God Of football-Chapter 344: Last Session [Golden Ticket chapter]

For better reading experience,[To me] Read this while Listening to Forever and a day by Benson Boone. I don’t know why but it sounded nice with it. The last part is what I mean.

.......

The news of Izan’s blockbuster transfer to Arsenal spread like wildfire, and naturally, the English media wasted no time dissecting every aspect of the deal.

On Sky Sports, the conversation quickly turned to the financial side of the transfer.

Gary Neville (Former Manchester United defender and pundit on Sky Sports):

"Look, there’s no doubt Izan is a fantastic player. What he did at Valencia was extraordinary. But €15 million a year? Before bonuses?

That’s an astronomical amount for a 17-year-old. Arsenal are putting a lot of pressure on a kid who is still a minor.

I think he should’ve lowered his demands, at least for the first few years, and then earned that kind of money through performances."

Jamie Carragher (Former Liverpool Player, Sky Sports Pundit):

"I get what you’re saying, Gary, but let’s not pretend this is some unproven talent.

Izan was the best player at Valencia. He dragged them into the Champions League.

If he was 22 instead of 17, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. This is what top clubs pay for world-class talent these days.

Arsenal didn’t overpay—they paid the market rate for a player who’s already proving he belongs at the highest level."

Roy Keane (Former Manchester United captain, Sky Sports Pundit):

"Listen, if the lad performs, no one will care about the money. Football isn’t about what you deserve; it’s about what you negotiate. Arsenal think he’s worth that much, so fair play to him.

But what I’ll say is this—when you’re earning that kind of money, there are no excuses. You have to deliver, every single game. The pressure is on now."

Over on TalkSPORT, the discussion was even more heated, with some pundits questioning the wisdom of spending over €120M on a teenager who had dazzled for just a single season.

Simon Jordan (Former Crystal Palace owner, TalkSPORT Pundit):

"We’re entering dangerous territory here. Football clubs are throwing money around like confetti, and it’s setting a precedent. €15M a year for a 17-year-old?

I don’t care how talented he is—this is madness. Arsenal could have structured a better deal rather than setting him up with such ridiculous expectations."

Darren Bent (Former England striker, TalkSPORT Pundit):

"Simon, you’re looking at it the wrong way. Arsenal aren’t just buying a player—they’re buying their future.

Izan is already one of the best in La Liga, and he’s only getting better. If he plays like he did for Valencia, this will look like a bargain in two years."

Martin Keown (Former Arsenal defender, TalkSPORT Pundit):

"I agree with Darren. This is what elite clubs do. Arsenal want to compete with City, Real Madrid, Bayern, and Barcelona—you need world-class players to do that.

People are focusing on his age, but if he’s good enough, he’s old enough.

He’s taking the number 10 shirt at Arsenal, which tells you everything about how much belief the club has in him."

As the debate raged on, one voice that carried immense weight in Arsenal circles stepped in to offer his perspective—Arsenal legend and former captain Thierry Henry.

Appearing on CBS Sports, Henry addressed the criticisms head-on:

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"People need to stop treating this like it’s a charity. Arsenal aren’t just handing out money—they’re investing in a player they believe can take them to the next level.

If Izan plays like he did at Valencia, every bit of that money will be well deserved."

The Frenchman then pointed out the hypocrisy in how young players are judged differently based on their age.

"When you’re young, people say you should ’prove yourself first’ before earning big money.

When you’re older, they say you’re past your peak and shouldn’t demand too much. It’s always something.

The reality is, if you have the talent, you get paid what you’re worth. And Izan? He’s worth every bit of this deal."

Henry then delivered a direct message to those questioning whether Izan’s age should factor into the financial side of his move:

"Football has changed. The old ideology that young players should wait their turn is gone. If you’re good enough, you’re ready.

We saw it with Mbappé, we saw it with Bellingham, and now we’re seeing it with Izan.

He’s not just a kid—he’s a game-changer. Arsenal know it, and soon, the Premier League will know it too."

With that, the conversation began to shift. What started as skepticism about Izan’s wages slowly turned into an acceptance.

Arsenal had just made a statement signing—one that could reshape the Premier League for years to come.

….::...

With the contract details nearly settled, Miranda shifted her focus to an important but often overlooked part of high-profile transfers—education.

Izan was still in his final year of school in Spain, and while football was his priority, he had upcoming final exams that were set to take place after his move to London.

With that in mind, Miranda placed a call to the head administrator of Izan’s school.

After a few rings, a polite but firm voice answered. "Señora Miranda, a pleasure to hear from you. I assume this is about Izan’s situation?"

"Exactly," Miranda replied. "As you know, he’s finalizing his move to Arsenal, which means he’ll be relocating to London soon. However, his final exams are scheduled after his move.

We’d like to explore solutions that would allow him to complete them without major complications."

The administrator sighed as if she had been expecting this. "Izan has been an excellent student, and we’d hate for this to disrupt his academic progress. There are a few options we can explore."

Miranda leaned forward, pen in hand. "I’m listening."

"First, if he intends to return to Spain at any point before the season begins, he could sit the exams in person here.

We could arrange flexible scheduling within a reasonable window."

Miranda glanced at Izan, who had been quietly listening. "Not ideal, considering preseason will take up most of his time. What’s the second option?"

"The second option is remote examination. It’s more complicated because final exams are strictly monitored, but we have protocols in place for international students.

He could take his exams under supervised conditions in London—possibly at a designated exam center or through the Spanish consulate."

"That sounds more reasonable," Miranda said, scribbling notes. "And the third option?"

"If neither of those works, he could defer his exams until the next available session. It’s not ideal, but we’d grant him an exception given the circumstances."

Miranda looked at Izan. "What do you think?"

Izan rubbed his chin. "I’d rather not delay it if possible. If I can take them remotely while in London, I’d prefer that."

Miranda nodded and returned to the call. "We’ll go with the remote exam option. Let’s start working on the arrangements."

"Understood. I’ll coordinate with our academic board and provide you with the necessary guidelines.

We’ll ensure Izan has the best possible support while balancing his football commitments."

"Perfect," Miranda said. "I appreciate the cooperation."

As the call ended, Izan exhaled. "Well, at least that’s sorted."

Miranda smirked. "Welcome to life as a high-profile athlete. Football isn’t the only thing you have to think about."

"Well, we’re done but not quite there. Go wash up," Miranda said, shutting her tablet. "We still have things to finish at Valencia."

Izan sat there for a moment, staring at the contract papers on the table. His name wasn’t signed yet, but it didn’t matter.

The world already knew. His teammates already knew. This was happening.

He exhaled, rubbing his face before pushing back his chair. "Yeah… alright."

Komi watched him stand, her usual soft demeanor softening more for a moment. "It’s going to feel different today."

Izan gave a small nod before heading upstairs.

—

The water ran cold at first before warming against his skin. He stood under the shower longer than usual, letting the spray drum against his back.

His thoughts drifted—to the first time he walked onto the Paterna pitch, to the fights for a starting spot, to the Champions League qualification battle, to the friendships he had built here.

This place had made him.

And now, he was leaving.

When he finally stepped out, he moved with practiced motions—drying off, dressing quickly, running a hand through his damp hair.

He grabbed his duffle bag, slinging it over his shoulder before heading downstairs where Miranda was already waiting.

"Ready?" she asked.

He swallowed and nodded.

—

The drive to Paterna was quiet. Miranda worked on her tablet, but she wasn’t talking much.

Komi and Hori had stayed back, understanding this was something Izan needed to do alone.

When they arrived, Izan stared out the window for a second before stepping out of the car.

The familiar sounds of footballs being struck, of teammates calling out to each other, of coaches shouting instructions—it was all the same.

Except today, it wasn’t.

He walked through the entrance, past the staff who had watched him grow from a talented kid into the club’s best player in just a season.

Some smiled at him, some patted his shoulder as he passed, but there was an unspoken understanding in all their eyes.

Inside the locker room, his boots were still in his usual spot. His jersey still hung where it always did. For a moment, he just stood there, taking it all in.

Then the door opened.

Baraja stepped inside, hands in his pockets. He looked at Izan, then at the boots. "You still think you’re a Valencia player?"

Izan let out a small chuckle. "Haven’t signed yet."

"Exactly," Baraja said. "Which means you’re training today."

Izan blinked. "I—"

Baraja raised an eyebrow. "What? You think just because you’re leaving, you get a free pass?"

Izan stared at him before breaking into a smile. He dropped his duffle bag and grabbed his boots. "Guess not."

—

When Izan stepped onto the pitch, the conversations died down. His teammates turned, some holding their breath, others shifting awkwardly.

For the first time since he arrived at Valencia, Izan felt like an outsider.

Then Hugo Guillamón broke the silence.

"Took you long enough."

It was enough to crack the tension.

Pepelu jogged over, nudging him with his elbow. "Did Arsenal approve this training session, or are we gonna get a call from Arteta?"

Izan smirked. "Haven’t signed yet."

Thierry Correia grinned. "Then that means you’re still ours."

The group gathered around him, some clapping his back, others pulling him into quick embraces.

There were no dramatic speeches, no forced goodbyes—just the unspoken understanding that this was the last time.

The last training session as a Valencia man.

...….

Once the drills started, everything felt normal again. Izan moved through the rondos, playing crisp passes, teasing Mamardashvili with a cheeky nutmeg.

The laughter, the energy—it was all still there.

Then they switched to small-sided games.

Izan drove forward, weaving past two defenders before slipping a pass to Fran Pérez, who buried it in the bottom corner.

A goal. A celebration.

For a second, it felt like any other day.

But then Fran pulled Izan into a hug instead of running back to reset. And that was when it truly hit.

One by one, the others joined, arms draped over shoulders, some ruffling Izan’s hair, some just standing there, breathing in the moment.

Pietro sighed. "Man… this is weird."

Guillamón nodded. "Yeah. Don’t like it."

Izan swallowed hard. "Neither do I."

No one spoke for a while after that.

The whistle blew. Baraja called them in. The training was over.

Izan exhaled, glancing around. The grass. The goals. The sky above Paterna.

One last time.

A/n: Fuck. I won’t keep it PG this time. I teared up a little writing this. Here’s to the friends we’ve lost along the way and I hope we keep the ones we have right now for a long time. Fuck!!! Anyways cheer me up with the Golden tickets.