Chapter 47 - 45 - How Many Season?

Chapter 47: Chapter 45 - How Many Season?

Moreau called shortly after eight on Tuesday evening.

Rafael was sitting at the kitchen table with his mother, who had brought her laptop over after dinner. Metz’s proposal was open on the screen, and he had marked the sections he wanted to discuss.

"Evening, Moreau."

"Evening, Rafa. Hello, Mrs Morales. Have you both had a chance to read everything?"

"We have," his mother answered. "Rafael’s been going through it since yesterday."

Moreau chuckled. "I thought he might. Anything you’re worried about?"

"The three years," Rafael said. "The agreement ends in June 2029, right?"

"That’s correct. It covers the next three seasons and takes effect once the LFP homologates it."

His mother leaned closer to the phone.

"Mr Moreau, do you think this offer is going to protect him? I know he’s happy about staying with the first team, but three years is a long time."

"It gives him regular wages and a recognised contractual position, which is a good step for him. But I don’t want either of you thinking it’ll guarantee him first-team football." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Rafael had been looking at the contract’s duration while Moreau spoke.

"What happens if the coach leaves?"

"I’ve raised that with Metz. They’ve agreed to a formal sporting review on the fifteenth of December, with the academy and sporting management involved. It won’t depend entirely on the current coach."

"And if I’m still training with the first team but barely getting minutes?"

"Then we’ll discuss your situation before the winter window. That could mean looking at your reserve minutes, your development programme or whether another arrangement would help. The club hasn’t promised to change anything simply because we ask."

Rafael nodded.

"Have they confirmed the review in writing?"

"Yes. You’ll have the email tomorrow with the rest of the documents."

"All right. I want to see everything before I decide."

"That’s fine, Rafa. We’ll go through it together tomorrow."

They confirmed their appointment for half past four before ending the call.

Rafael closed the laptop and moved it aside while his mother collected their cups.

"You think you’ll sign?" she asked.

"Probably. I just want to check what they’ve actually put in writing."

She nodded and carried the cups into the kitchen.

Rafael remained at the table for another moment before getting up to help her.

Rafael finished training on Wednesday afternoon and returned to the senior changing room with the other players.

He had arranged to meet his mother at the club’s administrative offices at half past four, so he completed his recovery work, showered and changed before collecting his bag.

Moreau had already sent him the review email, which Rafael had read on his phone that morning.

He reached the administrative building shortly after four and waited near reception until his mother arrived several minutes later, carrying the handbag she had taken to work.

"Hello, sweetheart. Sorry, I couldn’t leave as early as I wanted."

Rafael stood and greeted her with a brief hug.

"You’re not late. We’ve still got plenty of time."

"Good. Have you been waiting long?"

"About ten minutes. How was work?"

"Busy, but I managed to finish most of what I needed to do. Is Mr Moreau here already?"

"He said he’d meet us upstairs."

Rafael greeted the receptionist, who directed them toward the administrative offices.

Moreau was waiting outside the meeting room. He came forward to greet Rafael’s mother before shaking Rafael’s hand.

"Good afternoon. Did you manage to get away from work all right?"

"Yes, thank you. I had to leave a few things for tomorrow, but it’s fine."

"Well, hopefully we won’t keep you too long. Come in."

The club administrator was waiting inside with an academy representative. After the introductions, Rafael and his mother took their seats while Moreau settled beside them.

The administrator opened a folder and placed the prepared documents on the table.

"Everything’s here. Take your time going through it, and let us know if there’s anything you want to discuss."

Rafael thanked him and opened the stagiaire contract.

The first page contained his personal details beneath the club’s information.

Name: Rafael Morales.

Date of birth: 6 January 2009.

He checked the remaining details before turning to the contractual dates.

The agreement covered the 2026–27, 2027–28 and 2028–29 seasons, ending on 30 June 2029.

Rafael continued to the financial section.

Metz were offering him a gross monthly salary of €1,800 during the first season, rising to €2,250 in the second and €2,800 in the third.

His mother was reading the same section when she glanced toward him.

"That’s quite a bit more than you’re getting now."

"Yeah."

"You’ll be able to cover some of your own expenses."

Rafael smiled. "I was thinking I could start helping you with the shopping."

She looked up from the document.

"Let’s wait until they actually start paying you before you decide what you’re spending it on."

"I’m not going to spend everything, Mum."

"I should hope not. You’ll need to save some of it."

Rafael laughed quietly as she returned to reading.

He checked the remaining financial provisions before moving the contract aside and picking up the review email.

The meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, 15 December 2026, with the academy and sporting management involved.

The email identified four subjects for discussion: Rafael’s involvement with the senior squad, his competitive minutes across the senior, reserve and youth levels, his progress against the targets established during preseason, and Metz’s intended pathway for him during the second half of the season.

Rafael read the final paragraph before looking toward the academy representative.

"This stays in place if there’s a change in the first-team staff?"

"Yes. The sporting department will remain responsible for arranging it."

Rafael nodded and placed the email beside the contract.

He had seen enough players lose their place after a managerial change to know why the distinction mattered. The meeting would not force a future coach to select him, but the sporting department would still have to consider his situation before the winter transfer window.

He opened the amendment to his existing convention de formation.

The original agreement had been scheduled to expire in June 2027. Under the proposed amendment, its duration would be extended to match the stagiaire contract, bringing both agreements to an end on 30 June 2029.

Rafael compared the revised date with the original agreement Moreau had brought along.

"This goes through with the new contract?"

"Yes," Moreau answered. "The dates need to be aligned, so the club will submit both documents together."

Rafael nodded and continued reading while his mother returned to the financial section.

For several minutes, nobody spoke apart from the occasional question about a particular passage.