June 15th, 2027. The Loki family home in Pedralbes, Barcelona. Lucas was four months old now, starting to smile for real (not just gas), making sounds that almost resembled words, discovering his hands like they were the most fascinating things in the universe.
Ethan sat on the living room floor, watching his son attempt to grab a stuffed football Sofia had bought. Lucas's coordination was terrible—he'd reach for it, miss by six inches, look confused, try again. The determination was familiar.
"He has your stubbornness," Sofia observed from the couch, laptop open, working on an article about Barcelona's historic back-to-back trebles.
"That's a good thing."
"Is it? Because your stubbornness nearly killed you last season. Fifty-two goals while being a new father. Most people would collapse."
"I'm not most people."
"I've noticed."
Sofia's phone rang. She glanced at the screen and frowned. "It's Laporta. Why is Barcelona's president calling me?"
"Answer it."
She did, putting it on speaker. "Hello, President Laporta."
"Sofia! How are you? How's Lucas?"
"We're well, thank you. What can I do for you?"
"Actually, I'm calling about Ethan. Is he there?"
Ethan leaned toward the phone. "I'm here."
"Perfect! I need to see you both. Tomorrow, my office, 2:00 PM. It's important."
"What's this about?"
"Your future at Barcelona. See you tomorrow."
The line went dead. Ethan and Sofia looked at each other.
"That was ominous," Sofia said.
"Or exciting."
"With you, those tend to be the same thing."
June 16th - Laporta's Office
Barcelona's headquarters at Camp Nou were quiet during the off-season. Most players were on vacation. The staff was minimal. But Laporta's office was buzzing with activity—executives, lawyers, accountants all rushing around.
Ethan and Sofia arrived at exactly 2:00 PM. Laporta greeted them warmly, ushering them into his private office overlooking the pitch.
"Thank you for coming," Laporta said, gesturing for them to sit. "I'll get straight to the point. We want to offer you a lifetime contract."
Ethan blinked. "A what?"
"A lifetime contract. Ten years. Until you're thirty-seven. Fifty million euros per year. Total value: five hundred million euros. The largest contract in football history."
The number hung in the air like smoke.
Five hundred million euros. Over ten years. For playing football.
"That's..." Sofia started, then stopped. There were no words.
"That's insane," Ethan finished.
"It's what you're worth," Laporta said simply. "You've brought Barcelona eight Champions Leagues. Seven consecutive La Liga titles. Two back-to-back trebles. You're the greatest player in the club's history. We want to ensure you finish your career here."
"What about retirement?" Sofia asked. "He can't play until thirty-seven. That's unrealistic."
"The contract includes provisions. If he retires before thirty-seven, he transitions to an ambassadorial role at the same salary. Essentially, we're paying him to be associated with Barcelona for the rest of his playing career and beyond."
Ethan's mind was racing. Ten more years at Barcelona. The security. The legacy. The money.
But also the pressure. The expectations. The grind.
"I need time to think about it," Ethan said.
"Of course. Take a week. Talk to your family, your agent. But Ethan—" Laporta leaned forward "—this is about more than money. This is about building something permanent. Making you a Barcelona legend for eternity."
June 20th - Family Discussion
Ethan's parents flew to Barcelona for dinner. Marie came too, bringing Laurent and their one-year-old daughter, Camille. Everyone gathering to discuss the biggest decision of Ethan's career.
They sat on the terrace of Ethan's home, overlooking Barcelona's skyline as the sun set, Lucas sleeping peacefully in his carrier.
"Five hundred million euros," Ethan's father said, still processing. "That's generational wealth. Your great-grandchildren will be set for life."
"It's not about the money," Ethan replied. "Well, not only about the money."
"Then what's it about?" Marie asked.
"Commitment. If I sign this, I'm saying I'll never play for another club. I'm a Barcelona player for life. That's a huge decision."
"You've already played there for six years," Sofia pointed out. "And you've won everything. What other club could possibly offer you more?"
"It's not about winning more. It's about... freedom. If I sign this, I lose the option to try something different. To test myself in a new league. To have a different experience."
His mother spoke for the first time: "Is that what you want? A different experience?"
Ethan thought carefully. Did he want to play in the Premier League? Serie A? The Bundesliga?
Not really. Barcelona was home. The team was perfect. The city was perfect. Sofia's job was here. Lucas would grow up here.
"No," he admitted. "I don't want to leave. I'm just... scared of committing so completely."
"That's called being human," his father said. "But here's what I know: you've never been afraid of commitment. You committed to being the best player in the world and you did it. You committed to Sofia and married her. You committed to Lucas the moment he was born. This is just another commitment."
"A five-hundred-million-euro commitment."
"The amount doesn't matter. What matters is: do you see yourself anywhere other than Barcelona?"
"No."
"Then sign the contract."
June 27th - The Announcement
Barcelona held a press conference at Camp Nou. Media from around the world flew in. This was the biggest contract in football history—everyone wanted to cover it.
Ethan sat at a table with Laporta, Sofia beside him, the contract in front of them.
"Today," Laporta announced, "Barcelona and Ethan Loki have agreed to terms on a ten-year contract extension. This ensures that one of the greatest players in history will finish his career at this club."
The room erupted with questions.
"Ethan! How does it feel to sign the biggest contract in football history?"
"It feels like coming home permanently. Barcelona has given me everything. Now I'm giving them my entire career."
"Does this mean you'll never play in the Premier League?"
"Correct. I'm a Barcelona player for life. This is my home."
"What about retirement? Can you really play until thirty-seven?"
"I'll play as long as my body allows and my performance stays elite. When that's no longer the case, I'll transition to other roles at the club. But I'm not thinking about retirement. I'm twenty-seven. I have years left."
Perfect answers. Confident. Committed. Pure Ethan.
The global reaction was immediate:
ESPN: "Ethan Loki Signs $500M Lifetime Deal with Barcelona - Biggest Contract in Sports History"
Marca: "Loki Commits to Barcelona Forever - Real Madrid's Nightmare Continues"
L'Équipe: "The Five Hundred Million Euro Man - Ethan Loki Rewrites Football Economics"
Mbappé texted: Five hundred million euros. I'm in the wrong contract negotiations. Congratulations, hermano. You earned it.
Messi texted: Welcome to the lifetime Barcelona club. Best decision you'll ever make. 👏
Ronaldo texted: Smart move. Loyalty is rare in modern football. Respect. 💪
July 2027 - First Vacation as a Family
With the contract signed, Ethan and Sofia took Lucas on his first real vacation—two weeks in the Maldives. Private island. Complete isolation. Just the three of them.
Lucas loved the beach. Well, "loved" might be strong. He mostly looked confused by the sand and cried when waves got near him. But there were moments of pure joy—when Ethan held him in the shallow water and Lucas kicked his legs, when Sofia sang to him under the palm trees, when all three of them lay on a beach blanket watching the sunset.
"This is what life should be," Sofia said one evening as Lucas slept between them. "Not training camps and press conferences. This."
"I know. But football pays for this."
"Football pays for a lot of things. But it doesn't give you time. And time is the one thing Lucas needs most."
She wasn't wrong. Ethan had missed so much already—Lucas's first smile, his first time sleeping through the night, countless small moments that vanished if you weren't present.
"When the season starts," Ethan promised, "I'll be better about being home. I'll talk to Flick about managing my minutes. I'll make time."
"You say that every summer."
"This summer I mean it."
Sofia looked at him skeptically but didn't push. They both knew the truth: when the season started, football consumed everything. That was the nature of greatness. The cost of being the best.
August 1st - Return to Training
Ethan reported to Barcelona's training facility on August 1st for the start of pre-season. The 2027-28 campaign was about to begin.
The locker room was buzzing with energy. New signings introducing themselves. Veterans catching up after summer breaks. Young players trying to prove they belonged.
Flick gathered everyone on the training pitch at 9:30 AM.
"Gentlemen, welcome to pre-season. Last year, we won the treble. The year before that, we won the treble. This year, we're going for three consecutive trebles. Something no team has ever achieved in football history."
He let that sink in.
"The pressure will be enormous. Every opponent will give us their absolute best. Every match will be a war. But we have the quality. We have the experience. And we have—" he pointed at Ethan "—the best player in the world."
Everyone clapped. Ethan felt the weight of expectation settle on his shoulders like a familiar coat.
After training, Flick pulled him aside.
"I heard about the lifetime contract. Congratulations."
"Thank you."
"But I need to talk to you about this season. You played fifty-one matches last year. That's unsustainable. This year, I'm managing your minutes more carefully. Some league matches, you'll rest. Some Copa del Rey matches, you'll be on the bench. I need you fresh for the big moments."
"I can handle—"
"This isn't negotiable. You're twenty-seven. You want to play until thirty-seven? Then we manage your body now. Otherwise you'll burn out at thirty."
Ethan wanted to argue. But Flick was right. His body had felt heavy at the end of last season. His legs had been tired. His mind exhausted.
"Okay," Ethan agreed. "Manage my minutes. But I need to play the big matches."
"Champions League knockout rounds, El Clásicos, big finals—you'll play all of those. But the random Wednesday night Copa del Rey match against a third-division team? You're resting."
"Deal."
August 15th - Season Opener: Barcelona 5-0 Real Betis
The first match of the 2027-28 season was at Camp Nou. Real Betis visiting. A match Barcelona was heavily favored to win.
The atmosphere was electric. Camp Nou packed with 95,000 fans ready to watch their team chase history.
Ethan felt different this time. Calmer. More centered. Knowing he had a lifetime contract removed a pressure he hadn't even known he was carrying.
Fourteenth minute: He scored. A brilliant solo goal. 1-0.
Twenty-third minute: He scored again. A simple tap-in. 2-0.
Fifty-sixth minute: He completed his hat-trick. 3-0.
Lewandowski and Ferran Torres added two more. Barcelona won 5-0. Professional. Dominant. Exactly as expected.
Ethan's season opener: Hat-trick, three points, perfect start.
After the match, journalists asked about the lifetime contract.
"Does the pressure of a five-hundred-million-euro contract affect your performance?"
"If anything, it removed pressure. I don't have to worry about my future. I can just play football. That's liberating."
"You scored a hat-trick on opening day. Are you targeting sixty goals again this season?"
"I'm targeting whatever the team needs. If that's sixty goals, great. If it's thirty goals and we win the treble, even better. Individual statistics matter, but trophies matter more."
Perfect answer. Team-first mentality wrapped in confidence.
August 20th - The Conversation
Late at night, Ethan sat in Lucas's nursery, watching his son sleep. The baby monitor showed his chest rising and falling. So small. So vulnerable. So dependent on Ethan and Sofia for everything.
Sofia appeared in the doorway. "You okay?"
"Just thinking."
"About?"
"About how fast time moves. He's already four months old. Soon he'll be one. Then five. Then eighteen. And I'll have missed so much because of football."
Sofia came over, wrapping her arms around him from behind. "You're not missing anything. You're building a legacy for him. Showing him what dedication and hard work look like."
"But I'm not here. I'm at training camps and away matches and press conferences."
"You're here right now. That's what matters. Not every moment—just the important ones."
Ethan wanted to believe that. But he knew the truth: every moment was important. Every smile, every laugh, every tiny milestone. And football was making him miss most of them.
Three moves ahead, his future looked complicated:
Move one: Chase the third consecutive treble this season. Make history again.
Move two: Be present for Lucas. Don't miss the important moments.
Move three: Figure out how to balance both. Because right now, it felt impossible.
But Ethan Loki had made a career out of achieving the impossible.
So he'd figure this out too.
He had to.
End of Chapter 72