Starting With Real Madrid

"Boss!"

After concluding his dinner with Gao Shen, Mubarak returned to his hotel room and immediately made a video call to his boss in the Middle East to report the latest updates and progress.

"You met him?"

"Yes, I did. We talked for over an hour."

"And? What's your impression?"

"I feel like he's the person who can help us rise."

"Are you that confident? You're usually not one to make hasty judgments."

"He's very unique, and I'm completely convinced by him," Mubarak affirmed.

Mansour, on the other end of the call, paused momentarily before asking, "How about the commercial sponsorship negotiations? Did he agree?"

"He didn't agree yet. He said he needed more time to consider it. He's very rational," Mubarak praised again.

It was clear that although Mubarak had only met Gao Shen once, he had been deeply impressed by his understanding of football, his insights, and his measured approach to business matters.

"Twenty-eight years old… incredible!" Mansour nodded in approval.

That's 10 million euros! Even with such a lucrative offer, Gao Shen managed to remain composed and rational.

Mansour himself wasn't much older, but having grown up in the royal family, he naturally had an extraordinary perspective on matters.

"Make sure someone continues the commercial sponsorship negotiations. Once this relationship is established, future collaborations will be much easier. At the very least, we'll build mutual trust," Mansour instructed.

Mubarak nodded. "Understood."

Both sponsorship deals had been meticulously selected. Although the sums offered appeared astronomical—like a pie falling from the sky for Gao Shen—both Emirates Airlines and the UAE Tourism Board saw enormous potential in the Asian and Chinese markets. They were keen to intensify their promotional efforts there.

Given Gao Shen's current fame and influence, he was undoubtedly worth such a high price tag.

Additionally, these collaborations served as a stepping stone for Mubarak and Manchester City to build a closer relationship with Gao Shen.

Whether Gao Shen chose Real Madrid or another team in the summer didn't matter. Opportunities for future collaboration would still exist. Even if Manchester City needed advice or assistance, Mubarak believed Gao Shen wouldn't refuse to lend a hand.

---

Gao Shen had a vague idea of what was happening but didn't overthink it.

To put it bluntly, with his current reputation and status, countless teams, sponsors, and individuals were eager to associate with him. Many wanted to establish a connection, and even more wished to maintain one.

As Lucas had once joked, if Gao Shen announced he would visit a specific nightclub on a certain date, there would undoubtedly be a swarm of beautiful women from all over the world flying in just to meet him.

Everyone knew that being linked to Gao Shen, even fleetingly, could dramatically elevate their status. Appearing with him in public, even if only for one night would instantly catapult them to fame, landing them on the front pages of major European media outlets the next day.

In the past few months alone, tabloids had churned out weekly reports about an Italian socialite claiming to be pregnant with Gao Shen's child, a Roman "godmother" willing to date him, or a famous actress declaring Gao Shen as her ideal partner.

Gao Shen had grown accustomed to this and regarded it as part of his reality.

He wasn't surprised that Mubarak had used this opportunity to approach him.

As for the UAE's sponsorship offer, Gao Shen was open to it.

Why not accept the money if it was on the table?

Of course, he didn't think the UAE would lose out on the deal.

At the end of the day, capitalists always calculated everything. If they were willing to offer such a generous contract, it meant they saw the potential for significant returns on their investment.

Gao Shen's primary concern was safeguarding his own legitimate rights and interests.

The following morning, after a good night's sleep, he called Su Qing, timing it perfectly during her lunch break. He shared the sponsorship proposal and sought her input.

"As far as I know, what Liu Wenda said about the upcoming tourism agreement between China and the UAE is accurate," Su Qing confirmed.

This added credibility to the proposal.

"This is a serious matter. Didn't you have an agent and lawyer handling your affairs before? I happen to know a senior colleague who specializes in contracts like this. I can ask him to get involved. This way, we'll have someone trustworthy overseeing the process, and both you and I can remotely monitor things. It shouldn't pose any major issues."

Su Qing's suggestion aligned perfectly with Gao Shen's thoughts, and he agreed immediately.

"I also think you should establish a company dedicated to managing this type of business. That way, you can minimize the hassle and further tap into your commercial value," Su Qing proposed.

She believed Gao Shen's marketability was vastly underestimated.

Otherwise, why would Emirates Airlines and the UAE Tourism Board offer such a massive contract?

It was an open secret in both European football that setting up a company could legally reduce taxes significantly. Many football stars and celebrities even registered companies in tax havens to maximize their earnings.

Well-known figures like Beckham and Zidane had utilized such strategies for years.

By comparison, Gao Shen's approach was relatively straightforward and compliant. He relied on legal methods to minimize taxes and ensured that most of his agreements specified after-tax income.

Gao Shen trusted Su Qing's judgment and left the matter in her hands.

After discussing business, they spent the rest of Su Qing's lunch break chatting about personal matters before ending the call.

---

Gao Shen's thoughts then turned to Napoli, Manchester City, and Real Madrid.

He understood that, in the eyes of clubs like Manchester City or Napoli, he was a larger-than-life figure—a pivotal figure. But in the eyes of a giant like Real Madrid, he was merely one of many famous coaches.

At best, he was the flavor of the moment.

Gao Shen knew Florentino Pérez genuinely wanted him to coach Real Madrid, but he also knew the Real Madrid president wouldn't compromise on his management style or allow the team to be run according to Gao Shen's ideas.

In Florentino's view, Real Madrid would remain Real Madrid, with or without Gao Shen.

Gao Shen's leverage simply wasn't strong enough.

"I will prove, with results, that I'm right!" Gao Shen vowed silently.

---

April 15th, Stadio San Paolo, Naples.

The second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals saw Napoli hosting Arsenal.

Despite Napoli's commanding 4-0 victory in the first leg, which all but secured their spot in the semi-finals, Gao Shen refused to let his guard down. He fielded his strongest lineup in the return leg.

Arsenal, opting for a 4-2-3-1 formation, deployed Song and Denilson as double defensive midfielders, adopting a more conservative approach.

Wenger, having learned from the first leg, chose to play defensively in Naples. It was clear that Arsenal's focus was on damage control rather than a miraculous comeback.

The match began with Arsenal cautiously testing Napoli's resolve, hoping for an opening. But Gao Shen ensured his team remained disciplined, denying the Gunners any early opportunities.

Both teams played a cautious yet intense first half, which ended in a goalless draw.

However, Napoli broke the deadlock early in the second half.

Sanchez received a pass from Biglia, dribbled into the box from the left, and slotted a low shot past the Arsenal goalkeeper, putting Napoli ahead 1-0 and extending their aggregate lead to 5-0.

Arsenal managed a consolation goal in the 73rd minute. Van Persie received a through ball from Fabregas, skillfully maneuvered past David Luiz, and unleashed a stunning volley into the net.

Even as an opponent, Gao Shen couldn't help but admire the brilliance of Van Persie's strike.

The match ended 1-1, but Napoli advanced with a commanding 5-1 aggregate victory, securing their spot in the semi-finals.

---

In the other quarter-final match, Manchester United faced Porto away.

The first leg had ended 2-2, but Ferguson's side struck early in Portugal.

In just the sixth minute, Anderson set up Cristiano Ronaldo for the opening goal, which proved to be the match-winner.

Manchester United held onto their 1-0 victory, advancing 3-2 on aggregate.

This set up a mouthwatering semi-final clash: Napoli versus Manchester United.

Napoli would host the first leg, followed by the return leg at Old Trafford.

---

The other half of the draw saw Barcelona defeating Bayern Munich 1-0 in Germany, completing a 5-0 aggregate win. Guardiola's side continued to impress and remained the favorites to win the competition.

Meanwhile, Liverpool overcame Villarreal 3-1 on aggregate, setting up a semi-final against Barcelona.

---

With the semi-final lineup finalized, the stage was set for an epic conclusion to the Champions League.

Napoli stood as Serie A's sole representative, while the Premier League boasted two teams in the final four. Barcelona represented La Liga and remained the bookmakers' top choice to win it all.

For Gao Shen, however, the road ahead was daunting.

He now faced a towering figure he had admired for years: Sir Alex Ferguson.

The challenge ahead was not just Manchester United, but Ferguson himself, a man known for his tactical genius and adaptability.

For the first time, Gao Shen felt an unshakable sense of uncertainty.

How would Ferguson respond to him?

He truly had no idea.

***

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