I Am Jose-Chapter 93 - : Two Promises

After the initial shock wore off, Pirri began to think things through. At first, he assumed José was joking, but it quickly became clear that he was completely serious.

If José had made this request from the start, Pirri wouldn't have even considered it—he would have refused outright. Yes, his forced resignation from Real Madrid was unfair, but he never had any desire for revenge. He had plenty of options for his next step; while some clubs were wary of the "Pirri Report" and its consequences, others recognized his value and were eager to bring him in. Barcelona was one of them. Out of spite for Real Madrid and in retaliation for losing Figo, Joan Gaspart had personally sent people to contact Pirri. But Pirri rejected the offer without hesitation—he had never wanted anything to do with Barcelona, under any circumstances.

Beyond Barcelona, two other top clubs had approached him. Héctor Cúper at Valencia and Javier Irureta at Deportivo La Coruña both saw his expertise as a significant asset. They extended sincere invitations, with Irureta even flying to Madrid to meet him in person. But despite their efforts, Pirri declined both offers. He had no interest in working for a club that directly competed with Real Madrid.

Pirri had already mapped out his future. As one of Spain's greatest players from the late '60s and '70s and a highly respected technical director at Real Madrid, finding work wouldn't be difficult. Whether as a television pundit or a guest columnist for Marca or AS, he could easily transition into a comfortable role. These jobs might not pay as well as working for a club, but for a man nearing sixty, they were more than sufficient. Only if he found himself entirely out of options would he even consider joining another team—because, at the end of the day, survival comes first.

Yet José's proposal made him rethink everything.

First, their conversation had impressed him. José's football mind, his ability to analyze players, and his understanding of the industry as a whole had left Pirri pleasantly surprised. José wasn't just a head coach—he was also the club's majority owner. That meant Pirri wouldn't have to worry about boardroom politics leading to José's departure, making his own role meaningless overnight. Having gone through that exact situation at Real Madrid, stability was now a top priority for him.

Second, while Pirri had been disheartened by his exit from Madrid, his ambition hadn't died. He had once held an influential role at one of the world's greatest clubs. Now, the idea of settling for a low-stakes media job felt unfulfilling. What José offered was not only respect but a level of authority he never even had at Real Madrid. In European football, professional pride matters more than anything else.

Lastly, Mallorca wasn't Real Madrid's rival—at least, not yet. Even if José had the talent to build something great, catching up to Real Madrid would take years. Infrastructure, finances, global influence—Mallorca was nowhere near that level. Pirri believed in José's vision but knew that, for now, the two clubs weren't in direct competition.

Follow current novels on freewebnσvel.cѳm.

With all of this in mind, he couldn't ignore the opportunity. That's why he was thinking so hard about it—without these factors, he wouldn't have even considered it.

José sat quietly, waiting. He had done everything possible to make his case, but there was still a lingering worry: what if Pirri refused?

People often say that Barcelona players are fiercely loyal to their club, with legends like Piqué and Fàbregas desperate to return after leaving. But Real Madrid inspired a similar devotion.

Take Pirri himself—despite being mistreated by the club, he never sought revenge. He went from being an elite technical director to a TV analyst overnight without complaint. Another prime example was Vicente del Bosque, the current Real Madrid manager. Del Bosque had been nothing short of extraordinary—stepping in as an interim coach and winning two league titles and two Champions League trophies in four seasons. Any other club would have worshiped him, but Florentino Pérez fired him simply because he "didn't fit the image of a Real Madrid coach." It was an insult, and most managers in his position would have sought redemption elsewhere.

But Del Bosque refused to take charge of another Spanish team. He even turned down offers from clubs that might meet Madrid in the Champions League. Instead, he took a job in Turkey, far from the Spanish football scene. After that brief and unsuccessful stint, he stepped away from club management entirely. It wasn't until 2008, when he took over the Spanish national team and led them to World Cup glory, that his name resurfaced in mainstream football.

This was what worried José. Pirri's loyalty to Madrid was undeniable.

After a long silence, Pirri sighed.

José's heart sank. That sigh sounded like the prelude to a difficult rejection.

"I have to say, José, your offer is the most tempting one I've received," Pirri admitted. "I've had plenty of offers before, but none have made me seriously reconsider my plans like this."

José braced himself for the inevitable follow-up: But...

And sure enough, it came.

"But...I still don't want to go against Real Madrid."

José let out a faint, bitter smile. He had done everything possible, but even that wasn't enough. Still, he couldn't help but respect Pirri's unwavering principles.

Madrid's two biggest clubs had demonstrated their incredible ability to inspire loyalty. Atlético Madrid refused to sell Fernando Torres, fearing backlash from their fans. And now Pirri, unwilling to betray Real Madrid, was turning down an opportunity he clearly found appealing.

Meanwhile, Mallorca struggled to retain its own stars. Diego Tristán had left without hesitation, not because he was disloyal, but because Mallorca lacked the stature to keep him. For many players, excelling at Mallorca was just a stepping stone to something bigger.

José knew how to change that. It would take time, but the process was straightforward—refuse to sell key players and keep strengthening the squad. Over time, the club's reputation would shift.

But for now, selling talent at a profit was his only path to financial stability. Until Mallorca could sustain itself, there was no alternative.

Just as José was lost in thought, Pirri suddenly smiled.

"That's precisely why I need you to agree to one thing," he said. "If Mallorca ever reaches a level where it can seriously compete with Real Madrid, I want you to let me go—no matter how much time remains on my contract, and without any strings attached."

José blinked, taking a moment to process what he had just heard.

"You mean...you'll take the job, but once Mallorca becomes a direct rival to Madrid, you'll leave?"

"Exactly. If you agree to that, I'll start tomorrow. If not, we have nothing more to discuss." Pirri shrugged casually.

José hesitated before asking, "And what exactly defines a 'direct rival'?"

"A club that consistently finishes in the top four for three to four years, competes for the league title, and performs well in the Champions League—meaning, at the very least, reaching the knockout stages." Pirri answered with a smile.

José immediately felt relieved. That meant Pirri would be around for at least three or four years. By then, Mallorca would be on solid footing. And given Pirri's age, he'd be nearing retirement anyway. A less demanding role, like a media job, might suit him better at that point.

"There's an old saying," José said. "A gentleman's word is worth more than a signed contract. You have my word—if Mallorca ever reaches that level and you wish to leave, you'll be free to do so." He stood up and extended his hand.

Pirri shook it firmly. "And I promise you this—I will never do anything to harm Mallorca's interests while I'm technical director. Any information I gain in this role will stay with me, even after I leave. I'll take it to the grave."

José nodded. He understood exactly what Pirri meant. As technical director, Pirri would have access to all of Mallorca's scouting and transfer plans. If he ever shared that knowledge with other clubs, it could be disastrous.

But José trusted him. A man of such loyalty and integrity was worth believing in.