Weird Defender Joo Ji-Tae

127 – The Unbelievable Championship Declaration

127

After completing their successful US tour, Barcelona confirmed their 1st team roster for the pre-season. It wasn’t 100% confirmed, but within the club, it was settled.

But even if additional players were recruited, it was unlikely that they would be able to push out the existing members, so the current squad would likely continue until the winter transfer market. If there were any exceptional players, they would have already been added to the 1st team roster.

The completed Barcelona 1st team roster consisted of 25 players, as expected.

New recruits usually get assigned an empty jersey number, but Joo Ji-tae was given special permission to choose, and he picked the empty number 3 jersey instead of taking an existing member’s number.

Joo Ji-tae’s preferred jersey number was 7 or 10, but even he couldn’t help but feel uneasy about choosing it. As a defender, it was a bit difficult to choose a number. Moreover, La Liga had very strict jersey number regulations, making it even more challenging.

On top of that, Joo Ji-tae also took on the role of the third captain, a position previously held by the former 3rd player who left Barcelona. By the way, Barcelona selects a fourth captain as well. To be honest, it seemed like a pointless role unless you were the captain or vice-captain.

Anyway, the news was announced on Barcelona’s official website, and Jo Yeo-shin, who heard the news from Joo Ji-tae, immediately shared it on her personal star platform.

——

Jersey Number 3

South Korea

DF

Joo Ji-tae

2015.07.04

186cm, 83kg

Third Captain

——

The reaction to the news was quite good, it seemed.

Although many Korean players had entered European leagues, there were few who had joined a big club. There were players who had played for Bayern Munich and PSG, but… compared to Real Madrid and Barcelona’s prestige, it was somewhat lacking.

So, there were many reactions like “Finally, a Korean player has joined Barcelona!” However, Joo Ji-tae thought, “Hmm… is that all?”

Somehow, seeing such enthusiastic reactions made him think, “Maybe I’ll go to Real Madrid later.”

* * *

As the league opening approached, Joo Ji-tae held an interview after a long time.

As a highly sought-after player, the contents of the interview spread quickly not only to Barcelona but also to the entire La Liga, and even to football fans around the world.

“I don’t feel burdened by the transfer fee. I have confidence in myself. The transfer fee burden is probably heavier on the club than on me, right? They paid 70 million pounds for me, didn’t they? Of course, that’s a joke. Barcelona fans, you got a good deal, really.”

“Spanish? I’ve been studying it consistently. I’ve been learning English and German together since before I entered the European league… Italian? … What’s the next question?”

“My closest friends are Max Moreno or Joel Cabrer? We’re the same age and play the same position, so we’re close. And Destiny Kosiso, Leo Martinez, and Hector Santiago are also close friends. Ah, Pode Diaro is a good friend too.”

By the way, all the players mentioned would later become key players in Barcelona’s revival.

Talented players with a bright future ahead of them.

… They really are close friends. Of course, it’s also true that they approached each other with a future plan in mind.

As a highly sought-after player, every word of Joo Ji-tae’s interview drew attention, but what drew the most attention was his ambition for this season.

“I’m confident. People say we’re weak, but that’s just on the surface. We’ve lost many veteran players who used to lead the team, so it’s natural to feel anxious. I acknowledge that.”

“But we’re perfectly prepared. Winning the opening match? No, that’s not what I mean. When I say we’re perfectly prepared, I mean we’re going to win the championship.”

“We’ve finished preparing to become champions.”

It was a declaration of victory from a young player who had just transferred at the age of 20.

“Wow… You’re really…”

“How can you make a victory declaration in an official interview? If you don’t win, you’ll be ridiculed for life.”

“The fans might like it, but if you’re too full of it, it’s not good. Be careful. It might come back to haunt you like a boomerang?”

His teammates were worried, saying things like “Be careful” and “Don’t be too confident,” but… Joo Ji-tae was sincere.

He wasn’t just saying it; he really believed they could win.

“I didn’t win the championship even when I wasn’t here, so can’t we win with this team? If not, I might as well go to another team.”

He vividly remembered what La Liga was like at that time.

Because that season was when Joo Ji-tae transferred from the Netherlands to Sevilla in La Liga, and even he was filled with tension and excitement.

So, he knew how this season’s La Liga would unfold, which teams would surprise or struggle, and which players would emerge.

“Barcelona had recruited David Martinez instead of me back then.”

The transfer fee was 1 billion euros.

In the previous season, they had bid up to 1.1 billion euros but failed to sign him, and eventually succeeded in signing him for a lower price a year later.

Well, there were various circumstances, but as an outsider, I don’t know the details.

Compared to myself, who cost 1.25 billion euros, it’s a bit lacking, but the fact that Barcelona has made a big signing, whether it’s the first time or now, remains the same. 1 billion euros is not a small amount, after all.

The only difference is that, unlike the first time when they signed midfielder David Martinez, now it’s me, Ju Ji-tae.

And this is a huge difference.

David Martinez? Objectively, he’s not a bad player. He was the ace of AT Madrid, and he even performed well for Barcelona in the first season.

But compared to me, he’s lacking.

He couldn’t even reach my level in the first season, so how much of a difference will there be now?

Despite that, Barcelona still managed to finish as runners-up last season.

Even without me, or rather, because they signed David Martinez instead of me.

So, what if I had been signed instead of him?

Ju Ji-tae looked at his worried teammates.

There’s 12-year-old striker Pode Diawolo.

13-year-old midfielder Leo Martinez and Hector Santiago.

14-year-old striker Destiny Kosiso.

And 15-year-old center-back duo Max Moreno and Joel Caballero.

Each and every one of them is a talented player who will grow into a great player in the future.

Especially the 15-year-old center-back duo, Max Moreno and Joel Caballero, who, despite being young, performed well as starters in the league, even when David Martinez was signed instead of me in the first season.

Although they gained experience by being loaned to Elche and Almeria last year, they’re still only 20 years old, and they contributed to the team’s league runners-up finish as starters.

Even until the middle of the season, Barcelona was in crisis, but they finished as runners-up, and it was said that “Barcelona’s youth players achieved runners-up.”

I also know that well.

Among them, the center-back duo, Max Moreno and Joel Caballero, who grew up from the youth academy and became famous, even became starters this season.

Compared to the legendary center-back duo of Manchester United, Ferdinand and Vidic, also known as the Ferdich duo…

“But I made a lot of mistakes before I left La Liga.”

I had talent, but I lacked experience.

Despite the difficulties, Barcelona achieved a good result, but thinking about the team’s weakness in defense, my joining could be a godsend.

Not only would I bring stability to the defense, but I could also provide playmaking skills similar to David Martinez, and teach the young players what I’ve learned.

But this is something only I know.

The prophet is always suffering.

Originally.

“Wow… I’m just amazed. What is this? What’s going on, Barcelona!!”

“They let go of many veteran players and lowered the average age, but overall, it’s become more difficult. Instead, they’re lacking stability, and it’s time for rebuilding… but it’s not! It’s not at all! Even though it’s just the first game, if they keep playing like this, they could be real contenders for the championship!”

“The opponent may be a weak team, SD Eibar, but they’re really dominating! They haven’t even allowed a single shot on goal while playing aggressively!”

“This… Ju Ji-tae’s interview seems to have some basis. I thought it was just a young player’s boastful declaration, but… maybe Barcelona really is a strong contender for the championship.”

The opening game.

The first game, held at SD Eibar’s home stadium, Estadio Municipal de Ipurua.

Barcelona showed an overwhelming performance, proving that Ju Ji-tae’s championship declaration was not an exaggeration.

Excluding Ju Ji-tae, even the parties involved couldn’t believe the miraculous start.