SWR: Chapter 637/638

Chapter 637: The Secret Behind Spain’s Championship Win

Barcelona really signed Aguero, with a transfer fee of up to 40 million euros.

He is now tied with David Villa as the most expensive player on the transfer market.

Eto'o transferred from Barcelona to Chelsea for a high price of 35 million euros, with an annual salary of 10 million euros.

This also showed just how determined Chelsea was.

With the rise of Manchester City, all the traditional Premier League powerhouses have been challenged.

Especially after Arsenal fell out of the Champions League spots, all the top clubs began to feel insecure.

No one knew if they would be the next.

What if you fell out and couldn't get back in?

As Barcelona's biggest rival, Real Madrid wasn't idle either.

Van der Vaart went to Tottenham Hotspur, and Drenthe, Metzelder, Raul, and Guti all left the team one after another, signaling a new era of squad renewal at Real Madrid.

After Mourinho arrived, he selected Carvalho and then brought in Khedira from Stuttgart, as well as a certain player from Werder Bremen whose name couldn't be mentioned. After that, Real Madrid turned their sights to Arsenal's Adebayor.

Everyone knew Mourinho favored traditional center forwards.

In theory, Real Madrid's current strikers, Higuain and Benzema, weren't the type Mourinho preferred.

The Arsenal striker scored 14 goals in the Premier League last season, making him the second-highest scorer in the team, behind Fabregas, who had 15 goals.

In addition to being the team's top scorer, the Spanish midfielder also contributed 15 assists, making him the club's top provider as well.

This was also the main reason why so many believed that Gao Shen wanted to bring Fabregas to Manchester City.

Fabregas was undoubtedly at the peak of his career.

Adebayor's current transfer market valuation was around 25 million euros, while Fabregas was valued as high as 50 million euros.

These two were Arsenal's most marketable players at the moment.

Next was Arshavin, whose estimated value in Russia was around 24 million euros.

Van Persie had performed well, but not as dazzlingly as his teammates and had suffered multiple injuries. His market value was estimated at just 20 million euros.

As for players like Nasri, Vermaelen, and Clichy, their prices were clearly lower.

Whether it was Premier League analysts or the media, they all agreed that Arsenal's situation was dire.

On one hand, the club was heavily in debt and had no funds for signings. On the other, having dropped out of the top four, their revenue had fallen significantly.

But the problem was, to return to the top four, they had to invest in new players. And Arsenal simply didn't have the money.

In short, things were tough for the Gunners right now.

…

After returning to Manchester, Gao Shen didn't stay long. He immediately headed south to London.

Ancelotti had also returned to London to start preseason preparations. He even called Gao Shen and invited him to play cards, but this time Gao Shen wasn't in London for him.

On the evening of his arrival, Gao Shen met with his intended contact, former Manchester City chairman David Bernstein, at a high-end restaurant near Hyde Park.

He was also the man who helped Manchester City return to the Premier League from the Championship. He made great contributions to the club.

Even now, Bernstein remained closely connected to Manchester City.

However, he was no longer Manchester City's chairman. In fact, he was supposed to downplay his ties to the club because he now worked for the English Football Association.

In 2003, he had a falling out with then-Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan and resigned in frustration. Afterward, he was tasked with overseeing the preparation and construction of Wembley Stadium, eventually becoming the project's chairman. In 2008, he joined the FA as a board director.

In English football, the Premier League is run by the league itself, while the FA is responsible for behind-the-scenes matters like referee assignments, player discipline, and scheduling.

To a certain extent, the FA doesn't profit from the Premier League, so it often takes positions that annoy the league. Moreover, players need to go through the FA to obtain work permits.

Fernandinho had never played for Brazil's national team. If he couldn't obtain a work permit through the standard process, he would have to undergo a hearing under the so-called "exceptional talent clause."

This hearing was essentially a tribunal-like session set up by the FA, based on its own rules, to evaluate a specific case. The panel consisted of six members, including FA officials, government representatives, a representative from the Professional Footballers' Association, and three experts.

In short, Manchester City had to compile all the relevant materials for Fernandinho, submit them to the FA, and attend the hearing to present evidence, in hopes of winning the panel's approval.

By now, it should be obvious.

Yes, the panel's decisions could be influenced.

For example, a red card could lead to a suspension. Most small clubs had no choice but to accept it, but big clubs often tried every means to get the red card overturned.

They'd file an appeal, leading to a hearing, which would then be judged by a panel. So, theoretically, if you had enough connections and were willing to invest in PR, there was a chance the suspension could be revoked.

But David Bernstein, former chairman of Manchester City, wasn't someone to be underestimated at the FA.

How powerful was he?

Manchester had invested heavily in the construction of the City of Manchester Stadium, now known as the Etihad Stadium.

Originally, the stadium was meant for the 2000 Olympic Games, but after Manchester's bid failed, it was used for the 2002 Commonwealth Games. The total investment was nearly £200 million.

Later, in 2003, Manchester City moved from Maine Road to the new stadium.

Though it was said to be a lease, in reality, there were no restrictions on Manchester City's ability to renovate or expand its facilities. In effect, the club owned the stadium. Manchester City even moved their administrative offices there.

What would you call that?

Openly acquiring public assets.

And it was all legal and above board, without causing any controversy.

David Bernstein was the one who handled the entire process. One could imagine how many connections he had to pull to make it all happen.

After falling out with Keegan, he left Manchester City and joined the Wembley Stadium project.

Everyone knew that Wembley had been demolished in 2000, but the rebuilding process had faced constant delays and budget overruns. The original budget of £300 million eventually soared to nearly £800 million.

In 2003, as the new stadium's construction was about to begin, Bernstein came on board. He initially served as a director, then quickly took full charge of the project.

When Wembley was completed and put into use in 2007, he was promoted to a role within the FA in 2008.

Everyone knew the FA was a messy place.

Don't think the "zippergate" scandal involving former England manager Eriksson was an accident—it wasn't.

Just this May, the then-FA chairman David Triesman, 67, was exposed by his personal assistant Melissa. She claimed Triesman accused Spain of bribing referees to ensure favorable outcomes at the South Africa World Cup that summer.

Triesman had been leading England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup. The main competitors were Spain and Russia. According to him, Spain and Russia had made a deal.

If Spain withdrew from the bid, the Latin American countries that originally supported them would back Russia. In return, Russia, which didn't qualify for the World Cup, would bribe referees to help Spain win the title.

Besides this bombshell claim, there were many leaked private conversations, which caused a huge uproar. Triesman resigned, and Roger Burton became acting chairman.

If Gao Shen remembered correctly, in his past life, Burton didn't stay in the position long either. He stepped down due to the failed World Cup bid, and Bernstein succeeded him.

This man was truly no ordinary figure.

…

Since Gao Shen had something to ask for, he was naturally very polite when meeting Bernstein.

Bernstein didn't come across as an arrogant bureaucrat. He wore glasses and appeared friendly and easy-going.

They met in a private high-end club. After some small talk, they sat down to dinner and chatted intermittently.

Gao Shen used some skills he'd picked up in his past life when entertaining clients. Though a little rusty, he was more than capable of handling Bernstein, and he took great care of the future FA chairman.

He talked about how Manchester City was Bernstein's home, how they had always had his strong support…

In short, he said whatever was appropriate.

Manchester City would, of course, be happy to establish ties with the future FA chairman.

At the very least, in future matches, even if the referees weren't biased in City's favor, they would at least be less likely to lean against them.

Flattery isn't about how well it's said, but who's saying it.

Given Gao Shen's current standing in European football, and with a financial giant like Manchester City backing him, Bernstein had to be thrilled hearing this, right?

Of course, this man was no fool. He wasn't dazzled by the sudden praise and remained composed, but the delight on his face was hard to hide. This made Gao Shen even more certain—he had ambition.

Once the food and wine had been enjoyed and the atmosphere was set, Gao Shen began subtly shifting the conversation to the FA, pretending to know nothing and just wanting to ask for some professional insight.

"Alright, Gao, stop beating around the bush. I know what you're talking about—it's Fernandinho's work permit, right?" Bernstein, clearly in a good mood, brought it up directly.

Gao Shen smiled inwardly. He'd been waiting for him to say it.

"Yes, David. I've asked a lot of people about this, including Ferguson, but no one had a good answer. After thinking it over, I felt I needed to turn to one of our own and figure out the ins and outs of this process. That's the only way I can feel confident."

Calling him "one of our own" clearly pleased Bernstein, who burst out laughing.

"You've come to the right person!"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 638: Door-to-Door Sales

After Bernstein's thorough analysis, Gao Shen suddenly realized that the hearing really wasn't that big of a deal.

All the documents, expert testimonies, and formal procedures were just for show.

The key lay in how the jury members voted.

Were there officials from the Ministry of Labour supervising the process?

Come on, they might be from the Department of Labour, but do they understand the nuances of professional football?

Even if they're hardcore fans, how much do they really know compared to seasoned professionals in the sport?

Even if one of them vetoes the case, aren't there still five other votes?

Could one person really outvote the other five?

So, the critical issue wasn't anything else, it was all about the jury members.

"I get it now!" Gao Shen slapped his thigh hard, as if he'd had an epiphany.

The more Bernstein looked at Gao Shen, the more he liked him. Among the world's top managers, there was only one this young. More importantly, he was genuinely pleasant and easy to deal with. No one else was like him.

Look at all the top managers in European football. Which one doesn't act like they're worth half a million?

Capello? Damn, his arrogance could shoot through the roof.

And Ferguson? Always parading around as a seasoned veteran—bah!

Wenger might look gentle and polite, but deep down he's full of tricks.

Then you look at Gao Shen. What a fine young man.

This was a friend worth making.

Especially since Gao Shen also hinted, quite naturally, at a public relations budget.

"Alright, Gao, since you've come to me, I'll handle this matter personally. Just prepare all the necessary materials. You don't need to worry about the rest," Bernstein promised.

Gao Shen laughed and clapped his hands. "Great, I feel reassured hearing that from you."

But soon, Gao Shen thought of another issue.

"I heard we need someone authoritative to testify, right?"

When he heard this, Bernstein looked at Gao Shen with an expression of disbelief. The look made Gao Shen feel a bit awkward.

What was going on?

Did I say something wrong?

"I mean, Gao, do you still need to find someone else to act as an authority?"

Gao Shen was stunned. What does that mean?

"In the world of talent evaluation, is there anyone more authoritative than you?"

When Gao Shen heard that, he couldn't help but grin from ear to ear.

What a compliment...

This man is going places. No wonder he's going to be the chairman of the FA!

"Can I…?" Gao Shen asked "modestly."

"Tsk, Gao, it seems you still don't fully understand your influence. You know what they say? When it's a 'Gao Shen product,' it's guaranteed top-tier. If you like a player, there's no mistake. When the time comes, just show up as the head coach and say this player is a genius. Who's going to argue with that?"

Gao Shen thought, that makes a lot of sense.

"But… won't they think I'm playing favorites?"

"Gao, this is about your professional credibility. Are you kidding me?"

Gao Shen understood.

Clearly, he still lacked experience in this kind of thing.

The two of them quickly moved on to other topics and eventually arranged to grab a coffee to wrap up the meeting.

After seeing Bernstein off, Gao Shen let out a long sigh of relief.

If this were in China, after a meal and drinks, you might treat your guest to some special entertainment, but unfortunately, this was the UK. Gao Shen had no such options here.

As for Manchester City's PR expenses, there was indeed a specific budget for it—around £200,000.

How to get that money into Bernstein's hands in a legal and appropriate way wasn't Gao Shen's concern. That would be Gary Cook's job.

Anyway, all Gao Shen did today was have a meal with Bernstein and "consult" him on how to handle the hearing.

Stuff like this happened all the time.

All the big clubs and high-profile managers did it practically every day.

Wherever there are people, there are networks. There are relationships, favors, and politics. That's the same everywhere in the world.

Even in Europe, there were plenty of people like Bernstein.

They understood the rules and laws very well, so they also knew exactly how to bend them while staying within the limits.

By comparison, Gao Shen still felt a bit small and inexperienced.

Well, if I hadn't chosen to be a head coach and had inherited Juan Carlos' throne instead, my current status might be very different.

What a pity!

When I have time and see Juan Carlos again, I need to ask if that promise he made still counts.

…

As the World Cup progressed, all the media and reporters were stunned by how accurate Gao Shen's predictions had been.

Especially after the quarterfinals, the teams that made it to the semifinals—Uruguay, the Netherlands, Spain, and Germany—were all squads Gao Shen had previously praised.

Uruguay had Suarez and Cavani, the Netherlands had Robben, Germany had Neuer, and Spain had David Silva, Casillas, Ramos, Arbeloa, and others—players who were all once Gao Shen's favorites.

This made everyone feel that Gao Shen's influence was spreading further and further.

Even though he was just a club head coach, the number of stars he had developed was increasing, which made his reputation and impact on world football continue to grow.

More importantly, Gao Shen was only 29 years old and already had two Champions League titles under his belt.

In time, he was bound to become the most legendary and accomplished manager in world football history.

No one doubted his future.

While the World Cup was in full swing, Manchester City's transfer activity was also moving forward.

First, they signed Lichtsteiner from Napoli for a hefty 30 million euros. The Swiss right-back had helped Switzerland defeat Vicente del Bosque's Spain 1-0 in the opening round of the group stage.

Lichtsteiner played the full match and performed excellently, preventing Spain from creating any real threat down his flank.

Napoli also announced Lichtsteiner's transfer at the same time, along with the sale of Dossena to Premier League side Liverpool for 20 million euros.

After selling two full-backs in quick succession, Napoli announced the arrivals of Alex Sandro and Danilo from Brazil, as well as local defender Davide Santon from AC Milan. The total cost of these three signings was less than 5 million euros.

While Manchester City was rolling out a series of new signings, Manchester United finally made a move.

After a long period of negotiations, Ferguson's side finally succeeded in convincing Real Madrid to release Lassana Diarra. The transfer cost United a total of 25 million euros.

Ferguson was very pleased with the signing. He believed Lassana Diarra would greatly strengthen Manchester United's midfield defensive capabilities.

Although they already had players like Fletcher and Anderson, Diarra was regarded as a true defensive midfielder.

Of course, Diarra had great footwork and passing ability, but he held onto the ball a bit too much. To put it bluntly, he was a defensive midfielder with the heart of a number ten.

…

After meeting with Bernstein, Gao Shen left the rest of the process to the club.

He returned to a semi-vacation state.

But from late June to early July, while the veteran players were still on holiday, new signings continued to arrive in Manchester.

De Bruyne and Courtois were among the early arrivals. De Bruyne was still house hunting, while Courtois was temporarily staying in a hotel.

After completing their medicals, Gao Shen met with both of them and had a brief conversation, mainly to discuss how they would be used and positioned in the squad. Courtois would train with the team but would return to Belgium for matches.

"Just across the English Channel. Our scouts and coaches will be watching your performances in Belgium every week," Gao Shen encouraged him.

Courtois was quite mature. He knew he wasn't ready to play for Manchester City just yet, but being welcomed and valued by Gao Shen still excited him. After all, Gao Shen was now one of the world's top coaches.

Before officially signing with Manchester City, Leighton Baines had already arrived and met with Gao Shen.

According to him, meeting Gao Shen strengthened his decision to join Manchester City.

The England international was frustrated about missing the World Cup.

In fact, before the tournament, he had been one of the players Capello was closely observing and had performed well in the warm-up games. But in the end, Capello kept Stephen Warnock, who hadn't even played in those friendlies. That left Baines completely confused.

He figured it might be because of Everton's underwhelming season.

Last season, Everton finished eighth in the Premier League. Although Warnock's Aston Villa only finished one spot higher, in seventh, Warnock had experience with a top club like Liverpool.

If Baines could perform well at Manchester City, it would surely improve his future prospects with the England national team.

Gao Shen also promised Baines that as long as he worked hard in the new season, the coaching staff would treat him, Felipe, and Gareth Bale equally in terms of competing for the starting left-back position.

Of course, Gao Shen also clarified Bale's tactical role.

Otherwise, it would be too cruel to have three outstanding full-backs fighting for one spot.

While Gao Shen was welcoming new players, the FA in London also scheduled the date for Fernandinho's work permit hearing. Manchester City immediately notified the Brazilian, who was still in his home country.

Fernandinho had called Gao Shen after signing for Manchester City and was currently handling personal matters in Brazil.

Meanwhile, a major signing that Gao Shen and Manchester City had been quietly working on for several months had finally made a breakthrough after over a month of formal negotiations.

However, since the player was still at the World Cup, Gao Shen had not yet been able to get in touch, and many details remained unresolved.

Still, the biggest hurdle had now been cleared.

Just as Gao Shen was preparing for the hearing in London and getting ready to finalize the deal, he suddenly received a call from Gary Cook.

The agent of Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure had shown up in Manchester and reached out to Gary Cook to recommend Toure to Manchester City!

(To be continued.)