FOOTBALL! LEGENDARY PLAYER

Chapter 257: Persistent Voices


The morning call came at 6:30 AM, jolting Amani from a peaceful sleep. He had specifically chosen not to change his Dutch phone number to avoid exactly this kind of interruption, but somehow the agents kept finding ways to reach him.

"Mr. Hamadi, this is Philippe Lamboley from Stellar Group. I'm calling from Paris, and I believe we have a proposition that could change your life..."

Amani hung up without listening to the rest. It was the fourth call since arriving in Kenya three days earlier, and his patience was wearing thin. He had come home to escape the constant pressure and attention, not to deal with more business propositions.

His mother appeared in the doorway with a cup of tea and a knowing smile. "More agents?" she asked, settling into the chair beside his bed.

"They never stop," Amani sighed, accepting the tea gratefully. "Yesterday it was someone claiming to represent Barcelona. The day before, it was Manchester United. Today it's some group from Paris I've never heard of."

"What do they want?"

"The same thing they all want - to represent me, to take a percentage of my earnings, to 'maximize my potential' and 'take my career to the next level.' They all use the same phrases, make the same promises."

His mother studied him thoughtfully. "And what do you want?"

It was a question that cut to the heart of his current situation. What did he want? The obvious answer was to continue playing football at the highest level, to keep improving, to help Utrecht succeed in the Europa League. But beyond that, his goals were less clear.

"I want to keep doing what I'm doing," he said finally. "Playing for Utrecht, supporting the projects here in Kenya, building something sustainable. I don't need agents promising me moves to bigger clubs or more money. I'm happy where I am."

"For now," his mother added gently. "But you're seventeen, Amani. Your perspective might change as you get older, as new opportunities arise."

She was right, of course. The football world was unpredictable, and circumstances could change quickly. But for now, he was content with his current situation and saw no reason to complicate it with additional representation.

The phone rang again, and Amani let it go to voicemail. He would deal with the messages later, or more likely, delete them without listening. The persistence was remarkable - some agents had called multiple times, sent emails, even tried to reach him through social media. The level of effort suggested they saw significant potential value in representing him.

After breakfast, Amani decided to visit the local football academy where he had trained as a child. The facility had been upgraded significantly since his departure, partly funded by donations from supporters inspired by his success. New goals, better pitches, improved changing rooms - it was a tangible reminder of how individual success could benefit entire communities.

The young players training that morning stopped their session when they spotted him, rushing over with the kind of excitement that never failed to move him. These were kids who saw him as proof that dreams could come true, that a boy from Mombasa could compete with the best players in Europe.

"Teach us the move you used against PSV!" called out a boy who couldn't have been more than twelve years old. "The one where you went past three defenders!"

Amani spent the next hour working with the young players, sharing technical tips and tactical insights while trying to emphasize the importance of education alongside football development. It was exactly the kind of interaction that reminded him why he had fallen in love with the sport in the first place.

His phone buzzed constantly throughout the session, but he ignored it completely. Whatever the agents were offering could wait - this was more important.

During a break in the training, the academy director, Coach Mwangi, pulled him aside for a private conversation. "I've been getting calls too," he said quietly. "Agents asking about your background, your family, your early development. They're doing their research."

"What kind of questions?"

"Everything. Your personality, your work ethic, your relationship with your mother, your charitable activities. They want to understand what motivates you, what your weaknesses might be, how to approach you most effectively."

It was unsettling to learn that his privacy was being investigated so thoroughly. The idea of strangers researching his personal life and family background felt invasive and inappropriate.

"What did you tell them?"

Coach Mwangi smiled. "Nothing useful. I told them you were a good boy who worked hard and loved his mother. If they want to know more, they can watch you play football."

The conversation highlighted something Amani had been trying to ignore - the level of interest in his career was escalating rapidly. The cup final performance and Europa League qualification had elevated his profile significantly, and the football world was taking notice.

That afternoon, he received a call from Sophia in Utrecht. She had been fielding inquiries from agents as well, and her legal training made her uniquely qualified to assess their approaches.

"Some of these offers are quite substantial," she reported. "Jorge Mendes' group is offering a signing bonus of €500,000 just to join their agency, plus reduced commission rates for the first two years. CAA Sports is proposing a comprehensive package that includes marketing, endorsements, and career planning."

The numbers were staggering, but they didn't change Amani's fundamental position. "I'm not interested in changing representation," he said firmly. "You're doing an excellent job managing my affairs, and I trust you completely."

"I appreciate that," Sophia replied. "But I want you to understand what you're turning down. These agencies have connections and resources that I simply can't match. They could potentially secure opportunities that wouldn't be available otherwise."

It was a fair point that deserved serious consideration. Sophia was brilliant at financial management and legal affairs, but she wasn't a sports agent with decades of experience in football transfers and negotiations.

"What do you recommend?" Amani asked.

"I think we should at least listen to a few of the top proposals," she suggested. "Not because I want you to change representation, but because understanding the market will help us make better decisions going forward."

They agreed to schedule meetings with three of the most prestigious agencies when Amani returned to Utrecht. It would be an educational exercise rather than a genuine search for new representation, but it would provide valuable insights into the football business.

The rest of the day was spent visiting family friends and former neighbors, many of whom had followed his career closely and wanted to share their pride in his achievements. The conversations were warm and genuine, a stark contrast to the calculated approaches of the agents who kept calling.

That evening, as he sat with his mother watching the sunset from their favorite spot on the beach, Amani's phone rang once again. This time, however, the caller ID showed a number he recognized - Coach Wouters from Utrecht.

"Amani!" his coach's familiar voice was warm and enthusiastic. "How are you enjoying your holiday?"

"It's been wonderful, coach. Very peaceful, except for all the agents calling."

Wouters laughed. "I figured that might be happening. Word travels fast in football, and your performances this season have caught a lot of attention."

They talked for several minutes about the upcoming Europa League campaign, the new players Utrecht was considering, and the tactical preparations that would begin when Amani returned. It was exactly the kind of football conversation he enjoyed - focused on the game itself rather than business considerations.

"One more thing," Wouters added before ending the call. "Don't let all the agent attention go to your head. You're still a young player with a lot to learn, and Utrecht is still the best place for your development. The big clubs will always be there when you're ready."

It was sage advice from someone who genuinely cared about Amani's long-term development rather than short-term profit. The contrast with the agent calls couldn't have been more stark.

As he prepared for bed that night, Amani reflected on the day's events. The constant agent attention was flattering in some ways, but it was also a reminder of how quickly the football world could become complicated and overwhelming.

For now, he was content to ignore the calls, delete the messages, and focus on enjoying his time at home. The agents would still be there when he was ready to listen, but this month was about reconnecting with his roots and remembering what truly mattered.

The boy from Mombasa had conquered Europe, but he was still just a seventeen-year-old who needed time to be himself, away from the pressures and expectations that came with success.

Tomorrow would bring more calls, more offers, and more decisions to make. But tonight, he was home, surrounded by family and friends who loved him for who he was rather than what he could do for them.

That was worth more than any agent's commission.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.


Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter