My Girlfriend Wants Victory

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The moment I saw the article about the U.S. Department of Justice targeting FIFA, cold sweat started dripping down my back.

‘…How far will this snowball roll?’

Things were unfolding six months faster than the events of history.

[Evidence of black money flowing from the Football Association to FIFA found?]

Suddenly, the Football Association, caught between the whales of FIFA and the U.S. Department of Justice, was literally blown apart.

[U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), FBI, and IRS joint investigation. Traces of FIFA’s illegal funds discovered during the tracking of global money flows in the late 1990s, and the whereabouts of the football development fund that disappeared during the 2022 World Cup bidding process?]

Some of the FIFA executives at the time were being summoned one after another, claiming the whereabouts of the football development fund were unclear during the World Cup bidding process.

[The U.S. Department of Justice charges 15 current and former FIFA and CONCACAF executives with embezzlement, bribery, money laundering, and tax evasion.]

Following that, current FIFA executives were indicted as well.

[Richard Weber, IRS Commissioner, “Today we’re issuing FIFA a red card.”]

[Sepp Blatter announces he will not run for re-election as FIFA president.]

Under the pressure from the tightening noose of the United States, Sepp Blatter surrendered and gave up his fifth term.

[Chung Jun-mong, honorary vice president of FIFA, declares he will run for president.]

[FIFA, temporarily suspends Chung Jun-mong for six years over a letter delivered to FIFA executive members during the 2022 World Cup bidding process.]

[Strong candidate for the next association president, Infantino, agrees with Sepp Blatter’s opinion that Son Jinho’s A-match participation will not be restricted.]

At this rate, it seemed Sepp Blatter’s dictatorship would crumble, and Infantino would be appointed as the 9th FIFA president.

[Association executives in shock. “It’s me. It was me. I was just following orders.”]

While the dazed expressions of the association executives occasionally appeared on the news.

Well… that’s not what’s important right now.

[Son Jinho, through an interview. “I still have no intention of naturalizing…”]

Conscious of public sentiment, he mentioned to the media that he wasn’t planning to naturalize yet.

However, the process of naturalization was continuing in the background.

[Is Son Jinho, the symbol of Korean soccer, really naturalizing? Discussions between Mina Raiola and football associations in England, Germany, and Portugal.]

Negotiations with Mina Raiola and various football associations concluded, narrowing down to England, Germany, and Portugal.

The only thing remaining was my decision.

– Jisong: Jinho, no matter what choice you make, we’ll support you.

– Gihyun Choi: I hope you can play football without being bogged down by your nationality.

– Gihyun Choi: The second Son Jinho? I’ll grow him soon, so don’t let your guard down.

– Gihyun Choi: Who raised the first Asian Ballon d’Or winner? It’s me.

– Bumdu: Son Jinho should choose Portugal. My homeland Portugal is a much safer place, fundamentally different from Argentina…[Read More]

With the deadline approaching, I started receiving calls from Jisong and Gihyun, among other friends.

Thinking about teammates I played with and fans who cheered for me made my heart soften.

Isn’t it true that I received so much love from them?

“Hey, Son Jinho.”

While I was lost in thought, unable to decide, Gyeouri approached me.

“Look at this.”

I received the smartphone she handed me.

[Title: Please naturalize please naturalize please naturalize please naturalize]

[Title: If anyone knows my brother’s number, tell him to please naturalize.]

[Title: But do I really have to naturalize? The association seems like it’s about to reform.]

└ These association guys really won’t change even if they die. If my brother doesn’t naturalize, they’ll come crawling out soon?

└ My brother needs to naturalize to really give them a huge shock.

Seeing the younger brothers who said they’d support me regardless of my nationality, I finally made my decision.

And a few days later.

“Today, I abandoned myself….”

I announced my naturalization news through a press conference.

***

The news of Son Jinho’s naturalization hit South Korea like a ton of bricks.

[Son Jinho decides to naturalize to England. Heartbreaking naturalization feelings confessed. “Today, I abandoned myself.”]

└ Ha. Damn, he’s finally naturalizing.

└ Honestly, I think it’s impressive that he hasn’t naturalized until now.

└ For real lol, if it were me, I would have immediately ditched my nationality.

└ Even though he’s naturalized, I’ll always support you! Go Son Jinho!

└ So is he changing his name?

└ No, he’s still Son Jinho.

└ The pride of Asia, go Son Jinho!

└ There are surprisingly a lot of people still supporting him even after naturalization.

└ To be honest, my brother didn’t commit any wrongdoing; he’s just naturalizing because of the association and politicians, so what’s there to criticize?

└ My parents also said they felt sorry for Son Jinho, who must have gone through a lot at a young age.

└ ㅠㅠㅠㅠ When my brother said, “I abandoned myself,” I cried ㅠㅠㅠㅠ

[DFB shows pride and regret over Son Jinho’s choice of seeking challenges over guaranteed success. “Jinho’s choice is regrettable, but we are World Cup champions. We will support his challenge at the Euro.”]

Contrary to expectations of being in shock, the Korean public accepted Son Jinho’s naturalization rather calmly.

Finally, it felt like what was inevitable had come.

[‘Kang Chan, who is receiving Klopp’s interest, leaves a message about Son Jinho’s naturalization. “Jinho is the benefactor who allowed me to be where I am now. While he had no choice but to naturalize, his legacy will continue to develop Korean soccer.”]

As the actions of the football association over the years and anecdotes from Son Jinho’s childhood were revealed, he managed to garner more appreciation than expected.

[Park Jisong, “I’m just sorry as a senior that I couldn’t be of help regarding his naturalization. I wonder if there could have been another path for Jinho if I had been a bit stronger.”]

[Choi Gi-hyun, who returned as the executive director overseeing association administration, conducted an overall audit of the association. “We must normalize the association so that the second Son Jinho does not arise.”]

Moreover, the support from seniors, including Park Jisong, greatly influenced Son Jinho’s reception.

[Cristiano Ronaldo, furious at Son Jinho’s decision. “Son Jinho can’t surpass me.”]

└ …???

└ What the hell is this sudden outburst?

└ Seems like he’s mad he’s not coming to Portugal lol.

***

While it was expected that a lot would change with the decision to naturalize.

Even after choosing to naturalize, my daily life did not change much.

[Netizens infuriated over Son Jinho’s naturalization “He’s the second Steve Yoo; he should be banned from entering Korea.”]

└ What’s wrong with this reporter? Doesn’t he have a clue?

└ There are way more supportive comments than those hating on Son Jinho’s naturalization; what kind of nonsense is this?

└ Looks like the reporter’s tendencies are showing ㅉㅉ.

Though some negative comments occasionally popped up online, more people supported me.

In reality, Korean fans were still waving the Taegeukgi while visiting Old Trafford. After the match ended, I would approach them happily to greet them.

After concluding the Champions League Round 5 match against Juventus with a victory, while thanking the fans.

“Uhm… I’m sorry for having doubted you in the past!”

I don’t remember exactly what he said, but seeing that sincere apology made me just smile and hand him my jersey.

[Title: Today, I received a jersey from player Son Jinho.]

Upon apologizing for doubting him in the past.

When I said thank you while smiling, strangely, tears began to flow from my eyes ㅠㅠ.

└ ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

└ I hope you enjoy happy football in England.

└ But England’s international performance isn’t great for happy football….

└ But didn’t you ask why he chose England instead of Germany?

└ I guess he said something about being a non-trophy ghost. I don’t know what he meant.

└ Maybe it means that England hasn’t won anything in international competitions.

└ If it were me, I would have naturalized to world No. 1 Germany. To be a world-class player, your goals need to be high.

Regardless, the decision to choose England over my emotionally familiar Germany came from a spirit of challenge.

‘Hey, non-trophy ghost named Harry Kane; it’s a duel between your non-trophy energy and my trophy energy.’

Just kidding.

It’s a decision that would affect the course of my life; can I make it that easily?

While I had many reasons for choosing England, the primary factor was the safety issue.

The future of Germany could witness deteriorating security due to an overflowing number of refugees.

Even Tony Kroos, a native of Germany, decided to live out his retirement life in Spain.

Well, even though security isn’t great in England, I had to choose a place that could ensure at least a bit of safety, as it was related to my family’s safety.

‘And England was a bit more proactive about naturalization than Germany.’

Ultimately, I secured a promise during the negotiations between the English Football Association and Mina Raiola that I would not be called up to the national team for the time being.

I thought it would be a tough negotiation personally.

– Ho-woo: Wasn’t the negotiation difficult?

– Mina: Jinho, think about your age.

According to what I heard from Mina Raiola, it wasn’t such a tough negotiation.

When they mentioned my age (19 years old), the association officials nodded with pity.

[Roy Hodgson, “We won’t call up Son Jinho for the time being…. “He will need time to gather himself.”]

Roy Hodgson, the manager of the England national team, also expressed his disappointment but empathized with my suffering and wished for me to gather myself.

‘Hmm. To be honest, it’s not that serious….’

I felt somewhat like a student who was lying and skipping school.

Well, anyway.

[Choi Gi-hyun, executive director, permanently expels directors with corruption charges. “We must not let the football association become a sanctuary for criminals.”]

The issues that surrounded me had now all been sorted out.

[Mourinho, despite numerous controversies, leaves high praise for Son Jinho in his fantastic performance. “He’s a fantastic warrior, even at a young age.”]

Now, it was time to genuinely focus on the last season of the old man.

***

[Manchester United, racing at the top of the league, solidifies its lead by defeating even Chelsea.]

Time had flown since the naturalization incident, and it was already the sixth round of the Champions League.

The last match of the group stage, away against AS Monaco.

[Cristiano Ronaldo, “The time for revenge has come.”]

[Son Jinho, “I still can’t forget the shouts from Monaco fans searching for me at home.”]

The day of vengeance against the AS Monaco fans who had shouted, ‘Where is Son Jinho?’ had finally arrived.