Chapter 279 – Preparation (1)

279

When the season is over, the players will go on vacation, but the club’s executives and staff tend to be busier.

“Luke… No, how are the contract renewal negotiations with Rock Woody going? What? Does the agent have any guts? Listen if you feel like it! You must catch that player!”
“What about the list of first-team players whose contracts need to be renewed? Bring the agent analysis data and the substitute data compiled by the scouting team.”
“Berthold is asking to be released at the end of the season. As an alternative, it seems better to fill up the backup members by calling up players with potential from the second team rather than recruiting from outside.”
“When do we schedule the start of the preseason? There are rumors that Manchester City and Liverpool are convening five days to a week earlier than usual.”
“You have decided to go on an Asian tour this pre-season. Are you going ahead with the schedule? At a time like this, I recommend choosing a better practice partner rather than going on tour and getting into training.”

It is not an exaggeration to say that a club belonging to the EPL, which is the most commercialized, most globalized, and one of the biggest leagues in Europe, the center of world soccer, is already a company.

Even more so, if you are a champions club beyond a simple EPL affiliation, you can say that it is comparable to a large company among companies.

Newcastle was spending hectic days befitting a huge club with hundreds of front members supporting them, excluding the coaching staff and players.

Recruitment and release, renewal, scouting, facilities management, marketing… While the truly enormous executives and employees were running around frantically, the board, which could be called the top of them, was strangely quiet.

“This is the end of the season.”
“Well.”

Muhammad Rashid Al Maktoum, the representative of the investment company that holds most of the club’s shares and the de facto owner and chairman, is a royal family in Dubai before being the owner of Newcastle.

The overflowing wealth and power that made him the owner of Newcastle did not come from Newcastle, but from Dubai.

Of course, apart from his love for Newcastle, Rashid Al Maktoum has no choice but to prioritize his position as Dubai royalty rather than the owner.

That’s why he’s usually busy going around Dubai or the world rather than Newcastle, but he couldn’t help but come this time.

“Winning the league… Is this the Premier League trophy?”

That’s what won the league title this season.

Of course, this isn’t the first time I’ve seen the championship cup.
With the league championship just around the corner, and the game at stake finally confirmed, even he, no matter how busy he was, couldn’t calm his shaking hips.

In the game where the championship was at stake, Hong Min-jun’s performance was able to win.
After the victory was confirmed, he remembered himself jumping up and down like a child, but at the same time vividly recalled the thrill of lifting the championship cup for the first time.

Is it because time has passed?
Muhammad Rashid Al Maktoum closed his eyes and savored the afterglow of the trembling emotion that was difficult to feel even though he was older than that day.

“Prince?”
“This is the president.”
“Oh, sorry. Can we continue the settlement, Chairman?”
“Well.”

Flipping through the report, the secretary continues.

“In the end, we recorded 32 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses in a total of 38 league games, with 99 points. This is just one point short of Manchester City’s all-time record of 100 points in 2017/18, making Newcastle the second most points team in Premier League history.”
“Well….”

Has there ever been such an overwhelming winning team among the many winning teams created since 1992, when the Premier League was reorganized?

Only Man City in the 17/18 season surpassed Newcastle of the year, and Newcastle this season dominated the league with its extreme form.

“However, the team’s score broke the all-time high, with a total of 108 points and 41 concessions for the season, surpassing Man City’s 106 points in the 17/18 season and ranking first in the season’s most scoring team.”
“Well. Who is the protagonist?”
“It is definitely Hong Min-joon. Following last year, this year as well, he overcame the 40 league goal mark and played the key to the team’s scoring, recording 61 attack points with a total of 48 goals and 13 assists.”
“Right!”
“This is all thanks to the insight of the prince, no, the chairman, who recognized Hong Min-joon’s potential and worked hard to recruit him. Inshallah ان شاء الله.”

At the secretary’s calm report, Rashid patted him on his knees and rejoiced like a child.

Dubai’s acquisition of Newcastle was part of a plan for image, branding and marketing, but to the individual, Newcastle was just one of many collections. Of course, it’s a pretty expensive collection for a collection.

And it was Hong Min-jun who made Newcastle, which was only one of many collections, into the most brilliant collection.

A talented person who single-handedly accelerated the plan of the Dubai royal family, which was considered to require a huge amount of money and time, and above all, his ‘achievement’ that he personally recruited from Korea.

“The people were delighted.”
“That’s right. All the people can’t help but admire the insight to recognize talented people and the determination to take a precious step to recruit them. As the next leader to lead Dubai—”
“Ugh! Gibberish. My older brother corrected it, but what kind of nonsense is that?”
“Sorry. I don’t even know the subject, I make mistakes….”

Rashid smiled kindly as he looked down at the secretary, who quickly dropped to his knees and assumed a submissive posture.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. It is possible to make mistakes in life. Heh heh heh get up.”
“Thank you for the grace.”
“Okay. All you have to do is make a big mistake, only a big mistake. Right?”
“… Of course.”

The secretary’s lips trembled at the cold gaze hidden behind a friendly smile.

“Keep reporting.”
“The FA Cup was eliminated in the quarterfinals and the League Cup in the quarterfinals, and the chronic weakness of the team’s power plummeting in the absence of Hong Min-joon seems to be still the same.”
“That’s fine. League championships are important, but cups are more important. The most important of all is the Champions League.”

Contrary to saying that it’s okay, a displeased expression.

“The Champions League was knocked out in the quarterfinals. The biggest factor is probably the injury of Hong Min-jun, and many analyze that the game was played while he was absent for two weeks due to a toe fracture.”
“Well. It’s a pity that it’s not as good as last year.”
“As Newcastle’s biggest weakness and weakness pointed out by experts is Hong Min-jun, in the short term, finding a replacement for Hong Min-jun is—”
“Done. Because that’s okay.”

The secretary nodded his head as if it were natural, and flipped his paper over.

“Then, I will report on Hong Min-joon next. At the end of this season, there are two years left on the contract, and we need to start negotiating a renewal as soon as possible. If Hong Min-jun wants to use the ‘special system’ as a hostage to negotiate, on good terms—”
“Hmm. I don’t like that. Allah has preached the importance of promises. The promise with Hong Min-jun will come true. Confirm the special citizenship system within this year.”
“Then contract extension— no. I will follow your instructions.”

Prince Rashid smiled and turned his attention to the TV.

As soon as the season ends, the panelists gather their girlfriends and talk about Hong Min-joon, who is locked in a hotel.

While acknowledging Hong Min-joon’s skill and remarkable growth, there were some who poured out curse words that were close to a curse, saying that he would collapse due to debauchery, as if he could not acknowledge his female influence.

‘Hong Min-jun. Just as I keep my promise to you, you will have to keep your promise to me.’

* * *

After the declaration of ‘transcendence’, he proved that the declaration was not just words with crazy performances.

The climax was his 14th consecutive goal in the league after showing crazy decisiveness in the second half.
It was the moment when Jamie Vardy extended his 11-goal record by a whopping 3 games and put his name on the top spot in the Premier League.

After… It’s me too
Is the record-breaking true story? Befitting the nickname ‘record breaker’, my heart is magnificent at the ability to break all kinds of records and spread papers under my name.

“I am playing. Messi scored 21 goals in a row.”
“… Shut up.”

Dayeonyeon, who was wriggling on the bed covered in sticky white liquid, muttered angrily, but I’m a big man who doesn’t pay attention to such trivial things.

Never mind the record of Messi scoring 33 goals in 21 games for FC Barcelona in the 12/13 season.

‘… 33 goals in 21 matches. Write… Is it possible.’

How did you do it!?

“Ugh… Come to think of it, there is no talk of renewing the contract at Newcastle.”

Harin, who had broken you, gets up and checks his mail.
Contract? Come to think of it, I signed a 5-year contract… 2 years left now

“Uh? Then can I transfer? I think the club will let you go if you get the right price in about two years.”
“What are you talking about?”

Harin looked back with an absurd expression.
What? Why?

“Did you forget the contract?”

Oh
Right. There was something like that

Hang on, it’s clear there—

“Ugh… ! Did I have to win the Champions League by next year?”
“… Could it be that you forgot?”

I didn’t know!
This was not the time to focus on Messi’s record of 33 goals in 21 matches in the 12/13 season.

I have to run right now to win the Champions League next year, but I can’t hang on to Messi’s 33 goals in 21 games.

“I can’t. We have to work harder for next year.”
“Kyaaaaagh! Stop it now!! Don’t just talk hard, go out and train, you beast!!”
“33 goals in 21 matches… 33 goals in 21 matches… “
“You crazy bastard, what else are you turning your eyes to!?”