Starting With Real Madrid

"I heard Gao Shen hasn't renewed his contract with you yet?"

In the VIP stands, Inter Milan's technical director, Marco Branca, asked the question in a casual tone, but it caught Marino, Napoli's general manager, off guard.

On the pitch, Napoli relentlessly pressed Inter Milan, wave after wave of attacks leaving the Nerazzurri struggling. But in the stands, Marino's heart sank at Branca's words.

"We have him on a three-year contract," Marino replied calmly, trying not to show his unease.

But his momentary reaction didn't escape Branca's sharp eyes.

The Inter Milan director smiled knowingly. "Yes, a three-year contract, but from what I've heard, it's actually structured as a one-year rolling deal, with Gao Shen holding the upper hand."

Marino said nothing, unable to deny it.

When Gao Shen had initially requested such a contract structure, Napoli didn't think much of it. Back then, they believed it wasn't a big deal. But now, with the team's success and Gao Shen's rising status, the flexibility in his contract had become a potential problem.

A one-year rolling contract was certainly advantageous for Gao Shen. If he chose to leave, Napoli wouldn't be able to stop him. There wouldn't even be any liquidated damages involved.

Of course, even if there were contractual restrictions, most European clubs would avoid handling such situations with undue harshness. Nobody wanted to burn bridges with a coach as talented as Gao Shen.

After all, in the football world, relationships often come full circle. If a team faced difficulties in the future, and Gao Shen happened to be available, they might want to work with him again.

Such cases were common in European football.

But if a team tried to handle things as stubbornly as former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz once did, it would only complicate matters.

"What are you getting at, Marco?" Marino asked, his voice low.

Branca leaned back with a confident smile. "We're very interested in Gao Shen."

"Impossible!" Marino immediately rejected the notion. "He won't coach Inter Milan. He'll still be with Napoli next season."

"Don't be so sure, Pierpaolo," Branca replied, his tone calm yet assured. "You know as well as I do that Napoli has hit its ceiling. If Gao Shen wants to move to the next level, he'll need a bigger, more ambitious platform. He wants to compete seriously in the Champions League, and the only team in Serie A capable of doing that consistently is Inter Milan."

Branca's words struck a nerve. Marino didn't respond immediately, but deep down, he knew there was some truth to what Branca was saying.

Napoli's financial situation was limited, with all their investment coming directly from Aurelio De Laurentiis' pocket. Every major signing required thorough consideration and careful budgeting.

Take the acquisition of a player like Lavezzi, for example. Napoli would need to deliberate extensively before making such a move.

And what about Inter Milan? They could have signed such a player without a second thought, likely the summer before Napoli even got involved.

Now, when it came to contract extensions, Napoli faced further difficulties. One of the main reasons for the delays was their financial constraints.

Put simply, Napoli didn't have the money.

The club's revenue growth had not kept pace with the team's success on the pitch. If Napoli rushed to extend contracts across the board, it would create immense financial pressure.

But if they delayed renewing contracts, they risked losing their star players.

Napoli had become a target for other clubs. Biglia, David Luiz, Di Maria, Sanchez—all were being eyed by Europe's top teams. Whether it was Inter Milan, AC Milan, Roma, or Juventus, everyone wanted a piece of Napoli's success.

Even De Laurentiis and Marino had considered selling players themselves.

This was the harsh reality for smaller clubs.

Yet they hesitated to sell, and the reason was simple: Gao Shen hadn't made his decision.

If Gao Shen chose to leave, it was almost certain that Napoli would undergo a massive summer clearance. For a mid-tier team like Napoli, this was inevitable.

Of course, the funds from those sales could be reinvested to rebuild the squad, maintaining competitiveness in Serie A. They might not be able to fight for the title anymore, but finishing in the top four would still be a realistic goal.

That alone would be enough for Napoli.

In fact, Marino had even thought about the potential benefits. With the money from player sales, they could renovate the stadium, upgrade the training facilities, and put the club on a sustainable path to profitability.

For a club like Napoli, that would be a dream come true.

But everything hinged on Gao Shen.

De Laurentiis and Marino both remembered something Gao Shen had said two years ago: he promised to build a strong Serie A team in three years and make waves in the Champions League. Now, Napoli had secured Champions League qualification, and the foundation for success was in place.

Winning the Champions League might be unrealistic for now, but reaching the knockout stages could bring in at least €30 million in revenue, a figure that would drive any club like Napoli wild with excitement.

Both men were waiting. Waiting to see if Gao Shen still remembered his ambitions.

...

On the pitch, Napoli's relentless pressure continued.

Even after both sides made substitutions, Napoli's dominance only grew stronger.

In the 84th minute, central defender David Luiz surged forward with the ball, initiating an attack. He passed out wide to Lichtsteiner, who quickly linked up with Biglia.

Lichtsteiner sent a direct pass to Valencia on the right flank.

The Ecuadorian winger, facing Maxwell, controlled the ball with a deft touch before accelerating down the line. Using his speed, he blew past Maxwell, cutting the ball back into the box.

The cross bypassed the penalty area and landed at the far post.

Inter's central defenders had been drawn to Cavani, who occupied the front of the penalty area. But David Luiz had made a surprise run into the box. Despite Pele's attempts to mark him, the Brazilian defender rose high and headed the ball into the net.

3-0!

David Luiz sprinted toward the Napoli bench in celebration. Sliding to his knees, he clutched Gao Shen's legs and shouted excitedly.

The rest of the Napoli players swarmed around them, celebrating as though they had already secured the trophy.

Gao Shen couldn't help but smile.

He knew exactly what David Luiz was trying to convey: the defender had redeemed himself for his mistake in the previous match at the San Siro.

Though this goal wasn't crucial to the outcome, it carried symbolic weight. Luiz had scored against Inter Milan, helping secure a trophy for Napoli.

Meanwhile, Inter Milan's players looked on in frustration.

Around the stadium, the cheers of Napoli fans clashed with the boos of the Roma and Inter supporters who had joined forces against them.

...

"Why do the fans seem so hostile toward Napoli?"

In the VIP section, Italian President Giorgio Napolitano turned to De Laurentiis, separated from him by Italian Football Federation President Giancarlo Abete.

Both men were Neapolitans, and there was an undeniable sense of camaraderie between them.

"Because we've humiliated them before," De Laurentiis replied with pride. "Tonight, the fans of Roma and Inter are united in their hatred of Napoli."

Napolitano chuckled. "Well said! Let them unite, it doesn't matter. We're not afraid!"

His bold words drew laughter, though the president's staff behind him coughed discreetly, reminding him to mind his position.

As the president of Italy, Napolitano was supposed to remain impartial, even if he was a proud Neapolitan.

"What's there to be afraid of?" Napolitano scoffed. "Everyone knows I'm from Naples."

The 83-year-old president remained energetic and defiant, exuding confidence.

"Besides, when I went to Munich for the World Cup final, Italy won the championship. Now I'm here in Rome, and Napoli is winning the Coppa Italia. What does that tell you?"

He turned to Roberto Donadoni, the Italian national team coach seated on his other side.

"Roberto, June 29th is my 83rd birthday, and it's also the day of the European Championship final. I'll be in Vienna for it. I hope to celebrate my birthday with another trophy."

Donadoni nodded with a smile. "Don't worry, Mr. President. We'll do our best."

Napolitano laughed heartily, the anticipation for the European Championship clear in his expression.

After winning the World Cup, all of Italy was dreaming of European glory, and the chance to establish a football dynasty.

...

David Luiz's goal ended any suspense.

Inter Milan, outclassed for the entire match, had no answers.

Mancini's team struggled to cope with Napoli's intensity and precision, unable to evade their relentless press.

The Nerazzurri created few chances and spent most of the game scrambling under Napoli's sustained assault.

In the end, Gao Shen's Napoli triumphed 3-0 at the Stadio Olimpico, securing the fourth Coppa Italia title in the club's history.

This victory also marked the second domestic double in Napoli's history.

As the referee blew the final whistle, the Napoli fans erupted in celebration, filling the stadium with cheers.

On the pitch, the Napoli players went wild, dancing and embracing one another in a frenzy of joy. They were overwhelmed with excitement, some even losing themselves in the euphoria of the moment. At such a time, no one cared about whether their celebrations appeared too excessive or smug.

Even though Gao Shen had mentally prepared himself for this moment, when the whistle finally sounded, he was overcome with a surge of ecstasy. For a brief moment, his mind went blank. Then, snapping back to reality, he began hugging his assistants one by one, receiving their congratulations and thanking the Napoli fans in the stands for their unwavering support.

Before he could fully process what was happening, the Napoli players crept up behind him. Like mischievous thieves, they suddenly lifted him into the air.

Ignoring Gao Shen's half-hearted protests, they carried him around the pitch to celebrate, and then, to his surprise, they tossed him into the air, over and over again.

***

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