Right after the World Cup ended, many things happened.
Especially in South Korea.
Zidane's interview stirred a sense of pride in countless Koreans.
Though the World Cup result was disappointing, it felt like the nation had received a priceless gift.
Meanwhile, France's triumph brought a seismic shift to the football world, and no club was more active than Real Madrid.
The 2006 summer transfer window.
Having narrowly escaped dismissal thanks to several fortunate events, Pérez was granted one final chance.
He had about five months. If the club did not perform well by the winter break, the socios were already preparing to demand his resignation.
Pérez found himself with no way out.
His objective was clear. Finish December as league leaders and reach the Champions League Round of 16.
To achieve this, he began extensive preparations.
It started with the 2006 summer transfer window. The first target was French bomber Franck Ribéry.
After France's World Cup victory, Europe's top clubs were all vying for him. Arsenal had offered 21 million euros, and the bidding war was heating up.
Then Pérez made a decisive move, offering 40 million euros.
That was the end of it.
Franck Ribéry declared his intention to join Real Madrid, and the deal seemed sealed.
However.
Despite the astronomical transfer fee, Ribéry's club warned all suitors to back off, pointing to his four remaining years on contract.
But Pérez would not be deterred.
He immediately turned to his next target, Florent Malouda, a powerful left winger from France.
The transfer fee was 20 million euros.
His looks might not have been flashy, but the asymmetric pairing with David Beckham on the right flank was part of the vision.
Additionally, to address the vacuum left by the long-gone Claude Makélélé, which many blamed for the collapse of the Galáctico era, Pérez secured Mahamadou Diarra, a top-class French defensive midfielder, for 46 billion won.
Pérez's ambition did not stop there.
His motto had always been, "The most expensive player is the cheapest in the long run," and he was ready to unload the club's loaded war chest.
Right then, a shocking event shook the football world.
Calciopoli.
The biggest scandal in Italian football history, where Juventus's sporting director had used his network of influential figures in football and media to fix matches.
He had repeatedly and secretly contacted referee assigners to request favorable referees, among many other illegal acts.
It was revealed that clubs like AC Milan, Lazio, and Fiorentina were also involved, sending shockwaves across world football.
Severe punishments followed.
Numerous officials were banned from football entirely, and Juventus, initially relegated to the third division, was eventually sent to Serie B after appeal.
As a result, many Juventus players left the club.
Pérez's eyes lit up.
To strengthen the defense, he brought in Fabio Cannavaro and Emerson.
Real Madrid's board also managed to sign Ruud van Nistelrooy from Manchester United at a bargain price, completing what many called a dream team.
Even with his favorite, Ronaldo, still in the squad, Pérez's decision to sign van Nistelrooy showed how much power he had lost within the club.
There were murmurs that the squad was overloaded, but Real Madrid insisted this was just the beginning and began preparing for the winter transfer window.
The year 2006 was also a meaningful one for Zidane.
What he had thought would be his final stage, the 2006 World Cup in Germany, ended up extending his football life.
At 33 years old, he was in the twilight of his career, but he remained steady.
Just as he always had, he trained and played with dedication.
It was a difficult decision, but Zidane's wife respected his wishes and gave her full support.
In the end, through relentless effort, Zidane led the team to first place by December, showing the world the strength of a seasoned veteran.
He capped off the year by winning the Ballon d'Or, signaling his remarkable resurgence.
His tutoring sessions with Ho-young continued.
Then in January, as a cold wave swept over Madrid, two familiar faces arrived.
Marcelo, who had been performing brilliantly in the Brazilian league, and Gonzalo Higuaín, a top Argentinian prospect the club had been monitoring for some time.
With this, Real Madrid built a dream squad consisting of starters, rotation players, and rising stars, taking another step toward the league title.
It was also a crucial period for Ho-young.
On the 20th, they were scheduled to face Valencia CF in a key league match.
For both Ho-young and his team, it was a vital game.
Real Madrid's Juvenil B had been on a winning streak, but defeating second-place Valencia was essential to solidify their hold on the league title.
The point gap between Valencia CF Juvenil B (U17) and Real Madrid was only four points.
With the season already past the halfway mark, a victory here would also provide breathing room for the upcoming cup tournaments.
And for Ho-young, who typically waned in the latter part of the season, it was a must-win match.
However, the most important matter was something else.
Zidane's talent.
- Maestro's Build-up (SU)
Zidane's signature talent.
The foundation of art football.
In simple terms, build-up refers to game management ability.
This skill has become increasingly vital over time. Nowadays, playmakers lead the build-up, but in the future, even goalkeepers will be expected to possess it.
Now, what if he could take Zidane's build-up talent and apply it in the professional league a few years from now?
Gulp.
As the Valencia match approached, Ho-young swallowed dryly.
His mouth felt parched just imagining it.
A harmony between old and new.
He wondered if he might be the one to serve as that bridge. His fingertips trembled slightly.
Like Beckenbauer, who redefined the defender role. Like Cruyff, the inventor of total football. Like Zidane, the pioneer of art football. Perhaps he too would bring a new wave to the game.
The thrilling thought sent chills down his spine.
Of course, there was no guarantee that Zidane's style of build-up would still be effective in the future.
Football is ever-changing.
Pressing, build-up, space, tempo, positioning, zonal marking. So many concepts and combinations appear every day, birthing new styles of football.
Still, Ho-young had no doubt.
It will work.
One thing was certain. It would produce beautiful football.
That blueprint would begin today.
I can do this.
Just one goal would be enough.
He left the pressure in the locker room and stepped onto the pitch with renewed determination.
Today's match was held at the Juvenil B training ground in Valdebebas.
As it was Real Madrid's home game, the players in white displayed energetic football from the opening whistle.
In possession, they used short, accurate passes to gradually choke Valencia. Without the ball, they applied high-intensity pressing using their superior work rate.
It was a tactic that combined build-up and pressing.
While it was physically demanding for youth players to execute, Ho-young managed the tempo between the first and second lines of attack, anchoring the system.
They avoided clumsy attacks, instead steadily probing for gaps in Valencia's defense through patient control.
Slowly.
On the surface, Valencia's defense looked tight, but the players on the pitch could feel it.
Gaps were forming.
But they had to be careful.
Build-up is the engine of efficient offense, but also a double-edged sword.
If an attack breaks down, it can immediately give the opponent a golden opportunity.
Especially against Valencia CF, known as Los Murciélagos, or the Bat Army, famous for their lightning-fast counterattacks. Even a moment of carelessness could be fatal.
Stay calm.
Ho-young did not rush.
His eyes constantly scanned the field.
He glanced at the gaps in Valencia's defensive structure, recalling Zidane's teachings.
The path for a pass is made not by the passer, but by the receiver.
But Zidane had said more.
A true playmaker creates the conditions for his teammates to find those paths easily. That is build-up. That is the first step of art football.
The level of art.
That was the basis of the football that led Les Bleus to the top of the world.
Just do what I learned. Treat it like the real thing.
Ho-young did not believe he could replicate it.
Maybe if he had Zidane's build-up talent. But in his current state, he was far from that level.
Still.
Starting is half the battle.
As always, starting is everything.
After eight months of relentless effort, the football prodigy had finally taken his first step.
Now it was time to try walking alone.
He feared losing, but not making mistakes.
If he kept knocking, the door would eventually open.
The match continued at a slow pace.
Real Madrid dominated possession and tempo, but the score remained unchanged.
That was how cautious they were.
Valencia's defensive midfielder David Timor was growing increasingly frustrated.
Why are they not coming forward?
At 17 years old, he was Valencia Juvenil B's defensive midfielder.
He had undergone grueling special training all week for this match.
They had prepared counterattacks disguised as open spaces, only for Real Madrid to avoid taking the bait entirely.
Is it too obvious?
"Bastards."
An infuriating rhythm for a footballer.
Real Madrid played like children fooling around.
What are they doing? On a picnic or something?
In the third line of defense, Timor was tracking Ho-young and lightly tugged at his shirt to get under his skin.
It did not take long for Ho-young to respond.
"Do you want my jersey that badly? I'll sign it for you after the match. Come back then."
"You idiot. Who would want a clown's jersey? I wouldn't take it even if you paid me. I'm Bat Army for life."
"How romantic."
"Cut the sarcasm. Let's see if the so-called top scorer can actually score today. I've been preparing for this match like a man possessed."
For Valencia CF, this match was their shot at turning the league around.
They had to give it their all, and Timor believed that provoking Ho-young might be the breakthrough they needed.
But Ho-young was unfazed.
He just kept knocking at the door to the opposition's half.
And then, the opportunity came without warning.
Thud.
A pass from Ho-young reached the left midfielder.
At first glance, it looked ordinary, but it pulled Valencia's right-back higher up the pitch.
That opened up space behind him.
Real Madrid's left wing-back instantly charged into that gap.
It was Marcos Alonso, who had been inching forward for some time now.
"Play it in!"
Thud.
Marcos received the through ball in stride and immediately looked toward the center.
"!"
A storm was brewing in the middle of the box.
Charging into the space with incredible speed was Real Madrid's number 43.
Ho-young.
At that moment, Marcos knew.
There.
Ho-young's movement gave him the signal.
To send the cross toward the far post.
Marcos followed his instinct. It was the 41st minute of the first half.
Thump.
He curled the ball in with an instep kick, the trajectory bending as it soared into the box.
"Mark him!"
A fierce battle for position erupted between attack and defense.
The spin on the ball made it difficult to predict where it would land.
But Ho-young was already positioned near the far post.
And Marcos's cross, as perfect as ever, landed exactly there.
More precisely, on Ho-young's fully extended left leg.
Thud.
Build-up, complete.
Goal.
(To be continued.)