Chapter 375: This is Totally a Mess

The next day.

Every daily newspaper’s headlines were plastered with articles about Korea’s advancement to the Round of 16 in the World Cup.

[Korea Embraces the Round of 16!]

[Onward to the Quarterfinals, Fly High!]

[Majestic Korea, 23 Warriors of the Taeguk!]

People were thrilled with the national team’s performance and eagerly awaited the match against Italy.

And on the morning of the Italy match.

[Congratulations to the Korea Football Team for advancing to the Round of 16.]

The advertisements at the bottom of the front page were enough to grab people’s attention, just like before.

—Does anyone know who put up this ad?

⤷ No one knows. Just like other companies, there’s no name on the ad, right? So, there’s no way to find out. What could their intention be?

⤷ Who put it up isn’t what’s important. We’re winning, aren’t we?

⤷ Really? Korea is going to beat Italy? Just because we beat Portugal once doesn’t mean we’re that good. If that’s the case, why not say we’ll win the World Cup?

⤷ That ad has never been wrong so far! So we’re winning!

⤷ If Italy wins, I’ll dance in the square wearing nothing but my underwear. Speak some sense.

⤷ Are you some kind of idiot?

The debates on the internet heated up, and amidst all the fervor, the match began.

Italy scored first, and the crowd let out a collective sigh.

However, Korea’s goal didn’t come until just before the end of the second half.

Even while watching a game that seemed to spell defeat, the people didn’t lose hope. They clasped their hands together in eager anticipation, cheering loudly.

In contrast to the street cheering, more and more people began mocking the ads on the online forums.

Especially those who spoke negatively about the ads and then were attacked by public opinion, now crept out to scoff.

—Where’s the chance of beating Italy?

⤷ Exactly. Everyone’s going wild over just a lucky guess. Predictions mean nothing. We just got lucky; even the Round of 16 is a miracle, you losers!! I regret saying something this morning and getting called a Japanese jerk.

⤷ You sound like a Japanese person.

Before long, the regulation time was nearly up.

As the second half reached the 40-minute mark, people gathered on the street began to rise, their faces solemn.

It seemed difficult to break through Italy’s renowned defense, known as catenaccio, to score a goal within the remaining time.

But unlike those leaving, the remaining fans couldn’t bring themselves to leave and could only anxiously stare at the broadcast screen.

Everyone’s attention was focused on each move of the Korean players.

Finally, with just two minutes left in the game, one player’s dramatic equalizer exploded into the net.

The square—no, all of Korea—was in uproar.

People hugged those beside them and jumped for joy, oblivious to the fact that they were hugging strangers.

At that moment, everyone united as one, cheering for the players with a single heart and will.

The match entered extra time. Eventually, the player who had missed a penalty kick in the early part of the game scored a golden goal, securing their spot in the quarterfinals.

A chorus of ecstatic cheers and chants filled the square.

Though the game had ended, the people didn’t leave the square.

Foreign media extensively covered Korea’s cheering culture, which became a widely recognized phenomenon.

The next day, an ad from Jungwoo Group took the front pages of all newspapers.

[A student hugged a teacher. ]

[A police officer hugged a citizen. ]

[A stranger hugging the person next to them. ]

[And so, Korea embraced each other.]

[Jungwoo Group stands with the 50 million people. ]

It was an ad made entirely of text, without any photos.

Because of this, people praised the ad.

The ad’s straightforward reflection of the current reality in Korea was more than enough to dilute Jungwoo Group’s negative image.

But not everyone could share in the joy. In particular, Ahn Jung-hoon, the player who led their victory against Italy, faced significant backlash.

The Italian fans cursed that they would beat him to death when he returned to Italy.

It wasn’t surprising that they reacted so strongly.

Korea was a soccer backwater while Italy competed in Serie A, recognized as one of Europe’s top four leagues.

For them, soccer was life and a passion. Ahn Jung-hoon, who was well aware of this, initially showed little reaction.

But even with time passing, the intensity of the criticism didn’t lessen. He found it hard to understand the actions of his team that were supposed to protect him.

The owner of his team, Perugia, even appeared on Italian public broadcasting to condemn Ahn Jung-hoon.

He harshly criticized Ahn Jung-hoon as the player who was once a broke nobody when he joined the team, now just draining funds without contributing anything.

He declared that there would be no salary for a traitor to Italian football and that they would release him immediately.

While the world spiraled into madness, Coach Hiddink reached out to me.

—Mr. Kim.

“Coach Hiddink! Congratulations on the impressive results. I’m sure you’ll do well against Spain tomorrow. I believe in you and the Taeguk Warriors.”

—Haha, thank you.

“But what’s the reason for your call on such an important day? Isn’t it a busy time for you?”

It had been a while since Hiddink last contacted me privately after he expressed his intention to join our team.

But it was unexpected for him to reach out to me at such a critical moment, right before the match against Spain.

—······ I have a favor to ask of you.

“A favor? From you, Coach?”

If Hiddink is asking for a favor, known for his straightforward demeanor, it must be something significant.

“Please go ahead. If it’s within my means, I’d be happy to help.”

—Thank you. It’s regarding Ahn Jung-hoon.

“Ahn Jung-hoon? Ah, is it because of the rumors about him receiving death threats in Italy? I’ve heard about it too, but I can’t believe it could happen for real.”

Even in a country obsessed with football, I couldn’t believe people would go so far.

But Hiddink’s response was resolute.

—I heard the club directly told Ahn Jung-hoon not to return. They said he could be killed by the Italian mafia or hooligans if he comes back.

Those are truly insane people. To bury a person just over a game of football? I opened my mouth in shock, then quickly pulled myself together.

I thought I understood what he was trying to say.

“So you’re calling to request that we sign him in Leeds? I mentioned before that the player acquisition is at your discretion.”

—I understand that. But······ Ahn Jung-hoon’s contract status is quite complex. He has a game to play tomorrow, but this is troubling him a lot. He’s been unable to focus today, constantly on calls with his agent.

It was unfortunate, but it seemed there was little I could do to help.

If they transferred the club, would I be able to pay the termination fee?

“Coach, I can’t think of a solution just yet. Is there something I could do directly?”

—Ahn Jung-hoon’s original club is Jungwoo Royals in Busan. I heard he’s on loan at Perugia. I’m not too familiar with the details of his contract, but I believe we need to terminate the loan agreement with Perugia first. I contacted James Han because I heard he has deep ties with Jungwoo Construction.

So, it turned out the major company of the team Ahn Jung-hoon belonged to was Jungwoo Construction.

I felt a bit embarrassed for not knowing the details as I hadn’t been interested in football.

Hiding my embarrassment, I quickly replied to reassure Hiddink.

“I understand what you’re saying. I’ll look into it. Please tell Ahn Jung-hoon not to worry and to focus on tomorrow’s match.”

Hiddink’s heartfelt gratitude resonated in his voice.

I could tell from this brief conversation that the rumors were true; he genuinely cared for the national team players.

After the call, I immediately summoned Lee Sang-geun and requested information on Ahn Jung-hoon.

I asked him to gather everything he could, including Ahn Jung-hoon’s agent contract and the current situation in Italy.

That evening,资料 on Ahn Jung-hoon lay on my desk.

“This is totally a mess.”

It was, in every sense of the word.

The agent had deceived the player, and the original team Jungwoo Royals was neglecting Ahn Jung-hoon completely, almost abandoning him.

The atmosphere in Italy was a nightmare.

There were protests in front of his lodging, and Ahn Jung-hoon’s car, which he bought with his own money, was smashed to pieces by hooligans.

Our proud player was being treated so unjustly.

“Chairman Lee, have you found out anything?”

I threw the report I was examining roughly onto the table and asked Lee Sang-geun.

“Yes. He signed a loan contract, and there’s a clause that Perugia can fully transfer him anytime they wish.”

“······Doesn’t that completely ignore the player’s will?”

“Yes. This was a deal made before we acquired the team, so I didn’t know the exact details. I contacted the chairman and obtained all relevant documents from team officials. Upon review, it appears that if Perugia decides to act with any ill intent, Ahn Jung-hoon could easily end up in a miserable situation.”

When Jungwoo Group went bankrupt and I took over, the soccer team previously under Jungwoo was shifted to Jungwoo Construction.

Then, when Lee Sang-geun merged with Jungwoo Construction, the soccer team came along.

Since this was a contract established before Lee Sang-geun took over, it wasn’t right to blame him.

“What are the options to take ownership of the player?”

“Before coming here, I instructed the director to do whatever it takes to terminate the loan agreement.”

“Wouldn’t paying the termination fee be the quickest solution?”

“That’s correct, but they need to agree to that. Apparently, they’ve already rejected such an offer once. They aren’t foolish; they’re probably hoping Ahn Jung-hoon’s value will rise, so they won’t give up ownership easily. Ideally, it would be best if the loan ended naturally, but······ It seems they’re intent on agreeing to a transfer fee based on a complete deal.”

Rather than the bragging approach I initially adopted, the reality was quite complicated. I let out a long sigh as thoughts swirled in my mind.

“This is a headache.”

“Forcibly terminating the contract is one option, but that could have negative repercussions for the player. If they resort to filing a complaint with FIFA, the player could lose his eligibility. Plus, during the lawsuit, he would likely be unable to participate in matches.”

I wanted to resolve this issue quickly, but it was a problem that presented no immediate solution.

For now, putting out the fire was the priority. I handed the资料 on Ahn Jung-hoon to Lee Sang-geun.

“First, Chairman Lee, please terminate Ahn Jung-hoon’s contract with his agent and consolidate him under the club. Kim Jeong-bok is not to be trusted. He’s seeking benefits off Ahn Jung-hoon. I’ve heard he’s already meeting with various clubs in Europe.”

“Understood.”

As I learned more about Ahn Jung-hoon, I recalled how he was treated in my previous life.

If I hadn’t gotten involved this time, he would have likely faced the same mistreatment.

“It doesn’t seem like he’s someone worth negotiating with, so don’t hesitate to use the power of the Heavenly Group if needed.”

“No, my own people will be enough.”

“Alright, I trust you. Please resolve the agent contract before the World Cup ends. I’ll relay the message through Coach Hiddink to Ahn Jung-hoon.”

Ahn Jung-hoon’s agent, Kim Jeong-bok, was the general manager when Ahn played for Jungwoo Royals.

Confident in Ahn Jung-hoon’s marketability, he established an agency to represent him.

Not stopping there, he used his connections to prioritize his own gain.

In a situation plagued by the parent company’s bankruptcy, he was busy snatching good players to sell to other clubs.

Even now, rather than managing Ahn Jung-hoon, he seemed more intent on negotiating his worth with various European clubs, including those in the EPL and La Liga.

Taking such unilateral actions without any agreement with Perugia was not in the player’s best interest.

“And fire all staff members affiliated with Kim Jeong-bok. Such people will only rot the club from within.”

“Understood. I’ll instruct the director immediately.”

I gestured lightly, issuing an order to dismiss him. Lee Sang-geun bowed his head and left the room.

I remained alone, recalling the key players of the World Cup and sinking into thought.

Things had unraveled more complicated than I had anticipated.

After a penalty shootout victory in the match against Spain, as they advanced to the semifinals, Italian and British media started reporting on Ahn Jung-hoon’s market value.

When he was loaned from Jungwoo Royals to Perugia, the amount was a mere $400,000; however, the teams interested in acquiring him were rumored to be offering between $3 million and $4 million.

Upon seeing this, Perugia quickly issued an apology directly to Ahn Jung-hoon in an interview with Korean media, immediately depositing $1 million to Jungwoo Royals for a full transfer.

As expected, agent Kim Jeong-bok ignored Perugia and persuaded Ahn Jung-hoon to transfer independently.

There was no benefit in dragging out such matters at such a crucial time.

Ultimately, I resolved to employ my last resort.

I picked up the phone and dialed the number.

After a few beeps, a deep voice came through the receiver.

—Hello.

The man on the other end greeted me in Italian.