Chapter 10
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Just a Madman (2)
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[No. 18 out, No. 22 in]
As I headed to the touchline at the substitution signal, the standing ovation and chants from the die-hard Madridistas rang out.
"Jesus! Jesus!
The El ángel del Madrid we lost!"
"People call him a brat from Korea, but we know.
He did it to come back home!"
"El ángel del Madrid, with Real's glory!"
"The history he'll write with us is endless!"
Hm. A whole different level from those rootless Barcelona fans who booed me right after my goal.
Or maybe I'm just the type that fits in Madrid?
"In the 85th minute of the second half, Jesus Joo is subbed off and receiving a standing ovation from the Madridistas here at the Santiago Bernabéu."
"What teenager gets a standing ovation at the Santiago Bernabéu from the opposition fans? And wearing the uniform of our hated rivals, Barcelona, no less!"
"We might be witnessing the dawn of the Jesus Joo era right now. Was Messi's debut this shocking?"
"Hard to say, but one thing's for sure: teenage Jesus Joo is more polished as a footballer than teenage Messi."
"Ooh, that's a statement that might rile up Argentine and Barcelona fans."
"I'm just saying what I think. In my book, teenage Jesus Joo is the better player."
"Well, yes. Anyway, Barcelona must be panicking. They never expected him to perform like this."
"Right. A hat-trick in El Clásico, and his buyout is just €31 million? Which team wouldn't go after him?"
"A club cheering a 18-year-old enemy with a standing ovation, versus one booing their own ally. What a match full of lessons."
"We might see Jesus Joo in white this winter."
"But why isn't Barcelona re-signing him?"
"No idea. Can't make sense of it."
Barcelona president Laporta and his aides were discussing Jesus Joo's contract renewal with grave expressions.
"Damn it. What kind of bullshit is this?"
"If they want to re-sign him, they have to pay the buyout clause. They say it triggers because of a deal with Madrid."
"Puta! Does that even make sense? His agency made a backroom deal with Madrid just three months after joining?"
"They claim we let the racism slide, so they approached other clubs."
"Fucking eastern monkey bastard. He should be grateful we even took him in. Any way to counter this backroom deal crap?"
"That would bring up the recordings of our captain and vice-captain's racist remarks. The club punishing the coach instead of them would be an issue too.
Honestly, that's the biggest problem, but our main sponsor Rakuten—a Japanese company—is fed up with the constant racism scandals."
Laporta's face flushed red at his aide's words, and he exploded in anger.
"Koreans, Japanese—they're all the same damn monkeys. Tell that Little Pele agent's punk ass we ain't giving the white boys a dime,
and we'll let the buyout go through this winter market, so keep their mouths shut about the racism!"
"...Yes, sir."
"That damn Little Pele punk. Feels like shoving him in the reserves until he transfers."
His aide, who knew Barcelona's finances better than anyone, paled and stopped him.
"Dropping out of the Champions League group stage would wreck the club's finances!"
"Don't we have other strikers?"
"La Masia prospects or backup strikers lack his finishing."
Laporta swallowed hard at his loyal aide's words, nodding with a troubled look.
"Ugh... Fine, we need to at least reach the Champions League round of 16."
Back at the rented house from my Barcelona signing days, I was getting updates from Agent Kim Doo-sik.
"Barcelona's stance: if Real Madrid pays the buyout, they won't block it, but no leaking those recordings as a condition."
"What about Real?"
"Real's hoping we leak the racism stuff, but no pressure—they say do what we want."
"The money?"
"If no leak, they pay Barcelona €44 billion, and the remaining €22 billion separately via contract."
Now I had a real dilemma.
My image in Barcelona or the cash?
The debate was short. The choice was firm.
"Take the money."
Screw it, so what if Barcelona fans hate me a bit.
Agent hyung chuckled at my decisive answer.
"Knew you'd say that."
"So, five games left until the transfer?"
"If you don't get suspended, yeah."
I scoffed at his words.
"Come on, even if I go wild, you think I'd get punished that quick?"
[Usman Griezmann's racist remarks toward Jesus Joo spark controversy]
[Immature, tasteless coach discriminates against an 18-year-old boy. Does Jesus Joo belong at Barcelona?]
[On racism controversy, Griezmann says: 'A mistake. I was too angry. I'll apologize to Jesus Joo personally.']
[To reporters asking if he got the apology: Jesus Joo shook his head. 'He hasn't apologized to me. And I don't think he will. My time at Barcelona is ending.']
[What changed the boy who said 'My heart is with Barcelona' at signing?]
[Barcelona fans: Jesus Joo is just 'Little Pele,' nothing more or less]
Separate from Barcelona fans trashing Jesus Joo, most soccer fans in South Korea were buzzing with excitement over the Real Madrid links.
[South Korea national team star Jesus Joo on verge of Real Madrid move?]
According to Spain's Marca, since El Clásico, Real Madrid president Nuñez and Jesus Joo's agent Kim Doo-sik shared a friendly dinner.
Local Madrid expats say Jesus Joo transfer rumors have his chant echoing through the city streets.
Real Madrid for real? A Korean playing for Real... so hyped.
Please behave at Real
Then it'd be boring. Jesus is best like this.
Fuck yeah. Jesus, go to Real and keep being you.
Cheering racist club? You're the fucker.
The era of Jihyeonjae Real has arrived.
What bullshit?
Real Madrid pls if you're Korean
Each one makes Cassano and Balotelli look tame. Gems.
"My heart is with Barcelona. But I'll hear the conditions."
"Don't wanna let me go? Pay more."
"People cursing me? Work hard for peanuts."
"Footballers deserve job freedom too."
"My time at Barcelona is ending."
So like our God Jesus said, poor Blaugrana fans, send him to Real coolly^^ 3 months and €44B buyout? Nice haul. Still hating on him? Smells like bribery.
Skipping training, unhappy vibes—who likes that?
Friendly with Luis García though?
He's that type too probably.
As usual, the community burned with Jesus Joo bait,
then one post appeared.
Feels good seeing the gallery lit up with my name as a fellow user. Anyone recommend lunch?
Fake acct.
? This ain't fake. It's that WC post acct from before.
Users thought it was the usual fake,
but the named user's words revealed the truth.
One Blaugrana fan let his feelings fly.
Fuck off. Barcelona training time, what you doing?
[Barcelona CF fines Jesus Joo €1 million for skipping team training without permission]
€220 million incoming—€1 million? Just call it a donation.
I posted on my Instagram.
Like every office worker dreams of paycheck heists.
I wanna Lupin my weekly pay too.
For real lol wtf is this guy?
Wanna Lupin my appearance fees too (๑¯◡¯๑)
Yu-na, pls rein in bf
Why? Bf's killing it at soccer and everything.
Noona free now?
No Shooting now.
Real couple screwing around on work hours.
Napoli coach Enrique watched El Clásico footage, deep in thought.
The screen showed Jesus Joo scoring multiples like Messi possessed.
"Oh, damn. Too destructive."
"Damn! How do you even stop this guy?"
"Oh! Passes perfect too."
"Why not come out of the shadows? Coach's orders?"
"Ah... just Cassano vibes."
After analyzing all night, Napoli's coach gave up by morning.
"Phew... Easier to stop peak Messi."
Time flew, and one day before Champions League group stage round 5: Barcelona CF vs. Napoli,
the newbie bad boy Jesus Joo arrived in the land of bad boys.
"Is this the land of Balotelli and Cassano?"