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The whole world was in shock over the big deal of Ronaldo and Rooney’s trade.

– Jorge Mendes: “Chris, are you really thinking of going back to Manchester United?”

Cristiano Ronaldo fell into contemplation over his agent Jorge Mendes’ message. Mendes encouraged him to continue living at Real Madrid, but Ronaldo, dissatisfied with life at Real Madrid, resolutely decided on a transfer.

“Stupid media, stupid president, and stupid Spaniards.”

Ronaldo unintentionally let out some harsh words.

Currently, he was unhappy at Real Madrid.

Last year, in order to shift the public opinion of citizens angry over the economic crisis, the Spanish authorities abolished the Beckham Law, deciding that foreign football players who transferred to La Liga from 2014 onward would pay the same tax rate (up to 52%) as Spanish players.

With less than a year left until the policy was implemented in 2013.

Ronaldo couldn’t hide his disappointment over the club’s actions after the confirmation of the Beckham Law’s repeal.

In a situation where the players’ losses were obvious, the club hadn’t taken proper measures.

“Dammit. Shouldn’t they at least help with tax savings?”

To make matters worse, contrary to his expectations of becoming the best player after transferring to Real Madrid, the Champions League results had fallen short of his expectations since his transfer.

Since the 2001/2002 season, Real Madrid hadn’t lifted the Big Ear for over ten years.

“Perez, does this idiot old man even have thoughts of winning the Champions League?”

Desiring to lift the Champions League trophy and become the best, Ronaldo believed that Perez was mismanaging the club.

[(Official) Arsenal signs Ozil to a five-year deal. The transfer fee is a record-breaking €50 million (approximately 72.6 billion KRW.)]

Then, the timing of Mesut Ozil’s transfer to Arsenal etched certainty in Ronaldo’s mind.

When it was not enough to add players, Perez decided to transfer starting player Mesut Ozil to Arsenal.

[Manchester United wins the competition to sign Son Jinho.]

[They’ve signed an 18-year-old genius midfielder! The ultimate winner of this summer transfer window is Manchester United!]

Even Perez’s proud signing of Son Jinho hadn’t ended in failure.

[Ronaldo furious over Ozil’s transfer. “Honestly, I don’t feel good about this. I don’t know what the club wants right now.”]

[Ronaldo fans the flames of transfer rumors. “I want the Big Ear. But Perez seems satisfied with just league titles.”]

Ronaldo’s complaints about wanting to win the Champions League quickly escalated, publicly airing his grievances and bringing his conflicts with President Perez to light.

[Perez denies discord with Ronaldo. “Discord with Ronaldo? That’s a lie.”]

Perez tried to soothe Ronaldo by persuading him, but due to the intensive coverage from reporters who had caught a scent of the story, recordings of his conversations with aides were leaked.

[Perez’s shock conversation recording with aides revealed. “Ronaldo is crazy and retarded. Mourinho is the same…”]

After that, the relationship between Ronaldo and President Perez deteriorated to an irreparable degree.

[President Perez sets a €100M buyout clause for Ronaldo. “If Ronaldo wants to, he can leave.”]

President Perez pushed the decision onto Ronaldo, saying he would let him transfer if he wanted.

For various reasons, Ronaldo’s heart had already drifted from Real Madrid.

[Alex Ferguson’s shocking confession: “Actually, I thought about retirement last season…”]

What deeply resonated with Ronaldo’s feelings was an interview where Alex Ferguson stated he considered retirement last season.

For Ronaldo, Ferguson was like a father, and he vowed to return to Manchester United before Ferguson retired.

Woooo─!

“Come to think of it, this guy was also at ManU.”

As Ronaldo decided to return to Manchester United, his smartphone rang. Checking the message, a smile crept upon Ronaldo’s lips.

– Arrogant Kid: “Hey. Are you coming to ManU?”

In response to the message from Son Jinho, Ronaldo immediately replied.

– Chris: “Heh. Are you excited to pass to the world’s best forward?”

– Arrogant Kid: “Replying to a question with a question, are you crazy?”

– Chris: “Son Jinho. Just pass well. I’ll handle the rest.”

– Arrogant Kid: “Ugh. Get lost. Don’t come.”

Despite Son Jinho’s firm rejection, Ronaldo didn’t lose his smile.

“Son Jinho. You seem excited to pass to the world’s best forward.”

It was a grand illusion of a world-renowned player.

***

[(Official) Gareth Bale transfers to Real Madrid.]

[Alex Ferguson, furious over Gareth Bale’s transfer to Real Madrid: “I will never do business with Tottenham while Levy is president.”]

[Alex Ferguson: “Negotiating with Levy is more painful than a hemorrhoid surgery.”]

[(Official) Neymar, the second Pele from Santos, transfers to FC Barcelona. Estimated transfer fee is €50 million (approximately 730 million KRW).]

[Neymar: “It’s an honor to play alongside Messi.”]

[‘Transfer demand’ Liverpool striker Luis Suárez: “I want to transfer because of the crazy British media.”]

[Arsenal offers £40m+1 for Luis Suárez.]

[‘You said you dislike extreme media?’ Luis Suárez demands a transfer from Liverpool, “I want to transfer to Arsenal.”]

[Angry Liverpool declares there will be no negotiations with Arsenal.]

[‘Bad Boy’ Wayne Rooney heads to Spain.]

[Wayne Rooney appears in Madrid! Will the big deal between Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney become a reality?]

[Ed Woodward, head of marketing and PR, begins serious sponsorship negotiations with companies from Korea, China, and Japan.]

[Unexpected marketing effect? NO, it was a foreseen marketing effect. Son Jinho tops jersey sales.]

[“Can’t supply enough to meet demand.” Son Jinho jerseys sold out.]

[Ed Woodward says, “Ronaldo’s return will synergize with the signing of Son Jinho in marketing.”]

[Manchester United smiles at Son Jinho’s marketing impact. An anonymous insider said, “Manchester United has already covered Son Jinho’s transfer fee.”]

[Mesut Ozil posts on social media. “Happy to be at Arsenal.”]

***

After Manchester United returned home from preseason, the summer transfer market continued to buzz with activity.

– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: “Ozil has arrived!!!”

– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: “Ozil has come to Arsenal!!!”

– Cheolmo: “Wow, that’s great.”

– Gyeouri: “We’ve signed Son Jinho, though hehe.”

The nonstop transfer rumors filled the group chat with chatter.

– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: “By the way, Jinho, is Ronaldo really coming back to ManU?”

– Cheolmo: “Why ask that? You’ll find out when the time comes.”

– Ho-woo: “Hehe;;;”

But no matter what, the biggest topic of interest was the trade of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.

While most people considered it mere gossip, Manchester United players began to have some certainty about Ronaldo’s return.

Well, I also learned this fact while talking to Jisong today, but Rooney had requested a transfer from the club.

“So, you’re saying Rooney is unhappy about receiving the same salary as me?”

“Well, to summarize, yes.”

Rooney publicly expressed his dissatisfaction about receiving the same salary as I do, and the club and Ferguson decided to let Rooney go.

Ferguson began negotiations with the goal of sending Rooney away and bringing Ronaldo back.

He sent a message telling Ronaldo not to return to ManU, but honestly, if Ronaldo came back, he would undoubtedly be of enormous help in lifting the Champions League trophy.

In the future, this could make him look ugly with inflated pride compared to his declining skills.

Right now, wasn’t Ronaldo possessing a monstrous scoring ability?

“…Why are skill and pride inversely proportional?”

It felt to me that he was a friend who needed attention and help in various ways.

Speaking of which, isn’t there a thing called ‘attention seekers’ in the army?

A perfect ‘position’ for the fidgety Ronaldo.

“Guess I’ll have to keep him in line occasionally to prevent him from getting complacent.”

Anyway, after losing to the Thai All-Stars, Manchester United players who seemed to have had their souls sucked by Ferguson returned home in a daze, but they gathered at the training ground brimming with determination.

The official Manchester United training began.

During a mini-game, after receiving a pass, I nodded.

“Ahhh… I’ve realized your level.”

I continued with a stiff expression.

“…I want to go back to Dortmund.”

The players’ skills were more serious than I had anticipated.

 

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