Chapter 22
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 22
Chapter Title Newcastles Messi
Friedel Mayer hadnt been exaggeratingNewcastle United was dead serious about their youth setup.
The owner had declared from the start that theyd focus on the youth system, and they meant it. But now, they were more committed than ever.
The team had settled into Champions League contention and established itself as a Premier League powerhouse, but the owner wasnt satisfied.
Come on, does it make sense for the club with the deepest pockets to go without a single title?
Especially when they were getting roasted worldwide for it.
The owners goal was titlesand sustained success.
He knew how crucial the youth academy was to that sustained success, but now it was hitting home more than ever.
Why?
Because the homegrown talents theyd nurtured with care had exploded onto the scene over the last three or four years, propelling the team into Champions League contenders.
Buoyed by strong internal demands and his own passion, the owner began pouring in massive investments.
In the NewcastleuponTyne area, he created jobs for the families of academy players and built townhouses where they could get affordable loans or rentals.
It wasnt an exaggeration to say theyd pulled every legal lever to attract and develop youth talent.
The staff got the same treatment.
They brought in a top youth director, along with medical teams, sports science experts, and coachesall headhunted with big money.
And the scouts were no different.
They recruited the worlds most renowned youth scouts.
Friedel Mayer was one of the most anticipated among them.
Friedel found a good one in Korea?
Word that hed brought back Yoon Taeyang from Korea had already spread like wildfire through the academy.
Korea? A player from Asia? Anyone decent there?
One skeptical coachs comment drew a response from another.
Son and Park are from Korea.
Park? You mean Bayerns?
No, Man United.
Was there a Korean at Manchester United?
This is why the young ones
An older coach tsked like a boomer, but another chimed in.
Even a Park from Bayern would be solid.
Solid? Parks the kind of player any club would love.
Hed be a key player if he came here.
Word is hes better than Park.
Mayer says he could be Newcastles Messi.
The coaches burst out laughing.
Messi?
Thought Germans didnt do comedy. What a clown.
Forget AsiansMessis a onceinageneration talent.
A coach whod come over from Bayern Munich with Friedel spoke up.
When he brought in Juan Olmedo, everyone laughed off his claim of finding the teams new Ribéry.
Everyone turned to him, and he continued.
Juan Olmedo was a winger tearing it up as a core player for Bayern.
But in the end, he wasnt entirely wrong.
Olmedo hadnt matched Ribérys legendary status yet, but his stats over the past five seasons surpassed the icons.
Just as Friedel had boasted, hed become Bayerns new Ribéry.
Remembering that, the coaches thought, Friedel doesnt blow smoke but Messi? Still.
They couldnt help feeling excited, though.
Could Friedels bold claim really pan out? Could this kid become Newcastles Messi?
September rolled around before I knew it.
I figured since Id decided to join Newcastle and everything was lined up, itd all wrap up in a week or two.
Thats how it went when I was an adult in my past life.
But moving not just me, but my whole family? That was a different story.
Even with Newcastle pulling strings to fasttrack it, it took two months.
Our house was chaos in the meantime.
Uprooting our entire life in Koreawhere everything was set upand moving to a faroff foreign land wasnt easy.
Because of that, both grandpas stayed behind to wrap things up and join us later.
Oh, and the siblings who didnt speak English would do homeschooling in the UK, with English tutors provided by Newcastle.
Heres the issue my parents started treating me like a genius.
Why?
Think about itthey thought I didnt know English, but I spoke it like a native. How could they not be shocked?
When did you learn English?
Moms question got a casual shrug from me.
Watched YouTube.
Total bullshit, unbelievable even to me. But they hadnt sent me to any language academies, so what else could they think? YouTube it was.
Our son he really is a genius, huh?
Thats why hes so good at soccer.
Ten months of carrying him was worth it.
It worked.
Dodged a bullet there.
After all that hassle, Iand my familyfinally arrived in NewcastleuponTyne.
No idea how long wed be here, but this place was worlds away from Korea. Different from Portugal or Spain where Id played, too.
Unlike Koreas sleek, modern cities, Newcastle felt stately. Oldworld charm, you know?
Sure, that worn European vibe was everywhere, but still.
Wow
More than enough to blow the siblings minds.
Standing in the heart of the city center, they gawked around, slackjawed.
Someonell think were country bumpkins. Kids, act cool. Act cool!
Mom laughed as she said it, and Yeoreum tilted his head.
Act cool? Whats that, Mom?
Uh, what does it mean exactly, honey?
Dad pondered before answering Moms question.
Like, act like its no big deal?
Yeah! Act like its nothing, kids. If you look like total newbies, shady folks might get ideas.
Ideas? Like what?
Stealing our stuff or whatever.
Eh, with all our luggage piled up, do we really look like anything but newcomers?
Wheres Friedel, anyway?
Looking around, an SUV pulled up.
Whoa even the lanesll take getting used to. How do you even drive here?
Dad shook his head at the car approaching from the leftlike in Korea, but opposite.
Yeah, thisll take adjustment.
Far as I knew, only the UK and Ireland drove on the left in Europe.
Whoa really on the left Oh, it stopped.
The SUV I thought would pass halted.
Friedel Mayer stepped out.
Welcome to NewcastleuponTyne. What do you think?
Dad spoke for the group.
Everythings still so new. The leftside driving from the getgo.
Friedel chuckled.
Honestly, same for me. Im a Newcastle United scout now, but Ive barely spent time in the city.
Oh, really?
Yeah, been jetting around the world hunting prospects since joining.
He said it with a beaming smile, looking straight at me.
Hope that grin sticks around while Im here.
Pressure?
Nah.
Honestly, Im pumped.
In a league thats been the worlds best for ages, how far can I climb? Thats what Im dying to find out.
Anyway, lets head to the house for your family.
We were supposed to rent a townhouse from Newcastle, but after selling our place and both grandpas houses, we could afford something proper in NewcastleuponTyne.
Expensive?
Yeah.
Overheard the adultsit was well over a billion won.
But think about it trading three metroarea apartments? No sweat.
I worried a bit thinking London prices, but Newcastle wasnt bad.
Wow, this is our house?
Gaeuls jaw dropped as we walked in.
Right? Honey, this is really ours? We didnt get scammed?
The club helpedno way.
A bit dated, but better than expected.
Narrow hallways, but rooms and living areas were huge compared to modern Korean homes.
Small front and back yards, garage for two cars.
First floor separate kitchen and dining, a powder room, living room, family room, laundry, and a small office.
Second floor two large bedrooms with ensuites, three small ones, and a main bathroom.
The en suite rooms went to parents and grandpas. Gaeul and I got our own Yeoreum and Gyeoul shared.
I get my own room now?
Gaeul, whod grown up in a threebedroom apartment without her own space, was thrilled.
Makes senseeven at eight, a girl dreams of her own room.
Gyeoul, this is toy zone now, got it?
Yeah! Cool! How do we use the beds? Hyung, can I pick first?
Gross!
Yeoreum and Gyeoul settled their shared room fast.
Dont kids that age usually fight?
Even with separate bathrooms, two grandpas sharing might be tight.
And Yeoreum and Gyeoul will need their own when they get bigger.
Gotta grow up quick, make bank, get a place where everyone has their own room.
Fired up to grind in Newcastle.
Oh, academy tomorrow or the next day.
Some checks first, whatever that means.
Ill find out when I get there.
The Newcastle United Sports Science Center was as cuttingedge as it gets.
Especially for youthmost hospitals and medical centers couldnt compete.
Why go this far? Risk reduction.
For pros, they assess aging curves, injury odds, rehab potentialthe works.
For youth, full growth and development analysis.
Taeyang arrived at the training groundNew Darsley Training Ground, New added after expansionsand immediately underwent tests at the sports science center, then waited at home.
No training until results were in that was policy.
Those results landed first with the youth director.
This is the kid Friedel Mayer said could be Newcastles Messi?
Yes, sir.
Youth director Frankie Karlsen muttered Messi? and tilted his head, then checked the results.
Height potential around 184cm, muscle structure suggests huge speed upside?
184cm with top speed? Thats not Messithats Ronaldo territory.
Core muscles highly developed for exceptional balance and proprioception. Strong ankles. Excellent flexibility for low injury risk
Good core and flexibility werent just injuryproofingthey were huge weapons on the pitch.
Karlsen read the center heads final assessment.
Despite young age and potential physical disadvantages, overall abilities suggest he could compete with older age groups without issue.
Total Score 91
91?
Karlsen adjusted his glasses, doublechecking.
Physical potential didnt tell the whole story, but a 91 in growth projection?
Highest score since the center opened.
Friedels Newcastles Messi comment flashed back.
After a moment, he said,
Well consult the sports center and have him trial with the U16s.
Karlsen hated rushing kids into higher age groupsit ruined them. Ordering a trial jump right away was rare.
Messi, huh
Recalling the worldclass scouts nearperfect track record comparing youths to legends, his heart raced with anticipation for the practice match.