Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: A New Experience -2-
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People love ranking things.
It's not limited to a specific country or culture.
From time immemorial, it's almost an instinct for humans to assign hierarchy and order to all things in the world.
This is especially true in the world of sports.
It can't be helped. That's part of the thrill of watching sports in the first place.
From who the best player of the year is, to who the greatest player of all time is.
What is this hierarchy even for?
People spend their precious time passionately arguing over these rankings.
So, what if we were to properly set the stage and truly decide the order?
What if we gathered all the soccer players in the world in one place and classified them by their birth year?
And what if we lined them up, from the very front to the very back of each line?
Naturally, a fierce debate would erupt.
Especially over who gets to stand at the very front, it might even lead to a serious fight.
Who is the greatest talent among the '93 class?
Who is the best player among the '00 class?
These are not questions with easy answers.
Of course, they aren't.
How many geniuses are there in the world?
However, for a few select years, the story might be different. There are some years where the front spot is decided more easily than you'd think.
The line for the '87 class is probably the prime example.
It's a shame for the rest of the '87 class, but that's because Lionel Messi belongs in that line.
The fact that Messi has to be at the front is so absolute that there isn't even a sliver of room for debate.
Similarly, the line for the '05 class was the same.
The front spot here was also absolutely solid.
It was a line where it was difficult to have a differing opinion.
Of course, there were many geniuses.
Treasured talents nurtured by big clubs' youth academies like La Masia, who possess worldwide fame.
And talents who stand out even if they aren't from a big club's youth system, catching the attention of major clubs.
On the South American continent, there will be geniuses who will surprise the world in the near future, swarming like bees.
How wide is the world, after all?
Even if you were to gather only the top-tier talents among 16-year-olds, you could fill an entire stadium.
But only one person can stand at the very front.
Fifteen games, 17 goals, and 6 assists in Serie A, the first division professional stage.
At an age where showing potential is enough, he has already proven himself, standing far ahead of the rest.
Lee Ji-an.
The number one of the '05 class was Lee Ji-an.
The FIGC (Italian Football Federation) was naturally covetous of a player like this.
The fact that such a player had been playing in his home country, and from the young age of 13...
It would be strange if they weren't greedy.
Especially since Italian soccer was in the midst of a crisis.
Of course, they showed their strength by winning the most recent Euro, but in the even more recent World Cup qualifiers, they performed terribly and tasted the humiliation of having to go through the playoffs.
There was no sign of any element that could turn this situation around. The lack of new talent was the cause.
In the past, Italy had a plethora of star players in every position. It goes without saying for defense, and there were certainly fantasy players who adorned their era.
But now? There were none.
On defense, Chiellini and Bonucci from back in the day were still running, and whenever they tried to introduce a new face, their performance was often worse than the old-timers.
The attack was even more hopeless.
The land of fantasy players had no fantasy players.
When you think of Italy, defense might come to mind first, but in fact, every major tournament where Italy achieved great results had a fantasy player who led the team.
But now there was none.
So, they couldn't help but covet Ji-an.
Lee Won-hoon couldn't answer easily at the words of the FIGC official he met through the introduction of Coach Vincenzo.
It wasn't an easy problem, and it wasn't a decision for him to make alone.
However, it was true that he felt drawn to it.
If he were to acquire European nationality, there were too many advantages to be gained.
European soccer is surprisingly harsh on non-European players. Just look at the Non-EU quota system.
Especially for Korean players, there was also the issue of military service, making it even more so.
If he acquired Italian nationality, all of these problems could be solved.
However, what truly caught Won-hoon's heart was the principle of naturalized players as defined by FIFA.
FIFA stipulates the eligibility conditions for a naturalized player to play for a national team as follows:
1) The player was born in the relevant country.
2) One of the player's parents, or one of their grandparents, was born in the relevant country.
3) The player has resided in the relevant country for at least 5 years.
Ji-an, as he is now, did not meet any of these conditions. Both his parents are Korean, he was born in Korea, and he has only been living in Italy for nearly 4 years.
Therefore, even if he acquired nationality, he could only play for the national team in the future.
That's what drew Lee Won-hoon's heart.
The fact that he wouldn't have to be dragged off to the national team for the time being.
Much later, after his son has matured mentally, maybe then.
For now, he didn't want to put such a heavy burden on him. He just wanted him to play soccer quietly, receiving the cheers of the city's people.
That was the heart of a father who didn't want to burden his young son.
The request from Italy was, in the end, a recommendation, and the request from the Korean side was for the age-group national team, not the senior A team.
There was no obligation to accept either side right away.
"So, just be aware of it."
At Lee Won-hoon's words, Ji-an quietly nodded. The kid was surprisingly calm.
That sight was a bit reassuring, but on the other hand, it was a little pitiable too.
Being wanted by so many places was a good thing, but... it was also a tiring thing.
It couldn't be comforting for a father to see his son having to endure such exhaustion at such a young age.
"Ji-an."
"Yes."
"To be honest, none of it is necessary. As long as you're happy, that's all that matters. You know what I mean?"
Whatever decision he makes, it doesn't matter as long as his son is happy.
Nothing else was important.
On the day he found out how much his son had struggled, Lee Won-hoon had made a promise.
That he would protect his son's happiness, no matter what.
It was the promise of an irresponsible father, who had been neglectful of his son under the excuse of being busy.
Lee Won-hoon spoke with all his sincerity, and,
"I know."
As if his sincerity had been conveyed, Ji-an smiled and nodded.
······
"Hello, good afternoon!"
On the way back after finishing recovery training.
I was sitting on a park bench for a moment when a passing uncle greeted me kindly.
"Hello."
I smiled and returned the greeting.
And I looked around again.
It's winter, so a rather cold wind is blowing, and the overall feeling is more gray than blue.
Maybe that's why.
I feel a bit lonely.
"···"
I was just bewildered yesterday, but today I feel a bit complicated.
I lived in Korea for 13 years and in Italy for 3 years.
Just in terms of time lived, Korea is 10 years longer.
But... for some reason.
I feel like the difference wasn't that big.
It feels almost the same in my perception.
Well, I lived in Korea for 13 years, but almost half of that was when I was too young to remember, so that might be why.
Or maybe it's because so many things have happened since I came to Italy.
Although it's been 3 years, now nearly 4 years, a short time...
There were bad things and happy things.
Because so many things happened, it feels longer, you could say.
Especially thinking deeply about 'myself' and worrying about it was after I came to Italy.
Definitely so.
When I was in Korea, I was too young, and I just lived as I was pushed along.
I had never thought about 'myself'.
"···"
I just... don't know.
Dad said that depending on my choice, I could become a Korean representative or an Italian representative.
It was a bit confusing.
It was a problem I had never thought about.
The fact that I could choose my nationality.
Well, it seems like a good thing to be wanted by both sides...
But.
Why do I only feel like I'm in an ambiguous position, not belonging to either place?
What... am I?
"···"
A dry laugh escapes me.
I think this might be the most difficult question in the world.
Who am I?
I don't know. I don't even know myself.
Am I strange?
···I must be strange. If I don't know myself, who else would?
Could other people answer this question smoothly? Probably, right?
As I let out a sigh from my stifled heart, a white breath puffed out. With white being painted over the gray, I felt even more lonely.
I had felt lonely many times before, but this feeling was a first.
The feeling that I wanted to confide in someone.
I liked to solve things on my own, no matter what I became. I hated asking for advice or help from others.
Partly because I didn't want to be a nuisance, and partly because I hated showing others that I was worrying about something.
I didn't want to show my weaknesses to others.
But today, it's a bit different.
I feel like I want to pour everything out, all of it.
From what happened this morning, to what happened during recovery training, and all the other trivial things that aren't even worth mentioning...
Thinking about it, was Ji-woo feeling this way too?
···Hmm. No.
Ji-woo was just born talkative.
"Hey!"
I turned my head at the familiar voice from afar. As they say, speak of the tiger and it will appear; Ji-woo was running towards me, waving his hand.
"···"
For a moment, a strange illusion unfolded before my eyes.
The landscape, which had been entirely gray, suddenly began to turn blue.
As if a drop of ink had been dropped into water, that blue spread out from Ji-woo as the starting point.
"Did you wait long?"
Ji-woo sat next to me and asked with a bright smile.
I shook my head instead of answering.
Then Ji-woo tilted his head.
"Why are you so low on energy? What, did you get scolded by the coach or something?"
"···No. Why would I get scolded?"
"Then what is it? If you have something hard going on, tell me all about it. I'll listen to everything."
At Ji-woo's appearance, with his hands on his hips as if spreading his wings, I let out a dry laugh and looked around. The landscape that had felt lonely no longer looked lonely.
"Forget it. Let's go."
"But why are you suddenly asking to go shopping? Did you get a bonus or something?"
As I stood up from the bench, Ji-woo asked.
I was the one who had called Ji-woo out, saying let's go shopping together.
The Puma official I had given my contact info to had contacted me. They had put my picture up in the biggest Puma store in Florence. The picture we took at my house back then.
So, I'm on my way to do something I've always wanted to do.
"Let's go. I'll buy you something delicious."
"Heh. My dad told me never to follow anyone who says they'll buy me something delicious. He said they all have ulterior motives, so not to be fooled."
I couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh at Ji-woo's nonsense, even though he was already following me closely.
"What are you trying to lure me in with something delicious for? Huh?"
I ignored Ji-woo, who was poking my shoulder and talking while squinting his eyes, and started walking.
He was right that I had ulterior motives, so there was nothing to refute.
"Well, it can't be helped. Anyone who buys you something delicious is a good person. Dad, I'm sorry."
Despite the constant nonsense from Ji-woo making me sigh, the complicated worries I had were disappearing.
When I have something on my mind.
Or when I have something I want to brag about.
The first face that always comes to mind is probably for these reasons.
"Me too..."
"Huh? You too what?"
"···Nothing."
Yeah. I'm sorry to my dad too.
Both Ji-an and I, we still have a long way to go to become adults.