How Should He Choose?

In Almere, no one could refuse the allure of Eindhoven.

John Rep understood at once when he saw Yang Yang sitting there in silence.

Around noon that day, he had received three calls from Ajax in succession: one from scout Fred Arroyo, one from Chief Scout Tony Bruns Slots, and one from First Team Chief Assistant Coach Luther Carroll.

And all three had called for the very same reason: Yang Yang.

Before seeing the stack of business cards in Yang Yang's hand, John Rep had still harbored doubts. Why was Ajax in such a hurry over Yang Yang? Even if Yang Yang had performed brilliantly in amateur matches, it was difficult to explain.

But after seeing the cards, especially Pete Deviser's, he finally understood.

For Eindhoven's Chief Scout to personally attend and watch him play, there was no need to think twice about it—Yang Yang had already entered Eindhoven's list of key prospects, perhaps even one for whom they were about to begin the signing process.

Almere was Ajax's satellite club. From any perspective, Ajax had no reason to let a player like this slip away to Eindhoven. So they wanted to make the first move, or at the very least let Yang Yang know that Eindhoven was not the only club interested in him—Ajax was too.

That was why the three of them had all called John Rep without consulting one another.

And what about Eindhoven?

Pete Deviser was known for his sharp eye for talent. His judgment of players had always been exceptionally keen. Back then, he had helped Arnesen sign Ronaldo from Brazil, and that alien had sent Eindhoven's strength soaring.

Anyone who had watched Yang Yang play could easily see that he had countless flaws. His crosses were unreliable, his first touch was poor, and his passing lacked consistency. In short, his fundamentals were a complete mess.

But they certainly could not deny the brightest thing about Yang Yang: his Pendulum Dribble.

It was too sharp, too astonishing!

As a former European-caliber Right Winger, John Rep considered himself a good judge of talent. Yet Yang Yang had made him completely doubt his own eye, because Yang Yang's progress had been so incredibly rapid. In just two or three months, he had utterly overturned everything John Rep thought he knew.

He was only sixteen, yet his momentum was this fierce. Who could imagine what he might become in the future?

Someone even Pete Deviser thought highly of surely had something extraordinary about him.

And Yang Yang? What was he thinking?

Between Ajax and Eindhoven, which would he choose?

"Today at noon, I received three calls in a row. They were all asking me about you."

"Hm?" Yang Yang snapped out of his silence and looked at the Head Coach in surprise.

"Ajax's Chief Scout from the scouting department, Tony Bruns Slots; First Team assistant coach Luther Carroll; and Fred Arroyo, the scout responsible for tracking amateur matches. They're all very interested in you."

"Really?" Yang Yang was delighted once again.

Eindhoven's interest had already surprised him. He had not expected Ajax to be interested in him too.

"Ajax has always followed the tradition of having the First Team Head Coach also oversee the Youth Training Camp. Luther Carroll is not only Ronald Koeman's right-hand man, but also a Youth Training Assistant. In theory, before the new Technical Director takes office, Luther Carroll and Tony Bruns Slots can decide whether to sign you."

John Rep explained Ajax's signing process to Yang Yang. Clearly, he wanted Yang Yang to understand that Ajax valued him no less than Eindhoven. The only reason Ajax had not contacted Yang Yang directly was because Almere was Ajax's satellite club.

A satellite club meant that, under equal conditions, Ajax had priority signing rights over all Almere players, naturally including Youth Training Players.

After hearing John Rep's words, Yang Yang suddenly found himself in a difficult position.

Both Ajax and Eindhoven were interested in him. How was he supposed to choose?

"Mr. Rep, what do you think of these two teams?" Yang Yang asked with concern.

John Rep was pleased that Yang Yang had taken the initiative to ask for his opinion, but he did not intend to favor either side. After all, this concerned Yang Yang's future. As the team's Head Coach, he could offer advice, but he should not mislead him.

"Ajax and Eindhoven are the two strongest giants in the Netherlands, and both are renowned forces in Europe. There's no need to say much about Ajax—they have always emphasized youth development. But their results have fluctuated somewhat in recent years, with considerable ups and downs. Though they can consistently remain in the top three of the Eredivisie, they are still inferior to Eindhoven."

"Eindhoven, on the other hand, has performed very well in recent years. After Hiddink led them to the title this season, he will renew his contract with the club. I believe Eindhoven will remain the most competitive team in the Netherlands for the next few years. They are also financially strong, and whether in player treatment or club operations, they are better than Ajax."

Yang Yang nodded repeatedly. John Rep's analysis was very close to his own impression.

"But that does not mean Ajax has no advantages. Eindhoven's youth development is not as good as Ajax's, and Hiddink also prefers to use mature players. It is undoubtedly harder for young players to emerge at Eindhoven. More importantly, Eindhoven's First Team is currently packed with talent. They have Robben on the left and Park Ji-sung on the right, both of them favored by Hiddink."

"Even someone as universally recognized for his exceptional talent as Afellay has still been unable to enter the First Team. You can imagine just how fierce the competition is in Eindhoven's First Team. It is extremely difficult for young players to stand out there."

Seeing Yang Yang nod without pause, John Rep smiled faintly before continuing his analysis.

"Ajax has always been known for youth development. They are best at bringing in players of the right age, polishing and cultivating them into talent. They have also always had a history of boldly using young players, advocating internal development and promotion first. Comparatively speaking, there are more opportunities there."

"I've received reliable information that Right Winger Van der Meide will soon transfer to Inter Milan. There will be a vacancy on the right side of the First Team, and young players will definitely receive more chances for match experience. Both Babel and Amrabat have already been included in the First Team plans."

Yang Yang understood a little more now.

Both teams were Dutch giants, but their situations were completely different.

Ajax was now Europe's famous Young Guards, and Ronald Koeman had always aimed to build an entirely new team capable of matching Van Gaal's young side from the mid-nineties. Young players would receive more opportunities and trust in such a team.

Eindhoven, however, comparatively favored mature and steady players. Even Robben, a nineteen-year-old prodigy, had only established himself in Eindhoven's First Team after playing two full Eredivisie seasons at Groningen.

It should be said that neither team was inherently better or worse. It only depended on how Yang Yang chose.

John Rep clearly understood the difficult choice Yang Yang now faced. Whether it was Ajax or Eindhoven, each came with gains and losses. No one could guarantee how many opportunities a sixteen-year-old would receive after joining either club, nor could anyone guarantee what he would become in the future.

Therefore, taking this step undoubtedly required careful consideration and deep thought.

"I think you don't need to worry too much about this for now. It's only early July, and there's still plenty of time. You can focus on playing well in the amateur matches first, then consider it slowly later," John Rep suggested.

Yang Yang understood that this was probably the best choice for now.

"Also, when you play Ajax in the next match, you must put on a good performance. There should be quite a few people coming to watch you play then. If you perform well, it will give you more leverage when you make contact and negotiate."

"I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Rep," Yang Yang said sincerely.

"Finally, I suggest you find yourself an agent as soon as possible. That way, you can free yourself from all these bothersome trivialities and focus on playing." John Rep offered the suggestion with a smile.

As he watched the Head Coach leave, Yang Yang felt rather helpless.

He had already lost count of how many times John Rep had urged him to find an agent, yet he remained completely clueless about it.

He had seen plenty of reports about agents' misdeeds. Ferguson, Manchester United's Head Coach in the Premier League, had even condemned agents as vampires before. Naturally, Yang Yang had developed a poor impression of them.

But recently, he had to admit that having an agent well versed in the business to handle these matters for him would indeed let him focus on football without distraction. But how was he supposed to find one?

Henk Dimer had his own agent, supposedly from a somewhat well-known agency in Amsterdam. He had previously asked Henk Dimer to sound Yang Yang out, but Yang Yang had been focused entirely on training and had never given the matter much thought.

Besides, he was wary of agents. Who knew whether one might secretly pull something behind his back?

When Yang Yang returned to the courtyard and pulled Henk Dimer aside to ask about agents, voicing his concerns, the Almere Youth Team captain slapped his forehead hard.

"Come on, you sign a contract with him and pay him a salary. You're his boss, and he works for you. As long as the contract is properly written, if you ever don't like the look of him, you can fire him whenever you want without paying a penalty. Why worry that he won't work wholeheartedly for you?" Henk Dimer said with perfect justification.

"Is that how it works?" Yang Yang was surprised. Why was that different from what he had heard?

"Brother, what you're talking about are Europe's top agents. Players need them to make things happen and rely on their resources, so naturally they're at their mercy. But right now, you just want someone who understands the business and can help you negotiate contract terms with the club. What are you worried about?"

Seeing the look of sudden realization on Yang Yang's face, Henk Dimer, Nick, and the others could not help laughing.

This guy's understanding of professional football was just like his performances on the pitch a few months ago—an absolute mess.

"If you're worried, you can show the contract to Mr. Reip and a lawyer when the time comes," Henk Dimer suggested.

Yang Yang nodded. That put his mind at ease.

No matter what, he should first find an agent to deal with all these trivial matters.