With the arrival of the two-week international break, Ajax's squad began to thin out as players departed to join their national teams — some for senior duty, others for youth call-ups.
After the celebrations following their UEFA Super Cup triumph in Monaco, De Toekomst returned to a quiet and almost hollow atmosphere.
With the summer transfer window officially closed, the headlines had shifted. Yang Yang, contrary to what many media outlets predicted, had chosen to stay at Ajax. The news left reporters and fans across Europe — especially those in China — feeling a deep sense of disappointment.
Many had expected Yang Yang to take the next step and move to one of the top clubs in Europe's elite leagues. A transfer would have made him the first Chinese player to feature for a major club in one of the top four leagues — a groundbreaking moment long awaited by his supporters.
On his personal blog, Yang Yang offered a short and humble explanation: he simply wasn't ready.
But the reality was clear to anyone paying attention — it wasn't that he lacked offers. He had plenty. He chose not to move, not yet.
Wei Zhen, a prominent football journalist for National Television, wrote on his own blog that Yang Yang had been extremely meticulous in evaluating his options and had a well-thought-out plan for his long-term development. Jumping at the first big offer wasn't part of it.
Back in June, after helping China secure qualification for the 2006 World Cup with a win over North Korea, Yang Yang had met with head coach Arie Haan and national team leader Zhu Guanghu while still in the Netherlands. There, he made his intentions clear: in the upcoming season, his priority was Ajax — especially the UEFA Champions League. His aim was to gain experience, grow further, and strengthen his negotiating position for when he was ready to move.
Both Arie Haan and Team Leader Zhu expressed full support.
As a result, Yang Yang was not included in the September call-up for China's international friendlies, which were part of the team's World Cup preparation. Nor were other foreign-based players like Zheng Zhi (Mainz), Zhao Junzhe (Celtic), Feng Xiaoting (Feyenoord), Gao Lin (AZ Alkmaar), Zhou Haibin (Benfica), or Hao Junmin (Hamburg).
In October, the Chinese national team would regroup in Germany for a training camp and two more friendlies. It would be an opportunity to blend domestic and overseas talents before the 2006 World Cup. But even then, the overseas players were not expected to take part unless necessary. The federation's view was clear: let them establish themselves first at their clubs — that's how they would truly benefit the national team in the long run.
Even the East Asian Games scheduled for November would go ahead without the European-based players.
Without international duties, Yang Yang remained in Amsterdam, continuing his daily training sessions at De Toekomst.
Winston Bogarde and Ruud Krol arrived at the training ground daily to work with him — often one-on-one, pushing him beyond the normal team standards.
Occasionally, he received visits from familiar faces.
One of them was Louis van Gaal.
...
...
As Yang Yang finished another demanding day of solo training at De Toekomst, he turned a corner near the edge of the pitch and was surprised to see a familiar figure seated quietly on a bench — Louis van Gaal.
The former Ajax manager, now with AZ Alkmaar, raised a bottle of water toward him with a slight grin.
"Huh, Louis, what brings you here?" Yang Yang laughed as he jogged over.
"I'm here on a covert scouting mission," Van Gaal joked, the corners of his mouth twitching upward.
Yang Yang chuckled. "I doubt that. Your next match is against Roosendaal, not Ajax. You're not fooling anyone."
He twisted the cap off the bottle and gulped down the water. Van Gaal silently handed him a second, which Yang Yang accepted without protest.
"I owe you dinner now," Yang Yang said with a grin.
"Two bottles of water for a meal? I'm getting the better deal here," Van Gaal quipped.
They sat together on the low bench, the late summer light beginning to fade over the empty training ground.
"I heard the club gave you two weeks off. Why didn't you go home?" Van Gaal asked casually.
Yang Yang sighed softly and shook his head. "It's not convenient."
He didn't elaborate, but Van Gaal understood. Returning to his hometown in China — a third- or fourth-tier city — meant limited access to proper facilities. Even going to Beijing posed issues, especially with the national team training there and playing friendlies. Yang Yang, on break, would feel out of place among them.
"Then use the time to really rest," Van Gaal said gently. "You haven't taken a proper break in three years, have you?"
Yang Yang nodded slowly.
Since the summer of 2003, when he joined Almere's amateur team and then made his way to Ajax through the Talent Day, there had been no respite — no long holidays, no gaps. This year alone had taken him through Ajax's league campaign, their European adventures, and the World Youth Championship with China.
"I went back to Almere recently," he said, gazing into the distance.
Van Gaal gave a slow nod. He knew the significance that place held for Yang Yang.
"I saw my uncle, dropped by the old club, caught up with some teammates. A lot of them are in the first team now, playing in the Derde Divisie."
As Yang Yang recounted the visit, he spoke as though Almere belonged to a different lifetime — as if he were describing a world that moved at a slower pace than the one he lived in now.
"Amazing how it's just 20 or 30 kilometers away, but it feels so far," Yang Yang murmured.
Van Gaal chuckled. "That's the Netherlands. From my house to Alkmaar's training ground takes longer than from here to Almere."
"They've tried to earn promotion every year," Yang Yang said. "Every year they fall short."
Van Gaal's expression turned somber. "Rep told me the same thing. He's under a lot of pressure. Said he might resign if it doesn't happen this season."
"Yeah... he looked older this time. Like he's carrying more than he used to."
Van Gaal didn't disagree. "It's a brutal game. The professional pyramid is ruthless. Everyone's trying to climb to the top, but for every player or team that rises, someone has to fall."
Yang Yang nodded, his thoughts drifting to the likes of Henk Dimer and Nick — teammates from the youth setup who once outshone him in training.
"Some of them were better than me back then," he said quietly. "Now they're still stuck. Twenty years old and no Eredivisie football — that kind of stall hits hard."
He fell silent for a moment, then looked at Van Gaal with a faint smile.
"To be honest, I feel lucky. My biggest dream was just to play for Almere's first team one day. I never thought I'd come this far."
"You're here not just because of fortune," Van Gaal said firmly. "You made it because you work harder than anyone else."
He tapped Yang Yang lightly on the shoulder. "When self-discipline and effort become second nature, that's when real growth happens."
Then Van Gaal changed topics.
"Your teammate from the national team — Gao Lin — he's got solid foundations. Strong physically, good with the ball at his feet, decent pace… but something's missing."
He tapped his temple.
"He needs football intelligence. That sharp edge to process the game faster than everyone else."
Yang Yang nodded. "He's got potential. He just needs time."
"And pressure," Van Gaal added. "That's why I'm not going easy on him. Let him sweat. It'll shape him."
Van Gaal had deployed Gao Lin in various roles already — as a central striker, at times even dropping into midfield. It was part of a plan to fast-track his understanding of the game in the Dutch context.
"If he doesn't figure it out quickly," Van Gaal said bluntly, "he'll find himself on the bench."
"I'll keep pushing him," Yang Yang smiled. "He's my friend. And we need more Chinese players making it here."
Van Gaal gave a nod of approval. "Then keep holding him to a high standard."
They both sat quietly for a moment, watching the wind rustle across the training ground — a place that had become a crucible for Yang Yang's rise.
The work never stopped.
And neither would he.