"Last night, I saw Pete Deviser among the fans in Almere."
Chief Scout Tony Bruns Slots reminded them with a worried frown, "This is already the second time Eindhoven has observed Yang Yang at close range. I suggest we make our move as soon as possible."
Almere was Ajax's satellite club, and Yang Yang was Van Basten's die-hard fan. No matter how one looked at it, Ajax had no reason to let such a highly regarded player fall into the hands of their archrivals, especially Eindhoven.
If that really happened, Ajax would lose all face.
"I agree with Tony. When Robben was at Groningen, we originally had the best chance, but Eindhoven got there first. If we had moved quickly and secured Robben back then, the situation would be completely different now." Patrick Radru also voiced his support.
Robben was one of the most eye-catching young talents in Dutch football over the past two or three years. Along with Feyenoord's Van Persie and Ajax's Van der Vaart, he was known as one of the Netherlands' new Three Musketeers. But unlike Van Persie and Van der Vaart, who had both come through powerhouse academies, Robben had started his career at Groningen in the north of the Netherlands.
Back then, the three giants had fought over Robben, but Eindhoven had ultimately taken the lead. This had always been a source of regret for the Ajax staff. Otherwise, with Van der Meide on one wing, Robben on the other, Ibrahimovic leading the line, and Van der Vaart ruling the midfield, Ajax's attack would have been unstoppable.
Unfortunately, Robben had now become Eindhoven's star player.
"I agree as well. Yang Yang is indeed already capable of playing for Ajax. And from what I've learned, he's clearly closer to us than to the other clubs. After all, he spent a year in Almere." Luther Carroll also stated his position.
Although Almere was nominally only a satellite club, in reality, it could be considered part of Ajax's youth training system.
Of course, it was still a very insignificant part.
"How did he perform yesterday?" Van Gaal asked calmly.
Although he was glad to see Yang Yang receive everyone's recognition, this was official business, so he would handle it officially and not let their personal relationship influence him.
"He performed well, especially in the first half. He created several threats and even scored a goal. With Vermaelen and Emanuelson defending him, he still managed to seize a goal all by himself. That was no small feat," Chief Scout Slots said.
"Last night, Aron Mooy's Football Online also held a heated discussion about the match and praised his performance highly. This is already the third consecutive issue in which he's been featured. I estimate that quite a few teams have their eyes on him now." Patrick Radru reminded him.
Van Gaal continued asking without showing any particular reaction, "What about his own attitude?"
"I don't know, but I think he'd be very willing to join Ajax."
"Why?"
"He came to the Netherlands a year ago and has been living with his uncle. His uncle runs a Chinese restaurant in Almere, while he attends Baken Academy. If he joins Ajax, both his life and studies can remain unchanged. But if he goes to Eindhoven, everything will be thrown into disarray."
At this point, Patrick Radru suddenly smiled. "I made a point of asking John Rep about him. It turns out this kid is even better at studying than football. He actually ranked first in the entire grade in Baken Academy's final assessment and even received a scholarship."
"Really?" Everyone present looked surprised.
Even Van Gaal and Koeman were slightly moved.
There were many talented footballers in Ajax's youth training camp, and quite a few who excelled academically as well. But players who were good at football and also achieved excellent academic results were truly rare.
Who would have thought that this Yang Yang was a top student too?
Van Gaal pondered for a moment before turning to Van Basten. "Marco, what do you think?"
Van Basten grinned and chuckled. "I like that kid."
With that one sentence, Van Basten made his attitude completely clear.
Van Gaal then looked at Koeman, the Head Coach of the First Team. The latter shrugged, indicating that he had no objections.
Although the Head Coach also oversaw the youth setup, his main focus was on promoting youth talent. Luther Carroll handled most of the other matters, while Van Gaal, as Technical Director, oversaw all of Ajax's sporting affairs.
In other words, the Dutch master was the direct superior of everyone present, including Van Basten.
At this moment, one word from him could determine Ajax's choice.
Van Gaal did not rush to state his position. Instead, he flipped through the scouting reports and documents in front of him, his brow slightly furrowed as he clearly weighed and considered the matter. Soon, however, he put the papers down.
"According to the reports, he has already secured one of Almere's spots for Talent Day. So my opinion is that we can talk to him first and keep him settled, but it would be best to arrange for him to take part in the Talent Day selection. Then we can properly and systematically observe him at close range. This is a rare opportunity for experience and training."
Ajax held Talent Day selections twice a year. Each time, players from the First Team took part, training and playing matches alongside all the players attending the trials. Nearly a thousand young players from around Amsterdam, all over the Netherlands, and even from around the world would participate as well.
This was undoubtedly an excellent opportunity to understand one's own abilities, as well as a platform for broadening one's horizons.
More importantly, if a sixteen-year-old player like Yang Yang signed directly with the club, he would generally be moved up to the seventeen- or eighteen-year-old age group before gradually rising through the ranks. But if he entered through the Talent Day selection, then as long as he performed well, he would have a real chance of being promoted directly to the Second Team—the team coached by Van Basten.
This could be considered a small selfish motive Van Gaal had revealed within the limits allowed by the rules and his authority.
Van Gaal believed that whether from the club's perspective of evaluating a player or from the perspective of Yang Yang's own development, taking part in the Talent Day selection was a good choice and an excellent opportunity for growth.
After all, the chance to compete on the same field as First Team stars was not something that came along every day.
After hearing Van Gaal's words, most of them felt that he was simply being cautious and demanding. That was entirely consistent with his usual style of conduct, so they were not surprised.
Whether Yang Yang took part in the Talent Day selection was secondary. The main issue was that there was now competition.
"What should we do if Eindhoven contacts him during this period?" Chief Scout Slots asked worriedly.
That was also why everyone was eager to sign Yang Yang.
"He's a smart person. If he goes to Eindhoven now, he won't have many opportunities. And as you said, his uncle is in Almere. As long as we promise that we'll sign him after the Talent Day selection regardless of his results, I believe he won't refuse."
Everyone felt that this made sense. They were quite confident in Ajax's appeal.
"Of course, to be safe, Patrick, go to Almere yourself after the meeting."
Patrick Radru nodded. "I'll speak with his uncle at the Chinese restaurant first."
"If he isn't at the Chinese restaurant, he should be at the Skate Park. Go there and find him. While you're at it, tell him this is my decision." Van Gaal spoke calmly.
Everyone looked surprised when they heard that.
How did Van Gaal know where to find him?
Could it be that they already knew each other?
What exactly was their relationship?
Everyone was puzzled, but Van Gaal refused to say more, and there was no need for them to make wild guesses.
Near noon, Youth Training Assistant Patrick Radru arrived at Shen's Chinese Restaurant in Almere accompanied by scout Fred Arroyo, but Yang Yang was not there.
After a thorough conversation with Yang Yang's uncle, Shen Ming, they followed Shen Yuzhu to the Skate Park, where they saw Yang Yang practicing intensely in the central skating area after working at it all morning.
By then, Yang Yang had already finished his wall-training exercises. He was standing before a yellow marker disc, using his left and right feet to tap, push, pull, flick, and drag the ball, making it circle around the small marker disc.
As Ajax's Youth Training Assistant and scout, Radru and Arroyo naturally knew that this was the most basic ball-control drill. Yet Yang Yang repeated it again and again, his expression utterly focused. He had not noticed their arrival at the edge of the area at all.
From his soaked jersey, his sweat-drenched head, and the battered wall in front of him, they could easily imagine what Yang Yang had been practicing here and how hard the Chinese boy had been working.
The sight shocked them both.
This was almost masochistic training. And despite how extremely dull and repetitive these basic drills were, he could remain so focused.
"How long has he been training like this?" Patrick Radru asked in a trembling voice.
"Three months." Shen Yuzhu sounded a little distressed even as she spoke.
Yang Yang's parents treated him like their own son, and she treated him like her younger brother.
Radru and Arroyo exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in the other's eyes. Clearly, they had thought of the same thing: Yang Yang's rapid rise from Almere had begun three months ago. After that, he had shot into the sky, stunning everyone, improving in almost every match.
Everyone had eventually concluded that he must have suddenly figured things out and learned how to play the game. Considering how poor Yang Yang's fundamentals had been, that explanation seemed reasonable. But now, it appeared that the secret behind his rise was hidden in this Skate Park.
Van Gaal must have known about this. That was why he had told them to come to the Skate Park if they could not find him at the Chinese restaurant.
But what was his relationship with Yang Yang? How had they met?
"It seems we underestimated him after all." Patrick Radru shook his head.
Fred Arroyo deeply agreed. They had indeed underestimated Yang Yang.
This was not an underestimation of Yang Yang's current ability, but of Yang Yang as a person—and of what he might achieve in the future.
Who could say how far he might go with this almost masochistic dedication to training, combined with the rate of improvement he was currently showing?
Before you continue