came to him, and shook his hand in a brief embrace.
"Important day."
Wenger smiled, unable to hide the admiration in his eyes for Maël. "Being a little cold is nothing, there are cotton coats in the office."
"Mendes couldn't make it."
Maël explained to him, having learned the news a couple of days ago. "His uncle passed away, and unfortunately, today is the funeral."
Wenger made a regretful expression, half-joking and half-serious. "I should be happy he's not here, but still, my condolences for his uncle."
He led Maël towards the Media Room, walking very slowly, as if wanting to chat more privately. "I've been following you since your first appearance, all the way until now.
"At first, I would only look at the match reports your scouts wrote, then I watched the videos the scouts edited, and now, I almost always make time to watch your entire match.
"My wife knows this, of course, I won't bring her to the club to clarify this with you."
"Hahaha," Maël and Wenger smiled together. The initial impression was good, perhaps related to the fact that he already had a filter for this old manager in his heart.
"Are you used to Sheffield?"
Wenger looked at him, not wanting to only talk about football on this day. "I mean in terms of life, have you found a girlfriend?"
"Not bad."
Maël nodded first, then shook his head with a smile. "I haven't found a girlfriend yet, I'm very busy, and I have few social activities."
"That's not urgent."
Wenger raised his eyebrows, giving his opinion on the matter. "The girls in London are better, I've been here for over ten years, and I can confirm that they are the most enthusiastic girls in all of England."
"Sir is very experienced," Maël noted this, jokingly speaking in code.
"I am a loyal person."
Wenger was not in a hurry to prove himself, his tone was calm. "Whether it's to the team or to the family."
Maël instantly believed him. There was no way not to, he mentioned the team, and combined with reality, it was hard not to be convinced.
Apart from that first sentence, Wenger didn't say anything more about how much he valued Maël, and the latter didn't express his thoughts on the club and him personally.
But both had a feeling that they should be quite compatible. They had a tacit understanding, sometimes a look could convey a lot, without having to say everything.
"Please come in."
Arriving at the Media Room, Wenger gestured for him to enter. Maël stepped in first, and the flashes started from that moment on.
The two sat down, opened the two contracts in front of them, pretended to look through them, and then picked up the pens next to them, signing their names in multiple places on the contracts.
This, was considered officially signed! Maël breathed a sigh of relief. This was an important moment for him, he had obtained his first contract that could be considered generous.
From the moment he signed his name, he had already received a signing fee of £750,000. Next, he would earn about £5 more per minute, £310 per hour, and £7,440 per day.
"We are very much looking forward to your arrival."
Wenger stood up from his seat and extended his hand to him, smiling expectantly. "I hope that our cooperation will not only be pleasant, but also great."
This represented his highest expectations. He didn't mind saying this in front of the media, because he believed in Maël's future.
"I hope so too."
Maël shook hands with him, and the two then held up an Arsenal jersey without a number, looking ahead to capture a precious commemorative image.
After leaving the Media Room, the two made their way to the entrance of the Administration Building.
"There's a league match tomorrow."
Wenger was very busy and had squeezed out time today specifically for the signing. "I won't keep you for a meal and a chat; you're still in the middle of your season."
"This rush is just temporary, I believe. Once this season ends, we'll definitely have many opportunities to get to know each other."
"Keep up the good work. Your goal is very clear right now. If you can achieve it, I will personally come to your current territory to congratulate you."
Maël really wanted to say that, in some ways, he understood Wenger better than he understood himself, but that didn't seem accurate. He confidently said, "It will happen. Then wait for me in Sheffield City, Mr. Wenger."
The two parted ways. As if knowing that Mr. Wenger was still watching him from behind, Maël didn't look back and kept walking forward.
Their first meeting came to an end just like that, but he believed that their bond had only just begun and was far from over.
Play well this season, and in the future, return here in a more glorious manner, to join hands with him and create a brand new football epic!
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