Chapter 36: "Unyielding Resolve: A Dream Worth Defending"
I got into the car to head home after leaving the Boca Juniors club.
"You went in pretty hard, didn't you?"
"This is necessary when negotiating contracts. If you try to be too nice, they'll find your weak points in no time."
Cha Myung-hoon had often seen rookie players suffer because they didn't negotiate contracts properly.
"Do you believe them when they said the contract would be renewed every year?"
"I don't really trust people."
"Good attitude. The yearly renewal thing was just verbal; it wasn't specified in the contract. They're just trying to spin it in their favor."
They continued chatting, and Cha Myung-hoon drove Yu Ji-woo home.
"I'll pick you up in front of your house tomorrow when we head to the club."
"See you tomorrow."
"Yes! Rest well, and I'll see you then!"
---
The next day.
As requested by Cha Myung-hoon, the contract period had been reduced to three years, and transfer conditions were included.
"Ji-woo, look here…"
Cha Myung-hoon explained the details to Yu Ji-woo. Thanks to Myung-hoon's thorough handling of the negotiations, there wasn't a need to read through everything again.
A decent salary.
A clause guaranteeing a certain number of starting appearances.
Even bench allowance for games he didn't start.
And, a provision allowing a transfer if conditions weren't met.
This was a contract designed for the player, not the club.
Scratch, scratch.
After listening to the explanation, Yu Ji-woo picked up a pen and signed the contract.
Smile.
Watching him sign, Enrique Boto smiled widely and extended his hand.
"You've got a great agent."
"Was that a compliment?"
"Of course."
"Looking forward to working with you."
Enrique Boto's grin grew wider.
"Let's make history together with Boca."
With that, Yu Ji-woo officially signed his pro contract and was added to the first-team roster.
---
[Boca's Young Prince Signs First-Team Contract! Officially Joins the Roster!]
[Three-Year Contract with a Salary of 300 Million Won!]
[Boca Juniors: 'We believe Yu has what it takes to become a club representative.']
[Will the vacant No. 10 jersey at Boca find its new owner in Yu?]
---
"Ji-woo! I heard you signed! Congratulations!"
The news of my first-team contract spread quickly.
When I went out to buy something from the market, people who recognized me greeted me warmly.
"Thank you."
The person who greeted me was Madam Lola, owner of the seafood shop that supplies ingredients to my dad's restaurant.
"Here! A present to celebrate your first-team contract! It's fresh from today's haul, so take it home and share it with your dad!"
She handed me a bag full of seafood.
"Oh no, you always give me something every time I come…"
"This is an investment in the future of our club! An investment!"
Living in a port city meant the seafood here was top-notch. I was beginning to understand why my dad enjoyed cooking seafood dishes more here than in Korea. Not only were the ingredients excellent, but the taste was also phenomenal.
"The cost? Just one goal in the next match! That'll be enough!"
Whenever I passed by, the local vendors always wanted to give me something. Trying to avoid getting caught by more of them, I hurried to finish shopping and leave.
"Hey! Lola! You're not the only one giving him something, are you?"
But I was caught.
"We'll give him this!"
It wasn't just the seafood shop owner; the vegetable shop owner chimed in.
"Oh, nothing beats this for a quick meal!"
Then the fruit shop owner joined.
Before I knew it, shopkeepers from all around had gathered around me.
"When's your next match?"
"Godoy Cruz!"
"Ah, those guys… They're the ones with that annoyingly dense defense, aren't they?"
"No worries! Yu's dribbling will tear them apart!"
"Enough talking! I'll slice up some meat for you to eat and get your energy up!"
The people of this port city could be a bit rough around the edges, but they genuinely loved football.
---
League Round 6: CD Godoy Cruz vs. Boca Juniors
The opposing team employed a classic defensive strategy with five at the back. Whenever we had possession, their defense would fall back to form an impenetrable wall.
[As expected, Godoy Cruz is employing the same extreme defensive tactics as last season.]
[Boca Juniors is countering by spreading the ball wide, attempting to disperse their compact defensive line.]
Despite our efforts, finding a gap was difficult.
'Huh?'
It was then that I noticed Angel Molia moving sluggishly as I shifted from the flank to the center.
"Yu!"
Javier passed the ball to me, and with a single touch, I sent it perfectly into Angel Molia's path.
[Yu's pass reaches Angel Molia!]
[Angel Molia dazzles, turning past two defenders with flair! This is the skill that kept Real Madrid afloat and left European football in awe!]
The returning genius, Angel Molia, was proving to be as reliable on the field as he was carefree off it.
[As defenders flock to Angel Molia, Yu charges into open space!]
Angel Molia wanted the defenders to converge on him, knowing it would open up space elsewhere.
Beep!
Noticing my run, Angel Molia slipped in a perfect through-ball.
Though a nearby defender quickly closed in, diving to intercept…
Tap.
I executed a one-touch pass, breaking through the tightly packed defense.
Ricardo Mesa bypassed the last defender, breaking the offside trap brilliantly.
[Yu's exquisite one-touch pass! Ricardo! Ricardo Mesaaaaaa!]
Thud!
Chased by a desperate defender, Ricardo nudged the ball into the right corner, scoring a goal.
"Geez, keeping up with this kid is exhausting!"
"Don't exaggerate."
"Oh, now you're even joking with me? Are you going to tease me like Javier does?"
Ricardo Mesa and I had grown close quickly, spending so much time training together that jokes like this came naturally.
"Ah! My wife wants to invite you over. She said she'll make you something delicious."
"I'm free this weekend."
"Oh, great, great! Let's do Sunday lunch then."
Against a team focused on extreme defense, even a single goal was enough.
They tried to exploit counterattacks to target Boca Juniors' goal, but their defensive gaps were exposed, leading them to concede three more goals in succession.
[Boca Juniors 4 – 0 CD Godoy Cruz]
After the match, as we greeted the crowd and headed off the field, I caught sight of some familiar faces.
"Jiwoo! Jiwoo!"
"Over here! Here!"
It was the shopkeepers who had always treated me warmly.
I smiled as I walked over, taking off my jersey. I handed it to Mrs. Lola, the head of the merchants' association, who was waving a Boca Juniors flag with the emblem proudly displayed at the front row.
"I'll continue repaying you, little by little, for all the free food I've eaten."
---
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[Boca Juniors Surging with 6 Wins in 6 Matches!]
[The Return of the Prodigy, Ángel Moliya: "I'm Happy to Play for Boca Again. I'll Dedicate the Rest of My Career to This Club."]
[Ángel Moliya Shines! Can Boca Secure the Title This Season?]
Two days later, after tactical training for the next match, the players packed up their belongings.
As I gathered my things in the locker room, Ricardo Mesa came over.
"Your passing keeps improving."
"It's all thanks to your guidance, Ricardo."
During training, Ricardo never held back on his advice. He had a knack for pinpointing exactly when and where to make a pass, and it made passing feel much easier than before.
He was passionate about sharing his expertise.
"Your footwork still feels a bit awkward, though."
"I'll focus on footwork drills."
"You've got good vision and great ball control. Once your footwork improves, there won't be anyone in this league who can stop you."
Ricardo was like a father figure in the squad, always looking out for me.
"Jiwoo! Heading out already?"
Javier Casero entered the locker room after finishing his shower and looked surprised to see me all packed up.
"You're leaving early today? You're usually the last one to leave after the lights are off."
Ángel Moliya was equally surprised.
"I'm heading out with my agent to visit my dad's restaurant."
"Well, that makes sense! See you tomorrow!"
"Take care. See you tomorrow, Ricardo and Ángel."
After bidding the players goodbye, I stepped outside, where reporters were waiting. I conducted a short interview, answering their questions with formulaic responses, until a particularly sensitive one came up.
"During the U-17 World Cup, you declined a call-up to represent Korea's national team. Are you planning to naturalize as an Argentine citizen?"
The question caught me completely off guard.
And I wasn't the only one surprised. All the surrounding reporters looked shocked as well.
"…That's an unexpected change of topic."
"Ah, I apologize if I startled you."
"No problem. Let me answer your question."
I had never considered naturalizing as an Argentine.
From a young age, my dream had always been to wear the red jersey of the Taeguk Warriors and represent Korea on the field.
'When did that dream begin?'
When I was little, our family often went to matches on weekends. My soccer-loving parents frequently took my sibling and me to games, and naturally, I was exposed to the sport.
That included national team matches.
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On the days of friendly matches, our family would prepare early in the morning, packing kimbap and heading to the stadium to cheer louder than anyone else.
'I've been to so many matches back then.'
Initially, I thought national team games were just another type of match like professional league games.
But the more I watched, the more something about those matches moved me deeply, even as a child.
'A sense of unity.'
Everyone cheered as one, and the players, fueled by that energy, represented us all on the field.
Patriotism, pride… it was a feeling too profound to capture with a single word, yet it stirred my heart and set it ablaze like nothing else.
For someone who felt such unity watching Korea's national team, there was no other choice for me.
I, too, wanted to represent them one day.
So, my answer to the reporter's question was simple.
"I have no intention of wearing the national jersey of any country other than South Korea."
I had no plans to let people like Cha Sung-in and his allies rob me of my childhood dream.
"Then why did you decline the call-up?"
"Because I have no desire to play for people who tried to take my dream away."
I no longer felt the need to hide how I felt.
Now that I was a professional, not just a youth player.
"By 'people who tried to take your dream away,' are you referring to those involved in the coaching assault scandal?"
"Yes."
"And is it true that the club's official statement hinted at hidden truths behind the incident?"
"It's true that I hit the coach."
There was no need to deny it, as it was already widely reported.
"Then…"
"There's a hidden truth."
This is what I wanted to say.
"As long as those people continue to package lies as truth and remain in the association, I will continue to refuse any call-ups from the Korean national team."
"…But wouldn't that jeopardize your career with the national team?"
For professional players, representing their national team was a matter of great honor.
To outright declare I wouldn't do so meant I was ready to face any criticism.
Looking at the stunned reporters, I added one final statement.
"I'm prepared to sacrifice my career if it means never giving in to their demands."
I had thrown a stone into a still pond.