I Am Jose-Chapter 100 - : Discussion Results

"If his position is too fluid, it's hard to allow him to perform at his best," José said, furrowing his brow. This was one of his biggest concerns lately. "Whether it's as a second striker, attacking midfielder, or left winger, I believe these are his ideal positions. However, each of these roles comes with different responsibilities. The second striker needs to connect the midfield and attack while also contributing to scoring; the attacking midfielder focuses more on orchestrating the attack. As for the left winger, the focus is on more wide play. I'm confident Ronaldinho could excel in all three positions, but if he keeps drifting between them, it could hurt his development. He's still young, and his future is incredibly bright."

Piri looked at José with a raised eyebrow, then smiled warmly. "You really care about your players," he remarked.

José shrugged, his face betraying only a trace of exhaustion. "He's my player now... If he develops well, Mallorca does well. It's simple. Don't talk about him transferring in a few years. Even when crafting an object, I want to make it perfect. Besides, the better he performs, the more we'll earn from a potential transfer, right? I'm not afraid of giving away some benefit, especially when I believe it will bring significant returns to me."

Piri paused for a moment, absorbing José's words. He then let out a small chuckle. "I didn't expect you to think this clearly... And you're still so young!"

José gave a small laugh. "Money's not endless, and you can't grab all the benefits either. Sometimes thinking about others' gains can bring huge rewards for yourself—nobody's a fool."

The older man nodded repeatedly, now genuinely impressed by José's outlook. "I believe Mallorca's future will be limitless with your vision."

José grinned, clearly pleased with Piri's reaction. His face lit up with a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "Piri, let's make a bet."

Piri looked up, slightly puzzled. "What kind of bet?"

José gave him a calculating look, his voice casual yet full of intent. "You remember our agreement, right? When Mallorca threatens Real Madrid, you'll leave. Let's bet on that."

Piri frowned, his expression darkening slightly. "Why are we betting on this?"

José laughed, unfazed by Piri's reaction. "I just remembered our old debate about Makélélé's importance to Real Madrid. I still believe he's the key to their success, and if he leaves, Madrid could suffer drastically."

Piri shook his head, unconvinced. "José, you're exaggerating. Makélélé is a great defensive midfielder, but he's not as indispensable as you think. Real Madrid isn't a club that falls apart just because they lose one player."

José grinned, clearly enjoying the debate. "So, how about a bet? If what I say doesn't come true, I'll give you 10% of Mallorca's shares... remember, it's equity shares, so you'll get annual dividends. But if what I say happens, then the 'leave when Mallorca threatens Madrid' condition is nullified. You can stay at Mallorca as long as you want, until you decide to retire."

At first glance, this seemed like José was risking a lot. If Piri lost, he could simply say he was retiring, while if José lost, he'd have to part with 10% of the club's shares—a significant amount!

But José wasn't worried. He knew just how crucial Makélélé had been to Real Madrid. In the three seasons he was there, Madrid won multiple trophies. When he left, the club began to falter, and José had been analyzing these patterns closely.

He wasn't worried about losing the bet either. He knew that Makélélé's presence in Madrid was far from trivial. His impact on the team was undeniable. After all, during the three seasons he played for the club, Madrid managed to clinch one Champions League and two La Liga titles. But when he departed in 2003, Madrid's decline began. The club suffered during the final rounds of the league, losing five consecutive matches and allowing the league title to slip away. In the Champions League, they were eliminated in the quarterfinals, and from then on, Madrid's European adventures ended in the round of 16 for seven consecutive seasons.

José's judgment was spot on, and he was confident he was right. Makélélé's departure had marked the beginning of Madrid's downfall. He was key to their success, even if he wasn't a player who always garnered the spotlight.

José wasn't concerned about Piri cheating or backing out of the bet either. He knew Piri's integrity and believed that if he truly felt Mallorca was on the verge of challenging Madrid, he would leave with no hesitation. José also knew that this bet served as more than just a wager—it was a test. If Piri agreed to the terms, it meant that he had come to feel comfortable enough with Mallorca to stay with the club, even long-term.

Piri remained silent for a moment before breaking into a smile. "You're really clever with this, José. Even if I win and become a shareholder, it seems like I'll still be tied to this club, no?"

José chuckled, shaking his head. "NONONO, Piri sir, don't forget, you'll hold equity shares. You'll be a shareholder, but you're not obligated to continue as the technical director."

Piri smiled wryly. He wasn't entirely convinced by José's assurances. "I'll be a shareholder, and I doubt I'll stand by idly if the club gets into trouble," he mused. He also realized that José's offer to give him 10% of the club's shares was a sign of genuine commitment. José's gesture was not just a token, but a real sign of respect.

"Fine," Piri said after a moment, extending his hand. "I'll take your bet."

José grinned, excited. He reached out and shook Piri's hand firmly. The two clapped hands together in agreement, sealing the bet. It was a wager that carried more weight than just a friendly challenge—it signified trust, respect, and a shared vision for the future.

After the handshake, José felt the mood shift back to the topic at hand, a subject that had been weighing heavily on his mind.

"So, back to Ronaldinho," Piri said, bringing the conversation back to football. "You think this flexibility will help him? What position do you feel would best suit him for his development?"

José thought for a moment, his mind racing through potential strategies. "Why does it have to be a fixed position?" he asked, his voice thoughtful.

Piri blinked. "Wait... didn't you just say that letting him float between positions would hurt his growth?"

José laughed. "Not necessarily. I'm thinking about creating a more flexible role for him—like a free-roaming forward."

Piri looked confused for a moment but then recalled a similar concept from his playing days. "You mean like Cruyff's total football? A player who can roam freely across the forward line without a fixed position?"

"Exactly," José replied, his face lighting up. "A fixed position isn't necessary. The idea is to give him the freedom to shine in his best aspects—whether it's dribbling, passing, scoring, or creating chances. We'll give him the freedom to move and explore different roles on the pitch. The key is to let him operate where he feels most comfortable, while ensuring that he's continually improving and developing the full range of his abilities."

Piri nodded slowly, considering the idea. "That's a bold idea. And, it could work, considering his talent. But, asking such a young player to carry the entire team's offensive load, to essentially be the playmaker in a team already under pressure... isn't that too risky?"

José's expression softened, and he smiled. "It's always a risk when you try something new, but if we don't try, we'll never know. There's potential there, Piri. If we build the right foundation for him, I believe he can thrive in this flexible role. It won't restrict his growth—it'll actually accelerate it. Think about it—he's young, so let's expand his tactical understanding. Rather than pigeonholing him into one role, we're giving him the freedom to find where he can be most effective. This will help him develop the versatility to perform at the highest level."

Piri frowned, unsure of the practicality of José's idea. "But that still sounds like letting him play in different positions. Isn't it just the same thing?"

José smiled confidently. "Not quite. Before, we were talking about constantly moving him around, which could confuse him. But now, I'm suggesting we don't fixate on a single role. Instead, we'll let him pick the role that suits him best for each match, depending on the opponent and situation. This approach will allow him to stay free, to explore his own strengths, while still maintaining structure in his play."

Piri's expression softened as he began to understand José's approach. "I see what you mean. You want him to be fluid, but with purpose."

José nodded. "Exactly. We'll give him the structure, but also the freedom. It's a fine balance, but I believe it's the key to unlocking his potential."

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Piri thought for a moment, then smiled. "You've convinced me. I'll leave it to you. You know what you're doing with this."

José laughed, feeling lighter. He hadn't felt this at ease in a while. After the recent setbacks in the league, particularly the two draws that had cost Mallorca valuable points, this conversation had been refreshing. It reminded him that there was still a clear path forward—he just needed to stick to his principles.

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself, José," Piri said, noticing the subtle change in José's mood. "There are 38 rounds in the league. A few draws aren't the end of the world. You've already done an impressive job—few coaches at your age have accomplished as much as you."

José gave a wry smile. "I know. Last season, when the situation was so bad, I kept calm and made strategic decisions. But now, with this added responsibility, I can't afford to drop any points."

Piri's voice softened with concern. "I can see it in your eyes, José. You're feeling the pressure. But don't forget to take care of yourself. You're doing great things with Mallorca."

José nodded, appreciating Piri's words. "I know. After last season, I'm definitely going to take better care of myself. Don't worry."

Piri smiled and gave a gentle pat on the back. "Good. Just remember that success doesn't always come from winning every match. It comes from building a strong, lasting foundation."

José smiled back. "I'll keep that in mind."

As the two of them continued talking, it became clear that, while the future of Mallorca was uncertain, José's vision was clear. He knew the road ahead would be challenging, but with the right approach, he was confident that he could lead the team to greatness. And as he walked away from the conversation with Piri, José felt a renewed sense of determination. The future was in his hands, and he was ready for whatever it would bring.