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We had got to day three of his trial, but it hadn't take long for Georginio Wijnaldum to impress the youth coaches. Standing on the sidelines watching, his passing and moving abilities were evident to see as he knocked the ball around in a youth 7-a-side game, and his link-up play with Dalla Valle was particularly pleasing. Within his first day or so they had seemed to have struck up a good friendship, and I walked away from the training pitch, leaving Koster in charge of warm down.
Well the youngster had nearly had his week to earn himself a contract, I'd check back on him later.
I wandered into the training ground offices, narrowly missed being mown down by Vito Wormgoor in his new BMW in the carpark, blagged a coffee from my secretary, and sat down at my desk. I opened my laptop, logged in, and within seconds was confronted by an email. A very angry one.
It was from a guy named Dick Voom, the assistant manager at Feyenoord and he didn't seem to be a happy bunny.
"Dear Mr Hart. It has come to my attention that you and your club have been involved in a potential tap up of one of our most promising players. Georgino Wijnaldum is considered to have a potentially long and distinguished career at Feyenoord and we are not appreciative of your disrespect of our contract terms, or your attempt to corrupt him. You have until 8.30am tommorow to return him to De Kuip or we will take action with the Dutch FA"
Corrupt him? Was Ajax a disease all of a sudden? I wasn't having that, I rang the stadium, and got his secretary first time.
"Voom, please." I told her.
"Err...I am sorry but he is in a meeting at the moment, perhaps.." She stammered into the phone, I cut her off.
"Now" I said "Immediately. Get him out of his meeting right now." I went on hold. Two minutes later though...
"What the hell is this?" an angry deep voice came on, "Who are you?"
I changed tactic slightly, I would let him think he had the ball nice and safe, then I'd clatter him.
"Mr Voom?" I asked nice and sweetly "My name is Steve Hart, you left an abusive email for me this morning?" There was a moment of silence at the other end, maybe this guy sent a lot of abuse over the internet, and couldn't place me.
"Ajax? About Wijnaldum?" I prompted.
"Yes I know damn, you, what are you playing at?"
"Well he's a talented kid, Mr Voom, what can I say?"
He was getting angry, I could feel it through the phone.
"When will he be returned to us I want...."
"Listen" I raised my voice "Firstly he's not been offered a new contract, so we are well within our rights to approach him. Second point, your treatment of him has been less than favourable, and with his family about to become destitute, somebody has to look out for their welfare, and thirdly." Pause for breath, "If you ever threaten me again or send me an abusive email, I'm driving all the way there personally, to knock you the hell out mate. Get me?"
In the words of Gordon Ramsay it was, "Voom? Done!"
Complete silence at the other end for a second then "We will want a compensation package. I will be in touch"
Phone then went dead, but I could imagine him kicking holes in his office at the other end. This was not going to be a pleasant ride, and I doubted I'd get through the day without a cross Van Giel on the phone later. The elderly secretary Ingrid was peering over her glasses at me from her desk, wondering why I had lost my temper.
I rang Koster's mobile, asked him to send Georginio up to the office. Ten minutes later an exhausted Georginio walked in. I smiled at the youngster, and motioned to a chair. "Sit down mate, this wont take long"
I saw a flicker of disappointment in his eyes, he'd been called to see the manager three days into his trial, it could only be bad news.
Last edited by Hartynips; 11-05-08 at 05:18 AM. |
