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The moment the final whistle blew, Sebastian Kehl, who had been substituted in for Ilkay Gündoğan, kissed the grass and shed tears.

Despite Borussia Dortmund entering a dark period of financial bankruptcy, Sebastian Kehl, who stayed with the team, clearly felt a different kind of emotion.

Even as he lifted the Big Ear, he wore a dazed expression, as if he were dreaming.

Although the DFB-Pokal final was still upcoming, the players and fans of Dortmund began to celebrate their Champions League victory in their own ways, not bothering with anything else.

Dum dum.

“This is the Big Ear… it’s dazzling.”

Lewandowski struck a silly pose taking a video, while Marco Reus fiddled with the Big Ear, looking as if he had fulfilled an unachieved wish from a past life.

“Hey you, Judas! What are you doing going to the team that got beaten by us in the Champions League? Just stay with our club!”

“… Haha. Forza BVB.”

Mario Götze, who had missed the game due to injury, rejoiced with the fans who had been calling him a traitor from the stands, as Ivan Perišić grabbed Jürgen Klopp’s face and roared.

“Make sure to play me more, you bastard!!!!!”

Of course, not everyone enjoyed the sweet taste of victory. As with all competitions, where there are winners, there are losers.

The players of Bayern Munich, who lost in the finals, congratulated Dortmund on their victory, pushing aside their bitter feelings.

“Hah. This annoying guy. Just get lost from the Bundesliga already.”

“Oh, I received an offer from Munich.”

“Are you going to Munich?”

“No.”

“Exactly, just hurry up and get lost to another league.”

Starting with the rough-looking Franck Ribéry.

“That was excellent decision-making. You’re definitely the best striker I know. Oh right, you were a midfielder, I thought you were a striker since you score better than strikers. Hahaha.”

“Congratulations on your victory. Can we exchange jerseys?”

The moolah Thomas Müller and Professor of Passing Toni Kroos approached. While Müller showcased his German humor like a comedian, Toni Kroos asked cautiously to exchange jerseys, presenting a composed German demeanor, and I exchanged jerseys with him.

‘Come to think of it, Kakamo might not form.’

Although Mario Götze would transfer to Bayern Munich, with his mentor Jupp Heynckes still managing Bayern Munich, whether Toni Kroos’s transfer to Real Madrid would go through as history predicts remained uncertain.

‘Oh, by the way, Mandžukić is also in Munich now.’

With the conflict with Pep Guardiola, it was highly likely that Mandžukić would remain in Munich.

I pondered if I could convince Lewandowski to transfer alongside me to Manchester United, but I gave up after realizing the chances were slim.

Given that Lewandowski’s late father was a true fan of Bayern Munich, Lewandowski was strongly hoping to play for Bayern.

Anyway, I thanked the Bayern Munich players who congratulated me and entered the locker room, pulling out my phone to check Gyeouri’s messages.

– Gyeouri: Son Jinho went insane!!!!!!

– Ho-woo: I’m not insane…. I’m perfectly normal ㅠㅠ

– Gyeouri: Oh no ㅠㅠ that’s not what I meant ㅠㅠ

– Gyeouri: Sorry if I hurt you ㅠㅠ

– Ho-woo: LOL I was just joking.

– Gyeouri: (╬ʘдʘ╬)

I had light conversations with Han Gyeouri, while also covering important matters.

– Ho-woo: Son Heung-min.

– Hyung Hong-min: Ha… So I won the Champions League and now you just call me by my name.

– Ho-woo: (Gif of Son Jinho lifting the Big Ear)

– Ho-woo: [Web Message] You must respect me. At 18 years old, I achieved 2 league titles, 1 Pokal, and 1 Champions League victory; winning the Ballon d’Or next season is highly likely…. [See More.]

– Lee Cheong-ryong: Son Jinho is such a madman LOL What is he doing? LOL

– Ki Sung-yueng: Wow LOL how many characters is that? That’s a long message, bro?

– Hyung Hong-min: (Polar bear emoticon looking at a bug.)

The national team hyungs reacted vigorously as if they had been waiting for this moment.

***

[Son Jinho scores his 10th and 11th goals in the Champions League, leading Dortmund to victory!]

[Son Jinho, named M.O.M in the finals, places his team at the European champion title.]

[In a single season, Son Jinho becomes the assist king in 3 tournaments (League – Pokal – Champions).]

[From the overlooked Asian prospect to the divine realm! With his fantastic performance, Son Jinho led Dortmund to Champions League glory! Setting a record that even the god of football Messi couldn’t achieve!]

[South Korea, unable to call up world-class players to the national team, what on earth is the Football Association doing?]

└ Honestly, isn’t it time to stop bashing the association? What should they do now?;;

└ What to do? Just shut up and take the bashing like a dog.

└ No, it doesn’t make sense to criticize excessively. Just because one player retired doesn’t mean it should be overblown.;

└ Is it reasonable for the association to sell players without protecting them?

***

[Dortmund’s season is not over yet! DFB-Pokal final against VfB Stuttgart on June 2nd at 3 AM. Tune in with Sports TV!]

└ What the hell… this was still left?

└ Seriously LOL Why isn’t the Champions League the last one? LOL

***

June 1, 2013 (local time). The DFB-Pokal final took place at Olympiastadion Berlin.

To get straight to the point, Dortmund could not lift the trophy in the DFB-Pokal.

The moment they lifted the Big Ear after defeating Bayern Munich in the Champions League final, the tension that kept the Dortmund players in line dissipated, and once the tension was released, Jürgen Klopp couldn’t bring it back, no matter how hard he tried.

The DFB-Pokal final was held under a chaotic team atmosphere. VfB Stuttgart scored first while Dortmund was in disarray, then successfully protected their goal with a ten-man defense.

Although the DFB-Pokal final was still pending, both Jürgen Klopp and the club had to ensure the players didn’t get too relaxed, but the Champions League victory after 16 years made everyone forget all that, and Dortmund had to pay the price for their complacency.

As if it were fate, VfB Stuttgart lifted the Pokal, also for the first time in 16 years.

Seeing the VfB Stuttgart players’ joy, we genuinely applauded their victory, wishing them well, having understood how it felt.

As the Pokal final concluded, the next day saw a farewell event at Signal Iduna Park.

“I have had many experiences here. I had the honor of playing alongside fantastic teammates and receiving the support of wonderful fans, lifting many trophies. You are the most loyal, passionate, and dedicated fans in the world. I might miss the yellow flames that sometimes flared up in Signal Iduna Park. Thank you for everything.”

While there was no match taking place, I took in the sight of fans who had come to visit. Even if it was just one season, I expressed my gratitude for the club’s commitment to retire my number 10 jersey.

“Jinho, thank you for everything!!”

“Even if you become a limping guy, we’ll welcome you back. Come back to Dortmund anytime!”

Thus, the farewell event ended beautifully.

Well, I heard in the background that Götze requested a farewell ceremony for himself as well.

Um… I want to believe that was a joke.

Anyway, with the farewell event concluded, my final season at Dortmund ended. After bidding farewell to the Dortmund fans and players, I flew to Manchester to conclude my sluggish personal negotiations.

“I don’t have to go to Man United.”

Han Gyeouri said with a serious expression that I didn’t have to transfer to Manchester United, but as I headed to Manchester for personal negotiations, her lips twitched with anticipation.

If Han Gyeouri had a tail, it would have been wagging all over the place.

I joked with her about her cute reaction.

“But Gyeouri, Manchester isn’t just about United; there are other teams too. Why are you so into it?”

“…!! C-City is off-limits!”

Well, perhaps it wasn’t a light joke for Han Gyeouri, as she startled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, ready to pounce.

***

Personal negotiations with Manchester United were more sluggish than expected.

Surprisingly, the cause of the sluggish negotiations was not the Glazers, but rather Manager Alex Ferguson.

The fact that players earned higher weekly wages than the manager made our dear elder feel a bit offended.

“There’s no player greater than the manager! I absolutely won’t permit that amount!”

The stubbornness of Ferguson, unwilling to let go of his own weekly wage, was unbearable.

‘C’mon, dear elder, let’s spend a little more money. It’s not like it’s your money anyway.’ The words nearly slipped out of my mouth, but I managed to suppress them.

However, during the sluggish negotiation process, my patience began to wear thin quickly.

“Alex Ferguson!! You need to respect me!!”

“────!!!!!!”

Faced with Ferguson’s unyielding stance, I had no choice but to bust out Ronaldo as a trump card, and almost burst my eardrums as the elder’s face turned beet red.

‘Ah… So this is why Ronaldo transferred to Real.’

By the way, according to Ji-song, I’ve heard Ferguson has become a lot gentler lately….

I nodded at Ferguson, whose face was rosy, likely with blood pressure rising.

Hmm. Is he rejuvenating?

***

Kang Cheon-soo, a die-hard fan of Manchester United, singer, and musical actor, posted an article online. Though he was too famous to participate in a meet-up, he was still a notable user in the fan cafe.

[Title: My bro is coming to Man U, right?]

Author: BestManU.

(An image of Son Jinho in a Manchester United jersey .jpg)

Why is there still no news!!

When is he coming!!

I’m going to go insane at this rate!!

└ You madman, the Dortmund season ended a week ago. Just wait a bit more.

└ Yeah LOL It will take some time if he’s negotiating.

└ Nah, I’m scared he’ll end up transferring to Real Madrid instead.

└ Oh… I’d like to see him go to Real Madrid.

└ Damn it, get rid of the snitch!

└ You think these idiot Glazers will mess up negotiations, right?

└ Honestly, the possibility is enough that we can’t ignore it LOL

While South Korean Manchester United fans cushioned their anxieties in each other’s company, time continued to flow.

As the preseason schedule approached.

Kang Cheon-soo’s smartphone chimed with a notification that the official Manchester United YouTube channel and SNS had posted a new video.

At that moment, during a break, Kang Cheon-soo felt puzzled and pressed play on the video, which had no title.

“Huh? A piano?”

In the video, a man in a Manchester jersey began playing the piano.

“Pretty good.”

Nodding along with the Manchester United anthem playing in the background, Kang Cheon-soo’s eyes widened as the scene transitioned to show Son Jinho entering Old Trafford in a Manchester United uniform; he gasped and cheered.

“Ugh!”

The bewildering antics quickly drew the gaze of broadcasting officials toward Kang Cheon-soo, but he was too focused on the video to care.

In the small screen of the smartphone, highlights of Son Jinho’s performances with Dortmund unfolded.

As the scene of the final Champions League goal played, the background music finally ended.

[7. J.H. Son.]

Son Jinho’s Manchester United jersey filled the screen.

 

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