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While I was taking a break during the A-Match period, the South Korea National Team achieved victory against Qatar.

[Anonymous football association official: “I can’t understand the chairman’s wish to bring back Son Jinho, who lacks patriotism.”]

Just as the national team secured a win, public opinion opposing my inclusion on the team resurfaced.

In stark contrast to public sentiment, suspicions about opinion manipulation were raised in the Ho-woo Gallery.

[Title: Isn’t the association manipulating public opinion?]

└ Would the association resort to manipulating public opinion because they have nothing else to do? Lol

└ Surprisingly, this actually happened.

└ Ah, right. It was the manipulation by the association that made my brother retire, damn it;;

However, not only the Ho-woo Gallery but also general public sentiment leaned towards the belief that the national team didn’t really need me.

‘Is this why they manipulate public opinion?’

Well… anyway, as time passes, technology advances and the means of delivering information diversify, the level of football fans increases.

But, unrelated to that, the administration of the football association fails to progress at all.

Before the official announcement of the evaluation match roster, they clumsily initiated a pre-match pardon that got canceled due to backlash from football fans.

Fortunately, that pardon was blocked thanks to the backlash from fans.

However, the association seemed to be trying to recreate the dark ages of Korean football after the Brazil World Cup.

They displayed football administration reminiscent of the past, such as appointing the chairman unilaterally.

Using a bodyguard with the last name ‘A’ and the first name ‘Leberate,’ they physically seized a flag, injuring a football fan in the process.

*Huff.*

I took a deep breath, calming the annoyance that had suddenly risen within me.

Don’t worry too much about the South Korean national team.

Just taking care of Gyeouri, who is pregnant, is already overwhelming.

And even though it wasn’t intentional, I feel like I’ve done enough for Korean football just by getting rid of the chairman.

Isn’t this an achievement worthy of being selected as a world best?

I think even Santa Claus, who sent me back in time, would give me a thumbs up and say, “Well done.”

Well… anyway.

[Dortmund secures a 2-1 victory away against VfB Stuttgart!]

After defeating VfB Stuttgart away, Borussia Dortmund headed to Torino, where Juventus’ home ground is located, to play their Champions League quarterfinal first-leg match on the same day.

– Cheolmo: They say Italy isn’t joking about racism. Be careful.

– Father-in-law: Watch out for pickpockets too.

Given that Serie A was notorious for racism, my family’s concerns were abundant.

– Ho-woo: Don’t worry too much. There are teammates, and Jurgen is with us.

I reassured my family, who were excessively anxious.

– Gyeouri: Hey, Son Jinho, if someone offers you food, you shouldn’t follow them, okay?

– Cheolmo: Oh, is it not for you, Jinho?

– Gyeouri: Why does Mom always say things to me?

– Gyeouri: Mrs. Hwang Mi-yeon has to respect me now that I’m going to be a mom!!

I felt a familiar scent in Han Gyeouri’s message but lightly ignored it. Last time, she took my phone and seemed to have learned how to chat with Ronaldo.

– Female Ronaldo: Son Jinho, I’ll be cheering from home, so come back with a win!

Anyway, after Han Gyeouri’s cheers, we arrived at Torino International Airport.

“Hey! Chino!!”

Contrary to my family’s expectations, I also met some friendly local Italian fans.

“I think that guy just made a racist remark.”

Mario Götze cautiously approached me.

“Aren’t you called Jino?”

“He called me Chino.”

Hmm… Was I expecting too much from Italy?

Well, even Germany, which reflects on its past, has passive racism.

By now, I was accustomed to it and was no longer angry.

“Jino!”

My close friend and Croatian Ivan Perišić approached. I jokingly replied to him.

“Wow. Did you just make a racist remark? I’m disappointed.”

“… Sorry.”

This Serbian guy?

The brief silence from his sudden apology was quickly broken when Ivan Perišić and I burst into laughter.

“Heheh. Jino, I didn’t actually make a racist remark.”

“I know.”

I clearly heard him calling me Jino.

He must have come over to lighten my mood, worrying about my serious expression.

While my image might not have been great with South Korean football fans due to my unsatisfactory performance during my Tottenham days with Hong-min, he was somewhat sentimental as he helped adapt Jachil during his time at Wolfsburg.

Anyway, perhaps because I had been laughing and chatting with my teammates.

The feeling that had sunk due to racism began to return.

 

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