Rueil-Malmaison is home to many immigrants from Africa, so it is regarded by many as a stain on Paris's glamorous appearance.
The black boy walked out of a small bungalow and walked eastward along the narrow street.
He is short, dark-looking, with a big bald head. He is wearing a pure red jersey, which looks particularly out of place.
In fact, he is already twenty-one years old, but he is shorter.
They said it was due to lack of nutrition since childhood.
Or maybe it was because his home was too small and he was squeezed.
Because eight of them live in an extremely small bungalow.
When he was a child, he accompanied his father on the street to pick up garbage.
Although he is not tall, he is very nimble and is recognized as a good hand in scavenging.
It was as if at this moment, he was walking through the streets with brisk steps, as if he had returned to the days when he accompanied his father to scavenge.
Go out from home and walk about two kilometers east, and you can see three sports fields side by side in the north and south.
To the north is the track and field, where many people like to run. To the south are two standard football fields side by side, with a sports center in the middle.
This is a football club called JS Suresnes.
An amateur team with no reputation.
Many people don't know that Everton central defender Distin also received training here. After he emerged, he was spotted by Paris Saint-Germain. He did not stay in Suresnes for a long time.
From a very young age, black teenagers have heard from many people that they can make money playing football.
When he came to Suresnes and heard about Distin, he dreamed that one day he could perform well like Distin and be spotted by a big team. He would leave Suresnes and lead the team.
With his family, he left the small bungalow in Rueil-Malmaison.
But he is too short and thin.
The coach from Poland, Peter Wointina, praised him for being very smart, learning things quickly, reacting quickly, having very good physical fitness, and being extremely flexible in his movements, but his health was too poor.
Being thinner and shorter than others will be a huge disadvantage on the court.
"Professional football is a physical game. You are not fit to play, N'Golo."
N'Golo Kante has heard words like this countless times.
All the young players who came to JS Suresnes had the dream of becoming professional players. They were either extremely talented and were quickly picked up by other teams, or they were ignored by everyone and it didn't take long for them to recognize themselves.
, accepted his mediocrity and left.
But he was the only one who persisted.
He played for ten years in this unknown amateur team on this rough patch of grass.
He was inconspicuous, and even as students came and went one after another, no one paid any attention to him.
Until last year, one day, the chairman of JS Suresnes saw Kante's persistence and perseverance and got him an opportunity. He went to Boulogne-sur-Mer, a port city in northwest France 260 kilometers away.
This is a French second league team, but it is already crumbling.
On the first day Kanter came to this team, they told another amazing story.
The popular French international and the core leader of Bayern Munich, Franck Ribery, came from Boulogne.
There are even many legends about him here. For example, he actually moved bricks. For example, a teammate once went with him to a remote alley that was not accessible to outsiders...
Everyone in this team aims at Franck Ribery and dreams that one day they can get out of Boulogne.
But Kanter didn't dare to think so.
Because he couldn't even gain a foothold in Boulogne.
He seemed like a completely unnoticed person.
Except running.
Boulogne occasionally arranges an extreme running test, and Kante is the best runner on the team.
When everyone was exhausted and stopped, he could still run lap after lap, non-stop, as if he would never get tired.
Therefore, everyone gave him a nickname, the immortal Kanter!
He stares at a scooter every day, carries a small backpack to train, and then goes home.
In his life, there is only football.
Because he knows that the only way out for him is to play football.
In the season that just ended, Boulogne ranked second from last in Ligue 2 and was relegated.
Kante played well in the youth team of Boulogne. In the last round of the league, he was devastated and disintegrated after being relegated several rounds in advance. In order to prepare for the French third-tier league next season, he was transferred to
First team.
Even so, he only got 11 minutes.
But luckily, the team decided to keep him.
As soon as the season ended, Kanter returned to Rueil-Malmaison from Boulogne-sur-Mer. He shared the good news with his family, making them happy for him, and also told them that he was far away from taking them away from this ghost.
The place is closer.
He walked briskly all the way to JS Suresnes, wanting to tell his teammates and coaches the good news.
As a result, when he walked two kilometers and arrived at the training ground, he found that there was no one there.
There are fewer and fewer people training here, both coaches and bosses are working part-time.
Kanter stood on the sidelines, facing this dilapidated training ground. He looked at it for a long time, as if he saw himself chasing the figure in this stadium. He also seemed to see himself standing on the court, looking up at the sky.
Looking forward to the future scene.
He is already twenty-one years old.
Although he has not yet accepted his fate, he feels that he is getting further and further away from his dream.
But, no matter what, he will never give up until the last moment.
He is not only Kanter who cannot run away, but also Kanter who cannot be defeated!
Just when Kanter let out a long sigh in frustration and turned to leave, the phone in his pocket suddenly rang.
"The Romance of Fairy Wood"
It was the cheapest Nokia he bought when he left Boulogne-sur-Mer. It could only answer calls.
"Hello."
"Hello, N'Golo Kante?"
"Yes, who is it?"
"Hello N'Golo, I am the chief scout for the Premier League team Leeds United. My name is Steve Walsh."
"English... Premier League? Leeds United?"
"Yes, you should have heard the name of our team."
"Of course, you are said to be the best promoted team in the history of the Premier League."
"Oh, thanks for the compliment, but let's talk about serious business," Steve Walsh said.
"Say." Kanter's voice was trembling.
"Someone recommended you to us. We specially arranged for scouts to go to Boulogne-sur-Mer to understand your situation, including training and games. Although I only watched one of your matches in Ligue 2, we think you are
A player with great potential.”
"Me?" Kanter was very surprised.
"certainly."
"But... I only played... for 11 minutes." Kanter himself was a little embarrassed to say it.
"What's more important is your training, kid." Steve Walsh comforted.
Kanter was surprised, because no one had ever said anything like this to him, never.
"Excuse me, can you... tell me who recommended me to you?"
Steve Walsh on the other side of the phone was silent for about three seconds and said with a smile: "You must have heard of his name, kid."
Kanter didn't answer, he was waiting.
"profound!"
"High...deep?" Kanter exclaimed.
"Don't be surprised, kid. Someone sent him a video of your training. He saw it and thought you were a very potential player, so he recommended you to us. I have watched your game and training videos.
Your running coverage ability is really excellent, but there are still many shortcomings in technical and tactical aspects, but we have learned about it and found that your learning ability is very strong and you are improving very quickly."
"Come to Leeds United! We will definitely be able to help you progress and grow, and you will become an outstanding professional player here."
"Can I...?" Kanter suddenly felt less confident.
Because the whole thing happened so suddenly, he was completely unprepared.
He knows about Leeds United, and Gao Shen also knows about it.
But what qualifications does he have to be chosen by Gao Shen and Leeds United?
"Believe in our professional vision, and also believe in our boss Gao Shen. As you know, he is the best Bole in the world!"
Kanter was moved.
He had no reason not to be moved.
"We've already reached an agreement with Boulogne. They didn't even ask for the transfer fee, so they gave you the green light." Steve Walsh said with a slight advantage over the phone.
"Looking back, I will arrange for our scout colleagues in France to visit your home in person. We will talk in detail then. Of course, if you are willing, you are also welcome to come to Leeds directly and we will talk face to face."
"Can I see Gao Shen?" Kanter asked.
He wanted to see in person the Bole who recommended him.
Although, like everyone in the world, he has seen him in newspapers and on TV countless times.
"There may not be anything we can do for the time being. He is still on vacation. However, there may not be a chance. He has mentioned your name to us many times. He said that he saw a unique light in you."
Kanter was so excited that he almost cried.
One moment, he was unable to play in a relegated French second division team, but now, he suddenly became a player favored by the world's number one coach, Gao Shen. The gap is really huge.
The disparity was so great that he could hardly believe it.
"Son, we have learned about your family's situation. You can come and take a look first. If we sign the contract, we can arrange work for your family and you can settle down in Leeds."
After listening to Steve Walsh's words, Kanter had nothing to hesitate about anymore.
Leeds United has considered almost every aspect for him, so why should he hesitate?
"Sir, I would like to go to Leeds United!"
"Okay, our colleagues will contact you and help you book your flight. We look forward to meeting you in Leeds."
After hanging up the phone, Kanter was still confused.
He even felt like he was dreaming, which was extremely unreal.
But, looking at the phone with the screen still on, he knew that this was true.
He had a very strong premonition: The trajectory of his life would change from this moment on!
