Soccer Genius Wants to Get Noticed - Chapter 165



Only Krnovel

Episode 165: A Mixed Choice (2)

News about the transfer had already been leaked while Sung Ha-neul was flying to the training camp.

[EPL Big Clubs’ Rush to the Sky – By Laura Sais]

: Manchester United and Chelsea have made a €35m bid for Cologne forward Sung Ha-neul, with Liverpool, Arsenal and West Ham also believed to be in the running. Personal terms have not yet been agreed with the 17-year-old, but he is expected to join the club subject to a medical.

The north-western German football club have confirmed that Manchester United and Chelsea have made offers worth €35m+, which they are prepared to accept.

Regarding Sung Ha-neul, who is certain to move in the winter transfer market due to visa issuance problems, Cologne sporting director Horst Heldt said, “From a realistic point of view, we have come to the conclusion that we can no longer hold on to him.” “The player himself must now decide. If a contract is reached, the formal process will be subject to the completion of a medical test, the coordination of the transfer timing with his current club, and timely processing in accordance with the FIFA transfer system provisions.”

Sung Ha-neul’s transfer fee, which was once just €250k, has now increased 140-fold in just one year. Nevertheless, it seems difficult to make a quick decision as Sung Ha-neul is currently participating in spring training with his current team.

Meanwhile, the striker has around two years left on his contract in Cologne and the club have opted for a planned rebuild rather than risk losing him unexpectedly.

The 17-year-old came through the Cologne academy and was promoted to the first team in 2021. He quickly established himself as a key player, scoring 20 goals and 17 assists in the 21-22 Bundesliga season.

This British news article did not end with just one incident.

Even though no personal agreement was reached with the player, various news leaked out through each club and reliable channels.

At Manchester United, Rob Dawson and David Ornstein are said to have reached personal agreements, while at Chelsea, The Athletic and Evening Standard have reported that the team is preparing to reorganize around Sung Ha-neul.

While the two teams that were most active in the race were mentioned, the names of other strong teams or mid-tier teams looking to strengthen their attacking positions were also mentioned quite frequently.

And reactions to this were sharply divided.

Earthwarden_13: A pretty good option for the Red Devils, if they can win the transfer war.

└silkie_blondo : Can someone tell me what kind of player he is? I’ve never heard of his name before.

└Mint-Berry-Crunchh: He is a centrally oriented winger. He usually plays on the right side in the Bundesliga. He has excellent footwork but is aggressive, and his scoring ability is so good that he can play at the front. He was also said to have played in a free role in the last game of the season, but it is too early to evaluate him. His performance was excellent, but the sample size is small. In summary, he feels similar to a young Ronaldo?

└schultz9999 : Well, I have a hard time agreeing. Isn’t it Jadon Sancho Season 2? It’s common to get scammed by Bundesliga strikers.

└reddevilad: As you said, he may struggle to adapt to the fast pace of the EPL. But his talent is real. He played well against Brazil in the national team match a while ago. I’ll attach a link.

Ife2105: What are the Gunners (Arsenal fans) doing?

└TorreiraWithADouzi: Do you still trust our board? That’s really hard to believe.

└phar0aht: If Man U have Sancho, we have Pepe! But I’m in favor of bringing this guy in. I like his style of play.

└NoMFer111: But honestly, it’s true that we’re being pushed by Liverpool and Chelsea. They’re going to the Champions League… … .

jMS_44: What about Chelsea? It seems like the choices are pretty much decided. Lewandowski or Sung Ha-neul.

└AlienBlueVsRedditor: If it were me, I would choose the former. Being young is both a big advantage and a big disadvantage. If possible, I would like the board to split into 1st and 2nd priority groups and prepare for it.

└IMintz: There are strong links between Lewandowski and Barcelona.

└Alpha2669: Since your finances are also in shambles, wouldn’t it be possible to bring him in if you just take the initiative? But I think Sung Ha-neul is also a good choice. He’s seventeen… …Eighteen when the winter transfer market comes. Anyway, he has endless potential. Of course, I understand the opposing position.

└Matty_DiscGolf: Oh, you mean our amazing striker Timo Werner? We brought him over from Germany too. He was definitely a tier 1 striker.

└macAaronE: Don’t forget Romelu Lukaku. All of our front line attackers have flashy qualities.

└Alpha2669: I forgot. I don’t remember seeing him in the game (laughing emoticon). But I think Sung Ha-neul and Werner are very different. First of all, their finishing ability. He’s definitely the type of player we need.

While fans of each team online wrote positive comments, in Cologne’s case… … it was the complete opposite.

* * *

The reception room inside the main building of the Mallorca training camp.

“… … It was an inevitable choice. The board decided that they couldn’t keep you, Hanul, forever.”

“So I’ll send it and catch Modeste?”

“that…….”

“The gorilla is worth catching, right?”

“… … .”

While the boy is sharply questioning the club officials, Alex Pasek checks local news articles from Cologne on his mobile phone.

In the photo, a banner with red letters hangs in front of the home stadium, Rhein-Energie-Stadion.

[To those without dreams, tomorrow has no meaning(To those without dreams, tomorrow has no meaning).]

Not only that, the square floor was even painted with red paint to mark the protest.

[We want him to stay!]

[Stirb, Werner Wolf (Die, Werner Wolf).]

Could it be because he wrote a death threat to the CEO?

The next chapter of the article shows the police in action, even those in uniform, approaching a table on one side of the square and signing a petition.

In addition, protest signs were hung on related buildings, including the official training ground in Gaisbockheim and the fan club branch in downtown Cologne.

‘Didn’t you know you’d end up transferring someday?’

That wasn’t it.

It’s really a question of method.

The trigger must have been a report in a local Cologne newspaper that an agreement between the clubs had been reached first, even though the player had not submitted a transfer request.

And obviously, Alex Pasek had no intention of defending the club either.

The one who came out from the seat opposite him to give his own explanation was Managing Director Philippe Tourte.

“Ha-nul, from now on I’ll just be honest.”

“I guess I haven’t been honest with you until now?”

“… … .”

“Tell me. Even though you made that decision without saying a word to me, I’ll listen anyway. What can I do with my ears open?”

“… … Right. Uh, the board… … judged that it would be difficult to renew your contract. They didn’t want you to become a free agent.”

“You thought so too?”

“huh?”

“Do you agree?”

“I… … my opinion was not important. The managing director is responsible for managing the financial budget and setting the overall strategy for the team, but that doesn’t mean he has the final say. There are three managing directors in Cologne alone, and on top of that-”

“But why did you come?”

“uh?”

“I heard that you didn’t have an opinion and you don’t have the authority to make decisions. So why did you come here? Aren’t you here to persuade me? You want me to pick a certain team and leave so that I can receive a transfer fee. That’s what you’re trying to say. Then the person who made that decision should come. Why are you here and talking nonsense? You’re just taking out your anger on me.”

“……sorry.”

“Look at this, it makes me look like the bad guy.”

“… … .”

The young age of the person involved may not be clear about the overall situation, but the point has been made.

At least one of the board members, the chairman, or the president should have come. Philippe Tourt was just a scapegoat with no real power.

“So what do we do now?”

In fact, Seong Ha-neul’s next statement was also directed at the agent.

“Hmm… … It won’t make much of a difference. The choice is yours. The fans want you to stay on the team, so there’s no need to rush. Public opinion and contractual advantage are all yours.”

“It means you can stir-fry it a little more.”

“It can be done, but… … It would be good if you were to be lenient. As you said, that person was just sent there to vent his anger.”

The other person’s face turns red at the insulting remark, but this time, Alex Pasek doesn’t even notice.

This is the one who got hit.

“Of course, I was afraid that I might say something weird to you, so I hurriedly bought a plane ticket and came here. But I had no choice but to cancel all my scheduled activities.”

“… … That’s right. It really pisses me off. No, why are you doing it your own way? Even the players have their own circumstances.”

“Actually, that’s a big reason too.”

“Why?”

“I think my family must have heard about it too. I think I should make a decision before August if possible.”

“… … .”

But there are times when you have to say things you don’t want to hear, so you quickly start telling realistic stories to your underage customers.

“If you don’t intend to transfer, it means that it’s better to just fold cleanly. In the long run, it won’t be good to be on the fence with the clubs that made offers. You should avoid dragging it out. On the other hand, if you intend to transfer… … that’s another story. Either way, you have to drive the nail in and move on.”

“So what I’m saying is that in the end, I have to make the choice.”

“That’s right. And you care about your family that much. I’m not urging you, but I want you to keep that in mind.”

“……huh.”

Managing Director Philippe Tourte licks his lips at the unexpected conversation, but neither of them gives him a chance to speak.

“By the way, do you have any training scheduled for the afternoon?”

“There is, but it doesn’t matter. The big bear said it was okay to leave it out.”

“Hmm, if Baumgart permits. Then shall we have a meal together?”

“Okay.”

“There’s no prior engagement, right?”

“It was there originally, but it’s gone. Do you know Lee Kang-yeon? He’s a Korean player playing in Mallorca, and a teammate from the national team connected him with me. But, well, the situation has gotten to this point… … .”

like that.

As the brief meeting with the dinner promise came to an end, the official from the club looked even more determined and was troubled as to how to convey the message.

Unfortunately, after about four weeks, the boy’s transfer was put on hold.

July 30th.

Anthony Modeste submitted a transfer request to the club, and the very next day, as if waiting, a transfer offer from Borussia Dortmund came flying in.

‘There’s only one year left on my contract, so if you don’t want me to be released as a free agent, let me go.’

For Cologne, it was like lava flowing at their feet.