Chapter 38: The People of Magdala
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Most of those European clubs either just made a tentative inquiry or wanted to get them for free, but the U23 team is not the national youth team. Most of the main players have already played in China League One or even Chinese Super League, which club would be willing to give away their main players for nothing?
It's the clubs that have only shown interest and haven't made a hasty offer that are more likely to spend money after observing for some time, especially since many players in this young team have already appeared in last year's World Youth Championship and their continued progress has impressed those European clubs.
In fact, apart from goalkeeper Zeng Cheng who didn't attract the interest of European clubs due to his position, several other players who entered the best lineup of this tournament, including midfielder Zhao Yihao, Zhang Chenglin, main striker Ao Lin, and left-back Rong Hao, were also noticed by clubs. However, among them, only a few have received offers from European clubs (this is also the most difficult step, as out of ten interested clubs, it's already great if one is willing to pay...), and currently, there are only two players in the youth team who have received offers: Gao Jun, Feng Shuangting, Yu Hai, and Huo Jiamin, both from Dongfang Team.
Due to the Toulon Cup being held in France, most of the offers are from French clubs. Among them, nine French teams have been in contact with Gao Lin and prepared more or less transfer fees, including some Ligue 1 giants. Metz and several Ligue 2 teams even promised to guarantee Gao Lin's playing time in the contract...
However, Gao Jun always thought that the rough and wild French league was not suitable for Chinese youth players who were still physically underdeveloped ( Zhao Yiqi could naturally go, but the problem is that they looked down on him). He would not risk his own career prospects, so he directly refused without even looking at the conditions. Moreover, he also persuaded Yu Hai and Huo Jiamin, two club teammates, to reject the invitation from the French club. Feng Xiaoting, on the other hand, was scared away by the domestic club's sky-high offer and had to continue staying in China. Although Gao Jun knew that the domestic transfer system had a big loophole for players going abroad, he did not think highly of the sincerity of the team that invited Feng Xiaoting, so he did not remind Feng Xiaoting, who still did not have an agent at that time...
The influence of the Toulon Cup is not limited to France, so in addition to French clubs, many foreign teams have expressed interest in the three, mostly from Belgian and Dutch clubs, but also from other countries. The most surprising thing for the three is that Bayern Munich, a giant in the Bundesliga, has extended an olive branch, and specifically stated that it is not recruiting for the youth team, but is preparing to sign up for the first team, although they do not guarantee that the three can play as a main force in a big club like Bayern, or even just participate in the game.
If it were only an invitation to Gao Jun, then Gao Jun could still understand, after all, he has accumulated twenty years more than his peers and his strength is indeed outstanding. His performance in the previous World Youth Championship was enough to attract the attention of Arsenal's chief scout and even coach Wenger. As for Yu Hai and Huo Jianmin, although they performed well, but no matter what, they are not enough to move a world-class giant like Bayern, let alone directly into the first team, this is unscientific!
"Is it for the purpose of commercial development?", thinking of this, Gao Jun's eyebrows slightly furrowed, if it wasn't the head coach who wanted him, but rather a player signed by the club, wanting to get playing time would be even more difficult.
"Mr. Hoeness, is it the intention of Bayern Club or the head coach to sign us three?" Due to the end of the Toulon Cup and everyone will return home soon, Gao Jun directly asked in English without wasting time.
"Of course, that's what the head coach means." Heincks, the Bayern transfer officer, replied without hesitation. "Our new (because the 2004/2005 European League season has not started yet, Magath is not officially in office, but the contract should have been signed). Head coach Magath is very optimistic about your three young geniuses' prospects, and I also believe that under his guidance, you can all become world-class stars, especially you. Even among the talented Bayern youth team, there are no peers of the same age who can match you."
"It was him after all... I understand, please go back first, we'll think about it and give you a call." Gao Jun hesitated for a moment, then directly gave the order to ask the guest to leave. As soon as that Haenkeks left, he immediately closed the door, his face serious, and said to the two of them, "If Bayern's head coach is Magath, then this matter is easy to understand..."
Historically, due to Yang Chen and Hao Hengyi having played under Magath's leadership one after another, Chinese fans are still quite familiar with his nickname "Devil Coach". However, most fans do not know that Magath is also a super "straightforward controller" just like Wenger. Unlike Wenger who discovers young talents by sending scouts to follow them for a long time and confirm their potential before extending an invitation, following the idea of "quality over quantity", Magath's requirements are much lower, he would consider buying someone as long as he sees some bright spots in a match.
In the 16 years before Magath took over, he brought a total of 60 young players to their Bundesliga debut, including later stars like Kuranyi, Ramelow, Gomez and Holtby. The youngest was Schalke's Draxler, who made his debut at just 17 years, three months and 25 days old.
However, even so, with the current strength of Yu Huo and Chu Junmin, it is unlikely to attract Magath's interest (not to mention Bayern, even if it were a lower-tier team in the Bundesliga, normally it would take at least two more years of effort to become a regular starter). Gao Jun thinks that perhaps it is precisely because Magath coaches Bayern that he has taken an interest in Yu Hai and Chu Junmin, two players who he would normally look down on. The reason is simple: Bayern can be said to be the most strictly managed professional club in the world, and even as head coach, Magath cannot spend money freely; under these circumstances, Magath can only choose to "dig up treasures" among cheap players to satisfy his preference for cultivating young talent...
However, in Magath's habit, every young player he digs up will be given some opportunities to play, so Gao Jun thinks that if the three go to Bayern, they should get some playing time, although it is difficult to rise through this, but in a world-class giant like Bayern, even if you can only play a few games per season, the training value is still very large.
