Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 39



Only Krnovel

The next day, we met at a deserted cafe. The atmosphere was a bit bewildered, as if they didn’t know that Director Yoo would show up.

“Why, Director···?”

“Minwoo made the request himself. Isn’t he still too young to talk to the club staff on his own?”

“Ahhh… yes.”

Jang Yeong-sil was talking to the German scout sitting next to him in German. Of course, I couldn’t understand a single word. I wish my mother was here at a time like this.

Fortunately, the other side didn’t say anything about Director Yoo following me, and a German scout named Dieter Kramer looked me straight in the eye and said something.

I pretended to listen and glanced at Jang Yeong-sil. I didn’t notice it last time because I was so flustered, but his name is Jang Yeong-sil? His image also seems quite smart.

“First of all, I was very impressed by Kim Min-woo. He has really great save skills, but I have one question I want to ask. Is it true that you only started playing soccer a few months ago?”

Jang Yeong-sil’s interpretation. I nodded and answered briefly.

“Yes. I started in April.”

Jang Yeong-sil reciting to Dieter Kramer again. Dieter Kramer nodded and spoke again.

Dieter Kramer spoke and Jang Yeong-sil interpreted for me, which was a bit frustrating, but I waited patiently.

“Kim Min-woo is a goalkeeper with a bright future. I think he will achieve great things in the next few years, but what worries me is that he seems to lack fundamentals.”

“Basics?”

“Yes. His saving ability reminds me of Buffon, but he seems to lack other abilities that are necessary for a goalkeeper. So-”

“Wait a minute. What do you want to say?”

Yoo Jin-ho intervenes, expressing his dissatisfaction. Jang Yeong-sil also responds without giving up.

“I was just about to answer. If you just improve your fundamentals, you will be able to achieve greater success as a goalkeeper. Our club is a Bundesliga club, and just a few years ago, we were in the first division of the Bundesliga. I can help you, Kim Min-woo.”

“Aha. Through a youth contract? But our Minwoo is only seventeen, right? He can’t pass the ITC.”

*ITC (International Transfer Consent)

“···I think the manager is still not familiar with the local situation, but there is no problem with issuing the ITC. FIFA has lowered the age for youth transfers. It will be applied from this year.”

Yoo Jin-ho was silent for a moment. Did the director hit me with a punch? I didn’t know anything, so I just rolled my eyes and watched.

“Even so, top K-League clubs are pushing contracts to give him a first-team debut. One club is even promising the best treatment for a semi-professional contract. Isn’t the contract Hannover is pushing just a youth contract? Can you guarantee our Minwoo a first-team match in Hannover?”

Just as Jang Yeong-sil was about to say something, Dieter Kramer, who was standing next to him, grabbed Jang Yeong-sil’s arm and said something.

It probably means that he wants me to interpret for him.

‘You said it was an internship, but you seem very immature. It’s like you’re trying to speak for the scout by being too enthusiastic.’

Dieter Kramer, who was informed of the situation, nodded and said something again in German. Then Jang Yeong-sil interpreted it for him. Even his voice was agitated.

Does an interpreter convey not only words but also emotions?

“As I said, Kim Min-woo still lacks a lot of fundamentals. He has only just started playing soccer. If he suddenly debuts as a professional while lacking fundamentals, Kim Min-woo will definitely be shaken. He is currently at the high school level, so he is not giving up a goal, but the situation is very different at the professional level.”

“Oh, really. I know that too. I’ve also been a professional. And you can build up your basic skills in the K-League. Plus, if you go to Germany, there’s the language problem, right? Don’t you know that goalkeepers are the most sensitive to language among soccer players?”

Jang Yeong-sil no longer looked at Yu Jin-ho. Now he looked only at me and spoke in a clear voice.

“Player Kim Min-woo. If you come to Hanover, you can learn advanced soccer. I will also re-learn the basics that you learned in the dark. Your professional debut will be a little late, but Player Kim Min-woo’s professional debut is a matter of timing, not whether you can do it or not.”

“Hey. What? A night market?”

Jang Yeong-sil continued speaking, ignoring Yu Jin-ho.

“The language problem may be a problem at the moment, but it will be solved in the end. You just have to learn the language.”

“Hey. Let’s go.”

Eugene Ho stands up from his seat, pulling his chair back.

“That’s not a suggestion worth listening to. And, what? Learning it in secret? Did you see me teaching Kim Min-woo yourself?”

“Yes. Director, you can leave now. Minwoo? Let’s talk more.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at Jang Yeong-sil’s attitude. Then I got up from my seat and followed Yoo Jin-ho.

“I’ll stop listening to the story here.”

Then Jang Yeong-sil also quickly got up from his chair.

“Player Kim Min-woo! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you! Are you going to miss this opportunity?”

There was one guy who said something similar. The only difference is that he was a scout and this guy was just a college student doing a team internship.

Since it had come to this, I told Jang Yeong-sil to teach him a life lesson.

“hey.”

“yes!”

“You have no manners when it comes to persuading me.”

“···yes?”

“Just focus on your job. Don’t get emotional.”

I just turned around and left the cafe. I felt relieved but also uneasy.

‘Do all the kids in this industry have any manners?’

At best, the intern is fighting with Yoo Jin-ho while raising his voice more than the scout from Germany.

‘I wish that kid would just get cut off.’

Oh. Wait a minute.

“Just a moment, Director.”

“Huh? What? Why?”

I went back into the cafe. I felt like I had to say this. I shouted straight at Jang Yeong-sil, who was staring blankly at me.

“Please make sure to explain this clearly to the scout over there! If you want to sign with me, bring me a professional contract!”

Even after I said this, if you still show up with a youth contract, then you’re really out.

***

Evening. Dieter Kramer was having a video conference with the club’s general manager.

It’s 6pm in Korea now, which means 11am in Germany. It was the perfect time to have a conversation.

“Goalkeeper? Look at this. Our club doesn’t need a goalkeeper. We have a clear starting player, and even a second and third option. Why are you suddenly talking about a goalkeeper?”

Hannover 96’s director, Markus Kind, reacted to Kramer’s report with dismay.

It was worth it.

When I went to Korea and asked them to look at some defensive resources, they suddenly asked me about a goalkeeper? Well, of course, a goalkeeper is also a defensive resource, but a goalkeeper is a special position.

“Marcus. This goalkeeper is special.”

“Yes. Goalkeepers are special. Is there anyone who doesn’t know that goalkeepers are a special position?”

Dieter Kramer cleared his throat and shook his head.

“That’s not it. I found a Korean Noyer.”

“Neuer? Oh, the Neuer I know? The one with Manuel Peter in front of him?”

“Yes, that’s Neuer, who has been playing in Munich since 2011. There was no order to check the goalkeeper, but I found a hidden gem and I’m telling you about it.”

Markus Kind closed his eyes for a moment and was silent. He seemed to be contemplating whether to laugh or not.

When the captain opened his eyes again, he answered in a dry voice.

“Then tell me in detail. What kind of goalkeeper are you?”

Dieter Kramer compiled the information he had obtained and reported it clearly. And the captain stopped at exactly that point.

“Wait a minute. 25 games without conceding a goal?”

“It’s game 27 now. I forgot to correct it.”

“27 games without conceding a goal? Isn’t this just a neighborhood soccer league?”

“That’s not it. He is currently continuing his clean sheet record in a competition that even the top youth leagues in South Korea participate in. I also watched the game in person, and the goalkeeper’s judgment is still world-class.”

“Are you kidding me right now… No. You’re not the type to joke around. Wait. If that’s true, then that means it’s true.”

The captain bit his lip in embarrassment. Dieter Kramer continued his report without changing his expression.

“I have never seen a goalkeeper like this before. However, the downsides are also clear.”

“disadvantage?”

“Yes. He has only been playing football for four months, so he lacks a lot of basic skills. If he can just master the basics, he is a goalkeeper who can compete in the Bundesliga 1st Division. If we recruit him and give him a few years, he will definitely make a name for himself in the world.”

“W-What!? Four months? You’ve been playing soccer for four months? You’re seventeen? Oh, that’s not your Korean age, is it? Is it your international age?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The captain stared blankly at Dieter Kramer beyond the monitor. Dieter Kramer didn’t look away either. The captain’s face on the monitor looked pale.

“Are you sure?”

“I saw it myself. I can confirm it.”

“Based on your report, he looks like the Lionel Messi of goalkeepers.”

“If we only look at the data, he is much better than Lionel Messi in his youth. No matter how good a goalkeeper is, he doesn’t keep 27 consecutive clean sheets.”

“Yeah. That’s right···.”

“May I give you my opinion on this report?”

The captain nods.

“Tell me.”

“We absolutely have to sign Kim. We can sign him for 50,000 euros and sell him for 50 million euros.”

“If you’re so sure, then you must be right. Then do that.”

“I’ve already had contact with him once, but the first contact ended badly because the interpreter got excited.”

“Oh, that internship? Is it problematic? You could get fired on the spot with just one word.”

Dieter Kramer shook his head.

“No. He is a very passionate guy, but I checked it out because the internship recommended it. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have known that there was such a player, and I wouldn’t have gone to check it out. Now that I’ve given him a warning, he won’t do it again.”

“Well, that’s good. Is there anything else wrong?”

“Kim wants a professional contract, not a youth contract. He also said that he was offered the best treatment in the K-League by signing a contract, so we should give him a contract that matches his treatment.”

“hmm···.”

At those words, the captain frowned slightly as if he was worried.

“We also need to get his signature quickly. The summer transfer market is almost over. There is not enough time to analyze and recruit him like other players.”

“······What you say is exactly-”

“So, Manager. You will have to come to Korea yourself to recruit players.”

“No. Okay. I will delegate the authority to negotiate to you. I will let you know the negotiation limits within a few days.”

“I’ll say it again, sir. Our club may not be able to promise you the best treatment, but at least we should treat you well. That player has a strict guardian attached to him.”

“Huh. I see a high school student who isn’t even a pro already has an agent.”

Well, it’s similar.

“If you are thinking of delegating authority to me, I have several requests to make of you, aside from monetary requirements.”

“What?”

“The place where the player will live, the language barrier, the school he will have to attend, and······.”

The captain and the scout continued their meeting for a long time, until the captain told them to stop because he had to eat.

***

The day of the finals of the King of Kings tournament.

I haven’t even told my family about this yet.

There’s talk of a scout coming from the Bundesliga.

If I had to predict, Kim Shin-ah would run around like a crazy person, and her father would take her great-grandfather out of the coffin and brag about it.

“Grandpa. It’s our Minwoo! Yes! Bundesliga! Yes! In the Bundesliga! Oh my!”

What about Mom?

“Okay, today’s Cut to Show. I’ll read you the story. Oh. I don’t know if this has been fact-checked. I heard that the person telling the story has received an offer to recruit his son from the Bundesliga!?”

I’m sure you’ll brag about it to the whole neighborhood. Or maybe not.

Not only that.

My parents will definitely call all of their relatives, in-laws, cousins, and anyone else they have a connection with.

Every time you call someone, you might say something like this.

“Yes, this is Kim Min-woo, who received a recruitment offer from the Bundesliga.”

Oh my. Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps…

So, in order to focus on the game at hand, I didn’t tell anyone about it.

If you want to see him again, he told me to bring my pro contract, so I can tell my family then, but if not, then no.

So, let’s do well in this final first.

Let’s go for the clean sheet triple crown.

“Okay, is everyone ready?”

It was Han Seung-woo before the game. We were gathered in a circle and cheering each other on.

“Just a minute. Let me say something.”

“Oh? Minwoo? At times like this, our always quiet Kim Minwoo says something!”

I shouted with all my might after receiving Go Young-jun’s application.

“Let’s make history today!”

Let’s make history in Korean high school soccer by winning the clean sheet triple crown.

And now that I think about it, I really regret the first match at Geumgangbanseok. If I had played then, I would have won the triple crown and not conceded a goal.

If I win this game, I will become Kim Min-woo’s clean sheet triple crown winner, not Suyang High School’s clean sheet triple crown winner.

…Is that actually a good thing?

“Okay! Let’s go, let’s go!”

With shouts we fought.

The long and arduous journey is almost over.

End

ⓒ Doctor Am

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