Chapter 345 – Bombshell (3)

345

『(Official) Transfer Announcement Jorge Garcia, into the arms of Barcelona!』
『Barcelona pours jaw-dropping money to sign Jorge Garcia!!』
『The greatest transfer fee ever! Barcelona paid €265 million for ‘Reverse Dodgeball’!”
“Barcelona has made a jaw-dropping big signing to recruit Jorge Garcia (27, Spain), a star of rival Real Madrid.

Jorge Garcia was a soccer star who represented the ‘golden generation’ as a representative of the Spanish national team.
Jorge, who has been active as the ace and star of Spain’s prestigious Real Madrid, has left a meaningful interview in the middle of the season, saying, “Life at the Bernabéu is coming to an end.”

Afterwards, the Real Madrid board reacted ‘cool’ to Jorge’s transfer remarks and reacted as if they would approve the transfer, but the majority of football fans, including experts, thought it was just a fight of nerves, and those who truly thought that Jorge Garcia would leave There was no

However, Real Madrid’s decision was firm.
The 19th president, Juan Luis, publicly showed a resolute response, saying, “The Bernabeu does not need players who do not want Blancos.”

So how will the Real Madrid supporters react?
Locally, a large-scale resignation protest against Juan Luis is being planned, and experts also agreed that the release of Jorge Garcia would be the biggest stain on Juan Luis.

What kind of result will Juan Luis’s resolute action bring—”

For football journalists, this transfer window was a bonanza not to be missed.
From the big event of the World Cup to Jorge Garcia’s transfer of ‘reverse dodgeball’.

Who is Jorge Garcia?
With this World Cup victory, the evaluation that Hong Min-jun is the best has prevailed, but isn’t he still considered the only rival of Hong Min-jun, who competes for the world’s best?

No matter how recently he has been beaten by Hong Min-jun, he is evaluated as ‘not as good as Hong Min-jun’, but he is the main character of three consecutive Ballon d’Or victories.

Winning the Ballon d’Or three times in a row, which proves that he is the world’s best soccer player, means that he has been recognized as the best player for three consecutive years.

The Ballon d’Or is such a prestigious award, and isn’t it a near-impossible feat to receive consecutive awards?
However, it is a whopping 3 consecutive losses.

The first player since Lionel Messi to win three consecutive Ballon d’Or titles, and a player who achieved three consecutive Ballon d’Or titles while playing for Real Madrid, will move to Barcelona?

As ‘El Clasico’, the derby between Real Madrid and Barcelona, ​​is the most famous derby in the world, the rivalry between the two clubs is also famous, but moving directly from Real Madrid to Barça without having another club in the middle is truly a world of change. Event.

It was well known that the atmosphere between Real and Jorge was unusual, but not only football fans but also journalists who could be called experts did not really think that Jorge would leave Real… It was a big event that no one expected to transfer to rival barcelona.

This alone could make this summer’s transfer market the best it’s ever been, but the transfer market isn’t over yet.

『(Breaking News) Hong Min-jun press conference for a major announcement!』

The emperor of interviews (a bad boy to some) Hong Min-joon’s surprise interview was foretold.

* * *

It was only 3 hours ago that I contacted the reporters for an important announcement, but the press conference room was so full of people that there was no vacant seat.

As this is a very important announcement, even though the number of attendees was limited to official reporters… Also, I’m a bit grumpy.

With a sense of pride, I check my dressing for the last time.
The styling, including hair and makeup, which took an hour to set up, was perfect.

‘Hmm… No, it’s the face that completes perfection even though it’s a faceless face.’

After checking even the shiny dry teeth and entering the conference hall, a flashy camera flash greeted me as if I had waited.

Big~ This is it.
The serious expression he was acting on was slightly broken and the corners of his mouth went up slightly, but this was within the permissible range.

I calmly sit down, place the prepared manuscript (a roughly printed A4 paper), and adjust the microphone.

“Nice to meet you, this is Minjun Hong.”

The interview started with a friendly greeting.
As if it had been promised, in the beginning, interviews with ordinary content came and went.

The feeling of winning the World Cup, what you have been doing, your impressions of this season, your plans for the future… The normal questions that anyone could expect passed, and the reporters finally opened fire in an atmosphere that gradually escalated.

“Hello. This is Park Ki-dong of Sports Daehan. Hong Min-joon, news that will heat up the transfer market early this morning.”

Finally, the atmosphere of “Finally,” Slowly spreads among the reporters.

“This is Jorge Garcia’s move to Barcelona. Did you hear?”
“Sure.”
“First… You picked Spain as the toughest opponent to win this World Cup. Jorge Garcia was the ace of Spain, and I wonder how Hong Min-joon evaluates him.”

I thought it would come right in, but it unexpectedly bypassed the attack.
As you can see, it seems that they are trying to attract more viewers by extending the interview time even a little, which is currently being broadcast live.

Because it was such a sudden interview, there must be people who haven’t heard the news yet.
Hmm… Would you like to hang out a little?

“Jorge is a good player. Although he has all-time talent, he is more sincere and hardworking than anyone else. It’s the best.”

The reporters who didn’t even move even in my high praise that can be said to be unexpected.
Sheesh… These people know me too well.

As if they know all the interview skills, the reporters with no expression look at my mouth, only raising their eyes sharply.

“You evaluated Jorge very well. Are you saying that you are admitting that Jorge is better?”

As expected, the reporter who grasped my intentions immediately played Tiki-Taka.

“Sure. Jorge is the best. If it wasn’t for me.”

I also gladly clapped my hands.

“Ah! It’s too bad. How could heaven have given birth to Jorge and then to me? Jorge would have been the best if I, Hong Min-jun, were the greatest talent of all time.”

Despite the impudent self-praise, his expression was sour.
… You know me too well.

“Um, what… I know that there are still some people who can’t acknowledge the superiority of me and Jorge. I understand. There aren’t many matches where you directly collided with Jorge, and there were matches where I lost, right? So, I’m going to go catch it myself.”

But this won’t surprise you, won’t you?

“That word… ?

Like a journalist, he has quick eyes.
Admiring the surprised expression,

“That’s right. There is an old saying that if you want to catch a tiger, go to the tiger’s den. So I want to go To catch Jorge, directly to La Liga.”
“La, transferring to La Liga is… “
“Hmm… Because Jorge said he was moving to Barcelona… Then I should go to Real Madrid?〉

Threw a nuclear bomb

The world turned upside down.
I’m satisfied.

* * *

Lorenzo Federico entered the director’s office.
A few newspapers neatly laid out on a clean, like-new desk.

A habit that has now become a routine. Bury yourself in a chair and savor the rich aroma of espresso prepared in advance.
A heart that calms down with the strong aroma of coffee.

I look out the window, savor my espresso, and pick up the newspaper with a calm mind.
From Italian newspapers, his home country, to English newspapers, which he has just left, and to Spanish newspapers, where he is now located, as many as 10 papers are spread out and lined up on his desk, and the headlines of all the newspapers come into view at a glance.

“At las.”

Regardless of the language, the front page of every newspaper, the phrase that was stuck in the headline, was telling only one fact.

『Hong Min-joon is embraced by Real Madrid with the largest transfer fee in history!』

Hong Min-joon’s transfer.
Lorenzo Federico picked up each newspaper and read the headlines.

“Renewal! Renewed again! The highest transfer fee amount renewed again in just 5 days!!』
『An Asian Storm Landed in Spain Following Germany and England』
『Ballon d’Or Winner, World Cup Winner Enters the Bernabeu!』
『Juan Luiz’s Big Picture? Hong Min-jun, who appeared as the savior of Madrid instead of Jorge』
『Public opinion overturned in an instant! Temporary postponement of Madridista, which was preparing for the protest against the president!』
『Barcelona became a mess! Conflicting feelings toward the new Jorge and the departed Hong Min-joon』
『Newcastle supporters cheering for Hong Min-joon’s transfer with tears』

The tone was different according to each person’s likes, but the appearance of the media all talking about Hong Min-joon’s entry into Real Madrid—and that on the front page of the newspaper, in the headlines—reminded Lorenzo of nostalgic memories.

It’s still a world-class derby, but compared to the heat of its heyday, it’s different from now… El Clasico in its heyday, when Messi and Ronaldo clashed.

Lorenzo Federico’s gaze turns to the calendar where the schedule is recorded.

Did the Spanish Football Association, which was aware of Hong Min-joon’s transfer early on, anticipate the current atmosphere?
La Liga’s opener, Real Madrid’s first match of the season—

“Welcome to Madrid Hong.”

Barcelona.
It was El Clasico.