The second day of Kaká's tutoring.
Ho-young was spending over half the day with him, almost like a shadow.
It was because of Coach Carlos's philosophy, that a poor tutor is worse than none at all.
As a result, Ho-young followed Kaká everywhere until it was time to go home, and thanks to that, he was able to learn more than just football.
Not only did Kaká help with Ho-young's weaknesses, but he also shared advice on mentality management and training techniques, generously passing on his own know-how.
That didn't mean Ho-young neglected team training.
He still participated in tactical and team drills to prepare for the Round of 16, constantly thinking of ways to maximize his performance in the upcoming match.
On the fourth day of tutoring, Kaká shared a personal story.
"To be honest, I had a pretty comfortable childhood. My mother was a teacher, so football was just a hobby at first. But at some point, I started dreaming seriously."
"Out of the blue?"
"Football was fun. But I realized that to enjoy it more, I had to get better. So I started building that dream little by little. Every night I'd go out and do jump rope, practice ball control, and every morning I'd swim."
"So that's when you started standing out?"
"No, actually, my youth career was very different from yours. I was on the bench until I was 14."
"What?"
Ho-young was so shocked he blurted it out.
This successful footballer hadn't even been a starter at 14?
It was hard to believe, but Kaká's eyes were honest.
Ho-young became fully absorbed in the story.
"Back then, my coach and parents kept telling me to give up football."
"A crisis in your career, huh?"
"Not really. I believed in my dream. I didn't give up. Then that same year, I hit a growth spurt and led our U-15 team to a championship."
"Wow..."
"But at 18, I had a serious accident and injured my spine. The doctors said I'd never play again. But I had faith in myself, and somehow, I made a miraculous recovery."
Kaká placed a hand on Ho-young's shoulder and continued.
"What I'm trying to say is this. Right now, you're much younger than I was then. And you're already really skilled. Do you get what I'm saying?"
"Yes."
"It might sound cliché, but you need to believe in yourself. And don't forget, you've got ten teammates behind you. Most importantly, staying disciplined lets you focus on football. Worried about reporters or paparazzi? Don't be. That's all you need."
"Got it. Thank you for the advice."
Ho-young couldn't stop smiling.
If there was ever someone who could brighten your mood just by being there, it was Kaká.
'He really is a model student, inside and out.'
Being around him made Ho-young feel mentally refreshed and clear.
Feeling like they had gotten a little closer, Ho-young asked his own question this time.
"I've always been curious... Was there a specific reason you chose AC Milan?"
"My biggest goal was to join a prestigious European club. And Milan offered a chance to learn from great players like Shevchenko, Pirlo, and Seedorf. Plus, São Paulo is a satellite club of Milan. Haha. You never know, maybe you should start learning Italian just in case?"
"Hmm."
Ho-young's expression turned serious.
He knew it was a joke, but it was something worth thinking about.
'AC Milan, huh...'
In the early 2000s, Serie A was packed with top-class players.
And since Serie A favored slow build-up and space-oriented passing over flashy technical play, it might actually suit Ho-young's style.
However...
'Going to Italy right now would be tough.'
After Korea knocked Italy out in the 2002 World Cup, there were still rumors that Italians held a grudge against Korean players.
'I'll think about that when the time comes.'
For now, what mattered most was the next match.
"When facing Marcelo, the most important thing is probably escaping pressure, right?"
"Right. And make sure you remember this."
"Remember what?"
"This is a trick I used sometimes when the opposing defender was responsible for the build-up. Listen carefully."
That night, Kaká opened up a treasure chest of hidden stories.
"Back when I was in U-15, there was this terrifying defender named Dani Alves..."
It was a flood of tales, the kind that could make your ears go numb. But it was never boring.
These were priceless stories you couldn't hear anywhere else.
The night before the Super Championship Round of 16 against Fluminense FC.
A rare column appeared in O Estado de S. Paulo, a São Paulo-based sports paper, about an Asian player.
The headline read:
[São Paulo FC's Yellow Seahorse, Ho-young — Will He Become a Walrus or a Golden Dragon?]
The short column offered some fascinating insights.
A seahorse doesn't swim, it drifts along with the current. Imagine a person trying to swim while holding tissue paper in both hands. Yet, it survives by sucking up small shrimp or plankton through a straw-like snout. Ho-young is similar, he has grown by mimicking the playing styles of those he's met along the way. According to a coach at São Paulo FC, his speed improved after training with Douglas Costa, and from Casemiro he learned…
It also quoted a segment from Ho-young's interview with an SBT reporter.
He is humble by nature. Some worry this might hold him back. But I disagree. Just because someone is humble doesn't mean their dreams are small. Ho-young may not be Brazilian, but watching his growth will be fascinating. Will this yellow seahorse, pushed by fierce currents, become a walrus or a golden dragon? Like waiting for lottery day, we'll find out.
As expected from a São Paulo-friendly newspaper, there was nothing malicious in the article.
Fans of São Paulo FC were thrilled, while the reactions from rival fans were predictably scathing.
They claimed he was overhyped, that his success so far was just luck.
Fans of rival clubs like Santos FC and SC Corinthians mocked the article endlessly.
But the truth of the column would be revealed soon, in tomorrow's Super Championship match.
3:15 PM the following day.
"Woo!"
The crowd at Arena São Paulo Stadium, where Fluminense FC had arrived after a five-hour trip, erupted as Ho-young stepped onto the pitch.
Their cheers were a reflection of how far he had come — now seen as a core player for the team in just a few matches.
Though only about 700 people were in the stands, for a youth match, that was quite a crowd.
That alone showed how significant this match was.
It was the same for Ho-young.
This was the decisive battle.
From the start of the match, Ho-young couldn't take his eyes off one player.
[Marcelo]
[Possessed Talents: Football Genius (A), Active Overlapping (A-), Excellent Ball Control (B+2), Smooth Dribbling (B), Sharp Crossing (B), Solid Ball Cutting (C+3), Organized Link-up Play (C+2), Rhythmic Agility (C+2), Clean Marseille Turn (C+)]
(You can obtain one talent by meeting the required condition.)
(Condition 1: Break through him four times)
(Condition 2: Score a goal)
(Condition 3: Win the match)
'He's both aggressive and graceful.'
Kaká once said that observational skills are essential for a playmaker.
Even if it's hard at first, consistent effort will eventually reveal an opponent's weaknesses, that's what he had taught Ho-young.
So Ho-young paid close attention to Marcelo.
By watching him, the flow of the match became clear.
Fluminense FC was playing a highly defensive game, relying on one or two counterattacks to flip the match.
Same as always.
Everything, in both defense and attack, revolved around Marcelo.
A full-back who could control the flow of the game, it was impressive.
He really did look like someone who could lead Real Madrid in the future.
But...
'There's a gap.'
He began to see openings.
'His dribbling is smooth, and his footwork is good, so he tends to hold the ball a bit long. His tackling is decent, so he probably trusts he can recover it if he loses it.'
Ho-young made his decision.
"Oscar. When I give the signal, apply pressure on their number 2 centre-back."
Time to test it out.
It was the move Kaká had taught him the night before.
Tap.
As Marcelo took possession, Ho-young gave the signal.
"Now!"
Oscar crept up on the centre-back, narrowing the space.
A surprise move.
Marcelo's passing lanes were suddenly blocked, forcing him to widen his view.
With the sides unavailable, he had to either send the ball forward or build up through dribbling.
But then...
"...!"
An opposing forward suddenly began closing in.
Number 14 — Ho-young.
He was already a step away.
'So that's why Oscar was pressing up front?'
Even the forward route was no longer safe.
A long-ball clearance risked going out of bounds if poorly hit.
That left only one option, turning back.
But there wasn't enough time.
Ho-young was already closing in.
Then,
Marcelo smirked.
'Is that all you've got?'
As a player confident in shaking off pressure with ease, Marcelo calmly dribbled, trying to create space.
'Why waste your energy, kid?'
At least, that's what he thought... until the next moment.
"Whoa...?"
Thump.
Just as he tried to pass forward, Marcelo's body jolted.
The reason was simple.
Ho-young had initiated physical contact.
"What the hell..."
He hadn't expected it.
He thought it was just pressure. He didn't think Ho-young would actually go into a physical challenge.
'Is this guy nuts?'
Marcelo braced himself, unwilling to give up his shoulder.
They were similar in height, so he thought he could hold his ground.
But there was one thing Marcelo had overlooked.
Substance.
Ho-young's body, built through rigorous training and layered with compact muscle, wasn't on the same level.
Wham.
Marcelo collapsed before he could even resist.
"Damn it!"
He raised his hand in frustration, but the game continued without interruption.
It had been a fair challenge.
No foul.
All Marcelo could do was watch blankly as Ho-young dribbled toward the goal with the ball at his feet.
(To be continued.)