Soccer System: All the Skills, One Player!

To Lucas, Peter Collins seemed trustworthy, and if his father trusted him, then so should he. Even so, meeting a complete stranger in a coffee to discuss the future of his career made his palms sweat.

"All right." he muttered to himself and headed for Brighton city center.

The journey was uneventful, but his mind was racing. He tried to imagine what this agent would be like: a man in an impeccable suit, perhaps, or a soccer veteran with behind-the-scenes stories to tell.

In the end, nothing could prepare him for what he was about to encounter.

Coffee Mount was small and cozy, with an exposed brick façade and a moss-green awning that swayed slightly in the wind. Warm lights illuminated the interior, with dark wooden tables and a shelf full of old books at the back. The aroma of fresh coffee filled the air, mixed with the sweet smell of homemade cakes.

Lucas entered and looked around.

In the corner, near a window overlooking the street, a man was gesturing animatedly while talking on the phone. He didn't seem to fit in with the cozy atmosphere of the coffee. He wore a rather gaudy light blue suit, a tie with diagonal stripes and shoes that shone as if they had been polished minutes before. His brown hair was slicked back with a generous amount of gel and a confident smile was on his face, even as he spoke on the phone.

'That must be him,' thought Lucas, hesitantly.

As soon as their eyes met, the man hung up the phone with a quick movement and stood up. He opened his arms as if he was about to hug Lucas, but stopped before he got too close.

"Lucas! Brighton's boy wonder! I'm Jimmy McAllister, but you can call me Jimmy. Please, sit down, sit down!" he said, pulling up a chair with exaggerated enthusiasm.

Lucas hesitated for a moment, but eventually sat down. Jimmy sat down too and immediately gestured to the waiter.

"Two cappuccinos, please! You like cappuccino, don't you? Oh, and also bring that carrot cake from your poster, because it seems a sin not to try it," said Jimmy, winking at the waiter, who just nodded, clearly used to eccentric customers.

Lucas opened his mouth to reply, but Jimmy kept talking without pause.

"Let me tell you something, kid. When Peter called me and told me about you, I thought: 'That's a sign. A sign that I need to drop everything I'm doing and come running to Brighton. And here I am! Because you know what I see in you? I see a rough diamond, ready to be cut. And who better to polish it than me, Jimmy McAllister, the man who has turned dreams into reality for young talents all over Europe?"

Lucas tried to intervene. "I..."

"Sure, sure, let's talk about what really matters," interrupted Jimmy, leaning forward as if he were about to tell a secret. "That Brighton contract. I can see from your eyes that you're not convinced. Let me guess: good money, but not good enough. Termination clause? High enough to scare off any other club. Am I right or am I right?"

Lucas blinked, surprised. "It's... more or less that."

Jimmy tapped the table, satisfied. "I knew it! Listen, Lucas. They know how valuable you are, but they're playing it carefully. They don't want you to realize how special you are. And that's why you need me. I'm the guy who's going to make sure you get everything you deserve, whether it's this contract or the next. Want 30,000 euros a week instead of 20? I can do that. Want a fairer termination clause? Consider it done. But before you do anything, tell me: what do you want, Lucas? Because that's what matters."

"I just want to do what's right for my career. I don't want to be greedy, but I also don't want to regret it in the future."

Jimmy smiled, as if he'd heard exactly what he wanted. "And that's why you're special, kid. Humility, talent and a clear head. Tell you what: I'll analyze that contract for you. In detail. I'll talk to Brighton, if you want, and make sure they know they're not dealing with just anyone. They're dealing with Lucas Tanaka, the future of soccer."

Just then, the waiter arrived with cappuccinos and carrot cake. Jimmy immediately took a slice and pushed it towards Lucas.

"Eat it, eat it! You can't make big decisions on an empty stomach."

Lucas took a small piece, still a little suspicious, but he couldn't deny that the cake was delicious. As he ate, Jimmy continued talking, detailing his experiences with other players, always with a dramatic and exaggerated tone.

"Two years ago, I worked with a boy in a similar situation. Today? he's playing in La Liga and earning three times what they initially offered. And do you know why? Because he trusted me. Lucas, I'm your ticket to stardom. Not just on the pitch, but off it too. I have lots of contacts, and in the future, when you become famous, and you will, you'll have lots of sponsors."

"Now, let's talk about values. I usually take twenty percent." Jimmy McAllister put down his fork with an unnecessary flourish, while straightening his tie as if he were about to sign a million-dollar contract. "I know what you're thinking. Twenty percent sounds like a lot, right? But let me explain it to you, kid: what you get isn't just money. It's freedom, it's control over your career. That's priceless. And frankly, I'm an investment. Bet on me and you'll see returns you can't even imagine right now."

Lucas leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.

Jimmy was unlike anyone he had ever met. Charismatic, convincing, but... a little too theatrical.

"What if-" Lucas began, but Jimmy interrupted him with a broad gesture.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"No 'what ifs', Lucas. Listen, this current contract with Brighton? It's a trap disguised as an opportunity. I've seen it before. They offer you a decent sum, make you feel special, but secretly trap you. Hidden clauses, image rights? Forget it. You're selling your future for crumbs, kid."

Lucas frowned. He wasn't naïve. He was an adult in a man's body. And even he had heard stories of players trapped in unfavorable contracts, but he didn't want to believe that Brighton would do this to him. Still, Jimmy's confidence was intriguing.

"Okay. If you think you can improve the contract, fine. But how are you going to do that?"

Jimmy clapped his hands, a triumphant smile spreading across his face. "There you go! That's the right question. First, we need to understand what you want, kid. Money? Clauses? Easy transfers to European giants in the future? What drives Lucas Tanaka's heart?"

Lucas hesitated. He wasn't the player obsessed with money, but he wanted security for his family and the freedom to grow as an athlete. Naturally, he knew that if he went to a big club in Europe, he would get money. However, before leaving Brighton or turning professional, he wanted a title with his current teammates.

"I want a fair contract. Something that shows that Brighton trust me, but that also allows me to grow. I don't want to be stuck, you know? I want the chance to go further the moment I'm ready for it."

Jimmy nodded vigorously. "Fair enough! Fair! You want respect and freedom. That's what I'm talking about. Now, listen: I know the tricks. They'll try to convince you they're doing what's best for you. But I'm going to turn this contract into something you'll be proud to sign. Trust me."

Lucas tried not to roll his eyes, but Jimmy's extravagance was wearing him down. "What about your commission? You mentioned twenty percent. That's... high, don't you think?"

Jimmy put a hand to his chest, as if offended. "High? High? Lucas, we're talking about a premium service here! Twenty percent isn't just about money. It's about opening doors, making sure you never worry about the boring details of bureaucracy. I take care of all that, while you do what you do best: shine on the pitch. And hey, if that bothers you, we can renegotiate in the future. I'm a flexible man!"

"No. Let's negotiate now. If you've come all the way from London and you're here, that means you have expectations of me." I put both hands on the table and interlocked my fingers. "Five percent is a fair amount."

"FIVE PERCENT?!" Jimmy exclaimed loudly, drawing the attention of the other customers.

"Shhhh! All right... Eight percent, but only of the transfer commission and gloves, not the salary."

Jimmy leaned forward a little and looked Lucas in the eye. "Fifteen percent."

"Ten percent and in the future we can renegotiate to increase by five for each contract."

Jimmy smiled broadly and held out his hand. "That's how it's done, kid! A true professional. Leave it to me. I'll analyze the contract, adjust every detail and come back to you with the best possible offer. And maybe even convince Brighton to give you a bonus just for the hard work you're doing."

They shook hands, and Jimmy immediately stood up, grabbing his phone as if he was about to save the world. "I'm going to start right now! Ah, but first... take this card. My number's on there. Call me if you need anything. And when I say anything, I mean anything at all. Do you need tickets for a match? A nice restaurant to impress someone special? Jimmy McAllister's the man."

Explore new worlds at empire

Lucas took the card and looked at it for a moment. Gold lettering displayed Jimmy's name, and a pompous slogan appeared underneath.

"Turning dreams into reality since 2010."

When Jimmy left the coffee, gesturing animatedly to someone on the phone, Lucas was alone for a moment. He still didn't know if trusting Jimmy was the right decision, but something told him that, whatever happened, Jimmy didn't seem like the kind of man who likes to waste time or money.