He then spoke of the future, the subject that was on everyone's mind but that no one wanted to confront directly. He did not confirm his departure, nor did he make promises about staying that he might not be able to keep. Instead, he spoke of something more enduring, something that transcended contracts and clubs and the temporary nature of football careers.
"I don't know what the future holds," he said, his voice dropping to a more intimate tone that somehow carried clearly to every corner of the stadium. "The world of football is a strange and unpredictable one, full of opportunities and challenges that I can't even imagine yet. But I want you to know this, and I want you to remember it always: no matter where I go, no matter what jersey I wear, no matter how many years pass, a part of my heart will always be here, in Utrecht, at the Stadion Galgenwaard, with all of you."
