THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
chapter-618

Andrea sighed and calmly asked Zachary, "I was wondering if you have faced any issues with the club since you came to Turin?"

"Absolutely not!" Zachary replied with a smile. "I've had an amazing time at Juventus, and that's a big reason I've been able to accomplish so much during my time here."

"Zachary," Andrea said. "I understand that you're considering your options, but we value your contributions to our team and would like to continue our partnership. We are willing to offer you competitive terms that reflect your value to us, and we are also open to discussing other ways we can support your career goals. That aside, Coach Allegri has expressed his admiration for your leadership potential, and we would be honored to have you as a captain in the future. We hope you will consider extending your contract with us, and we are committed to making you an integral part of our team's success."

"Let's not complicate things, Chairman," Zachary sighed, shaking his head. "Over the past four years, I've given my heart and soul to Juventus. I've fulfilled all the terms of my contract, worked tirelessly with my teammates, and won four consecutive Serie A titles, two Champions League trophies, and a few other awards. However, it's time for us to part ways, and I hope we can do so on good terms. Juventus will always have a special place in my heart."

The chairperson politely turned to Zachary and asked, "Is there any chance you would reconsider? We are willing to offer you a weekly salary of 300,000 Euros plus other favorable benefits."

Zachary shook his head firmly. "Chairman!" he exclaimed, "My decision is not motivated by money or any other benefits from the club. I only want to explore new horizons in my football career outside Italy. Chairman, please allow me to pursue this opportunity."

Andrea let out a sigh and leaned back in his seat. "I see your point," he replied, "So be it. Apart from this, congratulations on the success you have achieved at Juventus. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors."

"Thank you, Mr. Chairman," Zachary replied respectfully.

Andrea nodded and smiled. "You're welcome. You may now return to the dinner party. Let me speak with your coach for a few minutes."

Zachary nodded to both gentlemen before rising from his seat and exiting the private booth.

—–

As soon as Zachary closed the door behind him, an unsettling stillness descended upon the secluded booth. The Juventus coach and chairman looked at each other with expressions of dismay, their silence speaking volumes. For a whole minute, nobody said a word, making the atmosphere feel even more tense and uncomfortable.

"Max," said Andrea, the club chairman, with a hint of disappointment in his voice. "We have suffered a huge loss this time. The entire board is on my case for allowing a talented player like Zachary to leave the club as a free agent. We should have sold him to one of the clubs that were interested in him during the previous transfer window."

"Chairman, I think you're forgetting one thing," said Coach Max Allegri. "Between 120 to 140 million offered for Zachary during the last transfer window and Champions League trophy, which one would you choose as a club president?"

Agnelli had a confident grin as he shook his head. "Come on now, choices are for those who lack drive and direction. If you truly want to succeed, you do not choose. You just have to be willing to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way."

"You have spoken as a businessman," said Allegri. "But in this case, your principles don't apply. If we had sold Zachary before his contract expired last season, we would have missed out on another Champions League victory. For me, that would have been unacceptable."

"I understand your point," responded Andrea. "But the fact remains that we suffered a tremendous loss. We should have negotiated a much longer contract when we signed him from Rosenborg four years ago. By the way, have you found a replacement for him yet?"

"The team has a solid midfield with Dybala, Sami Khedira, Pjanic, and Marchisio," the coach noted. "However, we cannot solely rely on them after Zachary's departure. To remain competitive both domestically and in Europe, we must acquire another world-class creative midfielder."

"Got it," replied the chairman. "I'll relay the message to the scouting department to start their search for a new midfielder. With the World Cup just around the corner, we can only hope that some top-tier talents will emerge during the tournament."

After nodding in agreement, the coach and the president exchanged a few more words in their private booth. They then returned to the dinner party, which was already in full swing.

—–

Back to the dinner party!

Zachary sat down at the exquisitely arranged dining table, feeling a rush of mixed emotions. His heart was pounding in his chest as he took in the beautiful décor and surroundings.

Amidst the company of his cherished teammates and coaches, a lively ambiance of mixed emotions filled the surroundings – a blend of melancholy and felicity. The room was adorned with Juventus flags and banners, and the big screens started displaying Zachary's memorable moments on the field.

As the night wore on, the Juventus players and coaches pulled out all the stops to show Zachary how much he meant to them. They shared heartfelt speeches, warm embraces, and lots of laughter. The air was filled with the aroma of delicious Italian food and the sounds of clinking glasses and chatter.

Zachary's gaze was fixed on his colleagues as the excitement built up. Overwhelmed with emotion, he couldn't help but feel a sense of love and appreciation radiating towards him. Zachary remembered all the times he had fought hard on the field, all the times he had pushed himself to the limit, and all the times he had celebrated with this team.

But the pinnacle of the evening was when Coach Allegri took the stage and listed Zachary's incredible achievements at Juventus. He recounted how Zachary had become a top scorer and the season's best player for the Serie A three seasons in a row. He then highlighted how Zachary helped Juventus win two Champions League trophies before presenting him with another Player of the Season award.

The audience was ecstatic, and the applause was deafening. Zachary was overwhelmed with joyful emotions and could hardly contain his tears as he accepted the award. He was grateful for the love and support shown to him by his teammates and coaches. He felt proud and accomplished, knowing that his hard work had not gone unnoticed.

As the night slowly came to a close, Zachary scanned the room, taking in the warmth and joy that filled the air. He knew this was a night that he would cherish forever – a night that would always hold a special place in his heart. Everyone joined in to celebrate his immense contributions to the team and wished him all the best for his next adventure.