"But that’s enough from . You probably have questions."
Leo looked down at his glass for a mont, swirling the apple juice absently before looking up again with the faint trace of a smile that said he wasn’t entirely unmoved.
"I do," he said finally, setting the glass down.
He finally leaned in slightly, setting his glass down.
"You’ve said a lot about what you’d do for , and it sounds good, don’t get wrong, but I want to know... what’s in it for ? Like, really in it for ."
Noah tilted his head, a small, approving smile forming.
"Good. You should ask that."
Leo nodded slightly.
"Because, I an, agents talk. I’ve heard stories online... so players end up barely knowing what’s in their contracts. So lose control over sponsorships, image rights, or even who gets to negotiate what on their behalf. I don’t want to just sign and wake up later realising I gave away half of my na if I should be able to have any."
He paused, watching Noah’s reaction.
Noah leaned back, folding his arms.
"That’s fair. And you’re not wrong, so agents work like that. But you’re smart to bring it up before even thinking of signing anything. Let break it down."
He reached into his folder and slid a few papers out, not contracts, but examples.
"Let’s start with structure. Most player-agent agreents operate on a commission model—typically 5 to 10% of the player’s gross salary. It can go higher, especially if the agent covers personal branding, PR, or legal costs."
"As I said, I go for 5% but I never push beyond 7%. That’s industry standard. People like Jorge ndes might go higher, but that’s because they’re essentially entire agencies themselves. I’m not trying to own your image, Leo. I’m trying to manage it."
Leo’s eyes flickered over the sheets, recognising nas, so he knew well from headlines.
"So this 5 to7%, does it co from my club salary or sponsorships too?"
"Good question," Noah said, his voice almost pleased.
"It depends on what we agree to. Typically, the commission is tied only to your playing contract, the wages and bonuses negotiated with your club. Sponsorships and endorsents are separate."
"So agents try to link everything under one deal. I don’t. I let players keep 100% of their individual sponsorships unless they specifically want to manage those too, in which case I’d only take 5% on new deals I bring in myself."
Leo nodded, tapping his fingers against the glass.
"So, say if a brand like Nike ca directly to , I’d get all of that."
"Exactly," Noah replied.
"But if I introduce you to, say, a new athletic tech brand or an agency that wants to feature you in a campaign, then I’d take a small cut for arranging it. Transparency all the way through. You’ll never find a hidden clause in anything I handle."
Leo studied him for a mont.
"And what if, let’s say, I want to move clubs, and another agent tries to approach mid-contract?"
Noah gave a small chuckle, shaking his head slightly.
"Happens more often than you’d think. It’s called ’poaching,’ and FIFA has rules against it, though so people still try and bend them.
My contracts are simple, if you ever feel I’m not doing my job, you can leave. I won’t hold you hostage. Most agents slap players with penalties or long notice periods. I don’t. I believe in mutual trust. If I’m not earning your confidence, I don’t deserve your signature."
That answer sat well with Leo, but he still pushed further.
"Okay. What about control? Let’s say a club approaches you about a transfer, you’d talk to them first, right?"
"Yes, but not alone," Noah replied without missing a beat.
"You’d always be looped in. No backroom dealings, no sudden surprises. You’d get every detail, offer structure, salary, bonuses, image clauses, before we move an inch. I’d advise you but not decide for you. You’d have the final word. Always."
Leo sat back again, the tension easing a little.
"And if you ever want to move for your own commission’s sake?"
Noah smiled, wide this ti, but genuine.
"Then I’d be no better than the ones I complain about. Listen, Leo... agents only win long-term if their players trust them. I’m not here for one transfer. I’m here to help bring you up which in turn benefits . You are the only player I have under now, and I intend on keeping it that way for a while."
"When I started, it was all about how many players I could get under . But now, I think it’s about the quality. If I can get you to sign for big nas, the small cut that I get would still be giant."
Leo watched him for a long mont, as if testing the tone of his voice against his eyes.
"Alright," Leo said after a while. "Let’s say I sign. What’s the first thing you’d do for ?"
"First?" Noah said, resting his forearms on the table.
"I’d audit your current deal at Wigan, go through your terms, your release clause, performance bonuses, sponsorship limitations, everything."
"Then we’d start projecting forward. It won’t be long before you start getting love calls from clubs. My job is to position you so that when a move does co, it’s on your terms."
"That ans more than just money. It’s playing style, developnt opportunities, and even cultural fit. So my priority is to ensure you get there without losing yourself in the process."
The two of them went quiet for a few seconds.
Leo’s questions had stretched the eting far beyond what most seventeen-year-olds would’ve asked, but Noah didn’t mind.
If anything, he seed impressed.
"You’ve got your guard up," Noah said finally, sitting back and finishing his water.
"That’s good. Don’t ever lose that. In football, it’s not just your feet that need to be sharp, it’s your head. Keep it that way, and you’ll go far."
Leo gave a faint smile, the first hint of ease creeping in.
"I’ll take that as a complint."
"It is," Noah replied simply, gathering his notes.
"Think it over. Don’t rush. I’ll send you the draft agreent when you want. You read it, talk to whoever you trust, and we’ll pick it up from there."
Leo nodded. "Yeah... I will."
As they both stood, Noah offered a handshake, steady and firm.
"Good talk, Leo. You’ve got sense beyond your years. Don’t lose that curiosity. It’s the one thing even talent can’t replace."
Leo nodded again, his tone quiet but sure.
"Thanks, Noah."
.....
Leo pushed open the door to the dorm room, the familiar rush of muffled sound greeting him, controller clicks, sharp bursts of laughter, the hum of the new console working overti.
Ezra and Jake were still glued to the screen, eyes wide, bodies leaning forward as if sheer willpower could move their digital players faster.
He paused for a second, half-amused.
"You two still playing?" he said, dropping his jacket over the back of the chair.
But no answer ca.
Jake’s face twitched, his fingers moving frantically on the controller.
Ezra mumbled sothing incoherent under his breath, eyes locked on the glowing display.
Leo just shook his head, watching them like they were two people lost in another dinsion.
"Unbelievable," he muttered, sitting down on the edge of his bed.
The match ended a few monts later, one final roar from the virtual crowd, followed by Ezra groaning dramatically and Jake tossing his controller in victory.
"Done," Jake said, exhaling like he’d just run a marathon.
He turned to Leo with a half-grin. "So... how’d the date go?"
Leo blinked, looking up from his phone.
"It wasn’t a date," he said flatly. "I went to et Noah."
That got their attention.
Both Ezra and Jake froze for a second, glancing at each other in disbelief before speaking at the sa ti.
"The Noah Sarin?"
Leo didn’t look up imdiately, still scrolling through his phone, but there was a faint twitch at the corner of his mouth.
"Yeah."
Ezra raised a brow.
"You actually went? I thought you said you weren’t sure about him."
Leo finally looked up, leaning back slightly. "Yeah, well... I did."
Jake leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "Anddd?"
Leo smirked faintly at their identical expressions before saying simply, "He’s good. At least from what I’ve seen."
Ezra nodded slowly, glancing at Jake.
"Well, damn... sounds like things are getting serious."
"Yeah, damn."
Ezra looked at Leo like he was thinking about sothing before looking down and then back up.
"I also don’t have an agent, but if he’s good, and he proves it after, say you get with him, then maybe he could also manage ."
Leo’s brows creased before nodding at Ezra’s words.
"He said he would only manage for now, if I am to sign with him but we’ll see though."
"Well if it’s like this," Jake said, "then add too."
"But don’t you have an agent?" Leo questioned.
"Who, my father? He is or was trying to be but he says he can’t handle it much more."
"Oh okay," Leo said before turning his gaze back to his phone.
Things were suddenly getting serious.
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