Chapter 48
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 48
Chapter Title An Irresistible Offer
There are places contacting us, saying they want to sign our son? Haha.
Newcastles youth directors face stiffened as he heard those words from Taeyangs father, whom he hadnt seen in a while.
Places like that? Where?
Well, its not just one or two. Pretty much all the famous clubs have reached out, you could say. Hes my son and all, but he really is something special. Right? Haha.
Uh
Oh, dont get me wrong, were not going anywhere. Where would we even go? Unless its an offer we cant refuse, right? Hahaha.
To the director, Jiseongs words sounded like a threat even though it was just a youth contract, theyd consider other options if the offer wasnt right.
With any other player, he mightve scared them offmaybe even bragged that they could terminate the contract anytime, like they did with Challet or Lindeman, and turned the negotiation in his favor.
But Taeyang was different.
Friedel Mayers words from back when he brought Taeyang overthat hed be Newcastles Messiwere slowly coming true.
He was still young, unproven in many ways, not fully grown yet. But Newcastles sports science team had run the precise analysis, and they were convinced about Taeyang.
They couldnt let him slip away.
They had no intention of doing so anyway, and they were prepared to offer him a decent deal.
Without hesitating, the director punched some numbers into his phone and held it out to Jiseong.
How about this?
!!
Jiseong couldnt help swallowing hard.
His young sons weekly wage was higher than the average office workers annual salary.
Ill discuss it with my son first.
He wanted to sign right then and there, but Jiseong didnt know what other prospects were getting paid.
Hed have to ask his son about this stuff.
Sure.
As soon as the director nodded agreeably, Jiseong hurried home.
Oh, not bad.
His son, who seemed to know everything about soccer, looked over the contract and let out a sly grin.
Why the weird smile? Not happy with it?
Jiseong knew that smile wasnt one of satisfaction.
He had no idea why his son hid his feelings so muchthe happier he was, the more he masked it.
Its not that I dont like it. I just wanna squeeze them a bit more. Weve got time. If I show what I can do playing for the B team, they might up it, right?
Damn, youre right. You really are
At just 17 in Korean age, his son was cunning beyond his years.
Come to think of it, hed grown a lot even on the outside.
He still had Moms delicate features, but he looked more masculine now, and hed even slightly surpassed Jiseongs own 180cm height.
Hes all grown up. We raised him well.
Though sometimes it felt like hed done it all on his own.
Alright, thats your call then. Ill tell them well negotiate after your B team games.
Yes, Father.
The second team was a place swirling with all sorts of emotions.
Some were worrying about getting released tomorrow, others were firstteam players recovering from injuries and regaining their feel for the game, and then there were the youth prospects on the cusp of breaking into the first team.
Those facing release tomorrow wore gloomy expressions, the ones just back from injury were thrilled even to be playing at this level, and the nearfirstteam prospects brimmed with hope.
And now Id joined them.
Dreaming of the first team, no less.
Oh, Yoon! Been a while, huh?
Yeah, Matty.
MattyMatteo Silva.
Mr. Toon welcomed me to the second team.
This old guy was seriously gearing up to play Premier League games alongside me.
Hed just returned from injury and was with the second team now, but at 37, he was still featuring for the first team.
Even in the 3334 season, hed played 14 games, notching 3 goals and 6 assists, proving his veteran class.
Wont be long before youre up with the first team, eh?
Me? Nah, no way. Im only 16.
Whats with that? The Toons youngest debutant was 16. Steve Watson, the lad was.
Never heard of him.
Almost half a century ago, so no surprise. I only know of him vaguely myself.
Silva said that as he led me into the locker room, then asked,
Playing today?
No chance. First day here.
Funny how your first days a match day. Coincidence? Or fate?
Id actually been training with the second team and U18s back and forth for the past few weeks.
Still
Nah, I reckon its possible. Startings a stretch, but theyll wanna test you. And the opponents are perfect for it, right?
Chelseas a good matchup?
What nonsense.
Chelsea wasnt some pushover.
One of the Premier Leagues big sevenone of the three teams most threatening Man Citys dominance, no less.
Theyre beatable. Its not Man City.
Fair point.
Ah, assuming no firstteamers.
Dont look at me like that. Chelseas been off this season. The money theyre splashing around, youd think Roman Abramovich was back.
Now that he mentioned it.
This seasonor was it next?Chelsea, whod been scraping by for titles and even Champions League spots for ages, suddenly dumped all their stockpiled cash in one massive spending spree.
And that ended Man Citys era.
No way the new signings are in the second team already, right?
Exactly. Thats why Chelseas beatable.
Got it.
Thats why I bet youre coming on as sub for sure.
I nodded along to Matteo Silvas words.
Against another second team? Yeah, maybe a sub appearance.
But that hope crumbled the second I saw the managers starting lineup.
Deloa, Wanderlei.
Bigmoney signings this seasonmade you wonder if Chelsea had broken FFP rules.
Damn, were screwed.
Matteo Silva scratched his head furiously.
Why the hell did that guy even join Chelsea?
Who?
Deloa.
Igor Felipe Deloa.
Brazilian midfielder, up there with the worlds best.
Hed been at Liverpool before, but for some reason transferred to Chelsea this season. Months in, and people were still talking about it.
Maybe thats why he struggled early on, then seemed to turn it aroundonly to pick up an injury.
And now hes playing secondteam ball.
Today, of all days.
Davi Wanderlei was the sameanother Brazilian.
Came over from Spain this season amid doubts about the price tag, then silenced everyone with his play before getting injured.
And hes in the second team today too?
Of course, the only one taking this seriouslytreating every game in a Toon shirt like life or death, whether first team or U18was Matteo Silva.
Most of the squad looked hopeful.
Score big against Deloa and Wanderlei, and you might earn a firstteam spot.
Yeah, right. As if.
Id been in the second team before, gotten kicked out unceremoniously plenty of times. I knew.
That hope? Just a pipe dream.
End of story.
Especially at a datadriven club like Newcastletheyd probably already internally written them off.
They just couldnt release them until the contract ran out.
Players who dont hit their potential linger here clinging to hope, then get the boot.
Sure, some figure it out quick, scout other clubs, and bounce.
But plenty dont.
Harsh, but thats pro football.
The pro world is colder and crueler than anything.
Whatre you doing, acting all serious? Youre the youngest here.
Matteo Silva smacked the back of my head as I got lost in old memories and pity, grinning.
Ah, this guy.
I shot him a grumpy look, and he said,
If you get on, do well.
I will.
You havent forgotten, right?
Huh?
You said youd play Premier League with me.
Guess the dementia hasnt kicked in yet. You remember that?
You little
Matteo Silva burst out laughing in disbelief.
For some reason, I felt good too and laughed along.
The game didnt go smoothly.
Deep into the second half, and we were down 30.
In a way, it was inevitable.
The opponents had Deloa and Wanderleitop Premier League talents, worldclass evenfresh off injury but still lethal. Our side? Matteo Silva aside, it was secondteamers who might not be here tomorrow.
Truth be told, aside from the players, no one really cared about the result.
It wasnt a cup game. League matches like this were for firstteamers to shake off rust, scout lastchance secondteamers from the youth pipeline, or tweak tactics. Nothing more.
In that sense, the secondteam manager figured it was time to give one player a shot.
Arms crossed, watching the game, he turned to the bench.
There sat the teams prized jewel, banana in mouth, eyes on the pitch.
Some nerve, that kid.
The manager placed huge stock in mentality.
That included handling pressure.
What would a normal U18 kid do, suddenly called up to the U23s or B team and parked on the bench?
Most get hyped.
Excited by the bigger stage, the pressure, the tensionor just itching to play the big game. Whatever, theyre buzzing.
But this kid?
Pouting with a banana in his mouth, just staring at the field.
Did he think he absolutely wouldnt play today?
Taeyang.
So he called.
Yes?
Get ready. Youre subbing on.
Okay.
Flat response.
But he prepped thoroughly, so maybe he cared?
Seemed warmed up enough, so the manager subbed him in right away.
Taeyang shed his training kit and jogged onto the pitch.
Number 47 on his back.
The boy in the official team shirt ambled out, glancing around.
Didnt quite fitlike he was floating above it all.
The manager decided to watch.
Meanwhile, Taeyang started to move.
Position right wingforward.
A spot he favored in the youth team. But the manager knew he preferred infiltrating the halfspace between centerback and fullback over hugging the lineor pulling the fullback wide and drifting central like a shadow striker.
Might work in youth, but not against men.
Adult games are tougher.
Sure enough, ten minutes in after subbing on, Taeyang hadnt done much.
Just a couple passes.
Still too green.
Told you the mens games no joke. Too soon.
Thats what the manager thought, clicking his tongue.
Then Matteo Silva drove forward from the front line.
At 37, a veteran among veterans up top, he had the stamina for a full 90, but not his old explosiveness.
Slower feet, dulled reactions.
But he covered with savvy, probing menacingly.
And one thing had sharpened with age his shooting.
From any range, any angle, he could bury it. Get near the box, and he was a threat.
Every defender, including Wanderlei, and the keeper fixated on his feet.
Then the swing
Huh!!
Not a shot.
A sharp early cross, slicing behind the defenders drawn to him.
Reacting to it? Taeyang, whod ghosted in unnoticed while all eyes were on Silva.
Like an assassin emerging from the shadows to strike his target, he unleashed a volley daggerstraight to goal.
The keeper had no chance. The net rippled.
Hm.
The secondteam manager, whod doubted Taeyangs callup, changed his mind in that instant.