I Am Jose-Chapter 143 - : Two Tall Lads

"Let me get straight to the point—Mallorca is very interested in your club's Daniel Van Buyten. We'd like to bring him in, and I assure you, Standard Liège won't be shortchanged in this deal. I'm here with genuine sincerity." Seated across from Dreyfus, José smiled as he laid out his intentions.

Dreyfus chuckled. "We understand that well enough. Your official letter made things very clear... but Van Buyten is a starting center-back for the Belgian national team and a highly valued player at our club. We know he wants to play in one of the top four leagues, but if the transfer fee is too low, it'll be hard for us to justify the move."

"How about $1.5 million?" José offered with a grin.

"You wound me," Dreyfus replied, clearly displeased. "Are you saying a starting defender for Belgium is only worth that much? Take a look at the European transfer market right now—where can you find a player for just $1.5 million?"

"You're right; the market is full of overpriced deals... but that only applies to players who have already proven themselves in the top leagues. More specifically, those who have made a name for themselves in La Liga or Serie A. A defender who has never played in a top league simply won't command a price beyond the million-dollar mark... Let's do this—$2 million. I doubt any club would bid higher for Van Buyten. And he's not that young anymore—if he stays in Belgium for a few more years, interest in him will only decline. Besides, joining Mallorca will give him valuable experience in the Champions League and La Liga, which will also benefit the Belgian national team." José smiled as he made his case.

"$3 million. We won't discuss anything less than that," Dreyfus said gruffly.

"$2 million." José grinned. "I can't go any higher."

...

After several rounds of haggling, Dreyfus realized he wouldn't be able to squeeze any more money out of this young negotiator. In the end, they settled on a transfer fee of $2.7 million. The next step was to negotiate with Van Buyten himself.

When José met Van Buyten, the future captain of Belgium's national team had been waiting eagerly. For Belgian players, the usual path was to establish themselves with one of the top three domestic clubs and then use their performances in European competitions to attract interest from teams in the big four leagues. After all, Belgian clubs weren't known for offering high wages—if a player wanted fame and fortune, moving abroad was the only option.

Van Buyten had no objections to joining Mallorca. Players from smaller European countries like Belgium, Eastern Europe, and Scandinavia typically started with mid-table clubs in the top leagues and worked their way up. While Mallorca wasn't a household name, their strong performances in the Cup Winners' Cup and the UEFA Cup over the past two seasons had given them some recognition in Europe. More importantly, they were set to compete in the Champions League this season, making them even more appealing.

Van Buyten wasn't handsome—far from it. He was tall, with a broad face, square jaw, and a somewhat menacing appearance. On the pitch, he was a brute—an enforcer who took no prisoners. Yet, off the field, he was surprisingly gentle, even a bit shy when speaking with José.

"A shy big guy? I like players like that."

After chatting with Van Buyten for a bit, José felt reassured about his decision. At the very least, Van Buyten seemed easygoing—if a team had too many difficult personalities, the locker room atmosphere would suffer.

"Daniel, next season we'll be playing in the Champions League and competing on three fronts, so you don't have to worry about getting minutes. I've watched a lot of your games—you're a fearless defender and a threat on set pieces. But that's not enough."

José spoke seriously. "Defensively, you can be a bit reckless and sometimes lose your positioning. But I'll pair you with a more composed center-back. Your job is simple—assert your dominance and shut down anyone who dares to challenge your space. That's your specialty, and that's what I need from you."

Van Buyten was thrilled. Instead of focusing on his weaknesses, José wanted him to maximize his strengths—something that was much easier for him to do. The fact that José had such a clear understanding of his abilities reassured him that he would be used effectively.

When it came to personal terms, Van Buyten wasn't demanding. In Belgium, he earned a shockingly low salary—about $100,000 per year. It was no wonder Belgian players were so eager to move abroad. Ultimately, he agreed to a five-year contract with Mallorca, doubling his salary to $200,000 per year—a deal he was more than satisfied with. He knew that if he performed well, bigger paychecks would soon follow.

After reminding Van Buyten to report to the club by August 1st, José left Belgium and flew to France.

Le Mans was a small city about 200 kilometers from Paris, with a population of just 140,000. Its global fame didn't come from its football team but from the annual 24 Hours of Le Mans race—considered one of the most grueling and monotonous endurance events in the world.

José had little interest in motorsports. He preferred ball games, and while he understood the appeal of racing, it simply wasn't for him.

For Didier Drogba, last season had been a nightmare. After establishing himself as a starter at Le Mans, injuries struck hard—two severe setbacks limited him to just 11 league appearances with no goals. When his team was fighting relegation, he was sidelined. By the time he recovered, Le Mans had already been relegated.

This turn of events made other Ligue 1 clubs hesitant. Guingamp had initially shown interest, but after assessing his injury history, they decided to wait and see how he performed in the new season before making a move.

Drogba wasn't happy about that. He was naturally optimistic and had never taken football too seriously. As he put it: "Before I turned 20, I was just having fun. From Abbeville to Le Mans, I traveled all over France. Even though I started playing at six, it wasn't until I was 20 that I seriously considered making a career out of football."

Thanks to his uncle, former Ivorian international Michel Goba, Drogba had a comfortable upbringing. He initially played as a right-back before transitioning to a striker. At 19, he had a trial with Paris Saint-Germain but didn't make the cut, eventually signing his first professional contract with Le Mans in Ligue 2. Over four seasons, he experienced both the joy of promotion and the heartbreak of relegation, gaining a deep understanding of football's ups and downs.

43 appearances and seven goals over four seasons—hardly an impressive record. Ligue 1 had long been a haven for African players, but in that crowd, Drogba was just another face in the crowd.

He assumed he would stay in Ligue 2 for another season. At 23, he still believed he had many years ahead of him, and despite last season's injuries, he was fully recovered and ready to prove himself again.

Then, his uncle and agent, Michel Goba, approached him with an offer.

"Didier, a La Liga club wants to sign you!"

"A La Liga club? It's not one of the newly promoted teams, is it?" Drogba asked, unimpressed.

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He liked La Liga, but if it was a relegation battle, he'd rather stay in Le Mans, where he was guaranteed playing time.

"No, it's not a promoted team! It's last season's La Liga runners-up—Real Mallorca!" Goba said excitedly.

"Uh... Uncle, April Fool's was three months ago," Drogba replied in disbelief.

"It's real!" Goba laughed. "They've already negotiated with Le Mans, and now we just need to finalize your contract. Their Ecuadorian striker, Delgado, just left for Southampton, so they need a new center-forward. And they've chosen you."

After confirming it wasn't a prank, Drogba eagerly signed a five-year contract with Mallorca, matching Van Buyten's salary at $200,000 per year.

With one towering defender and one powerful striker added to the squad, Mallorca's transfer plans were progressing smoothly. José felt more confident than ever about their upcoming Champions League campaign.