Weird Defender Joo Ji-Tae

166 – Her Reason for Watching

166

Antoni Pruna, the financial director of Barcelona, had been walking around with a gloomy face for months. His employees even called him “zombie” because of his pale complexion. However, he was now beaming with joy, as if he had just won the lottery.

“Haha! Who would have thought that this impossible contract would bring us such a huge profit?”

It was the beginning of the season.

No, it was even before the season started. Barcelona’s massive signing of Juzitae had blown a hole in the team’s finances.

The transfer fee alone was 125 million euros, and the annual salary was 13 million euros. The bonus system was also astronomical, with a basic salary of 80,000 euros per game, plus additional bonuses for winning and other achievements. And if Juzitae didn’t transfer within three years, the team would have to pay him an additional 150 million euros. It was a crazy contract.

Antoni Pruna was worried about the financial burden, but others were thrilled by Juzitae’s performances on the field.

However, the financial situation at Barcelona was dire. The team had to let go of its living legend due to financial constraints.

It wasn’t just a matter of one player; the entire team’s finances were in shambles. The interest of global fans had dwindled, and the team’s revenue had decreased. The officials had tried to replace Messi with big-name signings, but it had only led to increased expenditure.

…But the result was a disaster.

After releasing Messi, the team had signed several big names, but it had only increased the salary expenditure. The revenue had decreased, but the expenditure had increased.

That’s why Antoni Pruna’s face had brightened up only after the mid-season mark.

Juzitae’s performances had brought in more money than the team had spent on his transfer fee and salary.

The prize money and broadcasting rights alone were a huge profit.

From winning the Supercopa de España to the Copa del Rey, La Liga, and the Champions League – although it was still early days – the team’s finances were finally looking up.

Just the prize money and broadcasting rights alone are astronomical!

Not to mention the countless revenue streams generated by his superstar status, as evaluated by the media after Messi… It’s truly astonishing why he’s considered a superstar.

So, it was.

Every time he played a game, scored a goal, or made a successful defense, Anthony Pruna, who hadn’t watched a game in a long time, would think about the dividends and incentives he had to pay to Juzitae, and he couldn’t help but watch Barcelona’s game at home.

“Hmm, Juzitae and Fernando Alvarez are going head-to-head in El Clásico… If we can make this work, it’ll be a huge sensation. We need to highlight their rivalry even more—”

Anthony Pruna, who always thought about making money first, nodded his head as he looked at the lineups of both teams on the screen.

“It’s so easy now that those overpaid players are gone!’

At that moment, the camera, which was showing the players warming up on the field, panned to the stands.

In his eyes, he saw Juzitae’s girlfriend, who looked like a 12-year-old Educación Secundaria student, but with a beauty that was hard to ignore.

Honestly, to his eyes, Juzitae also looked like a high school student.

“Those two are engaged? It’s like a kid’s play!”

She was pretty, but looked too young, and didn’t fit Anthony Pruna’s taste. He preferred the s*xy woman next to her. Juzitae’s fiancée was chatting happily with someone… Ah, she seemed familiar? So, he felt familiar? His eyes widened as he tilted his head.

“Wait! She’s the daughter of the Toveya family!!”

Filha Villa Toveya.

She was the daughter of the Toveya family, the owner of the luxury brand Charlotte!

“Wait a minute… wasn’t Juzitae’s fiancée popular? Charlotte… Toveya… If we can combine this well…”

His mind, which was crazy about money, quickly came up with a brilliant idea.

“This is perfect timing!”

The game on TV was about to start, but Anthony Pruna didn’t care.

It was El Clásico against Real Madrid, but who cared about the result?

With a thought that was unbecoming of a Catalan, Anthony Pruna quickly left his house. He wasn’t a Catalan, after all.

* * *

＜ 34/35 LaLiga 33rd Round ＞

Barcelona: Real Madrid

Estadio Santiago Bernabéu

[Barcelona 4-1-2-3]

FW: Mark Guigu / Iker Rodriguez / Jose Marsa

CM: Pablo Lopez / Arnau Pradas

DM: Miguel Gomez

DF: Alexis Olmedo / Juzitae / Madu Murcia / Pau Berges

GK: Hector Port

[Real Madrid 4-3-3]

FW: Aitor Casoza / Fernando Alvarez / Michal Zuck

MF: Francisco Gento / Carlos Sanchez / Federico Munoz

DF: Luciano Castel / Jose Antonio Ramon / Bernd Schuster / Andrejinho

GK: Georges Montbert

The 33rd round of LaLiga at Real Madrid’s home, Bernabéu Stadium.

(Joyeon, who liked to watch games comfortably at home, had recently started to enjoy watching live games.)

The thrill of being at the stadium? The excitement? The atmosphere?

Well… yeah, that kind of thing exists. But what matters most to Jo Yeoshin’s heart is,

“The clothes are over here.”

“Would you like to try our welcome food and drinks?”

It’s because she’s been treated like royalty, with VIP service that’s hard to resist. The more luxurious the club, the better the VIP lounge is bound to be. It’s very satisfying, like Real Madrid.

“Hmm, hmm.”

Jo Yeoshin nodded in satisfaction as she gazed at the buffet-like spread of food.

From fruits to various bread and even dishes like pig’s feet, there were wines, whiskeys, and beers. Of course, only adults could drink; she wouldn’t even if she could, because it didn’t taste good.

Jo Yeoshin’s interest lay in the delicious food.

She had no interest in the numerous trophies around the lounge that showcased Real Madrid’s glorious history or the uniforms with players’ signatures. The only impression she got was,

“Yeah, this uniform is prettier.”

“Ah, please go ahead and take it. Ah, Easterner… interpreter… hmm…”

In the midst of all this, she also met a beautiful and s*xy older sister.

“Do you know Korean?”

“Oh! Are you Korean!?”

“…No, I’m from Catalonia. My name is Phila Villa.”

Phila Villa, with a ridiculous expression, soon burst into laughter.

“That was a funny joke. You’re Korean? I’ve never heard that before.”

Jo Yeoshin also laughed in response.

It wasn’t a joke.

After enjoying her meal for a while, Jo Yeoshin came out to the VIP seats with the Spanish older sister who spoke Korean well. In the meantime, some old man kept staring, but Jo Yeoshin ignored him with a carefree attitude.

“Ugh, I know what’s pretty. But I’m a sold-out woman.”

The VIP seats, covered with a transparent screen, weren’t as close to the stadium as she thought. They were actually quite high up, so the players looked up at her.

However, it was great for viewing the entire stadium.

So her parents were happy, but honestly, Jo Yeoshin thought it was too far.

“Hmm, if it’s like this, I won’t be able to see my guy. What if I can’t find him?”

She had promised to do a heart ceremony if she scored a goal today.

Anxious Jo Yeoshin tapped her feet and gazed at the players warming up on the ground. Even from a distance, she could recognize her man with one glance.

“Older sister, what if my husband can’t find me?”

“…Husband? Are you married?”

“That’s right! I’m a sold-out woman!”

Not yet, but she would be soon.

“Earlier, you said you were a student… how old are Korean high school students? Wait, is this real? Should I report this…?”

As she watched the older sister fall into chaos, Jo Yeoshin laughed brightly.

“Ah! It’s starting now!”

The game was about to begin.