Chapter 348 – Legendary Entry, Legendary Exit (3)
347
It is said that Barcelona is not as good as before, but the situation was similar with Real Madrid.
They let go of ace Jorge Garcia and made up for it by recruiting new ace Hong Min-jun… No, it’s more than enough to make up for it, but didn’t the key players in both offense and defense leave?
It was aimed at securing a salary budget for the recruitment of Hong Min-jun, but in any case, Real forced the retirement of Alex Tilian and Robert Gunner, the club’s legends, captain and vice-captain.
Of course, it may not be a big loss because they are both old and their form has dropped dramatically after the season-out injury.
However, with Jorge, striker Rodry and midfielder Mitrovic, who represent Spain’s golden generation, problems erupted in various parts of the team, no less than Real and Barcelona.
It is said that he replaced Ace by recruiting Hong Min-jun, but even though Hong Min-jun is an excellent player, he cannot use the clone technique.
Retirement, transfer, and needing players to replace those who were in extreme sluggishness, but Real Madrid failed to adequately reinforce them.
The reason might be that he poured a huge amount of money into Hong Min-joon, but there is no more suitable sale, and Barcelona and Real Madrid alternately pour in transfer fees of 200 to 300 million units, causing inflation in the transfer market.
Because of this, the transfer fees of other players skyrocketed, and in the end, Real Madrid had to start the season without proper reinforcement.
Especially defense.
After the retirement of captain Alex Tillian, who reigned as the world’s best center back, the defense was shaken. Even vice-captain Robert Gunner, who balanced the offense and defense as the team’s defensive midfielder, retired and was pointed out as a weakness.
In fact, didn’t Real Madrid taste the humiliation of being knocked out of the round of 16 of the Champions League last year without being able to fill the gaps in defense?
Of course, reinforcement of the defense was the priority, but Real Madrid lost even the defenders they had, so it was not only Jorge Garcia who left his mind at the compulsion of Alex Tillian, whom he respected.
The main center back Richard Baker, who had been working with Alex Tillian, left the team as a free agent.
Given this situation, they succeeded in reinforcing the offensive line, but the dominant prediction was that the bigger hole in the defense would catch their feet.
However, it was revealed from the first game that it was an illusion.
“Real Madrid! It’s much tighter!! Even though the name value of each defender has dropped, they are much stronger than before!!”
“Coach Lorenzo Federico is, of course, a coach with an understanding of the defensive organization. It’s a beautiful organization like an Italian coach.”
First, the defense, which was reborn through the training of Lorenzo Federico, has been transformed into a much more organized and active team, although individual capabilities may not be as good as before.
The second one is that attack is the best defense, and it was the terrifying aggression that constantly rushed so that the opponent could not concentrate on the attack.
If the previous Real Madrid was a collection of warriors with overwhelming individual skills, the current Real Madrid is a well-organized army with an overwhelming one.
Combining autonomy and discipline, organization and creativity, Real’s performance was unmatched even by rivals Barcelona.
“Oh, Hong Min-joon! It’s Hong Min-joon again! What the hell is this player!!”
“They are really playing with Barcelona!! I think Hong Min-joon shows what a player who evolves day by day reaches the ultimate level!! How many moves are you looking ahead? Really!!”
Right before Barcelona’s splendid passing play broke out, Hong Min-jun, who came out of nowhere and intercepted the ball as if he knew it would happen, tried a pass that cut through the ground.
“Hodrigo!! Rodrygo breaks a long slump and finally scores!!”
“I was a leading figure in Spain’s golden generation with Jorge, but after failing to lose weight, I fell into an extreme slump! Rodrygo is different this season!!”
Rodrygo, who returned to his sharp form after a long time, connected with the destructive speed digging into the space behind him, leading to an additional goal.
“You’re really good, Minjun Hong! Didn’t you have many things to worry about when you left Newcastle? But it was all for nothing! Hong Min-joon just tells the game! Wherever he is, he says the team he is on is the best!!”
Real Madrid’s overwhelming performance has kept Barcelona consistently at bay.
Even the passing play they were proud of disappeared, and by the end of the game, the share had increased to 7:3.
“The former ace who left Real Madrid strikes his second dagger against his former team. Jorge Garcia, great. I struggled alone and scored multiple goals.”
In the midst of this, Jorge Garcia scored two goals as if to prove his name.
“But in front of the highest transfer fee ever, even Jorge’s transfer fee shines! Hong Min-joon, 3 goals and 1 assist today… In his debut match, El Clasico, he scored a whopping 4 attack points and showed overwhelming performance!!”
“It’s not just attack points. Just… The game itself is crazy!! Against long-time rivals, he was consistently overwhelming as if he was showing the difference in rank!!”
It was useless in front of Hong Min-jun’s performance.
Beep, beep!
With the referee’s final whistle, the Barcelona players collapsed into their seats.
6:2.
It was a win for Real Madrid.
* * *
『Conqueror of Germany and England, finally lands in Spain!!』
『A brilliant star born in Asia illuminates Iberia!』
Hong Min-joon’s crazy moves, which began even before his debut, continued without any roughness.
『New record! New record! Hong Min-joon continues to set new records in every match!!
『Endless rise! Two games were enough to prove Hong Min-jun!”
『Hong Min-jun, who broke the 10-goal mark in 3 games!』
『5 matches, 14 goals, 5 assists! Unbelievable attack point record!』
『The best transfer student ever! Achieved 20-10 in 9 games!』
As well as accumulating attack points at an unprecedented speed, he broke all records and proved that he was truly ‘the best ever’.
『The upcoming Ballon d’Or awards ceremony, who will be the hero of the glory?』
『Already an unscheduled winner? There are many predictions that the recent years of fierce competition will be an awards ceremony that will not change.”
And when you enter the threshold mid-season.
The Ballon d’Or award ceremony was held while Real Madrid was continuing its winning streak with Hong Min-jun’s strength show and solid performance.
“1st! The winner— congratulations. Hong Min-jun from Real Madrid!”
The result, as everyone expected, was Hong Min-jun’s second consecutive loss following last year.
From last season’s quadruple at Newcastle to World Cup victory and recent crazy performance at Real Madrid, Hong Min-joon was truly unrivaled, so it was a natural award as if he had ‘taken it over’.
Standing on the podium boasting a self-luminous appearance, Hong Min-joon smiled calmly and held the microphone.
“Nice to meet you, this is Hong Min-jun.”
All at once, applause bursts out at the charming husky voice.
“I spoke here last year. That Hong Min-joon is the one and only GOAT in the soccer world, Special One.”
Everyone burst into laughter at the serious-looking joke.
Of course, Hong Min-jun was serious. From start to finish.
“Because I knew that I was also the main character of this year’s Ballon d’Or, I postponed my acceptance speech until this year. Anyway, it will come out next year and the year after that, so should I postpone my impressions this year too… I’ll do it, but I think I’ll keep putting it off, so I’ll try to tell you something this time.”
Hong Min-joon, who held the microphone for a while and caught his breath,
“There are so many people I want to say thank you for, so I can’t say them all. Parents, father-in-law, mother-in-law, precious girlfriends, the coach and coaching staff, colleagues, and fans who supported me. Thank you all.”
He calmly announced his acceptance speech that will remain as a legend.
“The Asian amateur player whose goal was to make his professional debut has risen to the top of the world. All I had was a face, talent and hard work… Hmm? Having said that, I have it all. Second Ballon d’Or after last year—”
“—Already my 11th Ballon d’Or. When I first became a Ballon d’Or winner, I called myself the best player of all time, and there was a controversy. But now, now that we have won the 11th Ballon d’Or in a row… Now I think there is no dispute that I am the best player in the history of football. No, this is true. I am the greatest player ever in the history of football.”
The 36-year-old Hong Min-joon still boasts a radiant appearance and looked more serious than before as he swept through the awards ceremony.
He is already 36 years old.
As much time has passed, so many things have happened.
During his six-year spell at Real Madrid, he broke most records set by Ronaldo and rewrote La Liga history.
After that, he joined AC Milan as a free agent and trampled Serie A for two years, succeeding in conquering Germany, England, and Spain, followed by Italy. Led to league championships.
In each league he went to, he recorded the top scorer and the top assist, and even won the Ballon d’Or for 11 consecutive years.
No one denies that Hong Min-joon is the best ever.
Europe, which is the center of world soccer, conquered all places in the league rankings from 1 to 5 in Europe, and even won the World Cup three times in a row.
“It was me who won the Champions League in a row by changing clubs, was the top scorer for 14 consecutive years, and led the World Cup to 3 consecutive years. I am Hong Min-joon.”
So that-
Announcing his acceptance speech, Hong Min-jun glanced into the empty air.
“I am still the fastest player in the world, the deadliest player and the best player in the world. From 12 years ago, still until now. I’ve been waiting for a good match to bring me down from the peak, but to this day, 12 years later, there is still no match for me. Jorge Garcia, who had been chasing after finishing second at the Ballon d’Or for six consecutive years, also retired and disappeared, and Gabriel Nathan, who said he would surpass me, gave up on himself.”
Hong Min-joon continued as he scanned something invisible to others, visible only to himself.
“Therefore— I hereby announce my retirement.”
The Ballon d’Or award ceremony hall is swept by silent astonishment.
Hong Min-joon still declared calmly, just like the moment he won the first Ballon d’Or 12 years ago.
“One year ahead. If no opponent appears to come after me after a year, I will retire without any regrets. So, to all players in the world.”
“Here is the greatest player ever in football history that will never appear again. It’s still the fastest and the best, but I can’t guarantee how long it will last. Time is running out where you can compete against the greatest players of all time. Challenge yourself. The chance to bring me down from the throne is now one year away.”
“If my opponent doesn’t show up—”
Hong Min-joon’s gaze, which was scanning the air, stops somewhere, and a grin spreads like a mischievous child.
“I, the greatest player of all time, will go to raise the best player myself.”
【Technology】
[Skill 102] [Dribble 103] [Trapping 101] [Short Pass 100] [Long Pass 100] [Shooting 101] [Free Kick 100] [Header 100] [Tackle 100]
【Mental】
[Vision 101] [Foresight 102] [Judgment 103] [Concentration 101] [Off the Ball 100] [Space Mark 100] [Peace 102] [Leadership 100] [Teamwork 100]
【Body】
[Agility 102] [Acceleration 103] [Balance 101] [Agility 102] [Reaction Speed 103] [Power 100] [Jump 100] [Endurance 100] [Recovery 100]
【Hidden】
[Genius 100] [Charm 100] [Intelligence 100]
*Benefits (3/3)
Future city
Special One
Scouter
▷ Look into the future in 1 second
▷ 30% reduction in negative opinions
▷ Look into the stat window of others
【Height 182.7cm｜75kg】