After Nottingham Forest made it through the semi-finals, Chen Jian received a ticket to the final. On the eve of the final, he received a round-trip ticket. Nottingham Forest Football Club had arranged everything well. The players who came to watch the team's final did not have to worry about the round-trip fare, nor did they have to worry about food and accommodation. The club had arranged everything for them.
After they arrived in Madrid, they would stay together and then go to watch the game together. Finally, they would decide whether to return, where to return, and when to return based on their individual circumstances.
Chen Jian's agent, Mr. Xia, booked his room in the hotel where Chen Jian was staying. It was more convenient. After the two of them arrived in Madrid, the capital of Spain, they took a taxi to the hotel where they were staying. After putting down the luggage, Mr. Xia chatted in Chen Jian's room. Of course, the content of the conversation was not only about the UEFA Champions League final, but also about Chen Jian's future.
"I've asked around, Little Chen. They don't want to think about the players' contract renewal now. Everything has to wait until the final is over. He hasn't even signed Tony Twain's contract extension yet … "Mr. Xia frowned at the mention of this matter, his face clouded with gloom.
Chen Jian did not express any opinion. He was a little silent. The topic about his future was a little heavy. He did not want to say anything rashly.
"Forget it, there's still a year anyway …" Mr. Xia sighed. He did not know what to do. Now he could only wait until the Champions League final was over. "Anyway, if they still want to loan you to FC Volendam next season, you must remember to refuse. FC Volendam has already been relegated to Serie B. You won't be able to learn anything there and you won't be able to accumulate any experience there. "
"Then where should I go?" Chen Jian asked.
"Go to Spain." Mr. Xia thought about it. "To a La Liga team. In fact, if it was possible, it would be best for you to play in the English league … Unfortunately. "
Indeed, if he wanted to have greater development in the Forest team, then playing in the English league would be the best. On one hand, it would allow the Forest team's coaching staff to observe Chen Jian closely. On the other hand, it would allow Chen Jian to adapt to the style of English football.
Unfortunately, Chen Jian could not get a work permit …
From the time he was loaned to FC Volendam, Chen Jian was heavily hyped up by the media for a period of time. During that time, he was still very famous in China. Chinese fans who were concerned about China football and Chinese players studying abroad knew that there was such a young Chinese player in FC Volendam in the Netherlands. He might become the future hope of China football, or he might gradually become quiet and unknown.
Even though Chen Jian played for Volendam and even though Chen Jian came from the UEFA Champions League champion Nottingham Forest, he was not chosen by the China national team. For more than two seasons, he had played countless games for the national team, but he had not been called up even once. There was nothing shady about it. It was just that the national team felt that Chen Jian wasn't good enough to serve his country.
There were actually a lot of China players who went abroad to play football, but most of them played in the middle and lower level teams in the lower leagues. There was not much attention, and the level of the teams and leagues was not high. The national team would rather have players who played in China than take the risk of recruiting players who went abroad, because at least they were familiar with the domestic players and could get together for training a few times a year. Tacit understanding was not a problem. As for the players who went abroad … unless there was a genius who played steadily, then they might consider it.
When Dong Fangzhuo was at Manchester United, the national team gave him some consideration in order to get enough games to apply for a work permit. Chen Jian also wanted to play for the Forest team, but he did not have the same treatment as Dong Fangzhuo. Because he was not like Dong Fangzhuo, who had enough connections and connections in the domestic football circle to help him get through the upper and lower joints.
He was just an ordinary person selected from a commercial talent show. Before he went to the Forest team, he had not received any training from any club echelon in the country, and he did not know anyone in the domestic football circle. Although he was born at the grassroots level, he was not tainted by the bad atmosphere in the domestic football world, but it also gave him no capital to climb up. Naturally, no one would run up and down the country to help him get a work permit. Mr. Xia was also not a very powerful agent, otherwise he would not have become Chen Jian's agent.
Unable to be selected for the national team, unable to participate in the international A-level competition, naturally could not apply for a work permit, and could not play in Nottingham Forest. This was why Mr. Xia wanted Chen Jian to have a showdown with the club and leave on a free transfer. He did not care where Chen Jian wanted to play. He only cared that Chen Jian had to play at a higher level to increase his popularity, so that he could earn more money.
Work permit, work permit … these damn English Premier League rules. The English Football Association really has nothing better to do. They are the same as the China Football Association!
Mr. Xia cursed fiercely in his heart.
The thought of the work permit made Chen Jian even more silent. Of course, he knew that if he did not play for the national team, he would not have the chance to apply for a work permit. But the national team did not want him, what could he do? He could not possibly run to them and beg them to call him into the national team, could he?
He suddenly pinned all his hopes on Manager Tony Twain. He felt that this omnipotent man must have a way to get him a work permit. When he thought of the letter that Mr. Twain wrote to him, he faintly felt that this eccentric man was very special to him …
※ ※ ※
Chen Jian did not expect to meet Twain so soon.
That night, when he and Mr. Xia finished dinner and came back from shopping, they found the floor they were staying on was very lively. The players who belonged to the Forest team but were all on loan in the neighboring rooms were gathered in the corridor. They surrounded a person that Chen Jian must be very familiar with because it was Tony Twain.
"Why is he here?" Mr. Xia clearly did not expect to see Twain here.
Twain had just finished chatting with a few other players. He had a smile on his face, looking like an old friend that could be easily approached. He could call out the names of every player here and knew their positions, as well as their performances this season on loan. This made the players very happy. Twain had captured the hearts of a few more people. If one or two of them could eventually advance to the Forest First Team, then they would definitely become Tony Twain's most loyal supporters.
Chen Jian did not go up to them. Instead, he stood in the distance and watched quietly.
When Twain ended his conversation with those people, he turned his head and saw Chen Jian standing in the distance.
"I went to look for you first, but you weren't here." Twain walked up and conversed with Chen Jian in Chinese. The people around them could not understand, so they could only return to their rooms.
"I had dinner with Mr. Xia and went shopping …" Chen Jian introduced his agent to Twain.
Mr. Xia held Twain's hand and wanted to say something, but Twain first blocked his mouth. He looked at Chen Jian and continued, "I want to hear your thoughts, Chen Jian. Do you want to stay on the Forest team or go somewhere else? "
Mr. Xia gave Chen Jian a look from the side, hoping that Chen Jian would choose to "go somewhere else."
But Chen Jian said, "Of course I want to stay on the Forest team to play, but I can't get a work permit …"
Twain nodded. This kid was speaking the truth. He did not expect the China national team to have such high standards. Chen Jian, whom he had his eyes on, was looked down upon. More than two seasons, almost three years had passed, and Chen Jian had not even played in a match for the national team. He had not even participated in a match for the National Youth Team. He did not even make it into the big name list.
"How about it? Do you want to consider changing your nationality again?" Twain stared at Chen Jian with a smile.
Chen Jian shook his head like a rattle drum.
"Then I choose to play somewhere else, Mr. Twain. Anyway, my contract ends in a year. The club won't offer a new contract for someone like me, right? "
Such an answer was what Mr. Xia wanted. He looked at Twain expectantly, hoping that Chen Jian's words, which left no room for negotiation, would successfully enrage Twain. Then, the furious Twain would decide to let Chen Jian leave freely after the contract expired.
But he was disappointed.
The smile on Twain's face deepened. He seemed to particularly enjoy teasing this young man, just because he was exceptionally stubborn.
"Well, actually, Chen Jian. The reason I came here this time is to offer you a new contract … a new contract with a duration of four years. "
Without waiting for Chen Jian to say anything, Mr. Xia stood up impatiently. "I'm sorry, Mr. Twain. Can I interrupt for a moment? You're offering Chen Jian a new contract, but what about his work permit? "
"Loan him to the Netherlands or Belgium …"
Hearing Twain's words, Mr. Xia looked back at Chen Jian. The kid's face was expressionless, but he himself was thoroughly disappointed.
"I'm really sorry, Mr. Twain. I feel that my player can't continue drifting like this. He's already 23 years old. If he can't get a First Team position in your team, then we'd rather find a new team for him that's willing to give him this position, even if it's a second-tier European league. "
Twain glanced at Chen Jian and found that there was no change in his expression. It looked like this agent was the one making the decisions.
So, he faced the agent and raised a finger. "I'm offering Chen Jian a few options. One, to continue playing football in the Netherlands, reach the residency requirement for Dutch citizenship, and become a European Union citizen, automatically obtaining a work permit. Two, to marry a British wife, change his nationality, and obtain British citizenship. He doesn't even need a work permit. Three, to represent the China national team and play football until he reaches the requirements for a work permit. Four, to appeal through the special genius clause and obtain a work permit."
Twain raised four fingers and showed them to Mr. Xia one by one. "These four options, each more difficult than the last. Chen Jian has already lived in the Netherlands for three years. In another two years, he can apply for Dutch citizenship. By then, he will be considered a European Union citizen and won't need a work permit to participate in English Premier League matches. Nottingham Forest can naturally call him back to play football. By then, he'll only be 25 years old, the golden age. "
"Marrying a British wife is a very personal matter. I can't give Chen Jian any advice."
"Three, the national team's call. You haven't played a minute for the China team, right? Chen Jian. "
Chen Jian nodded. "No."
"Maybe you can in the future. But it's absolutely impossible to apply for a work permit for you now." Twain put on a straight face and vividly told him how cruel this reality was.
"Four, the special genius clause. To be honest, Chen Jian, you don't meet the requirements of this clause at all. You've never participated in a national team match, and you've never been selected for the National Youth Team. Your growth experience doesn't show any signs of a genius. I can't find any famous figures in the football world to testify for you. The materials you submitted were not convincing at all. In the end, it was rejected by the Football Association. "
What Twain said was the truth. But it sounded different to Mr. Xia's ears.
"Since in your eyes, Chen Jian has no potential, why did you tell him to abandon everything and come to England?"
Twain hated this agent a little, so his tone was not so friendly. "I made it clear to Chen Jian at the start that coming to England does not mean he'll definitely succeed. I only gave him a chance. I can't help him at all whether he can realize his dream. "
His words left Mr. Xia speechless.
"The master leads the way, but the cultivation is up to the individual." Twain said a China proverb. "I gave Chen Jian a chance. Chen Jian, you've also successfully played professional football. But you're not satisfied with that. You still want to pursue greater things. As for how far you can go … the decision is up to you, Chen Jian. Whether you ultimately decide to leave Nottingham Forest to play for another team, or agree to renew your contract and continue to wait for opportunities, I have no objections. That's your path. You have to choose it yourself. "
Twain looked at Chen Jian.
"You can call me when you've thought about it." Twain stuffed a business card into Chen Jian's hand and walked to the elevator alone.
Twain disappeared behind the elevator door. Chen Jian was still in a daze with his business card in his hand.
Mr. Xia frowned at the side. "Did you see that, Xiao Chen? They don't take you seriously at all. I said don't wait here foolishly and waste your youth. What's the point of renewing your contract for four years on loan? You'll always be a marginal figure. Wait until you reach the end … Can you reach the end? Even if you get a work permit, what can you do? Fine, let's say your performance in the next two years has opened the eyes of the China Football Association. They recruit you into the team, play as the main force, make up enough matches, and then get a work permit. How old will you be in two years? Twenty-five. You've only just gotten your work permit. Do you really think you have the ability to compete with George Wood, Gago, and the others for the main force position? Do you think those big clubs play with the same lineup for ten years? Are they not going to find someone younger and more talented than you to develop? When will these days come to an end? "
Mr. Xia became more agitated as he spoke. If Chen Jian decided to stay on the Forest team, his path to wealth would basically come to an end.
"Don't be silly, Chen Jian. The Englishman's lies just sound nice. Anyone can talk big. Do you know what he's thinking? He lied to you for four years, and he wants to lie to you for another four years! It's already very difficult for China players to come to England, let alone a champion team. Listen to me, be honest and keep your feet on the ground … Let's change places to play football, okay? "
Mr. Xia looked at Chen Jian very sincerely.
Chen Jian's brows furrowed. He felt a headache. Anyone's brain would hurt after being instilled with so much information at once.
"I'm sorry, Uncle Xia. My head hurts … Let me rest and think about it again, okay? "Chen Jian rubbed his temples with a pained expression.
Mr. Xia sighed. "Alright. I won't disturb you anymore. Rest early. We'll talk after watching tomorrow's game. "
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Chen Jian lay on the bed alone. He tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He felt that what Mr. Tang and Mr. Xia said was very reasonable, but who should he listen to? His parents knew nothing about professional football and could not help him in this regard. He also did not have to ask his parents for their opinion.
He had to make a choice himself.
He wanted to succeed in the Forest team, but Mr. Xia's words seemed to have poured a bucket of cold water on him. Even if he got his work permit and could finally play for the Forest team, would the Forest team still need him to play? Would the Forest team still need him to play by then? There were new talents emerging every day in the world of football. Would Twain wait for a few years just for him? It was impossible. He was not the main character in a novel.
So where should he go?
He really did not know.
The 17-year-old teenager who initially wanted to play professional football would never have such worries in his mind. People kept growing, and so did their ideals. Today, he was no longer satisfied with such a simple dream as playing in the professional league. He also wanted to play in a higher level league. He wanted to become a star, not a shooting star.
Putting aside his background as Nottingham Forest, would he be able to play in a team in the Eredivisie or the Belgian First Division after a few years? Was it not possible that he would completely sink from there, slowly getting worse and worse, and finally go to a lower league and then no one would remember him? In the end, he would simply run back to China and go to the Chinese League One and League Two to make a living. He did not know how he would feel when he recalled that brief time in Nottingham Forest many years ago. Would he be numb, unwilling, doubtful, or regretful?
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To ensure that his mind was clear the next day, Tang En went to bed early. He did not receive a call from Chen Jian until he fell asleep. He did not take the matter to heart because it was not something he should be worried about. The future of a young China player had little to do with him.
Right now, his mind was only on tomorrow's final.
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