Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 151



Only Krnovel

My ambition

* * *

In soccer, there are so-called five great generals.

It is a general term for the five highest-skilled and highest-level leagues in world football, and generally refers to the five leagues in Europe.

The English Premier League.

La Liga in Spain.

Germany’s Bundesliga.

Ligue 1 in France.

And even Italy’s Serie A.

In baseball terms, these five leagues could be considered the so-called major leagues.

And the teams that offered me a total of 5 leagues were:

EPL 14.

La Liga 16.

Bundesliga 6.

League 1 8.

Serie A 8.

And among them.

‘Man U’s offer is unprecedented.’

It seemed as if Manchester United were declaring that they were absolutely determined to sign me.

The details of the negotiations are unknown as they haven’t been properly conducted yet, but even if they conclude the negotiations as they are now, he will receive the highest salary within the team.

When I converted the pounds written on the document into won in my head, the calculation turned out to be simple.

“Weekly salary of 540 million….”

Converted into annual salary, it is 28 billion won.

It’s an amount that feels absurd and unrealistic.

This was the amount of money I would spend to recruit a player. Even considering that the amount would increase if an agency got involved in the negotiation, it would be higher than the initial offer, so this was practically the minimum amount for me.

“If you go ahead with the contract, you’ll instantly break the all-time goalkeeper salary rankings. You’ll instantly become one of the top. Hehe.”

“That’s right. I didn’t think I could surpass Son this quickly….”

“That’s how much they recognize Kim’s potential. There aren’t many clubs that would make such a big offer to a goalkeeper. Plus, Kim has already resolved the unique Korean military service issue… … so there’s no particular risk to take.”

I never thought that the gold medal I earned on my own would be so precious. Perhaps because of military service issues, I would have been given a bit of a Korean discount even though I am still quite young.

The opposing negotiator would have also brought up this issue and used it in negotiations.

“If you tell us to negotiate, H&B will do its best. There is still plenty of time until the winter transfer market, so would you like to think about it slowly?”

“Uh, um… .”

Looking at the serious look in Philip Harris’ eyes, I can see that if I leave it to this person, there is a high probability that he will bring me very favorable negotiation conditions, not to mention a high salary.

As you can see from the amount of money that they offered, Manchester United seemed determined to sign me, beating out all other clubs.

If he shows a strong will to recruit him like this, Philip Harris will be able to negotiate very favorably.

First of all, I didn’t really want to go to Manchester United, so it didn’t really matter if it went wrong.

The days of saying, “If you’re Korean, you have to support Manchester United!”… … have ended yesterday.

“First. I’ll think about it.”

When I pass like that, my mother laughs with a strange smile.

“Son. You said earlier that you would definitely stay in Hanover?”

“For this amount of money, I should think about it seriously, Mom, just to think about the effort you’ve put into me. To just reject it outright… … Hmm.”

It was too much of an amount to refuse outright.

And out of curiosity I asked Philip Harris:

“But is there a big difference between the amount offered by Manchester and the amount offered by the Arab League?”

“Well, you can think of it as a close approximation. But the Arab League is higher.”

After all, no matter how big a club is, it can’t beat oil money.

Philip Harris seemed to collect his thoughts for a moment, then opened his mouth.

“Then, I will reject all the clubs that offer less than 200 million won per week and let the remaining clubs compete. Is that okay?”

“Yes. But Harris. I said I would think about it, I didn’t say I would transfer. Please move with the assumption that staying in Hannover is 7 and transfer is 3.”

Then Philip Harris smiles kindly.

“Don’t worry. Even if you stay at Hannover during this winter transfer window, we can resume negotiations next pre-season, prioritizing the negotiations we had this time.”

“… Aha. I see.”

After all, professional negotiations should be left to sophisticated agencies.

* * *

And the meeting that day wasn’t simply about transfer-related business.

Because an agency isn’t just a company that deals with transfer-related work.

H&B was essentially my protection group, so I would answer any questions they had.

“We received a lot of advertising inquiries from Korea. First of all, the advertising categories we selected included food, games, cosmetics, underwear, sports, and even mobile phones.”

“……wow.”

I was busy blinking my eyes in disbelief, and my mother also opened her mouth in disbelief. Does this mean that Shin-ah resembles her mother?

“The Bundesliga has a winter break, so if you want, you can go to Korea and shoot a bunch of commercials. First of all, Kim’s image in Korea is so good that he’s fine with anything as long as it’s not a major company commercial.”

“haha….”

It’s an advertisement. Am I really that bad?

Kim Min-woo on TV, Kim Min-woo on the subway display, Kim Min-woo in YouTube commercials… … .

‘How many months before the whole world became Kim Min-woo?’

Even though he is not world class yet, if he continues with his plans, I think he will be one level below Son Heung-min in Korea.

“Oh, and we were thinking about doing a charity event, right?”

Philip Harris spoke about plans for charity events in Hanover and Korea respectively.

It looked like a draft, but even after hearing it roughly, it seemed pretty good.

‘Well, I guess I’ll have time.’

Still, since it is an agency based in London, they must have done a lot of charity events with other players.

We had meetings that day from morning until late afternoon.

And that evening, I went to the same restaurant where I had dinner with the Hanover captain last time and finished my meal.

I remembered something I had completely forgotten during the meal and told Philip Harris about it.

“Oh, by the way, didn’t Proware contact H&B?”

“Huh? Proware?”

Philip Harris tilts his head as if he is hearing this for the first time.

I explained the whole story.

Then Philip Harris nodded.

“H&B will solve that problem too.”

Oh, it can be so sturdy.

‘A British agency vs. a large Korean company. My heart is swell… .’

Perhaps, as Philip Harris, who has a knack for this sort of thing, would be a good candidate for this.

* * *

The 24th Ballon d’Or ceremony took place just before the end of November.

The year 24 was quite an important year in football history, as it marked the end of the era of Lionel Messi and Ronaldo, who had long divided the football world.

The two legendary players who have always been by our side will no longer be seen at this awards ceremony.

Although both players are still active in their respective leagues, they are now past the end of their playing years and entering the twilight of their careers, and both are looking forward to their days after retirement.

Well then, the fun starts now.

The pundits and critics were saying that the reign of Messi and Ronaldo was over, but that a new era had begun and that there were stars ready.

As everyone knows, Erling Haaland of Manchester City.

And then there’s Kylian Mbappe, who once fought me and got beat by me.

There was a prevailing view that these two would divide the football world and share the Ballon d’Or like Messi and Ronaldo did in the past, but…

[Congratulations! The winner of the 24th Men’s Ballon d’Or is Jude Bellingham!]

Clap clap clap clap clap!

As you can see on the screen, an unexpected and completely different person has become the protagonist of the new era.

Jude Bellingham.

He is from England and is three years older than me.

A monster who is not only handsome but also incredibly good at soccer.

“Well, I guess he’s good at soccer, so he’ll win the Ballon d’Or….”

There is a lot of talk about him.

A new type of modern midfielder.

The best midfielder in the world.

The most complete player in modern football.

Without a doubt the best player in the world.

The future of Real Madrid.

A player who becomes a superhero during a match and shows off super plays.

Best man.

Anyway, there was a lot.

And it’s not a surprise award.

The one who deserved it got it, and the future era where Holland and Mbappe would share it was off the mark from the start.

‘Did the Northern and Southern Dynasties period become the Three Kingdoms period?’

There is a very famous saying in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Dividing will always come together. Combining will always be divided.

This proverb itself was a sentence that practically summarized the history of China, meaning that what has been divided for a long time will inevitably be reunited, and what has been united for a long time will inevitably be divided.

Why am I suddenly talking about Chinese history? Well…

[Thank you all. I am honored to receive this award first among so many geniuses… … .]

I chuckled as I listened to Jude Bellingham’s comments.

‘Well, I want to receive that award too.’

Originally, it was natural for a different person to receive the Ballon d’Or every year, but since the emergence of monsters like Messi and Ronaldo, it has become natural for a few people to monopolize the award.

There is even a saying that the 90s were lost.

I’m not talking about a social phenomenon in Korea or Japan, but I mean that there isn’t a single Ballon d’Or winner born in the 90s.

Lionel Messi in 23.

In 24, Jude Bellingham, born in 2003.

What was it before…?

‘Is it really true that people born in the 90s will never receive the Ballon d’Or?’

The monopoly of Messi and Ronaldo.

And along the way, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema also won awards, but they were born in the 80s, not the 90s.

‘Just the 90s superstars that come to mind right away are Neymar, Salah, Kevin De Bruyne, Harry Kane, Mbappe…’

Jude Bellingham’s Ballon d’Or win this time was actually quite simple: Bellingham beat Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich to win the Champions League.

England also won Euro 2024 by beating France.

‘If Munich had won the Champions League, Kane would have won it.’

It was clear that not only Jude Bellingham, but most of the candidates close to the top were from Real Madrid.

Mbappe has the highest chance of winning the Ballon d’Or in the future, but… …you never know.

It was easy for me to discuss the history of the Ballon d’Or award, whether it was a two-part or three-part system, and even think about Chinese history and ancient history.

‘The Ballon d’Or that Messi and Ronaldo used to share. I want to monopolize it for once.’

It might be too grand a dream.

To begin with, the only player to win the Ballon d’Or as a goalkeeper was Lev Yashin, who was just a goalkeeper.

Even Lev Yashin only received it once and that was it.

But I’m like Messi or Ronaldo.

No, if I monopolize it all by myself without any competition like Messi or Ronaldo.

“The GOAT of football is not the striker, but the goalkeeper….”

Just imagining it was 120% lethal dose of romance.

The god of soccer is not the striker who scores goals, but the goalkeeper who blocks goals.

And above all.

[Congratulations! The protagonist of the Trophee Yachine is Thibaut Courtois!]

[Congratulations! The protagonist of the Trophy Copa is Florian Wirtz!]

This award is given to the goalkeeper with the best performance that year, and the award is given to the player under 21 with the best performance that year.

Of course, it’s obvious, but I don’t have any desire for those awards. I didn’t even think I would receive them.

But! Still!

“How come I’m not even in the rankings? Oh my god.”

Me too, but I’m a goalie who’s getting a lot of attention in Europe!

The world is looking at me!

Manchester United made me a ridiculous offer!

“I will prove it to you, it is true.”

Just look at it.

Next year’s Ballon d’Or may be difficult, but at the Ballon d’Or ceremony the year after, he will monopolize not only the Ballon d’Or, but also the Trophée Yachine and the Trophée Coppa.

Let’s just wait and see, he’ll win three Ballon d’Or awards.

And that was when it happened.

I got a KakaoTalk message.

When I checked with someone, it was Kim Shin-ah.

[Kim Shin-ah: lol]

[Kim Shin-ah: Are you watching the Ballon d’Or ceremony?]

[Kim Min-woo: Huh]

[Kim Shin-ah: Haha]

[Kim Shin-ah: Hahaha]

[Kim Min-woo: What are you talking about? I’m going to kill you by splitting you to pieces]

[Kim Shin-ah: Hahahahahahahahahaha]

[Kim Shin-ah: Were you really upset that you didn’t even hear the name of Kim Min-woo, let alone the award, as a nominee? Hahahaha]

[Kim Min-woo: ㅗ]

Even though the Ballon d’Or is based on performance from the previous season, it’s still sad.

I have to accept it even if it’s sad.

Also, above all else.

‘Wouldn’t Football Manager give you a tip?’

You never know when Football Manager might hand you something to pay for a taxi on the way.