Jan Everse pulls out his phone and starts scrolling. He wants to find a video he sent to his protege at the start of what became a momentous journey.
Everse is a wily football man, who was once in Johan Cruyff's inner circle. He holds the rare distinction of having played for both Feyenoord and Ajax, but, as he does often during this conversation, he starts chuckling.
'I've called him to tell him you are coming,' he reveals, eyes twinkling. 'I said to him, "Hey, don't worry, I will tell lies and say only nice things about you!