#67 Connection (6)

About an hour after Cha Tae-oh signed with Borja Navas, BN Agency officially announced the contract. The news had already leaked through some local reporters yesterday, but the formal announcement still generated plenty of buzz. Spanish soccer fans were showing considerable interest in the player named Cha Tae-oh.

He'd put on monstrous performances in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the friendly against Rayo Vallecano and the La Liga 2 opener against FC Barcelona Athletic, but most Spanish soccer fans still had no idea who he was. On the flip side, Borja Navas was a name no Spanish soccer fan could possibly overlook. His clients were heavy hitters, and pretty much every key member of the Spanish national team was under his wing. Not to mention, every active pro player on his roster—excluding the prospects—was a household name among European soccer fans. There was even a running joke that if he started a club with just his client list, they'd laugh off a treble.

So when word got out that his latest signing was some unheard-of 22-year-old Korean—no teen prodigy, mind you—Spanish ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fans couldn't look away.

But the surprises didn't stop there.

The reaction from Spanish fans was hotter than expected, so Sergio Suarez dropped more Cha Tae-oh updates.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

About another hour later, Sergio Suarez dropped one final update.

A short, punchy end to Cha Tae-oh's 37-38 season summer transfer saga.

Iñigo Chapé, the technical director, must've heard from Borja Navas, because he came rushing over just as I was heading to training, grabbing both my hands and thanking me nonstop. A director with full signing power thanking a mere player like this? You'd be hard-pressed to find another case anywhere in the world.

Well... I'm no mere player.

"You're really not transferring?"

The squad's buzz had quieted down once the news hit that I was staying. They all figured I'd jump ship eventually, just like Iñigo. Can't blame 'em—it's a golden ticket from Liga 2 to La Liga.

Truth is, if I hadn't gotten those god-tier skills from the goblin and landed the Getafe offer on pure merit, I'd have gone without a second thought. Even riding the bench, that La Liga resume is priceless.

But I know what I've got. This talent isn't just overwhelming—it's miraculous. So why settle for a La Liga club that won't even make me their top option? Better to stay, wait for the big fish. My buyout's a steal at 1.5 million euros anyway—no need to inflate it via a mid-table La Liga move. They won't match it with wages regardless.

Borja Navas said the same: Liga 2 sucks as a stage, but that buyout's a huge hook. Big clubs are already eyeing me. Time to convince 'em I'm worth a fortune.

"Told you. No interest unless it's a Champions League club."

"Kuh! Knew it, damn it."

Miguel Amaro grabbed my hand, beaming with joy and relief.

"Truth? I hoped you'd never go to Getafe, at least. Just... no. Reasons... anyway, no."

"Don't worry. Not Getafe. Big club maybe."

"Yeah! You deserve bigger!"

Made me wonder: If Getafe came calling for him, would he stay?

"Thanks for sticking with the team."

"Your loyalty hits hard. Let's crush it together."

"You'll land way better than Getafe, no doubt."

"Thrilled to keep playing with you. Huge relief."

Teammates chimed in one by one. If they were in my shoes, nine out of ten—hell, all—would've taken Getafe. A lifeline from heaven for Liga 2 guys.

"Heard the news, Theo."

Jordi Calavera approached with emotional eyes.

"Tough call... As coach, thanks for staying. Like I said preseason, you're irreplaceable in my plans. When the director mentioned you might leave... felt like the world ended."

"Haha..."

"I'll prove staying wasn't dumb. As your coach."

Jordi influenced my decision too. If he was just a goals-grinder, I'd have bounced—no learning there. He leans on me tactically, sure, but his endgame? A rock-solid team that thrives without any one star. That's why he's obsessed with every player's movement, forging a complete unit.

He never said it outright, but I've felt it all season.

"I'll give it my all."

Jordi grinned.

"Just do you. That's plenty."

Do me? Hat-tricks, probably. No sweat.

Staying in Liga 2 means going nuclear to leap to a big club. 42 games—if I keep it up, that's 126+ goals. Yeah... no big club says no to that.