After finishing their barbecue, Gao Shen and Zidane left the restaurant, visibly satisfied.
n are simple creatures—give them good food, and they'll walk away content.
Inside the private dining room, Florentino Pérez leaned back in his chair, legs stretched out and eyes closed. His hands were clasped in front of his chest, thumbs absentmindedly moving back and forth. He appeared to be deep in thought.
"Does he have any concerns?" Valdano asked, breaking the silence.
It was clear Florentino had been giving Gao Shen a chance during their al. He had subtly tested the young coach to see what he was thinking, yet Gao Shen had revealed absolutely nothing. Not even the faintest hint of interest.
Was Gao Shen truly uninterested in returning to Real Madrid?
That didn't seem likely.
After all, just yesterday, in his pre-match press conference in Naples, Gao Shen had openly said that Real Madrid would always hold a special place in his heart.
What clearer signal could there be?
Those words had left many Real Madrid fans brimming with hope.
Without opening his eyes, Florentino smiled faintly. "He's worried about ."
"You?" Valdano and Redondo exchanged puzzled glances.
Instead of answering directly, Florentino asked, "Why did he reject Juventus and choose Napoli?"
Anyone familiar with Gao Shen knew the answer to this: Juventus' sporting director, Alessio Secco, had refused to give him full control over transfers and other competitive decisions. In frustration, Gao Shen had turned to Napoli, where he was given the authority he wanted.
If Gao Shen were to consider returning to Real Madrid, control over transfers and team affairs would be a major factor.
Could Florentino offer that?
The more ambitious and hands-on Florentino appeared, the more concerns Gao Shen would have.
Valdano finally understood.
Gao Shen was no longer the 25-year-old who had first taken charge of Real Madrid. At 28, he was the hottest coach in European football, perhaps even the world. He had achieved extraordinary success at a record-setting age.
This put Gao Shen in a unique position. If most managers began their careers around the age of 40, Gao Shen essentially had a 15-year head start. He had already cented his place in football history as the youngest manager to win both a dostic league and the Champions League.
Fa, wealth, and status—Gao Shen had it all. So why would he risk that by stepping into the chaos of Real Madrid?
In other words, what was in it for him?
When Gao Shen left Real Madrid after winning the double, he departed at the top. As things stood, even if he never returned, Real Madrid fans would always rember him fondly, yearning for his coback.
But if he returned and things didn't work out, that idyllic mory would shatter.
More importantly, Gao Shen lacked confidence in the club's structure. What if Florentino continued to impose players on him, flooding the team with superstars, as he had done during the first Galáctico era?
Few people understood the inner workings of the original Galáctico project better than Gao Shen.
The real question was whether Florentino would relinquish that kind of control.
For now, the answer seed to be no.
Florentino was planning a grand coback, aiming to rebuild Real Madrid by signing the biggest stars in world football. He wanted to assemble a second Galáctico era in record ti. Delegating control over transfers was simply not part of his plan.
"He's an incredibly smart man," Florentino said with a wry smile. "Sotis, I think he's less of a coach and more like one of my senior executives, always calculating, always careful in how he speaks to ."
It was clear that Florentino admired Gao Shen deeply. His respect for the young coach had only grown since the double-winning season, and he now regarded Gao Shen as one of football's sharpest minds.
But admiration alone wasn't enough to bridge the gap between them.
Neither Florentino nor Gao Shen seed willing to compromise, at least not in the short term.
---
On the way back to the hotel, Zidane couldn't help but voice his curiosity.
"Why didn't you just continue the conversation with Florentino?" he asked.
It was obvious to everyone at the table that Florentino had been extending an olive branch. If Gao Shen had shown interest, the path forward was clear: Florentino would secure his return as Real Madrid's president, and Gao Shen would beco the head coach.
This was no secret. Valdano was already slated to return as technical director, Redondo was expected to join the board, and other key figures like vice president Tapias were in line to support Florentino.
All they were missing was a coach to lead the team.
Gao Shen turned to Zidane and gave him a knowing look.
"Do you think I'm short on coaching opportunities?" he asked in response.
Zidane shook his head. "Of course not."
"I've already decided to leave Napoli at the end of this season. That news isn't public yet, but when it gets out, do you know how many clubs will co calling? Do you think I need to worry about finding a job?"
Zidane thought about it and realized he had no answer.
"If Real Madrid wants to co back, it has to be on my terms," Gao Shen continued. "When I coached Real Madrid the first ti, Valdano, Sacchi, and Ancelotti all taught the sa lesson: if you want to succeed as a coach, you need the full backing of the club's managent. You have to be the team's one and only leader."
Zidane listened intently, his expression serious.
"In the teams I coach, there can only be one core, and that core is . Not a player. Not the president. ."
Zidane nodded as he thought back to Gao Shen's ti at Real Madrid. Back then, the team had improved not only because Gao Shen dealt with the problematic Brazilian clique, but because he beca the team's backbone.
It was Gao Shen's leadership that united the locker room and gave the team a clear sense of direction.
This was even more apparent at Napoli, where every decision ran through Gao Shen. It was his team in every sense of the word.
"So, what happened with Florentino tonight wasn't just a discussion about transfers," Zidane said thoughtfully.
"Exactly," Gao Shen replied. "It was about control. If I ever return to Real Madrid, I want to be the undisputed boss. Even if Florentino signs Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, or ssi, I need to have the power to sell them if I think it's best for the team."
Zidane's eyes widened in realization.
"You want to be Real Madrid's Ferguson."
Gao Shen smiled. "That's right."
But Florentino wasn't ready to give up that kind of control, at least, not yet.
And Gao Shen didn't feel any regret about missing the chance to coach the second Galáctico era. In fact, he saw it as a blessing.
"You don't value things that fall into your lap," Gao Shen said with a shrug. "If Florentino really wants , he'll co to . Until then, I'll wait."
While Gao Shen and Zidane were heading back to their hotel, just a few blocks away at the Bernabéu, Real Madrid president Ramón Calderón and sporting director Predrag Mijatović were holding an urgent eting.
Florentino's dinner with Gao Shen had shaken them both.
"Are you sure Florentino t with Gao Shen?" Mijatović asked, his tone anxious.
"It's confird," Calderón replied grimly. "He brought Zidane, and Valdano and Redondo were there too."
Mijatović scoffed. He didn't need to be told what that eting was about.
"Florentino wants Gao Shen to coach Real Madrid," he muttered.
Calderón nodded. "Exactly. And with the ss we've made these past few seasons, the fans will welco him with open arms."
The re thought of Florentino and Gao Shen joining forces was enough to send a chill down their spines. If Florentino returned as president with Gao Shen as coach, it would spell the end for them.
"This isn't just about tonight's match," Calderón said firmly. "This is the first real battle between us and Florentino. We can't lose."
"If we beat Gao Shen tonight or better yet, humiliate him—his influence will take a massive hit," Mijatović added, his tone turning ruthless. "And without him, Florentino won't be nearly as threatening."
The two n exchanged a grim nod.
"I'll talk to Schuster," Mijatović said, rising from his chair. "No matter what happens, we can't let Gao Shen walk away from this unscathed."
Calderón didn't say anything as he watched Mijatović leave. But the worry on his face remained.
Gao Shen's reputation lood large.
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