Before training began, Ronaldo went to meet with Pérez.
A decision had to be made first.
To be honest, his mind was already leaning heavily toward one word: transfer.
Plenty of clubs were currently showing strong interest in him.
Among them, AC Milan's offer stood out the most.
While AC Milan had earned the unfortunate nickname "retirement home" due to their aging squad, they remained a club of great prestige.
More importantly, they had numerous Brazilian players in their ranks, such as Kaká, Cafu, and Dida, which naturally made the club feel more like home to Ronaldo.
So, it was only natural that he felt drawn toward AC Milan.
Now, Ronaldo was in the presidential office located inside the Valdebebas board building.
The vice president, the technical director, and Pérez himself welcomed Ronaldo and his agent.
The meeting felt slightly awkward, but overall, the mood was light and friendly.
That was to be expected. Regardless of titles or roles, the five of them had always shared a close bond.
Ronaldo's relationships with the coaching staff had soured, but he had always maintained good ties with the board members.
They quickly got to the main point.
The topic of discussion was Ronaldo's transfer.
The technical director was the one who delivered the key statement.
"Real Madrid has decided to accept the 8 million euro offer from AC Milan."
The proposed fee for Ronaldo was approximately 12 billion KRW.
Considering that Real Madrid had originally signed him for 50 billion KRW, it was a painful deal for the club. But they could no longer afford to keep him.
Van Nistelrooy had already filled his spot with distinction.
Of course, even though Ronaldo was past his prime, he still showed flashes of brilliance and finishing prowess on occasion. But the issue was that those moments were even rarer than Guti's infamous "good days."
In simple terms, he had become a burden.
Too valuable to discard easily, but too costly to keep.
Most importantly, he didn't want to stay.
He had no face left to show the fans who had been hoping for his resurgence. He had also reached his limit with the constant media slander and insults he faced daily.
In the end, Pérez decided to let Ronaldo go and wished him well for his future.
He made no mention of tutoring Ho-young.
To ask a player who was on his way out to take on a tutoring role would have been the same as trying to squeeze every last drop out of him before selling.
That wasn't how Pérez operated.
He was someone who prided himself on maintaining his network.
Many former players and coaches remained close with him, even after leaving the club.
Ho-young was important, but Pérez wasn't willing to hurt his relationship with Ronaldo over it.
Even though Ronaldo's body had deteriorated, his name and influence were still valuable.
Too valuable to throw away.
That said, the transfer wasn't completely finalized yet.
Until the contract with AC Milan was signed, nothing was official.
Valdebebas, Castilla's Dedicated Training Ground.
Equipped with two full-size pitches and a mini field, this facility was Spain's top reserve-team training center, with everything necessary for training.
Beyond the wall on the far right was an even larger training complex, used by the first team.
In particular, a central building offered a view of the training sessions. Today, President Pérez, the vice president, the technical director, and Ronaldo's agent had taken seats inside the observation room.
Training soon began.
The atmosphere on the pitch was noticeably different from usual.
It felt gloomy and tense.
That was only natural. Castilla was in the midst of a major squad overhaul.
They had already released Juan Mata on a free transfer and had sold Negredo for 3 million euros (around 4.5 billion KRW), rapidly overhauling their team.
So far, nine players had been either loaned or transferred, bringing in 5 million euros for the club.
It was a clear reminder of how difficult it was to survive as a Real Madrid youth player.
Because of that, the existing Castilla players couldn't relax during training.
They were no longer just youth players who could afford to be careless.
Football had become their profession.
Their livelihood was at stake.
Their eyes were fierce.
To survive, they had to stand out during preseason training. Every session was a battle.
If they could survive this hell, they could earn a glory few ever would.
Soon, preparations for the training match were complete.
The format was an 11-a-side match. First, teams A and B would play for 30 minutes. Then, the rosters would be shuffled for another 30 minutes.
Finally, they would switch teams once more for a final 30-minute session.
Winning wasn't the goal. This was a match to showcase individual abilities.
Coaches stood in a line with clipboards, recording every detail of each player's performance.
This was to assess the necessity of each player before finalizing the Castilla roster.
Ronaldo was placed on Team B and started the match.
His position was as the left striker in a diamond 4-4-2 formation, and he was instructed to play the role of a classic poacher.
Behind him was attacking midfielder Ho-young.
'So this is how we're matched up.'
Ho-young.
Ronaldo couldn't help but pay attention to him.
Pérez, Míchel, Zidane, Lucci, even his wife — they had all gone on and on about Ho-young, to the point of exhaustion.
Especially Zidane.
During first-team training, Zidane would often say:
"He's the player who will carry on our generation."
To which Ronaldo would always reply,
"You're insane."
Sure, he could acknowledge that this Ho-young kid was probably talented.
'Why else would the president and Zidane make such a fuss?'
But so what?
Ho-young was only 14 years old.
What benefit could come from tutoring someone that young?
Besides, Ronaldo was already set on leaving the club.
No matter how talented some stranger's kid was, he couldn't care less.
Ronaldo himself had dominated in Brazil's second division against grown men at that age.
It was impossible for him to be impressed by anyone's play.
'Well, someone like Pato is worth acknowledging. Or that Bojan kid from Barcelona.'
Regardless, Ronaldo shook his head, signaling that he wasn't interested.
The match kicked off moments later.
Tak.
Team B, who had kickoff, began a rapid build-up from the start.
They were trying to make an impression before teams got reshuffled in 30 minutes.
The ball moved chaotically across the pitch.
Without any clear focus, players simply followed their instincts.
This wasn't structured football.
It was a raw, unpolished game constantly shifting based on individual playing styles.
No one could predict what would happen next.
This was where individual skill shone most clearly.
And that was the appeal.
It also revealed a player's adaptability, boldness, and mentality.
As expected, players who couldn't handle the pressure began to crumble one by one.
Many wasted energy with aimless movement, unsure of where to go.
It was like being thrown into the wild.
It revealed a lack of fundamentals and tactical understanding.
By contrast, Ronaldo was playing a very composed game.
His natural football sense, talent, and extensive match experience allowed him to perform smoothly.
Even if he wasn't the same as before, this level of match was beneath him.
His presence alone controlled the game, offering a sense of calm to those watching.
It was the mark of a true emperor of football.
Even though he had been overshadowed by Van Nistelrooy, class was permanent.
His display earned murmurs of admiration from the observation room.
However, there was a problem.
It didn't last long.
'That presence...'
Shk.
Ronaldo slowed his pace.
He observed the ball's movement, the formation of the players, and the pace of passes to read the game flow.
'No wonder the tempo picked up. The midfield's redirecting the flow.'
Possession football, centered on short passes through the middle, a style reminiscent of Wengerball was now being played.
He had no idea when it had started.
But the flow was incredibly natural, as if it had been rehearsed in advance.
Possession-based football had taken control of the pitch and was dictating the pace.
In Milan, Italy, this kind of transition is often called:
Tagliaerba.
Lawnmower.
It's a tactical reset to clean up messy play caused by set-pieces or turnovers, usually led by a defensive midfielder. The most famous example being AC Milan's Andrea Pirlo.
This situation was similar.
However, as more time passed, Ronaldo began to sense something different.
Rather than just coordinating defense and attack, it was more of a build-up aimed at initiating offense.
'Zidane?'
It was a systemized, individual-centered build-up based on high football IQ — something uniquely Zidane.
His influence was clear.
But that wasn't the only surprise.
'This playmaking…'
Zidane's style was evident, but it was layered with unique playmaking that facilitated the flow of attacks.
Ho-young was becoming the focal point of the team, keeping the ball under pressure and breaking through the opponent's high press with fearless movements and quick bursts of speed.
Could it be?
The scent of Kaká, his teammate from the 2006 World Cup, was all over it.
Ronaldo was sure of it.
Just like singers each have their own vocal tone, legendary footballers have distinctive playing styles that can be recognized instantly.
And Ronaldo, with his exceptional football sense, could spot it better than anyone.
There were clear traces of both Zidane and Kaká.
'What the hell is this hybrid?'
Ho-young.
A truly original player.
Ronaldo couldn't even begin to guess where he had learned to play like that.
"Tch."
Before he knew it, Ronaldo had become a mere observer, letting out a short snort through his nose.
He couldn't take his eyes off Ho-young.
On the pitch, Ho-young was acting like a field general, dictating tactics in real time.
And—
'He's fast and solid.'
He was using that body to guard space perfectly.
Tak!
After several passes, the ball made its way to Ronaldo's feet.
'Let's see.'
Thud!
With ease, Ronaldo placed the ball into the corner of the net.
The assist had come from the right winger, but anyone watching could tell this goal had been orchestrated by Ho-young.
"Ha ha."
It was absurd.
He couldn't understand how someone could play football like that.
All he could do was laugh.
"Haha."
Even within a team, dominance exists.
If that dominance isn't balanced, conflict arises.
Just like how Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard struggled to coexist due to their overlapping attacking roles.
But now, Ronaldo's grip on the game was slowly loosening, and control was shifting toward Ho-young.
The pitch was no longer Ronaldo's stage. It had become Ho-young's.
Ronaldo felt it on a visceral level.
It reminded him of when he first played with Luís Figo at Barcelona 11 years ago.
'It's been a while.'
It should have wounded his pride, but Ronaldo was smiling.
This wasn't anxiety.
It felt like wings had been attached to his back — his play was lighter, more fluid.
It was the kind of calm that only came when playing alongside truly exceptional players.
'Alright then.'
Ronaldo's eyes turned toward the ball.
For a moment, his gaze sharpened.
'Let's see what you've got.'
He was determined to show this unknown rookie what real football was.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)