The phone rang at 7 AM sharp.
Philippe Clement answered on the second ring, his voice thick with sleep. Monaco's head scout had spent the night reviewing footage from Belgium's second division, chasing mediocre talents for modest fees.
"Philippe. I need you to watch someone."
Demien's voice carried an urgency that jolted the scout awake. Emergency requests usually signaled injury crises or last-minute transfer opportunities.
"Who?"
"Andrés D'Alessandro. Argentina. Racing Club."
Silence stretched across the international line. Philippe knew South American football better than most European scouts, and he was certain that Racing Club had no players worthy of Monaco's attention.
"Never heard of him."
"Left-footed attacking midfielder. Twenty-two years old. Perfect first touch."
Philippe reached for his notepad, scribbling details that sounded more like fantasy football than professional scouting. An unknown Argentine for a Champions League club made no logical sense.
"Coach, Racing Club isn't exactly a hotbed for European talent."
"This one is different."
"How do you know?"
It was a dangerous question, probing sources of knowledge that shouldn't exist. Future insights masquerading as present scouting information.
"Trust me."
A professional deflection, using established authority to bypass logical inquiry. Yves Laurent's reputation provided cover for this seemingly impossible knowledge.
Philippe continued to jot down notes while processing the unusual request. Monaco's transfer strategy typically focused on established talents from major leagues. Unknown South Americans represented a significant risk.
"What position specifically?"
"Creative midfielder. He threads passes in the final third and can operate in tight spaces."
"Like Rui Costa?"
"Better technical ability. More press-resistant."
A bold claim about a player nobody had heard of. Philippe's pen hesitated over the notepad as he considered the implications.
"The club will want detailed reports. Full analysis."
"Watch how he receives the ball under pressure. First touch quality. Vision for through passes."
These specific instructions suggested an intimate knowledge of the player's abilities—insight that came from months of observation rather than brief video clips.
Philippe flipped to a clean page.
"Travel arrangements?"
"Immediate departure. Racing Club plays Estudiantes this weekend. Perfect opportunity for assessment."
A timeline that allowed no preparation or research. An emergency scouting mission based on the coach's mysterious certainty about this unknown talent.
"This is expensive, Coach. A South American trip for one player."
"Monaco qualified for the Champions League. We can afford proper scouting."
Using European success to justify a radical transfer strategy. Professional authority overriding financial concerns about speculative missions.
Philippe gathered his thoughts while making final notes. Two decades of scouting experience suggested caution regarding unknown quantities. But Yves Laurent's tactical genius demanded trust.
"Anything else I should know?"
Memory fragments flashed through Demien's mind. Future knowledge bleeding into present reality. D'Alessandro's career trajectory mapped out in borrowed understanding.
"Wolfsburg will sign him if we don't act first."
This specific intelligence made Philippe's pen stop moving. The German club's transfer plans weren't public knowledge. How could Monaco's coach possess such information?
"How do you know about Wolfsburg?"
"Industry contacts. Transfer market intelligence."
A professional lie disguising supernatural knowledge. Understanding that future information required plausible explanations.
Philippe noted the German competition while processing the tactical implications. If Wolfsburg wanted D'Alessandro, the player must possess genuine quality.
"Timeline for a decision?"
"Two weeks maximum. We need to move before the winter transfer window."
Strategic pressure aligned with normal transfer cycles. Professional urgency masking revolutionary knowledge about player development.
The scout reviewed his hastily scribbled notes. An emergency South American mission for an unknown Argentine represented a significant professional risk.
But Monaco's European qualification demanded an ambitious transfer strategy. A proven approach might not suffice for Champions League success.
"I'll book flights today."
"Good. Full tactical report. Every detail matters."
Philippe clicked off and stared at his notepad. Racing Club. Andrés D'Alessandro. Left-footed creative midfielder with a perfect first touch.
His professional instinct suggested skepticism about unknown quantities. Two decades of scouting experience favored established talents over speculative risks.
Yet Yves Laurent's tactical genius had delivered Champions League qualification. The revolutionary coach deserved trust regarding revolutionary signings.
He opened his laptop and began researching flights to Buenos Aires.
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Three hours later, the team bus was loaded for Rotterdam.
Players climbed aboard, their nervous energy palpable as they prepared for an important match. Feyenoord represented a genuine test of their tactical revolution—a Dutch opposition that would expose any weaknesses in their system.
Equipment bags filled the storage compartments, and training gear was packed for final preparations in a foreign country. A professional traveling circus heading toward a European examination.
Demien watched Philippe's taxi disappear through Monaco's winding streets. The head scout was off on a South American mission while the team readied itself for the Dutch challenge.
"Everything depends on the next forty-eight hours."