Page 7 of Playing for Keeps
“It’s great to finally meet you,” Rob replied. “Zoom calls and emails are all well and good but I’m old-fashioned. I like to get to know my clients.”
Does he know or not?
They hadn’t mentioned anything in their previous communications about why Udo had left Chelsea. Still, gossip travelled fast. Rob wouldn’t be very good at his job if he hadn’t uncovered the truth.
“Good news. There are some offers from companies interested in that handsome face of yours. They’re more local to this area. Even so, the money is good.”
Udo had advertised plenty of things in his career. Football boots. Deodorant. Video games. Once he’d even done a campaign encouraging children to read.
“That’s great,” Udo replied. “I didn’t think anyone would be interested after I left Chelsea.”
Rob took a large swig from his pint of lager. “I’m not going to lie to you. You’re going to have to score a goal or two if you want to keep them on the hook.”
Udo dropped his head.
“I know,” he replied, quietly. “I’m working on it. I’ve not really settled that well. Steven Cox is going to give me some coaching.”
“Yes, I heard he was working at Brockton now. Amazing footballer in his day.”
“Absolutely. I’ve been watching some old YouTube videos of him. He was incredible. I’m very lucky. If he can’t help, then no one can. He’s really good with the team.”
He stopped when he saw Rob watching him carefully.
“What?”
Rob glanced around and leant forward. “I know what happened,” he said.
“Now—”
“Hold your horses,” he continued. “It was fucking disgusting. I will guarantee you here and now that I will be straight down the line with you.”
Udo relaxed.
“In keeping with that, let’s be real,” Rob said. “You have two, maybe three years left at this level. Then you either slowly sink or go out in a blaze of glory. I personally would recommend the latter but that’s up to you. One thing I will say is, we don’t need a repeat of Chelsea.”
Udo shifted in his seat. What had Rob heard exactly?
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Keep a lid on…other things. For the short-term. I’ll make you enough money that you’ll never have to work again.”
Udo frowned. “I’m hardly poor.”
“Retirement before forty means you need a big pension pot. You’ll never make this kind of money again. Let’s focus on that. Anything else is not worth the trouble.”
It smarted that this was the truth. Udo had no intention of rocking the boat again.
“Believe me, history will not be repeating itself.”
Every fibre of him wanted to rail against the unfairness of it all. But the realist inside knew what Rob said was true. Udo had sailed far too close to the edge in the past to risk it all again.
He could put that side of his life to one side for a few years. He’d been too close to exposure. All he had to do was focus on his game and stop outside interference.
Not a problem.
THREE
STEVEN
