Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: 2022-2023 Season, Championship (6)
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“Gary Todd? You went to see him?”
Ole Gunnar Solskjær paused while savoring a sip of tea in his office and let out a ridiculous snort.
Michael Phelan, the assistant coach sitting on the sofa opposite him, nodded slightly.
“That’s what I heard.”
“Pfft.”
Solskjær burst into laughter and muttered to himself.
“He’s got no players to sign, but he goes out of his way in person to recruit some kid who’s as good as dead. Tsk tsk!”
Everything was going according to Solskjær’s plan.
Bolton hadn’t shifted to signing released players just because he’d hijacked a few signings and blocked them?
Solskjær was more than satisfied.
‘Man United’s reserves or even youth level rejects who couldn’t compete. Heh heh. What does he think he’s going to do with guys like that?’
But Phelan held the complete opposite view from Solskjær.
“Gary Todd is clearly a talent who might regain his old form if given time. Releasing a talent like that...!”
Of course, Solskjær cut him off midway.
“It’s already out of my hands. Besides, Manchester United has no room for weak players like that. Ahem. Leaving aside performance, a player who fears physical battles isn’t a player anymore.”
* * *
Clang-!
[Gary Tooooood~!]
[It’s fantastic! He’s scoring in five straight games in the Northwest Youth Cup!]
[Even more impressive is his work rate! He’s a striker covering the entire pitch!]
Gary Todd was watching footage of his past performances on a tablet PC.
A smile crept across his lips when he saw himself jumping a head taller than the opposing defender to score.
Against Chelsea U-19, as a forward, he dropped back to his own defensive area and made a risky sliding tackle, making him shudder just watching it.
But Todd smiled soon after.
[Gary Todd! He reads where Rhys Hughes is going to run and nails the sliding tackle!]
[Ooh! And he doesn’t stop there!]
Thwack-!
With grit and quick feet, Todd looked like he might fall forward but sprang up and charged ahead powerfully.
As he tapped the ball along, an opponent attempted a sliding tackle from the side.
Thud!
Wobble!
If it had been any ordinary player, they would have collapsed in agony with a pained scream the moment their ankle was kicked.
But not Todd.
[Ooooh! Todd! He looked like he’d go down for a second, but he regains his balance and picks up speed!]
[That’s why they call him the Iron Striker!]
[Gary Todd enduring all sorts of rough pressure!]
Finally, Todd showcased his prowess with a solo run followed by an instep shot for a goal.
Clap, clap, clap!
Flinch.
Gary Todd, unable to tear his eyes away from the footage of his past self on the tablet, suddenly shrugged his shoulders briefly.
Lifting his head, he saw the black-haired man, Jeong-woo, perched on the edge of his bed, giving short claps.
“Honestly, I was completely hooked watching this game. I thought I was watching Haaland for a second.”
It was sincere from Jeong-woo.
Not just in that game, but in most matches, Todd had dominated with physical play befitting a 192cm tall striker.
On top of that, he had Haaland-like speed and the tireless work rate reminiscent of Harry Kane.
“At 17, you played in the FA Cup and Champions League four times. Even if the opponents were weak, that shows how much expectation Manchester United had in you.”
“...”
Gary Todd didn’t answer hastily.
The old him would have smugly agreed, but now he’d practically been kicked out of his club.
His pride had hit rock bottom.
Instead, a question arose now.
“A trial, you say?”
His mom wasn’t in his second-floor room.
The small room only had him sitting in the computer chair, Jeong-woo, and the assistant coach standing blankly by the door.
Jeong-woo leaned back from where he was sitting on the bed, pressing his back against the wall, and grinned.
“I was thinking, what would make your mom welcome us warmly? A trial popped into my head. Why, isn’t it better to meet in a bright atmosphere for the first time rather than with gloomy faces?”
“...”
“What parent would hate hearing their son’s about to get a job?”
Gary Todd blinked.
Jeong-woo shrugged and added.
“Well, it’s my hope too. I’d love to sign you right now if I could.”
The answer came not from Todd but from Hee-won standing by the door.
He winked at Todd with the bridge of his nose crinkling.
“Try to understand. Our club owner’s a master of twisted logic.”
“Assistant Coach? Save some face for me? What’s the kid gonna think now, huh?”
“Oh, right.”
Hee-won immediately brought his thumb and index finger to his mouth, mimicking zipping it shut.
But Jeong-woo raised one eyebrow sharply and said.
“No, but seriously, why are you even here?”
“Why am I here?”
Hee-won’s wrinkled expression crumpled even more.
Jeong-woo let out an incredulous laugh.
“Ha! This guy’s been ditching family life for days and trailing me like I’m a safe haven?”
“What bullshit? I came as assistant coach to check out what kind of guy Gary Todd is.”
“Bullshit. Your daughter’s off from kindergarten today, so you’re avoiding that and following me.”
“It’s about giving them some fresh mother-daughter time alone! That’s the deep meaning, you punk!”
“Damn, even a passing dog would laugh.”
Gary Todd was now utterly bewildered.
At some point, they’d started ignoring him like he was a folding screen and bickering among themselves.
Honestly, doubt was creeping in now.
‘Is he... really legit?’
He wondered if Jeong-woo, who spouted vulgarities so casually and seemed so lighthearted for a club owner, was a scammer.
* * *
It took a while, but the two finally stopped arguing.
Jeong-woo looked at Todd with sharp, piercing eyes as if he’d never uttered any crude words.
“Forget the trial or whatever. Just sign with us. I’ll even match your Manchester United wages.”
“...Why?”
But Gary Todd couldn’t just say yes.
“Do you... see this?”
“What?”
At Jeong-woo’s question, Todd pointed with his index finger to the black headgear he was wearing.
Jeong-woo narrowed his brow slightly and slowly lifted the corner of his mouth.
“If your skills hold up, you’ll be a franchise star in no time. How many players run around with a headgear on? You’ll stand out from afar.”
“...”
Gary Todd was momentarily speechless.
Jeong-woo tilted his head crookedly.
“What, is it a sore spot?”
Todd’s mouth gaped at the unexpected truth bomb, then he nodded.
“Yeah. It is.”
“Why?”
“Because... last year I got a head injury. The wound healed, but I have to wear the headgear whenever I go out. It eases the anxiety a bit.”
“So what?”
“Don’t you get it?”
Now Gary Todd was getting annoyed.
He raised his voice a little.
“I wear the headgear even in everyday life and fret! Worried someone might hit my head. How am I supposed to play properly on the pitch like that?”
More than anger at Jeong-woo in front of him, fury at himself rose for worrying first despite the offer.
“With this injury, my football career is as good as over!”
In fact, after returning from injury, Todd hadn’t won a single header duel.
The moment it happened, fear gripped him, and his body stiffened up.
So Todd couldn’t accept the offer lightly.
Meanwhile, Jeong-woo instantly grasped Todd’s issue.
‘It’s from the footage.’
In the collected videos, Todd’s play after injury recovery was 180 degrees different from his peak.
‘That’s why Manchester United released him.’
Now, his confidence wasn’t just lacking—it had plummeted to the depths.
It even seemed like he’d developed the same lisp as Quick Floyd.
‘For players, mental injuries are scarier than physical ones.’
Todd was in bad shape there.
But right now, Jeong-woo saw it.
‘Kid.’
His voice rose as he claimed he couldn’t play, but his eyes said otherwise.
‘I want to play too! But I can’t control it—what can I do?!’
‘Save me...!’
‘I’ve got nothing but football.’
Jeong-woo could see the guy pleading with his eyes, even as his furrowed face and mouth denied it.
Jeong-woo hadn’t just analyzed footage.
Todd had been in Manchester United’s youth since age 8, living for football his whole half-life.
To Todd, Manchester United must have been family and home itself.
Having sorted his thoughts, Jeong-woo said.
“I came looking at your merits, not demerits. That means your talent is that outstanding. Honestly, I ignored the demerits completely.”
“But...”
“No buts with me.”
Todd couldn’t finish.
In an instant, Jeong-woo’s expression turned as cold as falling ice.
The air around them froze solid.
The crude demeanor from before vanished completely.
“I can tell just by looking at you. You’re hoping some team will save you, no matter which one.”
“...”
“You’re trembling in fear right now, but deep down, you’re searching for something to shake it off. Like you want someone to reach out and pull you in. Am I wrong?”
Todd couldn’t deny it.
Even as negative thoughts of “I’m done” filled his mind, a sliver of hope lingered on the other side.
Jeong-woo’s shaking continued afterward.
His words started embedding into Todd’s ears like thorns as time passed.
How much time passed like that?
“An injury happened. You’re scared to play. That doesn’t end your career. You punk, you’re only 18. Prime of your life. Bones heal stronger even if they break then. It’s like tempering steel. So don’t undervalue your potential.”
By now, Jeong-woo’s eyes had turned predatory like a bird of prey.
“I’ll be your running mate and pacemaker. Bolton will do everything to help you play freely on the pitch.”
“Why...?”
Todd’s pupils shook.
After the injury, he’d become an outcast in an instant.
Coaches who always praised him offered comfort at first, then avoided his gaze.
When he learned the U-19 manager—once like a second father—actively agreed to his release, it shocked him.
Teammates he considered friends banded together, leaving the one behind.
At a young age, Todd learned the hard truth.
Without skill, you’re not even a shadow in this world.
But the man before him was different.
“Why...?”
Todd asked again.
He was curious.
Why this man wanted him, so broken.
Jeong-woo answered incredulously.
“There’s a diamond right in front of me—am I supposed to kick it away? Who in the world would do that... Oh, right, there is. Manchester United, that heartless father who didn’t feed you.”
Todd was stunned by the follow-up.
“You’re a sweeper.”
“...Pardon?”
“I don’t want to miss out on a great sweeper like this.”
“...What...?”
“Did you injure your ears, not your head?”