Weird Defender Joo Ji-Tae

95 – The Best Conditions

095

『(photo) Joo Ji-tae returning home, Cho Jae-sin』

『The fearsome teens who conquered the Bundesliga! Where is their next destination?』

『TSV 1860 Munich “Two players are not for sale!” NFS declaration!』

『Manchester United officially acknowledges interest in Joo Ji-tae』

『Cho Jae-sin, heading to Chelsea?』

『Overseas media: “Joo Ji-tae, Cho Jae-sin has a buyout option”』

『Busy soccer world ahead of the transfer market! Are the two Korean teens the biggest stars this transfer market?』

『”Minimum 25 million euros to a maximum of 40 million euros” – Experts’ predicted buyout amounts for the two players』

“Whether it’s 25 million or 40 million, it doesn’t matter! Now is the best time for these two players!”

“Intensifying interest! Where are Ju Ji-tae and Cho Jae-shin headed? Analysis of the clubs that suit the two players!”

As the season ended, the focus of football fans turned towards the transfer market.

Even though their supported teams weren’t playing, perhaps the transfer market brought more tension than when the teams faced their rivals.

“We missed the championship, but just reinforcing a few positions will do.”

“The players linked this time are all right, aren’t they? Even bringing one of them will spell success.”

“I’d love it if we brought this player in.”

“Unless our scout isn’t blind, there’s no way we’d miss out on this lad.”

Fans of financially strong teams held expectations for new signings,

“No way! We can’t let go of someone like Bécky!”

“When will we step out of the selling club status?”

“It might be tough to hold on to someone like Luka, right?”

While fans of financially constrained teams often expressed their concerns.

Amidst this, there was a fandom that garnered the most attention and echoed the loudest.

“We’re done for…”

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“Disintegrating right after winning the Meister Schale.”

“Please stay for just one more year.”

“What on earth is the board doing? Why is there not even a hint of a contract renewal?”

“I knew it would turn out like this; the end of fairy tales is always bittersweet.”

The surprise champions of this season, TSV 1860 Munich, became the protagonists of the fairy tale.

Despite increasing their market value by winning the Meister Schale this season, being a team that was in the second division until last year, their players’ values remained low, and most importantly, their salaries were remarkably meager.

Low player values and low salaries?

Naturally, they couldn’t help but draw attention.

“Captain Daniel Lauter to Werder Bremen?”

“Elche’s interest in the promising yet unfinished talent, Allen Walker.”

“Midfield maestro Rodel Ditz in talks with Mainz.”

Rumors about Ju Ji-tae and Cho Jae-shin, the team’s core and future, were already rampant, and as soon as the season ended, interest in the Munich squad erupted.

Fans eagerly awaited news of contract renewals, but all that came was—

“Augsburg acquires Richard Jenson from TSV 1860 Munich for 500,000 euros.”

“Cho Jae-shin’s backup member, Daniel Valoba, to Atlanta for 700,000 euros!”

The news of players leaving was all that circulated.

For the Munich fans, finding solace in the fact that these departures mainly involved rotational players was short-lived. They could only erupt in fury at the subsequent developments.

“Jan Heinkel, the protagonist of Munich’s fairy tale, to Stuttgart for 4.5 million euros!”

“Partnering with Jo Jaeshin, Stefan Buls reaches a 6 million euro agreement with the MLS’s Philadelphia!”

Even the key players, not just the rotational ones, began departing one by one.

And just as the enraged fans were about to sigh in resignation…

“Captain Daniel Kraut declares, ‘My heart is in Munich!’ Stays!”

“Vice-captain Matthias seals a 3-year extension deal.”

The unexpected news of the captain and vice-captain staying put, the promise of substantial transfer funds from TSV 1860 Munich’s board,

and—

“Is the fairy tale not over? Munich in negotiation for contract renewals with Ju Ji Tae and Jo Jaeshin! What are the chances of their renewals?”

The news of contract negotiations for these two players spread.

* * *

Asia has always been relegated to football’s periphery.

Whether compared to the hub of modern football, Europe, or the once-hemisphere-contesting South America, not to mention Africa, which incessantly supplies prodigies based on superior physical abilities, or even North America, growing rapidly due to its overwhelming financial prowess—Asia receives lower regard.

Of course, within Asia, there are distinctions; East Asia isn’t to be equated with Southeast or Central Asia. But what solace is there in being the best among the third-rate?

Given this scenario, football agencies based in Asia couldn’t evade the label of being third-rate themselves.

No matter how capable the agency was, it all boiled down to the caliber of players it possessed, and good players or prospects naturally aim for the big leagues.

An agency rooted in an Asia labeled as second or third-rate worldwide could never escape such a designation, irrespective of its skill.

Because they lacked first-rate players.

In this sense, recently, the CEO of a top agency, Jeong Seonwoo, was having a more satisfactory summer than ever.

“Sir! Nike’s offering 3 years, 3.5 billion—”

“Ice cream TV commercial proposal for Ju Ji Tae—”

“The ramen company wants to feature Jo Jaeshin as their main model—”

Unrelenting calls regarding these two gems made Jeong Seonwoo arrogantly lean back in his chair.

“Oh, is this all? Trivial, trivial. It’s so mundane, I want to die.”

Proposals from global sports equipment giants and endorsements from leading local food companies for ice cream or ramen commercials were far from insignificant.

Casting aside the ‘trivial’ suggestions, and filtering through the rest, were the proposals. Under normal circumstances, Jung Sunwoo would respond with a hearty laugh, welcoming them with a confident stride and a playful suggestion, but not now.

For the current Jung Sunwoo, advertisements were so trivial that they bordered on wanting to die.

“Oh? CEO! You really need to see this!”

“Ah, yes. Your proposal, once again wasting my time—”

“Manchester United! They’ve officially made an offer!!”

“Bring it!! Right now!!”

Bang!

Jung Sunwoo, arrogantly leaning back in his chair, abruptly stood up. The chair recoiled backward from the force. Of course, no one paid it any mind.

“What about Munich? Have negotiations with the club concluded?”

“Not yet. They said they’ll trigger the buyout as soon as personal terms are settled. Seems like Munich has secretly given up.”

“CEO! Even Manchester City!”

“Chelsea has sent an official inquiry too!”

“Yes, yes, yes! Great!! Who’s the player they want!? From each club, who’s the player!?”

“Well… both… actually.”

“So, who from each club!?”

“…All of them.”

“…Oh. It’s the money mania of the EPL, as expected.”

* * *

Secretly arriving in England.

Amidst the lavish treatment from world-renowned big clubs, Jung Sunwoo closed his eyes, savoring the overwhelming excitement.

“This is it! Exactly this!!”

As the big clubs clamored to negotiate first, a thumbnail of Jung Sunwoo, overwhelmed with national pride, flashed in his mind.

On the global stage, a player once considered third-rate, if lucky, second-rate, was now considered top-notch in England!?

Suddenly becoming the best in the world!? Manchester United watching, Manchester City courting, Chelsea nervously hovering!?

Such a foolish-sounding scenario had actually unfolded.

“I knew it would be successful, but I never expected it to happen this quickly…”

Confidence in success had been assured after the U-20 World Cup, but he had not dreamed that success would come so swiftly.

Well, the two players were not ordinary.

They were exceptional from the very first meeting, shattering his expectations. To be precise, one of them, Ju Jitae.

It’s not that Jo Jaeshin lacks talent. Jo Jaeshin’s abilities were, in fact, like a shining gem even compared to any player observed by Jung Sunwoo. However, there was something about Jo Jaeshin, something beyond talent— he was a person in whom ‘common sense’ prevailed. On the other hand, Joo Jitae was… well, someone in whom ‘common sense’ did not prevail.

And it was the same this time.

The protagonist, who led a team considered for relegation to the prestigious Meister Schale and even had big clubs entangled in his brilliant talent, was also the main character captivated by the dazzling talent, but at the same time, both players were merely 18-year-olds in their first year as professionals.

No matter how brilliant their talent and skills were, being elated that big clubs wanted them in their debut year as 18-year-old players took precedence.

Jung Sunwoo had imagined the two players being ecstatic and lively at the news, but he was wrong.

No, to be precise, only half of his imagination was correct.

Upon returning from a vacation in Germany with family and meeting the two players after a long time, faced with this tremendous news,

“Wow! Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea? This is insane! The transfer market hasn’t even opened yet, and inquiries are pouring in already!? Seriously? Wow… incredible.”

“Tsk. Less than I expected.”

They simultaneously expressed joy and dissatisfaction.

“…Less than expected?”

“Indeed. For someone like me, even clubs with some money sticking to me wouldn’t be surprising.”

Unlike Jo Jaeshin, who was genuinely pleased, Jung Sunwoo was dumbfounded by Joo Jitae’s words that seemed to imply displeasure.

That bewilderment was shared by Jo Jaeshin, who had been happy.

“Wow… How do you become more shameless as time goes on? Is your facial skin normal?”

“Why? Did I say something wrong?”

“Of course not. Why would I exclude you?”

“Hmm… Well, whatever… If you say so… Fine, I admit it too.”

It was a misunderstanding.

Jung Sunwoo found himself in a daze at the players’ inflated self-esteem, which seemed like it could burst at any moment. Well… whether their self-esteem was inflated or not, it didn’t matter; the skills of the two players were genuine.

“Representative. There have been talks about a contract extension.”

“Oh, right. Yeah, they keep suggesting a contract extension, but don’t worry. I’m politely declining with kind words. Anyway, we need to enter the big leagues, so where should we—”

“Stop that and negotiate first.”

“What!? Wait, you’re negotiating for a contract extension—”

“I’ll negotiate for a contract extension while also conducting transfer negotiations.”

“…What?”

This time, Jung Sunwoo was truly left speechless.

However, one couldn’t be a veteran agent if they spaced out here.

“No… You need to clearly outline the guidelines for me to negotiate properly. Do you want to transfer, or do you want to stay?”

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Joo Ji-tae responded to Jung Sun-woo with an expression that questioned, “What are you talking about?”

“Well, that depends on the management. Wherever it is, isn’t it the chairman’s role to extract as much as possible from me, no matter where it is?”

“…Huh.”

“Chairman, I won’t be satisfied with ‘reasonable treatment.’ The best treatment. That’s my condition.”