The match had barely concluded when the stadium announcer declared Izan as the Man of the Match.
His name echoed through the Camp de Mestalla, drawing a resounding cheer from the fans.
The 16-year-old, who had dazzled the crowd with two crucial assists and an unforgettable last-minute curler to seal a 3-2 victory, walked toward the centre of the pitch with a modest grin on his face.
The award ceremony was swift but impactful. Izan accepted the sleek trophy, a symbol of his brilliance that evening, from the match officials.
The stadium lights caught the gleam of the award as he held it up for the fans to see. A chorus of chants eruptedā"Izan, Izan, Izan!"āas he took a moment to bow his head slightly in gratitude.
Cameras zoomed in on his calm, composed expression, capturing another moment at the start of the prodigious teenagerās career.
"Whoaaaaahhh!" the Valencia players jokingly exclaimed, like it was the first time they had seen him take the Man of the Match award.
His teammates surrounded him shortly after, patting his back and playfully ruffling his hair, as fans continued to cheer.
Izan smiled, but his humility shone through; he quickly gestured toward the crowd, acknowledging their support and reminding everyone it had been a team effort.
---
As he headed toward the tunnel, a reporter intercepted him for a post-match interview. The reporter, a seasoned professional, extended a hand and a warm smile.
"Congratulations, Izan. A well-deserved Man of the Match performance. How are you feeling after such a spectacular game?"
Izanās expression softened into a more reflective smile. "Thank you. It feels great, of course, but more than anything, Iām just happy we got the result we needed. It was a big match for us."
The reporter nodded, steering the conversation. "At just 16, youāre capturing the attention of fans and pundits worldwide. Your name is being mentioned alongside some of footballās biggest names and brightest talents. How are you coping with all this attention?"
Izan paused thoughtfully, showing a maturity beyond his years. "Itās definitely a lot, but I try not to let it affect me too much.
I focus on what I can controlāworking hard, learning, and improving. I have a great support system in my family, my teammates, and my coaches. They help me stay grounded and focused on the bigger picture."
The crowd murmured with admiration as Izanās poised answer reached them through the stadium speakers. The reporter pressed on.
"You mentioned your family. They must be incredibly proud of you. How important has their support been in helping you navigate this incredible journey?"
"My family means everything to me," Izan said with a hint of emotion in his voice. "My mom has sacrificed so much to give me this opportunity, and my sister is my biggest supporter although she sometimes doesnāt show it.
Theyāre always there to remind me of where I come from and why I play this game. Their belief in me is what keeps me going. A few other people have also helped. It would take a while if I had to name them here."
The reporter smiled, sensing the depth of his words. She leaned in slightly, her tone more conspiratorial.
"Now, Izan, I have to askāthereās been a lot of speculation about your future. Big clubs like Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Manchester City are reportedly interested in signing you. Any thoughts on these transfer rumours?"
Izan chuckled softly, his composure unshaken. "Iāve heard the rumours, but right now, Iām fully focused on my development and contributing to my team. As of now, I donāt have any plans to move as I havenāt accomplished anything yet.
Iām fortunate to have the opportunity to play and grow at this stage. Whatever the future holds, I trust the right decisions will be made when the time is right.
"So if you can accomplish something with Valencia, would you move?"
"Whoās to say," Izan said with a shrug.
The reporter raised an eyebrow, impressed by his polished response. "Thatās a very diplomatic answer, Izan. Itās clear youāve got a good head on your shoulders."
He smiled a glint of playful mischief in his eyes. "Iāve had good guidance."
The interview wrapped up with the reporter thanking him for his time and wishing him continued success.
Izan waved at the cameras before disappearing into the tunnel, his trophy tucked under his arm. Half an hour later, the Valencia team bus arrived at the Cuidad Deportiva de Paterna.
Izan, who had gotten some shut-eye, stood up with his bag over his shoulder.
Exiting the bus, he greeted his mates and the staff in the bus goodbye before walking towards Pietroās car.
The latter dropped Izan off before driving away. The night was still young but Izan was tired. Flipping the door open, his gaze met Komi and Hori who had gotten up after hearing the door click.
"I thought Miranda was here," Izan said as he put down the bag. "Yeah, she was in the morning, but she had something urgent to do. She said a favour or something, so she packed a bag and is now in Milan" Komi gave Izan the gist.
"Milan?" Izan asked as his thoughts ran amok before calming himself. He went upstairs and took another shower before collapsing onto his bed, drifting off into slumber land.
---
[The next day
Milan, Italy]
As the sun set, the city of Milan was bathed in a golden hue, reflecting off the intricate faƧades of historic buildings like the Duomo di Milano.
The streets were alive with the hum of conversations, the clinking of glasses in chic cafes, and the soft glow of streetlights.
Fashionable locals strolled through Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II while others gathered in cosy trattorias to savour aperitivo.
The air carried a mix of aromas, from freshly brewed espresso to gourmet dishes, adding to the charm of this cosmopolitan city.
....
In a classy restaurant, Miranda, elegantly dressed with a poised demeanour, sat across from an anonymous figure in a more secretive space.
Her sharp features radiated confidence, her dark brown eyes steady as she clasped her hands on the polished mahogany table between them.
The anonymous figure, voice calm yet insistent, leaned forward. "Weāre prepared to pay his release clause in full.
We can discuss the image rights and weāll also improve his current salary greatly. At least double or triple his current salary
Opportunities like this donāt come around often."
Miranda arched an eyebrow, her tone firm but polite. "Izan isnāt looking for a move right now. Heās happy where he isādeveloping, learning, thriving."
"Perhaps he just needs a nudge," the voice pressed, their persistence unwavering. "You can convince him. Youāre his agent. This is what you do."
Mirandaās lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "Izan is more than a client to me. Heās my son before anything else.
My job isnāt to force him into decisions that donāt make him happyāitās to ensure his career aligns with his dreams."
"We could discuss the agent fees if that is also small," the voice said, emphasizing the "agent fee" part.
"Please leave that out of it. If I wanted that, I would have made my way to a more lucrative club that could give a better offer.
The only reason I agreed to meet you is because of a favour I owe someone" Miranda said Resolutely.
The shadowy figure leaned back, silence filling the space between them for a moment before they spoke again, a note of irritation creeping in.
"Opportunity and money like this for a kid his age doesnāt come often. Sure, heās making waves, but he should secure his future first, and that is with us".
Miranda straightened her shoulders, her voice unwavering. "Izanās happiness and growth are priceless to me. If this is the stage he wants to be on, heāll step onto it when heās readyānot because someone else decides itās time."
The figure sighed, their tone softening slightly, though their resolve hadnāt faltered. "Just... think about it. Convince him."
Miranda stood, smoothing the fabric of her blazer. "Iāll let Izan know youāre interested. But my loyalty lies with himāalways."
With that, she turned on her heel, her heels clicking against the tiled floor as she walked away, leaving the figure in contemplative silence.
The figure glanced at his phone, picked it up and tapped on a contact.
"Hello, you can send the pictures to a few stations so we can lead them on. If we can not get him this window, we should be prepared for the next, although this window would be better since we canāt let his value rise anymore," the figure said after the call connected.
After the call, the figure put on a contemplative expression as he stared outside the window. Swirling the wine in hand, the figure took a sip and sighed.
"Guess I have to ask Jane for another favour," the voice said in resignation as the figure picked the phone up.
A/n: Another chapter for my lovely readers. Have fun and Iāll see you tomorrow.