The next morning, everyone at De Toekomst noticed a shift in Yang Yang.
He arrived at the training complex earlier than usual—but instead of heading straight to the gym, as had become his routine, he made his way directly to the coaches' office.
Inside, he sat down with head coach Ronald Koeman and his assistant, Ruud Krol. The conversation lasted nearly an hour.
Yang Yang's purpose was simple: he came to apologize.
Over the past few weeks, his repeated absences to fulfill advertising and sponsorship duties had disrupted his own rhythm. Though the breaks fell during the winter interval, Yang Yang felt they had subtly affected his preparation and, potentially, his standing in the squad. He wanted to make that right.
Koeman and Krol were caught slightly off guard.
Yes, Yang Yang had taken leave, but always during officially sanctioned breaks. And yes, he had been traveling for photo shoots and commercials, but as the team's marquee player, that was to be expected. In modern football, commercial obligations were as much a part of stardom as the matches themselves.
But it wasn't about the disruption to the team—it was about the disruption to Yang Yang himself.
Through his words and tone, Koeman and Krol immediately recognized a deeper transformation. Yang Yang had come to hold himself to a higher standard.
They both knew how quickly a player's discipline could erode—not in a dramatic collapse, but through a slow drift, one choice at a time. It was how decline worked in elite football: quietly, insidiously, and often unnoticed until it was too late.
They had seen it with Rafael van der Vaart.
At first, his form dipped only slightly—an extra dinner out here, a late-night event there. Nothing seemed particularly out of place. But gradually, the distractions piled up. He believed his social life and commercial engagements were normal, even beneficial to his profile. Sylvia, his girlfriend, likely didn't see anything wrong either.
By the time the coaching staff intervened, it was too late. Van der Vaart took their guidance as interference, bristled with indignation, and drifted further from the discipline that had made him great.
But Yang Yang wasn't going to follow the same path.
He had noticed the signs early—an inner shift, a creeping complacency—and instead of brushing it off, he confronted it head-on. He came to apologize not because he had to, but because he needed to realign with who he wanted to become.
That act alone spoke volumes about his self-awareness, and even more about his ambition.
Ronald Koeman and Ruud Krol had both been top professionals. They'd endured the grind, the temptations, the mental battles of long careers. Seeing Yang Yang not only reflect so deeply but also ask for guidance showed a level of maturity they rarely witnessed—even among seasoned players.
After Yang Yang left the room, Koeman turned to Krol and gave a firm nod, as if confirming what his assistant had believed all along.
"You were right about him," Koeman said quietly. "He's not going to get lost."
Krol smiled.
"I told you. He's different."
Koeman leaned back in his chair, thoughtful. "I'm convinced now—if nothing goes wrong, he'll become one of the greatest players in football history."
He said it with conviction born from decades in the game, from watching countless prodigies rise and fall.
Each year, Europe produces a fresh crop of talented young players. Many start strong—gifted, fearless, full of promise—but most don't last. They get lost in the lifestyle, fall prey to the glamour, and vanish before ever touching greatness.
But Yang Yang was already showing what separated the rare legends from the forgotten talents.
His sharp awareness. His brutal self-discipline.
And most of all, his refusal to drift.
...
...
In the locker room before training, Yang Yang once again addressed his teammates.
He stood up and offered a sincere apology—not for a scandal, not for missing a match, but for his own sense of distraction. He admitted that his recent involvement in photo shoots and commercial events had pulled him away from full concentration, and he wanted to take responsibility.
The room fell silent.
Truthfully, none of the players felt that Yang Yang had done anything wrong. If anything, they were in awe.
How many professional footballers could even dream of signing deals with luxury brands like Armani? Or becoming a central figure in global advertising campaigns for Nike, Coca-Cola, or McDonald's? For many of them, Yang Yang had achieved what seemed impossible—and at just 19 years old.
Yet instead of arrogance, they saw humility.
And in that moment, his words made them reflect inwardly.
Could any of them resist the temptations he now faced? The attention? The money? The praise?
Could they step back from the spotlight and call themselves out before anyone else did?
No one in the room dared give a confident answer. No one could say, with certainty, that they would do better than Yang Yang.
That's when they realized—this wasn't just talent.
This was leadership.
Yang Yang wasn't simply their best player; he had become their example.
He finished his speech with a promise, his tone filled with determination.
"Trust me. If we stay united—if we fight together—we can beat Madrid at the Bernabéu. And when this season ends, we'll all be smiling, because we'll have achieved something unforgettable."
Heads nodded across the room.
There were no loud cheers. No dramatic applause.
Just the kind of silent conviction that binds a team together.
And in that quiet, Ajax took another step closer to becoming more than just a talented squad.
They became a team that believed.
...
...
The first game of 2006.
On January 15, Ajax hosted Nijmegen at the Amsterdam Arena for the 19th round of the Eredivisie.
By the time the match reached the 73rd minute, Yang Yang was substituted — but not before leaving his mark. He had already scored twice, helping Ajax build a 2-0 lead. The crowd gave him a standing ovation as he walked off, a recognition of yet another dominant performance.
Later in the game, Ajax added a third goal, sealing a comfortable 3–0 victory at home.
In the other matches of the round, PSV, AZ Alkmaar, and Feyenoord all secured wins as well.
After nineteen rounds, the league standings remained tight among the top four. Ajax stood at the top with 52 points — the product of 17 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss, with 72 goals scored and just 14 conceded.
PSV Eindhoven and AZ Alkmaar each had 42 points, separated only by goal difference, with PSV claiming second place. Feyenoord sat just behind them in fourth, with 41 points.
Although Ajax maintained a ten-point lead over both PSV and AZ, and eleven over Feyenoord, the mood inside the club remained cautious. There were still fifteen games to play. In a league where momentum can shift quickly and every slip is punished, no one was taking the lead for granted.
Especially not with Guus Hiddink at the helm of PSV. Despite losing three key players in the summer, the veteran tactician had shaped his team into a compact, resilient unit — one that conceded just sixteen goals in nineteen matches. They weren't flashy, but they were consistent, and they refused to go away.
For Ajax, the task was clear: keep winning, keep improving, and don't let up.
Even with a ten-point cushion, the title race was far from over.
...
...
A week later, Ajax traveled to Enschede to face FC Twente in what proved to be one of their most grueling away matches of the season.
From the opening whistle, Twente's determined defending and compact shape frustrated Ajax's rhythm. The hosts, backed by a raucous home crowd, executed a well-prepared game plan: defend with discipline, wait for mistakes, and strike on the counter.
In the 25th minute, that plan paid off.
A rare misstep in Ajax's defensive line allowed Blaise N'Kufo to find space on the edge of the area. Twente's talisman latched onto a pass, turned swiftly, and rifled a low shot past Stekelenburg to give the home side a 1–0 lead.
Ajax were noticeably weakened in midfield. Nigel de Jong was suspended due to yellow card accumulation, and captain Tomáš Galásek was sidelined with injury. In their absence, the young Hedwiges Maduro was deployed in the holding role. But while talented, Maduro lacked the stability and command that his senior teammates typically offered. Twente exploited that inexperience ruthlessly.
After the break, Ronald Koeman's side came out with renewed urgency.
In the 51st minute, Yang Yang ignited the comeback. With a burst of acceleration down the right, he slipped past his marker and sent a sharp ball across the face of goal. Nicklas Bendtner, well-positioned, tapped it in with composure to level the score at 1–1.
But Ajax's joy lasted barely sixty seconds.
Straight from the restart, Twente launched another aggressive attack. N'Kufo once again proved to be the danger man, shaking off Heitinga at the edge of the box before slotting a powerful finish into the bottom corner. 2–1. Ajax were behind again.
The defensive organization had simply fallen apart — players were out of position, communication was poor, and Twente looked capable of scoring with every meaningful foray forward.
Despite that, Ajax refused to surrender.
As the clock ticked into the final minutes, Yang Yang once again took charge. In the 89th minute, he orchestrated a slick move on the right, combining with Pienaar before slipping a pass through to Maicon. The Brazilian full-back whipped a low cross into the edge of the box. Maduro, arriving late, struck a first-time shot through a crowd of players and into the back of the net. 2–2. Redemption for the youngster.
But Ajax weren't done.
In the dying seconds of stoppage time, substitute Urby Emanuelson swung in a diagonal pass from the left. Yang Yang timed his run perfectly, ghosting between two defenders. He brought the ball down with a deft first touch and calmly finished past the keeper to complete the comeback.
3–2 Ajax. Victory snatched at the last breath.
Yang Yang's late winner sent the away supporters into delirium and silenced the Twente faithful. It was another reminder of his growing legend — a player capable of deciding matches on his own terms.
With his latest performance, Yang Yang's season tally now stood at 28 goals in 19 Eredivisie matches, just two shy of the 30-goal milestone, alongside 15 assists.
There was no longer any debate. Not in Amsterdam. Not in the Netherlands. Not even across Europe.
He was, without question, one of the most complete and dominant players in European football this season.
...
...
January 29 — Matchday 21 of the Eredivisie.
Ajax hosted FC Utrecht at the Amsterdam Arena, but it was far from a comfortable evening.
Despite two weeks of intense winter training, the squad's rhythm hadn't fully returned. The play was disjointed at times, and Ajax struggled to impose their usual dominance.
The breakthrough didn't come until the 46th minute, just seconds into the second half. Angelos Charisteas — starting in place of Bendtner — found space in the box and calmly slotted home the decisive goal. That strike would prove to be the match-winner in a narrow 1–0 victory.
Yang Yang, by his high standards, had a quieter performance, and struggled to leave a real imprint on the match. Utrecht defended deep and aggressively, limiting his influence in the final third.
Elsewhere in the league, the race for the golden boot tightened.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar failed to score for the third straight league match, a rare drought for the prolific forward. In contrast, Shota Arveladze of AZ Alkmaar lit up the weekend with a hat-trick, drawing level with Huntelaar at 17 goals apiece.
Three days later — KNVB Cup Quarterfinals.
Ajax traveled north to face Heerenveen at the Abe Lenstra Stadion, a venue that had caused them difficulties in the league.
But this time, they made no mistake.
Just nine minutes into the match, Ryan Babel broke the deadlock with a confident finish, giving Ajax the early advantage.
The rest of the game was hard-fought, with Heerenveen threatening to equalize several times. But in the final minutes, Ajax put the tie to bed.
In the 89th minute, Nicklas Bendtner doubled the lead with a composed finish. One minute later, he turned provider, assisting Urby Emanuelson for a third goal to seal a commanding 3–0 away victory.
With the win, Ajax booked their ticket to the KNVB Cup semifinals.
The other three semifinalists were PSV Eindhoven, AZ Alkmaar, and Roda JC.
When the draw was made, Ajax breathed a collective sigh of relief — they were paired with Roda JC.
It was a favorable outcome, and everyone in the Ajax camp knew it. The path to reclaiming the Dutch Cup had opened up before them.
There was growing belief inside De Toekomst: this might be the club's best chance to lift the KNVB Cup again.
...
Weekend — Eredivisie, Round 22
Ajax traveled to De Kuip for a high-stakes clash against fierce rivals Feyenoord.
But from the outset, familiar problems resurfaced for the Amsterdam side. Defensive lapses again became costly.
In the 21st minute, Feyenoord struck first, capitalizing on Ajax's disorganization at the back.
However, Ajax responded almost immediately. Just two minutes later, Yang Yang sparked an attacking move down the right flank. He fed Maicon — starting again at right back — who delivered a precise cross into the box. Yaya Touré timed his run perfectly and met it with a powerful header to equalize, 1–1.
Unfortunately, Ajax began the second half in the worst possible way.
Within the first minute of the restart, their backline was once again caught out. Dirk Kuyt pounced on a loose ball in the box to restore Feyenoord's lead, 2–1.
Ajax pushed forward relentlessly in the second half, dominating possession but struggling to break down Feyenoord's disciplined defense.
It wasn't until the final minute of regulation that Ajax found salvation.
In the 90th minute, Yang Yang stepped up once again. He picked up the ball near the edge of the box, dribbled through a tight gap, and fired a low shot past the keeper to level the score at 2–2.
It was a dramatic equalizer, saving Ajax from defeat and maintaining their lead in the league standings.
Final score: Feyenoord 2 – 2 Ajax.
Though they rescued a point, Ajax's defensive vulnerabilities remained a cause for concern, especially with the Champions League knockout stage just around the corner.
...
...
February 8 – Eredivisie, Round 23
With a congested fixture schedule and a crucial UEFA Champions League clash approaching, Ajax made the decision to rotate their squad for the midweek match against Willem II.
Yang Yang was rested, excluded from the matchday squad entirely to preserve his energy ahead of the European tie.
Despite the absence of their star forward, Ajax managed to grind out a narrow 1–0 away win, thanks to a composed finish by Nicklas Bendtner in the 55th minute. The Danish striker seized his opportunity well, continuing his fine run of form and proving his value as a dependable option.
Youngsters like Ryan Babel, Hedwiges Maduro, and Urby Emmanuelson also featured in the starting lineup. Each delivered a steady performance, showing growth and composure that bodes well for Ajax's future.
However, while the three points were secured, defensive frailties remained a concern. Willem II created several threatening moments, exposing Ajax's vulnerability at the back — a worrying sign with bigger challenges ahead.
As the Champions League knockout round approached, the defense remained Ajax's most pressing question.
...
February 12 — Eredivisie, Round 24
At midday on Sunday, Ajax traveled to face ADO Den Haag in the 24th round of the Eredivisie.
Despite fielding a near full-strength side, Ajax struggled to find their rhythm early on. The effects of a packed schedule were becoming increasingly evident.
In the 30th minute, right-back Zdeněk Grygera surged forward on the overlap. Yang Yang, drifting into a deeper position on the right wing, threaded a clever reverse pass into his path. Grygera charged into the box and smashed the ball low past the keeper, giving Ajax a 1–0 lead.
However, their advantage was short-lived.
Just three minutes later, ADO Den Haag responded with a quick break and capitalized on a defensive lapse to equalize, further exposing Ajax's ongoing issues at the back.
The second half continued in a tight, tense rhythm. In the 55th minute, Ajax finally regained control. Yaya Touré started the move with a clever switch of play. The ball found Yang Yang on the edge of the area, who beat his marker with a feint and slotted a precise shot into the bottom corner.
Ajax held on for a narrow 2–1 win, but the performance was far from convincing.
The fatigue from back-to-back fixtures was clearly taking a toll. The team's fluidity was disrupted, and even Yang Yang, renowned for his consistency, showed occasional signs of strain.
The congested calendar was largely due to the Eredivisie's decision to compress the season in preparation for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, scheduled for that summer. With the winter break having ended only recently, teams were immediately thrown into a relentless series of double gameweeks.
It was a punishing schedule — and it was starting to show.
...
...
It turns out that as long as Yang Yang is given the proper rest, he can still create miracles.
February 19 — Eredivisie, Round 25
Ajax returned to the Amsterdam Arena to host RBC Roosendaal, a side all but condemned to relegation.
From the opening whistle, there was no suspense.
In just the 4th minute, Yang Yang struck. After receiving the ball just outside the box, he cut inside with pace, beating his marker before rifling a low shot into the far corner. 1–0 Ajax. The goal shattered Roosendaal's already fragile confidence and lit a fire under the home side.
By the 28th minute, the lead had doubled. This time, Yang Yang turned provider. Drifting wide to the left, he beat his man and delivered a pinpoint low cross into the box, where Wesley Sneijder timed his run perfectly and slotted the ball home.
2–0 at the break. Routine, perhaps — but no one yet suspected what was coming next.
The second half exploded into life.
Just seconds after the restart, in the 46th minute, Yang Yang latched onto a long diagonal from Pienaar, took a deft touch to escape the defender, and calmly finished past the keeper. Two minutes later, in the 48th, he struck again — this time pressing high, intercepting a back pass, rounding the keeper, and slotting into an empty net.
The Amsterdam Arena was roaring.
Roosendaal were in complete disarray. Their backline collapsed under the relentless pressure, and Ajax smelled blood.
In the 63rd minute, it was four for Yang Yang. A slick one-two with Yaya Touré sliced through the defense, and once again, Yang Yang finished with clinical composure. 5–0.
A second career quadruple for the 19-year-old — in under 60 minutes.
With one eye on the upcoming UEFA Champions League clash with Real Madrid in midweek, Ronald Koeman substituted Yang Yang in the 65th minute, sparing him further exertion and protecting his form.
But Ajax weren't done yet. In the 75th minute, Ryan Babel added a sixth, sealing a dominant 6–0 home victory.
Yang Yang's four-goal display sent another shockwave across Europe.
At just 19 years old, he continued to break records and silence doubters — and all of it was happening on the eve of Ajax's biggest test yet.
...
...
Quadruple!
The day after Ajax's emphatic win over Roosendaal, headlines across the Netherlands and across Europe led with a single name: Yang Yang.
Not only did Dutch media offer front-page spreads, but major European sports outlets also dedicated prominent coverage to his incredible four-goal display.
It was the second quadruple of Yang Yang's professional career.
After the match, speaking to NOS, Dutch national television, Yang Yang smiled humbly and described his form as excellent. But he was quick to shift the spotlight, sincerely thanking his teammates for their relentless support and selfless efforts.
"They made the goals possible," he said. "I just did my job."
The De Telegraaf ran a bold headline on its front page, praising Yang Yang's season as "historic in the making." The article pointed out that he had already equaled his goal tally from the previous season, and with nine league games remaining, the paper urged him to raise his ambitions even higher.
"After breaking Ronaldo's record last season, the next benchmark for Yang Yang lies with another of his idols — Marco van Basten."
The legendary Dutch striker, a product of the same Ajax academy, scored 28 league goals in 26 games at the age of 19 — a mark Yang Yang has already surpassed with 34 goals this season. Van Basten followed that with 22 goals in 33 games at 20, and then exploded at 21 years old with 37 goals in just 26 league appearances, his first career peak.
"That's the next milestone," the Telegraph wrote, "and it's not out of reach."
Having shattered Ronaldo's record as a teenager, few now doubt Yang Yang's ability to chase down these iconic numbers. And beyond Van Basten, the newspaper looked even deeper into Ajax's history.
Henk Groot, Ajax's prolific striker from the early 1960s, once scored 38 goals in 33 league matches at age 22. In the 1960–61 Eredivisie season, Groot set Ajax's single-season scoring record with 41 goals in 32 matches — still unmatched in club history.
And then there's Coen Dillen, whose record of 43 goals in a single Eredivisie season (1956–57 with PSV Eindhoven) remains the highest in league history.
"Compared to those legends," De Telegraaf argued, "Yang Yang isn't far off — and there are still nine matches to go."
Still, the paper acknowledged the challenge ahead. With Ajax competing on three fronts — Eredivisie, UEFA Champions League, and KNVB Cup — fatigue and rotation could reduce Yang Yang's minutes and affect his scoring rhythm.
Even so, the belief is clear.
"If Yang Yang keeps this up," the editorial concluded, "he will not only surpass Van Basten — he may rewrite Ajax's history altogether."
...
While Dutch newspapers continued to focus on Yang Yang's goal totals and his pursuit of Ajax legends like Van Basten and Henk Groot, the broader European media shifted its lens. They weren't just captivated by the numbers — they were increasingly taken by how those goals were being scored, and in what context.
Nowhere was this more apparent than in the UEFA Champions League.
In a lengthy feature, Bild, one of Germany's most respected newspapers, published a striking assessment of the 19-year-old's continental performances.
"If anyone still questions the quality of Yang Yang's finishing, or his value on the biggest stages," the piece began, "they've clearly not been watching the Champions League closely enough."
The article compared Yang Yang's goal-scoring record to that of Ronaldinho and Shevchenko — two of the era's defining forwards. Both had also impressed in the group stages. Ronaldinho, for example, had notched a hat-trick against Udinese, and Shevchenko had produced a four-goal haul in one outing. But Bild noted a key difference: Yang Yang's impact was consistent, and came when it mattered most.
Unlike others who padded their numbers in dead rubber matches or easy wins, Yang Yang had been decisive throughout the group. He had been instrumental in Ajax's draw away to Sparta Prague, had scored and assisted against Arsenal in one of the most pivotal matches of the entire group stage, and played a starring role across both fixtures against Thun — even netting a hat-trick away from home. When Sparta Prague returned to Amsterdam, he was decisive again, and although he missed the final game away to Arsenal through injury, his work was already done.
"He didn't just score," Bild wrote. "He delivered — every match, every decisive moment. His goals and assists weren't scattered randomly across meaningless minutes. They came at turning points. They changed results. They shaped the group."
The German paper argued that Yang Yang's efficiency and influence in high-stakes matches were precisely what separated him from other young scorers emerging in Europe.
It was no wonder, then, that many Dutch media outlets had begun describing him as "carrying Ajax" through Europe. Bild didn't use the same phrasing, but the implication was clear: without Yang Yang, Ajax would not have finished top of their group.
Beyond the Champions League, Bild also evaluated Yang Yang's position in the race for the European Golden Boot, using UEFA's weighted scoring system. With 34 goals in the Eredivisie — where each goal is multiplied by 1.5 — Yang Yang stood at 51 points, ahead of Luca Toni in Serie A (44 points), Van Nistelrooy in England (40), Eto'o in Spain (36), and Klose in Germany (32). That, combined with his six Champions League goals, placed him in a category all his own.
Yet even as they praised his trajectory, the German newspaper issued a familiar warning.
"The Eredivisie, for all its rich attacking tradition, still lacks the defensive intensity and tactical structure of Europe's top four leagues. That much is undeniable."
They pointed to Kežman — once the Eredivisie's most prolific scorer, who failed to find similar rhythm after moving to Chelsea — as a cautionary tale. Yang Yang, the paper noted, had not yet faced that particular challenge.
But unlike many who had lit up Dutch football in recent years, Yang Yang showed signs of being different. His technical maturity, vision, and ability to adapt under pressure had already convinced many observers that he could succeed at the highest level.
"He's only 19. But if this is what he looks like now, then his future — whether in Madrid, Milan, or Manchester — could be extraordinary."
And so, the debate in Europe had shifted. It was no longer just about what Yang Yang had done. It was about where he would go next — and how far he could rise.
...
After Yang Yang's astonishing four-goal performance, coverage of his name flooded not only the Dutch press but extended across the whole of Europe—and even the global media. Overnight, there was no longer any debate. The consensus had shifted.
Yang Yang was now recognized as one of the best players in Europe.
As the undisputed pillar of Ajax's attack, he had already placed one foot into the world of elite football. The only question now was: where will he go next?
In Spain, speculation exploded. AS and Marca dedicated multiple pages to Real Madrid's interest. AS even revealed that club president Florentino Pérez was making a last-ditch effort to secure re-election by returning to the strategy that once brought Luís Figo to the Bernabéu—only this time, the promise would be Yang Yang and Robinho, two of the most dazzling young talents in the world. The next wave of Los Galácticos was being imagined in real time.
But not everyone believed the president would survive to see it through. Some Spanish outlets reported that Florentino was rapidly losing the confidence of both the board and the fanbase. Rumors of his possible resignation began to circulate.
Meanwhile, in Italy, La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport highlighted growing interest from Inter Milan. The Milanese giants were reportedly considering pairing Yang Yang with Adriano in what they envisioned as Europe's most dynamic forward duo—speed, strength, and flair united.
Then came England. The Sun, true to its reputation for uncovering sensational scoops, reported that Yang Yang had inserted a crucial clause into his Ajax contract during his last renewal: a €40 million release clause, enforceable by any club willing to pay it. Ajax would be obligated to accept.
The effect on European football was seismic.
Top clubs across the Premier League began circling. Despite financial limitations, even Arsenal and Liverpool reportedly expressed serious interest, drawn in by Yang Yang's commercial appeal and elite production. Manchester United, however, were already ahead in the race. Sir Alex Ferguson, when asked about the speculation, didn't hesitate.
> "This summer will be the perfect time for Yang Yang to take the next step," Ferguson said. "And Manchester United is the right place for him to do it."
Jose Mourinho, never one to avoid confrontation, stoked the fire further. In a pointed interview, the Chelsea manager indirectly challenged owner Roman Abramovich's fascination with Andriy Shevchenko.
> "We already have Drogba," Mourinho said. "We don't need Shevchenko. If I could choose one player—just one—I'd choose Yang Yang."
Mourinho even claimed he had tried to bring Yang Yang to Chelsea two years earlier but was blocked by various factors. Now, he felt the deal was "simple math."
> "€40 million for a player like Yang Yang? That's not expensive. That's smart business. Anyone who can afford it should do it."
By now, it was clear: Yang Yang had become the most coveted young player in the world.
The Premier League, Serie A, La Liga... everyone wanted him. Even in Germany, whispers began to emerge. According to reports from Bild, Bayern Munich were also considering stepping into the arena. With their financial strength and Yang Yang's growing popularity in Asia, the Bavarians saw not only footballing value but a golden marketing opportunity.
If Bayern were serious, signing Yang Yang would not only shatter the Eredivisie's outgoing transfer record, it would also break the Bundesliga's all-time purchase fee—instantly making him the most expensive player in German history.
Within two days of his four-goal performance, Yang Yang had once again become the dominant headline across the footballing world. Media speculation reached a new peak.
The season was still in full swing—it was only February—but the focus was already shifting toward summer. Clubs were making early moves, positioning themselves for the transfer saga everyone knew was coming.
And while the outside world speculated and debated, Ajax packed their bags.
Their next stop? Madrid.
The real test was coming.