Chapter 40
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 40
Chapter Title The Eldest Son Craves Soccer 40
Champions League or UEFA Youth LeagueGroup C, where Newcastle was placed, was a cakewalk.
Sure, it included Real Madrid, one of the worlds top clubs, but the other two teams, Copenhagen and Düsseldorf, were relatively easy opponents.
On top of that, both the senior team and our U18s had beaten the powerhouse Real Madrid. And that was away.
This was huge.
If they beat Copenhagen and Düsseldorf without getting complacent, they still had a home game against Real left, but perform well here and they could top the group to advance to the round of 16.
Advancing as group winners meant facing a secondplace team from another group. Worst case, theyd run into a runnerup scarier than some group winners, but relatively speaking, werent secondplaces easier than firsts?
September 29th approached.
In the last match of September, a home game against Copenhagen, I scored two goals and provided an assist to secure a 40 thrashing.
The senior team did the same, so the regular joint training sessions with the first team were buzzing with good vibes.
Hey, Sunny. Heard you won?
While warming up, Mr. ToonMatteo Silva, the teams great captainapproached me.
Yeah.
Score any?
Two goals and an assist.
Ooh, impressive. Word is you even got a hattrick against Real Madrid Youth?
Yeah, something like that.
Man, our Toons future is bright as hell. I could retire right now.
Come to think of it, this guy was the same age as my dad.
Didnt you say youd play with me?
Oh, right, yeah. Forgot about that. Guess Ill have to stick around as a pro till forty then.
You think you can maintain your level that long?
At that, Matteo Silva flexed his massive arm muscles and said,
Dont worryI keep at it steady.
What a guy.
My dads gut was growing by the day, but this man boasted a perfect, fatfree physique.
Not quite at his peak, but he compensated for lost explosiveness with experience and slower legs with savvy, holding down a starting spot.
If he avoids major injuries, he might really go till forty.
You scored?
Then someone popped their head over Matteo Silvas shoulder.
It was Antonio Ricella.
Looking up at the giant, he flashed a menacing grin?.
Was killer smile coined for this?
As expected from the guy who stole my goal.
Haha.
So, rematch today. No goals past me this time.
During joint training, I always had goalscoring bets with Ricella.
The shootouts varied free kicks, penalties, set pieceswe dueled to score in all sorts of ways.
And Id won every time so far.
Truth was, the rules favored me.
I just needed to score at least three out of ten to win.
He couldve changed them, but proud Ricella never touched the rules.
Today, Ill bag at least five and win.
Hmph, in your dreams.
Ricella thumped his chest like comeatme, but the result was my victory.
Face red as a beet, Ricella told me,
Ill win next weeks training.
Sorry, but I wont be here next week.
Why? Away game?
Nah, joining the national team. U17.
O Off to make memories, huh.
Memories?
Well, if it goes well, good ones.
The Korea Republic U17 and U20 teams gathered at a hotel in Leverkusen, Germany, for the KoreaGermany exchange.
Youth players active in Korea came escorted by staff, but overseas kids assembled here.
Whats with all the reporters?
Director Lee Junghoo, jetlagged and economyclass deprived, stood in the hotel lobby, eyeing the Korean reporters puzzled.
A coach who glanced over said,
But these U17 kids are the best generation yet. Overseas talent too. Worth following.
That so? Still, too many.
Ah, its all because of Taeyang.
Taeyang? Oh, yeah.
Taeyang himself, shunning UK internet and Korean media alike, had no clue, but back home, he was blowing up.
Stellar Newcastle form, plus a hattrick against Real Madrid YouthUK press, even Spanish news hyped him, and Korean media pounced.
Evening news spots, endless articles, YouTube vids daily.
Soccer forums flooded with Taeyang posts.
Even girls are fans now, I hear.
What? Why?
Hes handsome. Total idol vibe.
Tch, pretty facewhats it good for.
Plenty.
Whatd they say?
Nothing.
Truth was, it was good for a lot.
Looks meant star power.
Good at soccer? 100 million euro player. Handsome too? 200 million.
Hello!
Then someone burst into the lobby.
Hey, you local kidlate for what?
Hehe, sorry. Traffic.
Ugh, kids got some nerve.
Hehehe.
Kim Hyojun grinned, then scanned around.
Wherere the others?
Yeah, theyre due.
Some fancypants latecomers, huh.
Following Kim Hyojuns gaze, Bae Sanghyun and Lee Sungho appeared.
Not quite Taeyang level yet, but Lee Sunghos 4 goals and 2 assists in 9 Dortmund games, and Bae Sanghyuns longtime Frankfurt defensive prospect status made them celebs.
Soccer reporters recognized them, snapping away.
Might make news, but no harm in shooting.
Eyeing the photographers, Kim Hyojun narrowed his eyes.
Whats this? Ignored me, now snapping like crazy?
You and them the same?
At the coachs words, Kim Hyojun pouted.
Im Leverkusen too.
Benchwarmer.
Still adjusting, Kim Hyojun mostly subbed late.
No, Ill adjust soon.
Yeah, you will. Sungho already has.
That guys teams just better.
Leverkusen Youths good too. Thats why youre bench.
Bae Sanghyun cut in.
Hey, bro, why so harsh?
Shoulders already swollenwanna get sent back?
Talk tough, but Im killing it?
Killing its Taeyang, not you.
Bae Sanghyun pointed behind.
Yoon Taeyang strode into the lobby.
Its Yoon Taeyang!
Shoot, shoot!
Looks even better in person! Taeyang, over here! Photo!
Reporters swarmed Yoon Taeyang, shutters flying.
Whoa, shutter storm aside, total idol aura, huh?
Coach nodded as Lee Junghoo agreed.
Gonna break hearts when he grows. Already is?
Hey! Taeyang, here!
Oh, hi!
Taeyang beamed, heading to the players.
Lee Junghoo patted his shoulder fondly.
Aigoo, our Taeyangs here? Rough trip? No injuries, right?
Yeah, all good.
Good, good. All herelets move.
The director gathered U17 and U20 players, did quick interviews with lobby reporters, then headed to rooms.
Needed rest ASAP for jet lag.
Met some really welcome faces.
All the Asia exchange teammates were great, but.
Gong Sehwan.
Gong Sehwan from Seoul UTD was the best.
Heh heh heh heh.
He grinned goofily.
But this guy
What? Grown that much since last time?
Barely a year and a half?
Hed shot past my 172cm.
Nearly 180cm now?
Grew a bit, yeah?
Frames bulked too?
Worked out some.
Not just some, looks like.
Not brute bulkup like my past lifeclear signs of systematic training.
Mom and Dad hooked me up with private coaches.
Physical coach?
Physical, yeah, and more. Skills coach, tactics coachall that.
So, hired a whole soccer clubs worth of pro coaches with cash?
Rich kids play on another scale.
Pay off? You switched to fullback, right?
Yeah, playing wingback now. And Seoul won the league this year?
Whoa.
Seoul champs? Never saw that coming.
Sehwan carry them?
No games watched, but home team winning felt good.
Wait, no.
Coach said midfield national team toughswitch positions and shine, youre in?
Means he killed it at fullback?
You two together?
Ryu Junseo approached.
Long time, Taeyang.
Yeah, been a while.
Thats more normal.
Ryu Junseo taller, some stubble, but compared to Gong Sehwan, just right.
Wait, coach perks got him the good stuff too?
What cant paytowin buy?
Sehwan, long time. First since that Gwangju thrashing?
Gwangju thrashing haha.
What? Lost to our Seoul?
This guy. Insane staminathought there were five of him.
I eyed Gong Sehwan anew.
Grown scary in the meantime.
Pushed with physicals, or tactics coach turned him cuttingedge fullback carrying Seoul? Didnt matterhuge growth.
Sehwans killing it?
Haha, got lucky.
Seemed mentally matured too.
From reckless paytowin kid.
All here!
Now Lee Sungho approached.
This bee
Grown tall too. Bulkier.
Environment sparked growth?
Taeyang, long time.
Yeah.
Train ride mustve sucked. UK to Germanys no joke.
Train?
Outta nowhere?
Took ages Munich to hereyou worse.
Uh
Hey, Sungho.
Yeah?
UKs an island.
What? No way! Dont lie, Taeyang!
Our Sunghos body grew, brain stayed pure.
Unchanged was a blessing, maybe.