“Hi Steve, I know it’s a bit late but I have something I would like to ask you. As you know I am currently in France with my father and I should come back tomorrow, but I would like to extend my stay by a few days. Before you say anything I know how I can work from here, Thursday there is a game at the Stade Gerland, Europa League. It would be the perfect opportunity to scout: Lacazette, Pogba, Marchisio, Bonucci and Umtiti”
No reply from him yet, but I could hear his breathing.
“Detailed report yes, weakness and strength and keeping an eye on their movements off the ball got it. Thank you Steve.”
I know it was a long shot, Jose had his mind on which team he wanted to field next year, so suggesting my help to scout future targets was probably not going to grant me a leave extension but it was worth a shot. And it actually worked.
As we arrived on Thursday at the Stade Gerland with my father everything was going great. The fans were cheering and my dad wore his “lucky” OL scarf. He bought it for the Ligue 1 start back in 2002, before it was Division 1, and that year OL won by 1 point. 1 point was enough to secure the title, the second in a row.
As we approached the gates with our tickets something happened. The lovely girl checked them and told us to wait a minute. She came back accompanied by a big ape, you know the kind of guy who would make you swallow your gum or even hand over your girl whilst you run away. He was big.
“ Ar yu James, ze Chelsea Skout?” he said with a heavy French accent
“Yes, it is me”
“Peliz follo mi”
My father and I followed him, he brought us to the presidential tribune and presented us to: Bernard Lacombe, a Lyon legend who played for their greatest rival too, it’s a funny story but for another time, and another man Jean-Michel Aulas. Now this man loves the club, invested in it since 1987 and his plan was to make Lyon one of the greatest clubs in France with a mark in Europe. On the other side of the room Mr.Agnelli, who is two years older than me but already at the head of a big European club. Friendly greetings and champagne, small talks between both presidents. I already had goose bumps before the whistle and the anthem, the crowd was roaring. As the whistle blew the start of the game, my dad was chanting wildly for Lyon, I couldn’t tell him that I supported Juventus. My mother is or was Italian, and she told me true football was played there, needless to say it was an endless debate in the house.
On the field both teams were led by a man that played for the club: Remi and Antonio. A great dual it was, the final score was 1-0 Juventus, Bonucci scored close to the end of the second half. The first leg was done. As we were departing Agnelli approached me and gave me his business card, “ maybe you can come scout in a more historical club” he said with a smile. We left shortly after, my dad was begging Mr. Lacombe for an autograph, and it was a bit embarrassing.
The next day I returned to London.