This was a pre-season training session at a Premier League giant club a year ago. The sun was shining, and players were laughing and chatting, reminiscing about wonderful moments on the beach. The coaching staff were making final preparations for the upcoming season.
An atmosphere of optimism filled the air—with one exception. Among the tanned, athletic players was someone known in football circles as a “transfer terrorist.”
This “transfer terrorist”—a defender, in this case—was desperate to leave. He was furious about perceived injustices, believing that those in power on the board had repeatedly broken their promises.
Across multiple transfer windows, he had made it clear he wanted to move to a club closer to home, but despite what he saw as a fair offer, the transfer never materialized.
He’d had enough!
Back to the moody defender a year ago.
His teammates had ignored him for most of the training session, but eventually, the ball was passed to him. The “transfer terrorist” bent down casually, picked up the ball, and to his teammates’ surprise, calmly volleyed it over the fence.
The coaching staff, well aware of his “situation,” let it slide. They were happy to let the player voice his feelings and then get back to the session. But he repeated the same act—again and again.
“Come on, son,” the assistant coach said. “I know you’re upset, but you’ve got to act like a professional.”
The player’s response was sharp and unfriendly.
“Get lost. If you don’t get lost, I’ll knock you out.”
