Bab 143: Chapter 143: Bruno's Secret
Chapter 143: Bruno's Secret
At life's crossroads, it's easy to be lured by the beautiful scenery in the distance and make an impulsive decision to head that way. However, upon arrival, one might discover that the captivating view was just a large billboard—a mere illusion meant to grab attention. The true cost of following that path is not the concern of those who put up the billboard. Another path might look less appealing or even somewhat bleak, but if you stick with it, you might find something real and even encounter some genuinely beautiful sights.
Bruno could remain relatively rational about his choices because he had learned from experiences in another lifetime.
For every Chinese person, the national college entrance examination, or Gaokao, is a pivotal moment that can significantly alter one's life trajectory. Choosing a university during the Gaokao is much like how Bruno had to decide which football club to join and which brand to sign with for endorsements.
Initially, Bruno had chosen a prestigious club. Although he was fortunate enough to score high enough to attend a top university, he soon realized how challenging life could be there. Once praised and celebrated as a child prodigy, he found himself struggling academically and facing immense pressure, both mentally and physically, which even led him to question his life choices. This experience taught him the importance of being a big fish in a small pond rather than a small one in a big pond.
Now, Bruno faced a similar decision again. Should he choose Nike, Adidas, Puma, or the relatively unknown JOMA? While the offers from the big three brands weren't as high as Bruno and Mendes had hoped for, they were still substantial by any standard. However, these brands didn't provide a convincing or detailed plan for building his image.
On the other hand, JOMA not only offered more money but also had a very sincere plan to develop Bruno's image. For Bruno, another advantage of choosing JOMA was that it had far fewer endorsed stars compared to Nike, Adidas, and Puma. Many might see this as a disadvantage, but Bruno viewed it differently. He believed it meant that JOMA could invest more resources in him, unlike the bigger brands that could only offer significant resources to their top-tier athletes.
In the early days, JOMA had signed several top players from clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona, including Butragueño, Martín Vázquez, Miguel Soler, and Begiristain. In the first decade of the new millennium, they had influential stars like Morientes and Algar. However, by the 2010s, JOMA lacked high-profile players.
Bruno's arrival was perfectly timed to fill this gap. JOMA promised that if he signed with them, he would become their number one brand ambassador. The deal was quickly agreed upon, and terms were settled without delay.
Following this, Bruno was set to sign three contracts. He first traveled to Madrid, Spain, and then to a small place called Portillo in Toledo Province, where JOMA's headquarters was located. JOMA organized a special signing ceremony for him, attended by many journalists from European media.
After signing with JOMA, Bruno participated in the shooting of his first print advertisement. The shoot took place at an indoor football field in Portillo, set up specifically for this purpose. Bruno showcased his football skills, perfected through a rigorous training regime, providing an artistic flair to the session. The shoot went smoothly and was completed in half a day, after which Bruno left Spain.
According to JOMA's plans, these images would be displayed in every JOMA store worldwide and on city billboards before the new season started.
After completing his commitments with JOMA, Bruno returned to Italy to finalize his contract renewal with Udinese and to sign with Generali Insurance. The renewal was scheduled for July 10th, just three days before Udinese players were due back for preseason training.
On that day, accompanied by his agent Mendes, Bruno appeared in the office of Udinese's general manager, Giaretta. Giaretta was delighted that Bruno had decided to stay with the club, expressing high hopes for his continued success.
After some brief discussions, they moved to a small auditorium where over fifty journalists were waiting. Surprisingly, among the reporters, Bruno spotted an East Asian-looking individual, which made him realize that his renewal might have attracted international attention, possibly from China, where Serie A games were still broadcast.
Little did they know, the focus of everyone's attention harbored a soul from the East.
Following the formalities, Bruno and Giaretta sat down in front of the journalists to sign the contract. The room was filled with the continuous clicking of cameras, and the flash made the existing lights seem dim.
Once the signing was complete, Giaretta announced to the press that renewing Bruno's contract was crucial for the club. He praised Bruno's outstanding performance in the previous season and expressed excitement about moving forward together.
Bruno's response was simple and devoid of grand statements, reflecting his personality. He was not one to make stirring speeches but preferred to let his performance on the field speak for itself.
After the event, Bruno immediately set off for Trieste, where Generali Insurance's headquarters were located, to fulfill his signing obligations there.
As the days of preparation dwindled to just one before the team's assembly, Bruno told Mendes not to schedule any activities for that day. While Mendes thought it was for rest, Bruno clarified it was for a personal engagement—a casual meeting with friends, perhaps a small vacation.
Their conversation drifted towards personal matters, with Mendes playfully probing whether Bruno's meeting was with a man or a woman. Bruno, maintaining privacy about his relationship with Vanessa, deflected the question.
Mendes, half-jokingly, suggested that Bruno should consider finding a girlfriend, to which Bruno quickly changed the subject back to football.
After wrapping up in Trieste, Bruno discreetly bought a train ticket from Udine to Milan, a trip he had made frequently over the past months. He had previously suggested to Vanessa to move closer to Udine for convenience, but she declined, fearing potential media exposure that could negatively impact Bruno.
Resigned to the situation, Bruno considered learning to drive, which would make his frequent trips between the two cities more manageable. After all, a 400-kilometer drive on the highway would only take about three hours—a small price for maintaining their discreet relationship.
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