Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 196



Only Krnovel

Episode 196

Flying through the deep night

It was a feeling of exhaustion that I hadn’t felt in a long time.

It made me think that the best league in the world exhausts even goalkeepers to this extent.

And then, I stepped into a familiar space.

A tight game. We won this game by just one goal, and of course, the POTM went to me for scoring the goal.

“Kim! You made your Premier League debut successfully today! How do you feel?”

The reporters surrounding me all had bright expressions on their faces.

Most of these people are probably friendly journalists from Manchester. Because this is Manchester’s home. Since it is Manchester’s home, there must be a lot of local journalists there, right?

“I’m happy to have been able to finish my debut match without conceding a goal. It was a much harder match than I thought.”

“Except for the last match being a friendly, it was effectively the first match, and Kim showed his best performance without needing any time to adjust. Are you done adjusting to the team?”

“Uh… no. I think it’ll take at least three months to fully adjust.”

“Once you get used to it, you’ll be even more fantastic than you are now, right?”

I laughed at that question. Still, he waited for an answer with bright eyes, so I said, “I will do that.” He responded happily, saying, “Oh!”

Why are these people so burdensome… .

“Actually, I have a lot to ask Kim today. Kim has a 100% penalty kick success rate and a 100% free kick success rate so far. It’s not like he hasn’t had many penalties and free kicks. How can he achieve such results?”

The reporter who asked that question looked at me with a truly mysterious look. I understood. Even the world’s best free kick kickers have a success rate of at most 20%.

Messi and Ronaldo both have around 10%, so my success rate was definitely bizarre.

The penalty kick save percentage is much higher, hovering around 70-80%, but it is still well over 100%.

‘If I think about it carefully, it makes sense that they would call me an alien or some kind of monster athlete who was injected with drugs by the US government…’

From their perspective, it was only natural that all sorts of conspiracy theories would emerge when such an absurd player suddenly appeared. This was unprecedented in the first place. Goalkeepers are a position where it is virtually a constant to concede a goal in a single game.

“Kim?”

I hastily responded to the urging.

“I think it’s a record that will be broken someday. You said you’ve had a lot of free kicks and penalties, but I don’t think so.”

“… Well, when do you think Kim’s record will be broken?”

“… Um, um… … .”

Season 23 Kim Min-woo is activated!

“Won’t it break on the 100th try? After all, it’s the best league in the world.”

Then the reporters responded with amazement, saying, “Wow.” Yeah. I understand. I also thought I was crazy. But you guys set the stage.

“Kim has great confidence. Where does that come from?”

“This is the path I have walked.”

Again, the reporters exclaimed, “Wow!” Some of them were so moved that they even applauded.

The reporters also asked several questions. It seemed like there was an altercation with teammates when you were about to take a free kick. What was discussed?

It was true. The players didn’t believe me. But in such an official setting, you can’t be too honest.

I replied that I went through a rough process of persuasion.

‘Well, the coach had already designated me as the free kick taker, so there was no need to persuade me.’

Philip Harris had already included this as a special contract. A special contract that states that Kim Min-woo is Manchester’s number one free kick taker.

Of course, there was a sentence that said the manager could arbitrarily change it again if I failed too many times, but well, that day will come someday, but when that day comes, won’t the manager keep me as a free kick taker?

And that day’s interview stopped at that point. It was safe to say that the staff had stopped it. Because I was being too provocative in my interview, the people involved were getting even more restless…

Season 23 Kim Min-woo is spicy. I admit it.

Afterwards, reporters flocked to Giovanni De Luca and asked him questions related to the match.

Coach Giovanni responded that it was a difficult victory and that he was glad that they were able to win despite missing many of their starting players.

He also answered that although the game did not go as well as he had hoped, he was happy that he won the opening match and made the fans happy.

“… It’s an undeniable fact that Kim was the MVP today. Coach, can you say something about Kim?”

“As you all know, he is a great player. I thought the era of Messi and Ronaldo was over and the era of Mbappe and Haaland was coming, but in England, Bellingham is coming and in Korea, Kim is coming. It is truly a great era.”

“Uh. That means…”

“Yes. The era of Kim will begin. The era when goalkeepers become the best players in the world. You live long enough to see all sorts of things.”

I didn’t know about that interview at the time. As always… … .

[Kim Shin-ah: Did the director respect you?]

[Kim Shin-ah: Kim Min-woo’s upward thrust ㄷㄷ]

I didn’t even ask for it, but Kim Shin-ah kept sending me links, so I had no choice but to find out.

[Kim Min-woo: It’s not a compliment, it’s the fact itself]

[Kim Min-woo: Let’s talk straight, okay?]

[Kim Shin-ah: Haha, thank you~]

* * *

And that was the beginning of the words about me. The opening match in Manchester that everyone was waiting for and holding their breath. The aftermath after the match was enormous.

“I’ll be honest with you. Manchester United’s signing of Kim this time is the best signing of all time.”

“Even during the Ferguson era?”

“Yes. It’s funny to say this after only watching 1.5 games, but you know? How Kim conquered the Bundesliga. Maybe as time goes by, he’ll be evaluated as the best signing of all time. Not only the transfer fee, but also the weekly wage Kim gets? To be honest, it’ll be a pittance compared to what he’ll do for us… … .”

It was Peter Schmeichel who had spoken kindly to me last time. He was a goalkeeper when he was a player, and he kept talking nonstop about how great and amazing I was.

I felt a little embarrassed as I checked the link that Kim Shin-ah sent me.

“Oh, really. This is embarrassing.”

It was not common for a Manchester United legend to praise a Manchester United player so earnestly that I felt embarrassed but also grateful.

And to be clear, this was just the beginning… … .

“If Park was the unsung hero, Kim is just a hero. I am sure Kim will play a major role in restoring Manchester’s glory and perhaps ushering in an era that is even greater than when we played.”

It was Rio Ferdinand.

“I watched the game, Kim is just good at football. It’s only one game, but he’s the best candidate for Ballon d’Or as a goalkeeper after Yashin.”

It was Gary Neville.

In addition, many legends who left their mark on Manchester United spoke up: Evra, Giggs, Scholes, Wayne Rooney, David Beckham, and even Park Ji-sung.

“… The interview may have been a bit frivolous, but there is no doubt that Kim Min-woo is the greatest talent in South Korea’s history.”

“Huh? Surpassing Son Heung-min or Lee Kang-im?”

“In fact, not only in Korea but also in the entire world, it is the best of all time.”

“Aha~!”

The reporter conducting the interview smiles slightly and asks the question again.

“Oh, then Director Park Ji-sung, do you think that Kim Min-woo will open a new golden age for Manchester United?”

Park Ji-Sung thought carefully about the question. And then opened his mouth.

“Soccer is a team game played by 11 people, and if you include the opponent, there are 22 people, so it’s impossible for just one person to have a golden age… … But if the position is goalkeeper, it’s a different story. Even when watching, it’s unbelievable because they’re so good… … It’s definitely possible.”

“Is it because you can essentially win the league just by keeping a clean sheet?”

“Yes, that’s true, but I’m not sure how long Kim Min-woo can keep a clean sheet….”

“Even if the clean sheet is broken, if the current performance continues, won’t Manchester United be able to win the league this season?”

“I really hope so.”

And Kim Shin-ah’s KakaoTalk.

[Kim Shin-ah: Kyaaaa~ Mom~ Please pour me a glass of patriotic drink~]

[Kim Min-woo: Drink moderately]

[Kim Min-woo: Getting too drunk is bad for your health…]

[Kim Shin-ah: Originally, delicious things are not good for the body]

[Kim Shin-ah: I will eat deliciously today as well^^]

That wasn’t all Kim Shin-ah showed me.

[Kim Shin-ah: Oh, and check this out too. Haha, it’s really funny.]

[Kim Min-woo: What is it again]

Kim Shin-ah’s KakaoTalk messages that keep coming out like Doraemon’s pocket.

The person who will be shown this time is someone that Kim Min-woo is also familiar with. Best, a YouTuber and streamer.

When Evans made a useless foul and created a penalty kick, he shouted, “Moe-eee!” and jumped up and down, and when I blocked it, he shouted, “Kim Min-woo-!” and his face turned red.

There, I scored a free kick goal at Hwalongjeong Peak… … .

[Get out! Get out! Get out! Get out! Get out! Let’s go!]

“Oh my. I’m out of breath… .”

Instead of being happy, my face turns so red that I feel like I’m going to die. By the way, now I’m even looking for the best.

Although she didn’t show it, I wasn’t too happy to see my sister gradually becoming an internet ghost.

I wonder if this guy is fighting with people he doesn’t know by just writing comments.

* * *

Most of the discussions with Manchester United have been concluded.

Now I fly to England to get a medical test, and if there are no abnormalities, I sign and that’s it.

Then you will really be wearing the Manchester United jersey… .

Kim Jun-young still felt dumbfounded and couldn’t believe it.

“… … Yeah. So Junyoung. This is the final, final contract.”

My agent brother, dressed in a suit, explained the salary, which is perhaps the most important thing for a soccer player.

The contract said 200,000£. It was a symbol I wasn’t familiar with, but it was the pound, the currency used in Britain.

“The most important annual salary for our Junyoung is 200,000 pounds. That’s about 350 million won in Korean currency.”

“wow….”

Kim Jun-young gave a short exclamation of admiration.

“I succeeded. My salary increased by almost 12 times!”

The agent smiles faintly. The annual salary that Kim Jun-young was receiving in Suwon Seonyang was 30 million.

As a rookie, Kim Jun-young was effectively under Suwon’s tight leash, with a 5-year contract and no penalty for breaking the contract. Perhaps that’s why the amount was somewhat surprising and interesting.

“Eww, tsk. Still, it doesn’t feel like that much for one of the best clubs in the world. Still, our Junyoung did so well in the K-League. If he went to another club in Europe, he would have received more than this.”

“It’s okay! Isn’t there a saying like that? Even if you’re going to be a slave, do it in a big house or something like that?”

“Even if I have to work as a servant, I have to do it in the master’s house?”

“Oh, yes yes! That’s right! Even if the money is a little less, you can go to Manchester United from the beginning and prove it!”

The agent smiled faintly again. I wish it were so, but it was a tough road.

Above all, it is normal for a young player like Kim Jun-young to gain a lot of practical experience in a small or medium-sized club where playing opportunities are guaranteed… but starting out in a big club is tough. It is unlikely that he will even get a chance to play in the first team.

“and…….”

The agent also recited other contract terms. The contract period was 2+1 years (which essentially meant that Manchester United had doubts about Kim Jun-young’s ability). After signing the contract, he would be transferred to the reserves. There was also a special contract regarding a loan.

In order to be loaned to another team, the player must play in at least one Manchester United first-team game. This was a special contract that did not have much meaning, as it allowed the player to be substituted in the 89th minute, just before the end of the game.

Kim Jun-young nodded his head after listening to it halfheartedly. It was something he had heard many times before.

Kim Jun-young, who received all the details of the contract, sighed and smiled.

“… Phew. That was really hard. Right?”

“I know.”

Of course, his team, Suwon Shenyang, was determined not to let Kim Jun-young go. If it weren’t for Kim Jun-young, Suwon would have been relegated this season.

In fact, which club would sell off a player who is called Suwon’s problem solver and savior? And for a cheap price at that.

There was still a lot of time left on his contract, and he was the most important player on the team, so Suwon declared outright that they would not sell him even if it was Manchester United or even Manchester United’s grandfather, and Kim Jun-young begged with tears in his eyes.

[Please let me go… … .]

And the cold reply that comes back: ‘No.’

Since there was no buyout clause in the contract, it seemed like he would never go to Europe again. Suwon had no intention of selling him to Manchester United or any other small or medium-sized club in the first place.

So, Kim Jun-young’s agent thought of borrowing the power of ‘public opinion’ as a last resort, and in the end, that idea turned out to be a very appropriate measure…

[Following Kim Min-woo, Kim Jun-young also goes to Manchester United? Suwon Shenyang ‘reluctant’ to transfer key players]

That one article was enough.

As one article became public knowledge, one article gave rise to another, people started talking about it more and more, and Suwon Shenyang’s name was mentioned throughout the soccer community, Suwon Shenyang held on and held on until they eventually surrendered.

Since ancient times, this country has been a country of the people. The will of the people is the will of heaven, and once the will of the people begins to tilt, it has tremendous power to overturn even the ends of power.

There is no way a single soccer club can handle that enormous power.

[Suwon Sunyang, tearfully accepts Kim Jun-young’s move to Manchester United]

Another article poured in, and the next topic was: Why do K-League clubs sell their players to European leagues for such cheap prices?

When the article’s argument that the people are not responsible for the process came out, the previous interest died down and the community was once again on fire. In some ways, it was a very simple country, but it was a country that fought on various topics several times a day.

“Anyway, it’s good. Now, there’s only one thing you have to do, Junyoung.”

“Go and do well?”

“Yeah. Go and destroy Man U’s second team. Show them what kind of guy you are. You scored in two consecutive games for the national team, right?”

“Hey, bro. I have to get straight to the point. I scored three goals? Multi-goal against Jordan and one against UAE.”

The agent smiled brightly and responded to the lively Kim Jun-young.

“Okay, Imma. You’re the one. Go and show me. And stay right next to Minwoo hyung. Got it?”

“yep!”

Then, Kim Jun-young adds with a puzzled look.

“But aren’t you much more mature than Minwoo hyung?”

“Mom. In society, if you make a lot of money, you’re considered a big brother!”

Kim Jun-young nodded at the plausible words. In society, people call each other siblings based on money, not age?