Chapter 89
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 89
Chapter Title The True United
Which team in the Premier League is the most beloved around the world?
Manchester City, whove dominated most titles for over a decade since the 2020s?
Arsenal, who denied City two titles and claimed some trophies of their own?
Chelsea, the first to flex oil money and snag a league win amid the chaos?
Liverpool, with their miraculous triumph and epic rebuild of a storied club?
No.
Manchester United receives the most love.
Even after the great Sir Alex Ferguson retired, without a single league title since.
Even without oil money, they muster funds rivaling the big spenders, all from fans worldwide.
Lately, it feels like the fanbase has grown even more.
The owner, once slammed for ruining the club, has transformed into a true football lover, and the team is reclaiming its roots.
Feliciannos a monster.
I asked Silva, since our eras never overlapped, and thats what he said.
A monster?
Yeah, nomore like a machine? A goalscoring machine.
A goalscoring machine.
Yeah, like a machine that churns out goals. All he thinks about is scoring. Look at his recordbarely any assists.
Selfish player?
Silva thought for a second, then shook his head.
Nah, his play isnt selfish. United just funnels everything to him as the final finisher, and he buries it whenever he gets the ball near the goal. Oh, and he never drops back from the front line.
Never involves himself in defense?
Not the modern striker archetype.
But teams still want him because of his scoring.
Football speaks in goals, after all.
But whys he mentioning me?
Rivalry, probably.
Me?
The guy gets fired up over the tiniest overlap with anyone. He even went after Haaland, the madman.
Haalands a legend for City and the Premier League.
He shattered most scoring records.
Though Im the one taking them now, anyway.
Did you win?
Back then, I was young and it was tough. Now in my prime, maybe I could mix it up with Haaland?
For a season or two, sure.
But this isnt about the retired Haaland.
Isnt this crossing a line?
What?
I showed Silva my phone.
MU.07_VITOR We are the one true United.
Silvas face soured instantly.
What bullshit.
Honestly, United? Isnt that just tacked on?
You could think that, but mess with it and pride kicks in.
Fake Uniteds picking on the real United?
Right?
Our Toons believe were the only true United.
Most teams claim union vibes, but were the sole football club from Newcastle upon Tyne, born when East End and West End united.
Pride in the true union of a football club.
We cant lose.
Silva looked dead serious for once.
Yeah, call him a grumpy old man who shrugs off everything else, but even Mr. Toon cant stomach Newcastle United getting dissed.
Our Toons probably feel the same.
Is that why?
Mom picked me up, and on the drive home, a massive banner caught my eye.
We Are the True United
The Toons were fired up too.
Grab some meat on the way?
Jacks butcher shop?
You bet.
Off to Jacks for once.
Whats this?
Feliciannos jersey laid out flat at the entrance.
Whoa! His Royal Highness graces our humble shop!!
Jack, arranging meat nearby, spotted me and beamed.
Jack! Long time!
Even Her Majesty, Queen of Newcastle, honors us?
Jack grinned mischievously at Mom.
Oh, come on, queen? Me?
You birthed the prince, so queen it is. Haha.
That how it works? Oh, got any Tbone? Our prince has been craving Tbone steak.
He remembered my chat from days ago.
Of course. Come in. Wait.
Jack pointed at the jersey on the floor.
You gotta step on this damn thing.
Really?
Obviously. The second fakes insult the true United, theyre enemies of Newcastle.
I paused, eyeing Feliciannos jersey.
Step on it, and some lurking paparazzior localswill snap it and post.
Thatd be...
Fun.
I grinned.
Son! Dont tell me youre scheming again?
Huh? What? No? Why?
You always smile like that when youre up to mischief.
TOONARMY_NO1JACK
Photo Taeyang grinning while holding a trampled Felicianno jersey
Our prince will crush United. TAEYANG NEWCASTLE UTD REAL_UNITED
Kill yourself
Newcastle trash daring to...
Who the hell are you
Shut up you Man U beggars
Man U? Wanna die?
Note Locally, Man U sounds like manure, used as a slur.
Our Taeyang is the best
Prince, punish those manure scum!
We are the true United!
Fucking Newcastle
We say Newcastle you Manchester beggars
Note Newcastle in standard British English and most dialects local is closer to Newcassel.
Im off to smash those Toon or ASSHOLE heads
Come and get beat then crawl home
Taeyangs provocation hit home.
Fans rose in fury over their beloved Feliciannos humiliation.
And Felicianno...
Cute kid.
Seeing Jacks SNS, he smiled like at a playful little brother.
Teammates smirked inwardly watching.
His face was calm, but his hands and legs trembled.
Felicianno was fired up.
He thought Dillon Monroe was his only rival, but now a strong one provokes himhes itching to play.
Competitive, yes, but not selfish.
He channels it into skill, not emotion.
That drive fueled his growth.
To not lose, you must excel.
No time for this. Training time. Lets go.
Done scrolling SNS, Felicianno bolted to the pitch.
He gonna cry if he loses?
Nah.
He did after losing to Dillon Monroe once.
But... not in front of a 16yearold.
Who knows.
Newcastles local hero anthem echoes through New St. James Park.
Felicianno and Yoon Taeyangs barbs have fans ablaze.
Man U fans counter with Glory Glory Man United.
Fewer in number, but their chant packs a punch.
Amid the hum, Glory Glory Man United rings clearer.
We need a new chant or something.
Richella grumbled, heading to the locker room postwarmup.
Arnold replied.
Why? Ours is great. Full of heart.
Too oldschool. Hard to belt out.
Newcastle chants evoke old pop, or country at worstmellow.
Even screamed, no impact.
Toons grind through as Toon Army.
Imagine our Toons with a banger chant?
Other fans wouldnt make a peep.
Exactly. Hey, Matty. Commission a new one?
Silva, shuffling in like its his bedroom, eyed Richella like she was nuts.
Why me?
Youre Mr. Toon.
I like ours. Cozy. What about you, Taeyang?
Me? Our chants fine.
Ugh, he only cares about his own. Newcastle chants? Pfft.
Taeyang just shrugged.
Tch, that... tsk tsk.
Silva, picking up the tongueclick somewhere, tried riling himbut Taeyang ignored.
The old man teasing the baby of the team wasnt new.
New St. James Park, kickoff imminent.
Todays lineups.
Newcastle
FW ChalvetTaeyangOmar
MF BoxallRossiMenendez
DF BandiaArnoldZenasSanchez
GK Richella
Manchester UTD
FW Felicianno
MF EgertonMontinhoBryan
BienvenuMarcelo
DF DaviesSegelIniesioVineville
GK Stoilkovic
Newcastle starts Rossi, their rotation pick, in a big match for the first time?
To shore up shaky defense. Doesnt fit the style, but his defendings solid.
And Chalvets in.
All three forwards are speedsters. Clear what Newcastles aiming for today.
Unlike Newcastle, Man United fields their best XI. Vineville back from injury too.
Man Uniteds current squad has folks saying
Its weird they dont win titles.
Felicianno, Bienvenu, Vinevilleworldclass starters anywhere. Egerton, 21, Englands top prospect.
Without Yoon Taeyang, hed be the Prems rising star.
Even as leaders, Newcastle lags in star powerundeniable.
So fans switched chants.
Oh! My Taeyang!
Oh! Our Taeyang!
Oh! Everyones Taeyang!
Their song screamed You can be great, but weve got Taeyang.