SWR: Chapter 734/738

Chapter 734: Back Home

Overnight, the double crown, the league title, the Champions League final…

Everything was forgotten.

Nearly all media outlets and fans across the UK, Europe, and even the world were stunned by the shocking news.

Gao Shen actually wanted to acquire Leeds United?

Insane!

Completely insane!

Where did he get the confidence and the money?

The media immediately launched an investigation and unearthed more information.

Now that the acquisition of Leeds United had been finalized, many of the previously signed confidentiality agreements were no longer valid.

Ken Bates was the first to speak out, confirming that the Chinese consortium had indeed acquired Leeds United, but he had never met Gao Shen throughout the process. "Of course, the Chinese consortium was represented by the family business of Gao Shen's fiancée. Do you think Gao Shen was behind this?"

Leeds City Council also issued a statement, clarifying that the entire acquisition process was conducted in accordance with laws and regulations.

Furthermore, government officials privately told reporters that the reason the warehouse district's lawyer had gone public was to use media pressure to force Chinese investors to raise their offer.

"The city has long planned to redevelop the dead-end roads and warehouse district. Over the years, Leeds United had been stuck in the lower leagues. We also hoped to take this opportunity to support the local club and achieve a win-win for the team, the government, the fans, and residents."

The official added that the city government would not be manipulated by public opinion. The warehouse district would either accept the offer or wait for the hearing, at which point they might receive even less.

As the governing body, the Premier League also made a statement. As the manager of Manchester City, Gao Shen had not violated any rules. As for his involvement in Leeds United's acquisition, since Leeds were in the Championship and not under Premier League jurisdiction, they had no comment.

The English Football Association and the English Football League also clarified that the acquisition was led by Chinese investors, and the official representative was indeed Gao Shen's fiancée. However, this did not conflict with Gao Shen managing Manchester City in the Premier League.

"We all know there are managers and players involved in operating lower-league teams. Some support their hometown clubs, others make investments or take on other roles. We are open to all of that."

"Whether Gao Shen was involved in the acquisition of Leeds United or not, the outcome remains the same—the entire transaction was legal and compliant."

Following these official statements, Manchester City chairman Mubarak and CEO Gary Cook held a press conference at the Etihad Stadium to publicly clarify the relationship between Gao Shen and Leeds United.

"He made it clear to us that he does not hold any position or receive any salary at Leeds United."

Mubarak emphasized that Manchester City trusted Gao Shen and considered him a professional head coach.

As for the Leeds United acquisition, the relevant authorities had already made their positions clear.

…

From the Leeds City Council to the Premier League, to the FA and finally Manchester City, all the responsible parties stepped forward. Media and fans were surprised to find that, regardless of Gao Shen's involvement, the acquisition had already gone through and was fully compliant with regulations.

Leeds United would continue competing in the Championship, and Gao Shen would continue managing Manchester City. The two sides would not interfere with each other.

As for the club's website now listing Su Qing, Gao Shen's fiancée, as the new chairman, did it really matter?

At the very least, it was a legitimate investment in a Championship club. Many family members of famous coaches have run businesses or worked as agents under their names.

With all the financial scandals in the Premier League in recent years, was this really the issue to criticize?

Even British tabloids wouldn't go that far.

Following the takeover, the initially outraged Leeds United supporters were quickly appeased.

Su Qing traveled to Leeds at the earliest opportunity and personally met with fan representatives. She pledged to lead Leeds United out of its slump.

But verbal promises weren't enough. Su Qing laid out a list of concrete steps she would take to run the club, including rebuilding the youth academy, constructing a new training complex, and signing new players to push for Premier League promotion.

During her meeting with fans, Su Qing also announced a major transfer—buying back Jonathan Woodgate from Tottenham Hotspur in London.

"He's back home!" Su Qing's words brought many Leeds United fans to tears.

Many people couldn't fully grasp the deep emotional connection between Leeds United supporters and Woodgate.

He had been the club's last symbol of pride during their decline. His departure marked the death knell for Leeds United.

Since then, the club had lacked any star players.

More importantly, Woodgate had been sold to Newcastle not by choice, but because of the club's overwhelming debt at the time.

Now, he was back.

That meant the new Leeds United had a chance to rise again.

Su Qing also announced two more important appointments.

One was club legend Eddie Gray, who returned as special advisor to the chairman.

Eddie Gray was a fan favorite who spent his entire playing career at Leeds United from the 1960s through the 1980s. After becoming a coach, he worked for many years with the youth team, producing talents like Woodgate and Alan Smith.

Back then, Eddie Gray had been assistant to head coach David O'Leary.

Interestingly, when Brian Kidd, now Gao Shen's assistant at Manchester City, was promoted from youth academy director to the first team, it led to Eddie Gray being forced out, which left a very negative impression of Kidd among Leeds fans.

Since leaving the club, Eddie Gray had worked as a commentator for Yorkshire Radio, covering only Leeds United matches. He remained beloved by the fans.

Gao Shen was fully aware of this, so he asked Su Qing, Lucas, and others to make early preparations to bring Eddie Gray in as a special advisor.

The goal was to reassure the fans.

The second appointment was Lucas Radebe, the club ambassador and another fan favorite.

The South African defender was praised by Mandela as the greatest player in South African history. He had played for Leeds under David O'Leary and was widely loved by supporters.

Even after Leeds were relegated from the Premier League, Radebe stayed on and played two more seasons in the Championship.

After retiring, Radebe dedicated himself to charity and even won the FIFA Fair Play Award.

Leeds United would now work with Radebe's charity, organize a series of charity matches, and appoint him as club ambassador.

Although Radebe was currently in South Africa, he greeted Leeds United fans via video during the meeting, promising to return soon and expressing confidence in the new management's ability to bring the club back to the Premier League.

Eddie Gray attended in person and stood beside Su Qing to face the fans together.

There was no stronger reassurance than that.

At first, many players were upset that the club had been taken over by foreign investors. But after seeing Su Qing's actions and the support of figures like Eddie Gray and Lucas Radebe, their doubts disappeared.

The new management team felt different.

At the very least, it was a major improvement compared to Ken Bates and his group.

And if the media were right, and Gao Shen really was behind this acquisition, what difference did it make?

Everyone knew that Gao Shen had a brilliant eye for talent.

If he helped Leeds United sign a few good players, was there any doubt they could be promoted?

Reporters and fans asked Su Qing what role Gao Shen had played in her acquisition of Leeds United.

Su Qing smiled and replied, "He gave me a lot of professional advice, but he didn't participate."

As for the warehouse district owners claiming they saw Gao Shen inspecting the land, Su Qing admitted he had been there, but said it didn't mean anything.

"I was completing such a big acquisition. It's only natural for him to offer some advice, right?"

Some fans even asked whether Gao Shen could be invited to coach Leeds United.

Su Qing smiled and nodded seriously. "I've thought about it, but we can't afford his salary right now. Maybe a few years from now, when we're back in the Premier League. What do you think?"

This kind of interaction and open Q&A helped the fans begin to accept Su Qing.

Later, some media even dubbed her "the most beautiful club owner in the world."

…

Just a few days passed.

From the initial uproar to the eventual calm, everything changed in the blink of an eye.

The potential crisis had been quelled before it could take hold. Su Qing's poise and leadership during her first days in charge of Leeds United earned widespread praise from the British media, especially the club's fans.

After all, foreign ownership facing fan backlash was nothing new in the Premier League.

But in just one meeting, Su Qing had won over the Leeds United supporters. It wasn't just her presence, or the support of Eddie Gray and Lucas Radebe. It was also her attitude, her answers, and the impression she left.

At the very least, the fans believed she was prepared and genuinely wanted to lead the club out of the abyss.

Meanwhile, the mastermind behind it all, Gao Shen, stayed out of the spotlight. He remained at Carrington, focused on preparing for the Champions League final, or went home to discuss plans with Su Qing, Lucas, Sarri, Borrell, and others.

Lucas, Sarri, and Borrell were still under contract with Manchester City. They wouldn't move to Leeds United until after the Champions League final.

But just as the team was about to head south to London, new trouble emerged.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 735: God of Wealth: Gao Shen

"How could he do this? Doesn't he know how dangerous this is?"

When Gao Shen returned to his home in Cheshire from Carrington, he heard his mother's "roar" before he even entered the door.

He froze for a moment. He hadn't seen his mother this angry in a long, long time.

The last time was when he said he wanted to drop out of school and go abroad to study football.

"I don't care, Xiaoqing. When he gets back, don't say anything and don't defend him. I have to teach this brat a lesson today. What kind of man pushes his wife into danger like this?"

"Mom, it really wasn't dangerous." Su Qing said timidly.

Ever since they got engaged, she had started calling her mother-in-law "Mom." But like most daughters-in-law around the world, even if she was assertive outside, she was still a bit timid in front of Zhang Wenying.

It was just how things were.

"How can it not be dangerous? I heard British fans are aggressive. There are even hooligans. What if you run into someone who throws a beer bottle at you? What then? You're such a beautiful girl. If your face gets ruined, it'd break my heart!"

"Actually, Xiaoqing is right. It's not as bad as you think..."

"Shut up!" Zhang Wenying glared at her husband and snapped, "You're the one who spoiled him."

Gao Jianguo immediately fell silent.

At home, he really didn't dare go against his wife.

Just then, he saw Gao Shen walking in. He quickly gave him a look—"Good luck to you"—then shook his head and sighed.

"What's going on? A struggle session?"

Gao Shen had already guessed what was happening. He walked in smiling and asked.

"You're back, kid. Come here. Come here and tell me what's going on. Your wife is meant to be loved, not pushed out to take risks. Why didn't you go yourself? Why make her deal with this mess?"

While scolding, she walked over. From an angle Su Qing's parents, Su Zhijun and Lin Xiuhui, couldn't see, she winked at Gao Shen.

Gao Shen immediately understood and smiled bitterly in his heart.

According to the veteran comrade Zhang Wenying, the most difficult and complicated relationship in a household is between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

But it also plays a crucial role in a harmonious family.

As the saying goes, a harmonious family brings prosperity.

There's even an old saying: when something happens, blame your own child first.

So a very interesting dynamic emerged—whenever something happened between Gao Shen and Su Qing, even if it was just a minor argument, Zhang Wenying would scold Gao Shen and protect Su Qing, while Lin Xiuhui would scold Su Qing and defend Gao Shen.

Sometimes, the two mothers even argued over it.

According to Gao Jianguo and Su Zhijun, these women were just reenacting palace dramas every day.

But there was some truth to that.

At the very least, Su Qing and Zhang Wenying didn't really have the typical mother-in-law–daughter-in-law relationship. While Zhang Wenying and Lin Xiuhui seemed to side with their daughters-in-law and sons-in-law respectively, in reality, the two old friends were always on the same page.

The current situation was that the parents had just arrived in London, and upon hearing that Su Qing had gone to Leeds to face protesting fans, especially with the media sensationalizing the event, they became alarmed, thinking the situation was extremely tense.

In truth, nothing had happened at the scene. Police were on-site the entire time.

If there had been even the slightest danger, would Gao Shen have let his wife go?

But the older generation didn't see it that way.

So naturally, Gao Shen had to be scolded in front of his wife and in-laws.

This, apparently, was part of family diplomacy.

Gao Shen was speechless.

"I'm sorry, I was wrong. Mom, I know I was wrong!" Gao Shen admitted with a straight face.

Zhang Wenying was caught off guard by his sudden apology and didn't know how to continue.

Hey, brat, I gave you the look. Why didn't you just play along?

Now that you admitted fault, how am I supposed to keep scolding you?

Seeing her flustered, Gao Jianguo chuckled.

Su Qing also smiled, walked over, and pulled Zhang Wenying to sit down.

"Mom, that's just the way he is. Don't argue with him or he'll just make you angrier."

Zhang Wenying was so exasperated that she couldn't get a word out. "Alright, alright, from now on it's your wife's turn to deal with you. Your mother's done worrying."

Everyone burst into laughter again.

…

Both sets of parents had arrived in London and Manchester earlier that day.

The purpose was clear—to watch the Champions League final.

This was a major milestone in Gao Shen's career. How could they miss it?

The spacious villa in Cheshire was usually just occupied by Gao Shen and Su Qing. Now with both families there, it suddenly felt lively.

Even being scolded felt warm and familiar to Gao Shen, who had been away from home for years.

After all, it wasn't real scolding.

Su Qing had just acquired Leeds United and had a mountain of work to handle. Gao Shen wasn't planning to return to China this year, so he tried to persuade their parents to stay in the UK a bit longer.

But neither side had any such plans.

Seeing that Gao Shen's career was thriving in Europe, and that Su Qing had left her job in the ministry to join him and had now started her own business, the families shifted their focus more to domestic business.

In the past two years, whether it was cherries, blueberries, or wine, their operations had become more and more successful, and the company had grown rapidly. Several of their wine brands were now hot sellers in China.

The farms and vineyards in Chile had also been expanding repeatedly, which made Sanchez, Vidal, and Vargas very happy, since they were all earning a good return from it.

Now that the company was running smoothly, most of the work was handled by others.

But when it came to business, if you weren't involved directly, it was hard to feel at ease.

…

The "family storm" ended quickly.

Their first meal together after arriving wasn't at home, but at a nearby hotel.

Gao Shen inquired about the wine sales, the winery, and the farms. After hearing that everything was progressing well, he felt relieved.

"To be honest, introducing Ferguson really helped us open doors." Su Zhijun said, convinced.

It was thanks to Gao Shen's original plan that domestic wine sales had accelerated, and volumes had skyrocketed.

After years of steady growth, they now had agents across nearly the entire country. Sales were rising consistently, setting new records. Especially with new trade agreements between China and Chile, the momentum had only grown.

"Next, are you interested in sponsoring Leeds United?" Gao Shen asked.

Su Zhijun and Gao Jianguo exchanged a glance, both struggling to keep up with Gao Shen's pace.

Su Qing quickly explained that since everything was essentially under her name anyway, it made sense to keep it within the family.

Besides, football and wine had always gone hand-in-hand.

Sponsoring a European club, especially a historic team like Leeds United, could further open up China's mid-to-high-end market if executed well.

More importantly, Gao Shen's target was to get Leeds United into the Premier League within two years.

One key reason it was two years was to give Sarri time to adjust and grow.

If Gao Shen were coaching, he could probably get promoted in a single season.

Once Leeds United reached the Premier League, the significance of such a sponsorship would be entirely different.

And now, Leeds United was already tied to Gao Shen.

Although it wasn't officially acknowledged, Fernando Lucas had already contacted many media outlets and reporters to downplay Gao Shen's involvement, but anyone with common sense could see that Gao Shen was the true boss behind the scenes.

What, was he supposed to break up with Su Qing over it?

They already had a marriage certificate back in China.

As for the sponsorship fees? That was a minor matter.

It was all about brand licensing.

Back when Calderon and Mijatovic were running Real Madrid, they let others advertise with the Real Madrid name globally for just 50,000 euros. With Gao Shen investing this much into Leeds United, doing something like this was child's play.

By the way, Elland Road Stadium, Fullerton Park, the Thorp Arch training base, and the land northeast of the stadium no longer belonged to Leeds United. They were transferred to a newly formed company owned by Su Qing.

In other words, Leeds United technically didn't own a stadium or training base. Everything was rented.

Unlike before, when the annual rent was 3 million pounds, Leeds United currently didn't pay rent. But all costs, including maintenance and taxes, were covered by Leeds United.

Not only now, but in the future, any renovations to Thorp Arch, expansions of Elland Road, or construction of a new training base would all fall under that new company. Leeds United would simply foot the bill.

There were many ways to structure it.

This was a form of capital operation. Gao Shen didn't know all the details—Su Qing handled everything.

She would also control Leeds United's finances moving forward.

"Do you really think there's money to be made running a Premier League club?" Su Zhijun frowned, looking at his daughter and future son-in-law.

"I've heard from more than one person that football clubs aren't profitable, not in China, not in Europe either."

He was worried. He feared Gao Shen and Su Qing would fall into a financial trap.

Gao Shen understood the concern, looked at Su Qing, then smiled and said, "Uncle, you know I had a profit-sharing contract with Napoli, right?"

"Yeah, you mentioned before that you made some money from that."

"But do you know how much?"

Su Zhijun and Gao Jianguo exchanged another look. Neither had a clue.

Once Gao Shen went to Europe, he handled everything on his own. How could they know?

"I got 20% of Napoli's transfer profits. In 2009 alone, I earned over 30 million euros."

"This… over 30 million… euros?" Su Zhijun was stunned.

Gao Jianguo was equally shocked. That much?

"And that's just my 20%. Now you understand why every time De Laurentiis sees me, he looks at me like I'm the God of Wealth. His eyes practically glow." Gao Shen said with a laugh.

Su Zhijun and Gao Jianguo looked at each other again, completely in disbelief.

So football could really make money?

(To be continued.)

Chapter 736: Poaching from Barcelona

"Did Gao Shen really acquire Leeds United?"

At Barcelona's Joan Gamper Sports City in Spain, Guardiola was also stunned when he saw the news.

When they read in the newspapers that Gao Shen's fiancée had come forward to appease the Leeds United fans and successfully taken control of the club, they had no choice but to believe it.

"He's always so full of surprises." Guardiola smiled with admiration.

If there was anyone in the world Guardiola couldn't predict, Gao Shen would be the first name that came to mind.

"His fiancée is also quite capable. I saw she was highly praised in the newspapers. Honestly, facing the fans and calming them down at a time like that takes real courage and ability. Not easy!" Assistant coach Vilanova said in praise.

Guardiola nodded. "I've met her several times. She's very beautiful and very smart. I heard she worked in one of the core ministries of the Chinese government. She must be very competent. It's a bit of a pity she's taken over Leeds United."

Vilanova suddenly understood.

Wasn't that the case?

A high-ranking official ends up running a Championship club on the verge of bankruptcy. That's basically a dimensionality reduction strike.

As for facing the fans?

Which government in the world isn't good at public relations?

"What he did this time was a little sneaky. He didn't tell us anything in advance. The worst part is that he tricked us. When I get back to England, I'll have to settle the score with him," Guardiola said with a smile.

Though they were rivals, he was genuinely happy.

Even though he didn't say much to others, everyone who knew him understood that Gao Shen was his best friend, both mentor and peer.

Vilanova also knew that when Guardiola said "tricked," he was referring to Arsenal's training base.

Didn't the Icelandic volcano erupt again recently?

Barcelona had hoped to fly to London early to prepare for the final. But Wembley would only allow participating teams to train the day before the match. Arriving early meant they had to borrow a facility from another club.

The best option was Arsenal's Colney training base. Chelsea's Cobham facility was in the southern suburbs of London, and traveling there from the city center would mean crossing all of Greater London—too far.

More importantly, relations between Barcelona and Chelsea were very poor.

But when Barcelona contacted Arsenal, the response was, "Sorry, we've already agreed to loan it to Manchester City."

They got there first!

Guardiola was so angry he nearly called Gao Shen to curse him out.

You're based in Manchester. Why do you need to come south ahead of time?

But even if everyone knew it was for the final, they couldn't complain.

So in the end, Barcelona went to borrow Fulham's training facility.

"Actually, this isn't just about the training ground. I heard he's now openly poaching players from us." Vilanova said with a wry smile.

Guardiola was visibly stunned. "What do you mean?"

Vilanova looked around to make sure no one was nearby, then leaned in and said quietly, "I heard Rodolfo Borrell will become the technical director of Leeds United."

"That's great. He's very capable."

"Yes, and he spent many years in our youth system. He knows a lot of people and has developed many players, including Messi. So when he starts building his own team, the first thing he does is poach our players."

"Who?"

"Pimienta."

Guardiola frowned.

Francisco Javier García Pimienta, 37 years old, born in Barcelona. He came up through the Barcelona youth system and made it to the B team. He never played for the first team and had a modest career, but after retirement, he moved up the ranks coaching the youth teams.

In recent years, he had managed the U16s, U18s, and U19s, rotating between age groups without a fixed assignment. He was currently with the U16s and was considered very capable.

It was worth noting that he had previously been assistant to Rodolfo Borrell.

He was a long-time insider in Barcelona's youth academy and highly skilled in player development.

"I heard Borrell wants Pimienta to head the youth department at Leeds United."

"He agreed?"

"Seems like it, but I'm not 100% sure."

Guardiola was a bit surprised, but after thinking it over, he was relieved.

As the best manager in the world, Gao Shen was more professional than any club owner. He certainly knew that the key to a successful youth academy was the system, and that system relied on key personnel.

Youth coaches were those key personnel.

"I also heard Borrell called Zubizarreta and wanted to bring a few of our youth players over. The technical team met to discuss it but didn't approve all of them."

"And then?" Guardiola asked, frowning.

Andoni Zubizarreta was now Barcelona's sporting director. As a former goalkeeper and teammate of Guardiola, they were long-time friends.

Back when Guardiola was an assistant under Gao Shen in Naples, Zubizarreta had been the sporting director at Athletic Bilbao and once tried to recruit him to manage Bilbao's youth team.

Barcelona's former sporting director, Txiki Begiristain, had been one of Guardiola's mentors and closest allies, but he left in 2010 after Rosell took over as Barcelona's new president.

Zubizarreta was Rosell's man, so things had become a little awkward between him and Guardiola.

"I heard Zubizarreta eventually agreed to two players."

"Who?"

"One is that Argentine youngster in our youth ranks, Mauro Icardi. Didn't you consider promoting him when you were coaching the B team? But he never got a chance here. His agent arranged a loan to Sampdoria in Serie A this January."

"Did he play?"

"Not much. He joined Sampdoria's youth team in January, started playing mid-March. Eight appearances, four goals. In the cup, five games, four goals. But Sampdoria got relegated, so he returned."

That kind of stat line wasn't particularly impressive for a Barcelona youth player.

Top talents like Bojan used to score goals like crazy.

"Icardi was sold for €400,000. Another youth player, Bellerin, was sold to Leeds United for €300,000. He's quite talented. A lot of teams were watching him, including Arsenal."

To a club like Barcelona, these two youth players weren't seen as high-priority talents.

Borrell had come from their system, so it was natural he'd try to bring players he developed. But stars like Romeu, Montoya, Thiago, Rafinha, and Deulofeu were off-limits.

Still, for some reason, Guardiola felt something was off.

In his experience, Gao Shen always operated with precision. Was it really Gao Shen who wanted Icardi and Bellerin? Or Borrell and Pimienta?

Bellerin was only 16. They were clearly exploiting the same loophole that had allowed Fabregas to leave for Arsenal years earlier. Barcelona would get a youth training compensation fee. He wouldn't be able to play in the Championship yet—at least one or two years away.

But Icardi was already 18 and had a professional contract. He could play immediately.

Would Gao Shen not know these details?

The more Guardiola thought about it, the more he felt this was part of a bigger picture.

Those who knew Gao Shen understood: if he personally came to negotiate, Barcelona wouldn't sell anyone to him.

Thinking of this, Guardiola couldn't help but laugh.

"What's so funny?" Vilanova looked at him, confused.

Why laugh out of nowhere?

"Nothing, just funny." Guardiola smiled.

But he said no more.

Gao Shen was his best friend. If Barcelona was willing to sell, he had no reason to interfere.

In Rosell's Barcelona, he was just a head coach.

…

Manchester City arrived in London two days ahead of the final and checked into their pre-booked hotel.

This move immediately drew media attention.

Su Qing and her family didn't travel south with the team. She had a mountain of responsibilities to handle.

Having just taken over Leeds United, there were too many things to manage. One priority was the renovation of the Thorp Arch training base, which had to be completed before the new season's training camp.

But even that wasn't her main focus. The most important task now was the handover process.

Gao Shen and the parents also didn't travel to London, instead going with Su Qing to Leeds.

As the older generation saw it, when their children started a business, they had to check it out in person to truly understand.

Even more so, this was their first time getting an up-close look at a European football club.

When they visited Elland Road, their first impression was: this place looks terrible. The iron sheets on the outer walls were rusted all over.

But looking at the large stretch of land around it, their eyes lit up.

According to Su Zhijun, how much would a plot of land this size cost back in China?

Don't even get started. Look to the northeast. The warehouse area is even bigger...

"If you built a real estate development here, my god, how many billions could it sell for?"

In the end, after looking around, they didn't reach a specific conclusion. Just one word: worth it!

Why?

They didn't really know, but it felt worth it just because the land was so big.

Gao Shen was on the phone with Su Qing. When he heard this, he couldn't help but laugh.

"You didn't tell them that Arsenal almost went bankrupt because of real estate?"

Su Qing smiled and shook her head. As long as the parents were happy, why spoil it?

In the eyes of the older generation, once they returned to China, this piece of land would be their top bragging right.

When you get old, that's what matters.

Gao Shen fully agreed.

On the afternoon they arrived in London, Gao Shen led the team from the hotel to Arsenal's Colney training base.

What he didn't expect was that Wenger had been waiting for him there, with his sleeves metaphorically rolled up.

"I didn't expect you'd dare to show up!"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 737: Adventurer

Gao Shen had always believed that if there was anything in this world that could quickly deal with Wenger, it was Ferguson.

If one wasn't enough, then bring two!

The first time Wenger saw Gao Shen, he looked like he was ready to grab a kitchen knife and chop him down. But as soon as he saw the three boxes of Chilean wine Gao Shen had brought, he immediately put down the boning knife.

A smile once again appeared on the professor's wrinkled, weathered face.

"If you had done this earlier, there wouldn't have been any misunderstanding, right?" Wenger called out. "It smells amazing."

Smells amazing?

That old guy Ferguson only accepts two boxes at a time and still brags about it in the headlines. Now I'm taking three boxes!

And it was delivered by Gao Shen himself. Isn't that something?

"When I came in earlier, the team reporters were outside. They saw everything," Gao Shen said with a grin.

Wenger acted like he was thinking, you're a good kid, I won't argue with you about poaching from me.

Gao Shen was just as happy. Not only did he poach Bellerin, he gave Wenger three boxes of wine and even scored some good publicity. A win-win...

Of course, everyone knew the wine wasn't the point. The key was who sent it.

…

The team had come to Arsenal's training ground, and as usual, Gao Shen had to "pay tribute at Wenger's gate."

Arsenal had once again failed to make the top four this season, finishing sixth. But since Manchester City and Manchester United, who contested the FA Cup final, had both already qualified for the Champions League, Wenger's side earned a spot in the Europa League. At least they were still in European competition.

The Premier League had really become chaotic!

A tight title race, intense battles for Champions League spots, scraps for the remaining European places, and fierce relegation fights—it was thrilling in every zone.

Gao Shen only truly realized it after starting to coach in England. If Premier League broadcasting rights were ever split into upper and lower halves, what would the landscape look like?

But one thing was certain: Premier League games were intense and high-quality. Nothing was watered down. Even the broadcast production quality far surpassed other leagues.

It wasn't Arsenal's time to shine yet, and Wenger could only wait.

The club's board knew the score. With the level of investment they had put in, expecting a top-four finish was unrealistic.

After several straight exits in the Champions League, Arsenal's situation was becoming increasingly dire.

Wenger was also frustrated, especially when it came to players like Fabregas—he simply couldn't keep them.

Gao Shen repeatedly assured him that he had no intention of poaching Arsenal players.

Mainly, it was Gervinho's agent who had come out publicly, saying Gao Shen was interested. But Gao Shen really wasn't.

He already had Gareth Bale, Hazard, and Robinho. Why would he want Gervinho?

He wasn't out of his mind!

"Actually, the player I want to sign is Benatia," Wenger confided.

Gao Shen was surprised but shook his head. "Not realistic."

Wenger smiled bitterly and nodded. Who didn't know?

Any top-class center-back had already seen their value skyrocket.

Take Napoli's Benatia for example. Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Juventus were all interested. If the bid wasn't above €40 million, don't even bother calling De Laurentiis or Marino.

Those two old foxes were as sharp as they come.

And Benatia was only 24. Sign him now and he'd give you seven or eight good years.

From a revenue perspective, Arsenal ranked among Europe's elite. But in the transfer market, they had to calculate every penny. It was frustrating.

"Do you think Pellè can adapt to the Premier League?" Wenger asked suddenly.

"Who?" Gao Shen was stunned for a second. He hadn't caught the name.

"Pellè, your favorite student at Napoli."

Gao Shen was genuinely surprised. "You're interested in Pellè?"

The whole world knew Arsenal lacked a proper striker.

Last season, their only real center-forwards were Chamakh and Bendtner. Everyone knew how that went—the Gunners' attack was abysmal.

It was at this moment that Gao Shen realized once again just how much history had changed.

Today, Pellè was Cavani's backup. But his strength and reputation were nothing like before.

Now he was an important part of Napoli's rotation and a key figure in their multi-front campaign.

"If it's about adapting to the Premier League, that won't be a problem. But he won't come cheap."

Wenger smiled. "Cheaper than Cavani though, right?"

Gao Shen laughed too. "That's true."

Cavani's value had skyrocketed.

He had been Serie A's top scorer for years. And now, Paris Saint-Germain had come knocking.

Everyone knew PSG were filthy rich and didn't blink when spending.

Given De Laurentiis and Marino's personalities, if they didn't squeeze every cent out of that deal, they'd regret it for life.

Gao Shen had a strong feeling that the ripple effects of his "butterfly wings" were going to send transfer fees and wages in European football soaring.

Just take Cavani. Do you know how much De Laurentiis asked for?

No less than Cristiano Ronaldo!

Unbelievable. The man had guts!

And Benatia too. Both PSG and Bayern were after him, and they set the price at €60 million.

It was outrageous!

Everyone agreed De Laurentiis was asking too much, but this was excessive.

Still, this would undoubtedly push player valuations up across the board.

Of course, PSG weren't fools. They had their own calculations and played their cards carefully. The deal was still deadlocked. Everyone was waiting to see who blinked first.

"A storm is coming, Professor!" Gao Shen suddenly felt a mix of anxiety and excitement.

Wenger had been around European football for decades. He understood the deeper meaning immediately.

"You chose to dive in at this moment. That proves you're just as much a lunatic!"

Gao Shen didn't mind. Wenger had always been cautious.

"I'm not a lunatic, I'm a great adventurer!" Gao Shen corrected him.

…

As matchday approached, the atmosphere surrounding the Champions League final grew more intense.

Especially after Manchester City and Barcelona both arrived in London, fans from all over the world flooded the streets.

You could see fans of both teams everywhere throughout the city.

According to UEFA data, this Champions League final would draw 86,000 fans, with each club bringing nearly 30,000. Add in neutrals and the streets of London were absolutely packed.

For the two clubs' fans, this was the final.

But for the rest of Britain, for Europe, and for football as a whole, this was a spectacle—an annual celebration.

Mansour's private jet arrived at London Heathrow the day before the final.

That afternoon, Manchester City's owner brought a large entourage straight to the team's hotel.

All the players still remembered the Abu Dhabi visit in 2009. Among them, Giroud was the most excited, because it had been a moment of pride for him.

Back then, when he heard Manchester City were interested in signing him, he rushed from France to join the team just one day before they left for South Africa.

In the end, he received a gift worth hundreds of thousands of euros.

That amount was enough to pay his salary in France for a whole year.

Giroud had basically gotten a full year's salary for free. How could he not be proud?

Gao Shen had always felt Giroud was extremely lucky.

Of course, in Giroud's words, "The best luck of my life was meeting our boss!"

See? That's a man who knows how to flatter.

Hardworking on the pitch and well-behaved off it—what coach wouldn't like him?

The people Mansour brought this time were all heavyweights from the UAE, including government officials, business tycoons, and powerful figures from the emirates. The group was so influential that it even drew the attention of the British government and the European Union.

The UAE wasn't a big country, but it was rich in oil and overflowing with cash.

With the global financial crisis still looming, what country wasn't short on money?

Just look at Qatar—practically buying all of Knightsbridge in London.

However, many Manchester City players were a bit disappointed that Mansour didn't hand out any gifts this time.

But he did bring a promise.

Now that the team had won the Premier League and FA Cup double, if they could win the Champions League as well, every first-team member would receive a hefty bonus beyond what was written in their contracts.

According to Mubarak, even squad players with limited minutes would get at least £500,000.

That was an astronomical bonus!

As the saying goes, heavy rewards inspire bravery.

As soon as Mansour made the announcement, the whole team lit up.

Wasn't that what they were fighting for? To play, to win, to earn.

The Champions League brought glory, and now there was a huge bonus too. What could be better?

Gao Shen also had a private chat with Mansour, during which the Sheikh subtly brought up Leeds United, mainly asking if Gao Shen needed any financial backing.

In Mansour's eyes, football was never just a business card. It was business.

He revealed to Gao Shen that he planned to acquire more clubs around the world and build the strongest football empire on the planet, all under one group.

The advantage was clear: resource sharing.

Coaches, scouts, players—resources could be centralized to fully exploit internal potential.

It reminded Gao Shen of something: every Michelin three-star restaurant owner would open another restaurant next door.

Why?

Because Michelin's high standards meant only a small portion of each ingredient was used. Without another restaurant, the rest would be wasted. With one, those leftovers could become delicious dishes at a lower price.

That was the concept behind Mansour's football empire.

It was also why he valued Manchester City so much.

Because City was his Michelin three-star restaurant.

Gao Shen had mixed feelings. Economically, it made sense. But from a football perspective, he wasn't sure. Football wasn't always about numbers.

Still, Mansour had already started planning.

His interest in investing in Leeds United this time was mainly out of respect for Gao Shen. But Gao Shen didn't want him to get involved and gently reminded him that if Leeds United were promoted to the Premier League, things would get complicated.

Mansour thought about it, agreed, and backed off.

…

After seeing Mansour and the UAE delegation off, Gao Shen took the players out for dinner.

That evening, players' families began arriving one after another. Gao Shen gave the team a full day off so they could spend time with loved ones.

Around eight o'clock, Ferguson showed up at his door.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 738: Gao Shen Is Anxious

"Hello, Sir, what brings you here?"

Gao Shen bumped into Ferguson in the hotel bar and greeted him warmly the moment they met.

But just as Ferguson was about to respond with a smile, Gao Shen's next sentence nearly made him collapse.

"I don't recall not sending you any tickets. Why are you here?"

Upon hearing that, Ferguson nearly exploded with rage and looked like he wanted to kill someone.

"Do you still want to go back to Manchester?" Ferguson's eyes were sharp like blades, full of menace.

Gao Shen laughed it off and invited Ferguson to sit down.

In fact, Gao Shen had sent Ferguson a match ticket.

Not only him, but Ancelotti, Wenger, and others had received one too. Ancelotti, however, declined, saying he wasn't in the mood.

The poor Italian must be at home right now crying into his pillow.

"Is your fiancée here?" Ferguson had just sat down and ordered a glass of wine before immediately pulling out a metaphorical dagger.

"She's here. Why? Did she offend you?"

Before Ferguson could answer, Gao Shen shook his head. "No way. She's got a great personality and never offends anyone."

Ferguson was left speechless. This guy was saying all the lines, good and bad, by himself.

"I have to say, you two are really the same type of person. No wonder your taste is equally terrible."

"Hey, mind your words. We're just perfectly in sync."

"Get lost!" Ferguson fumed. "She took over Leeds United just a few days ago and sent a fax to our office with three offers at once. She even claimed I had agreed to them. When did I agree to anything?"

Gao Shen was delighted, watching the old knight nearly lose it.

As if he didn't know exactly what Ferguson was up to.

These days, everyone's playing games. No one's pretending to be righteous anymore.

So as soon as Su Qing took over Leeds United, Gao Shen had her team contact Manchester United with three offers.

"Really? I had no idea." Gao Shen even put on a shocked face.

"Keep pretending!" Ferguson was no fool. How could he fall for it?

"Ravel Morrison, one million pounds. Seriously? One million?" Ferguson looked like he was about to explode.

"And Jesse Lingard, also one million pounds. You're the one who said he was as good as Messi. You even said Messi was nothing compared to him. And now you want to take him for a million?"

"And Paul Pogba. Another million."

Finally, Ferguson asked, completely puzzled, "Who gave you this kind of confidence?"

Gao Shen almost couldn't hold back his laughter but kept a straight face. "Didn't you promise me? Market value."

"When did I…" Ferguson knew exactly what he had said. "I didn't agree to sell all three."

"Come on, Sir, you said I could pick one. You even joked about recording it. I trusted you. Are you trying to back out now?"

Of course Ferguson remembered. He just hadn't thought Gao Shen would actually go through with it.

And even if he did, he didn't expect it to happen so quickly.

Who would've thought Gao Shen was sneaking through the shadows, secretly pulling strings?

At this point, Ferguson understood he'd been tricked.

The reason he'd stormed over today demanding an explanation was because he knew he had no leg to stand on but couldn't swallow his pride either.

"Fine, I did say that. But I didn't say you could take all three."

"Okay, I'll just take one. Lingard."

Ferguson secretly smirked. So that was who he was really after.

After talking with Gao Shen and Solskjaer, Ferguson had returned to Carrington and taken a closer look at Lingard.

And sure enough, the more he looked, the more intrigued he became. The kid had talent, but it hadn't fully emerged yet.

How to describe it?

If Morrison and Pogba were flashy types with obvious talent, then Lingard was the quiet, understated kind.

"No way. We've already contacted Lingard's agent and are preparing to renew his contract."

"Come on, are you messing with me?" Gao Shen was starting to get anxious.

Ferguson chuckled. "Weren't you doing the same?"

What's good for the goose…

Gao Shen pointed at Ferguson, about to speak several times, but ultimately held it in.

"Fine. You're tough! I'll switch to Morrison."

"He's off-limits too."

"Why?"

"Go ask around. I've been keeping tabs on him for half a year. I know exactly who he hangs out with and how much time I've invested in him. And now you want to snatch him away?" Ferguson looked extremely pleased with himself.

He now understood Gao Shen's plan.

This guy wanted Lingard and Morrison, with Pogba as a fallback.

To be honest, apart from Lingard, Ferguson thought Morrison was more talented than Pogba.

The problem was Morrison's messy life off the pitch. He hung out with the wrong crowd and caused trouble constantly. Ferguson had plans to clean him up personally. There was no way he'd let him go to Leeds United.

"This one's no good, and that one's no good. Are you just going to dump Pogba on me and call it a deal?" Gao Shen looked annoyed, as if he really didn't rate Pogba.

"You're being picky? He might not even want to play for a Championship club." Ferguson sneered.

"This kid's got a big ego. He's been changing agents lately, trying to find someone who'll stand up to me. But do you think anyone in British football would do that?" Ferguson laughed coldly.

Gao Shen really wanted to say: there's no one in British football, but they eventually found that fat Italian.

Many called Raiola a vampire, and Ferguson had blasted him more than once. But think about it: Pogba was just a professional trying to protect his own interests. Was that wrong?

Truthfully, Pogba wasn't wrong to leave Manchester United.

Gao Shen had read many accounts from United insiders. Before Pogba left, they sent Evra, Ferdinand, and others to try to convince him to stay, but he still chose Juventus.

That move turned out to be brilliant.

In 2012, Pogba was 19 and needed game time. But Ferguson couldn't give him that.

After the infamous 6-1 loss to Manchester City, Ferguson became extremely cautious. He even used Fabio in midfield instead of giving Pogba a chance.

Pogba lost faith. During contract talks, he reached out to many agents, but none could stand up to Ferguson—because in English football, Ferguson was the top dog.

No wonder Ferguson disliked Raiola the moment they met.

He was used to being flattered. Who would like someone that challenged him immediately?

The worst decision in Pogba's career was going back to Manchester United. Worse still, he kept choosing to stay even when he knew it was a mistake.

You can't change the past. But with Pogba's talent, if he had stayed at Juventus, he would've developed just fine.

Gao Shen understood all this. But right now, Pogba hadn't met Raiola yet.

Gao Shen had been carefully watching Ferguson's expression. After some thought, he suddenly changed his approach.

"What if I go for someone else? Forget Pogba. Give me Januzaj. I'll pay whatever you paid for him."

Pogba was a past deal. Januzaj was a rising star.

"You're dreaming. Don't even think about it." Ferguson rejected him instantly.

"Fine. Just Pogba then. One million pounds. If I want him, I'll talk to him myself."

Gao Shen was getting frustrated now.

"Are you seriously playing hardball?"

"One word. Yes or no?" Ferguson felt great taking the lead for once.

Since going up against Gao Shen, he'd always been on the back foot. Finally, he had the upper hand.

"Think about it. Even if you look down on him, Pogba's still a leader in our academy. Leeds United is just a Championship club…"

At the end, Ferguson raised an eyebrow, as if to say: Think it through.

Gao Shen looked bitter and helpless. "Fine. Pogba it is."

Ferguson raised his right hand. Deal.

"But let's be clear. I'm not signing any dodgy agreements."

"No problem."

"And if you want to sell Morrison, Lingard, or Januzaj in the future, let me know first."

Ferguson felt even more confident. Gao Shen clearly wanted Morrison and Lingard badly. That made him even happier.

"Sure. No worries. Just wait for my call."

Gao Shen looked at the old man's smug expression. How could he not see right through him?

Honestly, it was exhausting.

He was just too famous. He couldn't even poach players in peace.

A small move from him and the media went into a frenzy.

Once a team knew Gao Shen was interested, why would they still sell?

But there were upsides too.

Fernando Lucas had already leaked to the media that Gao Shen's fiancée's family acquired Leeds United because they had found the "next Lampard."

Who?

Jonathan Howson.

As soon as Su Qing took over, she began contract talks with Howson and a few others.

The guy had a double-double season. Sure, it was in the Championship, but he was young. A little hype wasn't too much, right?

Next, it was time to see which other clubs would get lured to the table.

As for the negotiations with Manchester United, Gao Shen had only ever wanted Pogba.

Morrison and Lingard were talented, especially Morrison, but he was trouble. Off the pitch, his life was chaotic. Between Lingard and Pogba, the choice was obvious.

But if Gao Shen had asked for Pogba directly, there would've been no chance.

So, he never mentioned him. He took a roundabout route and let himself get "forced" into the deal.

Now, both Gao Shen and Ferguson were happy.

Business should always be a win-win.

(To be continued.)