Alfredo Di Stéfano.
Holding triple citizenship from Argentina, Spain, and Colombia, he had recently spent his vacation in Argentina and Colombia.
But it wasn't just a holiday.
True to his position as Real Madrid's honorary president, he continued to monitor the club's situation closely.
Because things were far from ideal.
The board members, including Calderón, were preoccupied with continuing the business ventures initiated by Pérez, while Scolari was deeply immersed in shaping the squad into his own.
The Peace Cup victory may have looked good on paper, but in terms of match content, there were many issues.
At least, that's how Di Stéfano saw it.
With Roberto Carlos and Míchel Salgado gone, the defense had become unstable, and with Zinedine Zidane retired, the midfield no longer had its anchor.
That feeling of "veteran composure" was no longer there.
Although the world's best deep-lying playmaker, Xabi Alonso, had joined the team, he hadn't yet integrated enough to take full responsibility for the build-up play.
The attacking midfield and forward line were in a similar state.
Raúl was still a fearsome striker holding the line, but Cristiano Ronaldo and Ho-young had yet to display complete synergy.
This made them easy targets for the media.
And sure enough, the usually hostile press pounced at the opportunity, forming conspiracy theories and attacking the club.
Real Madrid needed to stabilize everything.
That's why the first thing Di Stéfano did upon returning to Madrid was to meet with the players.
Journalists assumed he would meet Ronaldo first.
But in reality, it was Ho-young who got the first appointment.
August 3.
At the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium, located in Valdebebas.
In the middle of the 6,000-seat empty stadium sat two figures.
An elderly man with snow-white hair, and a boy in a sharp suit.
After a brief greeting, Di Stéfano spoke first.
"Time really flies."
Ho-young quietly listened to his voice.
Meeting him like this was more nerve-wracking than expected.
They had met a couple of times during official events for Christmas and New Year's, but never one-on-one like this.
Di Stéfano continued.
"This is our first time sitting down alone. Should I introduce myself?"
"Of course not."
"These days, the kids in Madrid only know Pelé and Maradona. They don't know me at all."
"But I'm not one of them. My grandfather always tells me, 'Be a player like Di Stéfano.'"
"Sounds like your grandfather was a fan of mine."
"He still is. A huge one."
"Ha ha."
Di Stéfano chuckled, then used his deep mahogany cane to stand up.
"How long have you been here now?"
"Almost four years."
"Your age?"
"Sixteen."
"Ha!"
Tap, tap.
He raised his cane and pointed toward the vast pitch.
"Four years is a long time here. There are plenty who can't even last two or three. You've already achieved a lot."
"Thank you."
"But it's only just beginning."
Di Stéfano fell into a moment of reflection before continuing.
"I love Real Madrid. This place is full of history, stained with the blood and sweat shed in resistance against dictatorship. I'm grateful they built a stadium named after me in such a place."
Having played in the 1950s, shortly after the end of the Franco regime, he had deep sentiments about the club.
Back then, football really was like a war.
"We trained every day, playing and breathing football together. Right here, on this field."
He spread his arms wide as he spoke.
"The passion of madridismo. The spirit of Juanito. The struggle in white. All of those are intertwined in this place — this is Real Madrid. However..."
The preamble ended there.
Di Stéfano turned to Ho-young and moved into the main point.
"A club this great being under fire is unacceptable. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Of course. I have loyalty to this club. That's why I give my all every day."
"Loyalty, huh? These days, loyalty has long since turned into capital. What I'm talking about is not about loyalty."
Di Stéfano's brows furrowed deeply.
Wrinkles crinkled at the corners of his mouth.
Then, in a heavy tone, he said:
"You must not compete with Ronaldo. Competition should be between equals."
"Are you saying that to me?"
"Who else is here besides you?"
What was he saying all of a sudden?
Was he telling him to take a step back and hand over the spotlight to Ronaldo?
It wasn't an entirely unexpected statement, but it still stung Ho-young's pride.
Ronaldo had just arrived at Real Madrid.
In contrast, this was already Ho-young's fifth year at the club.
He had brought countless trophies to Castilla and Juvenil teams.
And yet, Ronaldo was being prioritized?
That wasn't something he could easily accept.
It felt like betrayal.
Ho-young's face stiffened slightly.
But then.
"Listen closely."
What Di Stéfano said next shocked Ho-young even more.
"Competition only brings real benefit when the one below is chasing the one above. You've chosen the wrong rival."
"So what you're saying is…"
"You need to set your sights higher than Ronaldo. Compete with someone above him."
A stunning declaration.
In other words, Di Stéfano viewed Ho-young as greater than Ronaldo.
"You really think that?"
"You still don't understand yourself. You're good at football, but you lack the ability to assess the essence. If you could precisely grasp the difference between you and your opponent, it would help even in psychological battles."
"Yes. I understand what you're saying."
Ho-young suppressed the overwhelmed expression threatening to surface.
Di Stéfano sat down again, continuing the conversation.
"I'm serious. I realized it watching you yesterday. No one in the world can match your ball control. And your potential is even higher than Ronaldo's."
That statement struck Ho-young with deep emotion.
His eyelids trembled.
To hear something like that directly from a Real Madrid legend — it was unimaginable.
But the next words were even more incredible.
"You shouldn't be competing with Ronaldo. Your benchmark should've been me."
"...!"
Alfredo Di Stéfano.
Despite never playing in a World Cup, he is mentioned alongside Pelé and Maradona due to his extraordinary ability.
Even that slight dent in his legacy caused by missing the World Cup barely reduced his stature.
If Pelé is the greatest player in football history, and Maradona the strongest, then Di Stéfano is often referred to as the most complete.
"The greatest all-around footballer" — a title that fits him perfectly.
It was no exaggeration.
When he had the ball, he was an attacking midfielder leading build-up and playmaking. When the opponent had the ball, he dropped into defense, organizing the entire backline. He even stepped into goal when needed.
In terms of versatility, no one in history matched him.
Until now.
But—
"I see myself in you. You can do it. Wherever you play, whatever role you take, dominate the pitch. That's the vision you should follow."
Ho-young slowly nodded in response.
Compete with someone in a higher position...
It felt like a sharp yet enlightening piece of advice.
Though brief, it was a conversation filled with invaluable insight.
"Did that help clear your mind?"
"Yes. It made my path clearer."
His mission was to carry out Scolari's instructions while maximizing his own talent to lead the game.
"Then may I ask a favor?"
"If there's anything I can help with, I'll gladly do it."
"If I ever need advice, may I come to you?"
"That would be welcome news to an old man who just spends his days in a rocking chair reading the paper. Players don't visit me because they find me intimidating, not because I'm busy. Next time, why not come with your grandfather?"
"That'd be a perfect way to repay him."
The reason Ho-young made that request was simple.
Di Stéfano was the perfect mentor.
And there was one more reason.
[Alfredo Di Stéfano]
[Possessed Talents: All-Rounder's Versatility (L), Indomitable Will to Win (SS-), Genius Tactical Understanding (S-), Sharp Eye for Players (A+)]
(Currently decayed talents cannot be viewed.)
(Satisfy conditions to acquire one talent.)
(For S-grade and higher, hidden conditions must be fulfilled.)
(Condition 1: Win the Champions League with Real Madrid)
(Condition 2: Win the Champions League Golden Boot with Real Madrid)
(Condition 3: Win La Liga with Real Madrid)
(Condition 4: Make 100 official appearances for Real Madrid)
(Condition 5: Accumulate 1,200 minutes of conversation with Alfredo Di Stéfano)
(Condition 6: Receive know-how from Alfredo Di Stéfano)
(Hidden Condition: Unlocks upon acquiring one or more talents)
If I can just acquire those, I won't have to worry about restrictions anymore.
Champions League title.
100 official appearances.
Not easy, but ultimately, goals he had to achieve anyway.
It was the perfect moment for Ho-young to reaffirm his objectives.
August passed quietly in Madrid.
That was because Real Madrid had gone on a world tour.
Their charter flight, carrying 25 players, began the American tour starting with Toronto, Canada.
With no limits on substitutions, Scolari tested a variety of combinations and tactics.
In the first match against Toronto FC, Ho-young and Raúl starred in a 4-1 win.
In the next match against D.C. United in the U.S., Ronaldo scored a hat-trick, continuing their winning streak.
The flaws pointed out during the Peace Cup were steadily being resolved.
Praise from football pundits also began to pour in.
Especially regarding the chemistry between Ho-young and Ronaldo, which was said to be improving day by day — a consensus among experts.
However, some media still tried to drive a wedge between them.
[Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly upset that Alfredo Di Stéfano met with Ho-young first.]
Articles filled with speculation ran rampant, but they weren't true.
Ronaldo wasn't petty or immature enough to sulk over something like that.
Of course, he might have felt a little disappointed.
But he also understood that Ho-young had already been with Real Madrid for four years.
Ronaldo had no issue with it.
The two began to spend more time together, gradually strengthening their bond.
The American nights were perfect for deepening their connection.
And back in Madrid.
President Calderón began a full-scale rebuilding of the squad.
That process continued until the end of August when the season was set to begin, and as a result, Real Madrid was transformed into an almost entirely new team.
(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.)