Unstoppable Momentum (2)
"Unstoppable Momentum" AD Alcorcón Crushes Sporting Gijón 4-0 on the Road! Cha Tae-oh Bags Hat-Trick!
"Fantastic Bicycle Kick" from Cha Tae-oh: "My body moved before I could even think. It was the only way to get the shot off, and it luckily went in."
AD Alcorcón Manager Jordi Calavera Raves: "Cha Tae-oh is a one-of-a-kind striker. Any manager who gets to use a player like him is truly blessed!"
AD Alcorcón Winger Miguel Amaro: "Cha Tae-oh's bicycle kick deserves the Puskás Award right now—no question."
Sporting Gijón Fans Lament: "If it weren't for Cha Tae-oh, we wouldn't have suffered this home thrashing. We just want him out of La Liga 2 ASAP."
British Sports Daily: "Multiple PL Clubs Eyeing Cha Tae-oh... Teams Desperate for Striker Reinforcements Are Salivating."
AD Alcorcón Local Daily: "High Likelihood of Cha Tae-oh Transfer... This Winter Could Be Very Cold for Alcorcón..." Transfer Rumors Heat Up!
Cha Tae-oh's Agent Borja Navas: "The player is focused on the current season... It's still only October." Silent on Transfer Talk...
It had been a while since I'd visited the BN Agency headquarters. As always, my destination was Borja Navas's office on the top floor.
"Twenty-five goals and five assists in ten games. That's exactly three attacking returns per match."
Borja Navas looked at me with eyes full of admiration. Among his clients were players lighting up the big leagues, so that gaze felt a bit exaggerated at times.
Or... maybe not.
"You think I'm just flattering you, don't you?"
"......!"
Busted. As I fumbled for a response, Borja burst into a quiet chuckle.
"Even in the second division, racking up thirty attacking returns in just ten games isn't something even your average world-class player pulls off easily. And La Liga 2 isn't some joke league."
I wondered if I was undervaluing it myself by calling it the second division. But there was no helping it. I'd only played ten games, sure, but this stage had started feeling cramped a while back. I was itching to test myself on a bigger one—to see just how much better I could shine.
And as if reading my mind, Borja gave me a knowing smile that pierced right through.
"I called you here for two main reasons today. First up: transfers."
I nodded slowly, then tilted my head. It was still October. The window wouldn't open for another two months. Bringing this up now meant... maybe a big club had reached out?
"Any clubs gotten in touch?"
"Well... one club did contact us."
My heart skipped. Curiosity exploded—what was the first club making a move on me?
But that excitement evaporated instantly.
"Sadly, it was Alcorcón."
"Ah...."
"Alcorcón's technical director called a few days ago. Wanted to know your thoughts on a potential move, Theo."
Made sense. My buyout was just 1.5 million euros. And right now, I was bombing La Liga 2. It was basically a fire sale. If I hadn't made it clear I was holding out for a big club, directors from mid-table teams and up would be lining up to knock on Borja's door by now.
From AD Alcorcón's perspective, me leaving in January was their biggest worry. So even this early, they were probing my intentions through Borja.
"What'd you tell them?"
"I said we haven't discussed specifics. And that the player still seems uninterested unless it's a big club."
That much hadn't changed.
"No other big clubs reached out?"
"No serious talks on wages or anything yet, but plenty of big clubs are interested—fact. Your name's already on their shortlists. After internal reviews, I expect real negotiation tables to open up after November, heading into December."
Borja had said it before: Big clubs had labyrinthine processes, scouting and deliberating meticulously before jumping into bidding wars. With two months till the window, no concrete chatter wasn't surprising.
"One thing I want to ask, Theo."
"Shoot."
"Setting aside whether it's a big club or not—do you want to move teams this winter?"
I hesitated. I craved a bigger club, a grander stage, no doubt. But one thing nagged at me: AD Alcorcón. I was a huge part of their squad. If I bailed in winter, their promotion push would hit a brick wall. I did want to stick it out for the title and promotion with them.
But.
"My mind hasn't changed. Unless it's a big club, I'd rather wait till next summer."
Borja nodded like he'd expected as much. I glanced at him and casually asked his take.
"Borja, if a solid Europa League or Conference League club came calling this winter—not quite big club status—should I still leave?"
He blinked a few times before answering.
"Business-wise? Absolutely. Theo, you're too good for La Liga 2. Your market value has a hard ceiling here."
"Fair...."
"But there's one downside."
"Downside?"
"Your buyout's dirt cheap right now. No need for the current club's approval. Your word decides everything."
I nodded silently.
"Move to a mid-top club in winter, though, and they'll value you sky-high. Then jumping to a bigger club later means convincing that club to sell."
He shrugged lightly and continued.
"Sure, you could training boycott, submit a transfer request, leverage the media for public pressure till they have no choice... but that tanks your reputation long-term. Even in the cutthroat business world, a clean breakup matters."
He tapped his manicured nails lightly on the polished wooden desk in silence for a moment. Once my thoughts settled, I laid it out for him.
"This winter, if a good offer comes, let's go with leaving."
I really wanted to chase the title with Alcorcón. To cap it off with my current teammates. But what unsettled me was how effortlessly the goblin's soccer skills had seeped into me like wind. What comes easy can go easy. The goblin could show up in a dream anytime and yank it all back.
...My big dick too. Every desperate sprint on the pitch stemmed from that fear. When opportunity knocked, I couldn't afford to dawdle.
Of course... I hated even imagining it.
"So not strictly a big club?"
I added caveats to his question.
"First: If it's a club where the owner pumps serious cash in, even if not a traditional big club, that's fine."
"Hm... Outside the Premier League, I doubt it."
I didn't reply, just held up two fingers.
"But for those, I'd want a buyout clause. At a fair amount."
My current dominance in the market came from that absurdly low buyout relative to my value. Next move, I couldn't keep it that cheap forever. But I didn't want it outrageously high either. My endgame was a top big club contending for league titles and UEFA Champions League glory every season.
"And one more thing."
I raised three fingers.
"They have to promise never to block national team call-ups."
Borja tilted his head briefly, then nodded in understanding.
FIFA punishes clubs that refuse A-match call-ups. So they rarely do—unless it's a special case. But that's only for seniors. Youth internationals? Clubs block those freely.
It tied straight to my value. Fail to sort military service, and it plummets. To keep pro form, I'd need Sangmu at minimum—even with goblin skills. Forcing a K League return. Like national team left back Jeon Se-hyeon.
"Anything else?"
I shook my head. That covered it for now. Wages and specifics could wait.
"Tough to find a deal ticking all those boxes... but I'll make it happen. If nothing satisfies, and you stay put this winter, I won't push."
"Thanks."
Borja grinned.
"Alright... one more thing to discuss...."
That's when it happened. Knock knock—
The door flew open before he could even say "come in." Borja sighed softly at the intruder, then forced a smile.
"...I forgot something. Bear with me."
The uninvited guest—Niela.
"Bro, you tell Theo yet?"
"Not yet. More important stuff first."
"Oh... Did I barge in too soon?"
"Good you know."
She grinned sheepishly and plopped down right next to me. As I cocked my head, Borja explained.
"Wasn't planning to bring this up originally, but... we've got a schedule locked in."
"Schedule?"
Before Borja could elaborate, Niela cut in excitedly.
"I'm doing the kickoff at Alcorcón's next home game! Remember? I said next time, show me around the stadium."
"Ah...."
Yeah. I could already picture Miguel Amaro and Joni Montoya's jaws dropping. Just my imagination, right?