In the western suburbs of Madrid lies the luxurious residential area of La Finca.
Casillas had just returned ho. The mont 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 mont, as graceful as a rmaid, 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 co to the Bernabéu today.
At that ti, Real Madrid's coaching selection committee was still in Cheshire, England.
This wasn't a simple matter.
But after his eting 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 so 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 imdiately ant sothing was going on.
After all, being captain at Real Madrid ca 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 sothing to the club managent?"
"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 ti 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 dia 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 montarily stunned, then sighed again. He gently caressed his girlfriend's back and kissed her smooth shoulder.
"Co 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 ca to Real Madrid, at most, it was just the general manager and technical director involved.
But this ti?
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 dia, 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 , okay?"
Sara sensed sothing was off. "Did they put pressure on you?"
Casillas smiled bitterly. "It'd be better if they did."
"What do you an?"
"I know Gao Shen. If he puts pressure on , it ans he really intends to rely on . But he hasn't. After signing a preliminary agreent with Real Madrid last night, the first thing he did was call Antonio Adán."
Adán was the goalkeeper Mourinho had grood 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 beco 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 sothing 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 an he values you?" Sara asked anxiously.
"You don't know Gao Shen. He's only called 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 imdiately stood up. "But I've already booked a segnt 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 ssages on Twitter several tis, but he didn't follow 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 tournant with his private coaching team.
He wanted to be in peak condition for the Euros.
He wanted to challenge ssi!
He would never allow himself to be second to anyone—no matter who it was!
His agent, ndes, 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, ndes 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 businessn.
When Ronaldo finally finished his training, a masseur ca over and started loosening up his muscles.
ndes 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.
ndes 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 ticulous player in the world.
"Sit, Jorge." Ronaldo pointed to a seat.
ndes sat down and watched Ronaldo take a bottle of nutritional supplent 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 as soon as they got back. Real Madrid's being quite efficient this ti." ndes 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.)
***
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