Chapter 25: 25
So Ravier came to the club.
The sports director threw an olive branch at Ravier, this time they raised the contract offer.
The monthly salary is 20,000 euros.
This salary is already very high.
Ravier then called Stanley.
Stanley calmly told Ravier on the phone.
"I told you last time that Ajax are ready to pay at least three times more. In fact, they will give you a contract with a monthly salary of 30,000 euros. I will come and talk to them, try to go higher.
Professional matters, leave it to the professionals.
Ravier then passed the phone to Ajax's sporting director. He didn't know what was said, but it seems the sporting director and Stanley have yet to agree on the final price. Although Ravier had a vain journey, he also learned new things.
He thought the contract Ajax offered him was a monthly salary of 15,000 euros, but he didn't expect it to be 30,000! Stanley was ready to accept the 30,000 euros but decided to try to obtain a salary a little bit higher.
A few days later, the Ajax team faced Vitesse and Ravier was on the starting list. It would now seem that his place as the main guardian of the team was becoming more and more secure. This match was without suspense the team of Ajax won with a score of 3-0. This match was at the end of March. April has begun and the end of the Eredivisie championship is getting closer and closer. The Ajax team had to face Alkmaar. Maybe the fatigue of the season was felt but that day it seems to me that the players have forgotten the way to the goal. It was with a small score of 1-0 that they finally won the match. Koeman was really very upset with the performance of the players.
But that wasn't the end of their poor performance. The next match was with the Groningen team. And it was on a rough free kick that Ravier conceded his second goal of the season. Following a fault committed by Escude near the penalty area, He was fixing the wall when suddenly, out of the corner of his eye he saw the ball go into the small net on the right side. Despite his good reflex and his speed, he couldn't do anything, only constating the damage. He wanted to protest but the referee didn't want to hear anything and awarded the goal. So he became aware that now the other teams were now taking him very seriously and they were pulling out all their tricks to allow their teams to score goals.
Faced with a difficult goalkeeper like Ravier, you have to use unconventional methods. As often said in love and in war, all shots are allowed. Fortunately that day the team still won with a score of 2-1. But this match still left a bitter taste in Ravier. It's still something good this kind of thing will allow him to gain more and more experience and also allow him to evolve.
The days passed very quickly. The championship was near the end, we now heard a lot of unconventional things. Teams that haven't seen him all season now are doing their utmost at the last hour to avoid relegation. We also heard a lot of rumors circulating about the transfers. Stanley and the Ajax club were still discussing his salary. But all this has nothing to do with Ravier. His job now is to train and play well in the remaining matches. Now his place in the team is very secure. Koeman is using him more and more, so his duty is to satisfy the coach trust, players and supporters have in him. That's why he doesn't dare to relax even for a second.
To close the month of March, the last match to be played was the one against Feyenoord. Koeman offered a new 433 lineup. AFC Ajax's opponent is not strong, although it is a guest game, but AFC Ajax still locked the game victory in the second half of the game, which ended with a score of 3-0. In this match, the players were sleeping squarely in the first half, the defense was on another planet, the attackers forgot to bring their scoring instincts with them. Wasn't it Ravier the team would have conceded a lot of goals. Koeman was really furious that day. it was only in the second period after the coach expressed his displeasure that the players improved.
With the end of march and the beginning of April, the situation of the championship was to become increasingly clear. Ajax were still in the lead with 80 points followed by PSV Eindhoven with 73 points.
This afternoon after a training session. Ravier was going home. When he arrived he did not find Stanley in the house much to his astonishment. He spends most of his time in the house playing games on his phone. Not paying much attention to this absence, he went to his room to put down his things, take a bath and change into a more comfortable outfit, when he heard his phone ring. It was a call from Stanley telling him to join him in the café down the street.
****************
This Café was very isolated, very few people frequented it. A few minutes later, Stanley was there and he was not alone.
Arnold Catalano.
This name is very well known, it has a lot of fame for all French football, because the legendary French striker Thierry Henry was discovered by this old man and brought to Monaco.
It was undoubtedly a brilliant achievement in Arnold Catalano's scouting career, but that's not all. During his 20+ years at Monaco, he brought one talent after another to the team.
Scouts can discover a player's talents, but if a player really wants to grow and become exceptional, it takes their own effort.
Ravier has never heard of Arnold Catalano, but he knows that Monaco, located in southern France, is one of four principalities in Europe and the second smallest country in the world, with a total area of only 1.98 km². Although small, Monaco has incredible wealth. Ravier was a bit confused, but his face was very neutral. He stood up and politely greeted the old man standing in front of him.
"It is an honor"
Although Monaco is independent from France, the Monaco team has always been a French championship team, and they occupy this pivotal position in Ligue 1.
However, this team which holds a place in Ligue 1 has had a very bad time. At the end of the 10-11 season, Monaco disappeared in Ligue 1 and relegated to the second division. It is also the first time Monaco have been relegated again after 33 years. .
If the royal family of Monegasques is rich, in fact, they do not invest in the club, this is also the reason for the tragedy of Monaco.
The sinking of the team is a very embarrassing thing, but Monaco's ordeal is not over. In the 11-12 season, Monaco, which tried to return to Ligue 1, did not succeed.
The inability to return to Ligue 1 has also discouraged club owner Prince Albert of the Royal Family. At this time, a Russian businessman approached Prince Albert. Finally, the Russian businessman Dimitri Rybolovlev officially entered the team and became the new owner of Monaco, and the Italian Claudio Ranieri, became the coach.
It also allows Monegasque fans to see the determination of the leaders to lead Monaco to rise again, because in the current situation of Monaco, Ranieri is undoubtedly the most suitable coach.
Since this is a team that is more or less in a reconstruction phase, Ravier will have the possibility of having more playing time. On second thought, if the Ajax goalkeeper were not injured, HE would have been very difficult for Ravier today for the team. No coach would have played such a young and inexperienced player.
Catalano came to Ajax looking for new talent, but saw Ravier and decided to talk to him.
Nothing is decided yet, but Catalano when leaving still invited Ravier to come to the club.
"How is it that you could meet this kind of character" Ravier asked Stanley.
"Well my very dear friend this is possible thanks to your good performance."
"You've caught the attention of the Eredivisie club, and now almost every Eredivisie team wants you. For the last month I have tried to recommend you to Italian teams, but unfortunately Italian teams are not willing to spend their precious transfer places on you."
Ravier was a little surprised by what Stanley had just told him about a transfer to Italy. So I asked him the question that was burning my lips.
"And since when do you have this kind of contact.?
"Well , you see, when you play I went to see most of your matches. What better place to meet scouts?
Automatically he told me that, I immediately understood the situation.
"So I was saying, given that you're only 16, in a month still 17 it seems like there's no need to worry too much."
"I guess those scouts still find me a little immature?"
Yes. But like I said, no need to worry. Teams from other leagues don't know you well, so they don't have much interest.
Ravier frowned and said, "The thing is, that's not what I want to hear."
Stanley drank the glass of juice that was on the table in one gulp, and said seriously to Ravier:
"Tomorrow I will have to take you to Amsterdam, you were going to sign with Ajax again, the annual salary after tax is 750,000 euros, don't think too much. Less is almost 100 times more than your previous annual salary, including 10% of my commission, you can get 675,000 euros.
Additionally, you also have appearance bonuses, assist bonuses, and championship bonuses. Although there aren't many of them, as long as you perform well, you can earn an extra €100,000 in a season with no problem. "
Ravier calculated silently in his heart.
675,000 euros per year.
56,000 euros per month.
This is almost double the monthly salary of 30,000 euros mentioned by Stanley.
Ravier was excited.
I have never seen so much money.
He suddenly had a good impression of Stanley's abilities.
Although he looks like a very lazy person, Ravier knows very well that when it comes to serious things he does them very efficiently.
"But..."
"But the situation has just changed now. I explain to you, maybe if you go to Monaco your salary will not be as high but you will have more playing time and more people will notice you. The French League is much better than here. Besides, I know that you will be able to adapt easily."
Ravier looked pensive and Stanley was silent for a few minutes.
"Everything you just told me is true. Wait until the end of the season and negotiate for my transfer about my performance you don't have to worry."
And just like that a new adventure seems to begin for Ravier. But first he intends to finish this year very well.
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