Becoming a Citizen

The news broke like a bombshell across the Korean internet: Manchester City had signed Ha Sunmoon.

The Korean community was filled with shock and excitement at the article posted by Jack Gohen, Manchester City's trusted tier-one reporter.

Because a Korean player was joining one of the world's absolute top clubs, the overall mood among Korean football fans was largely positive.

Ha Sunmoon's article thread quickly turned into a battlefield between worried Manchester City fans unsure of his immediate role and Korean fans who didn't fully understand the squad situation. Still, the single fact that he was joining a giant club left the overall atmosphere among Korean supporters bright and hopeful.

"Wow... Ha Sunmoon is really going to Manchester City..."

"Do you regret not selecting him?"

"Regret? Like hell I do."

Kang Jeong-ho, who had managed the Olympic team in Tokyo, answered Lee Ji-seon's question without hesitation. The Korean Olympic side had reached the quarterfinals but suffered a heavy defeat to Mexico. They had been unable to contain Mexico's dazzling wing attacks, and Coach Kang couldn't help wondering if the result would have been different with Ha Sunmoon available. Still, what was done was done. He simply hoped the young fullback would join the senior national team next time.

"Talented players like him always attract interest from elsewhere... I was trying to ease him gradually into the national team picture..."

"Still... we did speak with him. Surely not. And Ha Sunmoon is Korean. No matter what, would he really take another nationality?"

"You never know. Just in case, gather more information on Ha ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Sunmoon. See if any other national associations have approached him... or whether he might follow his father's nationality..."

"Understood."

Ha Sunmoon had arrived in England. These days most deals were agreed personally first, with the clubs finalizing everything quickly by the time of the medical. But Ha Sunmoon's transfer had started a little later, so he was following the traditional process. Only now was he taking the official contract photos at the club. The next item on the agenda was a meeting with Pep Guardiola.

Whew... I'm nervous.

"Yes. Is that not allowed?"

After waiting briefly in the lounge, Ha Sunmoon stood when they told him everything was ready and headed off to take the photos. He had done something similar at Espanyol before, but the much more sophisticated surroundings made him walk ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠rather timidly before he sat down. Beside him sat white-haired Txiki Begiristain, who exchanged light greetings and helped ease the atmosphere. Then...

Click. Click.

The paper itself no longer held much meaning, but Ha Sunmoon pretended to sign, gripping the pen and staring straight ahead as the official photos were taken.

Harrison complimented the sight of Ha Sunmoon in the sky-blue kit. Although it wasn't the Liverpool shirt he had wanted, he had completely let go of that dream now. They hadn't even made an offer, so there had never been a chance anyway.

Anyway, I should be satisfied that I'm staying in England. Manchester... well, I don't like it much, but at least it's near Liverpool. I'll visit often and try to recover more memories!

After the photos were done, Ha Sunmoon moved with a club staff member to an office. The door clearly read Manager's Office. The staff knocked.

Knock knock.

"Pep, Ha is here."

The door opened immediately and Pep Guardiola stepped out.

"Ha! Welcome to Manchester City."

"Hello. It's been a while. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."

"Yes, come in."

When Ha Sunmoon used the phrase "it's been a while," the staff member looked surprised. Pep Guardiola gave a small laugh and welcomed him inside. Ha Sunmoon sat where the manager ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠indicated.

"So, how is your body? You've changed beyond recognition since last time?"

Pep was referring to Ha Sunmoon's significant height increase.

"My overall physique has improved, but that means I can't play the same dribble-focused style I used to."

"Hmm. Still, the improved physique is a good thing for the Premier League. I prefer fullbacks with a certain level of physicality, like Kyle."

Pep Guardiola, who had spent many years adapting to the Premier League, emphasized the importance of physicality, and Harrison agreed.

"However... that alone won't be enough to survive here. You'll need a lot of training, and it will be very different from what you've done before."

"Yes, I'm ready."

"You're still young and not yet at the level where we can say your ability is complete, so you may not play many games. If you don't like that, you should go on loan."

"I'll train here. If I do well, the chance will come."

"Good. That's the right attitude."

For the rest of the meeting, Pep Guardiola explained exactly how he saw Ha Sunmoon being used in matches. Both Ha Sunmoon and Harrison listened carefully.

"Did you understand?"

"Uh... no?"

"People think I've completely excluded Benjamin Mendy from the squad, but that's not true. On the left, Zinchenko and Benjamin Mendy will play, and on the right we have Walker and Cancelo. So for now, I have no plans to use you as a fullback."

Ha Sunmoon and Harrison froze at Pep Guardiola's words.

Gulp.

It was a tense moment. Ha Sunmoon swallowed hard.

"Aren't you a bit too nervous?"

Jack Grealish spoke to him with a grin.

"I'm fine..."

"Relax. Take it easy. This is just an event to introduce us to the fans."

"Right. Whew..."

"Ha Sunmoon will go up first."

"Yes, understood."

At the staff member's instruction, Ha Sunmoon gave a small nod. The event was Manchester City's annual presentation for new signings, held in front of the stadium.

"From Spanish club Espanyol, we have Ha! Everyone give him a big round of applause! Our new fullback!"

Ha Sunmoon was introduced. He walked onto the stage looking visibly nervous.

"Woo~!"

"Huu~!"

Clap clap clap clap.

There was applause from a decent-sized crowd, but it was hardly thunderous.

Players outside their own league didn't get much attention, so Ha Sunmoon's name recognition was fairly low. On top of that, Manchester City fan communities viewed him with some suspicion—many saw him as a player who would warm the bench before leaving. Others thought he might be Chinese like Sun Zhihai, or simply an Asian marketing signing.

Ha Sunmoon received the appropriately moderate cheers, stood where the host indicated, and waited for the next player.

And then...

"Our new midfielder! Jack! Grealish!"

Waaaaaaaaaaaaah!

The roar and applause were on a completely different level from what Ha Sunmoon had received.

"Wow..."

As a former ace of a mid-to-upper table team, the expectations from Manchester City fans for Jack Grealish were enormous.

Plus Jack Grealish was English. They couldn't help but love him.

"Can't be helped."

Ha Sunmoon felt a pang of envy watching Grealish wave to the fans.

I was that popular at Espanyol too...

"I'll just have to perform well here and become a player the fans love."