NOVEL NEXT Chapter 285
# With every meeting, there is a farewell.
[As Lionel Messi, Jinho, Messi, Messi, again Jinho, Jinho, Messi, Jinho, Messi, Jinho, Messi, Jinho, Jinho, cries out to Ronaldo, “RONALDO!!!!!!”]
[GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL! This trio cannot be stopped! No one can stop them!!]
[The tyrant of the Premier League! The mass murderer of Serie A! The nightmare of Bundesliga! The despair of La Liga! The widow-maker of Liverpool! Once again, Manchester United brutally dismantles their opponent!!]
As the attacking line of Manchester United brings shock and awe to the Premier League.
[Manchester United fans bid farewell to Zlatan. “Goodbye, Zlatan.”]
Zlatan Ibrahimović, who had enjoyed two years with Manchester United, headed to AC Milan to ignite the final flames of his career.
Despite receiving the offer from AC Milan, Zlatan pondered for a long time.
[AC Milan faces a financial crisis due to COVID-19….]
He couldn’t ignore the fact that his former team, AC Milan, could not bring in striker resources due to destroyed finances from the pandemic.
Well, last season they did lift the Champions League trophy while being a part of Manchester United….
“Fear not, little lambs; Zlatan has come back to AC Milan.”
Anyway, upon returning to AC Milan, Zlatan led the team to their league championship.
# Lionel Messi.
“Wow. It’s insane! So we’re going to see Ronaldo, Jinho, and Messi play on the same team?”
“We have twelve Ballon d’Ors! You noobs!”
Manchester United fans erupted in cheers at the news of signing Lionel Messi, the god of football.
The newly reopened New Trafford’s megastore was packed with guests eager to buy Messi’s jersey.
Even citizens with no interest in football lined up to purchase Messi’s jersey.
As a result, 1,212,000 jerseys of Messi were sold in just one day.
Manchester United’s sales generated about 180 billion in revenue from Messi’s jerseys in just one day.
[Manchester United earns five times Messi’s salary from jersey sales….]
In any case, Lionel Messi, who brought astronomical revenue to the club, quickly adapted to Manchester United.
“SIuuuuuuuuuuuu─!”
“MAUUUUUUUUUUUU─!”
“CLUUUUUUUUUUUU─!”
At first, it was hard to get used to everyone running around making weird animal sounds, like it was some kind of zoo.
But as time passed, he started to adapt.
Now, he even feels disappointed if he doesn’t hear those beastly sounds.
With the roar of excitement ringing in his ears, Lionel Messi left a message of thanks to the fans before quietly heading to the locker room.
“Messi─!”
He recalled the reason he chose Manchester United while basking in the cheers of the fans.
Among the many teams that made offers to him, Messi chose Manchester United solely because of Son Jinho.
Having only met Son Jinho as a foe before, he was curious about what it felt like to play on the same team.
And after syncing with Son Jinho at Manchester United, he was quite satisfied.
Without needing to say anything, Jinho was always where Messi intended to pass, and vice versa, Jinho’s passes would connect precisely at the timing Messi wanted.
The more matches he played with Manchester United, the brighter the smile on Lionel Messi’s face became.
Life at Manchester United brought Messi the joy of football that he hadn’t experienced since Bartomeu took charge at FC Barcelona.
“Shouldn’t I be captain with the number of Ballon d’Ors we have?”
“Are you trying to take the captaincy away from me, Son Jinho?”
It was amusing just to watch everyone.
Anyway, that season, Lionel Messi’s joyous football continued.
There was no team that could stop Manchester United, be it in the Premier League or the Champions League, after Messi’s entry.
[Manchester United wins the Premier League!]
[FA Cup victory! Just one step away from the treble!]
[Champions League victory! Manchester United achieves the historic third treble!]
[Manchester United crushes Real Madrid 4-2 in the Champions League final!]
└ “All-out football, damn it, haha.”
└ (Photo of Jürgen Klopp.) “Oh, haha, I’m saying if he gets hit once, he hits back twice, lol.”
└ “So, who should we give the Ballon d’Or to?”
Manchester United achieved their third treble by overwhelmingly defeating every team they faced.
[For the first time in history, a team wins the Ballon d’Or instead of a player.]
└ ???: “I can’t choose, damn it, Manchester United pick!”
└ “Hahahahahaha!”
└ “This really feels like it, haha!”
[Requests for Ballon d’Or ownership from Cristiano Ronaldo.]
[Son Jinho, to Ronaldo…. “Why is this yours?”]
# YouTuber Son Haeun.
Having become an elementary school student, Son Haeun started a YouTube channel as a hobby.
[Title: I wore a Manchester City jersey and pranked my mom.]
└ “Hahahahahahaha!”
└ “Wow, that’s hilarious, I’m dying! LOL.”
└ “Back slap!”
└ “Hahahahahahaha!”
With just one GoPro, Son Haeun’s YouTube channel skyrocketed after one video went viral thanks to the algorithm.
└ “Isn’t that Son Jinho in the background over there?”
└ “Oh? What is it?”
└ “Say it.”
└ “Fame!”
└ “Money!”
While filming and uploading videos, Son Haeun’s identity as Son Jinho’s daughter was revealed, and her YouTube channel quickly gained subscribers, utilizing Jinho as her backdrop.
[Title: Why I support Manchester City….]
└ “Dad is the owner of Manchester United, wow!”
└ “But why is the daughter a Manchester City fan….?”
└ “By the way, grandma is a Chelsea fan?”
└ “Like mother, like daughter…”
Benefiting from her father’s fame, Son Haeun quickly surpassed one million subscribers and requested filming permission from Manchester United, who were garnering attention with the addition of Lionel Messi.
[Title: Wore a Manchester City jersey and entered the Manchester United skybox.]
The Manchester United staff could not refuse the filming request from the daughter of the owner.
“Uncle Chris, we’re going to play a balance game now. Which situation would make you angrier: Dad winning the Ballon d’Or vs. Lionel Messi winning the Ballon d’Or?”
“Noooooooo─!”
And with her close friend Son Jinho’s request, Cristiano Ronaldo, who appeared on Son Haeun’s YouTube live show, found his aptitude.
# Qatar World Cup.
The first-ever winter World Cup took place in Qatar.
Known as the last dance for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, this tournament received a lot of attention.
[Portugal loses to Morocco in the quarterfinals….]
[Cristiano Ronaldo leaves the field in tears.]
The tournament quickly progressed, and Son Jinho’s England faced Lionel Messi’s Argentina once again in the finals.
[The extra time has ended, and we will proceed to penalties.]
England and Argentina battled fiercely, going to penalties.
[Oh! Argentina! Lionel Messi’s Argentina lifts the championship trophy!!]
[Lionel Messi finally has his coronation!!]
This time, Lionel Messi successfully lifted the World Cup trophy during his coronation.
# Another era comes to an end.
In 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from Manchester United.
As much as Ronaldo wanted to participate in the 2026 World Cup, his body could no longer follow his mind.
[Cristiano Ronaldo retires at New Trafford….]
A tearful retirement ceremony was held at Manchester United.
“Don’t go, Hobaou….”
Even Son Jinho, the owner of the club, lamented Ronaldo’s retirement and blessed his future.
[Erling Haaland, perfectly fills in for Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence with impressive performances.]
And as time swiftly passed, while Manchester United was on a pre-season tour in the United States.
The retired legend Cristiano Ronaldo created a YouTube channel named after his symbol and name, becoming a professional YouTuber.
He quickly surpassed 50 million subscribers and invited retired fellow footballers Zlatan, Robin van Persie, Rio Ferdinand, and Son Haeun, Son Jinho’s daughter, as guests.
“Cristiano, didn’t you ever wish you were born in another era than Lionel Messi or Son Jinho?”
“Ronaldo, I’ve said it countless times, the number of Ballon d’Ors is not significant. I competed with the best players, and the fact that I improved because of that is undeniable.”
“Eh? Last time I saw Uncle Cristiano trying to steal Dad’s Ballon d’Or… Oops!”
Son Haeun’s stories on Ronaldo’s YouTube became a worldwide sensation.
Loving the attention, Ronaldo became an excellent YouTuber, earning the nickname “Ballon Thief” among Korean football fans.
# Rising star Son Haseong.
Son Haseong, having inherited his father’s talent, became the most promising prospect in England.
Despite appearing to have no worries due to his wealthy background and young age, in reality, Son Haseong was filled with concerns.
“Hey, Son Haseong. Don’t you want to join Manchester City?”
“Son Haeun! Mom said not to put pressure on Haseong!”
“What pressure is this! Playing for Manchester United is more pressuring!!”
Every day, he fought with his mom and sister over his future.
“Haseong, why don’t you come live with your grandma in London?”
And even his grandma subtly tried to lure him to Chelsea.
He was getting tired of the continuous family disputes.
Eventually, unable to bear it, Son Haseong presumed that as long as he was in Manchester United’s youth team, the family quarrels wouldn’t end, so he set out to find a new path.
[Son Jinho’s son Son Haseong decides to transfer to Liverpool. “For the comfort of my family….”]
└ ?
└ ?
└ ?
└ ?
└ ?
Meanwhile, Son Haeun, whose views had sunk into the abyss of view counts, uploaded a video showcasing her brother Son Haseong’s transfer.
[Title: Live family atmosphere during my brother’s announcement of Liverpool.]
# Heading to Dortmund, Son Jinho.
At the age of 34 in 2029, Son Jinho headed to Dortmund.
“I’ve returned to keep my promise.”
Dortmund’s fans were concerned due to Son Jinho’s age, but they welcomed his return by singing cheers.
On the day the news of Son Jinho’s contract was announced, Dortmund was engulfed in a red flame.
“Ugh… The red smoke is making me cry.”
Even after 16 long years had passed, Son Jinho looked around at the fans who still welcomed him and felt his eyes welling up.
And a month later.
[Jinho substitutes in. The man who became a god at Manchester United has returned to his former team after 16 years. Dortmund fans rise to their feet to welcome him.]
[Some spectators are shedding tears at Jinho’s return.]
Son Jinho played his comeback match as a substitute in a home match.
[Jinho! Still showing off his sharp passes!]
While his activity level naturally decreased with age, his passing and shooting skills became sharper.
[Youssoufa Moukoko’s shot! Hits the post! The ball is still inside the penalty box!]
[The ball is in Jinho’s possession!! It’s in!! What a magnificent comeback goal! Jinho strikes gold on his comeback!!]
[Though his body may not show the power of his prime, his two feet still create results!]
Son Jinho, who scored on his comeback match after 16 years, ran toward the corner flag with the Dortmund fans.
“Leuchte auf mein Stern Borussia! (Shine on my star Borussia!)”
“Leuchte auf, zeig mir den Weg. (Shine on and show me the way.)”
The cheers of Dortmund’s crowd echoed through the stadium.
“Ganz egal wohin er uns auch führt, ich werd immer bei dir sein. (No matter where you lead me, I will be with you.)”
[Ah, those fans over there are the fans who have been cheering since Jinho debuted in Dortmund’s youth team.]
Son Jinho opened his arms as he looked at the now older fans.
That year, Son Jinho’s efforts, alternating between starting and substituting, led Dortmund to the Champions League final.
[Champions League Final. Dortmund vs. Manchester United.]
In the Champions League final, Son Jinho, starting, showcased his skills, bypassing a midfield line of Jude Bellingham, Mainu, and Rodri.
[Champions League trophy!! Dortmund! Son Jinho delivers the Champions League trophy to Dortmund once again!]
Dortmund succeeded in lifting the Champions League trophy by defeating Manchester United.
[Son Jinho retires, leaving when the applause is loudest.]
└ “Damn, he’s still doing great, what do you mean retirement?”
└ “For real, seeing him devour Bellingham, Mainu, and Rodri in the final, left me speechless.”
└ “I feel like he could play for another five years.”
And after defeating Bayern Munich the following year, Son Jinho declared his retirement from Dortmund.
# The Evil Winter.
There are no eternal secrets in the world.
One day, a camera accidentally caught Han Gyeouri accessing a community from the spectator seats.
And it was broadcast live on TV, revealing Han Gyeouri’s identity.
[Title: What is this?]
(The wife of Son Jinho, managing a football community. gif)
Upon zooming in.
(MU Doctor account .jpg)
What is it? Damn it;;
└ “MU Doctor: What? Can’t I manage a community a bit?”
└ “The issue isn’t that you managed the community, it’s that you stirred up trouble, right?”
└ “But has MU Doctor caused trouble?”
└ “Oh?”
└ “Saying she’s an evil troublemaker is because she keeps spamming that she’s Son Jinho’s girlfriend.”
└ “Isn’t that right?”
└ “But it was all fact…”
└ “That’s true…?”
└ “Then it’s not evil, right?”
└ “I guess so…?”
└ “Even Son Jinho coming to MU was thanks to MU Doctor.”
└ “And Son Jinho taking over United from the Glazers was also thanks to MU Doctor.”
└ “Whoa, she’s the goddess of Manchester United!”
└ “Hallelujah!”
The Manchester United community quickly transformed into a praise community for Han Gyeouri.
# Unemployed Son Jinho.
Having been exposed in the community, Winter became the goddess of the noobs.
Hmm.
I truly don’t understand the sentiment of online communities.
I had tried so hard to hide it, yet now it’s revealed, and I don’t get it.
I don’t get how Winter became the goddess of Manchester United in an instant.
“Is this a struggle to avoid being sued?”
Anyway, after announcing my retirement, I spent most of my daily life with Winter.
As the kids have grown up, we traveled across various parts of the UK together.
Then one day.
“Ah, if that were me, I would have scored.”
Manchester United recorded a defeat in the Premier League third round against Liverpool, and while watching the match in the skybox with Winter, I expressed my frustration.
“Then, just un-retire and play better yourself!!”
Winter’s response to my frustration made me un-retire that very day and play one more season for Manchester United.
[Un-retired Son Jinho, scoring 1 goal and 1 assist, proving that class is eternal. “I was disappointed after my wife got upset over the loss to Liverpool.”]
└ “At this point, it’s just my wife who’s a fool….”
└ “Oh damn, those Liverpool bastards are bringing disaster back.”
└ “Why is Son Jinho, that guy in his late 30s, still doing so well?”
# 2032 Icon Match
The Icon Match, which started in 2024, continued steadily, reaching its third edition.
As the list of players for the third Icon Match was confirmed, the Korean community was buzzing with excitement for this Icon Match.
They had successfully invited Son Jinho, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo to participate in the match.
[Title: Football Online Director Park: “I never imagined this would happen.”]
└ “No way;; Are they really all coming?”
└ “Whoa, this is insane. The game company must have invested their entire yearly profits into this, right?”
└ “Nah, not that much, apparently Son Jinho accepted the offer, and so did Ronaldo and Messi.”
└ “Whoa, is this a Manchester United reunion? Damn it.”
└ “But how are the balances on this going to work?”
└ Defensive line: “Damn, how the hell are we gonna win against this?”
└ “Like seriously, how can the balance of these two teams be like a game balance?”
└ “For real, lol.”
Then, a few months later, the highly anticipated Icon Match concluded with a victory for the attacking team.
Although all players had aged, Lionel Messi emerged as the strongest player, with Cristiano Ronaldo defying his age and putting on an incredible performance inspired by Messi.
“Wait, this is supposed to be an event match, why are you all so serious?”
# Choi Gi-hyun.
After three terms, Choi Gi-hyun stepped down from his position as president of the Football Association, refusing any other position arranged by the association, and traveled across the country in search of a second Son Jinho.
“Is it really possible for someone like that to come out of Korea twice?”
“Oh, tsk. Times are different now, he doesn’t understand that.”
Some laughed at him, but Choi Gi-hyun didn’t care.
He traveled all over South Korea and finally succeeded in discovering a child.
“Football isn’t fun, you know.”
“Uh… Why isn’t football fun?”
“You can’t make money with football.”
“What are you talking about? Football is a sport that brings in a lot of money.”
“Really? Does football really make that much money?”
“Of course.”
“Then I’ll do it.”
“Oh. That was easy? By the way, what’s your name, kid?”
“Ju Yesu.”
“Eh?”
“Will you give me a scholarship, right?”
“Eh?”
“I’m an orphan, so I have no money.”
“Umm… Okay.”
Thus, a child with a thorny crown was discovered.
While legendary players who once graced the era retired, football continued to flow, inscribing legendary players into new history.