Football singularity

Chapter 746 Sponsor

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[2021-04-25 | Amian Cars Exclusive Cars, Leverkusen | 13:00 CET]

Ben Schumacher still couldn’t believe his luck as he watched the mint green i8 leave the parking lot from the entrance. He had somehow managed to sell 3 cars with a potential fourth if he played his cards right. No, the fourth one could potentially change the trajectory of his life, especially if he wanted to do this long-term while he got his master’s in engineering.

[10 minutes ago]

"Congratulations, you are now the proud owner of a 2020 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S," Bennet said proudly, tucking away the $200,000 contract with all the customisation add-ons to be done in the car. "I will reach out to the Mercedes-HQ, then we will reach out to you or your agent to coordinate some of their extra perk offerings. They will most likely add you to their VIP list, giving you first looks at new releases."

"Thank you," Wirtz shook his hand with a bright smile, not at all bothered at having spent three weeks of his salary. "I’m free these days, so I’ll have plenty of time to deal with them."

"Miss Aaliyah, the baby blue 2020 Range Rover should be delivered in roughly a week," Bennet explained, tucking away the three-month financing contract. "We just happened to have a customer cancel the same model, so it shouldn’t be too much trouble for the customer to be done at the regional HQ."

"Thank you," she said with a light smile, eyes slightly dazed, not believing she was actually doing this.

"Finally, Miss May, are you happy with the 2019 Montego blue Porsche Cayenne?" He asked the woman who had analysed all the options, choosing all the add-ons she wanted. "It will also take around two weeks for the model to be delivered to your home."

"Yes, thank you so much, Bennet," May said, extending her hand for a final handshake. "You’ve been incredibly helpful."

"No worries, I’ve earned a hefty commission from this," Ennet said, shaking her hand firmly. "And please, don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions during the delivery process."

He made sure the three understood all the after-sales services they offered, and since he was the sales point, he would be the contact point. That meant whenever they wanted to buy a new car, have it serviced, modified, etc., he would earn. Best of all, at a high-end dealership like AC, each salesperson’s clients were private, and other dealers were unable to contact them once the contract was signed.

This practically guaranteed his job since the CEO would be insane to fire the person who has Rakim Rex and Florian Wirtz as clients. Celebrity clients are the kings of the dealership, simply because they have the money to buy the rare cars they offer. Smiling at concluding the deal, he saw them off with a bright smile, answering all their questions, hoping they wouldn’t have a sudden change of mind, and this 1/4 mill deal could be concluded safely.

However, just as the group reached their car, Rakim suddenly came running towards him. "Have you changed your mind and decided to make a purchase?" he carefully asked with a professional smile.

"No, not yet," He said with a smile, handing him a business card. "You guys have contact with various car brands HQ’s, right?"

"Yes," he subconciosly nodded his head, not quite understanding what he was getting at. "We are one of the premier spots in Cologne, and we deal with the head offices directly when sourcing cars."

"That’s good," He nodded with a smile, eyes lighting up as if he saw the possibility of his idea becoming a reality. "Connect me with the people from Mercedes and Porsche and tell them I’m open to an official car sponsorship. I don’t expect anything, but it might go well."

"Uh-hu" He subconsioly nodded, not quite sure why he was asked to do this, and before he could even respond, Rakim had returned to the car. It was the roar of the hybrid engine that woke him up from his daze, and his brain immediately went into overdrive at the possibilities.

~~~

[2021-04-27 | Paris international airport | 09:05 CET]

Camera flashes greeted the Leverkusen contingent as they exited the airport terminal and headed for the waiting team bus. Fans of the team who lived in the city greeted them excitedly, with only a few making the trip over. Despite relaxed regulations, travel remained difficult, with many travellers stuck in airport quarantine due to differing regulations across countries.

"RAKIM! RAKIM!" a teenage boy shouted in German-accented English, holding up a homemade banner that read: **RAKIM THE DREAM**.

Rakim spotted him, smiled, and jogged over quickly. He signed the banner with a borrowed pen, took a quick selfie with the kid, then moved down the line, shaking hands and signing whatever was thrust at him—shirts, flags, even someone’s phone case. The other players did the same as they slowly moved down the line toward the waiting bus.

"Keep it moving, guy," A trainer called from near the bus. "We’ve got a schedule."

"Two sec," Rakim called back, finishing up with a young girl who looked no older than ten. She handed him a drawing of him standing on the pitch-side billboards, arms stretched to the sky, celebrating in front of cheering fans. "NUMMER 22 and Rex." Written on the back of his kit, and she had even included his dyed dreadlocks flowing in the air.

"This is beautiful," Rakim said genuinely, crouching down to her level. "What’s your name?"

"Leona," she said shyly in German.

"Thank you, Leona," Rakim said, carefully folding the drawing and tucking it into his bag. "I’ll keep this safe."

Her face lit up, and her father—standing behind her—mouthed *thank you* with visible emotion. He pulled out a pair of his match boots and signed them for her. "It’s not as valuable as your gift, but it’s not so bad."

"Oh, my GOD! Thank you," She exclaimed, bouncing on her feet in excitement, before proceeding to wrap her arms around his neck, pulling him into a hug. "Make sure to score tomorrow."

"I will, you can bet on that," he whispered into her ear as he got up, giving her a last fist bump before heading for the bus. Most of the squad had already boarded, with only a few stragglers remaining.

Inside the bus, the atmosphere was relaxed with each player in their own world. Bosz stood at the front of the bus, clipboard in hand, waiting for everyone to settle. When the last player—Bailey—finally boarded, the driver closed the door and pulled out of the airport pickup zone.

"Alright," Bosz said, raising his voice slightly to be heard over the low hum of conversation, only the hum of the bus pulling off being heard. "Listen up."

The bus quieted immediately. "We’re in Paris," Bosz continued. "Champions League semi-final, this is what we’ve worked for all season. PSG are a world-class team—Neymar, Mbappé, Di María, Marquinhos, Navas. They have money for sure, Saudi money to boo."

He paused as the players chuckled, whether in jest or jealousy, only they knew. "Tonight we focus on aclimation, dealing with jet lag and easing into the match day mode." Bosz continued, his voice cutting through the low hum of the bus engine. "Tomorrow morning is a light training session at the Parc des Princes—just to get a feel for the pitch.

He glanced around the bus, making eye contact with several players. "I want everyone sharp. That means proper sleep tonight, proper hydration, proper nutrition. No wandering off, no tourist nonsense. We’re not here for the Eiffel Tower—we’re here to win a football match."

As he spoke, they drove through the city that is quite literally part of modern human history. Seemingly, every great person has wanted to conquer the city, with many attempting to steal its throne. They passed by the Arc de Triomphe, fully gazing upon its grandeur, only half listening to their coach’s words.

"Can we at least see it from the hotel?" Bailey called out from the back, earning scattered laughter.

Bosz allowed himself a small smile. "If it’s visible from your room, Leon, feel free to admire it. Just don’t post about it on Instagram until after we’ve won." More laughter burst out, easing the tension on the bus slightly.

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TO BE CONTINUED...