"Him?" Su Qing was stunned.
Gao Shen had just called him the best center forward in the world.
She had never heard Gao Shen use such a seemingly exaggerated phrase before, which only showed how highly he regarded this player.
But it didn't seem realistic. After all, most of the kids playing on this field looked like they were around 15 or 16 years old, maybe 17 or 18.
Even though Su Qing didn't know much about youth training, she understood some basics.
For example, youth players generally begin to show their talent by the time they are 15 or 16. If not, it's usually too late.
Those so-called "late bloomers" often weren't lacking in talent—they just got left behind because of certain limitations or shortcomings.
Take Vardy, for example. His biggest problem early on was being small and skinny.
But later it turned out, he had simply developed later than most. If his bone age had been properly tested back then, it could've changed everything.
But for smaller clubs, they often don't go to that trouble.
Before Vardy began to shine, who would've guessed he had what it took?
And this wasn't just about him—many players in youth academies fall through the cracks.
Clubs often don't think it's worth spending resources on bone age tests or scouting based on a long-shot chance.
As for the blond kid Gao Shen pointed out, he didn't look like anything special.
His physical condition wasn't great, and he wasn't particularly tall either. That gave him a disadvantage on the pitch.
He seemed a little nimble with his feet, but his body wasn't strong enough. He'd lose the ball the moment he was bumped.
"Are you sure he'll become the best center forward in the world?" Su Qing asked skeptically.
Gao Shen answered confidently, "He has that potential."
Su Qing was baffled. This kid didn't look all that powerful to her.
But how could she know that all the other players on the pitch were at least 15, while the boy Gao Shen was watching was only 11?
The fact that he was even able to play at this level, against kids four years older, was already impressive.
And to be honest, if you didn't know his age, he wouldn't look very good on the field.
In youth development, a one- or two-year age gap makes a huge difference. A four-year difference? That's an entire developmental level. Of course he wouldn't stand out.
Gao Shen didn't care about his current performance at all. He was debating in his heart whether to go and talk to him.
But it was frustrating. Leeds United's youth academy still wasn't fully established. Even if Gao Shen did meet him, what could he do?
After thinking it over, Gao Shen decided not to act.
"Let's go," he sighed.
Su Qing was confused. After coming all this way, he just wanted to leave without even talking to the boy?
That didn't make sense.
"Didn't you say he'd be the best center in the world?"
"Yes."
"Then what are we waiting for? Shouldn't we act?"
Gao Shen turned and looked at the beautiful woman beside him. How could someone so stunning sound so much like a bandit?
This was all his fault.
He had corrupted her.
"We need to build a proper youth academy first. Right now, we don't have one. Even if we recruit him, without good training and match experience, he'll never reach his potential. Instead, we'd be holding him back."
Su Qing paused. What Gao Shen said made sense.
"But you're just going to let him go like this?"
"Don't worry. This place is remote and underdeveloped. Scouts don't usually come out here. Give it two or three years, when our youth academy is complete, then we'll come and poach him. We'll give him the best resources and training. Who knows—our new stadium, or even our future championship, might depend on him one day!"
Su Qing looked back at the field every few steps, reluctant to leave.
That wasn't just a youth player.
That was the future of Leeds United!
"Gao Shen?!"
As the two walked through the crowd, leaving the training ground and heading toward the parking lot, they suddenly heard someone call out.
The voice carried surprise and uncertainty.
Gao Shen and Su Qing turned around instinctively and saw a blond middle-aged man hurrying toward them.
"It really is you, Gao! I didn't expect to see you here!"
The man reached out enthusiastically, shaking Gao Shen's hand with great excitement.
"You are…" Gao Shen was sure he didn't know him.
"Alf Haaland."
"Oh!" Gao Shen suddenly realized—this was the father of the blond boy he had just pointed out.
"I watched your matches at Manchester City. When the team won the league, the club invited us over. I saw you from a distance, but there were too many people around, and I didn't get a chance to say hello," Alf Haaland said warmly.
"This is…"
"My wife," Gao Shen introduced.
Alf Haaland had guessed it, but was still a little surprised. "I used to play for Leeds United. I'm a former Leeds player."
It really was fate.
Alf Haaland had once clashed with Roy Keane while at Leeds. Later, when he moved to Manchester City, Keane famously took revenge.
His son, the blond boy on the field—Erling Haaland—was born in Leeds.
Strictly speaking, Alf Haaland wasn't a Manchester City legend. By the time he joined City, his career was already winding down. He was 30, couldn't compete with younger players at Leeds, and left for Manchester City.
At the time, Leeds were title contenders. City were fighting relegation.
But how the times have changed. Now, Manchester City were the most dominant and successful club in the Premier League.
With this connection, the conversation flowed easily.
Gao Shen explained the reason for their visit.
They had gone to Iceland to see the Northern Lights and then traveled through Norway. He wanted to experience the countryside, so he rented a car and ended up in Bryne, where he just happened to see the kids playing.
"He's only 11," Alf explained his son's underwhelming performance.
Gao Shen feigned surprise. "My God, he's 11 and playing against 15- and 16-year-olds?"
"Yes, I've always believed he has real potential, so I've been looking for someone to help train him."
Hearing that, Gao Shen immediately changed his mind.
This was a golden opportunity. How could he let it slip by?
"I think, if it's as you say, keeping him here would only hinder his development. He needs to go to a more professional environment to receive the best, most scientific training. That will be crucial for his future. What do you think?"
Alf nodded repeatedly.
He had come through Bryne himself. He knew what the youth system here could offer.
And to be honest, his own career wasn't exactly stellar.
Though he was a Manchester City player, the club got relegated during his time there. He was already aging and couldn't do much.
He had also spent time at Nottingham Forest and experienced both promotion and relegation with them. But at Leeds United, he had performed well, and the club had stayed among the Premier League's best.
Su Qing, having grown up with Gao Shen, could tell exactly what he wanted just from a small gesture.
"Alf, as you know, Leeds United has been through a lot in recent years. The club went bankrupt, got relegated, and its youth system fell apart. But things are different now. Our new leadership is committed to rebuilding, and we're reforming our youth development from the ground up. This season, we're leading the Championship and have a great chance of promotion to the Premier League."
Even though they were in a small town in Norway, this was a connected world. Alf had kept up with Leeds' situation.
"We welcome veterans like you. We're assembling a complete youth system, and our technical director is Rodolfo Borrell, who used to be Barcelona's best youth coach at La Masia. Later, he worked as technical director under Gao Shen. Now, he's fully in charge of youth development at Leeds."
"Not only that, we've also hired two more outstanding youth coaches from Barcelona to build a scientific training program. This season alone, we're investing more than £5 million in youth development."
Alf kept nodding. "I've read about this in the papers. I'm really happy for Leeds United."
"We also welcome former players like you, who contributed to the club's history, to put your trust in us. Let your son join our youth academy. We'll provide the most rigorous and scientific training possible. One day, we hope he can wear the Leeds United jersey and play in the Premier League—just like his father once did."
After hearing Su Qing's words, Alf Haaland was genuinely moved.
Right now, he didn't know exactly how far his son could go. He just believed the boy had great potential.
But in today's European football scene, potential alone wasn't enough.
Alf had already made up his mind. It was time to leave this small town and bring his son to England. To a top Championship club, on the verge of returning to the Premier League, where he could receive proper training.
He even felt like this was fate.
Otherwise, why would Gao Shen show up here, out of all places?
As for what Su Qing said—it wasn't a sales pitch. Since taking over at Leeds, she really had brought back many former players, including former captain Lucas Radebe.
Radebe still kept in touch with Alf and spoke highly of the new Leeds ownership. He openly supported the club's new direction.
"You can take your time to consider it, Alf. If you're interested, bring your son to Leeds for a visit. You'll see for yourself that, while we've just started rebuilding, our goal is to make Leeds United's youth academy one of the most respected in European football again."
Back in the day, Leeds United's youth generation had conquered Europe and reached the Champions League semifinals. Their youth development was among the best in the Premier League.
Now, Su Qing wanted to bring that glory back.
More importantly, Gao Shen was known for his ability to develop young talent. If he was making this recommendation, it was worth serious thought.
Would staying in Bryne really help Haaland Jr. fulfill his potential?
(To be continued.)
***
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