For a football scout, discovering new players is their job. Not the famous superstars, but players from various youth academies and leagues far from Europe.
It's not an easy job.
Most major football clubs have their own youth academies. The most famous example is undoubtedly Barcelona's La Masia, which famously produced Lionel Messi. Consequently, it's hardest to poach talent from these top academies. Scouts are always hoping to find a hidden gem, but those opportunities rarely fall to scouts at their level.
Scouts at this level are often sent to what's considered a "football wasteland," like Asia. Unearthing talent here is like finding a needle in a haystack. The difficulty of "leveling up" is the highest for them. They have to prove their worth by finding the most valuable talent under the most challenging conditions.
And now, such an opportunity has appeared before them.
As long as they can secure that handsome No. 7 player, their standing and salary at the club will surely rise.
What's frustrating is that they aren't the only ones who found Tendou Kageyoshi.
This is especially true for the Tottenham scout. Compared to a club like Real Madrid or PSG, his team simply lacks the same level of attraction. Before, he might have been able to lure someone with the promise of more playing time. But next year, Tottenham will be playing in the Champions League. If he were to promise Tendou sufficient playing time now and the young man actually believed him, then the handsome young man would surely be out of his mind.
So, this is a tough situation, which is why he resorted to belittling Tendou Kageyoshi. It's a shame that the young man is clearly not an idiot, which makes the scout feel like his seat is on fire.
The Tottenham scout has an idol. It's not a player or a head coach, but Steve Rowley. He was once Arsenal's chief scout and had the complete trust of Arsène Wenger. And Steve Rowley did not disappoint the coach, fans, or chairman. The signings of Cesc Fàbregas in 2003, Robin van Persie in 2004, and Theo Walcott in 2006 were all his masterpieces.
The "Wenger Almost Signed" incidents, which were so painful for Wenger, also had a crucial part played by Steve Rowley. This event is famous in football circles because the player Wenger almost signed was Cristiano Ronaldo, also known as CR7. Looking back at Ronaldo's achievements today, it's clear just how sharp Steve Rowley's eye for talent was.
And now, he has the chance to get his own career-defining masterpiece.
No! I can't delay any longer. I don't have time to scheme with these idiots.
Compared to Real Madrid and PSG, Tottenham just lacks the appeal. So he has to pull out the trump card.
He gets up from his seat and calls his club's coach, Mauricio Pochettino.
"Boss, I've found our best new signing."
With a nine-hour time difference, it's noon in London.
At his desk, Pochettino is still studying team tactics. Next year, Tottenham has a heavy schedule. The ambitious Tottenham owner wants them to compete in the league, the Champions League, and even the FA Cup. But the squad depth doesn't support fighting on three fronts. If he handles it poorly, all three could collapse, and they'd end up with nothing.
"Huh? You... "
"My name is Rodgers, BOSS. I'm the scout you sent to Asia to observe the player Adam recommended."
"Oh? Of course I know you, Rodgers. So, what good news do you have for me?"
Pochettino thought it was something important, but it was just a scout. Adam recommended him? Pochettino thought for a moment and remembered. Yes, there was something like that. However, he didn't have enough time to train a young prospect. So, Pochettino wasn't very interested. He felt his own future was uncertain and might even face a coaching crisis next year. Why would he train a young player? That would just be training someone for the next coach!
"BOSS, you have to listen carefully. You know what? God, I've seen Kaka here. No, maybe someone else?"
"Alright, I don't know who he's like, but I want to say that in the future of football, someone will definitely compare him to Beckenbauer."
Rodgers on the phone was incoherent. Pochettino was completely confused. He understood all the individual words his scout was saying, but together, they made no sense. Beckenbauer? That's too outrageous. Is there a player in today's football world who can be compared to the Kaiser?
"Rodgers, do you know what you're saying?"
"Of course, boss. You know me. Adam didn't exaggerate at all. He's even better than Adam said he was. I don't want you to tell reporters in the future that Tottenham almost signed this genius, just like that damn Wenger and his Arsenal missed out on Ronaldo. His name is Tendou Kageyoshi."
"And, people from Real Madrid and PSG are also here. We have to act fast."
After hearing this, Pochettino couldn't help but be intrigued. He wouldn't doubt his scout because no scout would be stupid enough to play a prank on their head coach. If there was, then they'd be an idiot. But is that possible? Tottenham may not be as big as Real Madrid or Barcelona, but it's still a century-old club. Their scouts aren't idiots.
He took a deep breath and said, "I don't have a lot of time. I need players who can contribute immediately."
"Adam said that Tendou could knock him into the Pacific. His body is already ready to adapt to the level of English Premier League physicality. Probably..."
Just "probably." After all, he knows how intense the Premier League is. Too many players come to England and struggle to adapt, so he didn't want to make any firm promises.
"I got it. Continue to observe him, and it's best if you can get me a video."
In London, Pochettino patted his numb legs. After a moment's hesitation, he asked his assistant to pull up a live stream of the match. He wanted to see with his own eyes just how incredible this young man was.
On the field, Tendou Kageyoshi was on the ground, pulled down by his excited teammates. They were playing against the national youth team, and they had already taken a 2-0 lead in less than 30 minutes. This was something they couldn't have imagined just a few months ago, and now it had become a reality.
The referee came over to hurry them along, and the team quickly returned to the center circle.
The coach of the opponent, Sae, looked up at the scoreboard, not at the score, but at the time. There was still some time left before the agreed 30 minutes, and he planned to do something.
...
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