Chapter 24: First Waves of Transfer Interest
Neymar fell silent for a few seconds after hearing Ken's question.
It wasn't that he doubted Ken's strength—on the contrary, he had always believed that Ken's potential might even surpass his own. But the reality of professional football was harsh. Talent alone was never enough. Timing, experience, exposure, and opportunity often determined how quickly a player could rise.
When Neymar moved to Barcelona, he had already accumulated major honors in Brazil: domestic titles, continental success, and national team recognition. Even then, after arriving in Europe, he still needed time to adapt before fully establishing himself.
Ken's situation was different.
Although his recent performances had been brilliant, he had only just secured a stable position in the São Paulo first team. For a seventeen-year-old who had only recently returned to the professional stage, transferring immediately to a European giant could mean long periods on the bench.
"If you go too early," Neymar said thoughtfully, "you might not get many chances to play."
Ken smiled faintly.
"I understand. That's why I'm not in a hurry."
Neymar laughed on the other end of the phone.
"Still, things are moving fast. I heard several European clubs have already started asking about you. Looks like the market has noticed."
"Let them notice," Ken replied calmly. "Right now, my job is simple—play well, train hard, and keep improving. Everything else can wait."
"Spoken like a veteran already," Neymar teased. "Alright then, tomorrow's match against Santos—I'll be watching. Don't embarrass me."
"Relax," Ken replied with a grin. "Just make sure you don't regret saying that."
After hanging up, Ken placed the phone aside and returned to his workout. The gym inside the training base was quiet at this hour, and the steady rhythm of weights clanking against metal echoed across the room. Sweat rolled down his arms as he continued another set of squats, focusing entirely on strengthening his lower body.
Strength training was slow, repetitive, and often exhausting—but Ken understood its importance. South American football emphasized technique, yet when stepping onto the European stage, physical confrontation became unavoidable. If he wanted to compete with the world's best defenders in the future, he had to prepare early.
An hour later, after finishing his session and taking a shower, Ken was called to the club office.
Inside the room sat Sporting Director Suárez, senior advisor Vizzoli, and Ken's agent Wagner Ribeiro. The atmosphere was serious but not tense.
"Ken, come in," Suárez said with a smile. "We've been waiting for you."
Ken took a seat, sensing that the discussion was important.
Wagner spoke first.
"Over the past few days, several clubs have contacted us to ask about your situation. Some are just gathering information, while others are already asking about possible transfer conditions."
Ken blinked in mild surprise. Although he had expected some attention after his recent performances, he hadn't imagined the reaction would come so quickly.
"So soon?" he asked.
Vizzoli chuckled softly.
"That's football. When a young player performs well in a derby and scores decisive goals, scouts don't take long to notice."
Suárez nodded.
"Your release clause attracted attention, and your recent matches confirmed that you're worth watching. Naturally, clubs began making inquiries."
Wagner leaned forward slightly.
"But before anything moves forward, we need to understand your intentions clearly. Are you open to leaving this summer, or would you prefer to stay longer?"
Ken didn't hesitate.
"My priority is playing time. If a club cannot guarantee opportunities to play, I'm not interested."
Vizzoli immediately agreed.
"That's the right mindset. At your age, development matters more than the size of the club."
Suárez folded his hands on the desk.
"From the club's perspective, we won't force anything. If a suitable offer arrives that benefits both you and São Paulo, we'll consider it. But rushing a transfer doesn't help anyone."
Wagner nodded.
"Understood. I'll negotiate based on that principle—playing opportunities first, everything else second."
The conversation ended shortly afterward. As Ken stepped out of the office building, the evening sky above the training base was already turning dark blue, the floodlights illuminating the practice fields where a few reserve players were still training.
Transfer interest.
The words sounded glamorous, yet Ken felt unusually calm. For him, the situation was simple: if opportunities came, he would evaluate them carefully; if not, he would continue improving where he was.
Because in the end, the pitch decided everything.
---
Two days later, the São Paulo squad boarded the team bus for an away match within the state. The atmosphere inside the bus was relaxed, players chatting, listening to music, or watching clips on their phones.
Aloísio slid into the seat beside Ken and nudged him with a grin.
"I heard big clubs are asking about you lately. Looks like our superstar might leave us soon."
Ken laughed lightly.
"Nothing is certain yet."
Aloísio hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
"My agent mentioned something interesting," he said. "A club from abroad is considering signing me. The salary they're offering is pretty attractive. I'm still thinking about it."
Ken glanced at him.
"And what do you want?"
"I'm not sure," Aloísio admitted. "Higher pay is tempting, but I also don't want my career to stall. That's why I wanted your opinion."
Ken leaned back in his seat, thinking for a moment.
"Money matters," he said, "but playing matters more. If you move somewhere and don't play regularly, it's hard to improve. But if the move helps your career grow, then it's worth considering."
Aloísio nodded slowly.
"Yeah… that's what I was thinking too."
Outside the window, the city lights blurred into long golden streaks as the bus continued down the highway. Inside, the players gradually quieted, some already closing their eyes to rest before the match.
Ken turned his gaze forward, his thoughts drifting briefly to the conversation in the office earlier.
Transfer rumors. Interest from abroad. Scouts watching from the stands.
All of it sounded dramatic, yet none of it changed what he needed to do next.
Train harder. Play better. Score more goals.
Only then would the future truly belong to him.