Chapter 389: A eting Off the Field Part 2
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Twain’s excitent did not last long. When he t up with Roy Keane himself, he poured cold water on his excitent.
“Mr. Twain, I know why you called my agent.” Seated in a booth in a regular Irish pub, the forr Manchester United team captain spoke to Twain. “But I’m really sorry, I have to turn down your offer.”
Twain stared blankly for a mont. Is this Irishman so straightforward in rejecting people?
He pondered for a mont and could only simply ask, “Why?”
Next to them, the agent, Michael Kennedy. answered the question on Keane’s behalf. “Because Roy is not going to be an opponent of Manchester United in the Premier League.”
Based on what Tang En knew, after Roy Keane had left Manchester United and beco a free player, he went to the Scottish Premiership team, Celtic, in the winter transfer season. He had joined the team that he had supported and favored since his youth. This was the reason. Since he had refused his invitation from that point of view, it really made it impossible for Tang En to continue to sell the idea.
He recalled Keene’s course after his departure from Manchester United: the Scottish Premiership team, Celtic, and then… He seed to go on to beco the manager of Sunderland. At the ti of his transmigration, the man was still struggling hard to lead “The Black Cats,” which was ranked second from the bottom in the EFL Championship, toward the English Premier League.
No one believed that the Irishman could succeed, and neither did Twain before he had transmigrated. But now he believed it because he had personally experienced such incredible things.
He looked at Keane. A season ago, they had competed as rivals. He had not expected to be able to sit like this and have a chat outside of their uniforms.
Because of his arrival, he did not know whether Keane would beco the manager of Sunderland in the future. He did not even know if Keane would beco a Celtic player after rejecting Nottingham Forest.
“Roy… Do you have any plans for the future?” asked Twain after a mont of silence.
“Plans? Do you an if I’ll join a club or…?”
“A little further down the road. What do you want to do when you hang up your boots?”
Keane thought about it. “Beco a manager. In my career, there were two managers who so deeply impressed that I hope to beco successful like them in the future.”
The Irishman did not say who the two n were, but Twain knew clearly that one of them was the late Nottingham Forest manager, Brian Clough. He had brought Keane from his hotown to the English Premier League and grood him to beco a star footballer. The other man was Alex Ferguson, who took him from Blackburn Rovers to Manchester United and made him a world-class star player.
“I think we have sothing in common.” Twain decided to worm his way into being friends with Keane. Even though Keane had refused him, it did not an that he would not change his mind later. “Well, in my coaching career, Brian Clough influenced the most. After I achieved so small success when I first started leading the Forest team, Clough wanted to see . I thought it was to comnd or acknowledge . I did not expect to play a completely unmorable supporting role that afternoon.”
Speaking of which, Twain suddenly laughed. “Roy, we really have a connection.”
Keane raised his eyebrows.
“On the way back to Nottingham, I was unhappy about my cold reception. Then Walker, who was with , told a little story and I suddenly felt better. Do you know who was in that story? It was you, Roy.”
Keane was a little surprised.
“He told that after you had a good debut performance, you ran into Clough the next day on the training ground. He asked for your na, and then you helped him clean his shoes.”
When he heard that, Keane also smiled. “Yes, that did happen. I didn’t think they’d rember.” He beca quiet and seed to be lost in the recollection of his past. That youthful-looking guy had already beco a thirty-four-year-old “old chap.” Those twelve years had gone by in the blink of an eye.
“Roy, I don’t know which club you’re going to choose, but I hope you can accept my goodwill.”
Keane snapped out of his recollection and looked up at Twain.
“There are still twenty-three days before the start of the winter transfer period. Before you decide your next stop, you’re welco to train with my team to maintain your stamina and stay in shape.”
When they heard Twain’s words, even Michael Kennedy was surprised.
“It’s just normal training. You don’t have to participate in my team’s training. You can train alone with your own program. The Nottingham Forest Football Club will provide you with all the facilities. You can use the players’ locker room, cafeteria, gym, treatnt room… You can do anything except to play on behalf of the Forest team and participate in the team training. You can even wear your Manchester United jersey.”
The corner of Keane’s mouth twitched when he heard the last remark, and then he imdiately beca calm again.
Michael Kennedy looked at Keane.
Keane looked down and asked, “What’s in it for you, Mr. Twain?”
Twain spread his hands and shrugged. “Why do people have to ask, ‘what’s in it for ?’ when they’re doing sothing? Isn’t it just nice to be able to help others? Anyway, the Forest team’s training base has so much space. It won’t be overcrowded if one more person is there to train. Of course, if you really want to give you a reason, I think you’ll be more familiar with the Nottingham Forest Football Club than with the other teams.”
“Even if I was familiar with the club, that was twelve years ago,” Keane mumbled.
Twain had thought that Keane would disagree. He was prepared to show a regretful expression on his face. But he heard him add, “Okay, before I find the right club, I’ll train there. I’m already here, anyway. Michael?”
Kennedy nodded. “Mr. Twain, I think your invitation is very tily. I’m also very grateful for your warm generosity.”
Twain chuckled. “It’s nothing. But I’m actually quite narrow-minded, eccentric, stubborn and spiteful. At least that’s what the dia says.”
The other two n laughed too.
Twain patted his stomach and said, “Shall we have dinner?”
The subsided laughter started again.
Kennedy went to look for the waiter for the nu, while Keane leaned forward on the table to look at Twain. “Mr. Twain, I’m very interested in the story you didn’t finish just now. You said Walker told you my story when you were feeling down. So, what happened next?”
“Later...” Twain pretended to think back, and then said, “Later, Walker told that the chap who had polished Clough’s shoes beca a world-class midfielder and captain of the Irish national team. And much later… I think I’m doing pretty well now!”
The two n laughed at the sa ti.
To know humility, and not lose one’s confidence. The two n, who were three years apart in age, did indeed have that in common.
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