The Fate of Two Geniuses

The team was on break, but the coaching staff was still hard at work.

Aldrich was discussing potential roster improvements with Benitez and Jansen at the club.

Next year, they would be competing in the UEFA Champions League, and the number of matches would be denser than in recent years. With many young players entering the national team's sights, even those not in the first team would be traveling back and forth between levels.

After losing two centerbacks and two forwards, Millwall urgently needed to strengthen their squad.

They had four players for the center-back position, which should be manageable if injuries didn't strike. The midfield was solid with six players, offering a well-balanced attacking and defensive choice. Aldrich's biggest headache was the forward line.

Apart from three key starters, the only substitutes left were Gronkjaer and Van Nistelrooy.

Van Nistelrooy was a backup striker, while Gronkjaer could only play as a winger. Aldrich needed more forwards to bolster the attack.

In the new season, Van Nistelrooy will have more playing opportunities. As for Gronkjaer, due to his characteristics, Aldrich will limit his chances to no more than 20 games. Gronkjaer relies heavily on his explosive speed, and players like him need longer recovery times after giving their all in a match. They can't perform consistently; otherwise, they either risk injury or their performance will suffer significantly.

Moreover, Gronkjaer had just turned 18, and his development was about to take shape. Aldrich wanted to focus on building his physicality without overburdening him with too many matches. It was similar to how he managed Pirlo—although Pirlo was a key player, he didn't start every match, with only 26 full appearances last season.

However, due to the different attributes and positions, Pirlo's playing time was expected to gradually increase, while Gronkjaer's wouldn't.

Millwall needed forwards, and specifically ones willing to be substitutes.

Benitez offered some domestic options, such as discarded players from other teams, as well as some prospects like Bellamy and Robbie Keane from lower leagues.

Aldrich showed no interest in signing older players that other teams had discarded; he believed these moves to be unwise. Every penny he spent in the transfer market would be calculated.

Bellamy was completely ruled out by Aldridge. This isn't due to a lack of confidence when dealing with troublemakers like Bellamy; He just didn't feel the need to introduce a potential locker room bomb and see if he could contain the explosion.

Robbie Keane's situation was a bit complicated. He turned down an invitation from Liverpool at the same time, and Liverpool was the club he had dreamed of joining since childhood. However, Keane wanted a starting role, and even if Millwall offered a higher salary under the same conditions, it didn't faze him at all.

Aldrich felt no regret; there were always new stars to be found.

In early June, before leaving London, Aldrich made his first transfer bid.

He offered £1 million to acquire 18-year-old winger Damien Duff from Blackburn.

Duff, who had played for Blackburn since he was 16, had made fewer than 15 appearances over the past two seasons. At 18, this critical age would greatly influence the trajectory of his career.

Since winning the Premier League title two years ago, Blackburn had been on a decline, finishing eighth, and then fourteenth in the league, barely avoiding relegation by just two points.

The once-strong squad had now disintegrated; after Shearer's departure, Blackburn had been marginalized from the Premier League.

In this context, Millwall rose unexpectedly, and Aldrich made a name for himself in England.Under his guidance, a crop of exceptionally talented players emerged, creating a wave of youth energy that made all of Europe take notice.

Unlike the ambitious 17-year-old Robbie Keane, most players under 18 knew their worth, especially with an invitation from the treble-winning Millwall, they would think carefully before making a decision.

Playing under different coaches often yielded different results, and the club's ability to nurture talent was a significant draw for players.

Over the past two years, Millwall had sold many players successfully, earning them the nickname "Ajax of England," a compliment in today's era.

With Ajax producing players who were truly valued on the market, clubs faced little risk of devaluation, and most players would appreciate significantly after entering mainstream leagues.

For instance, Vieira, who was considered worth half of Pires in last year's transfer, was now viewed by British media as a new Roy Keane, showing that Arsenal had made a wise investment!

Thus, Millwall's renowned reputation has become deeply entrenched, making it quite normal for various clubs to come in and poach their talents. Their exceptional ability to nurture and develop players showcases their strength in player development.

Last season, Aldrich spent nothing in the transfer market and lost two starting players and two substitutes, yet still captured the treble—a clear sign of their success.

Duff hesitated over the new contract from Blackburn, which left the club in a difficult position, ultimately leading to an agreement with Millwall for a transfer fee of £1 million. Duff became the first player to join Millwall when the summer transfer window opened.

After finalizing the transfer, Aldrich provided Adam with a list of domestic players, asking him to find them personally. The list consisted solely of English players, most of whom were under 18, not aimed at Aldrich's first team selection but to enhance the youth academy. If any player hesitated, Aldrich would personally persuade them to join. However, he was pressed for time, needing to leave London to find more forwards.

In late May, Andrew boarded a flight to the Netherlands with Aldrich.

Seated in first class, Andrew looked noticeably sleep-deprived and began lamenting to Aldrich as soon as they boarded.

"There's just too much going on. The players' commercial activities are wearing me down."

Aldrich casually flipped through a magazine and replied, "Why don't you set up a dedicated team for the players?"

"Exactly, that's what I'm doing; otherwise, how would I have time for anything?"

Andrew's agency had become quite successful; he was now one of the most renowned agents in Britain, representing many players in both the Premier League and League One. He had no interest in dealing with players in League Two anymore, as the costs outweighed the benefits.

As other clubs in mainstream leagues sought to buy Millwall's players, they inevitably needed to engage with Andrew, which expanded his network across Europe.

Additionally, he had established a company in South America that represented many up-and-coming stars. Despite the constraints of work permit regulations, Aldrich's enthusiasm for non-EU players had diminished, as he didn't want to navigate red tape with the FA each time. However, for players from South America, their entry into Europe was a standard option, which allowed Andrew's connections to strengthen his influence across Europe.

Aldrich didn't oppose the players' summer commercial activities; with many players hailing from various countries, if they illuminated Europe with their nationalities, Millwall players would practically cover half of the continent. This diverse European lineup, while critiqued in Fleet Street for distancing from English roots, boosted Millwall's presence in Europe, enhancing the international profile. The notoriety of those well-known stars would inevitably reflect back on Millwall, bringing the team attention and fame.

As he continued to ponder forward recruitment, Aldrich suddenly remembered a player who had been overlooked.

"Hey, what happened to that prodigy from Liverpool?"

He put down the magazine and turned to Andrew.

Andrew frowned and replied, "The media have worn out the term 'prodigy'; who are you talking about?"

"Um, let me think… David Larmore! Yes, that's it. He was the forward who started in the Youth FA Cup final for Liverpool last year. This year, Michael Owen from the youth team has moved up to the first team, but I haven't seen Larmore's name anywhere in the first team roster. Where did that wonder kid go?"

Initially, Aldrich had forgotten about Larmore, along with players like Owen, Gerrard, and Carragher, who rarely appeared in Liverpool's first team while he studied opponents. But today, with his mind focused on aspiring forwards, he couldn't help but think of Owen, which then led him back to Larmore, the player who had pushed Owen to the bench in the youth team.

During that match, the young striker had opened the scoring and left a strong impression. Aldrich distinctly remembered that Larmore's playing style fit Millwall perfectly; he moved around effectively up front, demonstrating excellent game intelligence rather than just waiting for passes. That was why he had assigned Andrew to track Larmore's contract situation, not recalling that Liverpool had such a promising player on their hands.

Andrew shook his head and sighed, "You might as well forget about him."

"Hey, you're not the one who forgot, are you?"

Exasperated, Andrew said, "Well, he suffered a significant injury last summer during training. After he healed, the club loaned him to Doncaster, where he performed poorly. He returned to Liverpool six months ago, and he had signed a four-year contract at 16. This summer, his contract is up, and Liverpool doesn't plan to renew it. They've mutually agreed to terminate the contract, so Larmore should now be a free agent. Not only Premier League clubs but even clubs in League One have no interest in him. A month ago, I was talking about this with my colleagues, and everyone was lamenting his fate. A year ago, everyone was clamoring to become his agent."

Aldrich fell into deep thought.

Last year, Larmore was closing in on 19 by the time of the Youth FA Cup, but as long as he was 18 before the new season started, he could have participated in the competition. By now, he had only three months left before turning 19.

Injuries posed a dual threat to a player's technical abilities and physical condition. Still, at Larmore's age, both his technique and physique could be further developed. Why had Liverpool given up on him so early?

"Your judgment is sharp; who could have predicted that a player who was a benchwarmer in the youth team, like Owen, would rise to the first team and score on his debut, even breaking the record for the youngest goal in the Premier League? Fate really is a bitch."

Andrew continued to lament while Aldrich nodded in agreement.

Professional football could be brutally harsh; for a player, one critical hurdle could lead to a complete reversal of fortune.

"Do you still want to look for him?"

Aldrich hesitated, frowning. Liverpool wasn't foolish; they wouldn't have let go of a player they had prioritized for development without deep consideration.

But he soon recalled many tales of top clubs parting with gifted players.

"If we can find him, let's bring him to Millwall for a trial. It wouldn't hurt to see what he's become—even if he's fallen from prodigy to average player, I still want to see for myself."

"Alright, once we land, I'll call the office to have someone arrange it. By the way, are we heading to Ajax in Amsterdam?"

Aldrich picked up the magazine again and replied casually, "Yeah."

"Hehe, which player is Millwall going to spend money on?"

"Andy van der Meyde"