Chapter 27: "The Little Prince Joins the Ranks"

"…Joining the first team?"

Diego Rossi asked, and Guillermo Darin swallowed nervously.

"The coach didn't give a clear answer yet. He just said to meet him on the 30th at the first team training ground by 11 a.m."

The coach hadn't explicitly confirmed his place in the first team yet.

"Crazy. So, you might be the first among us to debut?"

"That's uncertain. Even youth players occasionally get the chance to participate in first-team training."

First-team training invitations were opportunities granted to promising prospects within the club. Rarely, such opportunities could lead to an actual first-team appearance.

"Still, it's a big step forward. When I participated in first-team training, I couldn't do anything. But I feel like it'll be different for you."

"Wow, making your first-team debut less than a year after coming to Argentina? That's insane."

Even I, like Guillermo, expected the news to be about promotion to the reserves, not an invitation to join the first-team training.

"By the way, isn't there a foreign player quota for the first team?"

Someone raised their hand to ask, and Uncle Marcio responded.

"There's no problem with that, so even if Yu moves up, it won't be an issue."

In the Argentine league, clubs could have up to three foreign players from outside South America in their squad. Currently, Boca Juniors only had one foreign player, so Yu Jiwoo joining the team wouldn't violate the rule.

"Oh, I see!"

"Congratulations, Yu! A first-team player among our acquaintances!"

"Let us know when your debut match is scheduled!"

"This proves the club sees you as someone worth paying attention to."

The most surprised among the group was my family. News about participating in first-team training, not even the reserves, left my father speechless.

When something he had long dreamed of finally happened, he just stared at me with an astonished expression.

"My son… in the first team?"

Since my father couldn't find the words, my mother spoke up.

"It's not confirmed yet."

"Still! Do you think just anyone gets this kind of opportunity?"

She was right. This was not an opportunity that came to everyone.

"Make the most of it when you go."

"Yes."

This wasn't an ordinary chance.

Now that it had come to me, I wasn't going to let it slip away.

I planned to leave a lasting impression on the first-team squad.

---

June 30th.

First Team Training Ground.

Boca Juniors fans had gathered early in the morning at the training ground to watch the players arrive as they prepared for the 2029-2030 season.

"Wait, isn't that the kid from the youth team?"

"Oh! I saw him in the Christmas Derby!"

Among the fans waiting outside, their eyes followed Yu Jiwoo as he stepped out of the car in the parking lot and entered the training ground under his agent's protection.

"Little Prince!"

After leading Boca Juniors to victory in the Argentina Junior Cup, Yu Jiwoo had become a famous figure among the fans.

There were daily posts about him on Boca Juniors' community forums, reflecting the high level of interest.

"If he's here, does that mean he's been promoted to the first team?"

"The club's official site didn't announce anything. Diego and Guillermo, who are his age, are still in the reserves."

"Honestly, with what he's shown so far, he fits right into the first team."

"Carlos hasn't been in form lately. He could make a good rotation player."

Yu Jiwoo was amazed by the environment of the first-team training ground, which was on a completely different level from the youth facility.

From state-of-the-art training equipment, massage rooms to ease muscle tension, and spa rooms, to chefs managing players' diets—it was an ideal setup that allowed players to focus entirely on football.

The Boca Football House.

Inside the locker room, a designated spot for Yu Jiwoo had also been prepared.

"Oh, the rookie."

While he was sitting alone checking his equipment, a player walked in. It was Ernesto Guerra, a first-team center-back.

Standing at 182 cm, he was considered short for a center-back but was known for his speed and clearing ability, holding down the defense line for Boca Juniors.

"Hello."

"So polite! They say Asians are respectful, and you prove it, even as a youngster!"

Creak.

"Ernesto, are you bullying the rookie?"

"Me? No way. I was just curious about the new face and struck up a conversation."

Gradually, the first-team players arrived. Some paid little attention to Yu Jiwoo, while others showed interest and chatted with him.

After exchanging greetings with various players, he stepped outside, where Sebastian Lancella was preparing the training session with his coaching staff.

"You're here."

Once the players gathered, Sebastian Lancella gestured to Yu Jiwoo.

"From today, Jiwoo Yu will join our training. Some of you may already know him; he's coming straight from the U-20s. Make sure to help him settle in."

"Yes, Coach! You can count on me! I'll make him so happy, he'll go crazy!"

"Coach, you can't trust Ernesto. He'll probably tease him."

"I'll keep an eye on him."

"Hey! What's with you all? I love rookies more than anyone!"

Ernesto Guerra was the second oldest player after Ricardo Mesa.

After greeting the players, they warmed up before starting the main training session.

After about 30 minutes of warming up, they began training under Sebastian Lancella's guidance.

"Today, since it's the first day of training for the 29-30 season, we'll start light with passing drills."

Before starting, they wore EPTS devices with GPS functionality.

These devices tracked activity levels, top speed, heatmaps, and even minute details like heart rate, breaking down all player data into nanoseconds.

"Rookie, once you've got your gear on, come over here."

"Yes, please take care of me."

Yu Jiwoo's training partner was Ernesto Guerra.

"You're from Korea?"

He kept chatting, helping Jiwoo relax.

"Will I get to try ramen someday? I always see it in Korean dramas, and it looks delicious."

Tap.

"It's spicy."

Tap.

"I'm good with spicy food!"

Tap.

"I'll bring you some later."

Tap.

"You promise!"

While chatting, they passed the ball back and forth with precision, engaging in short and long passes as they synced their movements during the drills.

Though it was basic training, no one slacked off.

They focused intently, executing the drills exactly as the coach required.

"Yu!"

When it was Jiwoo's turn, all eyes turned to him as Sebastian Lancella passed him the ball.

The goal was to exchange a one-two pass with a coach about 5 meters away and, within two touches, strike the ball to hit a target on the left side of the goal.

BANG!

The one-touch strike flew straight into the left side of the net, hitting the target dead-on.

– "Ohhh~!"

The first-team players applauded.

"He's got quite the kick."

"Wow, a one-touch shot like that? His ball control reminds me of Javier."

"Thank you."

"Yu! Move to the next station!"

"Yes!"

In the subsequent drills, Jiwoo continued to display flawless technique, astonishing everyone and proving why he earned the nickname Little Prince.