[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-from-arsenal-to-the-ball-god":3,"chapter-from-arsenal-to-the-ball-god-from-arsenal-to-the-ball-god-chapter-308":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","From Arsenal to the Ball God",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},925627,1216,"Chapter 308 - 96: Deschamps at Life’s Crossroads! Ma’el Launches a Blitzkrieg! The Tragedy Is About to Unfold! (2)","from-arsenal-to-the-ball-god-chapter-308",308,"\u003Cp>Deschamps leaned back and chuckled, responding, \"Are you here to recommend a player to me? Don’t worry, Ma’el won’t slip through my fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If there are no injuries or other major changes, he is definitely one of the future main players in the lineup.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just one of the main players?\" Wenger feigned disappointment, pursing his lips, yet there was still a smile in his eyes. \"After this match, you might have a different opinion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deschamps shook hands with Wenger again, watched him walk into the media room, and then headed towards his own team’s locker room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few steps, an assistant coach followed by his side. He gestured for him not to speak yet, keeping his eyes fixed on a silhouette ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Ma’el, who had just stepped out of the locker room, ready to warm up on the field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His silhouette was distinctive. He had a very good overall body proportion, with long and strong legs... His upper body was a standard inverted triangle, yet not as imposing as a bodybuilder, suggesting core strength and explosive power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deschamps couldn’t help but feel some envy, whether appreciating a professional player from a former player’s perspective, or admiring a man from a man’s perspective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good-looking, well-built, skilled at soccer... what else could he be missing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assistant coach realized what Deschamps was watching, and only after Ma’el walked out of the player tunnel did he say, \"The French Football Federation just called.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Calling at this time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deschamps frowned slightly, recalling when Wenger had just stopped him for a chat, and guessed, \"Are they asking me to reconsider concluding my contract with Marseille and taking over before the European Cup?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I assume Wenger just recommended me to them.\" Deschamps’ frown slowly relaxed as he shook his head with a faint smile. \"It seems Ma’el’s outstanding performance has made some people very eager for the results of this upcoming European Cup.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How should I reply?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell them that if they’re pinning their hopes on a 43-year-old coach and an 18-year-old prodigy forward to win the European Cup for France, then this old and young duo would face too much pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I won’t make such a reckless decision, and Ma’el isn’t at the level yet to change the outcome of an intercontinental competition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do they think a new peak Zidane has emerged, or a peak Henry?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay.\" The assistant coach went to the side to return the call, although there seemed to be a few other thoughts in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deschamps walked all the way into the stadium, hands behind his back, watching the pre-match warm-ups of both teams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His pressure was quite significant too, with various life directions laid out before him, each path watched by different eyes and holding different expectations, everyone seemed to be watching him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At 4:50, Ma’el finished his warm-up training and walked into the player tunnel. He looked toward a section of the Marseille fan area and gave a slight smile in that direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His uncle and aunt, with their two children, sat there. His little sister Eva had different arrangements and wasn’t seated in the fan area yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do your best.\" Uncle Clément discreetly clenched his fist in encouragement, cautious not to make too much noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We believe in you.\" His aunt used her body to block their gestures, waving gently, her smile apparent on her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their home was only about an hour’s drive from Marseille. With a nephew playing in a Champions League match, of course, they had to come watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, the family hadn’t been together for a while. During the off-season, Ma’el didn’t return home due to intensive extra training, and he became even busier after moving to London, not inviting anyone over for a match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a rare opportunity, and the whole family cherished the chance to watch Ma’el play near his hometown. They even invited quite a number of relatives and friends, albeit not all seated together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Arsenal’s away-match tickets for the Champions League were sold out, they had bought Marseille season tickets a couple of months ago, planning to learn about football through the local team... They could only sit in the Marseille fan area today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was bound to be a perilous yet thrilling viewing experience. While Marseille fans weren’t hostile toward Arsenal, they still had to be cautious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Ma’el scores a goal and Marseille fans respond with gloomy faces while they jump up to celebrate... that might lead to trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma’el walked into the player tunnel with a smile, equipped with shin guards and his game attire, and came out to see many players already standing in the player tunnel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I want to find my brother.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m not standing with you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw Eva standing not far away, arguing with Marseille’s full-back Azpilicueta.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the match, he couldn’t secure a good seat, so he contacted the organizers, hoping Eva could participate as a mascot and walk onto the field with him, a request they readily accepted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your brother might be in the stands. The match is about to start, be good. After the opening ceremony, you can go find him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azpilicueta thought she was simply being troublesome, half-squatting to coax her while holding Eva’s hand, hoping she would calm down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Waaa.....\" Unable to spot Ma’el, Eva’s eyes reddened with anxiety, and she began to sob.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azpilicueta stood there bewildered, as several Marseille players looked at him and chuckled, with some approaching to help calm the adorable little girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eva.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma’el walked over with a smile, patting Azpilicueta on the shoulder. \"Sorry, she’s my sister, maybe she didn’t express it clearly. Let me stand with her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh?\" Azpilicueta stood up dumbfounded, blinking a few times, \"Oh, oh..... okay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ha ha.....\" The Marseille players immediately laughed at him, and laughter echoed through the player tunnel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma’el took Eva’s hand, lifting his long-lost little sister into his arms, \"Don’t cry, Eva. Your brother is here. After the match, I’ll take you to eat pizza.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1002,"2026-06-03T06:44:03.644Z","2026-06-03T06:44:07.339Z",1,"novelbin.me","b93da782e457b4ab43d6de3b907a60a5f888fdd1dd2f5024192128cdaaa017cd","from-arsenal-to-the-ball-god-chapter-309","from-arsenal-to-the-ball-god-chapter-307",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Ffrom-arsenal-to-the-ball-god-cover.jpg"]