Super Wingstorm

”Hello, sir. Who are you looking for?”

While Yang Yang and the first team were at De Toekomst for a recovery training session the day after their match, Raiola walked into the administrative offices of the Amsterdam Arena, his paunch jiggling.

”I’m looking for your technical director, Louis van Gaal,” Raiola said with a grin as he walked over and rested his hands on the counter.

”Do you have an appointment?”

”You must be new, right? Just tell him Raiola is here. I don’t need an appointment.”

The receptionist didn’t dare to be presumptuous. She immediately made an internal call to Van Gaal’s office. A moment later, she hung up, stood, and led Raiola to the technical director’s office door.

”Mr. Raiola, I’m sorry, but I’m very busy right now. I really don’t have time to discuss anything regarding Ibrahimovic’s transfer. If you don’t mind, please come back after the season ends, alright?”

The moment Van Gaal saw Raiola, his brow furrowed uncontrollably. This was a major headache.

He had dealt with Raiola plenty over the past six months. This Vampire was notoriously difficult to handle.

”I think you’ve misunderstood, Louis.” Raiola was still grinning, looking perfectly amiable. ”I’m not here about Zlatan today. I always respect the player’s wishes, you know that. Since he’s already reached an agreement with you all, I will certainly abide by it. I’m not here to stir up trouble.”

Hearing this, Van Gaal’s expression softened slightly.

The team had just managed to regain some peace, and everyone could finally focus on playing. He really didn’t want any more complications or unnecessary drama.

”Fine, then. What are you here for today?” Van Gaal asked, his tone unfriendly, as if he were ready to kick him out at any moment.

Raiola was still smiling. ”Didn’t you ask me to come?”

”I asked you to come?”

”Yes. You said you wanted to discuss a contract renewal.”

”A renewal?” Van Gaal was completely baffled. ”Whose renewal? Ibrahimovic’s? Maxwell’s?”

”No, no, no, Louis. It’s not time for their renewals yet. I want to talk about Yang Yang and Vermaelen.”

”What?” Van Gaal was stunned.

”Surprising, isn’t it?” Raiola seemed very pleased with the shock he’d caused. ”That’s right. As of today, I am officially the agent for Yang Yang and Vermaelen. Here is the agency contract we signed.”

Van Gaal took the document from Raiola’s hand. After a quick glance to confirm it was legitimate, he still felt a sense of astonishment.

’How did this damned Vampire become Yang Yang’s agent out of nowhere?’

’Could it be Ibrahimovic?’

’It has to be!’

’That damned Swede must have incited Yang Yang to go with Raiola.’

If Ibrahimovic were standing in front of Van Gaal right now, the famous Dutch manager couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t have the urge to strangle him.

’You could have recommended anyone to be Yang’s agent, but you just had to pick Raiola. Are you doing this just to mess with me?’

But Van Gaal quickly calmed himself, let out a heavy sigh, and nodded. ”Alright. So, what are your terms?”

”First, let’s talk about Vermaelen. My player needs more playing time and opportunities to develop in matches. I’m sure you’ve all seen his capabilities. That header last night was beautiful.”

”That’s because Yang Yang took a good corner kick.”

”True, but Vermaelen’s positioning for the finish was excellent. You can’t deny that, can you?”

”What do you want?”

”The usual. A new contract, double the salary to one thousand euros a week, and a promise of more playing time. That’s not too much to ask, is it?” Raiola said with a smile.

Vermaelen’s current salary was similar to Yang Yang’s, just a few dozen euros more. Doubling it to a thousand euros was completely acceptable for Ajax, and Van Gaal could also give him the promise of more playing time.

”Fine, no problem,” Van Gaal replied readily.

In fact, after Vermaelen joined the first team, his contract renewal was already on the agenda. After all, Ajax had to guard against him being poached by other teams. Renewing his contract now, on the heels of his outstanding performance in the Dutch Cup quarterfinals, would secure the Belgian center-back’s future. It was a good thing for both the club and the player.

”Next, let’s talk about Yang Yang’s contract. I have to say, after seeing his current deal, I truly feel it’s an injustice to my player. For him to deliver such outstanding performances on such a low salary... I’m at a loss for words. I’d really like to know just how serious Ajax is about a renewal.”

Raiola was putting the ball directly in Van Gaal’s court.

How could Van Gaal not understand the trickery at play?

”What do you think?”

”Ajax’s current top earner is Van der Vaart, with a weekly salary of 25 thousand euros. Ibrahimovic, Wesley Sonck, Litmanen, Victor Skora, and John O’Brien are all on 15 thousand euros.”

As he said this, Raiola kept a close eye on Van Gaal’s expression, pausing deliberately before continuing.

”We don’t even need to talk about Van der Vaart and Ibrahimovic. Wesley Sonck came with the glory of being the Belgian First Division A’s Top Scorer, and the veteran Litmanen is a famous name in Europe. We can set them aside, too. But since Soetters, Victor Skora, and John O’Brien are all earning such high salaries, how much do you think is appropriate for Yang Yang?”

Van Gaal cursed inwardly. This was extremely tricky.

He knew Raiola was a handful, but he never expected him to be this difficult. He had laid out the team’s entire salary structure perfectly. How was he supposed to respond to that?

’Could he just admit that signing Soetters, Victor Skora, and John O’Brien were mistakes by the club?’

’That those players had arrived with high expectations, only for their performances to be a huge disappointment?’

’That wasn’t something he, as the technical director, should say.’

”Mr. Raiola, you should know that Yang Yang’s situation isn’t comparable to theirs.”

”I know,” Raiola was still smiling. ”I just wanted to give you a reminder, Louis.”

”Then what are you proposing?” Van Gaal asked.

”A weekly salary of 3000 euros.”

”That’s impossible.” Van Gaal shook his head. ”A sevenfold increase all at once? Ajax will not accept such a renewal.”

”Sneijder and De Jong are in this bracket. I believe it’s not unreasonable for Yang Yang to earn this salary at this point, is it?”

”Yes, you have a point, but you have to understand, Yang Yang is only seventeen. According to our club’s plans, if his development goes smoothly, he will have at least two more contract renewals within three years. We can’t increase his salary by so much all at once.”

When negotiating salary for a young player’s renewal, one must consider not only the present situation but also the future, leaving room for salary increases in subsequent renewals. One even has to consider the chain reaction a renewal might trigger.

’If we give a seventeen-year-old such a high salary, will other players follow suit and demand raises?’

”So what’s your offer?” Raiola asked with a smile.

”Two thousand euros. No more.”

”Then we have no deal.” Raiola pursed his lips and tutted. ”No matter. We still have time.”

With that, Raiola didn’t linger. He got up and waddled away, his fat jiggling.

Watching the stout Italian’s retreating back, Van Gaal felt a headache coming on.

’How could Yang Yang have ended up with an agent like him?’

...

...

When Van Gaal returned home and told his girlfriend, Trus Opmel, about the frustrating morning incident that had ruined his entire day, she couldn’t stop giggling.

”If you keep laughing, I’m considering running away from home,” Van Gaal said with a grim face.

”Alright, alright, I’ll stop laughing.” Trus suppressed her smile, but a hint of playful teasing still lingered in her eyes. ”But I really don’t get it. What are you so angry about?”

”I...” Van Gaal was at a loss for words. ”I’m just worried that at his young age, he’ll be led astray by some unscrupulous agent. The most important thing for him right now is to improve his skills and play more matches, not to be obsessed with making money and neglecting what truly matters.”

As he finished, Van Gaal’s face was a picture of earnest concern.

”But has he neglected it?” Trus retorted. ”Hasn’t he been performing better and better lately? Besides, his contract renewal has been stalled for a while now. Has it affected him?”

Van Gaal thought about it. It really hadn’t seemed to affect him. It was as if Yang Yang didn’t care about it at all.

”If I recall correctly, just a few days ago, weren’t you the one telling me how you were constantly urging him to find an agent and get the renewal talks going? Now he’s found one, and you’re not happy.”

”That’s because he found a Vampire! Do you have any idea what kind of person Raiola is?” Van Gaal was getting a little heated.

Trus held up her hands, signaling for Van Gaal to calm down. ”Well, it depends on what perspective you’re looking at this from.”

”What do you mean?”

”From the standpoint of Ajax’s technical director, you’re right to be angry. Raiola represents Yang Yang in negotiations with Ajax, and he will do everything in his power to fight for Yang’s interests. I can understand why you loathe this agent.”

Van Gaal nodded. That was indeed how he felt.

”But if you look at it from the standpoint of a friend, I think you should consider this: are the benefits Raiola is fighting for not legitimate interests that Yang Yang deserves? Did he demand an outrageous price? Or has he done anything to harm Yang Yang’s interests?”

”If he has, I suggest you talk to Yang Yang personally and tell him. If he hasn’t, then I don’t understand what you’re so angry about. Perhaps you’re just throwing a tantrum because you can’t get the better of Raiola in negotiations.”

Trus’s words left Van Gaal speechless. He couldn’t find a response for a long time.

”Come on, I think Raiola is actually pretty good. At the very least, he doesn’t get taken advantage of when facing the club. He’s assertive enough to protect his player’s interests. That previous one, on the other hand, was too weak and incompetent. He’s the one who would have truly ruined Yang Yang,” Trus said, comforting him with a smile.

She knew Van Gaal’s temperament all too well.

Sure enough, her words made Van Gaal shake his head with a wry smile.

”It’s less trouble for him, which is good, but I’m the one who’s miserable! Facing Raiola all day, I feel like I’m about to explode!”

Seeing Van Gaal’s expression, Trus couldn’t help but laugh again.

But in her heart, she also understood that Van Gaal wasn’t ultimately suited for this position. He wasn’t the type to wear a suit and tie and clock in and out of an office job every day.

In the end, he belonged on the football pitch, on the coach’s bench.

That was where he was meant to be.