Immediately after the match.
A brief interview was held at the photo zone set up on one side of the stadium.
The interviewee was Robinho, who had been named the Man of the Match.
From a tactical standpoint, it wouldn't have been strange if Ho-young, Carlos, or Zidane had received the award instead, but MOM is usually awarded to the top scorer.
No doubt, Robinho's performance was impressive.
He hadn't shown much in the first half, but he secured a hat-trick in the second half and led the team to a resounding victory.
A reporter from a Chicago regional broadcaster posed a question.
"How does it feel to be selected as Man of the Match?"
"Feels good."
"Haha. Maybe it's just me, but your face doesn't look very happy."
Laughter erupted from the crowd.
As the reporter pointed out, Robinho's expression showed no signs of joy. It was grim, to say the least.
What was even more amusing, though, was his response.
To the reporter's joke, Robinho replied seriously.
"It felt like a different kind of football than what I'm used to. Almost like Capello's ghost was following me."
He was referring to the dismal time when he couldn't play his style of football under Capello's management at Real Madrid.
In other words, a veiled criticism.
"Are you saying you weren't satisfied with the performance?"
"Not at all. We showed a perfect display. But I do think we could've played a flashier and more entertaining match. If I had gotten the ball more, I could've made the crowd even happier."
"So, you're saying today's game wasn't quite the Real Madrid style?"
"Well, there were a lot of players up from Castilla, so it was inevitable."
He was still being indirect, but anyone could tell he meant, "I scored, but I didn't like how the game went."
Journalists began pressing hard on the topic of possible discord within the team, but Robinho firmly denied it.
"Then let's move to another question."
The next question came from Hwang Tae-seok, a reporter from Korea's Ilgan Sports who had joined the interview as the Korean representative.
"My perspective is a bit different. If it weren't for Zidane's solid build-up play and Ho-young's creative playmaking, I don't think you would've scored a single goal today. What are your thoughts on that?"
"Scoring goals is what matters, regardless of how it happens. Even a clueless idiot knows that much."
"But towards the end of the match, the crowd seemed to be chanting other players' names more than yours. Zidane, Carlos, or even Ho-young, for example."
When Hwang Tae-seok pointed out this undeniable fact, Robinho abruptly changed the subject.
"You're Korean, right?"
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"Well, it's none of my business, but I won't be answering any more of your questions. Go interview the Korean you adore so much."
The atmosphere suddenly turned cold.
"What's wrong with him all of a sudden?"
"Did they already not get along or something? That wasn't even a harsh question."
Whispers and puzzled voices started rising throughout the area.
Trying to defuse the situation, a reporter from Reuters posed another question.
"Robinho, there are rumors that Chelsea is trying to sign you. Do you have anything to say about that?"
"I led Real Madrid to a title last year. What more is there to say? People might leave, but it won't be me."
Chelsea had been looking for a top-class winger during this transfer window, and Robinho was among their targets.
But he had no interest in joining the Premier League, known as the graveyard for Brazilians.
He preferred Spain, where technical ability was prioritized.
Besides, he loved Real Madrid.
Pérez adored him, and Robinho wanted to become the king of Real Madrid.
He didn't want to leave.
This interview was a way of throwing a tantrum toward Pérez, hoping he'd respond favorably.
The journalists, sensing Robinho's intentions, began asking pointed questions.
"Is this an attempt to push back against the rising star Ho-young?"
A sharp question.
Robinho widened his eyes and responded.
"Who compares a toddler who just started walking to an adult spreading his wings? You only compete with people at your level."
Despite his words, Robinho was clearly wary of Ho-young.
Yet he refused to acknowledge Ho-young's skills. Or rather, he didn't want to.
'Without Zidane, that kid's nothing. If he wants to be compared to me, he can try climbing up to the first division first.'
It was something he wanted to say out loud, but he held it in.
He figured that was enough to get the board's attention and hoped they'd come to coddle him.
At that moment, in the president's office at Santiago Bernabéu.
Pérez stood on the balcony, gazing down at the pitch deep in thought.
All because of Robinho's interview.
It had already triggered countless gossip articles and created a huge stir.
Pérez knew Robinho hadn't spoken thoughtlessly.
It was a clear message meant for him.
Asking to be loved more.
Begging not to be discarded.
So far, Pérez hadn't given any response.
When Chelsea had signed Robben the previous year, a similar situation arose, and Pérez had sent the technical director to calm Robinho down.
But this time, things were different.
"Enough is enough."
Even with his love for Brazilians, Pérez couldn't bring himself to love Robinho's lack of professionalism.
He loved Brazilian players for their skills, which compensated for their weak mentality.
Especially their ability to mesmerize crowds with brilliant on-the-ball play.
But this season, a player had emerged with both skill and mentality.
Ho-young.
'If Ho-young were to replace Robinho...'
What would happen?
The thought alone made Pérez hesitate.
The question was whether Ho-young was ready to take Robinho's place.
Pérez believed the odds were high.
Schuster, whom Pérez had just spoken with, shared the same view.
Regarding Ho-young, he had said:
– We'll have to see, but if Guti and Zidane support him, I think we'll get something great. Just like how Ronaldinho and Xavi brought out the best in Messi. I think Ho-young is ready to receive the spotlight.
Having nurtured Ho-young himself, Pérez was quite pleased with this statement.
Still, discarding Robinho just because of Ho-young's potential at this point would be a foolish move.
Even so, Pérez found himself wavering, for good reason.
Standing next to him, Technical Director Miguel Angel spoke up.
"Chelsea did raise their offer to 60 million euros after initially offering 35 million, but it's unclear how Peter Kenyon will move. They see either Robinho or Malouda as essential for the Champions League. For us, sending Malouda instead would be ideal. No bigger headache than facing Robinho in the Champions League."
"That's true."
If they were to let go of Robinho, they could give Ho-young more opportunities by rotating him with Malouda.
Still, Robinho's move to Chelsea couldn't be approved easily.
'If only someone would step up and help right now.'
"We'll have to wait and see. What else can we do?"
"Exactly. The Olympics are just around the corner anyway."
Their showdown.
The result would be decided soon.
Both Robinho and Ho-young were highly likely to be called up for the Olympics.
'Whichever one makes a bigger name for himself, that will be the deciding factor.'
If one of them returned as an Olympic star, his image rights alone would skyrocket.
Meanwhile, Ho-young, now outside the stadium, received a reward.
[You have acquired Dribbling Genius's Footwork (U).]
[A fusion is possible with the similar-type talent, Fantastical Dribbling (S-).]
[Due to the lower absolute value, Fantastical Dribbling (S-) will be transferred into Dribbling Genius's Footwork (U).]
Last week.
Upgrading Genius Dribbling (A+3) to Fantastical Dribbling (S-) had finally paid off.
A few days later.
Real Madrid's tour squad wrapped up its Chicago schedule and departed for Los Angeles.
On the 12th.
A match was scheduled at StubHub Center in front of 30,000 spectators, where they would face Paris Saint-Germain.
At exactly 2 PM, LA Galaxy's superstar Beckham kicked things off, and the big match began.
Although PSG's squad was considerably weaker than Madrid's, they still held their own in terms of performance, befitting France's top-tier club.
Anchored by a solid backline of Sylvain Armand, Grégory, Mamadou Sakho, and Ceará, they held firm and conceded only one goal in the first half.
But in the 60th minute.
The momentum shifted when Ho-young came on as a substitute for Robinho.
Despite his young age, Mamadou Sakho, the defensive core of PSG, began to show signs of nervousness. His defensive coordination started to falter.
It was understandable.
For Sakho, Ho-young was a nightmare.
A true nemesis.
Back at the Montaigu Tournament in France, he had suffered a painful defeat. A rematch was the last thing Sakho wanted.
In fact, it scared him.
Still, as a professional, Sakho tried to compose himself.
'That was three years ago. I've grown so much since then.'
With a determined glare, he vowed to stop Ho-young.
But it was no use.
Ho-young had changed. Too much.
The boy from three years ago was gone.
If Sakho had grown by 100, then Ho-young had...
'What on earth has he been doing?'
He couldn't even comprehend it.
What had happened in the meantime to produce a player like this?
Then the thought crossed his mind.
'What about three years from now...?'
When Ho-young turned 18.
He couldn't even imagine what the boy would become.
The match was completely one-sided.
Madrid launched relentless waves of attack, and PSG's defense crumbled.
Once Sakho lost his composure, the backline collapsed entirely.
Real Madrid sensed the opportunity and fired in four goals in quick succession.
The crowd, thrilled by the display, fell completely in love with Madrid.
StubHub Center was filled with deafening cheers throughout the second half.
By the time the final whistle blew, the scoreboard showed a thrilling 5-2 result.
The MOM of the day was Higuaín, who had netted a hat-trick. During his interview, he showered Ho-young with praise, further diminishing Robinho's presence.
That marked the end of Madrid's official schedule in the United States.
What followed were various events hosted by the organizers, and on the 15th, the team boarded a plane to Asia.
Their next destination was Korea.
Tuesday, July 15th, 2008, 2 PM.
Roughly 3,000 fans had gathered at Incheon International Airport.
It was the highest turnout since the airport's opening, even surpassing the record set by Manchester United's visit the previous year.
With the arrival of the team, over 80 personnel, including special police units and private security teams, were deployed to prevent any incidents.
Then.
As the players in white-collared shirts began exiting the gate one by one, a flurry of camera flashes went off.
Fans screamed and cheered in welcome.
The moment Zidane walked out with both hands in his pockets, the crowd's reaction reached a fever pitch.
"Kyaaa!"
"I love you!"
"You're so cool!!!"
Fans from Zidane's personal fan café passionately waved placards and welcomed his arrival in Korea.
No one was more surprised than Zidane himself.
"Oh."
'Was I always this popular?'
Though he was always well received wherever he went, such a sight was rare in an Asian country.
Even during his peak six years ago when he came to Korea for the World Cup, it hadn't been like this.
Somehow, his popularity seemed to have grown with age.
But the real surprise hadn't come yet.
"My God."
As Zidane was basking in his own unexpected popularity.
The moment the lone Asian boy emerged from the gate, an ear-splitting scream erupted through the airport.
Ho-young.
The power of a hometown star was incredible, and just like that, Real Madrid's historic first visit to Korea was off to a wildly successful start.
(To be continued.)