SWR: Chapter 1155/1158

Chapter 1155: Defending the King's Cup

"It's still Barcelona organizing the attack."

"After crossing the halfway line, three Real Madrid players are coming in to intercept."

"Modric wins the ball and passes it to Di Maria. Real Madrid launches a quick counterattack."

"It's three-on-three up front."

"Di Maria carries the ball forward and passes to Morata ahead."

"Morata controls it into the left side of the penalty area, faces Alves, does a beautiful bicycle feint, and shoots with his left foot."

"Oops!"

"Morata!"

"At the crucial moment, Morata failed to complete the shot, and it lacked power."

"Real Madrid's buildup play was beautiful, but Morata's final shot went straight into Pinto's arms. This young Real Madrid striker still needs to improve his finishing ability, especially in seizing key opportunities."

"He missed a chance to kill off the game."

"Pinto quickly throws the ball out to start Barcelona's counterattack."

"The game is nearly over. Let's see what Barcelona can do with this one."

"They move quickly through midfield, Xavi passes to Messi."

"Messi cuts inside with the ball but finds no space."

"Real Madrid's defensive transition is lightning fast."

"The double pivot of Casemiro and Xabi Alonso is doing an excellent job shielding the defense."

"Xavi takes it back to reorganize the play, then passes to Iniesta, who threads a through ball forward."

"Nice pass!"

"Neymar is in the box, a chance..."

"Courtois comes off his line and dives to claim the ball!"

…

The entire Mestalla Stadium erupts with gasps from Real Madrid fans and sighs from Barcelona supporters.

Courtois's intervention was perfectly timed. He immediately smothered the ball before Neymar could shoot, and the Brazilian almost couldn't stop his momentum in time.

The Real Madrid goalkeeper looked slightly shaken himself. He stood up holding the ball in one hand and shouted instructions to his teammates with the other.

Carvajal had just been pushed off balance by Neymar while trying to establish position, a defensive lapse that should never have happened.

Real Madrid's right-back is strong offensively, but his defensive weaknesses are a real issue that need improvement.

Courtois saw an opening and threw the ball to Carvajal, urging him to push forward and start the attack.

But at that moment, the referee blew the final whistle.

The entire Mestalla Stadium erupted in cheers from Real Madrid fans.

The Real Madrid substitutes waiting on the sidelines sprinted onto the pitch, celebrating wildly as they secured the Copa del Rey title once again.

…

"The match is over!"

"2-0!"

"This is the seventh time Real Madrid has beaten Barcelona this season!"

"It's unbelievable. Real Madrid has won all seven encounters this year."

"Looking at the live footage, you can see the Barcelona players are utterly devastated and dejected."

"This season has been a massive blow to them."

"They were once Europe's most dominant force, feared by all. Even Real Madrid couldn't stand up to them back then. They could beat Los Blancos with ease."

"But now, Real Madrid has risen. Under Gao Shen's leadership, they have defeated Barcelona seven times in one season!"

"What an incredible achievement!"

"After losing the Copa del Rey, you can see despair written on every Barcelona player's face. They probably don't even know what comes next for the club."

"It has been a disastrous season for Barcelona."

"President Rosell resigned amid the Neymar transfer scandal, which caused chaos within the club's management."

"At the start of the season, the board appointed Martino, who had no European experience. Looking back now, it's clear that decision was a huge mistake."

"Martino will leave Barcelona at the end of this season, without a single trophy, and without even managing to draw against Real Madrid in seven El Clásicos."

"This will go down as a humiliating season in the club's history."

"Right now, they are lost. No one knows who will succeed Martino or which players will stay and who will go."

"Let's congratulate Real Madrid! Congratulations to Gao Shen!"

"After nearly securing the La Liga title, Real Madrid now adds the Copa del Rey, bringing them one step closer to the treble they promised before the season began."

"More importantly, they showed great dominance throughout this match. Even though Barcelona had more possession, Real Madrid's control of the game was calculated, mature, and steady."

"This is what champions look like."

"Under Gao Shen's leadership, Real Madrid is clearly on the right path toward a new era of glory."

"Perhaps they really can achieve the first treble in Spanish football history this season."

"It would be a historic and legendary feat!"

…

After the final whistle, Gao Shen immediately turned and hugged Zidane, Hierro, and the rest of his staff, then walked over to the Barcelona bench to shake hands with Martino and his assistants.

Despite being the Real Madrid head coach, Gao Shen still showed respect, greeting them one by one, especially Lula and Rubi, who played vital roles under Martino this season.

What surprised Gao Shen was that Sanchez and Thiago Motta also came over to shake hands and congratulate him on the victory.

It was bittersweet.

Sanchez had performed well for Barcelona, but after Neymar's arrival, he lost his place in the lineup.

Based purely on form, Sanchez has been better than Neymar this season, yet he couldn't secure a starting spot.

Thiago Motta's situation was even more unfortunate.

Many called him a herald of the early-century generation.

Most fans probably no longer remember this La Masia graduate.

Gerard made his debut at Barcelona's academy and had a playing style similar to Guardiola. Yet he never got a proper chance at the club and moved to Valencia, where he became key to their two Champions League final runs. Barcelona then bought him back at a huge price, only to sideline him again.

As a result, Gerard underperformed at Barcelona, wasted several years, and retired early with regret.

Thiago Motta was luckier. Gerard never won the Champions League at Valencia, but Motta did so at Napoli.

Gao Shen still felt sympathy for his former trusted player.

Back then, Gao Shen had advised Motta not to return to Barcelona, preferring he follow him to Manchester City. If Motta had listened, things might have turned out very differently.

But there is no medicine for regret.

Now nearly 32, Motta no longer had the same fire he once showed at Napoli. There was only a lingering sense of decline.

What else could he still pursue at this stage?

Sanchez, Thiago Motta, and Juan Vargas were the three players who moved from Napoli to Barcelona that year. Now, Vargas had completely fallen out of favor and wasn't even in the squad tonight. Sanchez was leaving, and Motta's future at Barcelona looked equally bleak.

"Wenger has contacted my agent. He wants me in the Premier League and plans to build the team around me," Sanchez said as he stood beside Gao Shen on the touchline. "Boss, what do you think?"

Even now, the Chilean still trusted Gao Shen's judgment deeply.

"Only Arsenal?"

"No, Bayern are in contact too. You know Pep has always valued me. Lewandowski is moving there, and they plan for me, Lewandowski, and Ribery to form a front three."

Gao Shen nodded. That would indeed be a dream attacking trio.

But it was clear Sanchez wasn't entirely happy.

"First, Bayern's offer isn't as good. Second, I can't be sure of my tactical role. Thomas Müller is in great form now," Sanchez said, frowning.

His close friend Vidal was already at Bayern and familiar with the situation there.

The two, along with another friend, ran a winery and farm together in Chile. Their wine and cherries were exported to China, and the business was thriving.

Because of that, their relationship with Gao Shen had become even stronger.

"Arsenal sounds like the better choice," Gao Shen suggested.

Sanchez smiled immediately, put his arm around Gao Shen's shoulders, and thanked him.

"Don't worry, when I face your Leeds United, I'll try to hold back a little."

Gao Shen chuckled.

Given Leeds United's performance this season, they had no reason to fear Arsenal. It was anyone's game.

Leeds United currently sat sixth in the Premier League, one point ahead of seventh-placed Manchester United and eighth-placed Tottenham, but five points behind Everton in fifth and six points behind fourth-placed Arsenal.

For now, Leeds United had little hope of qualifying for the Champions League, but that wasn't their main goal yet.

…

Gao Shen walked back to the pitch amid the cheers of Real Madrid players.

On the podium, the staff were already setting up for the trophy ceremony.

All the Real Madrid players, including substitutes and those not on the squad list, lined up hand in hand, sprinted toward the stands filled with their supporters, and dived onto the grass in celebration. The Real Madrid fans responded with deafening cheers and applause.

Gao Shen went over to hug each of his players, thanking them for their contributions, straightening their jerseys, and sending them one by one toward the podium to collect their medals.

He remained in the stands, celebrating with the fans, cheering on his team as they lifted the trophy high into the Valencian night.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1156: Real Madrid's Achilles' Heel

Because of the World Cup, the major European leagues shortened their schedules.

The Bundesliga was no exception.

The DFB-Pokal semi-final was scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on April 16, exactly one hour earlier than the Spanish Copa del Rey final.

When Real Madrid and Barcelona kicked off at the Mestalla in Valencia, Bayern had already taken a first-half lead at the Allianz Arena in Munich, beating Kaiserslautern 2-0.

In the second half, Bayern defeated Kaiserslautern 5-1 with goals from Thomas Müller, Mandzukic, and Götze, advancing to the DFB-Pokal final. Their opponent would be Klopp's Dortmund.

The Black and Yellows had beaten Wolfsburg 2-0 at home the night before.

As soon as the game at the Allianz Arena ended, Guardiola and his assistants led the Bayern players away. By the time they arrived at the training base on Säbener Straße, the Copa del Rey final in Valencia had also ended.

Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-0 with goals from Benzema and Ronaldo.

After dismissing the squad, Guardiola stayed with the core first-team coaching staff to watch the recording together. He began analyzing and studying Real Madrid's lineup in that match.

A week later, Bayern would visit the Bernabéu to face Real Madrid away.

This would be the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.

For both Bayern and Guardiola, it was a high-stakes clash.

The top priority for Bayern was how to break through Real Madrid's defense.

In almost all Champions League knockout ties, playing away means prioritizing attack. Scoring an away goal is the most important task and offers the biggest advantage.

…

"Real Madrid are indeed the strongest team in world football right now, no doubt about it."

After watching the Copa del Rey final, assistant coach Domènec Torrent gave his assessment of Real Madrid's strength.

"If we only look at the post-match result, we could say Barcelona did poorly in many areas. But judging from the pre-match lineup, Martino actually did his best."

"Barcelona are now far behind Real Madrid in terms of strength."

Torrent's conclusion was harsh. Most of those present had been Guardiola's assistants during his Barcelona tenure. They all had deep feelings for the club, so hearing this made them uncomfortable.

But on reflection, it was true.

For two seasons and more than a dozen matches, Real Madrid had remained unbeaten against Barcelona.

Anything can happen in football. People say the ball is round and upsets happen. Yet Real Madrid had beaten Barcelona over ten times in a row. What else was there to say?

It could only mean Real Madrid were genuinely stronger than Barcelona.

More precisely, Real Madrid plus their depth were stronger than Barcelona.

"I agree with Domènec's assessment. Real Madrid are very strong, perhaps the strongest in Europe right now. But their strength is not simply attack, defense, or possession. Their strength lies in versatility."

Analyst Carles Planchart began to break it down.

"In the final, Real Madrid used two or three different tactical setups within 90 minutes. The players adapted extremely well, switched smoothly, and executed at a high level. That is the core competitive edge of this Real Madrid."

"Toni Kroos, Modric, and Xabi Alonso are the core of Real Madrid's entire tactical system. By comparison, Pogba, Verratti, Isco, Illarramendi, and Casemiro are still immature."

Immaturity implies a lack of polish, but it also implies potential.

"Whether at Manchester United or later at Real Madrid, have we ever seen Ronaldo actively track back to defend, even sacrificing himself to create chances for his teammates?"

Planchart's question silenced the room.

What has been the most frequent criticism of Ronaldo since his debut?

Selfish, individualistic, arrogant, and in the early days, flashy and dwelling on the ball.

He has many strengths, but few have praised his sense of collective responsibility.

He used to be the type of star who needed the team built around him.

Yet under Gao Shen, he might not have become a pure team-first player, but at least he now plays with a greater sense of team honor. You can see it in the number of times he has actively defended this season, in how often he has created chances for teammates, and even sacrificed his own shots to open space for others.

This change did not come from Ronaldo alone, but from pressure applied by Gao Shen.

Sometimes professionals are like this. If they follow the right person, the change can be substantial.

…

The assistants spoke one after another, sharing their views on Real Madrid, and the discussion grew more in-depth.

Guardiola mentioned an interesting case, Leeds United.

Under Sarri, Leeds United had made a name in the Premier League with a distinctive tactical style. Both full-backs attacked aggressively, often functioning like wide midfielders or even wingers.

This attracted plenty of attention within the profession, since Sarri is a direct disciple of Gao Shen.

In the last two seasons, with the departures of attacking full-backs like Kurzawa and Clyne, Leeds' full-back profiles shifted somewhat. Bertrand on the left remained energetic, and Trippier on the right was more known for his delivery and defending, yet there were still winger-like attackers such as Cancelo.

From Leeds United's tactical framework, you could see the strong and lasting imprint of that style.

"Last December, after Pochettino was sacked by Espanyol, he moved to Madrid with his family. He became neighbors with Gao Shen and Zidane. He accompanied Gao Shen to Real Madrid training every day. I saw him many times."

Guardiola had been between jobs and had also gone to Madrid to watch Real Madrid's matches and training, so he was familiar with Pochettino and knew how much Gao Shen valued him.

"Many of us feel that some of Gao Shen's ideas at Real Madrid were tested at Leeds United, such as the dual-flank attacks, the midfield personnel structure, and the goalkeeper, who was signed directly from Leeds."

Speaking of goalkeepers, that was also Bayern's biggest weakness.

After failing to sign Neuer, Guardiola made it clear he wanted Bayern to buy German goalkeeper Ter Stegen from Borussia Mönchengladbach. However, during the winter break, Bayern failed to reach an agreement with Gladbach, which led to changes in the plan.

Now Arsenal, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain had joined the chase for Ter Stegen, and the transfer market was heating up.

The young keeper's value had risen from 8 million euros at the start of the season to 12 million during the winter break. With Arsenal, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain involved, Ter Stegen's fee was now approaching 20 million euros.

Bayern were accelerating efforts to sign Ter Stegen before the World Cup to avoid further complications.

But at that moment, this was not Guardiola's main concern.

He held the remote, constantly scrubbing the timeline, and soon stopped at the moment when Neymar used his body to push Carvajal away, with Barcelona close to scoring.

"At the Bernabéu, our job is to score. We must get an away goal first to establish an advantage. The right side, with Di Maria ahead of Carvajal, has many defensive issues, especially in one-on-ones."

The frame froze, clearly showing Carvajal being outmuscled by Neymar, which is a major problem for a defender.

Carvajal had risen quickly and offered strong attacking output. He was a very good full-back, but his defending was indeed weak.

Both Real Madrid full-backs were stronger in attack than defense.

In comparison, Marcelo's defending was actually better, while Carvajal was a bit immature.

This also had to do with age and experience.

Which defender hasn't taken their lumps?

"We should use Ribery to attack their right," Guardiola said firmly.

Ribery on the left and Thomas Müller on the right were Bayern's regular starters.

"What about the midfield?" Torrent asked, concerned.

Against Real Madrid, the midfield is the key.

How to set it up was a big problem.

First, there was Schweinsteiger. He was not the kind of holding midfielder Guardiola relied on. In some respects, his security in receiving and passing under pressure was not on the level of Lahm or Alaba.

This was why Guardiola had often said that selling Toni Kroos to Real Madrid was his biggest regret.

Guardiola often used the pairing of Schweinsteiger and Gallagher, but then midfield protection would be an issue, and the right-side defending would also be a problem.

Another option was to use Schweinsteiger and Khedira as a double pivot, with Vidal ahead. That midfield would be tough enough, but its passing and control would be insufficient.

This was also why many believed Guardiola was struggling to adapt.

He could not run a 4-3-3 like at Barcelona and had to use a double pivot, which was down to squad limitations.

The acclimatization issue came from this.

Originally, if Thiago had not been injured, Bayern could at times play the possession game that satisfied Guardiola, but now there was no way.

"Let me think about it. You all get ready first," Guardiola said with a frown.

He did not have a good plan yet to restrain this powerful Real Madrid.

He knew better than anyone that he and Gao Shen knew each other inside out. He knew what Gao Shen was thinking, and Gao Shen knew what he was thinking. The two would always look to target each other's weaknesses.

From the current standpoint, Gao Shen's Real Madrid had been in his hands for two years, and the squad had been built completely to his specifications, especially the midfield, which was more mature and more fluid than Guardiola's Bayern.

But the Champions League semi-final was set, and Guardiola had to face it head-on.

He suddenly remembered Martino's gambit.

Maybe they should catch the opponent off guard.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1157: The Sky Fell at Camp Nou

Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-0 at the Mestalla, successfully defending the Copa del Rey and winning their second trophy of the season. This earned high praise from major media outlets in Spain and across Europe.

This was not just because of the win. More importantly, it was the stable dominance Real Madrid displayed.

Gao Shen's comments in a pitchside interview after the awards ceremony were widely endorsed by the media, as he credited everything to his players.

"I'm proud of my players and happy for all Real Madrid fans. They deserve it!"

As for the match itself, Gao Shen said he did not make any special adjustments, focusing instead on playing to the team's strengths.

"Our players performed very well. If I have to highlight something, I would say we were very united, which is why we were able to beat Barcelona repeatedly."

After the game, almost all media agreed with Gao Shen and even provided in-depth analysis.

Unity is indeed Real Madrid's most important weapon right now.

From the turmoil under Mourinho in 2012, with internal conflicts surfacing one after another, to the stability after Gao Shen took charge, Real Madrid have shown two completely different mental states. This has been hailed as Real Madrid's biggest gain under Gao Shen.

Many Real Madrid players have long praised Gao Shen's squad management.

Now, most observers believe that Gao Shen's control of the dressing room is the key to Real Madrid's continued success.

Despite winning both La Liga and the Copa del Rey, Gao Shen is still warning his players to stay alert.

"From the match against Barcelona, we can see that they actually played very well and created a lot of chances, some of which were very dangerous. So I don't think Barcelona's era is over. That is not true."

Gao Shen believes Barcelona's issues are temporary and related to personnel, and they can be solved.

"I believe they will soon get out of their current predicament. When that happens, Barcelona will still be our strongest opponent."

But then Gao Shen added that even if Barcelona return to their peak, he is confident he can beat them.

…

Gao Shen's remarks after the match were even acknowledged by some Catalan media, which is extremely rare.

Barcelona are destined to finish this season empty-handed, and combined with FIFA's transfer ban, the club has fallen into unprecedented internal and external difficulties.

At this moment, Barcelona's mouthpiece, Daily Sports, broke shocking news.

After the Copa del Rey final and the awards ceremony, Martino went to the press room for his conference and to take questions from reporters. At the same time, the players held an emergency meeting in the dressing room at the request of several locker-room leaders.

"Martino, the head coach, was not informed of this meeting."

Mundo Deportivo believes this shows Martino has lost the dressing room and that the players no longer believe he can lead them to victory.

After the press conference, Martino did not return to the dressing room. He went straight to the team bus to wait.

After the internal meeting, the players elected Xavi and Iniesta to speak in the mixed zone. Then the squad returned to the bus together.

Daily Sports reported that Martino had already announced he would leave Barcelona at the end of the season, but he has now completely lost control of the dressing room and the players' trust.

"In fact, Martino had long been a puppet on many issues. He and the dressing room had been at odds for a long time. Both sides were just gritting their teeth and waiting for a chance to part ways with dignity."

That would be after this season.

However, Mundo Deportivo dropped another bombshell, stating that Barcelona's recruitment plans have hit obstacles.

After FIFA announced the transfer ban, Barcelona reacted strongly and said they would appeal, but there were internal disagreements over how to respond.

For example, after the ban was issued, with the support of the management, Barcelona fans held up banners at Camp Nou, in front of the world, telling FIFA not to touch La Masia.

"This further angered FIFA."

On the other hand, Barcelona were also working on reinforcements.

Valdés is about to leave, and bringing in a goalkeeper is imperative. Barcelona set their sights on Borussia Mönchengladbach's German keeper, Ter Stegen.

But Ter Stegen nearly joined Bayern during the winter break. Now, after learning of Barcelona's interest, Borussia Mönchengladbach raised the price, and Bayern accelerated their pursuit.

"In today's European football, top goalkeepers have become scarce. Not only Barcelona and Bayern, but also Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, and Atlético Madrid urgently need goalkeepers."

"In this situation, there is a high probability Barcelona will lose Ter Stegen."

The reason is simple. The German goalkeeper reportedly told a Bild reporter he prefers to stay in the Bundesliga.

If he wants to stay in the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich is the best choice.

"Guardiola is very interested in Ter Stegen and believes the German goalkeeper can significantly improve Bayern's defense."

On the pitch they suffered consecutive defeats, and off the pitch they might be outbid in the transfer market. Worse still, there is serious infighting. The players even shut out the head coach and held a closed-door meeting.

How can this be?

Reports from Daily Sports and Mundo Deportivo quickly caused an uproar around the world.

Everyone realized Barcelona were in real trouble.

And it was very serious.

The sky is falling at Camp Nou.

What made it even worse was that when Barcelona returned home, even though it was late at night, many fans still blocked the players, hurling insults to express dissatisfaction and anger.

Humiliating words such as "mercenary," "shameless," and "trash" were frequently used to attack the players.

Many fans targeted Pinto, believing his mistakes cost Barcelona two trophies in a row.

Others blamed stars like Messi and Neymar, believing they were thinking only about the World Cup.

"Don't forget, you are paid by Barcelona, you bastards."

Barcelona fans did not spare head coach Martino either.

"Get out, Tata."

"Buy a ticket to Argentina and don't come back."

"Have a good trip, and don't look back."

The consecutive defeats, especially the seven meetings against Real Madrid this season without even a draw, are a great humiliation for Barcelona.

Mundo Deportivo also revealed that when fans angrily accused and insulted the players, many Barcelona players, including Messi and Neymar, clashed with them.

The reason was that some extreme fans blocked the players' path, and some even made racist gestures and remarks.

Both Daily Sports and Mundo Deportivo believe the team performed poorly and fans have the right to vent their dissatisfaction.

But the most important thing now is to regroup and prepare for reconstruction.

A reconstruction plan must be proposed as soon as possible to calm the fans.

Barcelona president Bartomeu held an emergency press conference at Camp Nou at noon the next day to reassure supporters, saying that although the team failed to win any of the four major titles, it was not without gains.

At the same time, Bartomeu promised that the club had raised funds and would spend heavily to bring in a number of stars in the summer transfer window, including Falcao of Monaco, Llorente of Juventus, Thiago Silva of Paris Saint-Germain, and Ter Stegen of Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Bartomeu pledged that Barcelona would invest at least 150 million euros net this summer to build a younger and more competitive lineup to challenge Real Madrid next season.

This immediately caused a huge stir across European football.

Everyone was surprised by Barcelona's ambition, because each of the players listed by Bartomeu is very expensive. For example, Falcao is currently valued at 60 million euros, but the Colombian has been injured for a long time and has underwhelmed in Ligue 1.

Then there is Thiago Silva. It will not be easy to lure him from Paris Saint-Germain. Daily Sports revealed that Barcelona have two alternatives, namely Mangala from Porto and Miranda from Atlético Madrid.

But both players are expensive.

There is no need to mention Mangala. Miranda is about to turn 30, and Atlético Madrid have no intention of negotiating with any team. If you want to sign Miranda, you must pay the 30 million euro release clause.

This is a very high price for a 30-year-old center-back.

Mundo Deportivo believes Barcelona are more inclined toward Mangala and Athletic Bilbao's French center-back Laporte, but the former would cost at least 50 million euros, and Laporte would also require a fee of around 40 million euros.

However, for Barcelona, who have vowed to invest a net 150 million euros, these are no longer obstacles.

As for the head coach, Martino is certain to leave, and Daily Sports revealed that Barcelona have secretly contacted Celta Vigo head coach Luis Enrique. The Barcelona legend already has a comprehensive reconstruction plan and is determined to help the club take aim at the powerful Real Madrid next season.

With Barcelona presenting this grand reconstruction blueprint, the transfer market became lively even before the season ended.

The first area affected was the race for goalkeepers.

The young keeper from Borussia Mönchengladbach has undoubtedly become one of the hottest targets. Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Arsenal are all watching him.

At this moment, Atlético Madrid, who had been quiet, suddenly announced the signing of 20-year-old Slovenian goalkeeper Oblak from Benfica for 20 million euros.

This transfer was the first shot fired in the summer talent war.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1158: Going to Get Rich

Bartomeu's press conference was like a large rock thrown into a calm lake, shocking the entire European football world and even world football as a whole.

Many people's first reaction was, does Barcelona have money?

This is indeed a question.

After Rosell replaced Laporta as Barcelona president, the first thing he did was to clean up the accounts because the club was heavily in debt.

But then, Rosell himself did some questionable things, such as signing Neymar at a sky-high price.

Now, Rosell's successor Bartomeu still wants to invest a net 150 million euros in the transfer market to compete with Real Madrid.

The key is that he used raised funds.

Obviously, this means the money will not come from Barcelona itself.

So the question is, will this further increase Barcelona's debt?

Anyone with a bit of financial sense could think of this, but at this moment, no media outlet, no reporter, and not even any Barcelona executive in Catalonia would step forward to point it out.

Because Barcelona fans have lost their minds.

Even Messi has been called a mercenary, so who else dares confront the fans?

People in the industry do not care much about Barcelona's debt. As a membership club, no matter how much Barcelona owe, it will not affect the team's survival. At worst, there will be a crisis.

However, Bartomeu's net investment of 150 million euros is bound to trigger further frenzy in the European transfer market.

Especially since this is a World Cup year.

The Premier League began a new broadcast contract from the 13/14 season. According to current assessments, the broadcasting income of all Premier League clubs will skyrocket this season.

Last season, the team that earned the most was champions Manchester United with 61.4 million pounds.

Manchester City earned 60.2 million pounds last season. There is no doubt they will win the title this season, so they can receive a full 96.57 million pounds.

If Leeds United can maintain sixth place in the Premier League this season, their broadcasting income will be close to 90 million pounds, which is a huge increase.

Even the team at the bottom of the table can get at least 62 million pounds.

What does that mean?

Even relegated Premier League teams can generate over 100 million pounds in revenue each season.

Therefore, the Premier League's purchasing power this season will be very impressive.

This has already drawn strong attention across European football, and now Barcelona have joined the fray. Do not forget Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1, who are also eager to strengthen.

This Ligue 1 club does not set a transfer budget for themselves every summer. They buy who they want and spend what they want.

PSG chairman Nasser has said before that even with two Brazilian center-backs, Thiago Silva and Marquinhos, plus a young player like Kimpembe, they still want to bring in another high-level central defender.

Targets are being scouted, but the fee will not be low.

Ancelotti also wants to bring in a top goalkeeper, which will undoubtedly intensify competition for keepers in the market.

Under such circumstances, Atlético Madrid were first to move, signing Oblak for 20 million euros. They were clearly worried about unexpected changes, so they chose to act early and let Benfica name their price rather than delay.

In this situation, whether it is Ter Stegen or other goalkeepers, the transfer fee will not be lower than Oblak's.

The reason is simple. There are too many buyers and too little supply, so you fight for what you can get.

…

"In this summer's transfer market, we are just watching the show. Everyone get ready, it will definitely be exciting."

After watching Bartomeu's press conference and hearing the news of Atlético signing Oblak, Gao Shen was not anxious at all. He was calm, because Real Madrid are strong now, so what is there to be afraid of?

If there is any position Real Madrid still need to reinforce, it is full-back.

But at the moment, there is no suitable candidate. Arbeloa, Nacho, and Marcos Alonso are all doing an acceptable job.

Therefore, Gao Shen had already told Florentino that Real Madrid would not recruit new players this summer.

"Van Gaal is going to Manchester United, so he will definitely spend big. If the Red Devils are to rebuild, there will be no effect at all without spending 100 or 200 million. As for Arsenal, Wenger has also made it clear he wants to spend." Hierro rubbed his hands, clearly excited.

No matter what position you are in, gossip is a must.

"From the current perspective, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool will definitely spend a lot, and other Premier League teams will not hold back either. Leeds United are going to make a fortune," Zidane said with a smile.

Gao Shen shook his head. "Leeds United will not sell many players this summer. They need to remain competitive."

For Leeds United, as long as they do not sell and keep the squad stable, the team's overall strength will improve steadily every year.

Because the White Rose are mainly composed of young players, and as these young players improve year by year, Leeds United's overall strength will rise accordingly, making the team more competitive.

Of course, the specifics are hard to predict. Just because Leeds United are unwilling to sell does not mean other teams will not try to poach.

The key problem is that Leeds United strictly control wages, and all players earn much less than at other Premier League clubs.

It is inevitable that some will chase higher salaries and ask to leave.

Leeds United are ready for this.

"To be honest, with Leeds United's current wage bill and revenue, plus the increase in Premier League broadcasting, they can make at least 100 million this season, right?" Hierro calculated.

"If we sell more players in the market, we can probably make a lot and add bricks and tiles to the new stadium."

Leeds United's new stadium is truly an amazing, grand project.

Previously, Norman Foster and Leeds United held a press conference together to announce this massive project with a total investment of up to one billion pounds. It is the most ambitious new stadium project in football history and caused a global stir.

Many people were shocked by Leeds United's funding source, but now it seems that is not a problem.

Who would have thought that after selling over 300 million last season, they would still be ranked sixth or eighth this season?

Judging from Leeds United's current situation, Gao Shen's new stadium plan is not radical at all.

"It is hard to say now. Let's wait and see during the World Cup," Gao Shen said mysteriously.

If his memory serves him, both De Vrij and Navas performed brilliantly in this World Cup. Moreover, goalkeepers and center-backs are very popular in the transfer market.

Gao Shen had quietly reminded Su Qing and Lucas to keep a close eye on every development at the World Cup. The club's publicity must keep up to generate results.

The European transfer market is already heating up, and you cannot make a fortune by staying quiet.

Just like the black shops Porto and Benfica, do they not always say someone is interested, with several rich clubs scrambling for a certain player?

Take Mangala as an example. A player like him can be sold for 50 million euros. Then how much is De Vrij worth, after being named the best center-back at the World Cup and having a strong season in the Premier League and Europa League?

"To be honest, I never realized you had the potential to be such a black-hearted boss," Carlo said jokingly.

Everyone could not help but laugh.

But it must be said that Gao Shen's management of Leeds United is indeed on point.

Some media had compiled figures before, and Gao Shen's current value is striking. Leeds United alone is already terrifying.

You know, Leeds United invested in that new training base without any debt.

Some outlets have estimated Florentino's net worth at about 1.7 billion euros, but it is obvious that Gao Shen has surpassed the Real Madrid president. However, it is hard to estimate the exact amount now because Gao Shen's net worth continues to soar.

The key lies in how far Leeds United can develop.

Of course, these are purely financial games, and Gao Shen would not take them seriously.

Florentino's net worth is 1.7 billion euros, but so what?

Is his biggest bargaining chip his net worth?

Wrong. It is the Real Madrid presidency and the power and influence that come with the throne. That is Florentino's greatest strength. To a certain extent, even if his net worth were zero, his status in his construction group would still be highly respected, and he would not be affected even if he were hands-off.

Because he is the president of Real Madrid.

By the same logic, Gao Shen's status in European football is constantly rising, not only because of his coaching achievements, but largely thanks to Leeds United.

Of course, no one would boast about this, because it would be embarrassing.

Gao Shen's priority now is not the summer window or Leeds United, but the next opponent, Guardiola's Bayern Munich.

…

"Alright, enough small talk, let's have a meeting."

At Gao Shen's command, everyone calmed down and sat up straight.

The main topic was the first leg of the semi-final against Bayern Munich. Real Madrid would be at home, so they had to come up with a strategy quickly.

La Liga is basically secured, and the Copa del Rey is already in the bag. Now the most important target is the Champions League.

Gao Shen made it clear the team would go all out in the Champions League, but the league could not be neglected either.

"I'm a Virgo. You all know me. I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so…"

Gao Shen did not finish, but everyone knew what he meant.

The league requires rotation, even a full second-string lineup, but the team still tries to win.

Everyone glanced at each other and smiled wryly.

This is the advantage of being the boss. You can have this, and that, and even more.

"Carlos." Gao Shen looked at analyst Carlos Vargas.

He had previously asked Vargas to prepare a detailed analysis of Bayern, so this time he would take the lead.

Gao Shen knew without doubt that Guardiola would target Real Madrid's weak spot, and Gao Shen intended to target Bayern's as well.

Who can pose the greater threat and defeat the other will be revealed on the pitch.

(To be continued.)