Returning to Nottingham after England's qualification success should have been a moment of pure celebration. Instead, Cruyff found himself carrying the weight of Arsenal's interest like a secret that grew heavier with each passing hour.
Steve Clarke was waiting for him at the Forest training ground the morning after his return, and one look at the manager's expression told Cruyff that word had already reached the club.
"We need to talk," Clarke said simply.
In the manager's office, surrounded by tactical diagrams and team photos that documented Cruyff's rapid rise through Forest's system, the conversation began with characteristic directness.
"Arsenal have been in touch," Clarke announced. "Liam Brady called yesterday. Professional courtesy, letting us know they'd like to speak with you about your future."
Cruyff felt his stomach tighten. "What did you tell them?"
"That we'd honor any agreement we made with you about opportunities at Champions League level, but that we expected them to handle this properly. No tapping up, no unsettling our player during a crucial part of the season."
Clarke leaned back in his chair, studying Cruyff's expression carefully.
"The question is: what do you want to do?"
It was the question Cruyff had been avoiding since Brady's call. Forest had given him everything—professional football, international recognition, the platform to reach Arsenal's attention in the first place. But Arsenal represented the culmination of everything he'd worked toward since his reincarnation.
"I want to see what they have to offer," Cruyff said quietly. "But I don't want to let Forest down. This club made me who I am."
"That's the right answer," Clarke nodded. "Professional and loyal. Here's what we're going to do: you'll visit Arsenal next week during the international break. No training sessions, no media, just meetings and facility tours. You assess them, they assess you, and then we all make informed decisions."
The conversation lasted another twenty minutes, covering contractual obligations, transfer fees, and the timeline for any potential move. Throughout it all, Clarke maintained the professionalism that had characterized Cruyff's entire Forest experience.
"One more thing," Clarke added as they concluded. "Whatever happens with Arsenal, you're still our player until something concrete changes. I expect the same commitment and professionalism you've shown since signing here."
"You'll have it," Cruyff replied without hesitation.
The news of Arsenal's interest inevitably leaked within days. Local newspapers picked up the story first, then national outlets began speculating about transfer fees and timelines. The attention was overwhelming for someone still adjusting to professional football.
Tommy Williams offered perspective during a quiet moment after training.
"First time dealing with transfer speculation?" the veteran midfielder asked.
"Yeah. It's mental. I'm seventeen and suddenly there are articles about my value and potential."
"My advice? Don't read any of it. Half is nonsense, half is agenda-driven, and all of it will affect your performance if you let it. Focus on football. Everything else is just noise."
The Arsenal visit was scheduled for Tuesday of the international break. Cruyff drove to London Colney with a mixture of excitement and nervousness that reminded him of his first trial at Forest—except now the stakes were infinitely higher.
London Colney was everything he'd expected and more. The training facilities were pristine, the attention to detail staggering, and the atmosphere distinctly professional. But it was also intimidating in its scale and ambition.
Liam Brady met him at reception with the kind of warm professionalism that immediately put Cruyff at ease.
"Welcome to Arsenal," Brady said as they shook hands. "I hope you're ready for a comprehensive day. We want you to see everything—training facilities, academy setup, medical department, and of course, meet some key people."
The tour began with the academy facilities, where Brady explained Arsenal's approach to youth development with evident pride.
"We develop players for the first team, not just to be sold on," Brady emphasized. "Every aspect of our program is designed to prepare young players for Premier League football at the highest level."
They watched academy training sessions that showcased the technical quality Brady had described. The players were clearly talented, but what impressed Cruyff most was their tactical understanding and decision-making speed.
"This is the standard you'd be joining," Brady explained as they observed a particularly sharp passing exercise. "We'd expect you to raise your game immediately to compete at this level."
The meeting with Arsenal's first team coaching staff provided insight into how they viewed his potential role within their system.
"We see you as a natural playmaker who understands when to create and when to control," explained Steve Bould, the assistant manager. "That balance is crucial at Premier League level—you can't just be creative, you have to be intelligent."
But it was the final meeting of the day that truly captured Cruyff's imagination.
Arsène Wenger's office was modest by the standards of modern football, but it radiated the intellectual authority that had made him legendary. The manager himself was smaller in person than Cruyff had expected, but his presence was immediately commanding.
"So," Wenger began without preamble, "tell me why you want to play for Arsenal."
The question was direct and demanded an honest response.
"Because Arsenal play football the way I understand it," Cruyff replied. "Patient when necessary, incisive when possible, always looking to create rather than destroy."
Wenger nodded approvingly. "And what do you think you could bring to Arsenal?"
"Vision and creativity, obviously. But also work rate and tactical discipline. I've learned that talent means nothing without the willingness to serve the team."
"Good answer. Ze Premier League is very different from ze Championship. Faster, more physical, less time to think. Are you ready for zat challenge?"
"I think so. But more importantly, I'm ready to learn how to be ready."
The conversation continued for thirty minutes, covering everything from tactical philosophy to personal development goals. Wenger's questions were probing but never intimidating, designed to understand Cruyff's football intelligence rather than test his knowledge.
"One final question," Wenger concluded. "If you come 'ere, you will not play immediately in ze first team. You will need time to adapt, to grow stronger, to understand our methods. Are you patient enough for zat development?"
"Yes. Forest taught me that the right development is more important than fast development."
As the meeting ended, Wenger offered a assessment that stayed with Cruyff long after leaving London Colney.
"You 'ave ze technical ability and ze intelligence to play for Arsenal. But more than zat, you 'ave ze character. Zat is what separates good players from great ones."
The drive back to Nottingham gave Cruyff time to process everything he'd experienced. Arsenal's interest was genuine and their vision for his development was compelling. But it would mean leaving Forest at a crucial time in his career, abandoning the environment that had nurtured his growth for the uncertainty of starting over at a bigger club.
The decision, he realized, wasn't just about football ability or career advancement. It was about choosing between loyalty and ambition, between the familiar and the unknown.
By the time he reached Nottingham, Cruyff knew what he had to do. But knowing the right choice and making it were two very different things.
Tomorrow would bring another difficult conversation, this time about his future rather than his past.