Chapter 326 - 319: Reward for the U-20 World Cup

"Hey, Louis."

Yang Yang stepped out of the elevator and into the lobby, quickly spotting Louis van Gaal and Trus Opmel in a corner.

"What are you guys doing here?" Yang Yang asked with a smile as he approached them.

Trus Opmel shrugged helplessly and glanced at Van Gaal. The answer was self-evident.

The hotel had been fully booked by the Chinese Team and wasn’t accepting outside guests. As the three of them sat down in a corner, they didn’t have to worry about being bothered. Still, Yang Yang was curious about the reason for Van Gaal’s visit.

"What’s up?" Yang Yang asked, getting straight to the point.

He and Van Gaal were close, but they had always been direct with each other.

"I want to ask you about your number eighteen center-forward," Van Gaal said, just as directly.

The number eighteen center-forward, Gao Lin.

A flash of understanding sparked in Yang Yang’s mind, and he immediately guessed Van Gaal’s intentions.

"To be honest, I don’t know that much about him. I just know he was also born in ’86 and has never played in a professional league. But I’ve been with him for over half a month, and I think his skills are quite impressive."

"I know," Van Gaal said flatly. He had always been confident in his eye for talent.

"Then what do you want to know?" Yang Yang asked.

"His personality, his daily routine, things like that."

Yang Yang thought for a moment. "I think he’s great. Very self-disciplined. Besides, are you telling me you’re worried you can’t coach him into shape?"

Even though he knew Yang Yang was deliberately goading him, Van Gaal just grunted softly and dropped the subject.

In truth, Yang Yang was covering for him.

Given China’s current football environment, Chinese players were, by the standards of the European professional leagues, more or less lacking in self-discipline, especially regarding things like diet. Among the domestic players, however, Gao Lin was considered one of the better ones.

It wasn’t just him; many players on the current National Youth Team were quite impressive.

Therefore, Yang Yang didn’t want to delve too deeply into these areas. Highlighting his strengths while avoiding his weaknesses was a strategic move.

He had known for a while that Van Gaal wanted a center-forward, but he never expected him to take an interest in Gao Lin. That was a bit of a surprise.

But Yang Yang also believed that if Gao Lin could go to Alkmaar and be developed—or even heavily relied upon—under Van Gaal, it would be an incredible stroke of luck for him.

After all, everyone knew the man had developed legends like Bergkamp and Cruyff.

Besides, Gao Lin really was Van Gaal’s type of player.

"I originally wanted Pelle from Italy, but Lecce’s asking price is very high. You know we’re a small club; we have to be meticulous with every cent. Then Gao Lin came along. I think he’s decent, so I want to learn more about him."

Yang Yang had a flash of insight. Pelle was indeed one of the most outstanding center-forwards at this FIFA U-20 World Cup, perhaps just a notch below Spain’s Llorente, but certainly a bit better than Gao Lin.

But each player had his own strengths, and Gao Lin had shown some qualities that were better than Pelle’s. Otherwise, given Van Gaal’s personality, he would never have considered choosing Gao Lin over Pelle.

"I can help you look into the details and see where he stands with his club. I think he’s probably interested in playing abroad, but you have to at least promise to give him more chances to get match experience," Yang Yang said directly, comfortable enough with Van Gaal to do so.

If he was going to recommend Gao Lin to Van Gaal, Yang Yang had to at least ensure his teammate would get playing time.

"Next season, I only plan to bring in one center-forward. With Heijmans already on the roster, I’ll have two center-forwards."

Van Gaal didn’t finish his sentence, but Yang Yang understood his implication.

In the new season, Alkmaar would be competing on three fronts: the Eredivisie, the Dutch Cup, and the UEFA Cup. Given Alkmaar’s strength, they were competitive in all three, so there would be no shortage of opportunities to play.

Of course, whether or not he’d actually get to play would ultimately depend on his own performance and hard work.

"Alright, how about this: you can ask him for me. Have him stay in the Netherlands after the FIFA U-20 World Cup and join our team’s preseason training camp. If he’s a good fit, I’ll sign him on the spot. The transfer fee shouldn’t be too high, right?"

Yang Yang thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, I’ll ask him for you."

But he quickly followed up, "Have you taken a look at any other players? A midfielder or a defender, for example?"

Trus Opmel, who was beside Van Gaal, couldn’t help but laugh. "Yang, are you changing careers and becoming an agent now?"

Even Van Gaal had a strange expression, looking like he was trying to suppress a smile.

Yang Yang, however, was unfazed. "What can I do? My teammates are all desperate to stay and play in Europe to keep improving, so of course I have to help ask around."

"Not for my club, no. But I did hear a piece of news you might be interested in."

"What is it?"

"Feyenoord is looking for a center-back, and their scouts think very highly of your number five. You should have Guido Alberts get in touch with them. You’re familiar with their new head coach, Erwin Koeman, aren’t you?"

"Erwin Koeman is managing Feyenoord?" Yang Yang was surprised.

He’d been so focused on playing with the National Youth Team lately that he hadn’t paid any attention to news from the outside world.

"He’s been in the job for a little while now. He did a good job at Vaalwijk last season, so after Feyenoord fired Gullit, they poached him. He’s looking for a center-back."

Yang Yang’s eyes lit up. He turned to Van Gaal and said, "If this works out, I’ll treat you to dinner."

Van Gaal pursed his lips. "So you’ll only treat me if it works out? You’re so cheap!"

...

...

When Yang Yang privately told Gao Lin that Van Gaal was interested in him, the rookie, who had never even played in a professional league, was completely stunned. He couldn’t believe his ears.

"Van Gaal?" Of course, he’d heard of the world-famous manager; it was just hard to believe.

"That’s right. He wants you to stay in the Netherlands after the FIFA U-20 World Cup and join his team for preseason training camp, as a trial. And from what I can tell, he’s very positive about your skills and performance."

Gao Lin’s heart pounded. The chance to play abroad in Europe, especially under a famous manager like Van Gaal, was an almost irresistible temptation. But the thought of the transfer made him a little anxious.

’This would be my first time abroad,’ he thought. ’Will I be able to adapt?’

"Alkmaar is only about a half-hour drive from Amsterdam, so getting back and forth is very convenient. You don’t need to worry about the lifestyle aspect. If you know how to drive, you can come see me every day."

Yang Yang’s words put Gao Lin at ease.

Thinking about it further, Gao Lin recalled what Yang Yang had said before—that Van Gaal was looking for a center-forward. Now, the man himself had come calling. Adding that to Yang Yang’s close relationship with Van Gaal, Gao Lin immediately concluded that Yang Yang must have strongly recommended him.

Realizing this, Gao Lin was filled with gratitude for Yang Yang.

"The thing I’m worried about now is your club. Will they let you go abroad?" Yang Yang asked with concern, not thinking about Gao Lin’s gratitude.

Gao Lin thought for a moment and nodded. "It should be possible. I’m not even on the first team. If it comes to it, I’ll go talk to the leaders of the Football Association right now and have them mediate. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Yang Yang agreed that was the right move.

After leaving Gao Lin, Yang Yang went to find Feng Xiaoting to tell him the news about Feyenoord.

"This isn’t just some wild media speculation. If—and I’m saying *if*—we have Guido Alberts make contact, you’ll have to go for a trial. If you pass, you stay. You need to think this through carefully, especially whether your club back home will make things difficult."

Feng Xiaoting was one of the most eye-catching center-backs at this FIFA U-20 World Cup; you could even argue he was *the* most eye-catching.

So, Yang Yang wasn’t the least bit surprised that Feyenoord was interested in him.

As for whether Feng Xiaoting would get playing time at Feyenoord, Yang Yang couldn’t make any guarantees. That would depend on the player’s own hard work and opportunities. Getting to play sometimes really did require a bit of luck.

However, Yang Yang had no doubts about Feng Xiaoting’s ability.

As the best-performing center-back at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, Feng Xiaoting certainly wouldn’t lack for interested teams, possibly even from the Four Major Leagues. But if the main consideration was simply getting on the pitch and playing, Yang Yang felt the Eredivisie would be an excellent place to start.

Rather than rashly taking a shot at the Four Major Leagues only to be left without opportunities, it was better to build a solid foundation in the Eredivisie and then slowly look for a possible transfer to one of the Four Major Leagues.

After hearing what Yang Yang said, Feng Xiaoting agreed that this was a rare opportunity. Feyenoord was, after all, a top team in the Eredivisie that could play in the UEFA Cup. If he had the chance to join them, it would be an excellent chance to develop.

"I’m just worried the club will make things difficult," Feng Xiaoting said, his face etched with worry.

He wasn’t a regular starter at his club, but they might not be willing to let him play abroad. They might even demand a high transfer fee, which would be completely unacceptable to European teams.

Yang Yang immediately thought of the head of the Football Association and the officials from the General Administration of Sport. They had all personally promised to do everything in their power to help. Now was the time for them to make good on that promise.

...

...

Having just made their promises a short while ago, both the Football Association and the General Administration of Sport solemnly agreed to step in and help negotiate when faced with Feng Xiaoting and Gao Lin’s requests for aid.

Neither of them was a regular starter at their respective clubs, so the process shouldn’t be too difficult to manage.

The fact that two players from the National Youth Team had received trial opportunities came as a huge surprise to the leaders of the Football Association.

Yang Yang also quickly called Guido Alberts to tell him about the Feyenoord situation. Alberts called back shortly after, confirming that the interest was real. In fact, he said they were so interested in Feng Xiaoting that they might not even require a trial.

Once the news spread, an uproar erupted within the National Youth Team.

Everyone knew that playing well at the FIFA U-20 World Cup could easily attract the attention and favor of European teams, but no one expected the rewards to come so quickly and so suddenly, happening to players right beside them.

Whether it was Gao Lin going to Alkmaar, Feng Xiaoting to Feyenoord, or even Chen Tao’s earlier move to Anderlecht, it was all happening right before their eyes, leaving their teammates filled with envy.

Being able to play abroad was definitive proof of a player’s skill.

Any player with a bit of talent and ambition—who wouldn’t want to take a shot at European football and prove themselves?

But for both Feng Xiaoting and Gao Lin, things were just getting started. Nothing was set in stone yet; they had only seen a glimmer of hope. This filled them with a renewed fighting spirit.

Everyone on the team was fired up, determined to keep proving themselves at the FIFA U-20 World Cup and make a name for themselves that everyone would remember.