00011 Studying Abroad ------------------------------------------------------------------------=
Minjun had been able to come to Germany for soccer training all because of Suman’s soccer knowledge, which was practically a blank slate.
He had simply thought that Germany was a country famous for soccer and that since his aunt lived there, Minjun would adapt easily. So he had prepared to send him to Germany for soccer training. However, most people who sent their children abroad for soccer training usually looked toward Japan.
It was considered far better emotionally and in terms of adaptation than veering off to Europe, since it was a neighboring country in the same East Asian sphere and its youth facilities were sturdier than Korea's.
But Suman had proceeded with the matter knowing only that his aunt Gyeongsuk was there and that player Cha Beom-geun had played in the German soccer league. And this ended up granting Minjun a tremendous opportunity.
And this choice of Suman granted Minjun yet another unexpected opportunity in Germany. Namely, after Gyeongsuk told Daniel about Minjun's soccer training abroad, he received an even greater opportunity.
Daniel was a soccer fanatic who loved soccer dearly.
Just as Daniel loved soccer, his circle of friends was filled with people who loved soccer as well. Among these friends were those who held occupations truly related to soccer, and to them, Daniel proudly recounted at a drinking gathering what he had heard from Gyeongsuk.
"My wife's grandnephew is coming to Germany for soccer training, or so I hear. Heheh, it means our family finally has someone connected to soccer."
"Soccer training abroad?"
"He must be quite famous for soccer. Otherwise, he wouldn't have chosen Germany for soccer training. From what I hear, he has no rival among his peers, and it seems he sometimes even trains with the adult team. I don't know the details, but anyway, it means he possesses outstanding talent. Ehm-haha."
Daniel often displayed a cheerful disposition and seemed to speak lightly, but his friends knew very well that when it came to evaluating someone, he was quite cold and objective, so they couldn't help but feel their guard go up.
They were also well acquainted with Korean soccer players.
They had made Eintracht Frankfurt, which they and Daniel so loved, into an era of resurgence...
It was the country where Cha Beom-geun, called Cha Beom, had been from, and was currently judged to be a country with potential. It was a country that scouts had been visiting in recent years to find the second Cha Beom.
So when they heard that a child talented enough for their friend Daniel to boast about was coming to Germany from such a place to learn soccer, curiosity arose about where exactly he would go and which affiliated club he would be taken to.
When they subtly asked Daniel about this, he didn't know about that part either, but he put on a bluff for the time being.
"I was told the decision hasn't been made yet. I think they plan to come and look around first before deciding. Hmm... It seems like several clubs are scrambling to take him on."
Due to this remark, they felt they couldn't let a being who could become an excellent soccer player, even if not the second Cha Beom, be snatched away by another club, and they made a strong appeal to Daniel.
Saying things like, there was a good club right here, so why go far away to look.
At his friends' behavior like this, Daniel thought he had shot his mouth off and was embarrassed, but he told them he would ask his wife Gyeongsuk and try to talk to his nephew about it. And Suman, in the very moment he was worrying about what to do, readily accepted.
Heading into the unknown with no information had summoned luck, and luck had become a miracle applied to Minjun. So to Minjun, Daniel was truly no different from a great benefactor.
Of course, this was a behind-the-scenes story that neither Daniel nor Minjun, nor anyone else, could know.
* * *
Eintracht Frankfurt youth soccer stadium.
Thanks to Daniel, Minjun underwent medical tests and physical fitness tests at the prestigious club Eintracht Frankfurt to see what level he possessed.
Since Minjun had come with very little documentation, just his body alone, it was a process for the club to examine in what direction of growth they would educate him.
Viewed from his outward physique, he definitely displayed a figure that wouldn't fall behind European children his age, and his physical balance looked excellent as well. So everyone proceeded with the tests with expectations, and as the tests progressed further and further, the club officials—excluding Minjun—were on the verge of beaming with broad smiles and shouting hooray.
They first conducted tests that were simple and yielded immediate results, and his speed along with his physicality were truly outstanding.
Moreover, his instantaneous acceleration and reaction speed to signals were excellent as well, highlighting the qualities of a winger who penetrated sharply. And in the shooting department as well, though one couldn't call him the best, he was quite excellent, making him seem sufficiently usable as a forward.
Having watched all of Minjun's showing, when his friends praised him for having such an amazing grandnephew, strength surged into Daniel's shoulders.
Even to his eyes, it wasn't ordinary talent, and most importantly, there was something about whatever Minjun did that evoked considerable expectation and drew attention.
This was precisely star quality, and Daniel, recognizing this, truly believed Minjun would become a great soccer player.
"You worked hard, Minjun. Is it tough?"
As the tests ended, Daniel handed water to Minjun, who was letting out slightly rough breaths, and looked at him with very proud eyes.
"I'm fine. Still, it's fun."
"Hmm, I see. But really, will you learn soccer at this club?"
"Yes. Aunt... I mean, Grandpa Daniel recommended it. You said it's a wonderful prestigious club. And coming here, it's so cool and great. The club officials are really nice too. Everyone is kind."
"Is that so? Haha. Hmm... I'm grateful you think that way."
Since Daniel had thought Suman was connected to a different club, he was very grateful for Minjun's reaction.
In fact, since entering the 1990s, the club's situation had been quite poor.
Although they had never won the regular league, in the Bundesliga they had not been relegated for 33 seasons since its founding and had won the DFB-Pokal four times, proving themselves a formidable force that could not be taken lightly.
After winning the DFB-Pokal in the 80/81 and 87/88 seasons, it had seemed the team was gradually on an upward curve, but due to worsening finances, they lost core first-team players and team operations became a mess in various ways, resulting in the current situation.
It was a reality he could speak of more coldly precisely because it was his beloved club, and honestly, he had wondered whether it might not have been better to raise Minjun at a club with greater financial security and better facilities.
Daniel had guessed that the place Suman had intended to send Minjun was likely FC Köln, which possessed a powerful youth team, and looking at the current situation, that place seemed better as well.
But because he had proposed out of greed, wanting Minjun to learn and play for the team he loved, and had brought him here, Daniel felt a complex mix of gratitude and apology toward Minjun.
"Not at all. I really think it's wonderful. And above all else, I like the fact that player Cha Beom-geun also played actively here even more. And Grandpa Daniel, who let me learn soccer at such a place, I like even more. Heheh."
When Minjun smiled brightly and bounced about, that uncomfortable feeling Daniel had somewhat subsided, his heart became a bit more at ease, and he comforted Minjun.
"Thank you."
"Ah... I'm the one who should be more thankful."
Watching Minjun and Daniel's reactions like this, the Frankfurt club officials smiled with joy, thinking Minjun had set his heart on this place. And as expected, Daniel firmly proceeded with the contract as Minjun's proxy guardian.
Though it was his beloved club, with the resolve that if his grandnephew entering this club because of his own greed received even slightly unequal conditions, he would not sign the contract, he proceeded carefully while scrutinizing every detail.
In the contract, Frankfurt, which had been able to intercept through Daniel what had been trying to connect to another club even while making him undergo these tests, certainly paid very meticulous attention to Minjun with good conditions.
Especially regarding the educational part, and even appealing with details about carefully taking care of soccer and Minjun's health, Minjun became a member of the Eintracht Frankfurt youth club.
---------------------------= Author's Note ---------------------------=
Bowing, bowing.