Chapter 66
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Now Real Madrid is Mine
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Now, Real Madrid is mine.
Once Jesus Joo's interview aired, crowds unlike anything seen during the previous protests against his transfer poured into Plaza de Cibeles.
The plaza, typically used for victory parades when Real Madrid lifted major trophies, now evoked an 18th-century French revolutionary vibe, swarming with furious Madridistas.
"Puta! Laporta's gobbling up Los Blancos right now!"
"Fuck you, Laporta!"
"He's comparing our god to a pest and trying to ship him off to another club!"
"Eat shit, Laporta!"
"We have to step up! That's the only way to protect our god and restore the club's tarnished honor!"
"Madrid! Madrid! Hala Madrid!!"
Rage had numbed their reason. The protesters began marching through the streets of Madrid. Clutching steel pipes in their left hands and torches in their right, they looked ready to smash everything in sight.
Kwachik-! Kwachik-!
"Give us back Jesus!"
The burger shop owner, trembling in fear as the protesters turned into a mob, had hung up a photo of himself with Jesus Joo—just in case—along with a sign.
[This shop is Jesus Joo's favorite hangout.]
And then, astonishingly...
"Ugh... he's... one of us."
"Let's... go somewhere... else."
Those who had lost all reason to fury instinctively skirted the shop and moved on. When Spain's public broadcaster aired the bizarre scene as breaking news, shop owners across Madrid hurriedly plastered photos of Jesus Joo, signatures, or even jerseys in front of their stores.
[This shop is a favorite of Jesus Joo's wife.]
[This shop is a favorite of Jesus Joo's son.]
"Ugh... they're all on our side."
"Nowhere to go..."
With nowhere left to rampage, the protesters wandered aimlessly. That's when a young agitator from Plaza de Cibeles took the lead, pointing straight at Laporta's residence.
"Comrades! Let's storm President Laporta's house!"
Unfortunately for the mob, Laporta's home was in an upscale neighborhood, guarded by Madrid's armed police like a fortress.
The standoff pitted tense protesters against equally tense riot police.
Laporta kept pumping out articles, desperately trying to sway the furious Madridistas.
Alfonso Laporta. 'I will clean up the Jesus faction and reform the club.'
This only made the protesters smash a wall.
Alfonso Laporta. 'There's nothing wrong between me and Jesus. It stemmed from a misunderstanding—we've reconciled.'
Jesus Joo. 'I don't even remember receiving an apology text.'
The front door shattered next.
Laporta finally declared a conditional surrender.
Alfonso Laporta. 'If Jesus publicly states he's leaving because of me, I'll resign.'
Pathetic Laporta. Dodging responsibility to the bitter end.
With his front door in splinters, Alfonso Laporta pulled out all the stops to survive. First, he fired Patricia Casillas—his former affair partner.
Real Madrid fires Patricia Casillas. Madridistas: 'The real culprit is still out there.'
Seething with resentment, Patricia Casillas lashed out at Real Madrid and Alfonso Laporta in the media.
Patricia Casillas, former Real Madrid manager. 'Real Madrid is a sexist club where most employees are men.'
Patricia Casillas, former Real Madrid manager. 'Real Madrid lacks gender sensitivity and should disappear.'
Patricia Casillas. 'It happened because I'm a woman. Alfonso Laporta was too busy using me. I'm an innocent victim.'
Patricia Casillas dominated the headlines day after day, but suddenly went silent, as if threatened by someone.
Patricia Casillas suddenly falls silent. Her past statements are being dug up.
2020, 24-year-old Patricia Casillas. 'Not all Asians had COVID, but we should treat all Asians with caution. Not all men are violent, but we should treat all men as potential perpetrators and be careful.'
Alfonso Laporta cut ties with Patricia Casillas and desperately extended olive branches to Jesus Joo.
Alfonso Laporta. 'We are intellectuals. We can find a better path through dialogue.'
The yellow pest Jesus Joo unleashed "I dunno."
Jesus Joo. 'I'm a yellow pest, so I got no intellect. Either Laporta goes or I go—one of us has to leave.'
Jesus Joo kept parroting the same brainless response.
Alfonso Laporta. 'That statement was my mistake. I'm sorry. Please, let's talk just once.'
Jesus Joo. 'I'm a yellow pest, so I got no intellect. Either Laporta goes or I go—one of us has to leave.'
Finally giving up on persuading Jesus Joo, Alfonso Laporta resigned himself and submitted a resignation proposal to the board as an agenda item.
Alfonso Laporta resigns voluntarily from Real Madrid presidency after just 5 months. '...I still don't know what I did so wrong.'
Through the broken door from the riots, cold winter wind blew in. For the elderly man, all that remained were asset division lawsuit papers, a half-destroyed house, and his lost honor.
While Alfonso Laporta stubbornly held on without resigning, President Nuñez was cleared of charges and returned.
"Kehkeh—Alfonso, that bastard stabbed me in the back, and look at him now."
He wore a benevolent smile and handed me a newspaper. It featured a crystal-clear photo of Alfonso Laporta, arrested and being handed over to prosecutors.
Alfonso Laporta arrested for allegedly manipulating media to attack Jesus Joo and his faction.
Real Madrid Gate: Shocking misdeeds by Alfonso Laporta and his cronies.
No sooner had he returned than President Nuñez diligently gathered evidence and personally delivered it to the prosecutors, all while beaming benevolently as he played with little Johan.
"Kyarr—"
"Heh heh—"
Is this the same guy who ruthlessly sent Alfonso packing without batting an eye...?
As I stared at President Nuñez with curious eyes,
he glanced at me cautiously while cradling little Johan and chuckling "heh heh," then broached the topic gingerly.
"Ahem... just to be sure, you're not really thinking of leaving the club, are you?"
His words brought to mind yesterday's article from Man United.
Manchester United to pay Jesus Joo's buyout and enter personal negotiations.
Madridistas flood Plaza de Cibeles again amid Jesus transfer rumors. 'Kill Alfonso Laporta and Patricia Casillas!'
"Well... who knows what the future holds."
Having decided to use Manchester United to leverage a salary bump in my renewal, I gave Nuñez an ambiguous reply.
At my evasive attitude, Nuñez's eyes sparkled, and he made a swift proposal.
"If your heart hasn't completely left Real Madrid, how about you and I script a little play together?"
I nodded.
Meaning I'd hear him out, Nuñez cautiously opened up.
"I'm planning to run in the next presidential election. I've been acquitted, and the Madridistas who miss me are out in force, but plenty oppose my return. So, if you publicly flaunt our friendship, and if I win, I'll formalize special privileges for you in the renewal contract."
I grinned slyly at his words.
"What kind of privileges are we talking about?"
I waited as the old fox, devoured by the monster called power, slowly parted his lips.
"What I'm proposing is..."
Once he finished, I blankly stared at the old man's face.
I wonder if Yi Wan-yong looked like this when he sold out the country?
I barely reeled in my dazed mind after hearing his offer. Nodding in a half-trance, I agreed, and we drew up a memorandum with evidence photos.
Privilege 1: When selecting a manager, exclude anyone Jesus Joo doesn't want.
Privilege 2: When signing players for Real Madrid, exclude anyone Jesus Joo doesn't want.
I nodded as I reviewed the privileges President Nuñez proposed.
Now, Real Madrid is mine.
I can fire managers at will.
Nuñez returns to Real Madrid presidency. 'I'll tackle the most urgent matters first.'
Jesus Joo with '1.5 billion' weekly wage. Succeeds in renewal, climbs to No. 2 highest-paid soccer player worldwide.
Successful renewal for Jesus Joo. 'I never once thought of leaving Madrid.'
Manchester United furious, claims they were used by Jesus Joo's words.
Real Madrid asks Valverde to return as manager.
Returning manager Valverde. 'I'll normalize Madrid.'
Valverde. 'Real Madrid lost too much in the past 5 months.'
Utilike Ho calls up Real Madrid's Jesus Joo for June A-match friendlies. 'Jesus Joo requested to play against China.'
Jesus Joo. 'I'm thrilled for the chance to show my martial arts skills to China's famous martial arts players.'