Chapter 89 – Officials (1)

089

Franz Balder, an elderly gray-haired gentleman, was sitting in the director’s office, deep in thought.
A cluttered pile of papers on an old desk.

[—The player above is in the process of negotiating a renewal contract, and in fact has no intention of transferring… ]
[Unable to narrow the difference of opinion between the clubs on the transfer fee… ]
[Because the player wants to return to his home team… ]

Deep sorrow hangs over the benevolent face of the old gentleman as he looked down at the letters at first glance.

“After.”

The old gentleman let out a deep sigh and picked up his cell phone.
Turreu— A monotonous connecting note.

—This is Hermann.
“Fly.”
—Balder?

Hearing the heavy voiceheheard this morning, Balder immediately opened his mouth.

“Herman. How is the transfer going?”
—The report should be on your desk? Didn’t you get the report?

In a stern voice, Balder quickly denied it.
If you misunderstand that the report is missing, only the strict employees will be bothered.

“The report is on the desk. Although the trash can looks better than the top of my desk.”
—I’m sorry. I have nothing to say.
“It doesn’t matter. If only I could sign the player I said.”
— Whoa….

A deep sigh came through the phone.

—Hey, Balder.
“I am listening.”
—Let me be honest. Your request will be difficult to listen to.

A moment of silence passed.

“May I ask why?”
—You don’t know either.
“… When that player was unknown, he could have been brought in if I had started when I strongly requested him to be recruited.”
—I’m sorry.
“Our team needs that player. I mean the last piece.”
—I’m sorry.
“What else do you know how to do other than say you’re sorry!”

At the old gentleman’s cry, Hermann fell silent.

“Is it because I am not trustworthy! At the age of 60, he is a manager with only a few coaching careers at most, so is that why the board doesn’t pay for the transfer budget! Talk to me, Herman!”
—… It’s not like that. Hey Balder. At that time, the player was an unknown player who played in the periphery. But what about now?

Balder couldn’t bear to answer Hermann’s words.
Because he was right Because the unknown player he found had already started an emergency.

—That player became so famous. No matter what skills or popularity. The prestigious names are already making a fuss about recruiting all of them, so how can our club recruit them? Do you think you would ignore a love call from a prestigious club and come to the second division?
“When I asked to sign him, he was an unknown player nobody cared about.”
—I just feel sorry for you. I sincerely apologize for not trusting your eyes.

Despite the sincere apology, Balder only collapsed.

“Right. I’m going to lose it to a big club again. Same this time.”
— I have no face.
“Just one please.”
-Something? I’ll listen as much as I can if I can.
“The player’s contact information. Can you find out?”
—You want to call me directly?
“Okay. We should do what we can. I will explain how much I want him, what role he plays in our team, how he can perform, and what vision our team has.”

It wasn’t until some time passed again that Herman’s answer, which had been silent for a long time, came.

—That’s good. Find out once

Beep.
Grabbing the disconnected cell phone, Walter’s gaze turned to the tactical board.

In the middle of the tactic board with tactical symbols drawn in a mess, to an empty spot.

* * *

『Arsenal general manager Leonardo, confidence in recruiting Hong Min-jun!』
『Hong Min-joon, who received a call from Dortmund coach Schultz, is about to go to Germany?』
『Barcelona Legend Xavi, ‘Barca DNA in Hong Min-Jun’ flows—』
『Olympic top scorer free? We need to recruit players like this!”
『According to officials, Hong Min-jun says he prefers Serie A.』

I’m going through the sports articles and I’m laughing.
I declined all interview offers, and I don’t even do social media, so I want to know where to get the source.

We headed to the parking lot, dressed in a simple outfit that would be hard to think of as a person leaving the country, and equipped with only a small suitcase.

The coordination is over, and now it is only a step to visit and receive a medical test and stamp the contract. In fact, it is the final step in the transfer process.

Just as she was about to leave the house, Oh Harin’s cell phone rang exquisitely.
Oh Harin, who glanced at the screen, received a call and soon after,

“There is a director who wants to talk to you. What should I do?”

I asked.

“Now?”

It’s not officially over, but it’s actually over.
If there are no major problems in the medical test, I can make an announcement right away.

“Thank you, but tell me it’s okay.”

After exchanging a few words, Harin Oh frowned slightly.

“Ha. He said he really wants to talk.”
“Where is it?”
“Frankfurt.”
“Bundes? But did you get an offer there too?”
“It’s here. It’s almost where I first sent the offer.”
“But why didn’t I see the proposal?”

When we were in the middle of the discussion, I looked through the proposal once in a while, but I didn’t see the one sent from Frankfurt.
It was a few days ago, but I’m sure I didn’t forget it.

“I took it out because it’s in the second division.”
“…Part 2?”

Huh true.
Anyway, it’s not part 2.

I tried to refuse firmly, but I asked just in case.

“Is the director famous?”
“No. Franz Balder is old, but his coaching career is only in his second year.”

At this point, I’m rather curious.
With what kind of confidence are you trying to recruit me?

“I’ll try it. Oh, I don’t speak German.”
“It’s okay. They said they prepared an interpreter over there.”

Oh Harin called my number and after a while, his cell phone rang.

“Hello.”
—Are you Minjun Hong?
“Yes. This is Hong Min-jun.”
-Nice to meet you. Frankfurt coach Franz Walder.

The other side is also in speaker mode, and when a profound voice says something, a young voice translates it into Korean.

—I know it’s rude, but I really wanted to talk to Minjun Hong. I, and our club, sincerely hope to recruit Hong Min-joon.
“Thank you.”
—If you join our club, I plan to reorganize the team around Hong Min-joon. Hong Min-jun is a player who shines in tactics centered on himself. I don’t know which team I’m going to, but I’m young and I’m an Asian, and I’m not a dirty racist.
“I understand.”

Because the center of the European league is tightly held by the Europeans and the Nimmies.

—Anyway, it’s clear that you’re going to have to play with your tactics rather than tailoring them to you as a player with your first professional contract. And that’s only using half of your outstanding potential.

Not even in a hurry
As soon as I checked me out, a heavy voice that sounded like a director roared like a machine gun, and the interpreter delivered the interpretation with such difficulty that it could be felt from the other side.

—But I am different. With Hong Min-Jun at the center, we will use the tactics in which Hong Min-Jun can perform at his best. Hong Min-jun is more considerate than any other club in our team and can play an active role as a key player. As this is his first entry into Europe, he adapts step by step…
“Wait.”

Tired of the constant spitting out without breathing, I hung up halfway through.

“Thank you for calling me directly and for giving me such high praise.”
-Ah! Then, with our club… ? Dae, the treatment won’t be enough, but I’ll do my best!! Above all, as the legend Cha Boom stayed in our club, he continued after that…

Oh, what can I say
I am listening to so many words that my ears are about to bleed.

“I’m sorry, but it’s too late. It’s true that I’m shaken by the coach’s words, but… I’ve already left the medical test.”

Since the contract has not been finalized, it is possible to drift.
On paper, I am still a free agent.

However, coming this far and drifting would be the same behavior as when Park Joo-young decided to sign with Lille in 2011 and then made a sharp turn to Arsenal.

Officially, there is no problem, but unofficially, it means rudeness equivalent to breaking the contract.

“Above all, I’m confident in my skills. If I’m going to match the tactics, then of course I have to. I haven’t proven anything in the pro yet. I’m confident that I can play well under tactical constraints. I’m grateful for the coach’s call, but I don’t want to join Frankfurt. It must be difficult.”

I honestly don’t mind at all. Heart-breaking bitch.
People have to have a conscience. The second division has crossed the line.

Still, social life is about not making enemies, so I ended up giving lip service in a good way.

‘… Hmm. Still, being another legend in a team with Korean legends is a bit harsh.’

Very little.

When you get off the plane, you can see the wide sea at a glance.
An exotic landscape that was clearly felt.

I took a vehicle prepared by the club and left El Prat Airport.
The car enters L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, and shortly after, a huge stadium comes into view in the distance.

The world’s largest soccer-specific stadium with a whopping 99,354 seats.
Camp Nou Street.

* * *

By the time Hong Min-joon was taking the medical test, the media was narrowing down his destination little by little.

『The narrowing destination! What is Hong Min-jun’s final choice?』
[The news of Hong Min-joon (20, Hojin University), who was surrounded by transfer rumors after the Olympics, is a hot topic. Hong Min-joon, an amateur, has already become a top priority target for each European club as a resource that can be recruited without a transfer fee—]

『Special! Hong Min-jun, who is secretly waiting to board a flight from London?”
[According to the official, on the 19th, Hong Min-joon’s contract was in the final stage, and all that remained was to stamp it—]

『Jorgero is not enough! Real Madrid still hungry!』
[Real Madrid, Spain’s La Liga’s prestigious club, which has a strong connection with Hong Min-joon, has already recruited Jorge Garcia (20), but it seems to be lacking. Courtship for Hong Min-joon—]

『Quietly strong! What is Juventus leading the way in the recruitment battle?”
[There is a rumor that Juventus, the strong player in Serie A, is quietly moving ahead in the match for Hong Min-jun. According to information obtained by this magazine—]

“Manchester City should have recruited Hong Min-jun instead of Rodrygo”… Criticism of the British media
[The British local media claim that Manchester City, a prestigious English club, should have recruited Hong Min-jun (20) instead of Rodrygo (22)—]

『(Exclusively) Hong Min-joon spotted in Barcelona?』
[ A witness who said he saw a Korean soccer player in Barcelona—]