Super Wingstorm

It was match day again.

Having entered the sixth round of the knockout tournament, Almere had shown astonishing strength, attracting countless local citizens to come and watch.

Their opponent in this match was Ajax, a game that had captured the attention of all of South Amsterdam. Many fan organizations had pre-booked spots with Almere in advance. Considering the large number of fans expected, the club made a last-minute decision to hold the match at their home stadium.

The match was still scheduled for the evening, and by the time night fell, the area around the stadium was already teeming with people.

Since it was an amateur match, all fans could enter for free to watch.

When Yang Yang walked onto the pitch, he discovered that not only were the simple, single-tiered stands around the field packed, but even the aisles were crammed to the gills. It was clear there were more than just Almere and Ajax fans present.

"Whoa, when has our stadium ever been this full?"

"Well, of course. We used to only sell seats in the stands, not standing-room tickets, so naturally, it was never this packed."

"Are you trying to be difficult? Even our first team’s matches can’t fill the stands."

"There must be three or four thousand people here, right?"

"Definitely. The parking lot outside is completely full."

All the Almere players were taken aback by the crowd’s enthusiasm. When had they ever experienced a scene like this?

Yang Yang was just as stunned, but not to the same extent as his teammates. He was more moved, even feeling a faint thrill. ’If a stadium of three or four thousand people can create such a massive roar, what would it be like at a home stadium like Ajax’s or Eindhoven’s, which can hold tens of thousands?’

’Wouldn’t you just be swallowed whole?’

Suddenly, a powerful desire welled up inside Yang Yang. He hoped that he could be like his idols, Ronaldo and Van Basten, charging across a massive stadium filled with tens of thousands of fans. He didn’t just want the fans in the stadium to see him; he wanted to be seen and heard by even more people through television broadcasts and on the radio.

At that thought, a fire ignited within him.

...

...

"I never would’ve guessed. This kid is a natural-born competitor."

In front of the home team’s coaching bench, Dick Van Puer watched the players warming up on the field, pointing at Yang Yang with a smile.

The other players were more or less intimidated by the roar of the crowd, becoming a bit reserved. Yang Yang, on the other hand, seemed even more excited. His warm-up was meticulous, and he even added a few extra sets of shuttle sprints, looking full of fighting spirit.

John Reep also noticed Yang Yang’s actions and nodded in approval. "Some people are just born to play."

Having a "big heart" that could handle pressure was a basic prerequisite for becoming a professional player.

Previously, John Reep had only thought of Yang Yang as stubborn, repeatedly declining his kind offers. Even when faced with humiliation from his teammates, he never gave up. He never expected that Yang Yang’s ability to handle pressure was also so outstanding.

"This kid... We’re not going to be able to keep him," John Reep said, not without a hint of regret.

With Yang Yang on the team, Almere would have a much better chance of pushing for the Eerste Divisie, but now...

Just then, at the entrance to the chairman’s box in the main stand, club chairman René Telberg welcomed a group of guests into the stadium.

The group didn’t go straight up the stairs to the stands, but instead came up behind the home team’s coaching bench.

"Hey, John."

Hearing the voice behind him, John Reep turned around. His expression instantly changed, and a look of surprise spread across his face as he walked over to greet them.

"Hey, Tony."

Through the iron fence, John Reep firmly shook hands with Ajax’s chief scout, Tony Bruins Slotts.

"Oh, hello, Patrick."

"Hello, John."

"Ha, it’s a great pleasure to meet you, Ruud."

"Likewise. I’ve heard a lot about you."

"Oh, my old friend Fred."

"Haha, John."

After John Reep had greeted and shaken hands one by one with Ajax’s chief scout, two youth academy assistants, and another scout, he saw the tall figure emerge from behind them and froze completely.

"Oh, my God, Marco, what are you doing here?"

It was Marco van Basten!

"Ha, I heard there was a match to watch. I couldn’t possibly miss it."

The two men shook hands firmly through the iron fence.

John Reep suddenly recalled a recent news report: Van Basten had obtained his coaching license and would begin coaching the Ajax Second Team this summer, officially entering the world of professional coaching.

Great players becoming great coaches has always been a tradition in Dutch football.

With Ruud Gullit coaching the Dutch Youth Team this season, Van Basten coaching the Ajax Second Team, and Rijkaard—who previously coached the Dutch National Team and was now the head coach of Barcelona—the legendary Dutch Trio that once shook European Football had all entered the professional coaching ranks.

"My God, I really didn’t expect you to come," John Reep said, astonished.

He and Van Basten had never been teammates, but they had been opponents.

Although he had come up through the Ajax youth academy, he had played for several teams on the European Continent. When he returned to the Netherlands, he first went to Zwolle and then to their archrival, Feyenoord, and had played against Ajax for both teams.

Notably, in his second season at Feyenoord, he and Gullit had led the team to defeat the Ajax side—coached by Cruyff and featuring Rijkaard, Van Basten, and Ronald Koeman—twice in the league.

Dressed in a sharp suit, the tall figure of Van Basten was undoubtedly the center of attention. He was easily recognized by sharp-eyed fans, and the crowd instantly erupted, countless people crying out in unison.

It was Van Basten!

Who would have thought they’d see Van Basten at an amateur match!

The noise from the sidelines immediately caught the attention of the players on the field. Yang Yang glanced over and his eyes instantly locked onto Van Basten, who was in an animated conversation with head coach John Reep. His mind went completely blank.

This was the idol he had revered for ten years!

He had dreamt of meeting Van Basten so many times, and now it was actually happening.

He felt his heart beating faster and faster, as if it were about to leap out of his chest. Suddenly, a voice in his head kept telling him that there was something he had to do, something he would regret for the rest of his life if he didn’t.

Yang Yang waved to his teammates who were warming up, then sprinted towards the sideline. He stopped beside John Reep, staring at his idol in disbelief, and tremblingly extended his right hand.

"H-Hello, Marco, I... I..."

His flushed expression made everyone around them chuckle, but they all understood.

This was Van Basten. How many players had looked up to him as their idol since childhood?

Never mind others; even that untamable Ibrahimovic from the first team didn’t react much better than Yang Yang the first time he met Van Basten. He wasn’t even as brave as Yang Yang and didn’t dare to go up and say hello.

Van Basten stood ramrod straight, a gentle smile ever-present on his face. He extended his right hand and firmly grasped Yang Yang’s.

"I know who you are, Yang Yang. It’s a pleasure to meet you."

Holding Van Basten’s large, warm right hand, Yang Yang felt as if he was about to suffocate. Hearing Van Basten’s words, he suddenly felt the urge to cry. He had always looked up to Van Basten as his idol and his goal. He had dreamed of playing on the same field as him, but he never imagined that Van Basten had actually heard of him.

The feeling was so wonderful, so wonderful that he almost cried.

"Let’s get a picture," Fred Arroyo suggested from the side.

"Yes!" Yang Yang was overjoyed. He immediately vaulted over the iron fence to stand beside Van Basten.

His idol was only a little taller than him, but to Yang Yang, he seemed immeasurably tall, like a majestic mountain standing before him, forcing him to look up in awe.

Behind them, John Reep and Dick Van Puer exchanged a glance, both shaking their heads with wry smiles. ’Ajax is launching a charm offensive. They want to compete with Eindhoven for Yang Yang.’

But then again, it was normal. What player Yang Yang’s age wasn’t a fan of their idols?

Van Basten, Zidane, Ronaldo, Maradona...

The fact that they thought to have Van Basten come in person showed just how serious Ajax was.

So, neither John Reep nor Dick Van Puer said anything to spoil the moment, letting things take their natural course.

"Play well. I’m hoping to see an outstanding performance from you."

Van Basten encouraged him with a smile before Yang Yang returned to the field.

Yang Yang looked deeply at Van Basten and nodded firmly.

...

...

Van Basten’s arrival didn’t cause a stir among the Ajax players. In fact, many of them found it amusing.

’Was such a big reaction really necessary?’

But it made sense. Other people rarely got to see Van Basten, but the Ajax youth players were different. They saw him almost every day, so naturally, it wasn’t a big deal.

An Ajax center-back pointed at Yang Yang, who was walking back onto the field to warm up, and reminded the dark-skinned player of African descent next to him, who wore long dreadlocks just like Ruud Gullit, "That’s Almere’s number nine, Yang Yang."

"Doesn’t look like much. He’s pretty scrawny," the player with the dreadlocks said, unimpressed.

"In the last match against Warrendan, he scored a brace to complete the comeback. I’m guessing he’ll still be Almere’s core attacker in this match. You’ll need to be careful on your side," the center-back warned cautiously.

"Hmph, of course. He’s a right winger, I’m a left-back, so naturally, I have to be careful. But I’ve still got you behind me, don’t I? Right, Thomas?" the player with the dreadlocks chuckled nonchalantly.

The center-back named Thomas shrugged, a little helplessly. He had done his duty by warning him.

"Anyway, just be careful. Don’t let him get into the box easily."

"Don’t worry, I’ll specialize in forcing him to the touchline." The player with the dreadlocks’ gaze toward Yang Yang was filled with provocation.

They were well aware that this player named Yang Yang was the key to Almere making it to the sixth round this season. Not only had he been spectacular, but he had also attracted the interest of many teams. For this match, Ajax had even sent out their entire core youth development management.

No matter what, in front of the bigwigs from the youth academy, no one wanted to screw up.

An outstanding performance could earn you a ticket to the first team in a heartbeat. Who wouldn’t give it their all?

With Ajax’s strength, if they couldn’t take down their opponent right under the noses of the youth academy’s top management, what right did they have to even talk about joining the first team?

’I’ll step over you to get to the first team,’ the seventeen-year-old on the field thought, looking proudly at Yang Yang.