Super Wingstorm

Just as expected, even more fans came to De Toekomst in the afternoon.

The perimeter of every training pitch was packed with a dense crowd of spectators. Despite the large numbers, they were all consciously observing the on-site rules, standing outside the chain-link fences to avoid disturbing the players on the fields as much as possible.

Not too many players made it to the final selection. They were divided into different areas according to their age groups. Yang Yang’s group, for ages sixteen to eighteen, had about fifty players. They were split into four teams for two matches, each lasting thirty minutes. Additionally, each team would be assisted by three players from the Ajax first team.

Henk Demyer, still affected by the morning’s events, was somewhat unenthusiastic, especially when he saw Vincent Wegier. The latter, however, was constantly shooting provocative glances at Yang Yang.

The coaches organizing the scrimmages tried their best to consider the players’ positions when making the teams, allowing them to perform at their best in their most familiar roles. One of them was a left back, and the other was a right winger—a direct matchup.

Yang Yang paid no mind to Vincent Wegier’s provocations, meticulously following the coach’s instructions for the warm-up.

Suddenly, a wave of enthusiastic cheers erupted from the sidelines.

Yang Yang, on the field, looked toward the sound and saw the Ajax players entering the training ground one after another.

They had clearly already divided their tasks. Over ten players, including Van der Vaart, Litmanen, and Pinaar, didn’t linger and went directly to the assessment areas for the younger and middle age groups. The remaining twelve players headed toward the senior age group.

Yang Yang watched Van der Vaart, wearing the captain’s armband and leading the group, walk past the chain-link fence. He couldn’t help but sigh in admiration. ’It’s one thing to be handsome, but to be so good at soccer on top of that... It’s really...’

”I heard his relationship with that Silvia girl is official,” Nick, who always had a penchant for gossip, chimed in.

”They really are a perfect match,” even the proud Henk Demyer had to admit.

As the most talented young prodigy in the Netherlands right now, Van der Vaart was a universally acknowledged genius and one of the most sought-after young players in Europe. It was said that many powerhouse clubs had their eyes on him, certain that he was destined to become a top-tier superstar.

Yang Yang watched him pass by, feeling a tinge of envy. He then remembered his cousin’s request and couldn’t help but smile wryly.

Before he left this morning, his cousin, Shen Yuzhu, had specifically reminded him to get Van der Vaart’s autograph no matter what. But now, it looked like his only chance would be after the assessment was over.

After the first-team players arrived, the team rosters were officially announced.

Unfortunately, Yang Yang was assigned to Team A as a right winger, while Vincent Wegier was assigned to Team B as a left back. The two were actually going to be in a direct matchup.

Seeing the roster, Yang Yang couldn’t help but shake his head. His luck was really something else.

Vincent Wegier saw Yang Yang shaking his head and assumed he was scared after seeing the team assignments. He sneered mockingly from behind him, ”It’s too late for regrets now. I’m not an idiot like Emmanuelson.”

Clearly, he attributed Yang Yang’s outstanding performance in the match between Ajax and Almere entirely to Emmanuelson’s poor defense. He and his teammates had always looked down on the youth players from Almere.

”Regrets?” Yang Yang turned around, a slight smirk playing on his lips as he looked at the disdainful Vincent Wegier. ”I’m just feeling sorry for you. Your luck is terrible. You actually got matched up against me.”

Vincent Wegier was surprised that Yang Yang dared to talk back to him. His tone immediately became threatening. ”Then you just wait and see. I won’t go easy on you.”

’After all, I’ve been a player in the Ajax Youth Academy for five years and I’m known for my defensive skills. Shutting down a fledgling youth player from a third-tier amateur league should be a piece of cake, right?’

”That’s for the best. I was worried this match wouldn’t have any new challenges,” Yang Yang said lightly.

Henk Demyer and Nick were placed in the other two teams, but since they weren’t in direct matchups, it didn’t affect each other much.

The three first-team players in Yang Yang’s Team A were Ibrahimovic on the forward line, Sneijder in the midfield, and the right back, Talabesi, on the defensive line.

After seeing the roster, Yang Yang’s gaze instinctively turned to the towering but skinny Nordic Giant warming up on the field. Rumor had it that he was a highly controversial figure at Ajax.

Despite his towering frame of nearly two meters, he was actually known for his footwork. His body looked relatively thin, and the outside world generally believed he wasn’t the kind of penalty box poacher that Ajax favored.

In fact, in the two seasons since Ibrahimovic had joined Ajax, his goal-scoring rate had been consistently low. Therefore, many believed that if Sunk could quickly take up the mantle of top scorer after joining, Ronald Koeman, who was dissatisfied with Ibrahimovic, would likely give up on the Nordic Giant.

This showed that Ibrahimovic was under immense pressure to compete in the new season.

Midfielder Sneijder was considered Ajax’s biggest discovery of the last season. After breaking into the first team, he secured a starting position in the midfield, becoming another benchmark for the club’s homegrown youth talent after Van der Vaart. He had delicate footwork, was a well-rounded player, and could play in multiple positions in the attacking midfield.

The Tunisian right back, Talabesi, was the oldest at twenty-six. He was now a renowned first-class right back in Europe, with many even comparing him to Cafu. Famous managers of powerhouse clubs, including Ferguson of Manchester United and Wenger of Arsenal, had publicly expressed their desire to sign him, but Ajax had no intention of letting him go.

They had already lost Van der Meede. If they lost Talabesi too, their entire right flank would be crippled.

While Yang Yang was lost in thought, the coach for Team A blew his whistle, signaling for the players to gather around.

......

......

He hadn’t really felt it from a distance, but after getting closer, Yang Yang truly felt the pressure emanating from Ibrahimovic.

He was so tall!

At one meter ninety-five, he was a full head taller than Yang Yang.

When they stood close, Yang Yang basically had to look up at him.

Fortunately, the Nordic Giant’s body was indeed quite thin. He looked like a skinny bamboo pole. If he were any more built, the pressure and intimidation he exuded would be even more terrifying.

This was also the source of dissatisfaction with Ibrahimovic throughout Ajax. The Swede didn’t seem to intend to strengthen his physical game, instead taking great pride in his footwork.

”Hey, kid. If you keep staring at me like that, watch out, or I’ll beat you up.” After Yang Yang had been staring at him for a while, Ibrahimovic finally turned his head, clearly annoyed, and glared at Yang Yang with ill intent.

”Sorry about that,” Yang Yang said with an apologetic smile.

”No worries, I’m just kidding, haha.” Ibrahimovic broke into a wide grin and laughed heartily.

Seeing him laugh so heartily, Yang Yang just shrugged, speechless. ’Is it fun to use your height to bully a newcomer?’

”You play right wing?” Ibrahimovic asked casually after he finished laughing.

”Yeah,” Yang Yang nodded.

”Can you cross the ball?”

”Uh... I guess so, but not very accurately,” Yang Yang admitted honestly.

He had indeed been practicing [Beckham’s Crossing] recently, but it had only been for a short time. He’d seen some results, but he was far from mastering it.

Always give it your all, but never over-promise. That was Yang Yang’s personality.

”Good, as long as you can cross. Once the match starts, don’t listen to whatever nonsense that coach says. Just focus on running to receive the ball, and whenever you get a chance, cross it. Send the ball my way, got it?” Ibrahimovic instructed in a dead serious tone.

”But...”

”Don’t worry, I’ll definitely get to the ball. The defender on the other side is Heitinga. I dominate that guy in training all the time. No one can take the ball from me.”

He said it with such domineering confidence that Yang Yang almost believed him.

’Where on earth does the Nordic Giant get this confidence?’

”Well, you at least have to tell me, which foot should I aim for? What kind of ball do you prefer to receive?”

”Simple. As long as you don’t send it to my head, you can pass it anywhere in front of the goal inside the large penalty area. Left, center, right, it’s all good. Low-driven balls and half-high balls are fine too. Hell, if it makes you happy, you can even pass it behind my ass and I’ll still be able to control it.”

Yang Yang listened with a wry smile. He really wanted to say, ’Dude, are you a circus performer?’

”Alright, Zlatan, stop teasing him. How is he supposed to play later if you keep this up?” The dark-skinned Talabesi came over, gently patting Yang Yang’s shoulder and pointing to his own head. ”Don’t listen to him. He’s been under a lot of pressure lately, so he’s got a few screws loose up here.”

”You have the guts to say that again?” The Nordic Giant’s expression darkened.

Talabesi shrugged innocently, the round eyes set in his dark face seeming to say, ’I didn’t say anything. Don’t you go accusing me of things.’

Ibrahimovic didn’t press the issue. He flicked a ball up from the grass and started doing all sorts of freestyle juggling tricks.

Despite his towering frame, there wasn’t a hint of clumsiness when he was doing his freestyle juggling. His feet looked incredibly nimble, and he effortlessly pulled off all kinds of dazzling tricks, leaving Yang Yang, who was seeing this for the first time, quite amazed.

’Wow, I’ve never seen someone so tall and yet so agile before.’

The Swedish Striker seemed very pleased with Yang Yang’s amazed expression, letting out a laugh and getting even more into his showboating.

This was Yang Yang’s first time interacting with stars from the Ajax first team, and it felt a bit strange. He glanced over at Sneijder in the distance. He was juggling a ball by himself, seemingly trying to find his rhythm, but from start to finish, he hadn’t said a single word to either Ibrahimovic or Talabesi.

’This couldn’t help but make me recall what Nick had said at noon. Could it be true that there’s a conflict between the local Dutch players and the foreign players at Ajax?’

But whether it was true or not, it had nothing to do with Yang Yang.

He had only one short-term goal: to get into the Ajax Second Team and play under Van Basten as much as possible.

As this thought crossed his mind, Yang Yang suddenly realized he hadn’t seen Van Basten today.

His gaze swept across the fans on the sidelines, and he soon caught sight of a familiar figure in the crowd.

Van Gaal was here.

The Van Basten that Yang Yang was looking for was standing right next to him. On Van Gaal’s other side stood a middle-aged Dutchman who was noticeably shorter and slightly chubby. If he wasn’t mistaken, that must be the Ajax head coach, Ronald Koeman.

Suddenly, a sliver of nervousness crept into Yang Yang’s heart.