Become A Football Legend-Chapter 213: Meet up

He paused just long enough to let the weight of his next words settle.

"Manchester City would like to sign Lukas Brandt."

The room seemed to quiet around them. Lena’s coffee, forgotten now, cooled somewhere far away. She felt the shift immediately—not just a request, but an expectation. This wasn’t casual interest or distant admiration. This was intent.

Txiki leaned forward slightly, hands clasped.

"We believe Lukas is a generational player. And we believe relationships matter just as much as contracts. You understand him. You understand how he thinks, how he reacts, what matters to him."

Markus watched Lena carefully, saying nothing.

"I want you," Txiki continued, "to help us make him see Manchester City as the right next step—when the time comes."

Not if.

When.

The implication hung in the air, heavy and unmistakable.

She hesitated for a fraction of a second, then straightened slightly in her chair.

"I’m really not that close to Lukas," Lena said carefully, choosing her words with the kind of professionalism that had kept her moving up inside Puma. "We worked together during his contract phase and the ad shoot, yes — but only in that capacity. Since then, the only contact I’ve had was sending him performance updates when the campaign hit certain milestones, exactly as outlined in the agreement. That’s it. I don’t have any kind of personal relationship with him."

Txiki listened without interrupting, hands folded calmly on the table, his expression unreadable but intent.

"That’s perfectly fine," he replied once she finished. "I don’t need anything beyond an introduction. One conversation. Ideally with his father, Javi. After that, I’ll take responsibility for everything myself."

Lena leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing in thought. She hadn’t expected that, she had assumed he’d want far more leverage, far more access. This was... restrained. Calculated.

"I can try," she said at last. "I can reach out to Javi and see if he’d be open to a dinner. But I need to be very clear, I can’t promise anything. He’s extremely protective, and Lukas’s schedule is... intense."

"That’s all I’m asking," Txiki said with a small nod. "An attempt. No pressure."

She stood, already mentally reorganizing her morning, and gave Markus a brief look. "I’ll let you know what he says."

After she left the office and the door closed softly behind her, Markus turned toward Txiki, folding his arms.

"I’m not surprised City are going after Lukas," he said honestly. "Everyone is watching him. What surprises me is how much effort you’re putting into this personally."

Txiki exhaled through his nose, something between a sigh and a smile.

"This isn’t just another signing," he said. "This is generational. We’ve secured Haaland long-term. If we add someone like Lukas, someone who can define the next decade, we’re not just building a team. We’re building continuity." He paused, gaze drifting for a moment. "And since this is my last season at the club... I intend to leave something that lasts."

* * *

At the same time in Darmstadt, sunlight filtered through tall windows into a large lecture hall. On the board, written in clean, deliberate strokes, were the words:

Physics II: Electromagnetism

Javi stood at the front, jacket off, sleeves rolled up, explaining Coulomb’s Law with steady confidence, chalk tapping lightly as he emphasized the equation. The room was quiet, attentive — until the vibration of his phone against the desk cut through the silence.

He glanced down.

Frau Merter: Puma Rep.

Javi frowned slightly, then looked back at the students. "Excuse me for a moment," he said, already stepping away. He walked out into the hallway, the door closing behind him, and answered the call.

Javi stepped into the quiet hallway and answered the call, lowering his voice.

"Hello, Mrs. Merter."

There was a brief pause on the other end, then a small laugh.

"Javi, please — Lena," she said. "We’ve worked together long enough. You don’t need to be that formal with me."

"Ah... sorry. Habit," Javi replied, smiling despite himself. "How can I help, Lena?" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"I wanted to ask if you might be available for dinner sometime soon," she said carefully.

Javi blinked, caught off guard. "Dinner? Lena, I should probably say this immediately... I’m engaged."

She laughed again, quicker this time. "Oh—no, no, not like that. I’m married. Two kids. Very happily," she added, as if to make sure there was no lingering confusion.

Javi exhaled, a little embarrassed. "Right. Sorry. Then... what’s the dinner about?"

"It’s about Lukas," Lena said, her tone shifting into something more professional. "Someone would like to meet you to talk about his career. Nothing urgent, and nothing I can divulge for now — but it’s important enough that I wanted to ask you directly."

Javi leaned against the wall, eyes narrowing slightly in thought. "Is there a problem?"

"No," she said quickly. "Not at all. Just a conversation."

He was silent for a moment, weighing it. "Alright. I could make time. When were you thinking?"

"Tomorrow evening, if that works? Saturday."

"That should be fine," Javi said. "But Lukas won’t be able to attend. He has a match on Sunday and needs rest."

"That’s completely understood," Lena replied. "The invitation is for you. We’ll come to Frankfurt so you don’t have to travel."

"Okay," Javi said. "Send me the details when you have them."

"I will," she said. "Thank you, Javi. I appreciate it."

They hung up, and Javi stood there for a second longer than necessary, phone still in his hand, before typing out a short message and slipping the device back into his pocket. Then he turned and headed back into the lecture hall, Coulomb’s law waiting patiently on the board.

* * *

The next night.

The private dining room was quiet in the way only very expensive places ever were — thick carpet swallowing footsteps, soft lighting that made the silverware gleam without blinding, the low hum of the city outside reduced to something distant and harmless.

Javi arrived a few minutes early. When he opened the door, Lena was already inside, seated neatly at the table, and beside her sat a man he recognized instantly even without the introduction.

They stood.

"Mr. Brandt," Lena said warmly, offering her hand. "Thank you so much for coming."

"Of course," Javi replied, shaking it. Then he turned to the other man.

"Mr. Brandt," the man said, his tone calm, measured, professional. "Txiki Begiristain. Thank you for agreeing to meet."

"Mr. Begiristain," Javi replied, returning the handshake. Formal. Respectful. Guarded.

They took their seats as the first courses began to arrive — carefully plated seafood, followed by cuts of steak that had clearly been discussed at length somewhere between a chef and a supplier. Javi listened more than he spoke at first, breaking open a crab leg methodically, letting the silence stretch when it wanted to.

Txiki spoke with the confidence of someone who had done this many times before.

He talked about belief. About long-term planning. About how Manchester City saw Lukas not as a short-term asset, but as a pillar — someone to be built around, protected, developed carefully.

He mentioned infrastructure, support systems, a dedicated team to ease any transition. Housing. Education. Security. Even mundane details like transportation, all presented as assurances rather than incentives.

"If your family wished to relocate," Txiki added calmly, "we would make that process as smooth as possible. Nothing would be left to chance."

Javi nodded politely, still eating, still listening. He let Txiki finish without interruption, wiping his hands slowly with the napkin before finally setting it down.

Then he looked up.

"Mr. Begiristain," Javi said evenly, "I appreciate the clarity. And the respect you’ve shown in laying everything out so openly."