SWR: Chapter 1246/1250

Chapter 1246: They've Practically Plucked All the Wool Off Their Backs

Florentino and his delegation spent three days in Leeds and signed a cooperation agreement with a high-profile company.

The agreement essentially finalized that the two parties would begin cooperating from the start of the new season, with Gao Shen taking full charge of many matters concerning Real Madrid's first team, including the appointment and dismissal of the head coach.

It could be said that after signing this agreement, Gao Shen would have absolute control over Real Madrid's sporting affairs.

Additionally, Gao Shen would use the summer break to renovate and upgrade the hardware and software facilities at Real Madrid's training base.

Of course, all of these would incur additional charges, depending on the terms of the cooperation.

When the announcement was made, Gao Shen was appointed as Real Madrid's technical director, overseeing the team's sporting operations. However, his authority was much greater than that of Valdano before him. He would report directly to Florentino Pérez and be on equal footing with CEO José Sánchez.

Real Madrid would also make corresponding adjustments to the club's management structure.

This marked a clear signal that the head coach-centered competitive system that had existed during the Gao Shen era had been dismantled. From now on, the core figure would be Gao Shen as technical director, and the head coach would become subordinate to him.

Florentino was feeling anxious, as it was already March, and there was not much time left before the end of the league. He hoped Gao Shen and his team could finalize Real Madrid's plan for the new season as soon as possible.

At the same time, he also instructed Gao Shen to expedite the process of sending personnel to Madrid to complete follow-up negotiations and sign the contract quickly.

He was desperate for Gao Shen's help in stabilizing morale within the club.

Su Qing had always been in charge of this matter, and Gao Shen trusted her to handle it.

Incidentally, Gao Shen specifically inquired with Florentino Pérez and José Sánchez about Real Madrid's transfer budget this summer and their direction in the market.

Florentino Pérez was very clear that Mbappé was the superstar the club most wanted to sign, especially after his outstanding performance at Leeds United this season. Mbappé was the most promising young superstar in world football, and Real Madrid absolutely did not want to miss out.

Gao Shen directly told Florentino that anyone could take Mbappé away, as long as they could pay 250 million euros and persuade him to leave.

This was an agreement between Gao Shen and Mbappé made the previous year.

In terms of character, Gao Shen was far better than Tottenham's Levy. He had always been a man of his word.

Florentino, however, was not fully satisfied with just Mbappé. He wanted to bring in another superstar.

Di María and Benzema were no longer young. Ramos on the back line was also aging. Even Nacho, who had once been considered a young player, was now 29 years old.

It could be said that Real Madrid was facing a serious generational transition, requiring experts to help resolve the potential issues during this phase.

When it came to transfer fees, Florentino Pérez was quite generous, stating that Real Madrid wanted the best.

One of the main reasons why Real Madrid's president had such strong financial backing was the wealth accumulated over the past few seasons.

During Gao Shen's coaching tenure, Real Madrid achieved excellent results year after year and had consistently been the highest-revenue club in European football. Yet surprisingly, Real Madrid was able to break even each year and always maintained a modest profit.

Real Madrid had been debt-free for five consecutive years, which was a rarity in European football.

Starting in the summer of 2018, Real Madrid officially began renovations at the Bernabéu. Numerous banks were eager to provide funds at incredibly low interest rates and with long repayment periods.

Therefore, Gao Shen had no doubts about Real Madrid's current financial strength.

"Superstar, young, and with potential. That's what I require," Florentino said with a smile.

But at the end, he added, "I think the players at Leeds United are really good."

Gao Shen gave a wry smile. "You can't just keep fleecing one company like crazy, or you'll end up bald!"

Florentino's idea probably wasn't a stroke of genius.

With the signing of Mbappé, Real Madrid would undoubtedly build the team around him. Signing more Leeds United players would allow them to better cooperate with Mbappé and avoid any compatibility issues.

For example, Ousmane Dembélé, the French winger, was not only Mbappé's teammate at Leeds United, but also a teammate in the French national team. More importantly, he was a two-footed player, proficient with both feet, and clearly maxed out in terms of talent.

To put it more professionally, apart from his love of playing video games, he didn't have any major flaws.

However, his market value was certainly over 100 million euros.

This was the market price for top-tier young talent nowadays.

Many might find it outrageous, but Mbappé was only 19 years old. If he played for Real Madrid, he could easily stay for over a decade. Even if he cost 250 million euros, the yearly cost averaged out wasn't too high.

Ousmane Dembélé was only 22 and could play for another 10 years. Spending over 100 million euros on him meant a little over 10 million per year, which seemed like a great deal no matter how you looked at it.

This was the current trend in European football transfers. The younger and more talented the player, the higher the price they could command.

Of course, there were also top stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Toni Kroos, and Luka Modrić, who were rare finds. They were usually very expensive, and once one hit the transfer market, it would definitely cause a sensation.

For example, Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City's current midfield core, or Eden Hazard, the Belgian winger, both would certainly command transfer fees in the range of 100 to 200 million euros.

Of course, if the player was in the final year of their contract, it was another matter. But these days, clubs were sharp. They rarely waited until the last year. As soon as they sensed something was off, they acted quickly.

...

After sending off Florentino and his group, Gao Shen called his former assistants one by one.

Carlo, Buenaventura, Pintus, and Lopis were currently unemployed. Gao Shen had already contacted them by phone, and they all agreed to continue working with him.

As for salaries and benefits, Gao Shen would never let them suffer a loss. They didn't even bring it up.

Analyst Carlos Vargas was currently working at Real Madrid, and Gao Shen was considering putting him in charge of this matter.

After Gao Shen took over as technical director, the Real Madrid head coach became his subordinate. However, the head coach still needed to be able to stand on his own, so they had to find a suitable candidate.

As Gao Shen began preparing to assemble his Real Madrid team, Nasser also brought Paris Saint-Germain's top management to Leeds.

The European football world might be large, but it was also very small.

Do you remember when Gao Shen left Real Madrid in 2006 and nearly took over at Juventus, who had just been relegated to Serie B? The person who strongly advocated for Gao Shen at the time was Jean-Claude Blanc, then CEO of Juventus.

Later, when Gao Shen led Napoli to rise, Blanc made multiple attempts to lure him to Juventus. Even when Gao Shen left Napoli in 2009, Blanc invited him again.

Years had passed, and surprisingly, Blanc was now the CEO of Paris Saint-Germain.

Blanc had held this position since 2011, when PSG was acquired.

As head coach and CEO, the two had not had much interaction over the years.

After so many years, their reunion was emotional.

"After we got back, every time I mentioned our conversation, he kept saying, 'You must believe in him. You must believe in him!'" Nasser said with a laugh as he watched Gao Shen and Blanc embrace.

He hadn't known about the history between Blanc and Gao Shen. If he had, he would have definitely brought Blanc along earlier.

Just like with Florentino and his group, Gao Shen took Nasser and Blanc to visit the AXA Centre and the University of Leeds. Like Florentino's group, they were amazed by what they saw.

Blanc was the most surprised of all. He never expected the young man from back then to not only become one of the world's top coaches, but also achieve such incredible progress in his football career.

But after visiting those places, they understood why Leeds United had developed so many outstanding talents and achieved such brilliant results under Gao Shen, and why Gao Shen's coaching record was so exceptional.

This was exactly what Paris Saint-Germain currently lacked the most.

After the tour, both sides entered formal negotiations. Gao Shen was upfront with Nasser and Blanc, stating that his company had already signed a cooperation agreement with Real Madrid. While it didn't exclude cooperation with other top clubs, the terms were clear.

Gao Shen made his stance known from the beginning. If they could accept it, they could continue discussions. If not, then they could end things here.

Nasser had already guessed from the media coverage of Florentino's visit to Leeds that Gao Shen was involved, but he didn't expect Real Madrid to move so quickly.

Originally, PSG had wanted to offer a higher fee to secure an exclusive agreement with Gao Shen.

Now, it was clearly too late.

Nasser couldn't hide his disappointment. A head coach like Gao Shen undoubtedly had a world-class team. If they could serve PSG exclusively, the club would surely rise.

Gao Shen already had a general understanding of PSG's situation. He had inquired about it from several sources, but before a contract was signed, he wouldn't express any opinions.

Nasser then excused himself and left Blanc alone for a while, clearly to discuss the matter privately.

About ten minutes later, they returned.

"While we would love for you and your team to serve us, we can't change what's already happened. I just want to know, do you have the confidence to lead your team and manage both Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain?"

Gao Shen smiled and nodded. "You don't need to worry about that. My position at Real Madrid is technical director, and I won't be coaching personally."

It was unrealistic for Gao Shen to coach two teams at the same time.

But as a technical director, it was feasible to work with both clubs.

Nasser and Blanc exchanged glances and nodded. Nasser then stood up and solemnly extended his hand to Gao Shen.

"On behalf of Paris Saint-Germain, I welcome you and your team."

Gao Shen stood up and shook hands with Nasser.

The matter was now settled.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1247: Buy Whichever One You Like

"I think Darwin's theory of evolution also applies to the world of football."

At the dinner hosted for Nasser and Blanc, Gao Shen, along with Lucas and Borrell, discussed his ideas for forming a team with the Paris Saint-Germain management. It was also a way to promote mutual understanding.

"Survival of the fittest?" Nasser asked, quite surprised.

How could evolutionary theory relate to professional football?

"Yes, survival of the fittest, not survival of the strongest." Gao Shen picked up where Nasser left off, emphasizing the point.

Seeing Nasser's puzzled expression, Gao Shen smiled and elaborated further.

"Survival of the fittest means nature eliminates species that cannot adapt to it, while survival of the strong suggests nature eliminates the weak. These are two completely different concepts."

"Let me give you an example. Dinosaurs were powerful, while ants are weak, right? But the fact is, nature eliminated the dinosaurs, while ants have survived to this day. We can't say ants are stronger than dinosaurs. It's just that ants are better adapted to their environment."

This profound example was simple and easy to understand.

"So, what you mean is that to survive and thrive in professional football, one must adapt to the changing trends of the game. Is that it?" Blanc asked, trying to guess.

"Yes, but I also want to express another point. When building a team, we don't always need to chase after the strongest players, but rather seek out the right ones."

Gao Shen's words made Nasser and Blanc fall into deep thought.

Lucas and Borrell exchanged a glance, both noticing the hidden smile in their colleague's eyes.

They had worked with Gao Shen for many years, so they naturally knew that he always had his own unique way of speaking and acting.

Right or wrong, he always managed to stand on the moral high ground. Most importantly, people were always convinced by him and followed him without question.

It had to be said that this was a form of high-level personal charisma.

Just like now, Nasser and Blanc were clearly reminded of PSG's transfer operations in recent years.

A lot of money had been spent, but what had the team really achieved?

Success, yes, but only in Ligue 1.

Over the years, the conflicts and contradictions within Paris Saint-Germain had only intensified, and the internal power struggle had become increasingly uncontrollable. Both the Qatari consortium behind the club and Nasser himself had suffered as a result.

Not long ago, Tuchel said in a media interview that he felt more like a politician than a head coach.

The implication was clear: he was dissatisfied with the team's situation, especially the management.

German sports magazine Kicker once reported that former AC Milan and Inter Milan coach Leonardo, former Porto director Antero Henrique, and former Reims sporting director Olivier Létang were all once in charge of transfers at PSG.

This alone showed the chaos within the club's management.

In daily operations, Nasser maintained close contact with Neymar. This kind of relationship that bypassed the coach was undoubtedly a major taboo in football management and made Tuchel's position incredibly difficult.

Neymar was the most expensive signing in football history and a top superstar. Whether for the promotion of the Qatar World Cup or because he was the team's star, it was understandable that the Qatari consortium treated him differently.

But the problem now was that no one in the club could control Neymar.

There had also been previous conflicts, like the one between Ibrahimović and Cavani, among others.

Paris Saint-Germain was very similar to the first Galácticos era that Gao Shen once coached. They had many star players, but they were never able to become a cohesive unit. The whole team was a disorganized mess.

In Ligue 1, they dominated due to their superior strength. But in the Champions League, they were repeatedly eliminated in the round of 16.

This was the issue Paris Saint-Germain was currently facing.

Both Nasser and Blanc were well aware that the club's problems were long-standing and deeply rooted. Only radical reform could fix it. Otherwise, PSG would continue to sink deeper into the mire.

This was why they quickly hit it off with Gao Shen.

It wasn't just because of Gao Shen's coaching ability, but also because of his prestige and status. Once he stepped in, he could take full control of the situation. Even Neymar would have to behave in front of him.

"Before we officially begin our collaboration, I need to know: do you want superstars, or do you want results?"

Before Nasser and Blanc could respond, Gao Shen continued, "Undoubtedly, superstar status is temporary. To put it bluntly, whether it's Neymar, Ibrahimović, or Cavani, their popularity has all declined significantly since joining PSG. Have you ever wondered why?"

The influence of Ligue 1 was a factor, but that was a systemic issue PSG alone couldn't solve. It could only be addressed gradually.

More importantly, PSG consistently failed to deliver results. It gave the impression of being a rich club with no coherent tactical system.

"You signed Neymar, and now you want to sign Mbappé. I want to ask, do these two players actually work together?"

That question left Nasser and Blanc speechless.

The conflict between Neymar and Mbappé wasn't just about positioning, but also about clashing tactical styles.

The Brazilian superstar represented a typical Latin American ball-control playstyle, while Mbappé relied on speed and explosiveness. Neymar was more like Messi. Mbappé was more like Ronaldo.

So how do you activate Messi and Ronaldo on the same team?

If you don't believe it, just look at Real Madrid and Barcelona. Were their lineups and tactics ever the same?

In his previous life, Paris Saint-Germain had been trapped in this contradiction for several years. As Mbappé's rise threatened Neymar's position, the conflict only became more evident.

If Neymar was comfortable, then Mbappé wouldn't be, and vice versa.

The goal was to activate two star players at the same time, but the midfield was in complete disarray.

Another issue was the outdated idea of building a team like assembling a jigsaw puzzle.

As Gao Shen had said before, PSG still used a piecemeal approach to team-building. But this caused problems, just like their current midfield.

Rabiot, Kanté, Jorginho, Lass Diarra, Paredes...

Do you see the problem?

They were all role players.

It's worth noting that back when Ancelotti was in charge, there were players like Pastore, Lucas Moura, and Ménez, who could carry the ball and break through. But now?

Everyone had noticed that once Neymar got injured, PSG lost its soul. No one else could carry the ball forward.

For that reason alone, PSG should be thankful just to make it to the knockout stage.

And this wasn't a problem exclusive to PSG. Many top teams faced the same issue.

Take Manchester United for example.

In his previous life, after Manchester United signed Pogba for a record fee, shouldn't they have built the team and tactics around him?

Later, when Pogba had a falling out with Mourinho, and Mourinho was sacked, didn't that mean Pogba's role should have been further solidified?

So why didn't they?

If United didn't want to build around Pogba, why buy him in the first place? Why sack Mourinho?

This brings us back to Gao Shen's theory of evolution: survival of the fittest.

Suitability should always be the first consideration in team sports.

Whether it's Mbappé or Ronaldo, they could both be the leading scorer and attacking spearhead of the team, but neither should be the tactical core on the pitch.

When Gao Shen led Real Madrid to six straight Champions League titles, the tactical core was always in midfield. Whether it was Kroos, Modrić, Xabi Alonso, or Casemiro, the heart of the team was never in the forward line.

On the contrary, the first thing Gao Shen did after taking over Real Madrid in 2012 was to sell the attacking midfielder and move the tactical core to midfield. That decision led to Real Madrid's brilliant achievements in recent years and also revitalized Cristiano Ronaldo.

Players like Messi, Neymar, Hazard, Pogba, and Modrić could all serve as the tactical core, but the system had to be built around them to maximize their value.

"What I mean is, don't buy Mbappé. Build your tactics around Neymar. We need to strengthen the right winger position. Draxler can play both flanks, but that's not enough."

"We also need a midfielder who can control the game and carry the ball forward."

In attack, PSG had Cavani, Choupo-Moting, and Nkunku. That was enough.

At center-back, they had Benatia, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, and Kimpembe.

In goal, they had Buffon, Areola, Trapp, and Navas.

From any angle, Paris Saint-Germain had a strong, well-equipped squad. If they could address their weaknesses through signings, stabilize the locker room, and make full use of existing resources, Gao Shen believed the team could deliver results.

More importantly, PSG faced far less pressure in Ligue 1, which allowed them to focus more on the Champions League. That was a major advantage.

Other clubs in top leagues still had to deal with domestic competition, so they must have been envious of PSG.

However, a lack of competition in the league could also lead to players becoming complacent and lazy.

Everything had its pros and cons. How it turned out depended on the person in charge.

Nasser had been involved in professional football for several years. Blanc had over a decade of experience. Both clearly understood PSG's current problems. Gao Shen's casual remarks had hit the nail on the head, pointing straight at the club's core issues.

It made Nasser and Blanc even more confident in Gao Shen's capabilities.

"After hearing all this, we feel even more at ease entrusting the team to you," Nasser said with a sigh of relief.

"From now on, you take care of things at Paris Saint-Germain. We'll just sign the checks."

In other words: Don't worry, we've got the money. Buy whichever one you like.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1248: The Most Special Person Is Coming Back

Work hours in Spain are typically quite late.

But today, the atmosphere at Real Madrid's headquarters in Valdebebas was very different.

Department heads not only arrived on time, but some even showed up early to prepare materials.

When the time came, everyone headed to the conference room.

Florentino also appeared, accompanied by José Sánchez, Butragueño, and De Blas. To everyone's surprise, the first vice president, Fernando Fernández, was also present.

This Spanish tycoon, known more for his womanizing ways, rarely shows up except for Real Madrid matches.

Even he was alarmed. It seemed this was a very big operation.

Those who had made it to department head level at Real Madrid were all sharp individuals. The moment they sensed the atmosphere, they all sat up straight.

"Last night, I received news from the UK that Gao Shen's company has also signed a cooperation agreement with Paris Saint-Germain."

As soon as Florentino sat down, he delivered news that everyone had already expected.

Since Real Madrid's delegation returned from England, they had held two meetings. The managers present were all aware of what had happened.

It was unprecedented in football history for a single team to manage the first teams of two clubs simultaneously.

There had been part-time head coaches before, but that was mostly for clubs and national teams.

But when had anyone ever seen a team managing two clubs at the same time?

What if Real Madrid faced Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League?

Florentino had already explained these concerns and potential risks in detail, both in executive and board meetings.

Gao Shen only operated from behind the scenes. He did not directly participate in matches. He was not the head coach. If the two teams met, it would be the coaches and players competing, and the better-performing side would win on the day.

As for whether FIFA and UEFA would have any objections, Florentino did not even bother asking.

There was no need.

This involved the hiring of club employees. Real Madrid was still Real Madrid, and PSG was still PSG. They were just both working with the same professional company.

If this was illegal, then was it also illegal for Real Madrid, PSG, AC Milan, Arsenal, and others to all work with Emirates Airlines and receive sponsorships?

Many clubs partnered with Nike and Adidas, and those companies even encouraged teams to poach players from competitors. Was that illegal?

UEFA and FIFA had never interfered in such matters, nor would they, because doing so would overstep their authority.

If they tried to control everything, who would want to continue cooperating with them?

The real problem lay within the matches and the fans.

On the pitch, it was not an issue. Once the match began, everything would be decided by ability and performance. It would be football as usual.

As long as there was no match-fixing involved, FIFA and UEFA would not intervene.

But fans might feel differently.

This was a new element in football. Many fans could become frustrated after a loss and might take it out on Gao Shen.

"This is a major trend, and I can say that very clearly."

Florentino tapped the conference table with his index finger to emphasize the point.

"The public relations department must take immediate action. We need to create momentum before Paris Saint-Germain does, and not let them take the lead. At the same time, we must guide the fans, explain the pros and cons, and tell them this is a new model of cooperation that represents the future, with various benefits and advantages."

"Also, arrange for me to be interviewed by AS, Marca, and Cadena SER. It would be even better if these outlets could also visit the UK for on-site reporting."

"At this stage, fans will definitely be unfamiliar with this cooperation model and may even resist it. The public relations department should immediately begin discussions with the third-party company, and maintain close communication with both Gao Shen and PSG. We must win this public relations battle and make no mistakes."

Florentino issued these instructions personally, and Butragueño knew exactly how serious it was. He dared not be careless.

Real Madrid had its own long-standing public relations firm, a European powerhouse. But this was an unprecedented shift in the football industry, and the sport was known for its conservatism.

Therefore, the key was shaping public opinion through media.

"We also need to maintain close contact with our sponsors and partners," Florentino said, turning to José Sánchez.

Real Madrid's CEO nodded. "I had preliminary discussions with several major sponsors, including Adidas and Emirates, yesterday. This new cooperation model will indeed create some complications, such as overlapping sponsors between us and PSG, or even direct conflicts."

"One advantage is that Gao Shen's image rights belong to him. Previously, he authorized us to manage them. Now he will authorize PSG as well. We will continue to maintain cooperation and communication with them."

Modern professional football is no longer just about training and matches, especially for top-level figures like Gao Shen, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Messi, where the business operations are extremely complex.

This is also why superstar transfers are often highly complicated.

If issues related to sponsorship contracts are not handled properly, a transfer can collapse.

Of course, most companies that sponsor football are aware of this reality.

Florentino's biggest concern now was fan reaction.

It was already 2019. The world had changed. Everyone could access global news from their phones. There were almost no secrets anymore. Something as significant as Gao Shen simultaneously taking over two clubs was practically impossible to keep quiet.

This made it necessary to guide public opinion through the media.

"In a few days, the negotiation team from Gao Shen's company will arrive: Jose, Emilio, Eduardo..."

Florentino assigned José Sánchez, Butragueño, and vice president de Blas, who was also a prominent Spanish lawyer.

"You three will represent the club in negotiations with them. There shouldn't be any major issues."

The three nodded.

The meeting lasted more than an hour, and all tasks were assigned.

Just as Florentino was about to wrap up, his phone suddenly rang.

Caller ID: Gao Shen.

...

"Gentlemen, I have an announcement to make."

That afternoon, in the Real Madrid first-team locker room at Valdebebas.

Before training, captain Ramos strode in, stood in front of the players, and shouted.

Everyone immediately looked up at their captain.

Everyone admired Ramos. He was a natural leader.

"I just received a call. This weekend, during our match against Athletic Bilbao, we will be welcoming a very, very special person."

The players exchanged confused looks.

A special person?

How special?

The King of Spain? The Prime Minister?

Those two were regulars at the Bernabéu. Could anyone be more special than them?

"Who is it?" Marcelo asked with a laugh.

Ramos scanned the room and calmly replied, "The boss."

The locker room fell completely silent.

Only a few players, such as the newly signed Van Dijk, looked puzzled about the sudden silence.

But they quickly understood.

"The boss... he's coming back to see us?" Marcelo, usually carefree, spoke with a tremble in his voice.

"Yeah, Sergio, is the boss coming back to watch the game?"

"He hasn't returned since he left last year."

"He's been busy taking Gao Ming to school every day. He's enjoying his break so much, he's probably forgotten about us."

"Right? It's outrageous!"

"This cannot go unpunished."

"You owe us a big dinner."

"Yeah, a proper feast!"

As everyone began speaking, the locker room became lively again.

But even the new signings like Van Dijk could clearly feel that the veterans were suppressing their emotions, pretending to be relaxed.

Even Toni Kroos, usually the most composed, was visibly affected.

If you hadn't seen it with your own eyes, it would be hard to believe that Gao Shen had this kind of influence in the Real Madrid locker room.

Before he had even arrived, these world-class stars were already so worked up.

"My message is that the boss is likely coming back next season. But he's very, very disappointed with the team's current state. We're not even in the top four," Ramos said bitterly.

The locker room fell silent once more.

Everyone had heard the rumors.

A few days ago, multiple European media outlets reported that Real Madrid's board of directors had flown to Leeds, and speculation was rampant.

Recently, the news of Gao Shen's return to Real Madrid had been all over the front pages, with countless analyses debating whether he could save the team in his third spell.

Inside the locker room, the players lowered their heads in shame.

They weren't even in the top four. Where was the pride?

How could they face such an important visitor this weekend?

...

After afternoon training began, interim head coach Solari immediately noticed a change in the players.

Everyone was training intensely, with full focus on every drill and movement.

Even their usual joking and lighthearted behavior had disappeared.

In fact, Solari and his assistants barely needed to give instructions. Everyone was completing the training tasks on their own.

This dramatic shift left Solari and his assistant coaches shocked. Even Raúl, who had come from the youth academy to check in, was amazed.

They had all heard the news and naturally understood the reason for this change.

Logically, since Real Madrid had not yet signed a formal contract with Gao Shen, it would be inappropriate for him to appear publicly. But he still chose to come because he knew very well that if Real Madrid failed to qualify for the Champions League, it would be catastrophic.

In fact, if things went badly, Florentino could even be forced to resign.

So his visit was to boost morale and rally the squad.

He was clearly confident that his presence would pressure the players, while also motivating them.

"It's been almost a year, and Real Madrid is still his team," Solari said enviously.

Raúl nodded deeply.

Gao Shen was not only the standard he and Solari aspired to reach, but also the goal of countless coaches around the world.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1249: Gao Shen Is Back, Real Madrid's Dawn Has Broken

Gao Shen's house in Madrid was never put up for sale.

Spanish media had always interpreted this as a sign that he had no intention of permanently leaving Real Madrid.

Real Madrid fans firmly believed that Gao Shen would one day return.

But even Gao Shen himself hadn't expected that he would come back so soon, or in this way.

He arrived quietly at Madrid Airport the day before Real Madrid's home match against Athletic Bilbao, without even notifying the club.

Zidane came to pick him up.

The two chatted the whole way from the airport to their apartment complex, discussing the news from the past few days.

Real Madrid had stirred up quite a bit of excitement, and the response in Spain to Gao Shen's return had been enthusiastic.

But what surprised everyone was that Gao Shen's "part-time job" didn't spark much controversy among Real Madrid fans. They seemed entirely unbothered, which was not what either the club or the PR firm had expected.

They had done a lot of preparatory work, only to end up swinging at thin air.

According to surveys conducted by AS and Marca, most fans found it perfectly normal.

One fan put it bluntly: "When he was coaching Real Madrid, he was also the owner of Leeds United. Did we say anything? Didn't he still bring us six straight Champions League titles and five straight La Liga titles?"

Some fans recalled how, when Gao Shen was managing Real Madrid, they suffered crushing defeats to Leeds United in the Champions League group stage, both home and away. Although UEFA and the club clarified the matter at the time, many still accused him of match-fixing.

Analysts believed Gao Shen was determined to prove himself, which led to Real Madrid's sixth Champions League title under him—earned by beating Leeds United in the final.

What could be a better testament to professional integrity than that?

Having witnessed that, Real Madrid fans had long seen the truth. They believed in Gao Shen's professionalism.

Besides, wasn't Real Madrid keeping a close eye on things? Wasn't UEFA?

More importantly, Gao Shen was no longer a coach. He was now the technical director. It was far more difficult for him to influence matches or interfere with lineups. Would he really instruct the coach and get the whole team to help fix matches?

If that were possible, Leeds United wouldn't have lost the final back then.

So, there was no need to worry. Real Madrid fans overwhelmingly expressed their trust in Gao Shen.

He used to be the head coach of Real Madrid and the owner of Leeds United. Now he's the technical director of Real Madrid, still owns Leeds United, and serves as technical director for other clubs. What's the difference?

Real Madrid and most Spanish fans were unfazed, but Catalan media and fans sharply criticized Gao Shen, claiming his actions violated fair play, carried the risk of collusion and match-fixing, and even reported him to UEFA.

UEFA quickly responded, stating that it would not comment on hypothetical situations.

They also clarified that they would not interfere with clubs' decisions regarding third-party partnerships or the hiring of staff. There would be no scenario where both clubs were expelled from the Champions League, as some Catalan fans had speculated.

UEFA did have a rule: if two clubs share the same major shareholder, they cannot compete in the same European competition. Tottenham had nearly fallen foul of this rule in the past.

Tottenham owners Lewis and Levy had invested in multiple European clubs, and that almost cost them Champions League eligibility.

Gao Shen was indeed the owner of Leeds United, which is why he couldn't coach in the Premier League. But he was not a shareholder of Real Madrid or PSG. He was only a partner to both clubs, so he did not violate UEFA regulations.

Media and fans close to Real Madrid quickly realized what was happening and shifted their anger to the opposition, accusing Catalan media of deliberately twisting the facts out of spite.

"Gao Shen is back, and Real Madrid's dawn has broken!"

"Enjoy your season while it lasts. Next season belongs to Real Madrid!"

The media coverage, especially the discussions about the changes Gao Shen might bring to the club, had amazed fans and filled them with anticipation for the new season.

Public opinion is hard to predict, but overall, the narrative had been successfully steered in the right direction.

...

On the evening of his return, Gao Shen had dinner at Zidane's house.

Professional footballers tend to follow one of two paths: they either marry and have kids very early, or very late.

Why?

Because players generally aren't highly educated. They're like student-athletes—those who don't perform well academically. In Europe, the kids who are good at football tend to be the most popular throughout their school years. Early relationships and early marriages are common.

Zidane had his son Enzo when he was 23, which was considered relatively late.

Enzo Zidane was a highly anticipated youth player at Real Madrid. Like many children of football legends, he was famous the moment he debuted. Everyone hoped he would follow in his father's footsteps, but that rarely happens in reality.

Jordi Cruyff played for Manchester United. What happened there?

Kluivert's son did well at Ajax, but after moving to Roma, his career declined sharply.

As for Enzo, he left Real Madrid in 2017 on a free transfer to Alavés. He played two matches early in the season and even came on against Barcelona, but after that, he disappeared from the lineup.

In January 2018, he transferred to Lausanne-Sport in Switzerland.

This season, he was loaned to Majadahonda in the Segunda División, a club in Madrid's northwestern suburbs. He was a key player there, but the team was in danger of relegation.

It's fair to say Enzo Zidane's development had been underwhelming.

He had just turned 24, while his younger brother Luca was about to turn 21. Luca was Real Madrid's third-choice goalkeeper behind Courtois and Lunin.

The third son, Théo Zidane, was 17, a midfielder playing for Real Madrid's U18 team. The fourth, Elyaz, was 13, a left-back, currently in the youth system as well.

Zidane also had a nephew, Delis Zidane, who was trained in France but also had a poor professional career.

Interestingly, Zidane's eldest son, second son, and nephew were roughly his height. But the third and fourth sons were significantly taller, both around 1.94 meters.

Gao Shen was very familiar with the Zidane family. At the dinner, he not only saw all four of Zidane's sons, but also met Enzo's girlfriend, Karen—a pretty young woman said to be a Portuguese born in Venezuela.

Everyone was familiar with each other, and even Gao Shen didn't bother being too formal, so the dinner was lively and relaxed.

...

"Looks like you're about to have a headache."

After dinner, Gao Shen and Zidane went into the study to talk. He joked as he teased the Frenchman.

What headache?

"Enzo's grown up and has a girlfriend. From how close they are, you still can't relax. You better start saving up," Gao Shen said dramatically.

In reality, Zidane had already made plenty of investments. Money wasn't an issue.

Looking at his four sons, the third and fourth were still unknowns, the eldest probably wouldn't make it, and the second's situation wasn't optimistic either.

They had all received top-tier youth training at Real Madrid, often even personally guided by Zidane himself.

That was exactly why Su Qing hoped Gao Ming would focus on academics.

To be honest, making it in football required as much effort as studying, if not more. The competition was harsher and the risk higher.

The world is fair. High risk, high reward. The high wages of footballers depend on where they play.

Of all the professional athletes in the world, how many are truly high earners?

If you include the top five European leagues, plus second-tier ones like the Portuguese Primeira Liga or Dutch Eredivisie, how many players are there in total?

Fans tend to focus on the top five leagues and assume that all players earn huge salaries. But unless you're playing in one of those leagues, the reality is your salary may be lower than someone with a higher education.

And being a footballer is a short-lived career.

Gao Shen worked in this industry, so he fully understood the risks.

As for talent... please. In this world, very few things come down to talent alone.

Just look at Zidane's four kids. Are they really lacking in talent?

Unlikely.

But they were born into privilege, raised in elite football academies, and grew up without lacking anything. That kind of life produces orderliness, but also mediocrity.

Simon Kuper once pointed out in The Economics of Football that most professional players come from poverty. Why?

Not because middle-class or wealthy kids don't play or lack talent. It's because they don't carry the same drive or crushing pressure that poor kids do—the kind of pressure where not making it in football means having nothing.

When Cristiano Ronaldo was 10, he traveled alone from Madeira to Sporting Lisbon for training. Alone. He spoke with a strong island accent and was mocked for it.

Because he was physically weak, he trained like a madman, even sneaking into the gym in the early hours. That was how determined and desperate he was.

Without that, there would be no Cristiano Ronaldo today.

Messi's story was similar.

Despite later becoming close with Piqué and others, in the beginning, Messi was bullied by the richer academy kids.

Barcelona claimed they paid for Messi's treatment. In reality, they only covered a small part. Most of it came from his father, who worked while caring for Messi.

Of course, the job was arranged by Barcelona.

You can imagine the hardship Messi endured in those years.

No pain, no gain.

Sometimes, the path to success is that simple. But not everyone is willing to take it. And not everyone can go all the way.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1250: Too Tall

Zidane's sons no longer needed to work themselves to the bone or bear the immense pressure of survival.

They could freely enjoy life as they pleased.

Because their father was Zidane.

However, Gao Shen used a child's joke as a starting point to talk with Zidane about the future.

"Have you ever thought about coaching on your own?" Gao asked, revealing his true intentions.

Zidane understood Gao Shen very well, just as Gao Shen understood him.

"I might have had some ideas before, but ever since I became your assistant, I've lost all hope." Zidane threw the question back, giving Gao Shen a smug look as if to say, "You owe me for the psychological trauma."

"How so?" Gao Shen asked with a smile.

"I realized that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't catch up with you. Then I suddenly lost all motivation." Zidane spoke with genuine dejection. He wasn't joking, he was completely serious.

Gao Shen never imagined that his coaching career could have such an effect on someone.

"Actually, you still have a chance," Gao Shen said encouragingly.

"Catch up with you?" Zidane shook his head and waved his hand. "Don't joke around. That's impossible."

After a short pause, he sighed softly. "You're like a monument, so tall I can't even see the top."

Sometimes, being too close can have its drawbacks, especially when you're constantly influenced by the other person's brilliance.

"You won the Champions League and the World Cup as a player, while I…" Gao Shen shrugged.

His professional career was a blank slate.

Zidane frowned, sensing what Gao Shen was getting at.

"One day, I did a little research and realized that there are only five people who've won the Champions League as both players and coaches: Real Madrid legend Miguel Muñoz, Italy's Giovanni Trapattoni, Barcelona's Johan Cruyff, that 'fat Italian' Ancelotti, and Guardiola."

In his previous life, there had been Rijkaard, but he was no longer on the list.

After all, Rijkaard's 2006 Champions League title had been snatched away by Gao Shen.

So, there were only five.

Zidane nodded slightly. He had actually done the same math himself.

"I also counted. There are only three people who have won the World Cup as both player and coach: Brazil's Mario Zagallo, Germany's Franz Beckenbauer, and Didier Deschamps, who just achieved it."

Zidane looked at Gao Shen seriously, since he too had thought about this before.

Gao Shen smiled at him, then asked meaningfully, "Have you noticed? There isn't a single person in history who has won both the World Cup and the Champions League!"

If Zidane had been more familiar with Chinese internet culture, he would definitely have given Gao Shen the middle finger: Get lost!

What Gao Shen said just proved one thing—if you make the title long enough, anyone can be number one in the world.

But the real question was, hadn't Zidane thought about these things before?

Of course, he had.

In fact, he'd considered it long ago and had once been very eager.

For example, serving as Gao Shen's assistant had been his way of gaining experience and preparing for a future head coach role.

When the French media and fans were dissatisfied with Deschamps, Zidane had seriously thought about managing the French national team.

However, with Deschamps leading France to win the World Cup, that opportunity was unlikely to come soon.

But Real Madrid, on the other hand, was still a possibility.

"As for your goals, let's take them step by step. I can't say for sure about the French team, but at Real Madrid, I'll help you build the squad. You can be the head coach and lead the team, while Carlo and I will support you fully. You've got a real shot."

Although Zidane remained seated, he kept adjusting his posture. His thumbs tapped his index fingers nervously. It was clear Gao Shen had hit a nerve.

For a genius like Zidane, it was always all or nothing.

Was Gao Shen's promise convincing?

It didn't even need to be explained—his record spoke for itself.

Back when Gao Shen promised to help Sarri build a Premier League team, he did it.

Later, he told Pochettino he would create a world-class team for him, and he delivered.

From Real Madrid in 2006, to Napoli, to Manchester City, and then back to Real Madrid, Gao Shen had proven he could build elite teams wherever he went, in no time at all.

If it happened once, it could be luck. Twice or three times? That was ability.

Others might have hesitated, but Zidane believed completely.

"Think about it. With Deschamps' current situation, as long as he performs decently at the next European Championship, he'll definitely stay on until the 2022 Qatar World Cup."

Gao Shen had been watching Zidane's reaction closely. When he saw that Zidane was intrigued, he immediately pushed further.

"If—and I mean if—Deschamps is dismissed, and by then you've proven yourself, wouldn't it be natural for you to take over the French national team?"

It must be said, Gao Shen's plan for Zidane was both realistic and incredibly appealing.

Real Madrid and the French national team—both were irresistible.

"France has done a great job in youth development recently. We have Mbappé and Dembélé at Leeds United, both around 20 years old. In the youth ranks, there are Tchouaméni and Camavinga. You know how much potential those two have."

"We also have two promising centre-backs at Saint-Étienne, both performing well this season. And that's just among the players we're in contact with. You can imagine how much talent France has right now."

In other words, the chances of achieving results were high.

"I can promise you this: whether you coach Real Madrid or the French national team in the future, I'll do everything I can to support you." Gao Shen said with a knowing look.

Zidane immediately understood the deeper meaning.

If he could win both the Champions League and the World Cup, he would be the first in history to do so.

At that point, Zidane's name would shine eternally in world football history—perhaps even brighter than Beckenbauer's.

Gao Shen knew when to stop. He had said what needed to be said and left Zidane to think it over.

Actually, it didn't have to be Zidane. But having been his assistant for years, Zidane understood him perfectly. He knew Real Madrid inside and out and could seamlessly integrate data-driven analysis with the manager's role.

He was the best candidate right now.

Moreover, Zidane had immense authority within Real Madrid. If he took charge, Gao Shen wouldn't need to worry about locker room issues at all—a huge advantage.

For Zidane, the benefits were equally obvious.

Within the current Real Madrid team, Pogba played a pivotal role, and his age was a major advantage. Add to that Benzema and Varane. Varane was the defensive cornerstone of France's World Cup win and was also introduced to Real Madrid thanks to Zidane's recommendation.

If Real Madrid brought in Mbappé, they would have four French core players—all in their prime and essential for the foreseeable future.

If things went according to Gao Shen's vision, and Deschamps eventually stepped down, Zidane's rise to the French national team would be unstoppable.

...

After Zidane's cryptic line, "If you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes," he finally gave in.

The current Real Madrid squad was still very strong.

Unlike Ferguson, who left Manchester United with an aging and depleted team, Gao Shen had left behind a squad that was still at its peak.

Although some players were aging, the younger ones were ready to step up.

The core players included Pogba, Verratti, Toni Kroos, Modrić, Casemiro, and Varane. Behind them were Iñigo Martínez, Marcos Llorente, Ceballos, Asensio, Jesé, Marcos Alonso, Odriozola, and Nacho—all of whom had performed well under Gao Shen.

Jesé, in particular, hadn't suffered the severe injury that derailed his career in Gao Shen's previous life. While he hadn't become a superstar, he was still a Spanish international, at least on par with Pedro.

Some might ask, if Real Madrid's squad was this strong, why were they performing so poorly this season?

The answer was simple: morale had collapsed.

Previously, Nasser once asked Gao Shen a question: if more and more clubs started using his systems, signing contracts, or purchasing his hardware and software services, would that mean players could be mass-produced, creating invincible teams?

Gao Shen's answer was firm: Impossible.

Why?

Because the biggest uncertainty in football lies in people.

He explained that even if a young player with top-level talent receives the most scientific, advanced youth training, there is still no guarantee of success.

Humans are not machines. They have emotions, moods, and psychological ups and downs.

What applies to an individual also applies to a team.

Even if two teams are managed by top-tier coaches, their players' personalities, mentalities, and tactical interpretations can produce completely different results on the pitch.

That's why Gao Shen has always emphasized one thing: talent is football's most precious resource.

Everything he does is designed to maximize the potential of that talent. But even then, no one can be perfect—humans are not robots.

And even robots aren't perfect.

Right now, Real Madrid's biggest problems are psychological and transitional.

In simple terms, the experienced players need to guide the new generation.

In defense, the biggest uncertainty concerns Varane's future.

Zidane felt helpless about his fellow Frenchman.

Varane would only turn 26 in April, yet he had already won almost every possible honor.

But he wasn't someone with an unyielding drive. Calm and introverted, he handled people well, but on the pitch, that lack of hunger made him seem too content.

Even now, both Gao Shen and Zidane believed Varane had not reached the level he was capable of.

That was one of the reasons Real Madrid had signed Van Dijk—to challenge and motivate him. But...

Reports suggested that Paris Saint-Germain was very interested in Varane and had already made contact.

Of course, that would only be the beginning.

(To be continued.)