Impressing the Scouts
As the matches continued in Spain, Ha Sunmoon’s stock kept rising. In the game against the next side, Team D’s right-side defense was breached several times, yet the left flank anchored by Sunmoon remained utterly impenetrable.
“He really does deserve to be called a specialist fullback.”
“Impossible to get past. I’m not even sure anyone in our U-15 could beat him.”
The scout from Espanyol spoke to the coach, who nodded while picturing the youth players he had once trained at the club.
When Ha Sunmoon stretched out a leg and successfully robbed Team B’s right winger, the Team D players immediately stepped up their line. Sunmoon pushed forward with the ball at his feet, dribbling deep along the touchline. Because the opposing right-back was occupied marking Team D’s winger, Sunmoon reached the final third without resistance.
Eventually the center-back shifted to block the left winger, leaving the right-back to confront Sunmoon. The defender tried to stop him from entering the penalty area, but since he wasn’t a specialized fullback, Sunmoon spotted countless openings.
Left? Or right?
The knife was in Sunmoon’s hands. A quick step-over and body feint sent the right-back collapsing. Sunmoon cut deeper inside, reaching the byline inside the box before glancing across the penalty area. He spotted Team D’s right-sided center forward standing unmarked and slipped the ball to him.
“Close him down!”
Team B’s defenders scrambled to recover, but the forward who received the cut-back took one touch and fired straight at goal.
Thump!
The shot flew directly at the keeper, who immediately rolled the ball out, following the momentum of Team B players surging forward.
Kid, get back! Your defensive zone is wide open!
Damn.
Ha Sunmoon immediately turned and sprinted toward the position he was supposed to be defending, eyes fixed on the ball. Team D’s players struggled with the switch and failed to cover the space he had vacated.
“How many sprints has that lad made now?”
“He was sprinting every chance he got against Team C too. He should be exhausted, yet he doesn’t show any sign of it.”
The sprint allowed Sunmoon to close down the midfielder in possession. A crisp tackle won the ball cleanly.
“Nice!”
The ball Sunmoon won reached Team D’s midfielder. Team B’s midfielders pressed high again, forcing the opponent to drop the ball backward. The center-back received it and tried to switch play to the right, but the pass was sloppy. He then played it across to the left-back—Ha Sunmoon.
“Stop him! He already beat us once!”
Team B players shouted as Sunmoon dribbled forward at a measured pace. Their right winger and one midfielder closed him down together.
“Here!”
Sunmoon saw the midfielder calling for the ball with an open hand, but the opponent reached him first. No space.
“What do you reckon he’ll do?”
“Probably drop it back to the center-back now?”
Blocked while moving forward, Sunmoon had two options before the midfielder arrived: pass to the left winger ahead of him, or to the midfielder with his hand raised. If neither was viable, the ideal choice would be to play it safely back to the center-back and build from there. At this stage, going backward was the sensible option.
Yet the right side had already failed to build up. Sunmoon refused to play it safe. He decided to make full use of his Brazilian academy background.
In a flash he whipped a scoop turn, spinning into the pocket between the right winger and midfielder before exploding forward.
“Whoa…”
Every player on the pitch froze, letting out stunned gasps. With a single turn Sunmoon had evaporated two Team B defenders and surged ahead.
“Is he seriously just a Brazilian ace?”
That’s it, kid! I wish you could see the faces the Espanyol coach and scout are making right now.
Harrison chuckled at the outrageous piece of individual skill. Hearing the voice only fueled Sunmoon’s confidence.
Now completely clear, he laid the ball off to an open midfielder and overlapped at full speed. The midfielder fed the left winger, who instantly returned it to Sunmoon as he raced past. Team B’s entire right flank had been shredded.
Deep in enemy territory once more, Sunmoon faced the right-back again. Having realized how dangerous his dribbling was, Team B doubled up on him—one of the center-backs stepped out to join the right-back in front of him.
Seeing this, Sunmoon—still tight to the touchline—passed inside to the left winger who had drifted into a more central position. The winger burst into the half-space, found an angle, and fired toward goal. Team D had scored again.
After every admission test had concluded, the organizer gathered the students.
“The trials are now complete. Thank you all for your hard work. Please double-check that you haven’t left anything behind, then you may head home.”
“Um… how will we find out the results?” one student asked, hand raised. The others wore the same curious expressions.
“Ah! I thought it had been explained, but apparently not. Each of the six Spanish clubs evaluates players according to their own criteria, so results won’t be released simultaneously.”
“Then what happens?”
“In one week at the earliest, two at the latest, you will receive either a pass or fail notification. Most will be sent to your personal email, though if you belong to a school or team the message may go there instead.”
“I see…”
After the organizer’s polite explanation, the students slowly began to leave the testing ground.
Ha Sunmoon was about to head straight home when Harrison stopped him.
Wait, kid.
“Huh? Why? I need to get home.”
That’s for the others. Even if you’re leaving, take your time. Let them catch you properly.
“Hmm?”
Ha Sunmoon tilted his head, puzzled. Sure enough, as he started to walk away the organizer called out urgently.
“Student? Ha Sunmoon?”
“Yes?”
“Could you come this way for a moment?”
When Sunmoon followed, he found every scout from the six Spanish clubs waiting.
What did I tell you? You’re a big catch.
As Harrison had predicted, every scout wanted him.
“All six of our clubs’ scouts have decided to recommend you to their respective teams.”
The Espanyol scout spoke on behalf of the group. Sunmoon nodded.
“Then… what should I do?”
“We’ll give you our cards. Each club will present its conditions. After that, you simply choose the place that feels most ideal for you.”
“I see…”
Sunmoon felt both thrilled and slightly overwhelmed.
“Go home first and discuss it with your family. Then decide which club you want to join.”
“Understood.”
Ha Sunmoon received contact details from all six Spanish clubs in turn and finally headed home.
“Hehe.”
That happy, huh?
“Yes. I never imagined every single one of them would want me.”
Now it’s their fight. Where you end up will depend on who offers the best contract.
Harrison spoke calmly.
“So which team should I choose? Harrison, which one looks best to you among these?”
Hmm… As I told you before, clubs the size of Real Madrid or Barcelona didn’t show up, so they’re all fairly similar. The realistic choice is the team with the best conditions or the one where you can stay in the first team the longest.
“I suppose that makes sense.”
Ha Sunmoon stared at the six business cards in his hand, lost in thought.
A week later, Ha Sunmoon’s dream of moving to Spain hit an unexpected wall. All six clubs had filed positive reports, gained internal approval, and were preparing concrete contract offers. Then came the bad news.
“What? No family? That complicates things.”
The first club to approach him was Real Betis. They had been aggressive, viewing him as a promising winger. Aware that Espanyol wanted a quality left-back, Betis moved fastest and offered the highest fee, but negotiations revealed a major obstacle.
“Ha Sunmoon, correct? In Spain, bringing in a player your age requires a legal guardian to settle with you. Without family, it’s very difficult to register you… This has become complicated.”
Ha Sunmoon squeezed his eyes shut at the scout’s words.
“I understand.”
Damn… I didn’t anticipate this.
“It’s all right… It’s not something you could have known, Harrison.”
Sunmoon called the other clubs. Alaves, Villarreal, Levante, Celta Vigo—every one of them reacted with visible discomfort upon learning he had no parents.
I’m sorry, kid… I gave you false hope.
Harrison looked at him with deep regret. Ha Sunmoon stared at the final card—Espanyol’s—and dialed the number.