Chapter 262 – Vs Barcelona (2)
262
Barcelona’s home stadium, Camp Nou, hosts the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final between Newcastle and Barcelona.
The media day held one day before the game was scheduled for a special place, not the usual press conference room used at Camp Nou.
“Museum Hall 1899? Wait, isn’t this the place where Messi had a press conference when he transferred?”
“It’s also where Javier Mascherano gave his retirement conference. It looks like the Barça leadership is on a shit line.”
Reporters chatted as they entered Hall 1899 of the museum, not the usual press conference hall.
“Poop? Why?”
“That Asian player who is Newcastle’s ace.”
“Hong Min-joon?”
When a woman with attractive straight hair asks a foolish question, the man answers as if he had been waiting.
“Yes, that Hong Min-jun. The player that Barcelona brought in when he exploded at the Sydney Olympics. At the time, you signed for Barcelona on pretty unconventional terms.”
“Is not it. Because we guaranteed a first-team roster to our first professional contract.”
“In addition, the starting match was also specified. Even options that increase every year. From Barcelona’s point of view, I signed with unconventional conditions with high expectations, but when the season started, I only saw disappointment.”
The woman’s impression distorted at the man’s words.
“It’s because Hong Min-joon suddenly grew taller and lost his balance.”
Surprised by the unexpected harsh reaction, the man quickly continued his words.
“Anyway. He’s not good enough to play, and if Jose Matheus is an Asian again, he’s not a manager.”
“Therefore?”
“What… So it was released after only half a season.”
“It’s a rental, not a release?”
“… Yes rent. Anyway, as soon as I moved the team on loan, I was sent out as a complete transfer even though I was resurrected. How I hate to see such a player come back as a Ballon d’Or podium player after just three years.”
The woman shook her head as if she understood.
“The coach who played a decisive role in releasing that player shouted out loud that he won the championship, but he couldn’t even hold a championship cup for three years. In the meantime, the first player sent out after taking office flew like that.”
The man clicked his tongue and looked at the Barcelona coach who had just entered his seat.
“But what does that have to do with the press conference room?”
“From what I’ve heard, it seems that President Raphael Yuste pushed ahead with what the scouting team leader was so vehemently opposed to. As the manager, who led the way and ambitiously brought them to the championship, insisted, he seemed to give him strength… Tsk tsk, this is the result. The director is like that, and Hong Min-jun, who was thrown away, is flying away. The presidential election is just around the corner, but since public opinion in society is not good, President Yuste is struggling.”
“A rash?”
“Yeah, jerk. Lee Dae-ron, the current chairman, will lose the election, and then the chairman’s right-hand man, President Yuste, will also fly away, so it is to appease Socio somehow. A press conference at the 1899 hole where Messi held a press conference of tears. He seems to be able to use his emotional arm.”
As soon as the cynical reporter finished his words, the press conference began.
A number of questions were asked, but all of them were just ritualistic questions, and while we were looking at each other, a question that caught everyone’s attention finally burst out.
“It is a well-known fact that Barcelona was the first professional club for Hong Min-joon, who joined Newcastle this season as a big signing for 100 million euros and became an ace. Much attention is being paid to the reason for his loan transfer after half a season of his professional contract. I want to ask you about this.”
The first to take the mic was 31-year-old centre-back Hugo Sanchez, who serves as Barcelona’s sacred youth and vice-captain.
Even when Hong Min-jun first transferred, he tried to help him adapt, and even when he left, he gave a friendly interview to Hong Min-jun.
However, before Hugo Sanchez could speak, the reporter quickly grabbed the microphone.
“I would like to hear the reason directly from Barcelona coach Jose Matheus, who is known to have pushed for Hong Min-joon’s loan transfer at the time.”
It exploded.
The press conference hall became so quiet that you could hear someone muttering.
Coach Jose Matheus, who grabbed the microphone that Hugo Sanchez passed over with a worried expression, immediately opened his mouth.
“Barcelona is a team that wants to win all competitions. Always. However, at the time, Hong Min-joon had a first-team guarantee clause, and there was also an option for a starting job. With the first-team roster limited to 25 players and Barcelona having to compete for titles in every competition they have participated in.”
“That word… ?”
“In one word.”
Anticipating what coach Jose Mateus would say next, the reporters gasped in unison.
“Hong Min-jun was just a player who didn’t have the skills to make his name in Barcelona’s first team.”
It was a declaration of war.
* * *
When I came to Barcelona for an away game after a long time, I felt good.
Barcelona Airport also reminds me of the overwhelming excitement that I, a college leaguer, arrived in Barcelona for the first time to become a professional.
Looking at the magnificent exterior of Camp Nou, which has become the second football stadium in the world after Bayern Munich’s home stadium, Allianz Arena, to be able to freely change the exterior lighting of the building through remodeling.
Even when I set foot on the auxiliary pitch for training.
And even when I stepped into Hall 1899 of the Camp Nou Museum to attend a special press conference for Media Day the day before the game.
“Hong Min-jun was just a player who didn’t have the skills to make his name in Barcelona’s first team.”
Okay.
That was until I heard ‘that statement’ from director Jose Matheus.
Silence.
After a short silence in the press conference hall, the sound of typing by reporters became noisy.
Barcelona have been erratic towards me.
Silence when I first played for Frankfurt,
When I won the World Cup top scorer following the Europa championship and the top scorer, I tried my best to ignore it,
And when he could no longer look away after winning the Ballon d’Or podium and the FIFA Player of the Year and Striker award, he finally admitted it.
『”It was a big mistake to let Hong Min-joon go. We will promote Hong Min-jun’s return.”
Even in the winter transfer market, Barcelona even showed intention to re-sign.
But… Are you coming out in an unexpected way this time?
While staring at director Jose Matheus with a grave expression, a smile came out of nowhere.
“… The Guardian’s Joseph O’Malone. I would like to ask a question to Minjun Hong. What is your opinion on Jose Matheus’ remarks?”
This is true
“Actually, I had a lot of worries. Barcelona is the club I signed a professional contract with for the first time, and it is a club I personally liked very much. That’s why I remember being quite happy when I saw the news that Barcelona wanted me back.”
To be honest, I never thought about returning to Barcelona.
I go back to the club that abandoned me because I was a polar supporter of Barcelona.
“I think Hong Min-joon’s remarks are in the past tense… Did you hear it right?”
“Sure.”
If you lay the plate like this,
“I remember seeing an article like this a while ago, when the winter transfer market was in full swing. They want to bring me back from Barcelona… Is an article. I’m sure this is what the football director, Raphael Youthte, said himself, but… I haven’t had a chance to respond to Barcelona’s courtship, but I think this is a good place.”
I can’t help but jump
Sensing the scoop, the reporters all put their hands on their laptops.
One of the virtues of a superstar is to give delicious stories to reporters who are looking at them with bright eyes.
“If I had to borrow an interview with my senior national team player… When I joined Real Sociedad, that senior said this. I will do well here and go to Real Madrid.”
Silence.
I smiled at the reporters who were staring blankly at me.
“I will work hard and go to Real Madrid someday.”
Hop hop—
The typing sound is loud once.
『Special! Hong Min-jun “I will go to Real Madrid!”』
『Hong Min-jun, who poured out explosive remarks at the press conference held the day before the Barcelona match!!』
『Rivers Lewis Figo? Former Barcelona player to Real Madrid?』
“Hong Min-joon’s bombastic remarks at a press conference held ahead of the Champions League quarter-final first leg are a hot topic.
.
.
So far, there are 15 players who have worn both Barcelona and Real Madrid kits.
There are eight players who changed their uniform from Barcelona to Real Madrid, starting with Ricardo Zamora who played for Barcelona from 1919 to 1922 and wore a Real Madrid uniform in 1930 to Javier Saviola. There are seven of them, from Hollen Lopetegui to Samuel Eto’o.
Of these, 6 directly went back and forth between the two teams, and the remaining 9 went through another team in the middle.
—Crazyhaha
—Barcelona Regret impoverishment, obsession, now awakening Yandere
—Kya~ This is the dignity of the royal family
—Left Minjun, Woo Jorge… Is the Ballon d’Or 1st and 3rd place combination true? My heart grows grand…
ㄴHorge, isn’t the left side the main gun?
ㄴThat’s right lol Even if Hong Min-joon transfers, Jorge, the existing ace, will play on the left.
ㄴIt’s okay Jorge Hong Min-joon, I’m going to step out of my own place.
It’s not a daddy, it’s not duchang;; Jorge, that bastard is something;
ㄴJorge is married and has a child
May be positive
Ugh… !!
—But what if you lose your mouth like this?
Yes
—Full-scale guillotine match
ㄴIt seems like you’ve been draining each other? Jagangducheon of two geniuses, Barcelona and Hong Min-jun… !!