The victory over Manchester City resonated far beyond the academy tournament. Within hours, reports of Forest's triumph were circulating through football circles, with particular attention paid to the performances of their younger players.
Cruyff's role in the victory—the assist for the winning goal, his leadership throughout the tournament, his ability to perform under pressure against superior opposition—had caught the attention of scouts and coaches from across the Football League.
[Tournament Impact: Significant recognition beyond Nottingham Forest]
[Media Coverage: Local and regional football press taking notice]
[Scout Interest: Multiple clubs now tracking development]
But the most immediate impact was within Forest itself. Steve Clarke, the first team manager, requested a meeting with Coleman and Williams to discuss Cruyff's development pathway.
"I've been getting calls," Clarke said as the three coaches sat in his office the Monday after the tournament. "Leicester, Brighton, even Chelsea have been asking questions about the lad's availability."
Coleman leaned forward. "What kind of questions?"
"Development squad trials, youth contracts, scholarship offers. Word's getting out that we might have something special here."
Williams interjected. "He's still only sixteen. Legally, he can't sign a professional contract until his seventeenth birthday."
"Which is when?" Clarke asked.
"August. Four months away."
Clarke was quiet for a moment, considering the implications. "That gives us a window to work with him, see if he's ready for first team consideration. But it also means other clubs have time to turn his head with bigger offers."
[Transfer Interest: Growing from multiple Championship and Premier League clubs]
[Contract Situation: Critical decision point approaching]
[Timeline: Four months to prove first team readiness]
The conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door. Clarke's assistant entered with a message that made everyone in the room sit up straighter.
"Sir, I've got Gareth Southgate's office on the phone. Something about England youth team consideration for one of our academy players."
Clarke's eyebrows rose. "England? For Jensen?"
"That's what they indicated, sir."
[Major Development: England Youth Team Interest]
[Significance: International recognition of development progress]
[Pressure: Performance standards now at national level]
The phone call with England's youth development staff confirmed what seemed impossible just months earlier—Cruyff was being considered for the England U17 squad for their upcoming European Championship qualifying campaign.
"They've been tracking his progress since the tournament," Clarke explained after ending the call. "Apparently, several scouts filed positive reports about his performances, particularly the leadership he showed against City."
Coleman shook his head in amazement. "Six months ago, he was trialing for our U18s. Now England are interested. That's unprecedented development."
"Which brings me to my next point," Clarke said, his tone becoming more serious. "I want to fast-track his development. Starting next week, he trains with the first team two days a week. Development squad the other three days. U18s only if we need him for specific matches."
[Accelerated Development Plan]
[First Team Training: Increased exposure and learning opportunities]
[Schedule: Demanding across multiple levels]
Williams looked concerned. "That's a lot of pressure for a sixteen-year-old. What if he struggles to adapt?"
"Then we adjust the plan. But I'd rather find out what he's capable of now than wonder about it later. Besides," Clarke smiled slightly, "from what I've seen, pressure seems to bring out his best performances."
The meeting concluded with a clear development pathway laid out for the next four months—intensive first team exposure, continued development squad leadership, and preparation for potential England call-ups.
But as Cruyff learned about these plans later that day, he felt the familiar weight of expectation that had become his constant companion.
[System Assessment: Major Career Acceleration]
[Opportunities: First team pathway, international recognition, transfer interest]
[Risks: Increased pressure, physical demands, media attention]
[Recommendation: Maintain focus on consistent performance over external recognition]
That evening, walking back to his lodgings, Cruyff reflected on how dramatically his circumstances had changed. Months ago, his biggest concern was impressing youth team coaches. Now he was facing decisions that could determine his entire career trajectory.
His phone buzzed with a text message from Marcus Reid: "Saw the news about England interest. Massive for you mate! Still can't believe we're teammates."
Similar messages arrived from Jamie Torres, Ben Crawford, and even some of the development squad players. The support was genuine and appreciated, but it also reminded him of the spotlight that now followed his every performance.
[Peer Relationships: Supportive but changing dynamic due to success]
[Pressure Points: Living up to growing expectations]
The next morning brought the first indication of how much his profile had changed. As he arrived at the training ground, a journalist was waiting in the car park—the first time he'd been approached directly by media.
"Cruyff, can I get a quick word about the England interest?"
"I'm just focused on improving every day," he replied diplomatically. "If opportunities come from that, great. But my priority is helping Forest in whatever way I can."
[Media Training: Instinctive but will need formal preparation]
[Public Profile: Growing beyond local academy level]
The journalist persisted with questions about his rapid development, his goals for the season, and his thoughts on potential transfer interest. Cruyff answered briefly and politely, but the encounter reminded him that his journey was no longer a private development process.
In the changing room, Tommy Williams noticed his subdued mood.
"First time dealing with press?" the veteran midfielder asked.
"Yeah. Bit overwhelming."
"You handled it well. Key thing is to stay grounded, keep working, and don't let the outside noise affect your preparation. Football success comes from what you do on the training pitch and on match days, not what you read in newspapers."
[Mentorship: Senior players providing guidance on professional demands]
[Lesson: Focus on performance rather than publicity]
The advice proved valuable during his first increased-schedule first team training session. With England interest publicly known and multiple clubs reportedly tracking his progress, the pressure to impress was intense.
But instead of trying to force spectacular moments, Cruyff focused on the fundamentals that had carried him this far—intelligent positioning, quick decision-making, creating chances for teammates, and contributing to the team's overall effectiveness.
The session went well. No spectacular highlights, but consistent quality that earned nods of approval from Clarke and his coaching staff.
[Training Performance: Solid under increased scrutiny]
[Development Approach: Maintaining steady progression despite external pressure]
After training, Clarke pulled him aside for a private conversation.
"How are you handling all this attention?"
"Just trying to focus on football, sir. Everything else feels like noise."
"Good attitude. But I want you to understand something—this is just the beginning. If you keep developing at this rate, the pressure will only increase. More media, more scouts, more decisions to make about your future."
Clarke paused, studying Cruyff's expression.
"The players who succeed at the highest levels aren't always the most talented ones. They're the ones who can handle success without losing sight of what made them successful in the first place. Work ethic, humility, team-first thinking. Remember that."
[Life Lesson: Success management as crucial as talent development]
[Character Test: Maintaining values under increasing pressure]
As Cruyff walked home that evening, he felt the weight of Clarke's words. His journey back to the top was accelerating beyond his most optimistic projections, but with that acceleration came challenges he hadn't fully anticipated.
The sixteen-year-old body was adapting well to increased training demands. The tactical understanding was developing rapidly through exposure to higher levels. But the mental and emotional demands of growing fame and expectation required a different kind of strength.
[Current Stats - Level 3 Approaching]
[Overall Development: Exceptional across multiple areas]
[Next Challenge: Managing success while continuing improvement]
[Long-term Goal: Professional contract and potential England debut within 12 months]
For the first time since his reincarnation, Arsenal—his ultimate destination—felt genuinely achievable. Not in the distant future, but potentially within the next two years if his development continued at this remarkable pace.
But first, he had to navigate the increasingly complex world of professional football expectations without losing the hunger and humility that had brought him this far.