"Mark is training extra again?!"
Hecking, who had intended to return to the club to discuss matters with Allofs, once again received news from a club staff member.
So, he went to the meeting room on the second floor of the club, looked out the window, and saw a figure picking up balls on the training ground.
"This kid is too diligent…"
As he murmured softly, Hecking began to observe:
"What is he practicing today…"
However, after watching for a while, he quickly noticed something was off.
Because Mark wasn't practicing crosses, but free kicks!
Moreover, every shot was almost spot-on!
"What's going on?!"
"When did he learn to shoot free kicks? And so powerfully?!"
The more Hecking watched, the more shocked he was by Mark's free-kick technique.
Wolfsburg wasn't without good free-kick takers, you know.
Rodriguez's set pieces and corners were very accurate, always finding a teammate.
And Naldo's powerful long-range shots were famous in the Bundesliga.
However, the free-kick accuracy of these two wasn't high.
In his opinion, Mark's free-kick level far surpassed theirs.
He was even stronger than the Turk at Hamburg, who was recognized as a free-kick master!
Just as Hecking was secretly clicking his tongue, Allofs, the club's sporting director, also arrived at the meeting room.
"Dieter, why are you so early?"
Hearing the voice behind him, Hecking immediately turned around and said with a serious expression:
"Allofs, we must finalize a contract extension with Mark as soon as possible!"
Hearing this, Allofs was first stunned, then retorted:
"Aren't we here to discuss this very matter today?"
"My point is, we must do it quickly, otherwise, he is very likely to be snatched away by other clubs!"
"Look."
With a puzzled expression, Allofs followed Hecking's finger to the floor-to-ceiling window and also saw Mark practicing free kicks on the training ground!
After watching for a while, he immediately understood Hecking's meaning:
"You're right!"
"We must keep him at all costs!"
Of course, Mark, who was practicing free kicks on the training ground, wouldn't know that Wolfsburg's best partners were in the meeting room above, discussing how to keep him.
Even if he knew, he wouldn't be surprised.
After all, with his performance and statistics over the past half-season, how could the club not discuss a new contract with him!
When he finished his extra training, took a hot shower, and was about to drive home, he received a call from his agent, Raiola:
"Mino?"
"Mark, where are you?"
"I just finished extra training at the base, what's up?"
"Allofs's side gave me an initial offer for a new contract… Would you like to hear it?"
"Sure!"
"Two million euros annual salary, a five hundred thousand euro signing bonus, and a guaranteed starting position, for a five-year contract!"
Hearing this, Mark couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
A two million euro annual salary was more than ten times his current annual salary of one hundred twenty thousand euros!
It looked very generous.
However, this figure did not satisfy Mark.
As early as three months ago, German media had exposed Bayern's wage structure:
"Bayern King" Ribéry's annual salary was twelve million euros, the top salary at Bayern and even in the Bundesliga.
Götze, who transferred from arch-rival Dortmund, also received this salary.
Bayern's captain and vice-captain, Lahm and Schweinsteiger, each earned ten million euros.
Kroos, whose contract extension with Bayern was not going smoothly, was only earning an annual salary of four and a half million euros.
He was only fifteenth in the entire squad!
Seeing that the newcomer Götze was earning so much more than him, Kroos was naturally unhappy.
Compared to that, although Mark's tactical position at Wolfsburg was not comparable to Kroos's at Bayern, and his experience and seniority were far inferior to Kroos's.
However, Mark didn't think he was too many levels below Kroos right now.
Of course, Kroos's vision and passing were much better than his.
But Mark had dribbling, he had take-ons, and he had good looks for passing; he was no worse than Kroos!
Two million euros was still a bit underwhelming.
Raiola, on the other end of the phone, seemed to sense Mark's thoughts:
"Don't think about it, I think this price is far from worthy of you!"
"You focus on preparing for the upcoming final, and leave the rest to me."
"Okay. The salary is good enough, don't make things too difficult with the club, I still have to play here."
"You can trust me to handle it."
After hanging up the phone, Mark also glanced at the base building through the car window before starting his black Beetle and slowly driving away. The next day.
The news of Mark practicing free kicks during his holiday spread throughout the club staff.
When Gustavo came to the locker room, the first thing he said to Mark was:
"I heard you're practicing free kicks?"
Hearing this, Mark, who was putting on his soccer shoes, didn't even look up and casually replied:
"Mm."
"Are you planning to take Ricardo (Rodriguez)'s job?"
At these words, Rodriguez, who was sitting not far away, was stunned:
"Why is it about me again?"
The other teammates wore expressions of anticipation, watching the show unfold.
Mark, having put on his shoes, stood up and made a suggestion:
"Luis (Gustavo), let's make a bet!"
Hearing this, Gustavo immediately became interested:
"How do we bet?"
"I bet my free kicks are more accurate than yours, one hundred euros!"
"Pfft, only one hundred euros, let's make it one thousand euros!"
"Deal!"
However, when they witnessed Mark's almost spot-on free-kick skills during training, not only Gustavo, but all the other teammates were shocked speechless.
What the hell!
When did this kid's free kicks become so powerful?!
And Gustavo had only one thought in his mind:
"This damn kid must have done it on purpose! Wuwuwu, my one thousand euros…"
May 16th, the Bundesliga League had already concluded.
Most Bundesliga players had entered holiday mode, while Wolfsburg, who had reached the German Cup final, was one of only two teams not yet on holiday.
After the recovery training session ended, Head Coach Hecking gathered all the players in the tactics room.
"Tomorrow is the German Cup final."
"Next, I will announce tomorrow's starting lineup and squad list."
"Goalkeeper, Benaglio…"
"Defenders, Naldo, Knoche, Ricardo (Rodriguez)… André (Vieirinha)!"
"Kevin…"
"Olić…"
As each name was called out, what surprised everyone was that Mark's name did not appear on the starting lineup!
And another unexpected thing was that the starting right-back for this match changed from Ochs to Vieirinha!
Mark was first stunned that he wasn't in the starting lineup, then he understood Hecking's decision.
"The coach must have his reasons for doing this."
"Besides, if I come on as a substitute, it's a good chance to test out my free-kick hypothesis…"
.....
More chapters at patreon.com/zeaser