Chapter 21
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 21
Chapter Title Newcastle Uniteds Offer
Do you speak English?
Friedel Mayer looks at me and asks.
Yes.
Ha ha ha, that makes things easier then.
Yes, but youre not from Bayern Munich?
At my words, his expression clouds over.
Why is he like that?
Munich... no, but Im from a pretty good club.
No, what club is it that hes so lacking in confidence?
I figured hed strut around with his nose in the air since he came from Munich.
I guess I should have built some connections with scouts in my past life.
Even in the same industry, players and scouts dont overlap much.
Unless its the chief scout or director managing them, that is.
Anyway.
Where are you from?
Im... well...
No, why does he keep trailing off?
Anyone would think hes here to scam someone.
If he werent the famous Friedel Mayer, Id peg him for a con artist for sure.
Have you heard of Newcastle United?
How could I not know Newcastle United?
The club with the most money in the world.
The club with the richest owner among owners.
Ive heard of them. Rich club.
Yeah, our club has the most money in the world. For the future, we desperately need young talents like you...
Sounds good.
Huh?
I said yes. Newcastle United.
No need to think twice.
One thing I do remember is that if theres potential, even for a youth player just signing pro, Newcastle pours money in.
No hesitation needed.
I really want to go. Ive always wanted to play in the Premier League.
Oh...!
Of course, my parents have to agree first.
I could hear Coach Jo Bongsus hot gaze and awkward cough from behind, but I pretended not to notice as I handed Friedel my parents phone number.
Newcastle United?
His son had gone to the dorms but came back home saying a European scout wanted to sign him, so Taeyangs father, Yoon Jiseong, rushed home from work early, only to look puzzled.
Why them?
Why them? Honey, its because our Taeyang is so good they want to take him.
At his wife Jimins words, Jiseong replied.
Thats true, but Newcastle isnt that kind of team.
What do you mean?
Theyre a rich club. They try to poach good players rather than develop youth.
To turn the team into a powerhouse quickly, Newcastles method was buying established players.
Jiseong, who loved soccer, knew this, so he couldnt help but be suspicious about them recruiting youth.
What does that matter? Premier League is a good league, right? Way better than growing up here?
True. Guess we should meet them first.
At that, Taeyang spoke up.
Dad, they said if youre off work and its okay, theyd like to meet tonight.
Where?
Over dinner.
Oh?
Jiseong seemed to think for a moment, then nodded.
At that, Jimin stood up.
Honey, why? We havent even set it yet. You need to give them the number first.
Huh? I figured youd say yes, so I already set it up.
...Already?
Yeah.
Jiseong got up with a helpless look on his face.
Whered you set it?
That beef place near our house. The fancy wagyu one with the private rooms.
Hyanghwajeong?
Yeah, there.
At that, Gaeuls eyes lit up.
Were having beef, Mom?
Yeah! Super expensive beef! The kind our Gaeul loves!
Taeyangs sister Gaeul, who loved meat more than anyone in the family, jumped up.
Mom! Ill go change quick!
Mommy, meaty?
Meat?
Yeoreum and Gyeoul also jumped up excitedly.
Watching his kids, Jiseong let out a chuckle, then shook his head and steeled himself.
He needed to keep his wits about him too.
He couldnt ruin his childs future by falling for the scouts sweet talk.
On the way to Hyanghwajeong with all the kids in the car.
Jiseong asked Taeyang.
Son, do you want to go there?
Yes.
Why?
Its the Premier League.
Hmm...
If youre good enough, couldnt you go to the Premier League later from another league?
Taeyang nodded.
Maybe. But Dad, lots of players go from other leagues to the Premier League and struggle to adapt. Physical issues. Wouldnt it be better to go straight there and grow up suited to it?
Jiseong glanced at Taeyang while driving.
Yeah, his eldest was always like this.
Mature beyond his years, always thinking deeply.
He wasnt the type to rashly jump into the Premier League.
Alright, then Dad will hear them out positively.
He said that, but Jiseong still felt uneasy about Newcastle.
If theyre going abroad, wouldnt Germany or the Netherlands, focused on youth, be better?
It was a common misconception among Koreans who paid little attention to youth development.
The Premier League was serious about youth too.
Big clubs aside, teams without money or midtable ones had to produce top talents from youth to survive in the worlds best league.
And finally, at the meeting with the parents.
Friedel Mayer explained passionately to Yoon Jiseongs question on this.
Our Newcastle United is the same. With FFP rules tightened, to aim for titles longterm, we have no choice but to focus on our foundation the youth system.
Hearing this through the interpreter, Jiseong asked again.
But for that, Newcastle doesnt have many firstteam starters from youth, does it?
Thats unavoidable. Building top coaches and facilities doesnt happen overnight. Nor does attracting top youth talents.
Ah...
Its only been about three seasons since the system took shape and started producing results. Probably around that.
Yoon Jiseong nodded after thinking.
He recalled that recently, Newcastle had been promoting a wave of youth academy players to the first team, where they were holding their own.
Now, our owners wish is one thing.
What?
Newcastle Uniteds Lionel Messi.
...Me, Messi?
No, Messi?
Youre saying my son is at that level?
At that, Friedel Mayer set down his awkwardly held chopsticks and said.
The club judges him to have the potential to be Newcastles Messi candidate. And personally...
Friedel Mayers gaze turned to Taeyang, and he smiled broadly.
I dont know about Messi, but I think this kid can become the worlds best in his era.
Oour son?
Jiseong looked at his eldest son with newfound eyes.
He knew he was good, but to think someone like Friedel Mayer rated him as worldbest potential.
Thats why he must come to our team, with the best facilities and staff. We have confidence in maximizing Taeyangs potential through cuttingedge science, medical team, and training methods.
Hmm...
As you know, many kids with potential fail to bloom due to improper development. Newcastle has built a system focused on researching and managing that. You can entrust his future to us with peace of mind.
At those words, Yoon Jiseong felt his resolve waver.
But there was another reason he couldnt decide easily.
Could the whole family really live in England?
Watching Jiseong look around at his family, Friedel Mayer spoke as if reading his mind.
The interpreter busily translated.
Sir, weve covered the youth team enough. Now, lets talk practicalities. Newcastle supports guardians settling in the UK for families who must move for their child. Ah, of course, illegal, so no direct financial aid, but we arrange loans, rental housing, and jobs connected to Newcastle United. Oh, this is from me personally, but you seem to speak some English, so jobs shouldnt be a worry.
Really?
With his biggest concern addressed, Yoon Jiseongs mind was made up.
Germany? Netherlands?
Places where they wouldnt speak the language and kids would learn useless foreign tongues were a thousand times worse than here, where they could learn English and secure stable jobs.
Ive heard you out. Ill discuss with the family and decide.
I hope it turns out positively.
Clinking glasses with soju as Friedel offered, Yoon Jiseong looked at Taeyang with excitement.
Our son, a Messi?
Just imagining it was thrilling.
Hey, youre going, right?
After much deliberation, my parents accepted Newcastle Uniteds offer.
It was a proposal with no downsides.
Especially since my siblings could learn English.
Once they knew English, when I was an adult living alone, they could come back to Korea for school without issue.
Or stay in England.
Anyway, with the decision made, my parents busied themselves preparing for the move.
Both grandfathers, with no other children but my parents, decided to emigrate too, making them even busier.
Word spread through Seoul, and Gong Sehwan looked at me with jealous eyes.
Yeah, thats how it turned out.
Jealous, man. Premier League? Fucking jealous.
If youre jealous, work hard and come join.
Gong Sehwan pouted.
You said no European team would take me.
That was Bae Sanghyun saying it.
Truth is, I agreed.
So, possible?
Depends on you.
Hed come to Europe someday. Even taste the Premier League briefly.
Of course, based on my past life, not 100 certain.
My presence had started changing Gong Sehwans life too.
So far, positively.
You think I can?
You know your weaknesses from the adults advice. Improve your passing, and youll shine.
Gong Sehwan shook his head.
Ive been practicing, but my thinkings changed a bit.
What? What is it?
Coach Lee Junghoo said our national teams attack is saturated. Parquet Naiels dropping back, and older gens too. Might be no spot for me in the future national team.
Ah, butterfly effect?
Parquet Naiel was originally from our generation, meant to anchor the national teams attack.
But Lee Junghoo sees me as an attacker pillar and shifted Parquet to midfield.
Far in the future, developed Gong Sehwan might hold midfield, but now, Lee thinks his spots vanishing.
Pretending ignorance, I asked.
So?
He suggested changing positions. To wingback.
Wingback?
Sounds good.
Sehwan isnt top in any one thing, but fix a few flaws, and hes perfect material.
Sounds good?
Yeah?
Yeah, try fullback. Lets play together in Europe.
Gong Sehwan nodded.
In our short time, wed grown close.
Leaving felt oddly bittersweet.
I patted Sehwans back and stood.
Thus, my short but funand bittersweettime at Seoul UTD was coming to an end.