After the first team's red vs. white intrasquad match, the friendly match schedule commenced.
The games were merely for assessing the players' condition before the league opener, so there were no broadcasts.
[Belgian First Division: Royal Charleroi SC]
3 – 1
[American Professional League: FC Cincinnati]
6 – 0
Boca Juniors showcased their signature all-out attacking football, securing two wins in two matches. Jiwoo Yoo did not participate in either match.
[Boca Juniors Wins Consecutive Friendly Matches!]
["Attack Is Our Pride": Boca's Offensive Football Shines]
[Will 'Little Prince' Yoo Play in the Final Match?]
The much-anticipated third match was against [Italian Serie A: Torino FC].
Boca Juniors led 2–1, scoring two goals in the first half but conceding one in the second.
"Manu, go get Yoo."
At the 70th minute, Jiwoo Yoo, warming up on the sidelines, was called upon.
Sebastian Lancellotti placed a hand on Jiwoo's shoulder as he approached after removing his training bib.
"You know what to do, right?"
"Yes."
"Good. Go out there and shake things up!"
Torino's head coach, Gustavo, watched as Jiwoo stepped onto the field after exchanging high-fives with his teammate.
The #30 Asian player stood out among the others on the pitch due to his unique appearance.
"Hmm... small frame."
With no prior matches under his belt, there was no data on Jiwoo. Gustavo assumed he was just one of many youth players the club was nurturing.
But then—
"What?"
Upon seeing Jiwoo's play, Gustavo's indifference turned into astonishment.
His clean ball touches, instinctive one-touch passes, and flawless decision-making were impressive.
"…Who is that kid?"
The Torino coach asked, unable to take his eyes off the youngest player on the field.
"He's an Asian player from our youth academy. His name is Jiwoo Yoo, and fans call him the 'Little Prince.'"
"The Little Prince?"
"He broke almost every record in the youth league, so the fans gave him that nickname."
Torino's defense was reputed to be one of the most solid in the league.
Their 5th place finish last season was largely due to the strength of their backline.
Yet now, even that sturdy defense was being disrupted by a small, agile player. Gustavo couldn't help but focus entirely on Jiwoo.
"If this keeps up, we'll get caught."
He waved his hand, signaling for a defensive adjustment.
Thud!
A few moments later, Torino's left-back, Osvaldo, began tightly marking Jiwoo, sticking to him like a shadow.
"You're quick for someone so small."
Osvaldo prided himself on shutting down fast players by reading their movements and blocking their path in advance.
He had stopped many such players in the league and was confident in dealing with pacey opponents.
But that confidence—
Was misplaced.
Thud!
This strategy only worked against players who relied on speed alone.
Jiwoo Yoo wasn't just fast—he had technique to match.
With a soft touch, he dragged the ball back with a drag-back feint.
"This kid—!"
He followed it up with a La Croqueta, throwing off Osvaldo's timing and cutting inside to the right.
Osvaldo scrambled to recover and extended his leg, but Jiwoo had already delivered a sharp cross toward the goal.
Whoosh!
The ball curved like a boomerang as it soared into the penalty area.
Ricardo Mesa, waiting in the drop zone, connected with a header, but the ball narrowly missed the goal.
"Ah! My bad! That should've gone in."
"It's fine."
Jiwoo reassured the apologetic Mesa and returned to his position.
Composure.
Confidence.
Since coming onto the pitch, Jiwoo tirelessly moved, seeking opportunities.
Given the physical differences, Jiwoo focused on staying one step ahead of his opponents.
As the clock ticked to the 89th minute, with one minute of regular time remaining, an opportunity arose.
After cutting off Torino's counterattack, Boca Juniors gained possession.
Jiwoo, positioned as an attacking midfielder, locked eyes with Javier Casero.
No words were needed.
They instinctively understood each other's intentions.
Thud!
Casero unleashed a powerful, precise pass that tore through Torino's defense.
And there was Jiwoo, who had been lingering on the right flank, suddenly making a penetrating run toward the center.
"Whoa!"
Timing his move perfectly, Jiwoo broke through the defensive line without being caught offside.
Tap-tap-tap!
Torino's defenders desperately chased after him, but Jiwoo's acceleration left them behind.
"Damn it!"
The more they ran, the further he pulled away.
Without even taking a touch, Jiwoo struck the incoming ball first-time with his left foot.
The goalkeeper, anticipating a shot to the right, was caught off guard and froze in place.
The ball curved toward the top-left corner, kissed the post—
Clang!
—And rattled into the net.
Clink!
Even Yashin himself wouldn't have stopped that shot.
Seeing the unstoppable goal, Torino's coach let out a bitter laugh.
"What kind of speed is that? Did someone unleash a cheetah onto the field?"
"Wow, the shot was insane. That burst of speed in such a short moment is unbelievable."
"Even at his age, he's exceptional. If he keeps growing like this... that kid will become a global superstar."
While the goal itself was remarkable, what stunned everyone even more was Jiwoo's off-the-ball movement.
In mere seconds, his single run had dismantled Torino's defensive line.
An overwhelming talent paired with relentless effort.
Breaking Free of Shackles in Korea, Jiwoo Thrives in Argentina
---
* * *
[Boca Juniors Wins All Preseason Matches!]
["Prince Jiwoo" Impresses with a Spectacular Goal!]
[Sebastián Rancella: "Our Goal is the League Title."]
[Torino's Gustavo: "Boca's Young Talent Will Shine Globally Someday."]
After stellar performances in the preseason, fan forums were abuzz with excitement.
---
[If the opposing coach is this impressed, how good was Jiwoo? Someone upload the match footage!]
[Has he officially joined the first team?]
[Not yet. The official squad lists Ángel Molina, but there's no info on Jiwoo.]
[Still, winning all three friendlies is a great sign. With Ángel joining and new transfers, this season could be different.]
[Don't be fooled. Boca always starts strong, but the second half is a disaster. Players burn out, and we lose leads because of poor stamina management.]
A recurring issue with Boca Juniors that experts often highlight is their thin roster and aging attacking core.
This often led to overworked veterans burning out, leaving the team to collapse in the latter half of the season.
---
["Prince Jiwoo" in Limbo? Boca Keeps Silent on First-Team Inclusion]
[Sebastián Rancella: "Jiwoo Has Tremendous Potential; We Will Make the Best Decision."]
To address these problems, fans and analysts pointed to integrating young talents like Jiwoo Yoo, Diego Rossi, Guillermo Darin, and Lautaro Orban into the first team.
---
* * *
That afternoon, Jiwoo went shopping with his sister after a morning training session.
"Oh~ you look like a celebrity like this!" she teased.
"Stop it and let's go."
With a mask and cap as his disguise, Jiwoo was fully prepared to avoid being recognized. Naturally, his sister found it amusing.
"Jiwoo."
"What?"
"Aren't you going back to Korea?"
"Do you want me to?"
"Aren't you supposed to be running Dad's restaurant while he's away? It must be busy."
"Uncle Youngtaek's managing it while Dad's gone, so everything's fine."
Kim Youngtaek was a childhood friend of their father and the head chef. He had trained under Jiwoo's dad and was now his business partner.
"What about Dabinn and Juhyun? When are they leaving?"
Jiwoo referred to his sister's friends, who were visiting in two weeks.
"…Can you talk about someone else?"
"You don't have any other friends, do you? With your personality— Ow! Ow! That hurts!"
His sister grabbed his ear with no mercy.
"How is this brat called the Prince of Boca?"
"Don't call me that."
"Prince Jiwoo~ Prince Jiwoo~ Prince Jiwoo~."
"No clothes for you."
"…Fine, fine."
He couldn't believe that she was one of Korea's top young chefs. Clearly, the country was full of odd people.
---
After much banter, they arrived at the boutique. Jiwoo's sister eagerly browsed the racks, even picking items for their mom.
While waiting for her to choose, Jiwoo was approached by the store owner.
"Jiwoo Yoo, right?"
"Haha… Yes."
"Is this your girlfriend?"
"…She's my sister. Please don't say such horrifying things."
The misunderstanding left Jiwoo shaken.
"My apologies! How about a 30% discount as an apology?"
"That's unnecessary."
"No, I insist! Oh, and would it be okay to take a photo with you?"
"Of course."
After signing an autograph and taking a picture, his sister sidled up to him.
"Be honest."
"About what?"
"You're possessed by a spirit when you play soccer, right? Come on, admit it."
…She needed to stop reading fantasy novels.
---
* * *
With the league opener a week away, Boca Juniors staff were in overdrive.
In the meeting room, Sebastián Rancella and his coaching staff reviewed preseason footage, analyzing player performances.
When Jiwoo Yoo's heat map appeared on the screen, the room buzzed with excitement.
"Wow."
As they pored over his stats, one figure stood out and left Rancella speechless.
"Top speed of 34 km/h?"
It was his speed.
"If this is accurate, Jiwoo is posting numbers comparable to the world's fastest players despite not debuting yet."
"Incredible. That's the highest in the club."
"Who held the previous record?"
"Javier at 31 km/h."
The current fastest player globally, Real Madrid's Gerard Leo, clocked in at 38 km/h. Jiwoo's speed at just sixteen put him in the same conversation, leaving the coaching staff stunned.
"What kind of freak is this kid?"
"A 16-year-old running that fast… Is Jiwoo's thigh made of diamonds?"
It was hard to believe a player this young could compete at such an elite level.
"Hahaha! Imagine pairing him with Ángel Molina and Javier up front. The synergy would be insane!"
"Plus, he's ambidextrous. He can shoot from any angle."
"Wait, Jiwoo can take free kicks with both feet?"
"Yes. That's a hallmark of Korean players—mastery of both feet."
"How accurate is he?"
"In the youth league, excluding long-range free kicks, he scored 12 out of 16 attempts: 7 with his right and 5 with his left."
A 75% success rate was staggering, even accounting for a lower level of competition.
"So he's not just fast; he's technically gifted and accurate?"
"Speed, ball control, shooting…."
Everyone in the room had the same thought.
"This kid is insane."
At just sixteen, excelling in one area was enough to label someone a promising talent. Excelling in three made Jiwoo a generational prospect.
As optimism filled the room, a loud noise interrupted the meeting.
Bang!
The door burst open, and in came Leopoldo Morea, the first-team training coach.
"Leopoldo? What's going on?"
Sebastián Rancella asked. Gasping for breath, Leopoldo blurted out:
"Carlos is injured!"
It was an unbelievable twist of fate.