SWR: Chapter 868/870

Chapter 868: We Can't Make Such a Big Noise

Speaking of Real Madrid's lineup, it's actually quite good.

Up front, they have Adebayor, Higuaín, and Benzema. On the flanks, there's Di María, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Altıntop.

In midfield, there are players like Kaká, Özil, Khedira, Xabi Alonso, and Sahin.

The backline includes Arbeloa, Carvalho, Pepe, Ramos, and Albiol. In goal, there's Casillas.

This lineup might not be on the same level as Manchester City or Barcelona, but across the European football scene, it's still considered top-tier.

However, Gao Shen's overall evaluation wasn't high.

He even directly presented a purge list that included several players.

The first was Özil.

Currently, his market value was estimated at 30 million euros. He had been Real Madrid's top performer in recent years and the assist king for both the team and La Liga. Signing him had been a very successful move.

But Gao Shen still decided to sell him.

"As I mentioned before, in modern tactical systems, it's not acceptable to have two attacking players in the starting lineup who don't contribute defensively. Unfortunately, we currently have two, maybe even three."

Gao Shen explained his reasoning.

Everyone knew who he was referring to.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Özil, and Kaká.

"In the past, our defense struggled because we overly relied on individual brilliance and neglected the team structure. Mourinho improved the defensive side of the game, but his counter-attacking tactics didn't resolve the midfield issues. This is why we've struggled in high-profile matches."

"After I take over, I want the team to play as a cohesive unit, from the front line to the back line, even including the goalkeeper. There needs to be tight and meticulous linkage throughout the team. In this tactical setup, it's difficult for a player like Özil to be effective. Rather than forcing it, it's better to sell him."

This didn't come as a surprise.

Gao Shen had opposed signing Özil in the first place, so wanting to move him on now was expected.

"What about Kaká?" Florentino asked with concern.

Gao Shen understood what he was getting at.

Florentino still didn't want to give up on Kaká. After all, he retained commercial value and ability.

"It depends on how the club evaluates things, especially in terms of our wage structure. If you can accept keeping him, my team and I will try to help him—reduce injuries and help him adapt—but I can't guarantee him a place in the starting lineup."

This was a reasonable position.

"The same goes for Khedira and Sahin. Personally, I prefer to sell them."

Khedira's current market value was around 20 million euros, and at only 24 years old, he'd be easy to sell.

Sahin's market value was about 16 million euros, so it also wouldn't be difficult to move him.

Then there was Altıntop, whose market value was very low, only 4.5 million euros.

From Özil to Khedira, Sahin, and Altıntop, Gao Shen's list of departures was quite extensive.

All four players had come to the club through the same channel.

Florentino and the others remained silent, but technical director Valdano thought for a moment before asking, "In that case, wouldn't our midfield look thin?"

"After selling these players, we should have significant funds available. I want to sign Luka Modrić from Tottenham, Toni Kroos from Bayern Munich, and Verratti from Napoli."

Valdano was experienced. After some quick thinking, he immediately understood Gao Shen's deeper intent.

Gao Shen wanted to completely restructure Real Madrid's midfield.

He aimed to shift away from the Mourinho-era style, where the ball bypassed the midfield with direct counterattacks, and instead reinforce the team's control over the midfield.

This was very much in line with Gao Shen's consistent philosophy.

And based on some rough calculations, the net spend after buying and selling wouldn't be excessive. It might even be negligible.

"There's a problem. Modrić is being pursued heavily by Chelsea. Bayern probably won't sell Kroos. And Napoli may not be willing to let go of Verratti either," Valdano said.

All three transfers would be difficult to pull off.

Not to mention Modrić and Kroos, even Verratti had been performing well at Napoli and was attracting considerable attention. If Real Madrid were to make a move, it would likely require great effort to convince De Laurentiis.

"Talk to Bayern. I think there's a chance," Gao Shen said with a smile.

Toni Kroos was in an awkward situation at Bayern and had a conflict with Rummenigge. There was always the possibility of a surprise sale.

"Modrić won't be a problem. As long as I can convince Tottenham, I'll handle the player. The same goes for the others." Gao Shen was full of confidence.

This was the bearing of a top-class coach.

Florentino and the others were truly impressed. They hadn't expected this side of Gao Shen.

"I think we could consider using Adebayor in negotiations with Tottenham," Gao Shen suggested.

Since Džeko had joined Tottenham, he had performed well at first but quickly hit a rookie wall. Tottenham were also looking to strengthen their forward line, and Adebayor would be a good fit.

After some thought, Valdano turned and gestured to his assistant to make a note of it.

"As for the defense, we'll sell Carvalho and Coentrão."

Everything had been going smoothly, but when Gao Shen said this, Florentino's expression changed slightly.

"Both of them?"

Real Madrid had spent 27 million euros to bring in Coentrão last summer.

More importantly, both players were represented by Portuguese super-agent Mendes.

And who was Mendes?

He was the agent for Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo. Di María and Pepe were also among his clients at Real Madrid.

"Carvalho is getting old, and I don't think someone like Coentrão, a heavy smoker, can perform well."

Coentrão was indeed a known smoker. Shortly after joining Real Madrid, he had been photographed smoking by reporters.

There are two major taboos for professional players: drinking and smoking.

"Finding a left-back in the transfer market is tough. Coentrão performed well and cost a lot to sign, so we naturally hoped he'd succeed. But after one season, his value has already dropped by 6 million euros."

He joined for 27 million, and now his estimated market value was only 21 million—similar to Marcelo.

Marcelo had yet to reach his full potential, as Mourinho had always been cautious and even skeptical about attacking full-backs.

But Gao Shen knew very well that he wanted to fully utilize Marcelo and Di María.

Whether in his past life or now, Gao Shen had always believed that Real Madrid should never have sold Di María.

Of course, that wasn't purely from a sporting standpoint, but also to maintain balance in the wage structure.

If Di María hadn't been sold, Gao Shen believed that, with the lineup Real Madrid had at the time, five straight titles would have been possible.

Now, Di María was not only still a Real Madrid player, but also one of his trusted generals. The situation was different.

After talking for a long time, Florentino, Valdano, Zidane, Butragueño, and the others had to admit that Gao Shen's courage and decisiveness far exceeded their expectations.

They had anticipated bold moves from him, but now it seemed they had still underestimated him.

This young man had no hesitation. His approach was downright ruthless.

If he truly implemented all these changes, Real Madrid would undergo a full-scale transformation.

To the point where Florentino, Valdano, and the others didn't dare to agree on the spot. They said they needed to think carefully and study the proposal.

The shake-up was just too big.

They needed to consider the interests of various parties.

For example, if they sold Carvalho and Coentrão, would Mendes react?

Cristiano Ronaldo had a good relationship with Coentrão. Would he react?

Even...

"Gao, tell me honestly, do you have an issue with Cristiano Ronaldo?" Valdano suddenly asked the key question, surprising even himself.

If Ronaldo were to be sold, it would be earth-shattering.

Florentino was startled too, and everyone turned to look at Gao Shen.

Brother, we can't make that kind of noise!

This is Cristiano Ronaldo!

Right now, the only player in world football who could stand on equal footing with Messi!

"Relax, relax," Gao Shen said calmly. "I never mentioned Ronaldo. Plus, I'll have time to speak with the players one-on-one, including Ronaldo. There are a lot of things that can only be decided after we talk."

Gao Shen was known worldwide for his ability to communicate.

But judging from his tone, this wouldn't be a simple chat.

As the new boss, Gao Shen had to win over the dressing room, and Ronaldo was someone he could not avoid.

Of course, there were also local figures like Casillas and Ramos.

The local players were always the trickiest. Loved by the fans, and hard to move.

Luckily, Gao Shen had a good relationship with them. He'd talk first. If things went well, that would be ideal.

Right now, the Real Madrid dressing room was chaotic, with numerous factions. Even Mourinho couldn't manage it.

If Gao Shen wanted to take control, he needed to take action. He couldn't allow the chaos to continue like before.

Selling Özil, Adebayor, Coentrão, Carvalho, and others wasn't just about tactics. It was also about establishing authority.

But the key wasn't establishing authority—it was what came after.

André Villas-Boas established authority. Then what?

"Last year, Tottenham's chairman, Daniel Levy, made a gentleman's agreement with Modrić and promised to let him leave this summer. But now it seems like Levy wants to backtrack. After all, Tottenham will be playing in the Champions League. But we can work on this," Gao Shen suggested.

As long as Modrić arrived, everything would fall into place.

"Let's finalize the signings first, then offload players. Do it simultaneously," Gao Shen said to Valdano.

Real Madrid's technical director nodded and indicated that there would be no problem.

They were highly experienced in the transfer market, and there were always clubs interested in Real Madrid players.

"Also, give me a full squad report, including Castilla, the youth academy, players out on loan, and those with buy-back clauses."

A flicker of light appeared in Florentino's eyes, and the way he looked at Gao Shen changed significantly.

Real Madrid wasn't Manchester City. They couldn't just throw money around.

Even as a membership club, Real Madrid had to manage its finances. The massive investments from 2009 still had an impact. If the overhaul was too large, the club might be able to raise the funds, but the financial pressure would be real.

Clearly, Gao Shen understood this.

He was, after all, the man behind the club.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 869: He Is Different

In the western suburbs of Madrid lies the luxurious residential area of La Finca.

Casillas had just returned home. The moment he walked through the door, he went straight to the sofa in the reception area and sat down, staring at the outdoor swimming pool with furrowed brows, clearly troubled.

His journalist girlfriend, Sara Carbonero, was swimming in the pool at that moment, as graceful as a mermaid, exuding irresistible charm.

But her allure did nothing to ease Casillas' inner anxiety.

He was originally on vacation and was scheduled to report to the national team in two days to prepare for the European Championship in mid-June. However, he received a call from Valdano last night asking him to come to the Bernabéu today.

At that time, Real Madrid's coaching selection committee was still in Cheshire, England.

This wasn't a simple matter.

But after his meeting with Valdano at the Bernabéu today, things didn't seem as complicated as he had imagined.

Yet Casillas still had a headache.

"What's the matter, dear?"

Sara Carbonero noticed Casillas had returned. She stopped swimming, climbed onto the edge of the pool, flaunting her stunning figure without restraint, and asked with a playful smile.

Normally, Casillas would be visibly excited by this, but today, he didn't seem interested at all.

"Nothing. Just some things I need to deal with. You keep swimming," Casillas replied softly.

He always spoke gently to Sara.

Sara knew he had gone to the Bernabéu and that Real Madrid's coaching selection committee had just returned from Cheshire, England. The fact they had called Casillas over immediately meant something was going on.

After all, being captain at Real Madrid came with heavier responsibilities than at other clubs.

Realizing this, Sara lost interest in swimming. She climbed out, grabbed a bath towel, dried herself, and walked toward Casillas.

"Honey, is there a problem with the coach selection?" she asked, concerned.

"No. Why would there be?"

"Then why do you look so worried?" Sara had reached Casillas, and as her towel slipped down, she stood before him coquettishly. She gently rubbed his forehead and asked with a worried tone.

"The head coach has been decided," Casillas replied.

Sara giggled. "Isn't that a good thing? You said before that Gao Shen had a great relationship with you. Now that he's back and you're the captain, won't that make working together even smoother?"

Casillas nodded. "That's true, but…"

"But what?"

Casillas looked up at the beauty standing so close and gently pulled her into his arms. With a soft moan, she leaned into the embrace of the Real Madrid captain.

"Sara, from now on, let your colleagues handle anything related to Real Madrid."

"Why? Did Gao Shen say something to the club management?"

"No, nothing." Casillas sounded bitter.

And that was exactly why he was worried.

Because it didn't make sense.

Though they had only worked together for a few months, Casillas had seen how Gao Shen operated.

If Mourinho was the type of general who acted with force and decisiveness, then Gao Shen was undoubtedly a master of subtle influence. He solved problems and managed conflicts without anyone realizing it.

And the key was, no one could resist him.

By the time people realized what was happening, he was already in control.

It had been that way during his previous stint at Real Madrid.

"If he didn't say anything, doesn't that just prove he's not like Mourinho?" Sara asked. "And hasn't Real Madrid always worked with us this way in the past?"

Casillas sighed. "Back when he coached Real Madrid for those few months, we completely shut out the outside world. Without his approval, no media reporters could even enter Real Madrid's training base."

"All journalists from AS and Marca had to get his permission. He had the final say on what could be reported and what couldn't."

"Isn't that too arrogant and overbearing? Even Mourinho wasn't that strict," Sara said, unconvinced.

Casillas was momentarily stunned, then sighed again. He gently caressed his girlfriend's back and kissed her smooth shoulder.

"Come on, Sara, he's not like Mourinho."

"Then what's the difference?"

"You don't understand. All the Real Madrid fans support him now. Just look at the coach selection process. The president led the committee himself. There were also two vice presidents, the general manager, the technical director, the chief of staff, and the president's advisor."

Casillas paused here, nodding toward Sara, as if to say, you understand how significant that is, right?

That's the difference.

When Mourinho came to Real Madrid, at most, it was just the general manager and technical director involved.

But this time?

The president and two vice presidents? My God, that's huge.

Sara wasn't stupid. She caught on. "But we can't completely cut off contact with the media, can we?"

"He really is different!" Casillas emphasized, his tone firm.

Sara grew irritated. "What's so different? Don't we still have freedom of the press?"

Casillas didn't know how to deal with his girlfriend. He could only pull her into his arms again and try to comfort her. "Baby, of course we have freedom of the press. But Gao Shen just got back, and we don't know what he's planning yet. Just hold off for now, alright?"

"Do it for me, okay?"

Sara sensed something was off. "Did they put pressure on you?"

Casillas smiled bitterly. "It'd be better if they did."

"What do you mean?"

"I know Gao Shen. If he puts pressure on me, it means he really intends to rely on me. But he hasn't. After signing a preliminary agreement with Real Madrid last night, the first thing he did was call Antonio Adán."

Adán was the goalkeeper Mourinho had groomed to replace Casillas last season, a product of Real Madrid's youth system.

"And then?" Sara asked, surprised.

"Adán agreed to a transfer, and the club is now helping him find a good team."

He had just become a starter for one season. Though his performance had been inconsistent, his ability was decent.

For Gao Shen to get Adán to leave with just one call, he must've said something significant.

"I don't get it. Isn't that a good thing? Everyone knows Mourinho trained Adán to replace you, but he's not up to the level yet. You sat on the bench for a whole season. Now that Gao Shen is selling Adán, doesn't that mean he values you?" Sara asked anxiously.

"You don't know Gao Shen. He's only called me once so far."

"And no one else?"

Casillas fell silent, his anxiety evident. Finally, he could only humble himself again and plead, "Baby, please just stay away from Real Madrid news for now, okay?"

Sara immediately stood up. "But I've already booked a segment with the TV station. I was planning to invite Gao Shen onto my show. You know how popular he is right now. I even sent him private messages on Twitter several times, but he didn't follow me back or even reply."

Casillas stared at his girlfriend, feeling both helpless and frustrated.

He really loved her. But right now, this involved his future, and he had to take it seriously.

"Baby, let's calm down, alright?"

With that, Casillas turned and walked away.

Sara stood there in her swimsuit, dazed and confused.


---

Lisbon, Portugal.

Cristiano Ronaldo was drenched in sweat as he trained in the gym.

Although the league season had just ended and the European Championship hadn't started yet, he was already adjusting and preparing for the tournament with his private coaching team.

He wanted to be in peak condition for the Euros.

He wanted to challenge Messi!

He would never allow himself to be second to anyone—no matter who it was!

His agent, Mendes, stood nearby, watching Ronaldo with admiration while thinking back to a call he had just received from Real Madrid's general manager, José Sánchez.

Interestingly, Mendes didn't get along well with Real Madrid's technical director Valdano but had a much better relationship with Sánchez.

Maybe that's because they were both businessmen.

When Ronaldo finally finished his training, a masseur came over and started loosening up his muscles.

Mendes walked over, handing him a towel and a bottle of water.

"Thanks."

Ronaldo first took the towel and wiped the sweat from his body. He was breathing heavily, but he looked full of energy.

That was just who he was—always full of vitality.

Mendes deeply admired and even envied that.

When a person gets older, they begin to especially appreciate youth and energy.

So it's no surprise that older people are often attracted to youth.

Ronaldo took the bottle of water and drank the whole thing in one go. He exhaled in satisfaction, but sweat broke out all over his body again.

After finishing his massage and drying off, Ronaldo wrapped himself in a warm coat.

He had just exercised, so he had to take proper care of his body.

In that regard, Ronaldo was arguably the most professional and meticulous player in the world.

"Sit, Jorge." Ronaldo pointed to a seat.

Mendes sat down and watched Ronaldo take a bottle of nutritional supplement from the nutritionist and sip it slowly.

"What's going on?" the Portuguese superstar asked.

"I just got a call from José Sánchez."

Ronaldo nodded. "They're back from Cheshire?"

Everyone knew about Real Madrid's coaching selection trip to Cheshire.

No, that was already old news.

"He called me as soon as they got back. Real Madrid's being quite efficient this time." Mendes chuckled, though with a hint of sarcasm.

Ronaldo glanced at his agent, knowing he was still upset about Mourinho's dismissal. He understood why.

"What did he say?"

"They want to sell Coentrão and Carvalho."

Ronaldo had just lifted the bottle to his lips, but froze mid-motion. Slowly, he lowered it again.

He fell into deep thought.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 870: The Drama of Snatching Players

Ronaldo's house in Portugal is located near the Vasco da Gama Tower in the Parque das Nações. Standing on the balcony, you can see the Vasco da Gama Bridge spanning the Tagus River. The scenery is especially stunning.

Back when he was still part of Sporting Lisbon's youth academy, he used to take the subway and run all over Lisbon.

He had stood on the banks of the Tagus countless times, fantasizing about one day owning a house there and bringing his parents, siblings, and family to live with him.

Later, after making it big, he suddenly realized that his father had already passed away, his mother didn't want to leave the island she'd lived on since childhood, and his siblings all had their own lives.

Still, he bought a house here.

Right on the same stretch of riverbank he used to dream about, where he could gaze at the Vasco da Gama Bridge.

Now, he stood on that very balcony, overlooking the bridge, with his agent Mendes by his side.

"You mean I'm not part of Gao Shen's plan?" Ronaldo asked with concern.

"I asked that too, but José Sánchez said Gao Shen didn't give a clear answer. He only said that he'd speak with you directly."

After a pause, Mendes added, "You know, Gao Shen always likes to 'chat'."

Somehow, "chatting" had become a symbol of his sophistication.

Some even joked that the reason he's so successful and never has locker room conflicts is because he loves to chat. Conversations with him seem to carry a magical power that defuses tension.

"What do you think?" Ronaldo continued looking into the distance, his expression unreadable.

"From what I can tell, Real Madrid has gone all-in on Gao Shen. Florentino himself is leading the project, with both vice presidents involved, including the second vice president, Tapias. As you know, Real Madrid's first vice president rarely gets involved in anything."

Real Madrid's first vice president, Fernández, is a well-known Madrid tycoon. His favorite pastime is sailing Spain's largest and most luxurious yacht with supermodels.

He attends every Real Madrid match, but despite being first vice president, he basically doesn't manage anything.

When Florentino first became club president, Fernández was already his first vice president. But interestingly, when Florentino stepped down in 2006, his successor was Martín, not Fernández.

At the time, many speculated that there had been a falling-out.

But when Florentino returned to the presidency, Fernández was reinstated as first vice president.

The second vice president, Tapias, is a famous Spanish lawyer. Unlike Laporta, who is only known in Catalonia, Tapias is recognized nationwide. He's also Florentino's former elementary school classmate.

They have one thing in common: both Fernández and Tapias are founding members of the Offensive Fan Club.

Every member of this club is not only a Real Madrid socio but also a major figure in Spanish political and business circles.

In other words, when Florentino brought Tapias and Butragueño to Cheshire, he was bringing along the three most powerful people on the board, as well as the heads of administrative departments.

This lineup wasn't just serious. It was overwhelming.

And with that level of sincerity and efficiency, Gao Shen signed the agreement on the spot. It would become official once he arrived in Madrid to sign the contract.

"I heard Florentino even wanted to hold a grand welcome ceremony for Gao Shen, but he refused."

Mendes smiled and looked at his player. "José Sánchez said that based on Real Madrid's public opinion analysis, if they really held a welcome ceremony, the fan turnout would exceed 100,000."

Ronaldo's hands visibly trembled. When he first joined Real Madrid, it hadn't drawn that many fans.

"Jorge, stop with the fluff. Tell me something that actually matters."

"I think we need to prepare for both possibilities."

"Go ahead."

"Whether or not Gao Shen plans to marginalize us, we need a response. With Coentrão and Carvalho gone, we'll lose influence in the dressing room. Will you still have the same tactical role you had before?"

"And then?"

"We need to put pressure on Real Madrid, let them know we have other options. That way, they'll try to find a balance instead of fully backing Gao Shen."

Ronaldo understood what his agent meant. "Who do you think could help me achieve my goals in European football now?"

"There are options."

"Like…"

"Paris Saint-Germain or Manchester City."

Ronaldo was no fool. In fact, he was more shrewd than most. It was a survival skill he'd honed since childhood.

Just like how he managed to stay afloat at Sporting Lisbon on his own.

"I won't make a move yet. I'll observe. And wait for Gao Shen to call me."

With those words, Ronaldo had made his stance clear.

An agent is still an agent. No matter how famous, he serves the player.

Sometimes, the agent's interests don't perfectly align with the player's.

Especially when the agent manages multiple players.

Mendes knew perfectly well that he couldn't hide his little schemes from Ronaldo, and he didn't intend to.

Their interests were intertwined anyway.

But this time, Gao Shen was ruthless. He started with Mendes' players.

Now, Mendes was even worried about Di María and Pepe.

If those two couldn't stay at Real Madrid, how would Mendes maintain influence at the Bernabéu?

Thinking about it made him angry again.

He had warned Mourinho not to be so stubborn, but Mourinho wouldn't listen and insisted on pushing back. Things escalated until they were completely out of control, giving Gao Shen the upper hand for free.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be in such a passive position now.

"What about Fábio and Ricardo?" Ronaldo asked, concerned.

After all, they were teammates for both club and country.

"Gao Shen said Ricardo is too old and doesn't fit into his long-term plans. As for Fábio, he's a heavy smoker…"

"I think he's right," Ronaldo cut Mendes off. "I've warned him about this many times. He wouldn't listen and even got photographed by the media. We tried to suppress the news several times, using every possible resource, but nothing worked."

Speaking of that, Ronaldo looked exasperated.

A 24-year-old professional footballer smoking? How could that be acceptable?

Didn't he understand how harmful smoking was to his performance?

It's fine to go out, party, or even visit clubs. They're all men, after all—who doesn't like that stuff?

But smoking is different.

"Do you need my help?" Ronaldo sighed.

Mendes shook his head. "No need. Real Madrid asked us to find new clubs. I'm planning to send Fábio to Chelsea. Ashley Cole is getting old, and Chelsea are looking to reinforce. José is coaching there now, so it fits."

"As for Ricardo, I'm still working on it. He might go to Ligue 1 or back to Portugal. Nothing confirmed yet."

Ronaldo was a bit helpless but could only accept the situation.

This incident clearly showed that Real Madrid's direction had truly shifted.

Back when Mourinho was coaching, Mendes was the darling of the Bernabéu. Now...

…

After his meeting with the Real Madrid team, Gao Shen left Manchester Airport the next day with his wife, heading for Northern Europe again.

This time, besides a suitcase full of Real Madrid-related materials to read during downtime, he didn't bring much else—not even his work phone.

Last time, he visited Iceland and Norway. This time, he planned to tour Denmark, Finland, and Sweden to experience more of the Nordic vibe.

Although he left, Gao Shen had already discussed plenty with the Real Madrid staff, especially regarding the summer transfer window.

After that, he met with the Leeds United team. He also visited Sarri, accompanied by Lucas and Borrell, to console the frustrated head coach.

Because the squad he had carefully built was about to be dismantled this summer.

Looking at all the clubs outside swarming like sharks, trying to scoop up Leeds players, Gao Shen felt like he was watching a real estate boom from his past life.

All of them had deep pockets!

"But look on the bright side, Maurizio. We've already acquired the land northeast of Elland Road, and we can start preparing to build a brand-new, five-star, ultra-luxury training complex."

Gao Shen was a master of sweet talk.

What else could he do?

The boss said it, so what choice did Sarri have?

He had no choice but to treat bad news as good news.

Still, he repeatedly reminded Gao Shen to keep his promise and help him build a strong team.

Of course, Gao Shen agreed readily.

Sarri's peak came during his time at Napoli, with a midfield trio of Jorginho, Allan, and Hamsik. Right now, Jorginho and Allan were still young but full of potential. With the addition of Pogba, Gao Shen believed that with proper development, they could surpass Napoli's midfield of old.

Before leaving, Gao Shen brought Su Qing to visit Ferguson's home, gifting him a case of wine as thanks.

Because Manchester United spent £15 million to sign Schneiderlin, the expected transfer prices for Leeds United players had risen.

If Schneiderlin cost £15 million, what about Paulinho, who had performed even better?

Mourinho was also interested in Paulinho. With Lampard aging, he wanted to bring in the Brazilian international as a replacement. So Chelsea had also approached Leeds United for a price.

Tottenham too.

But Gao Shen left the Leeds matters to Lucas and Borrell. He and Su Qing mostly waited for updates. Real Madrid, however, was handled by Gao Shen personally.

That same afternoon, right after the Real Madrid delegation returned to Madrid, Valdano faxed an official bid to Valencia: €15 million for their left-back, Jordi Alba.

This was €3 million more than Barcelona's €12 million offer.

It was also exactly what Valencia was asking for Alba.

Spanish football was instantly rocked.

The battle to snatch top talent had officially begun!

(To be continued.)