After Nottingham Forest crashed its way through the semifinals, Chen Jian received a ticket to the finals. On the eve of the final game, he also received a round-trip ticket. The Nottingham Forest football club had taken care of everything so that not only did the players who came to watch the final game not have to worry about the cost of making the trip there, but they also did not have to worry about their accommodation. The club had arranged everything for them.
When they arrived in Madrid from various places, they would stay together in the same place and then head to the game together. Following which, they would choose whether to make the return trip or go somewhere else, when to go back and other return details.
Chen Jian’s agent, Mr. Xia, had booked his room in the hotel where Chen Jian was staying so that it would be easier. After the two of them arrived in Madrid, the capital of Spain, they took a taxi together to their hotel. After they deposited their luggage, Mr. Xia stayed in Chen Jian’s room to chat. Naturally, other than chatting about the Champions League final, the talk was certainly more about Chen Jian’s future.
“I asked around, Xiao Chen. They don’t want to think about the contract renewals for the players at the moment. Everything has to wait until after they have played the finals. Even Tony Twain’s contract renewal has not yet been signed…” Speaking of which, Mr. Xia frowned and looked worried.
Chen Jian did not make any comments. He was somewhat quiet. The topic about his future felt a little heavy. It was not good for him to make any hasty remarks.
“Never mind, there’s still one more year anyway…” Mr. Xia sighed. He did not know what to do. Now they could only wait for the Champions League final to be over before and see what happened next. “Nonetheless, if they’re still going to put you on loan to Volendam next season, you must remember to say no. Volendam has been relegated to Eerste Divisie. There’s already nothing for you to learn there and you won’t be able to gain any experience there.”
“Then where should I go?” Chen Jian asked.
“Go to Spain.” Mr. Xia thought for a moment and said, “Go to a team in La Liga. In fact, if it were possible, letting you play in the English league is the best option… what a pity.”
Indeed, if he wanted to develop more at the Forest team, then it was best for him to play in the English league. On the one hand, the Forest team’s coaching staff could get a closer look at Chen Jian, on the other hand it would let Chen Jian adapt to the style of English football.
As it happened, Chen Jian could not get a work permit …
Starting from when he was put on loan to Volendam, Chen Jian had been heavily hyped by the media for some time, during which time his fame at home was still very big. Any Chinese fans who were concerned about Chinese football and Chinese players who played abroad knew that there was such a young Chinese player in Volendam, the Netherlands. He could become the future hopeful of Chinese football. News about him might also gradually die down and he could fade into obscurity.
Although Chen Jian played at Volendam and hailed from the European champions, Nottingham Forest… the Chinese national team had not taken an interest in him. For more than two seasons, the national team had played in countless games and he had never been called up once. There was no shady business behind it. In fact, the national team thought that Chen Jian’s strength was not good enough, his level was not good, and he had not reached the level where he could play for his country.
Counting down the list more closely, there were a lot of Chinese players who went abroad to play. But most of them played in the middle to the lower stream teams in the lower-tier league tournaments. There was little attention. The levels of the teams and league tournament were not high. The national team would rather take those players who play in the country than to risk recruiting the players who played abroad. Because at least they were more familiar with the domestic players. They could also get together a few times a year to train together, so their tacit understanding was not a problem. As for the players who played abroad…they might consider those geniuses who appeared out of the blue and could play steadily.
When Dong Fangzhuo was at Manchester United, in order to make up enough number of appearances for the work permit application, the national team gave extra care to him. Chen Jian was also to play for the Forest team, but there was no treatment such as the one given to Dong Fangzhuo. Because unlike Dong Fangzhuo, he did not enough connections and relationships in the domestic football circle to help him establish contact through the upper and lower levels.
He was just an ordinary person selected from a commercial talent show. He did not receive training from any club at any level in the country before going to the Forest team. He also did not know this or that person in the domestic football circle. He was purely from the grassroots. Even though he was not corrupted by those bad practices in the domestic football circle, he also did not have the resources to climb up. Naturally, no one would run all over the country to help him get a work permit. Mr. Xia was also not a very driven agent. Otherwise he would not be Chen Jian’s agent.
As he was not able to be selected for the national team and unable to play in the international top flight tournaments, he obviously could not apply for a work permit and thus not able to play for Nottingham Forest, which 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 must play at a higher level of competition to boost his popularity so that he could make more money.
Ah, the work permit, the work permit… damn the Premier League rule. The English Football Association really had nothing else better to do, they are the same as the Chinese Football Association!
Mr. Xia cursed viciously in his heart.
At the thought of the work permit, Chen Jian was even more silent. Of course, he was aware that he won’t have a chance to apply for a work permit if he did not play for the national team. But the national team was not interested in him. So, what was the solution? He could not simply run begging to someone to recruit him into the national team, could he?
He was now suddenly pinning all his hopes on Manager Tony Twain. He felt that the omnipotent man must have a way of getting him a work permit. At the thought of the letter which Mr. Twain wrote to him, he vaguely felt that the eccentric man was very special to himself…
※※※
Chen Jian did not expect to meet Twain so soon.
That evening, when he and Mr. Xia had finished dinner after they went shopping in the streets, they found that it was lively at the floor of their hotel rooms. Gathered in the hallway of the several rooms next door which belonged to the Forest team were the players who were out on loan. They all surrounded one man and Chen Jian must be familiar with that man, because it was Tony Twain.
“What is he doing here?” Next to him, Mr. Xia obviously did not expect to see Twain here.
Twain had just finished chatting with a few other players. With a smile on his face, he looked like an old friend who was very approachable at will. He could name every player here and knew these players’ positions and about their performances while they were on loan this season. It made those players happy. Twain had captured the hearts of some people. If there were one or two people within this group who could finally qualify for the Forest First Team, then they would certainly become Tony Twain’s most loyal supporters.
Chen Jian did not gather up but stood in the distance and quietly observed.
When Twain ended his conversation with those people, he turned to see Chen Jian, who was standing in the distance.
“I came to look for you first, but you were not there.” Twain came up and communicated with Chen Jian in Mandarin. The people around them did not understand what was being said, so they had to go back to their rooms.
“I had dinner with Mr. Xia and went shopping after…” Chen Jian introduced his agent to Twain.
Mr. Xia shook Twain’s hand and wanted to say something, but Twain stopped him from speaking first. He looked at Chen Jian and continued, “I want to hear what you think, Chen Jian. Do you want to stay with the Forest team or go somewhere else?”
Mr. Xia gave a hard-meaningful look to Chen Jian next to him. He hoped that Chen Jian would choose to “go somewhere else.”
Instead, Chen Jian said, “Of course I want to stay in the Forest team to play, but I have no way of obtaining a work permit…”
Twain nodded his head. The kid was telling the truth. He did not expect the Chinese national team to be so picky and not be interested in Chen Jian whom he had his eye on. With more than two seasons, three years would have nearly passed, and Chen Jian had not even played in a national team game. He had not even participated in the national youth team game. He was not even selected for the squad list.
“Well, have you given more thought to my suggestion of changing your nationality?” Twain stared at Chen Jian with a grin.
Chen Jian shook his head like a rattle-drum.
“In that case, I will choose to play somewhere else, Mr. Twain. Anyway, the contract is over in a year’s time. The club won’t offer a new contract for a player like me, will it?”
The answer was what Mr. Xia hoped to have. He now looked at Twain with great anticipation, hoping that Chen Jian’s unyielding words would successfully provoke Twain, and then the thunderous Twain would decide to let Chen Jian leave on a free transfer when his contract expired.
But he was disappointed.
The smile on Twain’s face was even wider. He seemed to like to tease the young man, only because the boy was extraordinarily stubborn.
“Well, actually, Chen Jian. I’m here today to offer you a new contract… A new four-year contract.”
Without waiting for Chen Jian to say anything, Mr. Xia eagerly stepped forward and said, “I’m sorry, Mr. Twain. Can I interrupt you for a moment? You offer Chen Jian a new contract, but how do we resolve his work permit?”
“He will be put on loan to the Netherlands or Belgium…”
When he heard Twain said so, Mr. Xia turned to look back at Chen Jian. The kid’s face was expressionless. While he himself was extremely disappointed.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Twain. I don’t think my player can continue to drift like this. He’s already twenty-three years old. If he can’t get a First Team position in your team, then we’d rather find him a new team that is willing to give him that position, even if it might be in Europe’s second tier league tournament.”
Twain glanced at Chen Jian and found that his expression had not changed. It seemed that the agent was the one to make the decisions.
So he faced the agent and extended his finger to say, “I am offering Chen Jian a few options: First, to continue playing football in the Netherlands so as to reach the length of residence for a Dutch citizenship and then become an EU citizen to automatically obtain a work permit; Second, marry a British wife, change your nationality to receive the United Kingdom nationality and you can even save on applying for a work permit. Third, play football on behalf of the Chinese national team till you meet the standards to apply for a work permit and obtain a work permit. Fourth, appeal for a work permit through the special genius clause.”
Twain put up four fingers and showed one by one to Mr. Xia to see. He said, “These four choices, each more difficult than the other. Chen Jian has already lived in the Netherlands for three years, and he can apply for Dutch citizenship in another two years. By that time, he will be a citizen of the European Union, and he would not need a work permit to play in the English Premier League. Nottingham Forest can naturally recall him to come back and play. At that time, he will only be twenty-five years old, and he will be in his prime.”
“With regards to getting married to an English wife, I’m unable to give Chen Jian any advice on this sort of private matter.”
“Third, the summon of the national team … You haven’t played a minute for the Chinese team, have you? Chen Jian.”
Chen Jian nodded in reply, “No.”
“Maybe you can in the future. But it’s absolutely impossible to apply for a work permit for you now.” Twain’s straight face vividly conveyed how cruel this reality was.
“Fourth, the special genius clause … To tell you the truth, Chen Jian, you don’t meet the requirements of this clause at all. You have not participated in the national team competition, you have not been selected in the national youth team, there is no hint of you being a genius during your development and experience, I can’t find any famous footballers to vouch for you…Your submission was unconvincing and in the end, it was only denied by the Football Association.”
What Twain said was true, but it did not sound convincing in Mr. Xia’s ears…
“Since Chen Jian has no such potential in your eyes, why did you tell him to abandon everything to come to the United Kingdom in the first place?”
Twain somewhat disliked this agent, so the tone of his voice was not so friendly as he said, “I was very clear in what I said to Chen Jian at the time. It did not mean that he would certainly succeed when he came to the United Kingdom. I merely gave him a chance, but I couldn’t help him whether to make his dream come true.”
Mr. Xia was rendered speechless by his words.
“The master teaches the trade, but the apprentice’s skill is self-made.” Twain spoke of a Chinese proverb. “I gave Chen Jian a chance. And Chen Jian, you also successfully played professional football, but you are not satisfied with it. You want to have greater pursuit. As for the level you can reach… The decision lies with you, Chen Jian. Whether you finally decide to leave Nottingham Forest to play for another team or agree to renew your contract and wait for the opportunity, I have no problem. That’s your path. You have to choose your own way.”
Twain looked at Chen Jian as he spoke.
“You can call me after you think it over.” Twain stuffed a business card into Chen Jian’s hand and walked alone to the elevator.
After Twain disappeared behind the elevator door, Chen Jian was still in a daze with his business card in his hand.
Mr. Xia frowned next to him and said, “Do you see it, Xiao Chen? They don’t take you seriously at all. I tell you, don’t foolishly wait here and waste your youth. What’s the point of signing a four-year contract only to be put out on loan? You’ll always be a fringe figure. When you endure to the end…Can you make it to the end? What if you get a labor permit? What happens then? Well, even if your performance for the next two years suddenly let the Chinese Football Association, that group of people open their eyes, and they recruit you into the team to play as the main force. You get to play in enough games, and then get the work permit. How old will you be in two years’ time? Twenty-five and you’ve just got a work permit. Do you think you really have the ability to compete with George Wood and Gago for the main player spot? Do you think those big clubs will play the same set of lineups for ten years? And that they won’t go looking for younger and more talented players than you to develop? How long will you endure days like these before it is the end?”
As Mr. Xia spoke, the more agitated he got. If Chen Jian was determined to stay in the Forest team, his livelihood was basically over.
“Don’t be foolish, Chen Jian. The Englishman’s lies sound beautiful. Anyone can speak the general truth. But do you know what’s on his mind? He has lied to you for four years, and he wants to try and lie to you for another four years! It is already very difficult for Chinese players to land in England. Not to mention a championship team. Listen to me, have your head screwed on right and keep your feet on the ground… Shall we play football somewhere else?”
Mr. Xia looked at Chen Jian with great sincerity.
Chen Jian knitted his brows. He felt a headache. He was imbued with so much information at once that anyone’s head would hurt.
“Excuse me, Uncle Xia. I have a headache… Let me rest for a bit and think about it again?” Chen Jian rubbed his temples and had a pained expression.
Mr. Xia sighed and said, “Okay. I won’t bother you. You have an early rest. Let’s watch tomorrow’s game and talk again.”
※※※
Chen Jian was lying alone in bed, tossing and turning. He could not sleep. He thought what Mr. Twain and Mr. Xia said were reasonable. But who should he listen to? His parents knew nothing about professional football and could not help him in that regard. So, he did not have to ask his parents for their opinions.
He had to rely on himself to make the choice.
He wanted to succeed in the Forest team, but Mr. Xia’s words seemed to have poured cold water on him – even if he obtained a work permit and could finally play for the Forest team, would the Forest team still want him to play at that time? New talent cropped up every day in the football world. Would Twain wait a few years for him alone? That was impossible since he was not the main character in a novel.
So where exactly would he go from here?
He really did not know.
The seventeen-year-old, who was initially bent on playing professional football, would never have such troubles in his mind. People grew all the time, and their ideals grew as well. Now he was not content with the simple dream of playing in a professional league. He wanted to play in a higher level of league tournament. He wanted to be a star player and not a meteor.
Putting aside Nottingham Forest’s background, could he succeed if he were to go play for an Eredivisie team or Belgian First Division A team for a few years? Was it also not impossible for him to completely decline, slowly end up in worsening situations, simply end up in the lower leagues, and then finally no one would remember him? Following which, he would simply run back to China, go to China League One and then China League Two to make a living. He did not know how he would feel at that time when he recalled the brief period in Nottingham Forest a few years ago. Would he feel numb, or unwilling to resign to his fate, or wonder about regrets?
※※※
In order to keep his mind alert tomorrow, Twain went to bed and rest early. He did not receive any calls from Chen Jian until he went to sleep. He did not take it to heart either, because it was not something he should be bothered with. What the future held for a young Chinese player had little to do with him.
He only had tomorrow’s final game on his mind now.
It was the most important day of his life.
