Chapter Summaries

Maël improved his Curled Shot and coordination while helping Sheffield United defeat Coventry 2–0. He ended the chapter with coordination at lv3 and planned to raise his speed and Curled Shot next.

• Maël raised Curled Shot to lv2 and set a goal of reaching lv3 before returning to the Premier League.
• Maël scored a long-range goal to secure Sheffield United’s 2–0 victory over Coventry.
• Gareth Speed praised Maël’s form after his ninth league goal and predicted he would win Monthly Best again.
• Maël raised his coordination skill, Flexibility, to lv3 after training with resistance bands and anti-slip mats.
• Maël decided to focus next on improving his speed and Curled Shot.

Maël and Sheffield United collected awards and continued their strong Championship form, with Maël assisting a last-minute equalizer against Leicester City. After being rested for a goalless draw against Millwall, Maël reached Speed Lv3 and discovered a major increase in his explosive acceleration.

• Maël and Gareth Speed received the Championship Player and Manager of the Month awards, then Sheffield United beat Ipswich 2–0 with goals from Evans and Quinn.
• Andy King put Leicester City ahead, Maël equalized before halftime, and Gilbert scored in stoppage time from Maël’s cross to earn Sheffield United a 2–2 draw and Maël his tenth assist.
• Gareth Speed rested six players for Sheffield United’s away match against Millwall, which ended in a 0–0 draw.
• Maël completed muscle reaction training and unlocked Explosion Lv3, significantly improving his speed over the first thirty meters.

Maël tested his speed against Sheffield United’s fastest player and showed how much his abilities had improved, while Chelsea and Manchester United coaches took notice of his talent. After raising his Curved Shot skill to level 3, he was left longing to return to Arsenal and play at Emirates Stadium.

• Maël used explosive dribbles to beat defenders in training, then raced Lotton and narrowly proved he was faster.
• At Chelsea, Ancelotti studied a scout’s report and video of Maël, then decided to assess him and explore a possible move.
• A Manchester United assistant coach gave Ferguson a report on Maël, prompting Ferguson to consider trying to poach him from Wenger.
• Maël scored repeated curled shots past Gilbert and raised his Curved Shot skill to level 3.
• Maël told Gilbert he could not decide whether to return, then gazed toward London and admitted he wanted to play at Emirates Stadium.

Maël reflected on his and Gilbert’s progress and chose to train short passing alongside his other skills as he prepared for the Premier League. He then scored a curled shot against Crystal Palace, completing his first league double-double with ten goals and ten assists.

• Gilbert and Maël reminisced about London and acknowledged how far they had come, while Maël resolved to keep improving his skills.
• Maël trained short passing until his Skill Panel revealed Instep Pass lv2, which he attributed to the ability he already had in this body.
• Sheffield United hosted Crystal Palace, and Maël cut inside past Zaha before his curled shot was tipped wide by the goalkeeper.
• Evans scored in the 39th minute to put Sheffield United ahead.
• Maël beat Klein with stepovers and scored a curled shot in the 43rd minute, reaching ten goals and ten assists in the league.

Maël scored and assisted in Sheffield United’s 3–0 win over Crystal Palace, confirming his remarkable Championship form. As rival clubs showed interest and Chelsea offered £12 million, Wenger decided to accelerate Arsenal’s contract talks and promised Maël a winter recall and playing time.

• Maël scored with a curled shot before halftime, then beat Klein and Zaha after the break to set up Janu Hans’s goal for a 3–0 lead.
• Gareth Speed substituted Zaha and later took Maël off to rest; Maël and Speed agreed to bet £500 on whether Maël would top both Championship charts.
• At Colney Training Base, Wenger said he planned to recall Maël in the winter and give him regular chances to play for Arsenal.
• Wenger and the coaching staff reviewed inquiries from several clubs, and Philip revealed that Chelsea had offered £12 million for Maël.
• Wenger raised Arsenal’s proposed wage to £40,000 a week, set a £55 million release clause, and ordered the club to sign Maël immediately while promising him playing time.

Sheffield United lost 3–2 away to Bristol City after Ward was sent off early, despite Maël scoring twice to keep the ten-man side in contention. On the bus home, Gareth Speed revealed that the Football Association of Wales had invited him to take charge, and admitted his decision was complicated by Maël.

• Ward was sent off in the 11th minute, and Pitman scored Bristol City's penalty to put Sheffield United behind.
• Maël dribbled past defenders and scored to equalize, but Pitman and Jamie McAllister later gave Bristol City a 3–1 lead.
• Maël scored again with a long-range shot in stoppage time, but Bristol City held on for a 3–2 victory.
• Maël reflected on his November record of three goals and three assists across four appearances, while Gareth Speed noted that he had reached twelve goals.
• Gareth Speed told Maël that the Football Association of Wales had invited him to coach there and that Maël was part of what made him hesitate.

Gareth Speed urged Maël to stay at Sheffield United, warning that the team’s hopes depended on him, while Maël considered his future and sought professional representation. Maël met Jorge Mendes, agreed to let him represent him, and secured a minimum 15% commission on future endorsement fees as they prepared to negotiate his contract.

• Gareth Speed told Maël that Arsenal would likely recall him midseason and said he might leave Sheffield United if Maël departed, urging him to stay and pursue promotion and individual honors.
• Maël decided he needed an agent to manage his contract and income, then arranged to meet Jorge Mendes on December 8.
• Maël tracked his training progress and ambitions in diary entries, noting that his crossing skill was nearing Level 4 and that he hoped to develop a Level 5 technical skill.
• Maël met Jorge Mendes and Pepino at a restaurant and explained that he wanted help increasing his income, solving problems, and building his profile.
• Mendes estimated he could negotiate a four-year contract with a £40 million release clause, a £700,000–£800,000 signing fee, and a weekly salary of £40,000–£48,000.
• Maël accepted Mendes as his representative and negotiated the endorsement commission down to the minimum 15%.

Maël signed an agent contract with Mendes after weighing whether to return to Arsenal or stay at Sheffield United and pursue promotion. In Sheffield United’s match against Barnsley, Maël helped turn the score around and gained a new skill that improved his awareness and ability to read the game.

• Mendes advised Maël that returning to Arsenal offered greater attention, while staying at Sheffield United and winning individual honors alongside promotion could bring greater rewards; Maël chose to try and signed with Mendes.
• Sheffield United visited Barnsley, where Colace scored first before Maël’s free kick set up Gilbert to equalize and his cross helped Evans put Sheffield United ahead 2–1.
• Barnsley’s Trippier repeatedly fouled Maël, and Lotton scored after a deflection to extend Sheffield United’s lead to 3–1.
• Maël’s Judgment of Situation skill advanced to level three, improving his observation, game-reading, and ability to notice spaces, runs, and opponents’ emotions.
• After play resumed, Maël used his clearer awareness as he continued pursuing goals and assists and aiming for Mid-Season Best.

Maël helped Sheffield United beat Barnsley 4–1, drawing three yellow cards and a red card, scoring once and assisting twice. After the match, Alan Shearer learned about Maël’s age and remarkable Championship record during a BBC program and was left stunned.

• Barnsley's manager moved Shackell onto Maël’s flank, but Shackell fouled Maël and received a yellow card.
• Maël broke through Barnsley’s defensive line after a pass from Janu Hans, and Trippier’s sliding tackle earned him a second yellow card and a red.
• Maël scored directly from the resulting free kick as Trippier left the pitch in shock.
• British media reported Maël’s 26 goal contributions in 20 league rounds, drawing new attention from football fans.
• On Lineker’s BBC program, Alan Shearer learned Maël was 17, had attracted major-club interest, and was reportedly valued at over ten million pounds.

Clermont’s family prepared a surprise trip to Sheffield to watch Maël play, while Maël scored in Sheffield United’s 4–2 loss to Norwich. After the defeat, Maël reassured Gareth Speed that he remained committed to the team’s season-long goals.

• Clermont told Betty and the children that he had booked their trip to Sheffield for Christmas so they could surprise Maël after a match.
• Clermont used money Maël had sent home to plan new clothes for the family before their trip.
• Maël posted a match-day selfie on Facebook, then put his phone away after fans criticized his posts and asked for football content.
• Maël scored a rebound goal, but Norwich beat Sheffield United 4–2 as Hoolahan scored a hat-trick.
• Gareth Speed worried the loss might discourage Maël, who told him he would keep fighting and focus on the team’s success over the whole season.

Maël improved his Instep Pass and helped Sheffield United secure a home win over Swansea before meeting physiotherapist Harry to discuss managing his heavy training load. He hired Harry and Harry’s nutritionist sister on a two-month trial, beginning to build his own support team.

• Maël’s Instep Pass reached lv3, and he resolved to train his Weak Foot after raising Cross to lv4.
• Maël’s long shot forced Swansea’s goalkeeper to spill the ball, allowing Bologanovic to score the winning goal in Sheffield United’s 1–0 victory.
• Gareth Speed substituted Maël at halftime to preserve his strength for the Boxing Day Battle, and Maël accepted the decision.
• Maël met Harry through Evans and explained his demanding schedule of four to six hours of extra training each day.
• Harry recommended that Maël hire him for recovery and injury prevention and his sister for nutrition, quoting a combined weekly salary of £3,500.
• Maël agreed to hire both of them at full salary for a two-month trial, with the possibility of future raises.

Clermont's family arrived in Sheffield for Maël's Boxing Day match and discovered how famous and beloved he had become. They checked into a hotel, planning to surprise him at the game, though they still needed to sort out tickets.

• Clermont's family rode through Sheffield's Christmas-decorated streets and saw Maël featured prominently on posters and player displays.
• Clermont and his family were amazed by the crowds around Maël's cutout and by how widely Sheffield residents celebrated him.
• The taxi driver realized Clermont was Maël's uncle, offered to show the family around, and warned that match tickets had likely sold out.
• Clermont's family declined the driver's tour, and he drove them to a hotel without charging the fare, asking instead to take a photo with them.
• The driver gave Ava the twenty-pound tip as a Christmas gift and thanked the family for raising Maël before Clermont took everyone into the hotel.

On Christmas Eve, Maël trained until he unlocked his second lv4 skill, then celebrated with his Sheffield United teammates and promised to stay through the season. After learning that his family had arrived without tickets for the Boxing Day Battle, he arranged for them to watch from club owner McCabe’s private box.

• Maël stayed behind to practice crosses and raised Arc Guiding to lv4, greatly improving his control over where the ball landed.
• Maël joined his teammates for a Christmas Eve barbecue, where he assured them he would not return to Arsenal and would see out his contract.
• Maël went home with Gilbert after dinner, then learned from his uncle Clermont that his family had arrived but could not get match tickets.
• Maël called Joelson, who secured an invitation for Maël’s family to watch the Boxing Day Battle from McCabe’s private box.

Maël reunited with his uncle, aunt, and siblings for Christmas, then prepared for Sheffield United’s Boxing Day match against Hull City. As the match day crowd gathered at Bramall Lane, his family arrived at the stadium and were welcomed into a private box by club owner McCabe.

• Maël visited his family at their hotel, greeted them warmly, and took them to an expensive restaurant for Christmas dinner.
• Maël promised his family a surprise for the next day and left to prepare for the Boxing Day match.
• Sheffield United and Hull City fans gathered outside Bramall Lane, chanting and confronting one another as mounted police patrolled between them.
• A driver brought Clermont, Betty, Maqi, Bruno, and Ava into the stadium and led them to a private box with a panoramic view of the pitch.
• McCabe introduced himself to Maël’s family, welcomed them on behalf of Sheffield United, and offered them food and drinks.

McCabe tried to persuade Maël’s family to encourage him to stay at Sheffield United by promising a six-million-pound team promotion bonus and about 1.5 million pounds in bonuses for Maël. Sheffield United took an early lead when Maël’s precise cross set up Gilbert’s diving header, and his family celebrated from the private box.

• McCabe told Clermont’s family he planned to offer Sheffield United a six-million-pound promotion bonus and arrange around 1.5 million pounds in bonus clauses for Maël.
• The referee started the match, and Hull City pressed aggressively while leaving space behind their defense.
• After Lotton intercepted Hull City’s attack, Maël broke forward and sent a 45-degree pass into the penalty area.
• Gilbert met Maël’s cross with a diving header and gave Sheffield United the lead.
• Maël and Gilbert celebrated with the supporters, while Maël’s family cheered from the private box.

Sheffield United and Hull City traded goals in a fiery match, with Hull City taking a 2–1 lead before Evans equalized in the 73rd minute. Maël backed Evans after Hull City’s goalkeeper taunted him and prepared to restart the match in anger.

• Hull City’s Simpson won a disputed penalty after going down in the box, then scored to equalize before halftime.
• Simpson scored again just after the second-half kickoff, giving Hull City a 2–1 lead.
• Maël reflected on whether he would ever compromise his principles to win, then resolved to improve and help his team through his own ability.
• Evans scored from close range in the 73rd minute to make it 2–2 and hurried to retrieve the ball for a quick restart.
• Mannone blocked Evans and taunted him, but Maël shoved the goalkeeper aside, picked up the ball, and told him to keep his promise.

Sheffield United pressed for a late winner, and Maël scored with a curling shot to put them 3–2 ahead of Hull City. The stadium celebrated wildly as Maël’s family and McCabe reflected on how fully he had won over the club’s fans.

• Gareth Speed replaced Gilbert and Janu Hans with Montgomery and Mark Yates in the 78th minute to strengthen Sheffield United’s attack.
• Maël cut inside from the left and curled a shot toward the far corner, beating Mannone despite the goalkeeper brushing the ball with his fingertips.
• Maël taunted Mannone after scoring, while Evans joined him in celebrating Sheffield United’s 3–2 lead.
• Gareth Speed and the substitutes celebrated with the fans as Maël and Evans slid along the touchline.
• McCabe opened the box’s sliding door so Maël’s family could hear the crowd, then told them Maël had become the king of Sheffield and his team.

Maël scored a decisive late goal as Sheffield United beat Hull City 4–2, then celebrated with his family and received the Championship Mid-Season Best player award. The chapter ended with Maël at a packed media event, reflecting on how far he had come.

• Gareth Speed sent Sheffield United into a deep defensive formation, and the team repelled Hull City's late attacks.
• Robert launched a long pass to Maël, who used a feint and Step-Over Dribbling to beat Mannone and score into an open goal, making it 4–2.
• Maël celebrated by mimicking Simpson's dart gesture and adding an exaggerated javelin throw before the referee ended the match.
• Sheffield United celebrated the victory, and Maël greeted McCabe and reunited with Clermont, Betty, Maqi, Bruno, and Ava.
• At the media event, Maël received the match ball and best-player trophy, then accepted the Championship Mid-Season Best award from The FA.

After winning the Championship Mid-Season Best award, Maël spoke publicly about his ambitions and drew widespread attention. At Arsenal, Wenger decided not to recall him in the winter window, and Mendes and the club began negotiating the terms of his future.

• Maël accepted congratulations in interviews, called the award an important milestone, and said he hoped to win promotion with Sheffield United and earn the season’s honors.
• News outlets publicized Maël’s 15 goals and 14 assists in 23 matches, while fans began following and praising the previously little-known seventeen-year-old.
• Hans traveled to meet Wenger before Arsenal’s negotiations with Mendes and was told to speak only when asked about Maël’s time in the Youth Academy.
• Mendes argued that Maël’s rising value justified better terms and said he would seek a guarantee of 50% playing time if Arsenal wanted Maël back in January.
• Wenger weighed Maël’s promise against Arsenal’s need for stability and a top-four finish, then decided the club would not recall him in the winter window.
• Mendes agreed with Wenger’s decision, and the two shook hands before turning to the contract negotiations.

Mendes and Mr. Wenger finalized the terms of Maël’s four-year contract extension, including his release clause, salary, signing fee, and generous bonuses. After Maël helped Sheffield United beat Burnley, he said goodbye to his family as they left for home.

• Mendes negotiated a £60 million release clause, £52,000 weekly wages, a £750,000 signing fee, and extensive bonuses for Maël, and he and Mr. Wenger agreed to the terms.
• On January 1, Sheffield United beat Burnley 3–1, with Evans scoring twice and Maël scoring his 16th league goal with a long-range shot.
• Maël took his family shopping in Sheffield and bought them gifts before driving them to Manchester International Airport.
• At the airport, Maël’s family tearfully said goodbye, and Betty urged him to keep working hard and become an outstanding player.