Chapter 36
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 36
Chapter Title The Champions League Dream
Everyone knows it.
The UEFA Champions League is the dream stage for any soccer player.
Some might even value it more than the World Cup.
Players transfer or leave their teams all the time just to play in the Champions League.
In my past life, I was the same.
I dreamed of gracing that legendary stage, and every time I didin the Portuguese league, then in Spainit filled me with pure joy.
The Champions League is like adding a line to your resume that says you worked at a massive corporation, like Samsung or LG.
Clubs feel the same way.
Sure, the Premier League has dominated as the worlds top league for over 20 years, but thats exactly why so many players still dream of pulling on the jersey for Real Madrid or Barcelona.
This is my personal take, but being a Champions League regular for one of the big ears clubs outshines even the prestige of the worlds best league.
By that logic, Newcastle is pretty appealing in the Premier League.
Theyve made consistent Champions League appearances for five straight seasons, advancing to the playoffs four times.
Why am I bringing this up?
Because our youth team has its own Champions League.
They call it the UEFA Youth Cup.
Unlike the senior version, it wont make or break your career, but for young boys, its a golden chance to grow through international experience and fuel dreams of the future.
To enter the UEFA Youth Cup, the senior team has to secure a Champions League spot first.
In other words, the first team has to perform for the youth to get a shot.
Even the draw mirrors the senior teams bracket.
Take our Newcastle first teams group this Champions League Group C.
Düsseldorf and Copenhagen are in it, and the seeded teamthe dream club for every playeris Real Madrid.
And get this theyre our first opponents.
I vaguely remember facing Real Madrid a few times back when I played in Spain.
They were incredible then, and theyre incredible now.
Just looking at their starstudded lineup gets your heart racing.
Folks my dads age might think Real Madrids youth setup is lackluster thanks to Perez and his Galácticos policy, but after he left, things changed big time.
The current president, Bamos Ante Gracia, pushed for a return to the old ways.
What does that mean?
Hes firing up La Fábrica again.
Whats La Fábrica?
Just like Barcelonas youth academy is La Masia, Real Madrids is called La Fábrica.
Farm for one, factory for the other.
As rivals, everything about these two clubs is polar oppositeseven their youth namesbut they share one thing both are Spains premier facilities, producing players to build their teams around.
At least until the Galácticos era.
Anyway, under the banner of going back to basics, La Fábrica roared back to life.
Like the glory days churning out top products like Raúl and Iker Casillas, todays Real Madrid is pumping out talent like a factory on three shifts.
Even now, plenty of the guys who went on to make waves against Real Madrid in my future days were already at La Fábrica.
Maybe thats why the teams buzzing with excitement.
Wait, facing a tough opponent and youre hyped?
Im transferring soon.
To where?
Real Madrid.
Youre delusional. Why would they want you?
If I carry us against Real Madrid, of course theyll come calling.
Yeah, right, carry.
Thats the vibe.
Theyre harboring this ridiculous hope that if they shine, Real Madrid might snatch them up.
Its not entirely hopeless.
My trioShalett, Sobiola, and Lindemanwho desperately want me to stick around at Newcastle? Theyre the kind Real Madrid would salivate over.
Still, this atmosphere sucks.
You can tell half the squads fantasizing about dribbling past five defenders solo and scoring the winner, with Real Madrid reps clapping in the stands.
Its giving early Ronaldo at Manchester Unitedtrying to dribble everything, losing the ball, and eating shit for itexcept itll end with us playing like a nineman team.
Ronaldo with nine men?
Yeah, were definitely losing.
Even Ronaldo only left for Real Madrid after Ferguson molded him into a team player and legend. Back when he tried doing it all alone, all he got was abuse.
How do I fix these idiots?
Part of me wants to rip into them, tell them to snap out of it.
But as a teammate, Im just the talented kid.
These old soulswho could pass for Korean ajusshisarent gonna go, Oh yeah, youre right, we got carried away, sorry, if some younger punk lectures them.
Unless I dominate them skillwise and maybe throw a punch in a scrap to establish dominance, my words wont stick yet.
This is when the coach should step in.
Yoon, listen up. Cut back on the frequent dribbles and solo runs. And dont drop too deep. Use your speed to exploit space behind the defense...
Yeah, forget it.
Hes too wrapped up implementing his whiteboard tactics.
If thats the case, just play Football Manager.
They totally overhauled the graphics after like 15 yearsits insane.
You can even see faces properly now.
Sigh.
Hard to believe this is where the Toons future is being shaped. So bleak.
Heh, Real Madrid, huh? Dream club for sure. But if you keep thinking this casually, well get crushed, and you wont just miss out on Madridyoull get booted from our Toon squad too.
Luckily, there was one sane person.
Stepping in where the manager fell short was our assistant coach, Adam Kellington.
Tomorrow, he could retire as an oldtimer and no one would bat an eye. He always smiles warmly, but every now and then, that killer glint in his eyes while grinning is enough to tense up the kids.
Smiling charisma, I guess.
Oh, but it doesnt work on everyone.
Will Real Madrid pay higher wages? Or Newcastle?
That was Sobiola.
He hates anything boring or restrictive more than anyone, probably because he never even thinks about stuff like that. Turns out hes from one of Argentinas poorest slums, scavenging dumps to survive.
In short, hes even crazier about money than I am.
Do money birds recognize each other?
Lately, hes been hanging around me more than Shalett. Anyway, he hits me with these random questions sometimes.
Real Madrid could probably pay more, yeah?
Yeah?
His eyes sparkle at my honest answer.
But if were talking average wages, Newcastles higher.
The current Real Madrid, epitomized by La Fábrica, still pays top dollar to their two or three core stars like before, but on average, theyre systematic and strictnot outrageously high.
Our Newcastle, with the richest owner in the cashflush Premier League, actually edges them out.
So, they pay big if you shine, no ceiling, but at average team level, youd earn less than here?
Factor in taxes too, but even then, wed come out ahead.
Sigh... Still, if you make it big in Spain, you could rake in more...
Nah.
I shook my head.
Look, no matter how great Real Madrid is, do they have more money than our club? No, right? Would performing well at Real Madrid get you more cash? Or at Newcastle?
...By that logic, even Mr. Toon, the best ever here, only pulled 300k pounds a weekabout 600 million won.
If Mr. Toon played for Real Madrid, you think hed get just 300k?
He clapped like hed had an epiphany.
Right! So if I outperform Mr. Toon here, 300k would be a breeze.
Kids quick on the uptake with money.
Exactly. But say you really ball out and Real Madrid comes calling?
Tell the club, turn it down, show loyalty, boost my value.
He knows how to play the game.
This guys going places.
But arent you that guy?
That guy?
Who?
There was this insane kid at Real Madrid recently. Same age as you.
Same age?
Real Madrid youthJuvenil Ahas a sameager?
They promote fast if youre good, unlike Newcastle, so that tracks. But a 14yearold in Juvenil A, not even B?
Name was... Dios?
Oh.
That guy.
Dios del Fútbol.
The monster dubbed the God of Soccer.
His name literally means God, so he had the pedigree to surpass Messi and be hailed as soccer historys greatest.
Yeah?
What... its just all the hype.
Really? SNS and YouTube are blowing up about him. Even Spanish news. But youre on that level too, right?
Me? I havent even made the news.
Ive gotten a few interview requests from Korea, but I dont check Korean forums much, so no clue on my fame there.
In Europe? Not even a whisper.
Local Newcastle celeb at best.
Gonna search my name on Ninever when I get home.
Anyway, that dudes around.
I keep a deathnotestyle list of key players tucked away, but hadnt cracked it open since, so he slipped my mind.
Hey, why so spooked? Hate to admit it, but youre just as good. Super Asian and all.
Im spooked?
I notice how tense Ive gotten.
Makes sense, though.
To meno, to every Primera División team and player back thenhe was a catastrophe.
Not a god. Satan incarnate.
A devil who gifted despair.
A demon showing untouchable talent and physicality, leaving you hopeless.
Maybe thats why I buried the memory on purpose.
Still, is it worth getting rattled?
Call it PTSD?
In my past life, meno, my teamsnever beat him once.
Spooked? Nah, just my competitive fire kicking in.
Cant stay shook this life.
Ive never faced him here, never lost.
This might be my first shot... this life.