Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Summer Transfer Market -1
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“This is…. Hatano Yui’s country. I’ve wanted to visit so badly.”
The Japanese reporter Ryoichi panicked at Park Chan-hyuk’s words.
‘……Who the hell is that?’
He didn’t know who Hatano Yui was.
No one in the world was crazy enough to memorize the name of a rookie AV actress who had just debuted.
Ryoichi hurriedly looked around.
He wanted to ask someone who Hatano Yui was.
But the other reporters looked just as clueless.
‘Oh, right. Smartphone.’
Ryoichi pulled out his smartphone from his pocket and immediately searched.
He’d bought it because it was trending in America, but he still wasn’t used to it.
Ryoichi calmly opened the internet search bar and typed in Hatano Yui.
What came up was an article about a rookie AV actress’s debut.
In that moment, Ryoichi’s fondness for Park Chan-hyuk skyrocketed.
‘Chan-hyuk hyung, so you’re a man after all.’
But feelings didn’t matter.
What mattered was that this was great news fodder, no matter the nuance.
[(Exclusive) Bundesliga Korean Knows Rookie AV Actress…?]
As soon as Ryoichi published his article, even more sensational headlines started popping up.
It was a desperate bid to pull in clicks and rack up views.
[‘Golden Eye’ Park Chan-hyuk Names AV Actress This Time.]
[Japan’s Sex Industry is the World’s Best…!]
[Rookie AV Actress Hiding Big-Name Connections? What’s Her Relationship with Hatano Yui and Park Chan-hyuk?]
***
That evening.
In a Tokyo hotel suite, I stared at the flood of articles and realized it.
[AV Rookie Actress Hiding Big-Name Connections? What’s Her Relationship with Hatano Yui and Park Chan-hyuk?]
I’d caused a massive blunder.
- Water Shuttle: You fucking idiot.
- Me: Hey, no respect for your elders?
- Water Shuttle: Oppa, are you an idiot by any chance?
My sister in Germany must have seen the articles too, because she messaged me right away.
I knew I’d messed up, but she was being way too harsh on her brother.
I’d have to reassert some discipline soon.
‘……But what’s with Golden Eye? Makes my toes curl.’
Anyway.
Even though it was the same story, each reporter’s bias twisted the articles in different ways.
Not a single one stuck to plain facts.
‘People are the same everywhere, huh.’
Maybe I should start a media outlet that just reports the facts straight.
‘……On second thought, media companies are always in the red.’
Whatever. No need to start one now.
My sister said she was starting AI development, so once the AI gets good enough, I could launch it then. No need for expensive staff—just let the AI do it.
Humans being replaced by AI in the job market was an ‘inevitable fate.’
***
The next day.
I headed to the Japan Football Association to start negotiations.
It wasn’t much of a negotiation, really.
The JFA had already decided to cooperate fully.
‘And if talks fell through, I wouldn’t be the one hurting—it’d be the Japan Football Association….’
I could just scout prospects from Korea, China, or other Asian countries instead.
But the more I worked with them, the more comfortable it felt.
‘They’re good at their jobs?’
The players they recommended weren’t based on connections—they were genuinely talented. All the soccer players I’d scouted were on their list.
‘……It’s so different from back home.’
No wonder they’re rated as Asia’s most efficient, cleanest, and best-run soccer association.
It might sound harsh, but it reminded me of Korea’s archery association.
I greeted the JFA president, took some photos, and then started talking with the staff.
“Mr. Park, which players are you planning to take?”
At the JFA staffer’s question, I pondered.
The Japanese players I remembered were all kinda meh.
‘……Kubo, Kamada Daichi, Mitoma—the Japanese players I know are all still so young overall.’
After some thought, I decided to bring Wataru Endo on the soccer study abroad program.
Fewer study abroad spots than Korea, but Japan’s golden era hadn’t hit yet, so no choice.
Instead of study abroaders, I decided to sign Japanese players directly.
The transfer fees and salaries would be covered by the players’ personal sponsors, the club, and the association, so Union Berlin wouldn’t bear any burden.
‘So I just need to guarantee playing time, right?’
I kept mulling over which players to sign.
We had Shinji Okazaki and Keisuke Honda up front, but with Union Berlin’s attack already half-saturated, adding a forward wasn’t ideal.
And if I played Korean Son Heung-min but benched Japanese players, there’d be backlash, so better pick other positions.
After agonizing, I selected three.
Makoto Hasebe, who’d played nearly 20 years in the Bundesliga; Yuto Nagatomo, who shone at Inter; and Shinji Kagawa, who needed no introduction. All solid characters overall.
Negotiations with the JFA wrapped up quickly, leaving only individual talks with the players.
“Hey.”
After the players, I started eyeing the JFA staff too.
“Any staff here interested in working at Union Berlin?”
Honestly, their capable staff appealed to me more than the Japanese players.
***
While Park Chan-hyuk was scouting JFA staff.
Union Berlin was buzzing too.
They had to negotiate for the players he’d recommended.
“……At this rate, it’s basically a full squad overhaul.”
Park Chan-hyuk wanted a ton of signings before the Bundesliga season.
They seemed determined to blow the budget they’d saved from last season’s thriftiness.
“Karlsruhe rejected Hakan Çalhanoğlu.”
“Even with more money?”
“They flat-out refused as soon as we approached. Probably because of Chan-hyuk’s reputation.”
“Scheiße. Contacted the player’s agent?”
“The player wants to stay too…”
“Verdammt!”
“Chan-hyuk’s rep is too big in the Bundesliga. Tough to snag prospects from here.”
Most players on the list turned Union Berlin down.
Just a few years ago, they’d had financial woes, so playing for Union felt unstable.
“Defense is urgent, so let’s prioritize defenders.”
“How does Chan-hyuk even know about that Dutch youth player?”
“The Netherlands is one thing, but Celtic youth? What’s that about.”
“Youth prospects have time—later! Right now, we need instant impact.”
“Virgil van Dijk? The Dutch guy Chan-hyuk insisted on no matter what?”
“Anyone but him! Without the prospects, who’s left in defense?”
“Dante and Thiago Silva!”
Union Berlin jumped into quick negotiations with the players.
Piranhas would swarm if word got out that Park Chan-hyuk wanted them.
Luckily, Dante’s transfer went smoothly.
The player was keen on joining Union Berlin.
But Thiago Silva was the problem.
Their rival for Thiago Silva was Serie A powerhouse AC Milan.
AC Milan offered 10 million euros (about 16 billion won) to his club.
It would be Union Berlin’s record transfer fee expenditure.
“10 million euros…. Don’t we need to sell shares?”
“……Sorry, but we’ve got plenty for that.”
Chairman Dirk Zingler felt a bit sad that the staff saw the club as so broke.
***
[Niklas Eisen, Ben Richter Retire; Will Start Second Careers as Union Berlin Youth Coaches.]
└ ??? Aren’t they too young to retire?
└ Probably because of the Park Chan-hyuk precedent, retiring early.
└ Eh…. If no talent, it’s not a bad move.
[Standard Liège’s Dante Joins Union Berlin for 4 Million Euros!]
└ Who’s this guy?
└ Union Berlin’s in the top flight now—can’t they sign big names?
└ They just got promoted—how do you expect big names lololol
[Dante to Union Berlin: “I’m incredibly proud, happy, and thrilled to join. I’ll work hard to become a great player here.”]
└ Do well.
└ Good vibe.
└ Seems nice.
└ Overall, Chan-hyuk’s picks are solid.
[Union Berlin Enters Race for Thiago Silva?]
[Union Berlin’s Thiago Silva Bid Would Be Club-Record Fee.]
└ Thought record fee meant 80 billion or something—16 billion lol
└ 16 billion is still huge;;
└ Chelsea << These bastards inflating the market.
[Union Berlin Splashing Cash? Joins Race for Luka Modrić Too.]
└ Unsure prospects from big leagues—risky?
└ Thiago Silva at 16B is whatever, but Modrić cost Spurs 30B;;
└ They go down and bankrupt?
[Manager Park Chan-hyuk on Big-Money Spending Controversy: “Win and Pay It Back.”]
[Park Chan-hyuk Disappointed Over Off-the-Record Leak….]
└ Fuck off you trash reporter airing off-record shit.
└ The one who wrote this.
└ ???
└ This dude is insane fr?
└ Airs off-record, then reports he’s disappointed about it.
└ Lol articles doubling up kekeke
└ Creative journalism gone mad.