Call-Up 2
Ha Sunmoon was training with the B team when David, the B-team coach, called out to him.
“Sunmoon. Can you come over here for a second?”
He jogged over. David lowered his voice, though there was a hint of excitement in it.
“Sunmoon, the rest of the B-team players might not know this, but the manager watched your match before the Terrassa game.”
Still, Ha Sunmoon feigned ignorance.
“Really? You mean the current first-team manager, Pablo Machín, actually watched us?”
“That’s right. He carried out a separate evaluation of the B-team players, and he wants to see you with the first team.”
David’s words were essentially confirmation of a call-up.
“So you’re saying I need to report to the first team?”
“Yes. Of course, Rancho has already gone up, but the manager seems to want to test you further while you train with them.”
The moment Ha Sunmoon’s chest swelled and he nearly let out a triumphant roar, Harrison cut in.
Following Harrison’s advice, Ha Sunmoon expressed exactly that concern.
“Coach, if both Rancho and I go up to the first team, what happens to the B team? We won’t have a single proper full-back left.”
David let out a soft chuckle at the boy’s words. It was rather touching to see such a young player worrying about the reserve side.
“Sunmoon, the B team exists to support the Espanyol first team. If they asked for every single one of you, I’d be ready to send the whole squad at a moment’s notice. It’s happened before—our entire B team has stepped in for the seniors. So you just focus on doing well up there.”
“Even so…”
“We’ll manage. Don’t worry. We were already planning to use Vegas as a left-back, so he’ll get minutes. If we really need another one, we’ll pull someone from the U-19s. That should be enough, don’t you think?”
Only then did Ha Sunmoon nod, satisfied.
“Then starting tomorrow, head to the first-team training ground. A club staff member will show you around. Be there at ten in the morning. You can manage on your own, right?”
“Yes, of course!”
With that firm answer, Ha Sunmoon returned to his spot and finished the session.
“Yes! I did it!”
Back home, Ha Sunmoon bounced around his room like a kid on Christmas morning. The excitement was too big to keep to himself, so he immediately called Felipe.
“Alo?” came the familiar voice.
“Felipe, it’s me, Sunmoon! I’ve got great news. I got called up to the first team today!”
“Ah, Sunmoon! What did you say? You’ve already been promoted to the first team? That’s wonderful!”
Felipe, who had been in Portugal on agency business, nodded at the pure joy in the boy’s voice. Still, he decided to calm him down first. This call-up wasn’t purely because of merit; it was a temporary measure due to first-team player Pedro’s injury. He would almost certainly be sent back down soon. As both his agent and a father figure, Felipe felt it was his duty to guide Sunmoon toward a mature response.
“Sunmoon, listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”
“Yes, Felipe.”
“This move up will be incredibly helpful for you.”
“Of course! To be honest, I’ve been feeling pretty stuck in the B team lately.”
From that single exchange, Felipe could roughly gauge Sunmoon’s current level. Espanyol B competed in Spain’s third division, yet the boy found it stifling. That implied he already belonged in the second division as a starter, or at least in the first-team squad of a top-flight side.
But that conversation could wait. For now, Felipe continued.
“Espanyol’s first team plays in La Liga, so the level is very high. Even after you go up, the chances of you playing are slim. You understand that, right?”
“Yeah… I suppose so.”
“Still, training alongside those first-team players and feeling the gap in quality will teach you a lot. Take your time absorbing it all. Rather than expecting to debut right away, focus on handling each thing you can control. Does that make sense?”
“Ah! Yes, I get it. I should forget about playing in matches for now, train hard with the first team, and work on closing the gap between us. Right?”
“Perfect. You’ve understood very well. That’s exactly the mindset you need when training with the seniors. Building a strong foundation slowly is far more important than rushing to play. It’s how you last in this game.”
Ha Sunmoon ended the call with Felipe’s words etched firmly in his mind. Whenever Felipe spoke in that serious tone, his advice had always proven right in the end.
Harrison, who had been listening to the entire conversation, was thoroughly satisfied. His goal was to mold Ha Sunmoon into a world-class player and eventually bring him to Liverpool. The most important thing was for the boy to grow steadily, with strong roots. Felipe’s counsel aligned perfectly with that vision.
“What?”
“Hah! Felipe really is the best! Even though it’s late~!”
“You seem more excited about this than I am, Harrison.”
Ha Sunmoon nodded.
“I’ll do well. Success is right in front of me.”
“Whoops!”
The next day, Ha Sunmoon headed to the Espanyol first-team training ground with his heart pounding.
“Sunmoon?”
The security guard who usually stood at the entrance noticed him lingering and called out.
“Um, how do I usually get to the first-team training area?”
“Sorry?”
“Well… I’ve been called up to the first team now, but I don’t know the way everyone else goes.”
“Oh my goodness! So you’ve been promoted too. Wow. You were born in 2003, right?”
The guard suddenly realized what the boy was asking and slapped his own forehead.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Good heavens… A sixteen-year-old making the first team. And we’re not even in the second division…”
The guard’s expression made it clear just how dire Espanyol’s nineteenth-place standing felt.
“I’ll do my best once I’m in there. I’m pretty good, you know?”
“Ah, where are my manners? Then I’ll be rooting for you. Most players head straight into that building over there as soon as they arrive. Some have already gone in, so go on ahead.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“You trained in Brazil, right? There’s a Brazilian player here named Naldo. He’ll be happy to see you. Finally, someone else who speaks Portuguese.”
Ha Sunmoon jogged quickly toward the first-team building. A man who was unmistakably Brazilian soon came into view.
“Bom dia!”
At the sound of Portuguese, the player reacted instantly.
“Bom dia! My God, I never thought I’d hear Portuguese in this building.”
Ha Sunmoon grinned.
“Hello, I’m Sunmoon! I just got called up from the B team.”
“Ah! Sunmoon! So you’re the one who came up. I saw you play in the U-17 tournament.”
As expected, since Ha Sunmoon had shone in the Brazil World Cup, Naldo already knew quite a bit about him.
“I should have met you sooner, but I’ve been so busy I never got the chance.”
“That’s all right! I’m here now.”
“There’s still thirty minutes until training starts. You’re quite early.”
“Of course! A young player like me has to arrive much earlier. I can’t afford fines for being late, and they’d be too heavy for a youth player like me!”
“Hahaha! Don’t worry, they rarely fine the academy kids. Want to do some light stretching first? I’ll show you around the facility too.”
“That would be great!”
Having met a fellow Brazilian, Ha Sunmoon quickly warmed to him, and the two headed off to stretch together. Naldo, the Espanyol center-back, gave him a tour of the first-team training ground, pointing out various areas. When it was time, they went to join the session.
Other players trickled in one by one. Ha Sunmoon watched them with his mouth slightly open.
Ha Sunmoon closed his mouth and waited for the manager. Soon Pablo Machín, the first-team coach, entered the training ground. Before the session began, he addressed the squad.
“You all know we’re sitting in nineteenth place, right? I’ve been thinking about it, and I realize I’ve been too complacent with my starting lineups.”
The players’ eyes wavered at the manager’s words. Those who had been regulars found the statement especially uncomfortable.
“From now on, I’m overhauling everything. I won’t care how dedicated you’ve been to the team or how high your price tag is. I’ll only look at how well you perform in training and matches when deciding the starting eleven.”
“You all know how important the next match is, don’t you?”
“Yes, we do!”
“Good. This weekend we face Real Madrid. I’ll be naming the starting lineup within the next two days, so everyone stay sharp.”
Harrison looked genuinely surprised, and Ha Sunmoon felt the same. His heart began to race.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
At the mere mention of that famous name, Ha Sunmoon’s pulse quickened. For the moment, he decided to set aside Felipe’s careful advice.