The Bastia fans had just finished watching Julien's spectacular match—representing France at the Stade de France, decisively defeating Germany with a hat-trick to complete his revenge.
But after the match ended, neither Bertrand nor Martin and the others were laughing and drinking to celebrate the victory as they usually did.
This atmosphere gradually spread throughout the entire bar.
Everyone knew why. But no one spoke up.
They just talked about other things, or simply drank, or discussed Julien's three goals.
Until a boy about twelve or thirteen years old said loudly, "Julien is going to leave, isn't he?"
Everyone's eyes turned to him.
The still somewhat youthful-faced Lucarelli wasn't afraid of these gazes at all. He looked at everyone, "I heard the TV commentator saying that Julien will go to Paris."
Someone in the crowd who knew him said, "Hey, Lucarelli, aren't you in Bastia's youth academy? You should know this is fake news—Julien won't go to Paris."
This exchange completely opened up the topic the fans had been unwilling to face: Julien's departure.
They had been avoiding this reality all along.
Even though they knew Julien would definitely leave, they felt that as long as they didn't think about it or discuss it, they wouldn't have to face it.
But now, with time entering February, there were only three months left until the season ended.
They had no choice but to face this question.
Lucarelli shook his head. "I don't know. No one knows what Julien's choice will be. We only know that Julien will leave. My friend in the reserve team told me that in Mr. Chataigner's speech to the reserves, he mentioned that the youth academy will have opportunities to move up next season because the team's roster will undergo major changes."
Lucarelli was a Bastia youth player, currently in the U15s. Although he played as a defender, his only idol was Julien.
This kind of fan bar allowed minors to enter, though they weren't permitted to drink alcohol.
Lucarelli's uncle beside him kept tugging at him, quietly saying, "Sit down."
The uncle didn't want him to bring up this topic.
The Bastia people would rather bury their heads in the sand.
But Lucarelli ignored his uncle and continued, "I don't agree with what the commentator said. Why should Paris Saint-Germain represent French football?
They're just Qatari oil money! Although I can't make decisions for Julien, I don't want to see him go to Paris. His talent shouldn't stay in Ligue 1!"
"Right!"
Lucarelli's words instantly resonated with everyone.
"Let a team backed by Qatari oil money represent France? Let Paris clean up the piss smell in their metro first!"
"I'd rather see him wearing a red Manchester United jersey conquering Old Trafford than see him in a PSG shirt 'bullying weak teams' in Ligue 1!"
"Ligue 1 is really too much of a waste of his talent. I'm willing to let Julien leave. I know that a player like this doesn't belong to Bastia, but he shouldn't belong to Ligue 1 either.
What can Paris offer him? If such a genius chooses comfort for money during the years when he should be improving the most, I think France's future will be ruined again."
Listening to everyone share their thoughts, Lucarelli's mind couldn't help but recall the day he met Julien.
Julien had smiled and said:
"Football is a very personal matter. You don't need others to order to you, nor do you need others to tell you what you should or shouldn't do.
There are too many people in this world who want to order to others, as if the world would collapse if you didn't listen to them. But it's not like that. Just pursue your own path, that's enough. There's nothing in this world that you absolutely must do."
And that abruptly ending conclusion, all of it left an incredibly deep impression on Lucarelli.
He believed his life had definitely been influenced by Julien.
He kept thinking: Where would Julien choose?
Would it really be Paris?
If so, he would be very sad, with a feeling of his idol crumbling.
At the bar, Bertrand mixed drinks while listening to everyone's discussion.
He also thought about how recently the media had been filled with rumors about Julien and Paris.
He sighed softly.
Times had changed.
If it were Jacques' era, a star player would be very reluctant to transfer. Fans back then were happier, they had many hometown heroes.
Perhaps the hero who saved the team on the field was just the neighbor's son.
He sighed again and refocused his attention on Bastia's results this season.
Bertrand pondered: what kind of event should he organize on the day Bastia won Ligue 1?
He had already thought about the Europa League: for the upcoming match against Tottenham in a few days, he would offer another massive discount.
For every goal Julien scored, there would be a twenty percent discount. Julien only needed to score five goals, and everything would be free!
If it were before, Bertrand definitely wouldn't do this, but Julien would be leaving this summer, so he decided to go all out.
Regarding Julien's future, it wasn't just Bastia discussing it, all of France was paying attention.
Because at some point, a wind had blown across all of France.
Multiple media outlets were reporting that Paris had great interest in Julien, preparing to build him up as France's top player, and were willing to give Julien a contract that was absolutely top-tier in football today, it would even exceed David Silva's and match Ibrahimović's.
This meant that the eighteen-year-old Julien would receive a contract worth over ten million euros after tax!
According to previous media reports, Ibrahimović's current contract was approximately 12-14 million euros after tax annually, second only to Ronaldo and Messi.
Qatar definitely had money!
On this point, French fans had absolutely no doubt, PSG had fully proven their financial power in two summer transfer windows.
L'Équipe also mentioned: "Multiple sources confirm that PSG's contract offer to Julien is definitely not limited to salary and bonuses, but also includes an endorsement contract. He will become the global spokesperson for Qatar Airways."
This news left many fans stunned.
Some criticized it: "15 million after tax per year? At 18?! This will completely ruin him. What Julien needs now isn't yachts and private jets, but a competitive environment! If he signs this contract, his career is basically finished."
"I said it before: these oil money will destroy football. PSG is disrupting market order!
In the future, which young talent will be willing to work hard? Everyone will just wait for oil money to raise their price for retirement at 15. Football's most precious hunger for glory is being castrated by these bas***ds!"
"True geniuses should be moved by the history and glory of elite clubs, not by euros piled on the negotiating table as climbing mats!
Were Pelé, Maradona, and Zidane built with money?
This is blasphemy against the purity and the gods of football!"
Others were quite understanding: "15 million after tax plus endorsements equals approximately over 20 million euros annual salary. Sign for five years and be financially free directly.
Would you refuse? Glory is nonsense in front of hundreds of millions of euros. Football is a job, choosing PSG is a genius being pragmatic!"
"Mate, do the math! He earns in one match what an ordinary French person earns in 150 years! Before criticizing, ask yourself: if given a fraction of that, could you maintain your so-called 'football ideals'?"
"Criticize him for not going to a more intense league? If it were me, I'd sign with PSG on my knees!
I play semi-professional, earning 2,000 euros a month, playing football while loading cargo in a warehouse... 15 million after tax?
The sweat I'll shed in my lifetime isn't enough for him to drink a bottle of champagne! Has this world ever been fair? When you need money, you'll realize that all honor and championships are bullshit."
There were also neutrals: "Criticism aside, but him staying in Ligue 1 is ultimately good, right? At least it guarantees national team chemistry, and Ligue 1's viewership ratings can increase a bit.
In Long-term, perhaps French football as a whole could benefit... right?"
There were countless such discussions.
So many that this wind had blown all the way to Bastia's training base, and Julien couldn't avoid it at all.
After Le Guen acted as a mediator, Leonardo had already approached Pierre with their "sincerity":
14 million euros after tax annual salary, plus various bonuses that could reach over 20 million euros at maximum
Plus, an 8-million-euro annual endorsement contract with Qatar Airways, with the contract length matching Julien's contract with Paris
If Julien could play for PSG for over ten years, they could also transfer him to the Qatari league for retirement, with an annual salary definitely higher than his highest salary at PSG
Additionally, things like being the absolute core of the team, being cultivated as France's top player, being given all political and sporting resources, etc.
Even Bastia was being tested alongside Julien.
PSG approached the Bastia city hall, willing to increase investment in Bastia and develop Bastia's tourism industry, which even prompted the Bastia mayor to call Julien.
Then there was Bastia club. Chataigner heard a transfer fee he would never hear again for a Bastia player in his lifetime: 100 million euros—a transfer fee that would break the football transfer record!
Geronimi, hearing this news, even came to ask Julien, "If possible, would you choose PSG?"
Then there was De Rocca family. PSG was willing to give his family a larger mansion, better jobs, and better arrangements for his siblings.
Honestly, it was incredibly tempting.
For a moment, Julien wavered. At this moment, he truly understood what kind of test Mbappé had endured.
However, this contract—how could it be light at all?
It was as heavy as a gold-plated shackle worth a fortune.
People only saw and envied the dazzling gold on the shackle, but ignored the burning suffocation when the young genius crouched within it.
Julien knew he needed to say something.
While preparing for the 23rd round league home match against Evian, Julien found Hadzibegic.
"Faruk, I want to go to the press conference with you after the match."
"Hm?"
Hadzibegic was somewhat surprised and asked, "Do you want to respond to those rumors?"
Julien nodded.
Hadzibegic didn't lecture him or adopt the tone of someone older and wiser. He just nodded with a smile, "I know you can make a decision that satisfies you. Can I know in advance?"
Julien didn't say directly, but answered, "In the Terra-Vecchia center building, the fans painted me, and on the building next to it, they wrote a line: 'The day you chose Bastia, Bastia embraced football.'"
Julien looked out the window at the blue sky over the training field, at those teammates still training hard.
He said word by word, "So this time, I'm still choosing to embrace football."
After saying this, Julien felt much lighter all over.
Hadzibegic didn't seem surprised by Julien's decision. He stood up and walked toward Julien. The tall, imposing old veteran defender opened his arms and pulled Julien into his embrace.
He patted Julien's back. "Child, you've made a remarkable decision. Believe in yourself."
After releasing Julien, Hadzibegic also smiled and said, "After this match against Evian, the next league match will be an away challenge against Paris Saint-Germain. I believe after your post-match interview content spreads, that match will be very difficult for us."
Julien shook his head slightly while waving his hand. "Compared to refusing over a hundred million euros, defeating them won't be that difficult."
"Hahaha!"
Hadzibegic laughed out loud at Julien's words.
This was that unconventional young genius!
Watching Julien leave, Hadzibegic's eyes still sparkled with excitement. He couldn't help but call his wife.
"Hey honey, do you know what I just witnessed?"
"Oh! You definitely won't know, but I can't tell you yet. I can only say—wait until tomorrow night and you'll know. I'm super excited right now. I witnessed the birth of a legend."
After hanging up, Hadzibegic's mood was still surging.
This kid had just refused enough money to last thirty lifetimes...
For an old-school guy like him, this was simply too cool.
Back at the training ground, Julien continued training with his teammates. Although everyone seemed to be training as usual, some people were holding back words but didn't have the nerve to speak up.
Especially De Bruyne, who hesitated several times.
Seeing him like this, Julien said, "I'll attend the press conference after tomorrow night's match."
"Oh, okay... Wait, what?!"
De Bruyne was shocked.
Julien turned back and smiled at him.
In that instant, De Bruyne's restless heart immediately calmed down. Just from one look, he already understood what Julien was going to say.
And what kind of decision he was going to make.
February 10th.
Bastia hosted league opponent Evian at home.
This was a match without any suspense.
Evian had almost no ability to fight back against Bastia, losing three goals in the first half.
Lukaku scored twice, and De Bruyne found the net.
Julien had a hat-trick of assists!
This half, Bastia played with absolute dominance. Evian had no attacking opportunities at all.
The defensive midfield duo of Kanté and Rothen, combined with center-backs Van Dijk and Cahuzac, completely locked them down.
Second half: Bastia substituted three main players to save energy for the midweek Europa League match.
The second half pace was slow, but Bastia won the match without any doubt, continuing to hold the top spot in Ligue 1.
In the post-match interview, reporters had already planned how to ask Hadzibegic about Julien's recent transfer rumors.
After all, the rumors were spreading more and more convincingly, was Julien really going to join PSG?
However, when they saw Julien's figure appear during the post-match interview...
Whoosh!
All the reporters at the scene couldn't help but cry out in surprise!
"Julien!!!"
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