Chapter 214: Big Decisions
3rd December, 2010
The private jet flew through the morning clouds leaving Florence behind.
Niels woke up during the flight with a stiff neck and a bad taste in his mouth. He took his phone out of his bag and as soon as it vibrated, he was reminded of the news waiting for him.
He was right.
The football world had ignored the secured qualification and focused only on the defeat and the young players.
He scrolled through the headlines. Each one felt like a punch, turning his honest post-match comnts into sothing else.
The Sun: Niels Admits Bla! Manager’s European Gamble Backfires in Florence Defeat.
Sky Sports: Price Check: Dev Patel’s Value Soars Past £25M Mark After Florence Masterclass.
Daily Mail: Max Simons Stays Ho, Crisis Looms! Has Crawley’s Focus Shifted From Trophies to Transfers?
The dia was already putting a price on Dev. It was a huge amount that, in the 2010/2011 market could completely change a club like theirs.
The articles praised Korey’s goal and Dev’s assist, but quickly shifted to talk about money.
Their hard-fought performance was turned into a business deal.
He sighed and cleared the notifications. The plane was quiet but the silence felt heavy.
The pressure wasn’t just coming from the dia anymore it was now inside the team, affecting his young players.
A few hours later, they landed in England. They moved through customs in a tired blur and were back at their familiar training ground before noon.
Niels went straight to his office, where Max Simons was already waiting. The captain looked rested and refreshed but there was clear concern on his face as he leaned against the desk.
"Welco back, Coach," Max said, his voice flat but tinged with worry. "That was a tough trip. Not just the ga... the whole circus around it."
Niels rubbed his eyes and leaned back. "It was necessary," he said slowly. "Yes, the headlines sting, but we showed character in the second half. The team held together when it mattered. They proved they belong at this level."
Max nodded, still uneasy. "I just... I don’t want the pressure to crush them before the season even reach mid-ga. So of the lads are barely coping with the attention."
Niels t his gaze. "I know. That’s on us. We’ll protect them where we can, guide them where we must. The challenge now is keeping them focused, not letting the noise define them."
Max nodded but stayed leaning against the desk. "I watched the ga. They were brilliant especially Dev, Korey and Pogba when he ca on. But we still lost, and that’s all anyone will rember. And now all anyone cares about is money."
Niels sank into his chair, bracing himself. "That’s the ga now, Max. We’re nearing the transfer window so this is normal around this ti. Talent gets noticed, and everything else fades into the background."
"That’s what worries ," Max said, stepping away from the desk. "Are we playing to win, or are we playing for the agents?"
"When the team is told to showcase players for a transfer, it sses with their focus. So of these young boys... this isn’t their dream club, I know that. Of course they’d love to join the big teams soday. But with all this drama, all this noise, they might start thinking about the next move instead of the next match."
Niels leaned back in his chair, rubbing his eyes. "I know. That’s the ga now, Max. But we have to keep them grounded and protect their focus. Remind them why they’re here, why they fight because the mont they stop playing for the badge, we’ve already lost."
Max ran a hand through his hair, nodding slowly. "So... we’re still fighting for the cup, not just selling pieces in January?"
"Alright," Niels said standing. "Go get so rest. The players are exhausted from the match and the travel. You need to be ready too."
Max gave a small smile, the tension easing slightly and left the office.
Niels was still processing his conversation with Max when Emma Hayes appeared at his door, holding a thin docunt. Her expression was calm but her eyes betrayed a spark of professional excitent.
"The President is thrilled," she said without waiting for him. "The Fiorentina showcase was exactly what we needed. Dev’s agent has been calling nonstop since the final whistle."
She slid the docunt across the desk. It was an official offer letter from a top-tier Spanish club Valencia.
"They’ve made an initial bid," Emma said, leaning in slightly. "£27 million for Dev Patel rising slightly with incentives. That’s more than our valuation from six months ago."
Niels felt a cold shock. £27 million. That was an astronomical sum for a player in their small club in the 2010s, a life-changing amount of money that would secure their financial stability for years.
"What? That’s... enormous," Niels managed to speak but his voice was slightly hoarse.
"It is," Emma said. "And the agent wants the move to happen in January. The board is eting this afternoon to approve it. They see this as a deal we can’t really say no to financially."
Niels looked down at the offer letter. The formal print felt like it was mocking all the sweat, effort, and sacrifice that went into every training session.
"I want to keep him," Niels said flatly. "I still need him to win. He’s one of our key players."
Emma’s tone turned sharp with executive authority. "We all do, Niels. But you know the money speaks louder. The question isn’t whether Dev leavesm it’s whether we lock in the fee and deal structure now, in early December to beat other clubs or wait a month and risk getting less."
Niels pushed back from his chair cutting her off. "No. The real question is whether we’re willing to sacrifice our best chance at silverware this season for short-term money."
"We’re competing on three fronts the league is already tough, we’ve made it to the Europa League Round of 16, and our FA Cup defense starts in a few weeks."
He slamd his hand lightly on the desk. "We don’t have the squad depth to lose a key player like Dev and still compete on all those fronts. The players will get exhausted, they’ll get injured."
"I understand the money, Emma, but the board needs to hear the real cost what it ans for our sporting ambitions."
He took a deep breath, his mind made up. "I’ll et with Dev first, see where his head is at to gauge his commitnt.
Then I’ll speak with Mr. Hargreaves and the President. I’ll argue that Dev stays until the sumr. The fee will still be huge then, but the sporting reward for keeping him could be historic."
Emma watched him, the spark of professional excitent replaced by a sharper calculating look. "Niels, you’re going up against a very strong current. Be careful what you promise the player."
Niels picked up his coat. "I’m fighting for my team, Emma. That’s my job even if it ans leaving at the end of the season."
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