Chapter 31
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 31
Chapter Title The Eldest Son Yearns for Soccer
A 14yearold boy scoring on Ricella? In this world?
Even if it was just training, this was an incredible feat.
Ricella was a goalkeeper with immense pride in defending the goal.
Even in training.
In firstteam sessions, he rarely conceded unless it was a penalty kick.
Damn.
Ricella, who had just been beaten by a young boy, stared at Taeyang with an exasperated expression.
Taeyang simply flashed the brightest smile they hadnt seen all day in training.
Matteo Silva chuckled inwardly, realizing that Taeyangs joy wasnt from scoring on Newcastles prized signingone of the worlds top goalkeepersbut from winning ten pairs of cleats.
That good, huh?
The highestquality cleats? No way we could afford those on my familys salary.
I see. Sounds like its worth it.
Hed momentarily forgotten.
Sure, he could now splurge 2,000 euros without a second thought, but as a kid himself, hed been careful not to wear out the 200euro cleats his parents bought him.
He knew it was a big expense for them.
This boy was probably the same.
You heard that, Antonio? Buy this kid his cleats!
...Fine. A promise is a promise.
Ricella snorted and stood up, and just like that, Newcastles firstteam centerbacks duo entered.
This is a drill for offense and defense at the same time. Defense stops the two strikers, offense breaks through the two defenders and scores.
Matteo Silva placed a hand on each centerbacks shoulder as he spoke.
You all know them, right? Our teams centerbacks, Dida and Arnold.
Brazils Dida and Scotlands Arnold might not be worldclass, but they were a reliable defensive pair for Newcastle.
They complemented each others weaknesses and showed great teamwork.
Pair up in twos and practice breaking through these two to shoot. First, Omar and Redelri will demonstrate.
Omar and Redelri grinned at Dida and Arnold, grabbed the ball, and took position.
With the kids watching eagerly, the pair began passing back and forth, slowly closing in on the centerbacks. Each defender picked up a man and pressed, but Redelri accelerated with the ball, feinting a cutout move.
Arnold, marking Redelri, chased him, opening a gap between the centerbacks. Redelri slotted the ball into that space with his left foot.
Omar shook off his marker, received it, and shot.
Hmph.
Ricella blocked Omars shot with one hand.
Ah, Antonio!! You couldnt stop the kids shots, but whys mine so easy for you?!
Isnt it obvious? Your shots way worse than theirs.
After watching Omar and Ricella bicker, Matteo Silva turned to the youths.
See that? Normally, itd be 4v2 or 4v3 based on our formation. But adding our fullbacks would be brutal for you lot, so were doing 2v2. Pair up.
At those words, Challets gaze naturally drifted to Taeyang.
Just as Challet opened his mouth to pair with him
Hang on, pairing up leaves one out. Yoon, wanna team with me?
Sure.
Matteo Silva cut in.
Challet glared at Silva with fury, but nothing changed.
The kids took turns challenging Newcastles centerback duo.
Unlike Omar and Redelri, who breezed through, the youths couldnt break them down.
A 2v2 battle.
With equal numbers, breaking through should be easier than defending, but it wasnt.
Young Dida disrupted with his speed and aggression, while veteran Arnold read the play from a step back and stole the ball at perfect moments.
Challet fared better than most but still lost possession to Arnolds tackle at the end.
After rolling on the ground a few times, Challet stood with a sulky expression and walked over to Taeyang.
Theyre no joke. No matter what I do, Arnold knows exactly what Im gonna
Challet, hold on. Ill hear you after my turn.
Taeyang said that and lined up with Matteo Silva.
With the whistle, Matteo Silva dribbled forward slowly.
Dida pressed him, and as Silva cut inside, Dida timed his shoulder charge perfectly.
Silva endured Didas prime fighting spirit with veteran savvy, scanning around.
He spotted Taeyang, keeping distance from Arnold.
I wonder what play that kidll pull if I pass now?
A 14yearold against Arnold? Expecting much might be silly, but Matteo Silva decided to test his most promising youth.
He sent a powerful pass aimed low at the stomachtough for a kid to control.
Ugh, what a shitty pass!
Whatd he mutter in his native tongue?
Taeyang stepped forward to receive it, but Arnold slipped in at that moment.
Arnold excelled at stepping forward to intercept.
It was riskyif he failed, hed open spacebut he never slipped up.
Just as it seemed the ball would be lost pointlessly, Taeyang took a step, shouldered Arnold off, and hooked the ball in front with his foot.
Hed anticipated the forward cut like no kid should.
But it didnt end thereTaeyang pulled the ball toward him with astonishing ball trapping.
Arnold, though beaten, didnt stop he shoved Taeyangs shoulder to unbalance him.
Rather than resist, Taeyang used the force to surge forward.
Arnold chased the unexpected speed, but Taeyang tapped the ball and changed direction.
Arnold reacted and stopped.
As if hed expected it, Taeyang tapped again and glided away in the opposite direction.
Waiting was Antonio Ricella. Taeyang unleashed a bold shot.
An unbelievable low, laserlike strike from a kids footit evaded Ricellas outstretched leg and ripped into the net.
Oh....
Matteo Silva watched the little guy toy with worldclass Arnold and score on Ricella again, too stunned for feedback.
Amazing...!
All he could do was marvel.
Wow.
Incredible.
Even if Arnolds getting on, for a 14yearold to do that....
I told you, hes always been like this.
As the coaches nodded at Aidens words, Kalsen, silent after witnessing the scene, turned to the U18 manager.
What do you think, MD?
Maximiliano DiazMD, the young U18 bosscrossed his arms and replied flatly.
Hes got some fancy tricks.
Kids got great footwork, yeah.
Hmm.
MD stroked his chin, looking displeased.
Why? Not impressed?
You know why.
Kalsen chuckled at MDs response.
MD despised players who held the ball too long with flashy skills and dribbles.
Its youth levelmaybe its fine?
Flashy nonsense like that doesnt vanish overnight. It becomes a bad habit.
Is that so?
Kalsen eyed MD.
Undeniably talented coach.
He had the chops to helm Newcastle one dayor a big club.
But too narrowminded.
Lacking tolerance? Or guidance?
Kalsen wanted to tell this stubborn director Youll end up with fatal flaws if you dont change.
If he listened, that is.
Why keep him? Because he was exceptional at instilling tactics in kids.
Other coaches handled the rest, and Kalsen could intervene.
Anyway, he hoped this coach broke his mold soonermore than the kid.
You like Pep, right?
...Why?
Even he couldnt control one player on the pitch.
The great Pep, who etched his name in history, could only watch in awe.
MDs face crumpled.
That kid like him?
Blasphemy.
No one compared to the God of Soccer.
Not even the monster striker Erling Haaland, who terrorized the Premier League, or Ronaldo, once his rival.
Not by MDs standards.
Who knows? Train him and see.
...Director, you think hell reach that level?
Kalsen looked at Taeyang.
In one season, hed demolished a league of older kids, won over some Toon fans, earned Sunny.
Not just me.
Then...?
Aiden too. And Friedel Mayer, who recommended you, said the same.
Urgh...!
If even those prideful men praised him...
MD followed Kalsens gaze to Yoon Taeyang.
Just then, clouds parted, sunlight bathing Taeyang.
Hell be Newcastles sun.
Kalsen gazed dreamily, then sternly at MD.
Make sure he shines without getting hurt.
...Understood.
Whos trashtalking me?
Ears itching during training.
Who is it?
Ricella? Arnold?
Looking around, Challets glaring daggers.
What? Why the death stare?
Happy with Matteo Silva, huh, Taeyang?
What bullshit?
No other day to play with you, and on this dayshouldnt it be me, not Matteo? At least for me...
Shut up. No wonder your skills dropped in U18. Level up if you wanna sync with me.
...!!
Challet stares, shocked.
The moment you treat teammates as below your level, you get the same. Youre subpar by my standards. Go practice hard.
After scolding Challet sternly, I turnand Kalsen calls me.
You called?
Yeah, come here. This is Maximiliano Diaz, U18 manager.
Maximiliano Diaz.
So hes the U18 boss.
In Korea, theyd call him JoGwal of soccer. DiGwal.
JoGwal? Guy from the Warring States who studied strategy books, knew zilch about practice, dissed everyone, then botched a battle and nearly doomed his nation.
Kinda like Chinese players hyping Europe then floppingtextbook.
Anyway, MDs infamous for ruining teams with book tactics, tunnel vision, and pigheadedness.
Nice to meet you, Yoon. Ill be your manager from now on.
U18 with that guy.
Nice to... meet you?
...Should I just say what the hell?