Chapter Summaries

Maël trained his weaker foot and refined his plans while Sheffield United continued through the crowded winter schedule. After the team’s FA Cup exit, Harry and Safina began working with him, leaving him optimistic about improving his training and recovery.

• Maël assisted Evans twice as Sheffield United beat Doncaster 2–1, then rested while Sheffield United lost 4–0 to Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
• Maël learned that his new Arsenal contract would bring a major pay rise and planned to get a driver’s license after signing it.
• Maël trained his left foot until his Weak Foot skill appeared at level one, then decided to prioritize speed training over Long Shot.
• Harry rented rooms on Cherry Street and brought his sister Safina to begin their probationary work with Maël.
• Harry led Maël through recovery exercises, while Safina offered to plan his meals and shop for ingredients.

Maël received his first physiotherapy treatments, then led Sheffield United to a 4–0 win over Coventry with two goals before traveling to Arsenal’s Colney Training Base to sign his new contract. On arrival, he learned about the club’s incoming players, including the loan return of Kyle Walker.

• Maël met Harry Maguire at home and began physiotherapy massages with Harry, who identified areas strained by long-term exertion.
• Maël scored twice against Coventry as Sheffield United won 4–0 away, with Quinn and Ched Evans also scoring.
• Maël celebrated his final match on a £10,000 weekly wage before heading to Colney Training Base with Gilbert and Joelson.
• Joelson showed Maël and Gilbert the list of five new players, including Kyle Walker, who had returned to Sheffield United on loan from Tottenham.
• Maël, Gilbert, and Joelson arrived at Colney Training Base for Maël to sign his new Arsenal contract.

Maël returned to Arsenal, reunited with the U18 players and Hans, then met Wenger and officially signed his new contract. After parting from Wenger, Maël returned to Sheffield determined to finish the season strongly and meet him again in greater glory.

• Gilbert and Maël arrived at Colney Training Base, where the Arsenal youth players welcomed them, though many struggled to speak comfortably with Maël after his rise to fame.
• Maël reunited with Hans, learned that Ian had joined an EFL League One club, and signed the old boots Hans had kept as a memento.
• Wenger waited for Maël, welcomed him, and spoke with him about football and life as they walked to the Media Room.
• Maël and Wenger signed the contracts before the cameras, officially completing Maël's new Arsenal deal and posing with an unnumbered shirt.
• Wenger wished Maël luck for the rest of the season, and Maël promised to await his visit in Sheffield City.

Maël returned to Sheffield United’s training base, then scored a late winner against Norwich to secure revenge and three points. During the team’s rest period, Safina imposed a strict nutrition plan on Maël and Gilbert, while Maël declared that he wanted to win the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or.

• Maël and Gilbert said goodbye to Coach Hans and the U18 players, who wished them luck as they left the training base.
• On January 22, Sheffield United faced second-placed Norwich, and both teams kept the score level through most of the match despite Maël’s dangerous shots.
• In the final minutes, Kyle Walker crossed, Gilbert controlled the ball and passed sideways, and Maël scored the winning goal with a powerful shot.
• Maël celebrated with his teammates as Sheffield United beat Norwich 1–0 and claimed three crucial points.
• During Sheffield United’s break, Safina planned Maël’s meals and removed the sugary drinks from his fridge, warning Gilbert not to buy more.
• Maël told Gilbert that their sacrifices might be worth it if they won the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or, and Safina said she believed Maël could achieve both.

Maël intensified his training, upgraded Curved Shot to level four, and discovered that his Stamina skill had appeared at level two. McCabe offered him a two-million-pound bonus contract, which Maël signed, and he went home pleased after checking that the first payment had reached his account.

• Maël increased his Curved Shot drills and upgraded Curved Blade to level four, greatly boosting the power of his curved shots.
• Maël discovered that Stamina had appeared at level two and decided to improve it naturally rather than add strenuous fitness training during the season.
• McCabe called Maël and offered him a two-million-pound bonus contract, explaining that the club valued him especially highly.
• Maël reviewed the contract’s goal-contribution and promotion bonuses, then signed it after assuring McCabe he would help the team succeed.
• Maël checked his bank balance at a 24-hour ATM and saw that the club had already paid him.

Sheffield United beat Leicester City 5–1 after Maël Brace scored twice and helped inspire a late surge. After the transfer window closed without Maël returning to Arsenal, rival Championship stars Sean Long, Taarabt, and Graham reacted with anxiety and frustration.

• Andy King scored from a corner for Leicester City, but Evans equalized for Sheffield United after Maël crossed from the wing.
• Ward put Sheffield United ahead with a volley assisted by Kyle Walker, and Maël scored twice with curled shots to extend the lead.
• Steven scored Sheffield United's fifth goal in stoppage time, completing a 5–1 victory over Leicester City.
• The winter transfer window closed without Maël leaving Sheffield United, and Sean Long was disappointed to learn he remained in the Championship.
• Taarabt became angry when he heard Maël had stayed, while Watford's Graham panicked after seeing Maël's season tally had passed 20 goals.

Maël scored twice in Sheffield United’s 2–0 win over Millwall and rose to the top of the Championship scoring and assists tables. Before the second half, he learned he had reached the scoring summit and made a new £500 bet with Gareth Speed on whether he would score a hat-trick.

• Ipswich beat Sheffield United 2–1, with Maël scoring their lone goal after Janu Hans and Bologanovic missed the match through injury and fatigue.
• Sheffield United’s away fans encouraged the players after the defeat, and Maël resolved to use the setback as motivation.
• Maël discussed hiring a private doctor and buying recovery equipment with Harry as he prepared for a packed February schedule.
• Sheffield United hosted Millwall, and Maël scored a powerful long-range goal after Evans’s attack had been stopped.
• Maël scored again from more than 40 yards to give Sheffield United a 2–0 lead, then learned he had reached 24 league goals and the top of the scoring and assists tables.
• Before the second half, Maël reminded Gareth Speed about a £500 debt, and the two bet another £500 on whether Maël would score a hat-trick.

Maël scored a hat-trick in Sheffield United’s 4–1 win over Millwall, strengthening the club’s play-off prospects and putting him atop both league charts. As comparisons with Ronaldo spread, Graham saw his top-scorer lead disappear and lost his temper after Watford’s match.

• McCabe’s family watched Sheffield United take a 3–0 lead, and Isabella asked her father to help her meet Maël.
• Evans passed to Maël for an open-goal finish, completing Maël’s second hat-trick and securing a 4–1 victory.
• Gareth Speed urged Sheffield United to target eighty points and secure a play-off place, while Maël said he believed the team could win the league.
• News outlets praised Maël’s record-breaking goals and assists, and fans argued over comparisons between him and Ronaldo.
• Graham realized Maël had overtaken him in the scoring charts and, after being substituted with leg cramps, kicked over a trash can and threw his phone against the wall.

Maël and Mendes discussed endorsement deals and plans for Maël’s medical care and social media before Sheffield United drew 2–2 with Reading, with Maël scoring the equalizer. Arsenal then beat Barcelona, but Wenger’s celebration gave way to anger and disappointment when Fabregas delayed joining the team in the dressing room.

• Mendes brought Maël two one-year endorsement offers and planned to negotiate their combined value up to about £500,000.
• Mendes advised Maël to manage his own Facebook account while the agency handled his other social media, and suggested he contact Instagram about a possible partnership.
• Sheffield United faced Reading, and Sean Long scored before Mark Yates equalized from Maël’s assist.
• Reading took a 2–1 lead, but Maël scored in the 69th minute to secure a 2–2 draw.
• Arsenal celebrated a home victory over Barcelona, while Fabregas exchanged discreet signals with Pique and Xavi and delayed returning to the dressing room.
• Wenger waited silently with the Arsenal squad for Fabregas, then struggled to speak after Fabregas claimed he had gone to the toilet.

Maël improved his weak foot and led Sheffield United to wins over Crystal Palace and Scunthorpe, where Harry Maguire scored the decisive goal on his professional debut. Meanwhile, Arsenal drew with Leyton Orient and then lost the EFL Cup final to Birmingham, leaving Wenger devastated.

• Maël raised his Weak Foot skill to lv2, increased its training priority, and learned that Mendes had negotiated £650,000 in endorsement deals.
• Sheffield United beat Crystal Palace 2-0 as Maël crossed for Bologanovic to score on his return and Quinn struck a long-range goal.
• Leyton Orient equalized against Arsenal in the 89th minute, forcing an FA Cup replay and leaving Wenger exhausted.
• Maël scored against Scunthorpe, then assisted Ched Evans and set up Harry Maguire's late winner after Maguire had made costly errors on his professional debut.
• Birmingham's substitute Martins scored in the 89th minute to beat Arsenal 2-1 in the EFL Cup final, and Wenger crouched on the touchline in despair.

Sheffield United drew 3:3 with Derby County, and Maël received another Player of the Month award after recording 13 goal contributions in February. As March began, Sheffield United traveled to Portsmouth, where Maël scored his 29th league goal in a match that appeared to secure victory.

• Sheffield United fans celebrated a 3:3 draw with Derby County and praised Maël for helping the team earn 14 points in February.
• The Sky Sports commentator highlighted Maël’s 28 goals and 21 assists, and Maël received the Player of the Month trophy.
• Maël, Gilbert, Harry, and Safina discussed Arsenal’s season and Maël’s hopes of improving enough to make an immediate impact there.
• Gareth Speed and Joelson discussed Sheffield United’s promotion prospects before their away match against Portsmouth.
• Maël scored with a curled shot in the 62nd minute, bringing his league total to 29 goals, while Gareth Speed joked with Joelson about a promised bonus.

Transfermarkt raised Maël’s valuation by €12 million to €20 million, drawing worldwide attention to the seventeen-year-old Sheffield United star and prompting Chelsea and Manchester United to consider pursuing him. The chapter also revealed that Maël had approached Instagram about a partnership, and its founders planned to travel to the United Kingdom to meet him.

• Transfermarkt ranked Maël among the biggest value risers, and reports highlighted his 29 goals and 21 assists for Sheffield United.
• Chelsea manager Ancelotti discussed Maël’s new valuation with the club owner, who approved a summer budget of around £30 million to try to buy him.
• Ferguson learned that Maël was valued at €20 million and told an assistant to contact Mendes to ask whether Maël was interested in Manchester United.
• Kevin Systrom and a colleague discussed Maël’s offer to bring Instagram 200,000 registered users and decided to travel to the United Kingdom on March 18 to meet him.

Maël signed two one-year endorsement deals in one day, earning a total of £650,000, then discovered Mendes had given him an extra £60,000. Mendes also hinted that he had arranged a surprise for Maël back in Sheffield.

• Maël told Mendes he planned to invest most of his money in Instagram, but Mendes declined to invest and offered to have his legal team review the contract.
• Maël and Mendes visited Isabella’s clothing factory, where Maël signed a one-year, £400,000 endorsement deal and completed a photoshoot and commercials.
• Maël and Mendes traveled to London, where Maël signed a second one-year endorsement deal with a sports drink brand for about £250,000.
• At the airport the next day, Mendes told Maël he had left him a surprise in Sheffield before they parted ways.
• Maël checked his bank balance and found it was £60,000 higher than expected; Mendes’s messages revealed he had given Maël the money and waived his usual commission this time.

Maël rested for Sheffield United’s win over Nottingham Forest, then returned against Leeds United to score, assist, and win a penalty in a 4–0 victory. After the match, his Instep Pass reached lv4, unlocking curved ground passes.

• Maël rested while Sheffield United came from behind to beat Nottingham Forest 2–1, with Lotton scoring once and assisting once.
• Maël returned against Leeds United, won a penalty converted by Janu Hans, and scored his 30th Championship goal with a deflected long shot.
• Maël assisted Janu Hans’s second goal before Gareth Speed substituted him, and Gilbert later completed Sheffield United’s 4–0 win.
• On March 14, Maël’s Instep Pass reached lv4 and became Arcing Instep, allowing him to curve ground passes.

Kevin Systrom and Mike watched Sheffield United face Middlesbrough as they considered recruiting Maël as an investor. Sheffield United took a 2–1 lead through Bertrand and Evans, then a violent brawl erupted late in the match, leaving Kevin stunned and an old fan insisting Maël would respond.

• Kevin Systrom and Mike discussed Maël’s wealth and whether he might invest in their company as they walked to Bramall Lane Stadium.
• Maël created an early chance with a cross, then Bertrand scored from Gilbert’s through ball to put Sheffield United ahead.
• Mark Bates equalized for Middlesbrough after Robert spilled a long-range shot.
• Maël dribbled across the field and played a precise through ball for Evans, who scored to give Sheffield United a 2–1 lead.
• Middlesbrough players fouled Evans and Janu Hans, sparking a brawl among players, coaches, and supporters.
• Kevin Systrom watched in disbelief as an old fan called Maël the King and predicted he would respond with a thunderbolt.

Maël scored his 31st league goal to set a new Championship single-season scoring record and help Sheffield United beat Middlesbrough 3–1 after the match ended early amid a pitch-side clash. Afterward, he negotiated with Kevin Systrom and Mike to invest in their company, shocking them by showing he had nearly £1.8 million in savings.

• Maël cut inside, beat two defenders, and curled in Sheffield United’s third goal, setting the Championship record with his 31st league goal.
• Maël and his teammates celebrated provocatively as Middlesbrough players and fans moved toward a confrontation, and the referee ended the match early with Sheffield United leading 3–1.
• Kevin Systrom and Mike met Maël at a restaurant and offered him up to 1.5% of their company in exchange for promotional support.
• Maël proposed taking 10% of the company, with 1% granted for his influence and the rest purchased at the proposed valuation.
• Maël told Kevin Systrom he could invest $2.7 million, then showed him and Mike an ATM balance of £1,784,651.49.

Maël offered Kevin Systrom and Mike a stake in his company, while the Championship title race tightened around Queens Park Rangers, Norwich, and Sheffield United. Arsenal then lost to Manchester United in the FA Cup, leaving Wenger empty-handed and Ferguson asking whether Maël could be discussed.

• Maël offered to invest $2.7 million for nine percent of Kevin Systrom and Mike's company, and Kevin said they would consider it before privately admitting he was ready to accept.
• The Championship standings showed Queens Park Rangers on 88 points, Norwich on 85, and Sheffield United on 84 after eight straight wins, leaving all three clubs under pressure.
• Norwich coach Neil blamed Maël for Sheffield United's threat to their promotion hopes and messaged his wife that he wanted to stop managing after the season.
• Queens Park Rangers drew with Hull City, ending their six-match winning streak, and Warnock learned Sheffield United had 84 points while Norwich had 85.
• Manchester United beat Arsenal 2–0 in the FA Cup, prompting Arsenal fans to demand Wenger leave as the club's hopes of winning a trophy disappeared.
• After the match, Ferguson asked Wenger whether Maël could be discussed, and Wenger replied that it depended on what Ferguson was capable of.

Maël invested in Instagram, then Sheffield United entered a demanding run of Championship matches as they fought for promotion. After a loss to Watford, Maël helped secure wins over Reading and Cardiff City, leaving Sheffield United in second place.

• Maël signed a contract acquiring 10% of Instagram and offered to direct his social media followers to the app.
• Maël focused on training during the break, improving his attributes and planning his development for the rest of the season.
• Sheffield United lost 3–2 away to Watford after Quinn was sent off, with Maël assisting Gilbert's goal.
• Maël scored in Sheffield United's 4–2 win over Reading, and Mark Yates added a late goal after Maël left with cramp.
• Maël scored twice from free kicks as Sheffield United beat Cardiff City 3–2, moving into second place after Norwich and Queens Park Rangers drew.

Sheffield United won two crucial matches to close in on Queens Park Rangers and the Championship title, while Arsenal’s defeat to Bolton ended their title hopes and triggered a confrontation between Wenger, Fabregas, and Nasri. Wenger was left considering Philip’s suggestion to focus on Maël and Sheffield United’s pursuit of a historic hundred points.

• After Sheffield United beat Cardiff City, Norwich dropped to third, and Neil rallied his players after their draw with Queen's Park Rangers.
• Sheffield United defeated Barnsley 3–0, and Gareth Speed urged the team to reach one hundred points and make Championship history.
• Sheffield United came back from two goals down to beat Swansea 3–2, moving within one point of Queen's Park Rangers as Norwich also won.
• Bolton Wanderers beat Arsenal 2–1, ending Arsenal’s hopes of catching Manchester United for the title.
• Fabregas declared he would stop training with Arsenal, Nasri also sought to leave, and Wenger confronted them before telling them Maël would replace them in tactical importance.
• Philip told Wenger that Sheffield United could win the title with one hundred points, and Wenger quietly said he would go watch.

Maël improved his left-foot power and scored a late equalizer as Sheffield United drew with Preston, then scored again in a 3–0 win that pushed the team past 100 points. With Sheffield United and Queens Park Rangers winning while Norwich drew, the title race came down to their final-round clash.

• Maël trained until his left-foot Power Side Foot reached level 3, giving him more confidence to attack without shifting the ball to his right foot.
• Maël scored a curling, low shot in the 76th minute to help Sheffield United draw 2–2 with Preston, while Queens Park Rangers also drew and the top two reached 97 points.
• Maël scored his 39th goal as Sheffield United beat their opponent 3–0, broke the Championship record by passing 100 points, and prepared to face Queens Park Rangers in the final round.
• Norwich drew 1–1 with Millwall, leaving Neil worried that automatic promotion was slipping away as Sheffield United and Queens Park Rangers won.
• Warnock rallied Queens Park Rangers after their 2–0 victory over Cardiff City and promised their fans they would beat Sheffield United and win the title.