Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Manchester United New vs Old (2)
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Al Nassr, which gained worldwide fame thanks to the addition of GOAT player Cristiano Ronaldo.
Even as the poster child for the so-called oil money strategy of signing superstars for astronomical sums, it still lagged behind Al Hilal and Al Ittihad, holding onto its position as the third wheel in the Saudi League.
Because of that, both Ronaldo and Al Nassr endured mockery together but never let go of their dream of dominating the league.
If you can't buy a title with money,
then check if your money's running short.
They became the club that followed this mantra more faithfully than anyone else in the world.
A Saudi club, but only three players with Saudi nationality.
The remaining eight are all star players who previously shone in Europe's top five leagues.
Al Nassr, filling the foreign player limit of eight in the Saudi League regulations to the brim.
Having finally reached the top of the Saudi League, Al Nassr now aims to claim the world's pinnacle through the Club World Cup.
Beep!!—
The first half kicks off with Ronaldo's kickoff.
Honestly, even I'm surprised.
It's been so long since I've felt this way facing an opponent.
Cristiano Ronaldo.
The GOAT who retired around the time I was debuting and establishing myself as a pro in my previous life.
Thanks to regressing two years earlier this time, I get to face him on the pitch.
"..."
"..."
Ronaldo passes the ball back, then immediately sprints forward.
For a split second—so brief I wondered if our eyes even met.
He mentioned me in a pre-match interview, and since I play for Manchester United... maybe he's aware of me?
Thwump—
Dani Olmo receives the pass and drives forward with the ball.
Not just Ronaldo—everywhere I look, there are players I've seen on TV.
Even if their physicality isn't what it used to be, their fundamentals remain sharp, building up play with clean touches and passes.
In response, Mbappé, Vinícius, and Rodrygo press aggressively, using their speed to initiate physical battles.
'If we turn this into a speed contest, can we contain them?'
No matter that they're still active—the majority who chose Saudi have passed their primes physically.
'Break through there.'
Just need the pass now.
Coming to Real Madrid doesn't mean I've fully settled in yet, but I have zero intention of changing my playstyle.
Saviola Alonso knew that full well and still started me.
He'd even fixed Real Madrid's chronic issues like Mbappé and Vinícius's lack of defensive work.
But not with Ban Yeager.
No, there was no need.
Because this side was more helpful to the team.
"Here he comes."
Eight minutes in, Ban Yeager takes his first touch.
The moment Saviola Alonso saw it, he was convinced a goal was coming from this sequence.
Thwump~...
Arnold perfectly pokes the ball away just before Ronaldo shoots.
His long pass drops right at my feet.
I control it, spin, and check ahead—Al Nassr's back four immediately adjusts their line.
Ali Al-Hassan steps up to block my path, guarding the space in front of that line.
No fancy skills or teammate help needed to break through.
Thwump—
A bit long to the right.
Less a dribble, more sending it into space.
One-touch and go.
Simple, but with enough space and speed advantage, nothing more efficient.
The ball momentarily closer to their left back, Lucas Hernandez, than me.
But acknowledging my speed and his own decline, Lucas holds the line and drops back.
If he'd come for the ball, I could've beaten another—smart judgment.
But.
Thwump!—
If you're admitting the physical gap, you don't give me this much space to run into.
"Urgh!!"
I target the gap between Lucas Hernandez and Iñigo Martínez, one-touch and sprint.
Just raw speed on a straight-line dribble rips their defensive line apart.
Nothing more to it—the speed was just too much.
Ban Yeager explodes a wonder solo goal before the tenth minute.
With Real Madrid now leading, the situation only gets better.
The losing team here gets eliminated immediately, so Al Nassr has to score somehow.
Naturally, that means opening up space behind.
And Real Madrid's attackers—Vinícius, Mbappé, Rodrygo—are all speed demons.
Impossible for aging defenders to handle that.
"Run!!"
After a header duel, the ball falls loose, and I pick it up.
Not just the opener—every touch creates danger, so marking on me tightens immediately.
No forward space for a counter dribble.
Tap- Tap-
I shield with short nudges using the outside of my foot, beating the press.
Ended up spinning in place with the ball, but the Al Nassr players who moved to steal it are now behind me.
While I hold it, I spot our trio hitting top speed.
Pang!!—
I opt for a rightward outfront pass.
Controlling with my right outfoot for a quick send.
The ball sails over Iñigo Martínez's head to Rodrygo's feet.
Thwump-
Rodrygo cleanly volleys it forward and drives on.
1v1 with the keeper.
Al Nassr's Yann Sommer rushes out to narrow the angle.
Still prime scoring space galore.
'Shoot!!'
The moment I urge Rodrygo mentally.
Thwump—
Ball goes not to goal, but Mbappé's feet.
Pang!!—
Mbappé slots into an empty net.
Iyaaaaaaa!!!
Perfect first touch, draws the keeper, then the selfless killer pass—Rodrygo nailed it.
And yet, the star of the show was Mbappé.
Looks like Rodrygo needs some mental rewiring.