Chapter 44 Chen Jian’s Troubles

After reaching the semi-finals at Nottingham Forest, Chen Jian received a ticket for the finals. On the eve of the final, he received a round-trip air ticket. Nottingham Forest Club arranged everything well. The players who came to watch the team's finals not only did not have to worry about round-trip fees, nor did they have to worry about food and accommodation. The club got everything done for them.

After they arrive in Madrid from all over the place, they will check in and then go to the competition together. Finally, they will choose whether to return, where to go, and when to return depending on their personal circumstances.

Chen Jian's agent, Mr. Xia, set his room in the hotel where Chen Jian was staying, which was more convenient. After they arrived in Madrid, the capital of Spain, they took a taxi to the hotel where they stayed. After the salute, Mr. Xia chatted in Chen Jian's room. Of course, in addition to the European Champions League final, the content they talked about was Chen Jian's future.

"I asked, Xiao Chen. They don't want to consider a player renewal now, and everything will have to be discussed after the finals. Even Tony Tangen's contract renewal has not been signed..." As soon as he talked about this, Mr. Xia frowned and looked sad.

Chen Jian did not express any opinions, he was a little silent. The topic was a bit heavy about the future. He couldn't say anything rashly.

"Forget it, there is still one more year..." Mr. Xia sighed, and he didn't know what to do. Now he can only wait until the final of the Champions League is over before watching. "Anyway, if they have to loan you to Warren Dam next season, you will definitely refuse. Warren Dam has been relegated to Class B. You have learned nothing and have accumulated no experience when you go there."

"Where are you going?" Chen Jian asked.

"Go to Spain." Mr. Xia thought for a while, "a team to La Liga. In fact, if possible, letting you play football in the English League is the best choice... It's a pity."

Yes, if you want to make greater progress in the Forest team, then playing football in the English League is the best. On the one hand, the coaching staff of the Forest team can observe Chen Jian from a close distance, and on the other hand, it can make Chen Jian adapt to the style of English football.

But Chen Jian couldn't get a labor certificate...

Since he was loaned to Warrendam, Chen Jian was hyped by the media for a while. During that time, he was still very famous in China. Chinese fans who care about Chinese football and Chinese overseas players all know that with such a young Chinese player in Warrendam, he may become the hope for the future of Chinese football, or may gradually disappear.

Although Chen Jian plays football at Warrendam and Chen Jian comes from the European champion Nottingham Forest,... he has not been attracted by the Chinese national team.   There has been countless national teams in the past two seasons, and he has not been drafted once.  There is no shady story. In fact, the national team believes that Chen Jian is not strong enough, his level is not good, and he cannot reach the level of playing for the country.

To count it down, there are actually quite a few Chinese players who go abroad to play football, but most of them play football in the middle and lower-level teams in low-level leagues. They don’t pay much attention to it, and the level of the team and the league is not high. The national team would rather want those players who play football in China than take the risk of recruiting foreign players, because at least domestic players are more familiar with them. They can get together for training a few times a year, and tacit understanding is not a problem. As for foreign players... unless a genius who plays stably can really be considered.

When Dong Fangzhuo was at Manchester United, in order to make up for the number of games to apply for a labor certificate, the national team gave some care. Chen Jian also played football in the Forest team, but he did not have the same treatment as Dong Fangzhuo. Because he is not like Dong Fangzhuo, he has enough connections and relationships in the domestic football circle to help him open up and down joints.

He is just an ordinary person selected from a commercial draft. Before going to the Forest Team, he had not received any club echelon training in China, nor did he know this person or someone in the domestic football circle. Although his pure grassroots birth has not been infected with the bad atmosphere of domestic football, it has also made him lose the capital to climb upward. Naturally, no one will run around and take care of him in China to get a labor certificate. Mr. Xia is not a very energetic agent. Otherwise, he would not be Chen Jian's agent.

He was unable to be selected for the national team, unable to participate in international A-level events, naturally he could not apply for a labor permit, and could not play football in Nottingham Forest. This is also why Mr. Xia had to let Chen Jian show up with the club and leave for free. He didn't care where Chen Jian wanted to play football. What he only cared about was that Chen Jian had to play at a higher level and increase his popularity. This way he could make more money.

Labor Certificate. Labor Certificate... This is a damn Premier League rule. The English Football Association is really full and has the same virtue as the Chinese Football Association!

Mr. Xia cursed viciously in his heart.

When he thought of the labor certificate, Chen Jian became even more silent. Of course, he knew that if he didn't play football in the national team, he would not have the chance to apply for a labor certificate. But the national team looked down on him, what could he do? He couldn't go and ask others to summon him to the national team, right?

He suddenly put all his hopes on Coach Tony Tangen. He felt that this omnipotent man must have a way to get him a labor certificate. When he thought of the letter Mr. Tangen wrote to him, he vaguely felt that this strange-tempered gentleman was very special to him...

Chen Jian didn't expect that he would meet Tang En so soon.

That night, when he and Mr. Xia finished their dinner and came back from the street, they found that the floor they were staying was very lively. The players who lived in several adjacent rooms belonged to the Forest Team but were all loaned were gathered in the corridor. They were surrounded by one person. Chen Jian must be very familiar with that person, because it was Tony Tangen.

"Why is he here?" Mr. Xia next to him obviously didn't expect to see Tang En here.

Don Eun just finished chatting with several other players. He smiled and looked like an old friend who could be close to him at will. He was able to call out the names of each player here, know the location of these people, and his performance on loan this season. This made the players very happy. Don Eun grabbed the hearts of some people again. If one or two people could finally advance to the Forest First Team, then they would definitely become Tony Don Eun's most loyal supporters.

Chen Jian did not get up, but stood in the distance and watched quietly.

When Tang En finished talking to those people, he turned around and saw Chen Jian standing in the distance.

"I'll go find you first, but you're not here." Tang En walked up and communicated with Chen Jian in Chinese. No one around him understood, so they had to go back to their room.

"Mr. Xia and I had dinner and went out shopping..." Chen Jian introduced his agent to Tang En.

Mr. Xia held Tang En's hand and had something to say, but Tang En blocked his mouth first. He looked at Chen Jian and continued, "I want to hear your thoughts, Chen Jian. Do you want to stay in the Forest Team or go somewhere else?"

Mr. Xia kept winking at Chen Jian next to him. I hope Chen Jian can choose to "go to other places".

Chen Jian said: "Of course I want to stay in the Forest Team to play football, but I can't get a labor certificate..."

Tang En nodded. This kid is telling the truth. He didn't expect that the Chinese national team had a high vision, but he looked down on Chen Jian and the others who he liked. More than two seasons, almost three years have passed. Chen Jian has never played a national team game, and has not even participated in the national youth team game. He has not made the roster.

"How about it, should you consider what I said to change nationality?" Tang En stared at Chen Jian with a smile.

Chen Jian shook his head like a rattle.

"Then I choose to play football elsewhere. Mr. Tang En. Anyway, the contract will end in one year, so the club will not provide a new contract for me, right?"

This answer was what Mr. Xia wanted. He now looked at Tang En with anticipation, hoping that Chen Jian's words would successfully anger Tang En without any room for negotiation. Then, the furious Tang En decided to let Chen Jian leave freely after the contract expired.

But he was disappointed.

Tang En's smile even more. He seemed to like to tease this young man. It was just because this kid was particularly stubborn.

"Well, actually, Chen Jian. I'm here this time to provide you with a new contract...a new four-year contract."

Without waiting for Chen Jian to say anything, Mr. Xia couldn't wait to stand up: "I'm sorry, Mr. Tang En. Can you disturb me? You provided Chen Jian with a new contract, but how can you solve the labor certificate for other places?"

"Lease to the Netherlands or Belgium..."

Hearing Tang En say this, Mr. Xia looked back at Chen Jian. The boy had no expression on his face, and he was extremely disappointed.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Tang En. I think my players can't continue to wander like this. He is already twenty-three years old. If he can't get a first-team position in your team, then we would rather find him a new team for him to give him this position, even in the European Division II."

Tang En glanced at Chen Jian and found that his expression had not changed much. It seemed that this agent was the one who made the decision.

So he faced his agent and raised his finger: "I offer Chen Jian several options: 1. Continue to play football in the Netherlands, reach the length of residence to become a European Union citizen, and automatically obtain a labor certificate; 2. Marry a British wife and change nationality. Obtain British nationality and even save the labor certificate; 3. Play football on behalf of the Chinese national team and play with the standard for applying for a labor certificate, and obtain a labor certificate; 4. Apply through the special genius clause and obtain a labor certificate."

Tang En raised four fingers and showed Mr. Xia one by one: "These four choices are more difficult than the other. Chen Jian has lived in the Netherlands for three years, and in another two years, he can apply for Dutch nationality. He is considered an EU citizen at that time and does not need a labor certificate to participate in Premier League games. Nottingham Forest can naturally recall him to play football. He was only twenty-five years old at that time, and he was at the golden age."

"Marrying a British wife is very personal, and I can't give Chen Jian any advice."

"Third, the call of the national team... You haven't played for the Chinese team for a minute, right? Chen Jian."

Chen Jian nodded: "No."

"Maybe you can do it in the future, but it is absolutely impossible to apply for a labor certificate for you now." Tang En showed off his stern face and vividly how cruel this reality is.

"Fourth, special genius clause... To be honest, Chen Jian, you do not meet the requirements of this clause at all. You have never participated in the national team competition, and you have not been selected for the national youth team. Your growth experience cannot see any genius flavor, and I cannot find any football celebrities to testify for you... Your materials are unconvincing, and the final result is only denied by the FA."

Tang En told the truth, but it didn't sound like it in Mr. Xia's ears...

"Since Chen Jian has no potential in your eyes, why did you tell him to abandon everything and come to the UK?"

Tang En hated this agent a little, so his tone was not so friendly: "I made it clear to Chen Jian at the beginning, and coming to the UK doesn't mean that he will succeed. I just gave him a chance. But I can't help at all if he can realize his dream."

Mr. Xia was speechless when he said this.

"The master leads the door, and practices are personal." Tang En said a Chinese proverb. "I gave Chen Jian a chance. Chen Jian, you have successfully played professional football, but you are not satisfied with it. You still want to have greater pursuits. As for what level you can reach... the decision is up to you, Chen Jian. Whether you finally decide to leave Nottingham Forest to play football in other teams, or agree to renew your contract, continue to wait for the opportunity. I have no objection. That is your path, you have to choose to walk by yourself."

Tang En looked at Chen Jian and said.

"You can call me after you have figured it out." Tang En stuffed a business card into Chen Jian's hand, and then walked towards the elevator alone.

Tang En disappeared behind the elevator door, and Chen Jian was still stunned with his business card in his hand.

Mr. Xia frowned from the side and said, "You see, Xiao Chen? They didn't take you seriously at all. I said don't wait here. Wasting youth. What's the point of renewing the contract for four years or renting out? You are always a marginal figure, waiting for you to last... Can you end up with the end? What if you get a labor certificate? Well, even if your performance in the next two years suddenly opens the eyes of the Chinese Football Association. They recruit you to join the team, play the main players, gather enough competitions, and then get the labor certificate. How old will you be in two years? Twenty-five. You just got the labor certificate. Do you think you are really capable of competing for the main position with George Wood, Gago and others? Do you think those big clubs have played in the same lineup for ten years? Will they not go to find players younger and more talented than you to train? When will such days be the first?"

Mr. Xia became more and more excited as he spoke. If Chen Jian decided to stay in the Forest Team, his financial path would basically end.

"Don't be stupid. Chen Jian. The British lies sound beautiful. Everyone will say the truth. Do you know what he thinks? He has deceived you for four years, but he wants to deceive you for another four years! It is very difficult for Chinese players to land in England, let alone a champion team? Listen to me, be honest and down-to-earth... Can we play football in another place?"

Mr. Xia looked at Chen Jian sincerely.

Chen Jian frowned, and he felt a headache. He was instilled with so many things at once. It was a personal brain that hurt.

"Sorry, Uncle Xia. I have a headache... Let me rest. Can you think about it again?" Chen Jian rubbed his temples with a painful expression.

Mr. Xia sighed: "Okay. I won't bother you anymore, you can rest early. Let's talk about it after watching tomorrow's game."

Chen Jian was lying on the bed alone, tossing and turning and unable to sleep. He thought what Mr. Tang En and Mr. Xia said was very reasonable, but who should I listen to? His parents knew nothing about professional football and could not help him in this regard, and he didn't have to ask his parents for their opinions.

Make choices depend on yourself.

He wanted to succeed in the Forest team, but Mr. Xia said it seemed like he poured cold water on him - even if he got a labor certificate, he could finally play for the Forest team. Does the Forest team still need him at that time? New geniuses emerge every day in world football. How many years will Tang En wait for him alone? This is impossible, he is not the protagonist in the novel.

So where is it going?

He really doesn't know.

The seventeen-year-old boy who initially wanted to play professional football would never have such troubles in his mind. People are growing and their ideals are growing. Now he is no longer satisfied with the simple dream of just playing in the professional league. He also wants to play at a higher level. He wants to become a star, not a meteor.

Putting aside the background of Nottingham Forest, can you play after a few years of playing in a Eredivisie or a team in the League One? Isn’t it possible that you will completely sink into it, and gradually get worse and worse. Finally, you went to a lower-level league, and then no one remembered yourself? Later, you simply ran back to China and went to the China League One and League Two to make a living. Recalling the short time in Nottingham Forest several years ago, I don’t know what I thought about. Are you numb, or unwilling to do it, wondering if you regret it?

In order to ensure that his brain is clear tomorrow, Tang En went to bed and rested very early. He did not receive a call from Chen Jian until he fell asleep. He did not take this matter to heart, because it was not something he should worry about. What will happen to a young Chinese player in the future has nothing to do with him.

He only has tomorrow's final in his mind now.

That was the most important day in his life.
Chapter completed!