Shocking Debut Match (1)
097
Kkoreureuk.
In the awkward atmosphere, Yoon Da-ye bowed her head low at the sudden sound.
"Da-ye must be hungry. Let's eat."
"......."
With the tension broken, the hunger finally rushed in, so I ordered room service.
Come to think of it, why are Yoon Da-ye and Oh Ha-rin both so skinny? Do they even eat properly?
"Are you two eating well?"
"Don't worry about us, worry about yourself."
"Then I should eat Ha-rin's lips."
"...Did your brain break after eating military chow?"
As expected of our Ha-rin, so prickly.
Still, it's healing to eat delicious food instead of military chow for the first time in a while. This is sex.
By the time we were finishing up the meal, I carefully read the room.
Oh Ha-rin, who had been radiating a prickly aura, and Yoon Da-ye, who had been full of gloom, both seemed to have cheered up after getting some good food in them.
Judging by the situation... even though it's a misunderstanding, now that both women are feeling responsible and guilty, I think it's possible.
To see the two of them coexisting harmoniously, like the two legendary midfielders from England's golden era in the EPL, Lampard and Gerrard!
Their individual skills were beyond doubt, but for some reason, they never clicked when playing together, which was considered the eternal wish of the England national team—the coexistence of Lampard and Gerrard.
The two people who wouldn't mix, like the legendary Lamp-Ger line, Oh Ha-rin and Yoon Da-ye—now that I had a clue to their coexistence, if I could just utilize it well...!
"Ha-rin-ah."
As I opened my mouth heavily, Oh Ha-rin raised her eyes.
"...Why are you looking at me like that?"
Scary.
I swallowed the rest of my words.
"What weird thing are you going to say now to call me like that?"
"Wow~ I'm offended. What did I do?"
I put on an innocent expression at her suspicious gaze, and Oh Ha-rin let out a sigh and nodded.
"Tell me. What is it?"
The past me would have rushed in directly.
However, a long ball kicked blindly doesn't suit modern football. In modern football, even long ball tactics are executed under precise patterns.
"About the team I'm going to on loan."
"...Yeah."
I attempted an indirect strategy, predicting that if I initiated blindly just because I saw an angle, I wouldn't even get my principal back. The effect was tremendous.
Oh Ha-rin, who had been looking at me with a prickly expression and arms crossed as if suspicious, had turned into a gentle lamb in an instant.
"Da-ye knows the football scene well, and she's cool-headed with good analytical skills. Can we look into it together?"
Yoon Da-ye, who had been silently sipping her drink, widened her eyes.
Oh Ha-rin glanced at her and nodded reluctantly.
"Sure."
"Oh, and we need to find a place for us to live near the loan club."
"Wait, 'together'?"
"Of course. The three of us need to live together. I can't fail this loan."
Oh Ha-rin, who had been moving her lips, turned her head with a deflated expression.
Did it work?
"...I'll bring the documents."
It worked.
I was worried about kicking a shit-ball after doing all the build-up, but I connected with a shot on target.
Now, all that's left is to turn it into a goal.
I was thinking I should try this after the two of them get more used to each other, but,
"Thank you."
Yoon Da-ye said in a small voice.
Bowing her head toward me and Oh Ha-rin.
"Thank you for forgiving me... and for accepting me."
Oh Ha-rin placed a heavy stack of documents on the desk.
"W-wow, more documents than I thought?"
"Yeah. I prepared as much as I could this time."
The Barcelona transfer had been so rushed.
The Olympics ended and the national team call-up was lifted in early August, and it was close to mid-August at that.
With only a little over two weeks left until the transfer market closed on September 1st, there was physically not enough time to examine offers, figure out the club's situation, and weigh the pros and cons.
Of course, if it were a famous agency, they would have prepared for the transfer in advance, or even if they pushed for a sudden transfer, they would have had the accumulated information, connections, and know-how, but there was no way a startup agency would have such expertise.
Choosing Barcelona was entirely my decision, but Oh Ha-rin, who had even started an agency to support me, must have felt lacking.
That's why she was suffering from responsibility and guilt, and why she called Yoon Da-ye.
Most of it stemmed from a misunderstanding, but compared to Yoon Da-ye, who is 99% misunderstood... well.
"Then Ha-rin can analyze the data with Da-ye. Right?"
Oh Ha-rin nodded reluctantly, and Yoon Da-ye glanced around, reading the room.
To think I'd see that Yoon Da-ye reading other people's faces.
"I think this is the best option. The team's treatment, the coach's will, and the potential. The league level is a shame, but on the other hand, I'll be able to stand out more... and since they haven't been eliminated from the cup yet, I might be able to compete against top-tier teams here."
"I don't know if it's the best... but as Da-ye said, it's not bad for a loan. Above all, they said they'd use you as the core of their tactics. I think it's fine too."
So, we put our heads together and made a decision.
『(photo) Hong Min-jun leaving the training camp』
『Where is Hong Min-jun, who lost the starting competition, heading?』
『Hiding for 3 days even though the second half of the season started?』
『Jorge finally speaks: "His talent is unquestionable"』
Waiting for departure procedures, I skimmed through the articles, and all sorts of things were being said.
That I'd already been released from the team, that I was returning to the K-League... Still, at least Jorge has an eye for talent. That's a view worthy of my rival.
Hmm, hmm, while skimming the articles, I found one with an interesting title.
『Fernando returns to the team, Hong Min-jun leaves.』
「Hong Min-jun (20, Barcelona), who rose to stardom overnight due to the Olympics, seems to be leaving the team. Now that the second half of the season has begun, Fernando has newly added his name to Barcelona's 1st team roster.
A maximum of 25 players can be registered on the Primera Liga 1st team roster, and by adding Fernando to the existing 25-man roster, one player was naturally removed from the roster. That is Hong Min-jun.
Hong Min-jun, who had been suffering from a slump recently, was excluded from the 1st team roster, indicating that the rumors of a crisis were true. The one brought in to replace him is Fernando Dominguez (22, Barcelona), who left on loan at the beginning of the season due to the signing of Hong Min-jun.
The ironic thing is that Fernando is the very reason Barcelona decided to sign Hong Min-jun.
Fernando is a top-tier prospect who has gone through all of Spain's age-group national teams and is a member of the Golden Generation who helped the Spanish youth national team win the U-17, U-19 Euro, and U-20 Youth World Cup in succession.
In addition, as a pure-blooded Barcelona youth player who receives the full expectations of the club, he showed potential last season by playing 8 games as a starter and 9 as a substitute as a reliable backup member.
Fernando, who showed potential in the Primera Liga, the top league in Europe, faced Hong Min-jun once in the Olympic group stage and once more in the final.
The result was Hong Min-jun's overwhelming victory.
Hong Min-jun, who scored a whopping 3 goals in the group stage and collapsed the Spanish defense, also showed overwhelming performance against Fernando in the final and recorded 2 goals.
Barcelona, who watched this match, was convinced of Hong Min-jun's potential and signed him, and Fernando had to leave on loan for Hong Min-jun's spot.
Half a year has passed since then, and the positions of the two players have been reversed.
The player who had to leave the team has returned, and the player who made him leave the team is now leaving the team.
Can Hong Min-jun fly again?」
I quietly turned off my phone screen.
As expected... no matter how much I think about it, I have no confidence. No confidence that I won't perform well.
'If the skill of Fernando, a member of the Golden Generation who was part of the best 11 that won the U-17, U-19 Euro, and Youth World Cup in succession, and who showed some promise in La Liga, is only that much... and I chewed him up, how can I not even make the bench? That's impossible.'
I didn't show it, but I was furious.
I understand people's criticism. I understand it too.
The player they expected was just playing like shit instead of showing proper performance, so it's natural to be disappointed and criticize.
Anyway, it's clear that once I recover my form, they'll praise me as if nothing happened, so I don't care about that.
However, it's just that I didn't show proper performance even though I don't lack the skill.
It's so frustrating to leave without ever showing my true colors, my real skills, even once.
'It's annoying. It's not my place to say this when I've been playing like shit, but if they had waited a little longer, I would have made Barcelona the best.'
If I can't have it, I'll destroy it... If I couldn't show my skills as a member of the team, I can prove it on the opposing team. Isn't it true that you notice the player on the opposing team who is better than the players on your own team?
「Passengers for Korean Air Flight A302—」
Soon after, the announcement played.
"Let's go."
I got up, following the two women opposite me who were wearing dark sunglasses.
「Passengers for the flight to Germany, the flight to Germany—」
Soon after, the plane took off.
The destination is Germany. Frankfurt, the team of the Red Eagle, where Korea's legend Cha Bum played and is revered as a club legend.
Barcelona made a hasty decision and lost the best player in history.