Naturalization?
Michael Zorc, the sporting director who had visited Dortmund's stadium, gazed out at the pitch.
Taking advantage of a brief stoppage due to a foul, he spotted a 16-year-old boy chatting with Jurgen Klopp.
Instead of consulting his veteran players, Klopp was giving tactical instructions to this mere teenager.
"Jinho? His technique is top-notch, but his tactical understanding is brilliant too. I can't wait to see what he'll do once his body finishes developing. But to witness that, I need to avoid getting sacked from Dortmund by then."
Michael Zorc recalled what Jurgen Klopp had once said about Jinho.
"Jurgen, don't you think Jinho transferring to another club will happen before you get the boot?"
"Heh. In that case, you'd be the one getting sacked first, Mr. Director."
His proudest achievement as director was bringing in Jurgen Klopp as manager.
And perhaps his second-best was pushing for Son Jinho's study abroad in Germany.
"Ole! Jetzt kommt der Jinho! (Here comes Jinho now!)"
Hearing the fans' cheers, Michael Zorc thought back to a recent article in the press.
'The embodiment of Dortmund's famed youth system.'
Even though Son Jinho hadn't been with Dortmund's youth team for a full year yet, that hardly mattered.
"Jino! We know you don't eat dog meat! Unlike those dumb English pigs and that sow!"
To Dortmund fans, Son Jinho had already become the very symbol of their youth system.
"What the fuck kind of bullshit is that?"
"Pardon?"
Just look at how they'd turned his profanity from a recent interview—snapping back at a reporter asking if eating dog meat was the secret to his soccer skills—straight into a chant. That alone showed the burning passion Dortmund fans had for him.
"Oh, sorry. In Germany, it's pigs that are the insult, right? What the fuck kind of pigshit is that?"
'...By the way, what the hell is Jurgen teaching a 16-year-old kid?'
As Michael Zorc wondered if it was time to stop Jurgen Klopp and Son Jinho from carpooling to work together...
"Ah~~~~~"
Son Jinho's long-range shot grazed past Arsenal's goal.
"Agh!" "...You took that shot this time!"
"Ah, Ivan, I didn't call for you."
It didn't lead to a goal, but Arsenal's players looked tense, while Son Jinho clapped for his Dortmund teammates, injecting energy into the side.
'...Once this match ends, the vultures will swarm.'
Michael Zorc had once fantasized, back when Son Jinho was lighting it up in Dortmund's youth team, about building the club's next generation around him.
But it looked like that dream needed to be shelved.
Putting aside his greed, Michael Zorc now hoped for just one thing.
'Please... sign a pro contract with Dortmund first, then transfer...'
The media was throwing around figures like 60 million euros (75 billion won) or whatever.
'Nonsense! Jino's worth at least 90 million euros!'
Inside Dortmund, they were already pegging his minimum transfer fee at 90 million euros (112.5 billion won).
'...Best case, he doesn't transfer at all.'
But judging by today's performance, that seemed unlikely. Dortmund was a great club, sure, but objectively, there were plenty better out there.
'Still, 90 million euros would give us some breathing room.'
As Michael Zorc daydreamed about kimchi soup and pondered how to spend that 90 million euros, time flew by.
Now it was the 44th minute of the second half. Despite Dortmund relentlessly threatening Arsenal's goal right up to the final whistle, they couldn't find a second goal. Just as the crowd started murmuring about a draw...
"Booooooooooo─!"
Per Mertesacker's tackle sent the substitute Ivan Perisic tumbling to the ground.
The ref blew his whistle, signaling a foul on Arsenal.
Son Jinho began setting up for the free kick.
Silence fell over Signal Iduna Park.
Beep─!
The ref whistled, and Son Jinho took a slow run-up. His right foot met the ball.
Splash─!
As the shot evaded Schmelzer's fingertips and rippled the net...
"Fuck! 90 million euros? Screw that! We ain't selling for less than 180 million euros!"
Michael Zorc jumped to his feet, throwing an uppercut into the air as he bellowed.
"Hooouuuuuu─!"
Through his tear-filled eyes, he saw Son Jinho roaring "Hoo!" along with the Dortmund crowd.