The day has not yet come for the team to train in the Netherlands, but the head coach Tony and his assistant coach Don have gone to the country of tulips first.

This is not a tour, and if you want to travel, Don will not go with Don, it is a place full of all kinds of imagination......

Van der Vaart was at home with his beautiful wife, Sylvia, when he received the help of his agent, Soren. Lebi's phone.

The ringtone from the phone, despite being Van der Vaart's usual favorite music, also sounded particularly harsh at such inappropriate times.

Silvia, who was lying on the bed, rolled her eyes, she could clearly feel that her husband's body had changed, which should not be what he wanted to give birth......

"Uh......" Van der Vaart was a little embarrassed, he looked apologetically at his wife, got up from her, and took the phone on the bedside table.

"Sauron, do you know what time it is?" He answered the phone angrily as he looked up at the small alarm clock on the bedside table.

Half past eleven in the evening.

"I'm so sorry, Raphael. But I think this news should tell you. "Get to know his agent Søren. Lebi knew of course that he had disturbed Van der Vaart's good deeds, but * this kind of thing could be done every night if he wanted to, and the things he was going to tell Van der Vaart now were not something that could be done every day.

After knowing that it was about his future, Van der Vaart couldn't help but be angry. He bowed his head and gave Sylvia a kiss, then got up and left the bed, walking to the living room.

"Alright, you say, Sauron."

'Thirty minutes ago I got a call from the Nottingham Forest manager.

"Nottingham Forest?" Van der Vaart pronounced the somewhat awkward name, "The team that finished runners-up in the European Champions Cup?" ”

"Yes, they asked me something about you, and I could tell they were interested in you. Raphael. ”

Van der Vaart fell silent.

By this time, his wife, Sylvia, had come out of the bedroom dressed and brought a coat for Van der Vaart to put on.

Van der Vaart looked back at his wife and took her hand.

'Rafael, you promised Birinde a season ago that you would stay at Ajax for another year. Now you've fulfilled that promise. There are a lot of clubs out there that want you to join and Nottingham Forest is one of them. ”

"Yes, I know all about those invitations, but...... Some of the invitations I didn't like. ”

'Of course I understand that, I spoke to the Nottingham Forest manager on the phone for 30 minutes before I decided to give you the call. If it's the clubs that don't meet your requirements, they're filtered here. ”

"Thirty minutes?" Van der Vaart suddenly became interested in the Nottingham Forest manager.

Sauron. Lebier is a well-known agent in the Netherlands, and he is usually very busy, and it is rare to be able to talk to a manager for 30 minutes on the phone with a manager who has made contact for the first time.

"Well, we talked a lot. It's all about you. He asks me to answer, or I ask him to answer. With my intuition. I think he's a very sincere person......"

"So what do you think I should do?"

"He hopes to meet you in Amsterdam and have a good chat."

"Okay. I agreed. ”

After finishing the call with her agent, Sylvia leaned in: "Which club is it this time?" ”

"England's, Nottingham Forest. They were runners-up in last season's UEFA Champions League, losing to Barcelona in the final. Van der Vaart explained to his wife.

"Are you going to meet their manager?"

"Hmm."

"What will be the result?" Sylvia rested her face on Van der Vaart's shoulder.

"Is this ......," Van der Vaart turned his face towards his wife, "and we continue?" ”

Silvia jumped away from Van der Vaart: "You're here again!" ”

Laughing, Van der Vaart picked up his wife and walked into the bedroom.

While Van der Vaart continued to live with his wife, Sauron. Lebier dialed Tony Towne.

He agreed. Mr. Donn. We can meet and talk. ”

"It's the best news I've ever heard." Don laughed, and he breathed a sigh of relief. At first, I was worried that Van der Vaart wouldn't meet me so easily.

"You know. Mr. Donn. As Rafael's agent, I hope his future is assured and there are many clubs pursuing him, including big clubs like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. ”

"I understand. If he is in doubt, he can call his team-mate in the Dutch national team, Edwin van der Sar, and hear what he has to say about our team. Donn is confident in that.

Of course, he wants to buy Van der Vaart, of course, not with the style of those giants, he has his own judgment and ideas. Before he came, he had already made a tactical plan with Don for the team if Van der Vaart successfully joined.

When he buys a player, he doesn't care about the player's value or nationality, personality, private life and other factors that have nothing to do with the game, but whether he is what the team needs. As long as it is needed by the team, then no matter how expensive it is, he will buy it, and if the team does not need it, no matter how cheap it is, no matter how good it is.

This has something to do with his personal consumption concept. He is such a person in life, whether before or after the crossing. What you don't like, it's too expensive for a dollar, and what you like, no matter how much money you pay for it, you'll be willing.

"I hope it is as you say, Mr. Donn. We'll get back in touch tomorrow, it's getting late, and you've just arrived in the Netherlands......"

"Aha, isn't the nightlife in the Netherlands just starting now?" Donn asked.

Lebier on the other end of the line laughed: "The red light district is not as beautiful as the legend says. If you're going, Mr. Donn, be careful. ”

"Uh...... I'm just asking. Tang En also knew that now was not the time to ask for flowers and willows.

Amsterdam's Red Light District is one of the world's most famous places to gather, but at the same time, there is also a lot of evil behind the sexy and seductive "window girls". It is a gray area secretly controlled by the underworld forces, where drug trafficking and human smuggling are rampant, and petty theft and the like are commonplace.

After hanging up the phone, Don clapped his hands and said, "Good news, Van der Vaart has agreed to meet us." ”

"The bad news is, you won't be able to go to the red-light district you've admired for a long time?" Don continued.

Don coughed twice: "I don't have that interest in performing on the street*......"

"It doesn't matter, it's covered by a curtain."

"You know you well......" Don glared at Don.

To him shrugged: "Goog1e is powerful. To be serious, you have to be careful of the bloody boys in the team. ”

It turned out that it was from this perspective that he searched the Internet for information about Amsterdam's red light district. This attention to detail is the main reason why Donn values him.

Don pondered for a moment, then said, "Hmm...... I'll make a decision. But now let's think about Van der Vaart, come on, let's sort out the persuasion strategy after the meeting......"

"Would you like me to introduce you to the team you're about to meet?" On the way from the training ground to where Don was staying, agent Sauron. Lebier sat in the passenger seat and said to Fadfat, who was driving.

'I know they reached the Champions League final this season, which was a bit of a surprise. Do they have any other stories? ”

Not everyone knows about the Red Forest that once dominated European football. Van der Vaart didn't care about the history of English football before, and it was normal for him not to know the history of Nottingham Forest.

"Hmm...... Yes, and it's a glorious past that will surprise you. Lebier looked down at the material on his lap. Two consecutive European Cup winners, this is their pinnacle. ”

Van der Vaart, who was driving, turned his head to look at his agent, and was indeed a little surprised.

"78-7979-8o is the longest unbeaten streak in the top flight in England and was set in those two seasons – forty-two."

"But I've never heard their names before......"

'It's normal that when the English League started, they fell quickly and then they were relegated to the second tier of the English league. Until...... It has only come back in the last four years, and after that, it has been promoted to the top of the class. Qualified for the O4 Military Cup qualifiers, and then ...... As you can see, they reached last season's Champions League final and narrowly missed out on winning against Barcelona. The agent, Lebier, flipped through the above information, "I don't think it's useful to say this." The past is gone, and no one knows the future. I'm going to introduce you to this one that almost replicates the greatest coach in the history of their club, Brian. Clough's legendary young coach. ”

Van der Vaart searched his mind for a quick moment, and soon an image popped up: "The head coach who gave the silver medal he just received to the caddie on the sidelines at the medal ceremony?" ”

Hearing this description, Lebier laughed: "That's right. It seems that his image is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. ”

"I'm impressed that he's the first person I've ever seen do that."

"What do you think of him doing this?"

"It's hard to say......" Van der Vaart was silent for a moment, "I don't know what to say." ”

"He's such a person." Lebier continued, "Some people like it and some people dislike it, and it's extreme. He is known in England as a manager who can be equal to Jose Mourinho, of course. I'm talking about temper. With that, Lebier picked up a thick stack of materials that lay on his lap. Shook Van der Vaart.

"Listen, the thick ones don't make a rattling sound."

"What is this?" Van der Vaart glanced at the car as he drove.

"A few facts about the character manager. And that's just part of it...... His character, his rhetoric, his coaching achievements, his tactical style, his personal preferences, and some interesting gossip – thanks to the British media, this is just a random collection of places. I now find it difficult to describe him to you on the road, so I'll pick some key points...... First of all, most people believe that the head coach is an extremely good dressing room atmosphere. Someone who is good at getting along with his own players, under his management. There have been no confirmed scandals in the dressing room at Nottingham Forest. Secondly, most people think that Tony. Donn is a head coach who pays more attention to defense......"

Hearing this, Van der Vaart frowned.

Lebier saw: "What I say is people's opinions, not for me, not for you. What kind of person and manager he is, you need to see for yourself...... It's here. He pointed to the corner in front of him, where there was a small hotel.

The meeting between the two sides was not in any restaurant, café or bar, but in the hotel where Don was staying. Until that's done, Donn wants to keep a low profile. After all, there are many clubs in Europe that want this midfielder.

The agent, Lebier, acted as a translator between the two exchanges.

Van der Vaart was a little surprised when he saw Don standing next to Don, an oriental face.

Tang En obviously knew what the other party was surprised about, and he generously introduced the two of them: "My assistant coach, Chinese, Tang." A very good coach. ”

Regardless of whether this Don is really as good as Don said, it is estimated that there will be no second one in Europe to use Chinese as an assistant coach...... Before the formal talks began, Van der Vaart was already well aware of what was unusual about the manager.

In order not to make the atmosphere of the meeting too dull, the agent Søren. Lebier begins with a joke: "Mr. Donne, have you been to the canal red light district yesterday?" ”

Donn laughed hoarsely, "I followed your advice, Mr. Lebier. Yesterday Don and I were honest like good children in the hotel. And...... Raphael is what we came to Holland for, he is more important than anything else. The conversation naturally shifted to the point.

Donn is grateful to the agent, who is one of the most highly rated of the many brokers he has dealt with, large and small.

So everyone looked to Van der Vaart.

"I also listened to Sauron's introduction, and he said that you are a very sincere person, so I decided to meet."

"Ha, that's what he said...... What do you think of me? ”

"Hmm...... Very young. Younger than the one in the Champions Cup final. ”

"Don't talk about the past...... Donn winks at Van der Vaart, "and when you talk about the Champions League, that's our goal for the new season. ”

"Finals again?" Van der Vaart asked curiously.

"No, we're going to take the trophy this time." Don replied quite confidently.

Van der Vaart looked into his eyes, his gaze determined, not at all like a joke.

"It's remarkable...... Target. For a while, in the face of such a confident manager, he didn't know what to say.

"Nottingham Forest is not a team that is satisfied just by playing in the Champions League every season. It's a big deal, my players have that

, I have no doubts. Van der Sar and you are team-mates in the national team, did the world hear him talk about us? ”

At the World Cup, some of his teammates were interested in Van der Sar's return to the Champions League final, so they asked a few things about that team, but the person who inquired about them was not Van der Vaart, and he didn't notice it at the time. I didn't expect it to intersect with this team now.

There was a brief silence as Don gestured to Don before pulling out a stack of papers from his briefcase and handing it to the two people opposite.

"I've got an in-depth look at your professional history and your style of play, Rafael. This is my strategy for you based on the current situation of the team. I don't like to talk big words and clichés, it's the real things that are fundamental. I appreciate your abilities and can't wait for you to join us, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who will say these things to you, Tony. Don one. So, I'm going to show you our sincerity as well......" he gestured to the stack of papers.

Van der Vaart picked it up, and it was now in Dutch. It's a detail, but it's telling. He looked up at the smiling Don, then looked down again.

It is indeed a very detailed tactical manual, which lays out a variety of tactical combinations for Van der Vaart's personal characteristics and preferences, combined with Nottingham Forest's personnel. Overall, in Donn's plan, Van der Vaart is the player who plays in midfield, but closer to the penalty area, with 442 in a parallel position. His role is between a midfielder and a shadow striker.

Tactically, Donn gave Van der Vaart plenty of freedom to organise attacks in midfield or score from distance after cutting forward. At the same time, it is not like Koeman, who also asks Van der Vaart to focus on defence.

"Most of my players are multi-talented, so we are more flexible in our tactics...... I'm sure you've heard something about me, and it's bound to be mentioned that I'm a very defensive-minded coach. "When Van der Vaart looked down. Donn continued, "I admit it, I care about defense because that's the foundation of all wins. But I want to work defensively, and I don't need you to do it. We've got the best defensive midfielder in Europe, and he's got him. Attacking players can score goals without any worries. ”

Donn was talking about George. Wood, he has this confidence - Wood is the best, now and in the future.

Honestly, there are two things that struck Van der Vaart in this detailed strategy book. One point is the "shadow striker", Van der Vaart was a striker when he debuted, and then as the team needed it, his position slowly retreated, and even at one point was put in the defensive midfield position by manager Koeman, making him take on defensive responsibilities. These are not things that Van der Vaart is to like, and although he is now largely fixed in midfield, he still likes the feeling of scoring with a shot. He's got a very good long-range shot and a good set-piece. He didn't waste such a talent.

The other point is that he doesn't need to think about the defensive work, so he can devote himself to the attack. He also likes that. Most talented offensive players don't like a manager letting them defend, and they think they've been underused or completely wrong. After wasting all their energy on the drop-back defense, how can the team step up when they need to attack? If someone is dedicated to defending and they can attack with impunity...... This is indeed a very tempting prospect.

Seeing Van der Vaart staring at the thing in his hand, the agent Soren. Lebier leaned over and asked in Dutch, "Is there any problem, Raphael?" ”

"Hmm...... It's the first time I've seen such a detailed tactical commitment made in an interview with me...... I'm a little bit unconvinced. ”

Seen two people chatting in Dutch. Don knew they must be discussing this, so he stopped talking. Don got up and poured out the two glasses of cold water in front of Lebier and Van der Vaart. Changed two cups of hot water.

"I didn't expect them to be so well prepared...... No, I should have thought of it a long time ago, after talking to me on the phone for thirty minutes. You see, I'm right, this manager is special. ”

Van der Vaart nodded: "It's really special, the team that has just been promoted to the UK for two seasons wants to win the Champions Cup this season. Sauron, do you think he's making empty promises, or is he a megalomaniac? ”

Lebier shook his head: "It's hard for me to say, at least they reached the Champions League final last season, it's not fake. ”

"Nottingham Forest ......," Van der Vaart muttered the slightly awkward name, "this is the most substantial invitation I've ever seen, and he's right, it's a real thing." Still, I feel like I need to think about it. ”

"Of course, this is a decision that concerns your future, and I don't want you to make a sloppy decision."

The two discussed it and told Don about the result - Nottingham Forest was very sincere and the conditions were very tempting, but Van der Vaart still needed serious consideration for this matter, so he couldn't give Donn any answer now.

Donn understood this, he couldn't eat hot tofu in a hurry, and he didn't think that Van der Vaart would agree immediately, after all, there were other clubs waiting for the Ajax captain.

Anyway, he has expressed enough sincerity and prescribed all the conditions, the so-called dedication to personnel, and the destiny of heaven. He has done his best, and all he has to do now is to wait for his destiny with peace of mind.

The choice is in Van der Vaart's hands, not on his side.

On the way back, Sauron. Lebeer told Van der Vaart that he might be able to get a closer look at the team when Forest were invited to the Netherlands for the Amsterdam Invitational in July.

Van der Vaart's answer was: "If you want to leave Ajax and go to a new team, it will be a bit late to make a decision at that time......

Upstairs in the hotel, seeing Van der Vaart's car drive away through the window of his room, Donn tilted his head and said, "We did everything we could, and there was nothing we could do about the rest." Let's hope it won't be in vain......"

"The good news is ......," Don said, holding the notebook in his hand, "Bayern Munich's offer will definitely be rejected because they used to look down on Van der Vaart, and the Dutchman took that to heart." Juventus, as a former pursuit, are now in Serie B, which is unattractive to Van der Vaart. Real Madrid's real target is Kaka, and the interest in Van der Vaart is self-hyped by the Spanish media. Arsenal bought Rosicky and won't buy Van der Vaart again. Another pursuit, Hamburg, I believe is not as competitive as we are. ”

Listening to Don's analysis, Don stood in the doorway, looking at the car that had disappeared around the corner without speaking.