Chapter 30
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 30
Chapter Title The Thrill Returns
Joachim Shallet had been called up to the U18s before last season even wrapped up, supposedly for adaptation purposes.
Excluding the second team, it was the pinnacle of youth levels, so the facilities were incomparably better than those at U16, and the coaching staffs training was more systematic and grueling.
But honestly, it was boring.
The electric thrill hed felt at U16 was gone.
That rush from impossible plays culminating in goals.
The ecstasy from watching those plays.
The joy of playing together.
And so on.
None of it was there in this team.
Why?
There was only one reason.
Yoon Taeyang was missing.
No one on the U18 could give him the excitement, joy, or surprise that Taeyang did.
It hit him hard just how incredible a player Taeyang was.
Three years younger than him, yet compared to any current pro, by Shallets standards, Taeyang was the best.
Of course, true to Newcastles moneypouring ways, there were plenty of good players.
Thats when he realized it.
There are lots of skilled players, but players who make your heart race are rare.
And he wondered.
How far can a player who excites people go?
He didnt know yet, but the key point was that without Taeyang, the games werent fun.
That said, he didnt want to switch teams.
He couldnt be sure another player like Taeyang existed elsewhere.
So today was special.
Because he might get to play with Taeyang again.
On this rare day when the senior team trained alongside the entire youth setupsomething that felt obvious now that Taeyang was on the training pitch.
Taeyang!
Shallet knew Taeyang hated the nickname Sunny.
Hed worked endlessly to pronounce his name just right.
Showing the fruits of that effort, he dashed toward Taeyang, who looked back with his usual deadpan expression.
Youre here.
Yeah, its been ages. Good to see you.
Hows the air up there? Breathable?
What? A metaphor? Shh, quiet. Let me guess. Air up there means the teams level? Right? Yeah, then its not as bad as I thought. Easy one. Breathable means have I adapted? Im doing fine. Just the weathers overcast. Get what Im saying?
Shallet treated Taeyangs metaphors like a fun game.
No idea.
No idea? Heres the answer. Its because my teams missing you. Hahaha! Funny, right?
German humors tough.
Hmm, not German humor. Anyway, I wish youd hurry up to U18. You know, even without someone like you, there are a few decent players there? Like this one guy
As Shallets nonstop chatter kicked offlaced with German humorTaeyangs face clouded over.
It made school classes feel entertaining by comparison.
Hey, theyre here.
Luckily, saviors arrived.
Or rather, saviors plural.
The Newcastle firstteam players had shown up.
Theyre here.
The youth kids gazed at them with eyes full of admiration.
The current squad hadnt won a single title, but it wasnt one to be dismissed.
Breaking into the Champions League five years straight in the worlds top league, the Premier League, wasnt easy.
Naturally, there were worldclass players worthy of the name.
You know, Taeyang?
What?
I saw Ivan Redelli over there and wanted to come here.
At 26 this year, Ivan Redelli had dazzled at Fiorentina before transferring two years ago. Last season, hed played 38 games, netting 20 goals and 3 assists as the teams ace.
No wonder you seemed similar. Redellis your role model, huh?
Yeah, hes my role model.
Apart from Redelli being a leftfooter mainly on the right and Shallet a rightfooter on the left, their playstyles were quite alike.
Exciting, huh.
Hearts racing already. You got a role model, Taeyang? From those guys?
Nah, none.
No favorite player even?
Yeah, I do. Me.
Impressive.
As they nodded along, the coaching staff bustled about, dividing the kids by position.
Attackers Shallet and Taeyang were grouped together, facing off against the firstteamers.
Including Shallets idol Redelli, and Omar Leonardo, who had transferred last season.
Redelli was one thing, but Omar Leonardo had massive popularity too.
From perennial Ligue 1 bottomfeeder Bordeaux, hed joined for a relatively cheap 40 million pounds about 65 billion KRW these days, then exploded in his debut season with 14 goals and 8 assists in 34 games, earning a France callup.
But the most beloved wasnt Omar or Redelli.
It was the team captain, Matteo Silva.
At 35 this yearold even in this era of extended careershed bloomed late after the oil money arrived, called up to the first team at 23, and stayed ever since. A romantic oneclub man out of step with the times.
No wonder his nickname was Mr. Toon.
These the future teammates Ill be playing with?
Even his servicelike words made the kids eyes sparkle.
Well be twenty when youre over forty. Think you can still run then?
Ah, except one.
All the youth kids gawked at that oneYoon Taeyangin shock.
Who talks to Mr. Toon like that? What was he thinking?
Huh? Am I that old already?
Unlike the stunned kids, Mr. Toon chuckled heartily.
Youll be fortyone when were twenty.
That age? Manageable. Our sports science teams the best.
Taeyang nodded at that.
Watching him, Matteo Silva flashed a dad smile and said,
You must be Sunny.
Its Yoon. Tae. Yang. Not Sunny.
Taeyang hates his nickname. Says its girly.
Oh, really? Sorry about that. Tayyang? Tayyaang? Hmm, tough to pronounce.
You can just call me Yoon.
Alright, Yoon. Sounds good. Heard a lot about you in the first team too.
Taeyang nodded indifferently, face saying it was only naturalcocky, you might think, but oddly, Matteo Silva liked the boldness.
Alright, coach! Whats our first drill?
The youth coach pointed at the goal in response to Matteo Silvas question.
Shooting practice against the teams firstchoice keeper.
Ooh.
All eyes turned to the training pitch goal.
There stood Antonio Ricella, Newcastle and Italys numberone keeper2.07 meters tall, gorillalike physique with long arms, nicknamed King Kong.
He grinned creepily at the young attackers eyeing him.
Looks like hes saying, You kids think you can score on me?
Shallet muttered with a grimace, and the other youths nodded.
Hearing that, Matteo Silva burst out laughing.
Nah, looks scary, but he loves kids.
Liar!!
Captain, lyings bad!
Matteo looked pained at the kids protests.
It stung that the keeper who loved kids most among the players he knew came off as threatening to them.
Alright, lets go. Time to score on a worldclass keeper.
Matteo Silva led the attackers to the goalmouth.
Listen up, kidsthis shooting drills great training for the keeper too. So dont hold back or feel bad. Shoot freely. Right, Antonio?
Antonio Ricella nodded.
No guarantee a shot means a goal, young friends.
Then he grinned, tension thickening the air.
Guess I should demo. Omar, wanna show em?
Sure, captain.
Matteo Silva toed the ball at his feet. The coach blew the whistle, and he chipped it toward the penalty area.
Not a set spotan improvised pass. Omar Leonardo raced in and shot.
Low and fast, it headed bottom left.
Goal?
No way!
King Kong snorted, lunging with his long arm to paw it away.
Whoa!
Even those sure itd go in gasped at the easy save.
No wonder Toon fans said Newcastles five straight Champions League tickets were thanks to Antonio Ricella.
Antonio, you wont go hard on the kids, right?
I love kids, but this is my pride. No goals allowed.
Matteo Silva shook his head and said,
No brave souls to challenge this villain?
Intimidated by Ricellas aura, the kids just exchanged glances, none stepping up.
Fed up, Ricella said,
Steal a goal from me, and Ill buy you ten pairs of top cleats. Whos game?
One kid shot his hand up like hed been waiting.
Ooh, first challenger!
The first was a U18 starting striker.
He tightened his cleats, stood, and at the whistle, Matteo Silva passed like before.
Wham!
Ah
Charging full tilt, his powerful shot didnt even hit the goalit sailed way over.
Tough break. Next?
Whether it was the cleats prize or not, challengers lined up, but the next five all failed.
One homered like the striker the other four got it on target but overhit, easy saves in spots Ricella scooped up effortlessly.
Matteo Silva, feeling bad, said,
Its not about blasting it. Stay calm, aim for spots and timing the keeper cant reach. Next?
Ill give it a shot.
Shallet stepped up.
He readied, whistle blew, Matteo Silva passed.
While others directshot the fast incoming ball, Shallet touched it once to settle, then calmly rifled low and fast to his target spot.
Sharp shot to the bottom right corner.
Ricella dove dynamically, tipping it with his toe.
Not a goal, but the best shot yetRicella gave a thumbsup.
Close one.
Shallet smacked his lips and retreated. More failures followed, leaving only Taeyang.
Ser, Yoon. Youre last. Confident?
Taeyang just shrugged at Matteo Silva.
Tweet!
Whistle blew Matteo Silva chipped the ball.
Taeyang sprinted toward the streaking ball.
He swung his right foot hard at it.
Direct shot?
Ricella leaned for the rightfoot strike.
But the leg that looked to shoot merely flicked the ball lightly, planting on the grassthen his left leg whipped through.
Antonio realized too late, but saw it veering right and leaned that way.
In that instant.
The ball bent outward.
An outfront shot the keeper never saw coming.
Already committed, Antonio stretched desperately, but the ball had sucked into the top left corner.
Everyone froze at the shot that fooled the keeper twice, while Taeyang beamed, utterly unfazed, as if it were obvious.
Ten pairs of cleats, right? Top of the line?
Toptier cleats ran over a million won a pair easy.
Ten pairs!
Yoon Taeyang had no choice but to go all out.