NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 183: European Glimmers
"Hey, Louis."
Yang Yang stepped out of the elevator into the hotel lobby and immediately spotted Louis van Gaal and Truus Opmeer sitting in a quiet corner.
"Why are you here?" Yang Yang greeted them with a friendly smile, his curiosity piqued.
Truus Opmeer gave a helpless shrug and cast a glance at Van Gaal, as if to say, "It's all his doing."
Since the hotel was fully booked by China U20 and closed to outsiders, the trio sat comfortably in the corner, free from interruptions. Still, Yang Yang couldn't help but wonder about Van Gaal's sudden visit.
"What's the matter?" Yang Yang asked, always preferring to get straight to the point.
Van Gaal, known for his directness, wasted no time either. "I want to know more about your teammate—the number 18."
Yang Yang's mind immediately flashed to Gao Lin.
"Number 18, Gao Lin?" Yang Yang asked, already guessing what Van Gaal was implying.
Van Gaal nodded, his face unreadable.
Yang Yang leaned back slightly, thinking. "To be honest, I don't know him very well. He was also born in 1986, hasn't played in the professional league yet, but I've spent more than half a month with him here."
"I know," Van Gaal replied coolly, his confidence in his scouting unwavering.
"So, what do you want to know specifically?" Yang Yang asked, intrigued.
"His character, his habits, how he is day-to-day," Van Gaal clarified.
Yang Yang paused for a moment before responding. "He's very disciplined, from what I've seen. Let me guess—you're worried he won't handle the training?"
Van Gaal snorted, unimpressed by Yang Yang's playful jab, and chose not to engage. Yang Yang, however, had his reasons for deflecting the topic.
He knew that by European standards, Chinese players still had much to learn in terms of self-discipline, particularly when it came to diet and professional habits. But compared to many of his domestic peers, Gao Lin was quite exceptional. In fact, this current China U20 squad had several players who were setting higher standards for themselves.
Yang Yang also understood why Van Gaal was interested. Van Gaal needed a striker, and it was somewhat surprising that he had set his sights on Gao Lin. Still, Yang Yang believed that under Van Gaal's guidance at AZ Alkmaar, Gao Lin would not only improve but also have a real chance to make his mark. After all, Van Gaal was renowned for developing world-class talents like Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Kluivert.
"Originally, I wanted Graziano Pellè from Lecce," Van Gaal admitted. "But their asking price was too high. You know how it is with a small club like ours—we need to be careful with every penny. Then I saw Gao Lin, and I thought he could be a good option. I wanted to learn more about him before making a decision."
Yang Yang nodded in understanding. Pellè was one of the standout center-forwards in this World Youth Championship, arguably second only to Spain's Fernando Llorente. But Gao Lin had also displayed qualities that set him apart. If Van Gaal, with his sharp eye for talent, saw potential in Gao Lin, then there was undoubtedly something there.
"I can help you talk to him and the club," Yang Yang offered. "I'm sure he'd be interested in moving abroad to develop his skills, but if he's going to join you, I'd hope you'd give him opportunities to grow through actual game time."
Van Gaal smiled faintly. "In the new season, I only plan to sign one striker. With Huysegems already in the squad, Gao Lin would round out the options. We'll be competing in three tournaments—the Eredivisie, the KNVB Cup, and the UEFA Cup—so there will be plenty of chances for him to play. Of course, his playing time will depend on his performance and effort."
Yang Yang understood what Van Gaal was implying. The opportunities would be there, but Gao Lin's future would ultimately depend on how he adapted to the demands of European football.
"If that's the case, I'll speak with him and let you know," Yang Yang replied.
Van Gaal nodded, then added, "After the World Youth Championship, have him stay in the Netherlands to join our pre-season training. If he fits, we'll keep him. The transfer fee shouldn't be an issue."
Yang Yang agreed. "Alright, I'll ask him for you."
Before the conversation could end, Yang Yang had another question. "Are you looking at any other players—maybe a midfielder or defender?"
Truus Opmeer burst into laughter. "Yang, are you switching to being an agent now?"
Even Van Gaal cracked a rare smile, clearly amused.
Yang Yang shrugged casually. "What can I say? My teammates are eager to play in Europe and improve, so I have to ask."
Van Gaal's expression turned thoughtful. "I'm not, but I did hear something that might interest you."
"What's that?" Yang Yang asked.
"Feyenoord is looking for a central defender. Their scouts seem to rate your number five pretty highly. You might want to let Guido Albers—know. Their new coach, Erwin Koeman, has taken charge there, and I'm sure you're familiar with him."
Yang Yang's eyes lit up with surprise. "Erwin Koeman is coaching Feyenoord now?"
Van Gaal nodded. "He's been there for a little while. After doing well at Waalwijk last season, Feyenoord hired him to replace Gullit. They're looking to strengthen their backline."
Yang Yang's mind raced. "If this works out, I'll owe you a dinner."
Van Gaal smirked. "Only if it works out, huh? Typical."
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When Yang Yang privately relayed the news of Van Gaal's interest to Gao Lin, the young striker—who had yet to experience professional league football—was completely stunned. For a moment, he was at a loss for words, unsure if he had misheard.
"Van Gaal?" Gao Lin repeated in disbelief. Of course, he had heard of the world-famous coach, but the idea of being scouted by him seemed almost too good to be true.
"Yes," Yang Yang confirmed, smiling. "He wants you to stay in the Netherlands after the World Youth Championship and join his team for pre-season training. It'll be a trial, essentially, but from the way he talked, he seems pretty confident in your ability and performance."
The idea of staying in Europe and playing under a coach of Van Gaal's stature was immensely appealing to Gao Lin. It was the kind of opportunity that most players from China could only dream of. But as the initial excitement subsided, doubts began to creep in. Would he be able to adapt to living and playing abroad?
Sensing his unease, Yang Yang reassured him. "Alkmaar is only about half an hour from Amsterdam. It's easy to go back and forth, and you won't have to worry about settling in. If you learn to drive, you can come visit me every day."
Gao Lin's thoughts drifted to Yang Yang's earlier comment about Van Gaal searching for a center-forward. Now that the offer was on the table, he was almost certain that Yang Yang had put in a strong recommendation on his behalf. Gratitude filled him as he realized how much Yang Yang had done for him.
"Now I'm more worried about your club," Yang Yang continued. "Will they let you leave for Europe?"
After a moment of reflection, Gao Lin nodded. "They should. I'm not even in the first team right now. Worst case, I'll go to the Football Association leaders and ask them to step in and communicate with the club. This is a rare chance, and I don't want to miss it."
Yang Yang agreed with the approach. "That sounds like the right move."
After parting ways with Gao Lin, Yang Yang sought out Feng Xiaoting and shared what he had learned about Feyenoord's interest.
"This isn't just media hype," Yang Yang explained. "If Guido Albers reaches out to you, you should be ready to go for the trial. If you pass, then you can stay. But you need to think it through—especially since your club back home might not make it easy for you to leave."
Feng Xiaoting, one of the standout central defenders of the World Youth Championship, listened carefully. His performances had been exceptional, and Yang Yang wasn't surprised that Feyenoord had taken notice.
However, Yang Yang also knew that success in European football required more than just talent. "Look," he continued, "you've got the ability to play at a high level, but jumping straight into one of the top four leagues might not be the best idea. It's better to start somewhere like the Eredivisie, where you'll have regular game time, and then work your way up."
Feng Xiaoting nodded in agreement. The Dutch league, with its reputation for nurturing young talent, seemed like the perfect place to develop. "Feyenoord is a strong team, and they'll be playing in the UEFA Cup," he said thoughtfully. "If I get the chance to join them, it'd be a great opportunity to grow."
But then a shadow of concern crossed his face. "I'm just worried about the club back home. They might make things difficult."
Yang Yang understood immediately. Although Feng Xiaoting wasn't a first-team regular at his club, domestic teams often hesitated to let promising players leave. Some even set high transfer fees that European clubs would be unwilling to pay.
"I get it," Yang Yang said. "But remember, the Football Association and the General Administration of Sport promised to support us. This is the perfect time for them to step up and honor those promises."
Feng Xiaoting nodded, encouraged by Yang Yang's confidence. Both players understood that this was a rare opportunity to break into European football—a chance that couldn't be missed.
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Following their recent commitments to support young players, both the Football Association and the General Administration of Sports promptly pledged their willingness to assist Feng Xiaoting and Gao Lin in their efforts to secure moves abroad. Their official response was clear and reassuring: they would step forward to facilitate the process.
For both Feng Xiaoting and Gao Lin, neither of whom were key players at their respective clubs, the logistical challenges of transferring abroad seemed manageable. However, the significance of the opportunity wasn't lost on anyone. For the leadership of the Football Association, the possibility of two players securing trial training—or in Feng Xiaoting's case, a direct transfer—was an unexpected but welcome development.
Yang Yang, ever proactive, quickly contacted Guido Albers, to discuss Feyenoord's interest in Feng Xiaoting. Guido's response was immediate and enthusiastic: Feyenoord's interest in Feng Xiaoting was serious, and they were prepared to proceed without even requiring a trial. The prospect of joining a prominent Dutch club that played in the UEFA Cup felt like a monumental step forward for Feng Xiaoting's career.
When the news began to circulate, it caused a stir within the China U20 camp. The players were abuzz with excitement.
Everyone understood that excelling at the World Youth Championship could attract the attention of European clubs, but few expected such opportunities to arrive so quickly and so suddenly. For Gao Lin, who was now on the radar of Louis van Gaal's AZ Alkmaar, and Feng Xiaoting, who was being pursued by Feyenoord, the pathway to European football seemed closer than ever. Add to this Chen Tao's earlier move to Anderlecht, and the team found itself inspired by a wave of hope.
For young players, the chance to play in Europe wasn't just a career milestone—it was proof of their talent and a testament to their hard work. It symbolized the ultimate stage where they could prove themselves among the world's best.
The news spread like wildfire among the squad, igniting a spark of ambition in every player. Seeing their teammates catch the attention of top European clubs made them both envious and determined.
"If Gao Lin and Feng Xiaoting can do it, why can't I?" many players thought to themselves.
Though nothing had been finalized yet—the deals were still in early stages—the mere possibility was enough to lift the team's spirits. For players with talent and ambition, the World Youth Championship represented the perfect platform to showcase their abilities. With every game, every pass, and every tackle, they were determined to make an impression and keep their dreams alive.
Fueled by the prospect of following in the footsteps of their teammates, the players channeled their energy into a renewed fighting spirit. They knew that their performances in the remaining games could shape their futures.